Chapter 04
Bella had allowed Myriam to take her into town and do some shopping. Myriam insisted that Bella had a laptop; she knew she had an aging computer at the Salvatore guesthouse, but if she was going to spend more time at the house, it would be nice for Bella to have everything she needed to feel at ease. Like being able to continue to write.
Bella balked, at first, mainly because she didn’t need charity, but Myriam told her that it was for her own best interest as well; Bella hadn’t been updating her stories for a while now and she wanted to keep reading. She pointed out that first and foremost, Myriam was Bella’s biggest fan and the least she could do was to provide Bella with everything she needed to continue her art.
Myriam then bought a handful of DVD’s for them to watch and they went to the supermarket to get snacks; there was no need to worry about food as they’d be served in the sitting room while Klaus and Elijah had the Salvatores over for dinner.
Myriam insisted that they’d drop by Bella’s place to get her some clean clothes and pyjamas, if she was going to make a habit of staying over, she deserved some closet space for her things. There was nobody home in the big house, both cars were gone and it was nice and quiet, but Myriam was fascinated by the amount of foxes coming out of hiding when Bella stepped foot on the grass. “Wow.”
“Cute, aren’t they?” Bella smiled and addressed the foxes. “She’s good people. Go away.” And just like that, the foxes turned away and scurried off. Upon arriving at the house, Bella looked at Myriam, an apologetic look on her face. “Look, I’m not going to invite you in and it doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Honey, I understand,” she smiled at her. “I’ll just sit here on the porch while you gather your things, just hurry up, we have a lot of movies to watch and you can break in your laptop!”
Bella let out a snort as she entered her house and started to gather her things. She was surprised when she received a text message from Damon, asking if she needed anything before he was going out to dinner. She replied that she was well taken care of and that he didn’t have to worry that she was going to starve. And she wasn’t. By the amount of snacks that Myriam bought, she would be able to eat for days and that wasn’t even counting dinner.
Not even half an hour later, they settled in the Mikaelson sitting room and Myriam put on the first movie while Bella made herself comfortable in the big chair. “I was wondering,” Myriam asked as she sat down in the other comfy chair and looked at Bella. “Klaus told me you were talking to Kol all night as if he could hear you.”
“I think he did,” Bella replied with a shrug. “Have you ever dessicated yourself?”
“No,” Myriam snorted. “I wouldn’t dare. Sure, in the past it would have been nice to hide forever but what’s the point in that? It’s better to face your problems head on and I did.”
“I think you can compare it to someone who’s in a coma. Their body might not work, but they’re still in there,” Bella grabbed a handful of chips and started to eat them. “I don’t know for sure, of course, at least not until Klaus decides to free his brother from the coffin.”
“You still don’t want Finn out, do you?”
“Nope, but what can I do? I’m not going to get involved in that, it’s not my business. Same reason why I haven’t undaggered Kol.”
“Your restraint is amazing.”
“I’ve always felt like I was on the outside, looking in, observing things and for most of my life ignoring things. It wasn’t until someone told me to stop ignoring the supernatural or try to rationalize what I saw that I stopped ignoring. Everyone should be able to make their own decisions, not have them dictated by someone.”
“So what do you think of Klaus and his hybrids? The compelled servants in this house?”
“His choice, not mine and not for me to judge.”
“And yet you judge him for boxing up his siblings.”
“Yep.”
Myriam laughed. “How is that any different?”
Bella was quiet for a long time, thinking about it. “I think that the answers that I seek, the reason why I’m still in Mystic Falls, lies with Kol. If I add up everything… the way I was drawn to his coffin, the way he responded to my voice and my stories… I think he might know something that I need to hear.”
Giggling, Myriam dug into the bag of DVD’s and tossed one at Bella. “There’s a movie about that, falling in love with a coma patient.”
Bella laughed. “I’m not in love, Myriam. I don’t even know him!”
“No, but you’re drawn to him. Oh, Klaus will freak out!”
“Shut up,” Bella blushed. “I’m interested in Kol because as I said, he might know something that I need to hear.”
