Chapter 21: Let The Games Begin

Oh, she wasn’t sure how to do this. She’d never been at LaFayette before, and she wasn’t even sure if Davina was around. Sighing, she got the book out of her bag and hugged it as she walked around the tombs, reading the names and inscriptions. Some were so old that it had their life’s story told on the stones. It was interesting. Intriguing, even. Maybe, when all of this would be over, she’d turn to her love for history again.

Read. Explore. Think of crazy theories and prove herself wrong or right. Ever since she’d started to run, she hadn’t stopped and taken the time to enjoy herself, to allow herself to bite into a chunk of history and not letting it go until she was done with it. She should have done that the moment she set foot in New Orleans, but her mind had been otherwise occupied.

Bella walked around for quite some time before a young woman, a brunette, came stomping out of a tomb, agitation set on her face. “Hey, you!” she snapped before stopping dead in her tracks. “Is that my book?”

“Depends on who you ask and who you are,” Bella replied, holding the book close to her. “I mean, you might say it’s yours, but I have someone else saying it’s theirs so…”

“Ah, you’re the innocent that Freya stole that book for,” Davina replied as she stretched out her hand. “I’m Davina, and your magic is interfering with my spell, so…”

“I’m Bella. I thought I’d return your book and have a beer with you for thanking you for so generously giving the book to Freya Mikaelson so we could do some research.”

“I didn’t freely give anything. The bitch stole it from me after I said no. Knocked me out with a spell,” Davina said bitterly as she held out her hands for Bella to give it back. “Did it help you, at least?”

“Yeah… I wanted to ask you if I could hold on to it for a bit longer. I think there’s a lot that I’m missing when it comes to understanding what exactly is wrong with me,” she said with a slight chuckle. “The last few pages in the book are in a language I don’t understand so I want to make sure that I’ve got everything translated correctly.” She hoped that Davina hadn’t read the book and knew that she was lying. Especially the last bits of the book were in English. And some code she wasn’t able to decipher and that intrigued her.

She eyed her skeptically. “You know, I could do a magical x-ray of you, maybe that will help. Are you sure you’re a witch?”

“Oh, I’m not a witch. I hate witches – sorry, bad experiences.”

“That’s okay,” Davina laughed. “Come, let’s find out what you are then, and maybe show you that not all witches are evil or wrong or out to get you,” she motioned for Bella to follow her into her building. “So, how do you know the Mikaelsons?”

“I’m an entertainer,” Bella said with a shrug as she stuffed the book back into her bag as she followed Davina.

“Oh? What do you do?”

“I dance, and I am an exclusive adult escort.”

Davina stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Bella, pity written all over her face. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Did um… did they compel you to do that?”

“Hell no,” Bella smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I have a reasonable steady background, and I know what I’m doing. I love what I do. Don’t pity me.”

“Were you drawn to New Orleans?”

“Yeah, I guess I was, in a way.” She followed Davina deeper into the building, only to realize that this was also a tomb. A big one, at that. “Wow. Uhm… should we even be in here? It sort of feels like trespassing.”

“Did Freya tell you about me?”

“Only that you were a witch but other than that? I’m not familiar with everything supernatural. I’m quite the novice, really. I mean… real vampires? Werewolves? Witches? Magic is real?” Bella couldn’t help but look around and notice the names on the stones. “What is this place?”

“This is a seat of power,” Davina explained. “It’s where all the previous Regents of the covens are interred and thus the home of the current regent of the nine covens. Me,” she said proudly. “I’m the most powerful witch in New Orleans.”

Bella let out a breath. Klaus’ observation about Davina being power-hungry and quite arrogant was spot on. “I… oh… I didn’t know that, I’m sorry. Should I bow or curtsey or something?”

“Relax,” Davina laughed. “You said it yourself; you’re no witch. So, the book, it was about the Travelers, wasn’t it? Aren’t they like… extinct?”

“I don’t know,” Bella said with a shrug. “According to the book they do like their mass suicides.”

“Why the interest?”

“Uh… well, it appears that I’m related to them, and certain clients hate it that they can’t compel me, so there must be something wrong with me, right?” Bella said with a slight chuckle. “I also have some issues with a sub-species of vampires, and I am trying to understand why.”

Davina slowly nodded as she lit some candles. “Let me try to do that witchy scan on you, but I’m afraid that the knowledge you seek is not in my possession or in my knowledge. I do know of one witch who might know but… he’s dead.”

“Freya’s brother, right? Kol?”

“Yeah,” Davina smiled as she pointed at the floor for Bella to sit down. “He was this amazing person. Kind, warm, slightly crazy and his knowledge of magic was just out there. But then again, he had so many years to gather his knowledge… I might travel one day and do the same, you know, to learn more. Teach it to the covens upon my return.”

“That sounds like a great idea! You should do that. The world is this big, crazy place and it’s awesome,” Bella sat down and pulled two bottles of beer out of her bag. “Want one?”

“Would you like it if a surgeon with alcohol breath would perform surgery on you?” She replied laughing. “But go ahead if you want to calm your nerves. I promise I won’t hurt you and that I’m pure with my intentions. Everyone should know where they come from and what they are.”