“Uhuh,” Myriam smirked as she, too, grabbed a handful of chips to munch on. “Bella and Kol, sitting in a tree…” she sang. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
“You suck!” Bella laughed as she threw some chips at Myriam, who laughed but then heard something at the door, signalling to Bella to be quiet for a moment and listen.
“Damon, Stefan,” Klaus greeted the two brothers. “Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold. Let’s discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?”
“It’s better to indulge him,” Elijah’s voice sounded.
“I smell venison,” Damon quipped. “I hope it’s raw meat for you, brother.”
“I didn’t come here to eat, Klaus,” Stefan sounded as if he was ignoring his brother. Poor Damon. “In fact, I didn’t want to come here at all but I was told I had to because you were willing to hear us out.”
“Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. Choice is yours.”
Myriam sighed happily as she quietly closed the door, making it sound proof. “He’s so hot when making threats. He does it so well…”
“Uhuh,” Bella let out a snort. “I guess you’ll be jumping his bones when the dinner’s over?”
“Hell yes!”
During their first movie of the night, they were served by the maids, the same food as the men were having, and the second movie Myriam put in was Confessions of a Shopaholic. “You know, maybe we could go to the mall tomorrow and shop for some sexy lingerie,” Myriam said, deep in thought as she ate her dinner.
“Well, you could.”
“You too!”
Bella snorted. “I can give you two perfectly good reasons as why I am not in need of sexy lingerie.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep. One; I haven’t had sex for like a year because I was too busy studying for school and reading all those books to find me a new boyfriend. Two; you’d actually need to have money to spend on sexy lingerie. You already bought me a laptop, I will not allow you to buy me my underwear.”
“Klaus gave me his credit card,” Myriam said, teasingly.
She then remembered the exact reason why she came round to the house yesterday. She needed to rip Klaus a new one because she didn’t need his money. “Excuse me,” Bella said as she got up and walked right out of the room, straight into Klaus’ meeting. Which she had forgotten about. Oh well.
“What do you say, Klaus? It’s time for you to put something on the table,” Damon’s voice sounded before the door opened, revealing Bella dressed in a fluffy pyjama and bunny slippers. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Miss Bella is my guest,” Klaus replied, amused, before turning to her. “Love, I’m in the middle of something. Go back to your girls night.”
“Yeah, sorry, I forgot…” Bella ran a hand through her hair. “I just remembered why I came here, yesterday, and you and Myriam have been distracting me.”
“Me, love?” Klaus huffed. “Well, that’s just a crazy accusation.” He then turned to Damon and Stefan. “She turned Elijah into a majestic stag last night for a time out. It was quite amoozing.”
“Niklaus,” Elijah warned him, seemingly anxious about something.
Bella narrowed her eyes on Elijah. “What did you do now, Elijah? You’re hiding something!” She looked at Damon and tilted her head. “So are you!”
“What have you done?” Klaus demanded.
“What have you done?” Elijah countered. “See, I’ve learned not trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We’re doing this on my terms now.”
Bella gasped when she saw the vampire she had talked at that night round the corner and he was so handsome. So incredibly handsome that made her heart beat faster and her skin heat up. That look in his eyes, so… devious. Dangerous.
“Kol,” Klaus said, fear in his voice as he took a step back with his hands up.
“Long time, brother,” Kol replied as he continued his approach.
“Finn, don’t,” Klaus begged when his other brother, the one that Bella warned about, rushed in, grabbed a dagger and stabbed Klaus’ hand, causing him to scream.
Bella was so enthralled by Kol’s appearance that she hadn’t noticed that Rebekah had passed her, blocking Klaus’ escape.
“Rebekah!”
Klaus doubled over in pain and stumbled back, to be caught by Kol and keeping his brother in a body lock.
“You’re free to go,” Elijah told Stefan and Damon. “This is family business.”
Klaus looked over Rebekah’s shoulder to Bella, fear in his eyes. Bella could feel Kol’s eyes on her as well, feeling his awareness, his presence pierce her soul. Klaus didn’t deserve this, and dammit, it happened again. “Damnit! Now it’s my turn!” Bella raised her voice before every sibling, apart from Klaus, flew against a wall, keeping them there until she’d release them. She didn’t even care that Stefan and Damon were caught in the same swoop that she’d done.
She marched over to Klaus and pulled him to his feet before slapping him in the face. “Why did you give me money? Am I a charity case to you? As I told Myriam, I have savings to allow me to feed myself.”
Klaus blinked at her, confused as what was happening. It seemed as if he landed in one mess after another. “It’s called kindness, love,” he spoke quietly. “I have the means to make your life more comfortable, why wouldn’t I do that?”
“I’ve never accepted money from anyone. Anyone. Not even the Salvatores. I can take care of myself.”
It was then when Myriam walked in, impressed by what she saw, amused and frightened at the same time. She gently placed her hands on Bella’s shoulders and squeezed them. “Honey, all Klaus wants is to take care of his family. To keep them safe from harm. To do everything in his power to make sure that when his family does come out, nothing will harm them. To have them not to want for anything.” Myriam gently squeezed Bella’s shoulders again. “Think.”
She looked at Klaus, who had nothing but love and admiration in his eyes for her. “Oh.”
“Yep,” Myriam gently pat on Bella’s head.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“It’s alright, love,” Klaus said gently, caressing a strand of her hair out of her face. “You’re right, you’re used to taking care of yourself and you’ve been on your own for so long, it’s alright to feel insulted, but it’s not what I meant by giving you that small token of gratitude.”
“I feel so embarrassed now,” she sighed as she turned around and headed towards the door. “I’ll hide out in the library.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something, honey?” Myriam reminded her, causing Bella to look over her shoulder to see the vampires dangling from the walls.
“Oh, sorry,” she said as she shrugged and had them drop down to the floor. “Carry on, don’t mind me,” Bella then walked out of the room, her bunny slippers clicking on the grand staircase leading upstairs.
“Niklaus, what were you thinking bringing that… overpowered abnormality into our home?”
“Elijah, I heard that!” Bella called out. “Behave or face the consequences!”
“Niklaus!”
Finn, Rebekah and Kol gasped in awe when Elijah transformed into a stag, again.
“See, I knew I smelled venison,” Damon deadpanned before he was dragged out by Stefan. “Hey!”
“We need to go.”
“But Bella…”
“She’s quite capable of handling herself, come on, before she hurts us.”
“Bella wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Let’s go, Damon!” Stefan kept tugging on him until he followed on his own accord.
When Bella heard the front door shut, she turned Elijah back, mainly to show the rest of the siblings that she was not one to mess with, and if someone messed with Klaus, they’d face the same consequences. She needed a timeout. She needed some time to cool off. To safe face, she felt embarrassed and the library was comfortable. Yes it was the end of girl’s night but that was alright. She had a feeling that there would be more nights to come.
When she arrived in the library, she could feel darkness creep into the house. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to stay. She should get dressed and go home, but Bella also felt a responsibility to stay; to make sure that her new family wouldn’t get hurt. She hadn’t ever felt this torn; whomever just entered the house was definitely scary.
She made herself comfortable in the window seat and pulled the blanket over her and stared out of the window until she fell asleep, only to be awoken a few hours later by Kol. “You’re staring.”
“Well, it seems only fitting that I watch you sleep, since you did the same for me.”
“No, I didn’t. You were awake. I was actually sleeping,” Bella yawned as she looked at him. “You’re being creepy.”
“Kol Mikaelson, pleasure to meet you,” he said, extending his hand to her.
“Bella Swan. Sleep deprived and grumpy,” she shook his hand before snuggling her blanket closer and closing her eyes again.
“I should be more interested in exploring the new Mystic Falls or spend time with my newly resurrected family, that includes our Mother, but you are fascinating.”
“No, I am a tired human.”
“Fascinating,” Kol said again. “Because I think you’re not. You’re not a witch, either, which makes me think you fit in the obscure box of supernaturals who aren’t actually supernaturals. Like a nymph or a pixie.” He took a seat opposite of her in the window seat, not giving up. “Did you know that they’re descended from the old Gods?”
“I’ve already had that discussion with Myriam. Gods don’t exist. The closest thing to Gods are you guys.”