Bella shrugged as she screwed the top off and took a swig of her beer. “Hey, aren’t you a little young to be Queen Witch?”

“Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” she laughed again as she started to place the burning candles around Bella. “You’re safe.”

“Yeah, and what if I’m not?” she said slightly hesitant. “I don’t want you to scramble my brains or anything; I need it to do my job.”

Davina sat down on her knees behind Bella and placed her hands on her shoulders. “You came to me for help, let me help you. It’s what I do.”

Bella took another swig of her beer before setting the bottle outside the circle where her bag was and sighed deep. “Alright, I’m relaxing.”

Davina started to chant a spell as she moved her hands around Bella’s body before, just like Freya, she received a jolt and was propelled backward. “Oh no, no no no!” she said as she scrambled to her feet and looked at Bella in shock. “What was that!”

“Oh, that? Yeah, that happened to Freya too.”

“And you couldn’t tell me?!”

She shrugged. “I thought it would be different with you, since, you know, you’re not Freya,” she said as she got to her feet and took her bag. “We should hang out together. No magic involved. Go shopping. Have a manicure. Spa day. Really.”

“Why? You just tried to kill me!”

“No, I didn’t,” Bella sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “But I could use a friend, a non-adult entertainer kinda friend. And I like your energy. We should hang out. So, the day after tomorrow? Spa day? You and me? I’ll pay.”

“Fine,” Davina said, resigning with a sigh. “I suppose I could use a normal, human, friend to hang out with.”

“Cool,” Bella smiled. “Thanks! I’ll come and find you.”

“Hey, um, do you want me to ask the ancestors about you? See what they know?”

Shrugging, Bella readjusted her bag. “If you want to, any help is appreciated.”

“Can I have some of your blood?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. If there’s one thing I won’t part with for magic or food, it’s bodily fluids and hair,” Bella then tugged on her hair. “Ohh, speaking of hair… I’m going to the hairdresser to make my hair awesome again. It’s a little bit dull, isn’t it? It could use some more color… Thanks for your help, Davina. I’ll see you in a couple of days,” she smiled before bouncing out of the tomb and headed into town.

~o.O.o~

Bella felt as if she was having a heart attack when she got rudely awoken the next morning by a fuming Klaus. “What have you done with your hair!” He demanded angrily as he sat next to her on the bed. “Your lovely hair!”

She groaned as she rolled onto her back and looked at him. “Don’t be such a drama queen, Klaus.”

“You cut it!”

“My hair. And it’s not super short, you know. It still reaches my shoulders,” she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sighed. “And I had it dye-dipped. Awesome, isn’t it?”

“Your hair!”

“You never complained before. I needed a change,” she sat up and looked around. “Wait, you’re here, does that mean Aurora’s gone?”

“She had some business to attend to, and she wanted to go dress shopping for the ultimate dress to wear for our dinner tonight,” he softly kissed her lips. “Every moment spent with her is agony. You need to save me.”

“No,” she smiled as she put her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss. “You made your bed; you’re going to lie in it. In your misery,” she kissed him again and pressed her naked body against him. “Please tell me we can have sex.”

“I don’t know, love, Aurora wore me out, I thought I’d take the time to take a nap.”

“Asshole,” she said as she pushed him away. “I know I went along with this, and it seems to be the right course of action, but I don’t like it!”

Klaus started to laugh as he pulled her back towards him. “I was joking, Bella.”

“Yeah well, you’ve spoiled the mood now,” she said grumpily and got off the bed in search of some clothes. “So, what have I missed, tell me all about it.”

“You’re not fair,” Klaus sighed as he flopped onto his stomach and watched her move around the bedroom. “You agreed to this.”

“I did, but joking about it isn’t something I’d like to hear, so spill.”

Sighing again, he told her everything that he and Elijah had learned over the last few days. “And thus, Elijah thought it’d be fun to throw a Thanksgiving dinner party to show them that we’re on to them. It’s possible a few threats will be tossed around; I sincerely hope to spill some blood…”

“I’ll make sure to stay out of your way.”

“Nonsense,” Klaus replied, noticing that she wasn’t making an effort when it came to getting dressed. Either she was torturing him, or she was changing her mind, playing a little mindfuck of her own. “I told Lucien that to keep you safe; we pretend that you’re an ordinary human who’s able to be compelled. He knows that you can’t, but he agreed. You’re simply too valuable – to him – to end up as cannon fodder. Aside from Elijah and myself, I trust that he will protect you when needed.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll be joining us for dinner,” Klaus smiled at her. “As an unofficial referee and to have some good food, just as Myriam told me to do for you.”

“But…”

“Aurora was there when she made the threat; we don’t have a choice, love.”

“Of course, we do,” Bella said nervously as she looked at him. “I’ll just have the food in the kitchen. Far far away from five highly strung vampires who could snap at any minute and despite everything kill me. Granted, I’d just come back but I’m meeting a potential friend tomorrow, so I’d rather not be dead.”

He was surprised to hear that. “What happened to your deathwish?” Not that he didn’t like this change of heart. She deserved to be human for a bit longer, live without fear. Although that might take some more time… “And what potential friend?”