“Ah,” Kol sighed happily. “I’m flattered, darling, but we’re merely unkillable vampires. But please, do go on, tell me how handsome I am.”
“Nope,” Bella yawned. “Because that would be a false compliment.”
“What?”
“You’re asking me to tell you how handsome you are, that’s ridiculous because that’s not a voluntary complement and therefore, false.”
“But you do think that I am handsome. I could feel it when you spoke to me last night, and when I entered the room to hurt Niklaus. Your heart skipped a few beats and you were aroused.”
She was too tired for this shit. “How do you know that? Maybe Klaus aroused me.”
“Oh please, as if Myriam would allow anyone to even get that up close and personal with him,” Kol grinned. “You clearly don’t like Elijah and Finn… well, he’s just dull. No, you like me.”
“Maybe my preferences lie with the same sex.”
“Rebekah was behind you. Doubtful.”
Bella groaned as she hit him on the head with one of the tiny pillows that were in the window seat. “You’d better stop now, or I’ll give you the Elijah treatment.”
Kol laughed at that and threw his hands up. “Alright, my little Goddess. Or Goddess adjacent. I’ll allow you to get your rest. Busy day tomorrow, you’re going clothes shopping.”
“What!”
“Oh, yes. Mother wants to throw a ball now that we’re all reunited, to get to know the town and see who’s who and all. You’re coming with me as my date,” Kol said smug. “I don’t have anyone nor the time to find me someone and you’ll do nicely.”
“The hell I am.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You didn’t ask me!”
“What’s there to ask?” Kol countered. “I bet you’ll look astonishing in fancy dress.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Nope. And you can’t make me.”
Kol cocked his head as a mischievous smile appeared on his face. “Is that a bet, darling?”
“No,” Bella whined. “I just want to sleep.”
He moved then, sitting on his knees as he brought his face closer to hers. “I could make you scream in pleasure,” he whispered. “I am very talented.”
“Go away. Or you will get the Elijah experience.”
“I’m quite confident that I won’t,” he said smugly. “Because otherwise you would have done that already.” Kol then hopped out of the seat. “Very well, I shall allow you to go back to sleep. We’ll continue our conversation tomorrow.”
“No, we won’t.”
“Yes, we will.” He started to make his way out of the library before turning around. “You know, you could always come join me in my bed, I’m sure that’s a lot more comfortable than that window seat.”
Bella thought for a moment. That would be the ultimate punishment for him, wouldn’t it? She could just fall asleep and have him stew in his own urges. Before she could give him an answer, he scooped her up and rushed them to his room. He put her down on the bed, tucked her in and got into bed himself, snuggling up against her. “Nap time,” he sighed happily.
Bella was surprised. She didn’t know what to think, but thought the gesture was endearing and allowed it for now. Kol hadn’t had any physical contact for nearly a century and she felt for him. And she was super tired. Shifting a little so that she was more comfortable, she sighed happily and fell back to sleep.
Bella woke up the following morning in an empty bed, but with breakfast waiting for her on the nightstand. Oh, why not? She lazily stretched herself out and propped herself up against the pillows before pulling the tray with breakfast into her lap. There was a note from Kol on it saying: ‘I do wish you would reconsider for tonight, if only to annoy Elijah!’
She smiled at that. Now, if he asked like that, how could she refuse?
Bella had her breakfast and then went to get some of her clothes before she quietly left the house to go back home and see if she had anything formal to wear. By the time she arrived at her house, though, Kol was sitting on her couch on the porch with a grin on his face. “Sneaking out, are we?”
“Morning,” she replied as she opened her door.
“Walk of shame, me thinks. Is that what you call it these days?”
Bella snorted. “A walk of shame is when you actually have sex and sneak out in the same clothes you wore the day before.”
“Ah, something Rebekah might do then,” he mused as he got to his feet. “You know, I left early this morning to get to the store, had a lovely chap put some music on this device,” Kol held up an iPod. “Of course, the music you spoke of is on here as well. The Beatles are masterful.”
“Dated, too,” Bella reminded him. “Although some people worship them. They say that their sound inspired so many others that nowadays we’re surrounded by music. Even the electronical and overly poppy things.”
“Still, I do enjoy them very much,” Kol replied as he followed her, but was stopped on the threshold. “Interesting.”
“To keep me safe,” Bella smiled and turned around to face him. “After all, my landlords are vampires. One being crazy and off his rocker, the other one unpredictable but harmless. No one who can’t cross the threshold on their own accord gets in.”
“Very well, then what are we doing here?”
“I need to see if I have something fancy to wear for tonight,” Bella said, teasing him as she walked to her closet. “But I’m afraid that my wardrobe isn’t suitable for a ball.”
“Brilliant! Then let’s go into town and find you a gorgeous dress.”
Bella smiled as she walked back to the door and stood in front of him. “Or… I could go naked.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” he laughed nervously.
“Why? Do you think that my body won’t be beautiful enough?”
“I’ve seen your fuzzy pyjamas, darling, I doubt you’re an exhibitionist.”
She took a step outside and pulled him closer, her hand trailed up into his hair as the other traced his jaw with a finger. “All this sexual tension between us…”
“You need to stop before I’m going to do something I’ll regret…” he softly warned her. “Well, I might not regret it. Likely not.”
“It’s been too long, huh?” she booped his nose with her finger. “What if I told you that it would be fine?”
“That’s not really lady like, Bella, you hardly know me.”
“Who says I’m a lady?” She pulled his head down and brushed his lips with hers. “I’m still a person of flesh and blood with itches to scratch… And you were right last night,” she said in a whisper. “You are insanely hot and you feel good…”
“Stop or I’ll take you right here on this porch.”
“How about you come inside instead?” She whispered, looking up at him. “Inside my house and inside of me.”
~o.O.o~
Oh, having sex with someone she’d just met wasn’t something she made a habit out of. In fact, this was the first time it ever happened but it felt right. She felt safe with Kol and they both needed to get it out of her system. She didn’t even care at this point if he’d move on to someone else. At least she could say that she had sex with an Original Vampire and that it had been amazing.
But something told her that Kol was going to be around for quite some time, that he was indeed the person she’d been looking for to guide her on her journey, and all it needed was a little more time, seeing as despite his enthusiasm about her being different, he didn’t know that much more than Klaus did. Or the books that she had read.
She had felt the connection while he was still in his coffin, but she truly felt safe with him. Not on edge, not mildly safe or in danger, but he was like a warm blanket to her, if she had to compare the feeling to something. All Bella knew was that at this moment, she was feeling relaxed as hell.
“You do surprise me, Bella Swan,” Kol pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t think I do this on a regular basis…”
“What? Have sex? That’s a shame.”
“No,” she laughed. “Having sex with someone I literally just met.”
“Do you regret it? Because I don’t.”
“Me neither,” she sighed happily. “Can we just lie here for awhile? I don’t think I can walk.”
“I don’t have any better place to be, do you?”
“No,” she smiled at him before softly kissing him. Oh yeah, best sex ever.
~o.O.o~
When it was lunch time, Kol and Bella decided it was enough time spent in bed. Kol went back home because he needed to be fitted for a tuxedo and Bella reluctantly went shopping for a dress. What the hell did people wear to a ball? She went to a coffee shop to stuff her face with some food and drink coffee while she thought long and hard. What would her dad say about her going to a ball, to actually have to dance? Or her mother, even? There was no doubt that both her parents would love a picture of her in a beautiful dress.
She fiddled with her phone for a while, contemplating her options. Renée would interrogate her, for sure. Charlie? He’d be proud that his baby girl got invited to a ball of seemingly important people.
She was going home. The whole idea of the ball was scary to her, it would make her visible and participating. Kol, Klaus and Myriam would likely be disappointed, but it was for the best. Dressing up was not her thing. She paid for her food, headed to the supermarket and then went straight home. It was going to be a nice night in with a glass of wine and her computer.
Bella walked into Damon as she was walking to her home. “Quite the stunt you pulled last night,” he said as he followed her. “I had it under control. You didn’t need to come in and save my ass.”
“I didn’t come in to save your ass.”