“Davina.”

“Are you mad!” Klaus said as he sped off the bed and almost pushed Bella against the wall. “She’s been nothing more than trouble for this family! The decisions she makes are borderline psychotic; she barely ever listens to advice, and she thinks she’s some sort of special snowflake because she used to be a Harvest witch!”

“Ask Elijah and he’d say the same things about you,” she countered and looked up to him. “Look, you’re busy with your prophecy, and I’m bored, so I took it upon myself to look for help. She’s useless in this department, so I decided we should be friends, or at least try to be. She appeared to be lonely, and I thought that was sad.”

“The only reason the witch is still alive is that I promised Camille not to hurt her. You can’t trust her!”

“And I won’t,” she smiled at him, gently patting his face with the palm of her hand. “I won’t tell her anything, besides, she stumbled upon the same magical roadblock as Freya so…” Bella shrugged. “But you know, it’s good for me to socialize. Make friends that aren’t vampires or other adult entertainers.”

“She won’t be your friend.”

“Well, then I won’t be hers either, but I wanted to do something, Klaus. And she hung around with Kol last year so maybe she knows more than she lets on. Are you catching my drift here?”

“She’s dangerous, love, I don’t want her to hurt you.”

“You expect me to attend to a summit that’ll be attended by five of the oldest vampires on Earth, and you’re afraid of a little witch hurting me?” She pressed her body against his and slinked her arms around his neck. “Cute,” she said as she tiptoed and kissed him sweetly.

Amused, he smiled at her. “Do you have any idea what I’d do to anyone who would dare to talk to me like you’ve been doing for the last two years?”

“Yup,” she smirked.

Letting out a breath, he pulled her closer. “I want to bend you over the desk in the study and punish you mercilessly,” he said huskily.

She looked into his eyes as she admired him. “One condition,” she said after a moment of thought. “Since you’ve been sexing a thousand-year-old vampire for the last few days, I’m going to need you to suit up.”

“Bella…”

“I know you’re both vampires and can’t get sick from disease, but that doesn’t mean you can’t carry it and spread it around. I’m still human, Klaus. I don’t want to get sick from her cooties.”

“You’re out of luck, I don’t have those,” he scowled as he ran a finger along her spine causing her to shiver.

“Doesn’t that mean that you’re out of luck, love?” She said playfully. She was dancing too close to the fire right now. There was nothing more that she wanted than to fly apart against him after the last few days, having to tolerate Aurora in his arms instead of her, and she knew that he wanted her badly. This could all blow up in her face. When she saw the disappointed look on his face, she smiled widely. “Lucky for you, your sister Freya likes to have casual sex now and then and she was willing to part with a suit for you.”

Slightly annoyed by her, Klaus’ upper lip curled up before he kissed her possessively, his hand on the back of her head, keeping it in place as his tongue invaded her mouth, ravishing her, drinking in her scent. After breaking off the kiss, he leveled his gaze. “Get it and then present yourself in the study.”

Bella just laughed at him as she cupped his groin and gave it a gentle squeeze. Oh, he was interested alright.

“Bella!”

“Nuh-uh,” she said as she took a step away from him and released him from her hold. “You’re in no position to make demands, Klaus Mikaelson. For one, you’re still fully dressed, and you know as well as I do that I don’t take orders from fully dressed men.”

“Are you taking the piss?” He watched her as she walked away from him, light on her feet as she ran a hand through her freshly cut hair and made a pirouette.

“No, but now you mention it, I could take A piss, seeing as you woke me and all…” she said thoughtful and headed to the bathroom. “I’ll be right back!”

He scratched his head as he thought of what to do; he knew that she was just playing and that she was definitely interested – he could smell her arousal, but this was annoying. Klaus would have thought that she’d be more open, more receptive after these days.

And he wasn’t sure why she was punishing him. She had agreed to him trying to play Aurora! When she seemed to take her time, he sighed and got rid of his clothes and searched the nightstand for the condom that she wanted him to use. Again, he understood why, but him sleeping with Myriam and with her had never been a big issue with her. It was likely because she knew that Myriam was clean. He wasn’t even sure Aurora was, but seeing she’d been in a monastery for so long…

“Looking for this?” Bella smiled widely as she held up the wretched object and casually leaned against the doorpost. Playing games were so much fun, but she knew that she had to give in to him eventually if she wanted everyone to live. Not that Klaus would deliberately try to hurt her, but he was a vampire, after all, and she had only just made the realization that she wanted to be human for a while longer – destiny or not.

Not because she liked being a human, but more that she could get away with shit like this because she was a human and Klaus wanted her. Getting her neck snapped for merely toying with him would be horrible.

She took him in with her eyes and licked her lips. “Don’t you look…” She wasn’t even able to complete her sentence because he rushed over to her and threw her on the bed, knocking the air out of her lungs as he snatched the condom from her. She started to laugh to steady her breathing, but it quickly dissolved into a moan as he plunged into her.

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One Comment:

  1. I find it funny that Davina got hurt trying to read Bella just like Freya did. And befriending Davina hopefully will get answers from Kol or him back.
    Really wanting Aurora gone.

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