“And what’s with the pyjamas? Were you staying at Klaus’? Are you insane?”
“Myriam and Klaus are my friends. Myriam and I were having a girl’s night. I don’t care what beef you have with them or they with you. They’re my friends.”
“Since when! You could have told me you were in contact with the biggest, baddest vampire in the world!”
She smiled then. “I didn’t know it was them and even so, it’s not my problem. You and Stefan got everyone in the mess that you’re in now. Including Elena. I’ve told you this many times before.”
“I would have thought you were on our side.”
“There are no sides, Damon,” she sighed as she put her bag down on the porch. “I’m not involved in anything you or Klaus is doing.”
“He could kill you.”
“I’m more afraid of Stefan,” she countered before looking up at him. “Are we done?”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “If you know what’s best for you, I suggest you stay here until we’ve killed Klaus and dealt with Esther.”
“If you know what’s best for you, I suggest you don’t make idle threats, Damon Salvatore. You’re my friend, but do not think I will not hesitate to defend myself,” she then opened the door and walked inside.
It was then that Damon caught a strong whiff of sex and Kol Mikaelson. “You had sex with an Original?!”
“Go away!” Bella slammed the door in his face. She could hear Damon yell at her from the door but she choose to ignore it and eventually he stomped off. She put her groceries away and booted her computer before she heard something coming out of her closet. Had a small animal made its way into her home?
She carefully opened the doors to her hanging closet and blinked at the sight before her. There were five fancy dresses hanging in there that weren’t there before. Now, sometimes things like that just happened to her and there was always a note somewhere saying that her grandfather H had given it to her. When she was little, she always believed that it had been her parents who had done it, as she’d never met this illustrious grandfather. Yes, she had met her mother’s father, but Charlie’s father was elusive.
However, now that she was alone and with everything that was going on in her life right now, she believed that it was real. A fairy godfather, perhaps? Was she a fairy herself?
She let out a breath as she pulled out the dresses one by one and each more beautiful than the other. “I guess I’ll be going to the ball after all…” Bella muttered in awe as the final dress she pulled from her closet just spoke to her. It was a sleeveless, one shoulder dress made out of chiffon. While the other dresses had a more outspoken and clear color – or white, even, she liked this one as it was a soft lavender color and it was floor length.
It was then when a pair of heels appeared and a box with jewelry where she found the note she’d been looking for.
Enjoy your ball, my beautiful granddaughter. I am proud of who you’re becoming. The accessories are family heirlooms, treat them well. All my love, H.
Bella surprised herself then, by feeling all girly and giddy when she looked at her presents. She always figured herself to be more of a tomboy, never wearing dresses or skirts and always pants with comfy tops but the dress was perfect, the heels didn’t look that dangerous and even the bracelet and necklace got her excited. She felt like a real life Cinderella!
She drew herself a bath and collected her ‘make pretty’ stuff before enjoying herself for an hour or so. Bella then got into a t-shirt and made dinner for herself while answering some emails on her computer and maybe writing a few paragraphs on a story she’d been working on but hadn’t worked on in quite some time.
Damon came back to yelling at her door, which she ignored by blasting some loud music while she was getting ready. She used an internet tutorial on how to pin her hair up and how to do her makeup, she wanted to be a complete picture. Oh yes, she was in full girl mode and loving it.
Right before she was leaving, her phone rang, it was Charlie. “Hi dad!”
“Hi pumpkin, how are you doing?”
Bella giggled then. “I’m going to a real, old fashioned ball.”
“Well, you’re in the South, I’m surprised this is your first ball.”
“I wasn’t even going until Granddad H turned my closet upside down and gifted me a beautiful dress.”
“Bella, your grandfather is not magical.”
“He is to me, how else would you explain it?” Bella shrugged. “I feel so pretty.”
“Well, send me a picture and we’ll talk tomorrow. I don’t want to keep you from having fun.”
“I will,” Bella replied. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. Enjoy yourself.”
On the way to Klaus’ home, she loudly sang along with the CD playing in her car; she wasn’t ashamed to admit that it was Taylor Swift, which was all Damon’s fault, really. He had borrowed her car once and she never felt like changing the CD’s out after he used it. Even the sad songs were catchy as hell.
As she drove on the driveway, she could feel how her stomach started to flutter. She was getting nervous again. While most of what she felt was excitement, a part of her was filled with dread and she couldn’t quite shake it. Bella wasn’t going to allow it to dampen her spirits, she looked hot.
Oh, Bella shouldn’t have been surprised that when she entered the house that everything was decorated, the grand staircase was covered in fairy lights, but not overly intrusive, just really classy. There were already a couple of people, she spotted the mayor, for one.
“You made it!” Myriam broke free from Klaus and went over to Bella to give her a big hug, making other people’s heads turn with her exuberance. “Wow, where did you get that dress?”
Bella chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“My magical grandfather?”
“But you’re not a witch.”
“He is. Maybe. I don’t know.” Bella shrugged. “Point is, I feel pretty.”
“Oh no, darling,” Kol’s voice sounded before he maneuvered himself between Myriam and Bella. “You look absolutely stunning,” he gently took her hand and kissed it. “My beautiful Goddess.”
“Stop,” Bella giggled, blushing furiously. “No one will notice me beside you, look at you, so handsome in your suit.”
“Oh barf,” Myriam rolled her eyes. “Be careful you two, or you might tear each other’s clothes off right here and have sex on the floor in the midst of all these people.”
“Now that’s a thought,” Kol smirked.
“I need a drink,” Bella shook her head, laughing.
Kol offered his arm to Bella and she took it to lead her towards the bar. “For a moment I was afraid you wouldn’t come tonight,” he said truthfully. “But this is a special night, we’re celebrating the reunion of our family. I wouldn’t want you to miss this.” He handed her a glass of champagne.
“I’ll be on my best behaviour.”
Kol smirked at that, before he spotted Damon with Mayor Lockwood. “Oh look, it’s your landlord.”
“Ugh. He was insufferable today,” she said as she took a sip of her drink. “He doesn’t like it that I’ve been spending my time here. He certainly didn’t appreciate it when he caught a whiff of you after I opened my door.”
A mischievous twinkle appeared in Kol’s eyes. “Let’s have some fun, shall we?” he said before walking them over to Damon and the Mayor. “Mayor Lockwood. We haven’t formally met. Kol Mikaelson,” he said as he kissed her hand with a smile on his face. “I hope your lovely town embraces us just as much as we plan to embrace it. Have you met my date, Bella Swan?”
Damon looked beyond pissed off. “Damon Salvatore,” he said as he extended his hand. “Have we met?”
Kol smirked at him, not taking his hand to shake it. “I’ve met a lot of people, and you don’t particularly stand out,” he said before looking at Bella. “Now, if you’d excuse us, there are more people I’d like to introduce myself and Bella to.”
Damon grabbed Kol by the arm as they passed. “You leave her alone,” he said in a low, threatening voice. “She might not recognize danger, but if you know what’s best for you, you’re going to keep your paws off of her.”
Kol looked at the hand on his arm and then on Damon. “Now, young Salvatore, making empty threats isn’t something you should do because would you follow through?”
“I already told him that,” Bella added.
“You were supposed to stay home,” Damon hissed at her.
“I am home.” She swatted Damon’s hand away from Kol and allowed Kol to take her somewhere else.
“You’re home? Does this mean you’re moving in?” Kol smiled at her. “Because I have just the bed for you if you don’t mind a room mate.”
“I already have a closet with some of my clothes in the library, Myriam got me a laptop to work on my stories, doesn’t that mean I’ve already moved in?” Bella replied cheekily before she looked over her shoulder to see the Salvatores fawn over Elena who had just entered. “I love the guest house, it’s been my home for quite some time, but I know what they think about you. I’m impartial to it all, but they’re…”
“Children.”
“I’ve watched them since they came back to Mystic Falls and they make the same stupid mistakes over and over again. The wrong choices.”
“Just say the word, darling, I’m sure Niklaus wouldn’t mind if you’d permanently moved in.”
“Elijah’s going to gather everyone on the stairs,” Myriam said as she joined Bella and Kol. “He told us to stay off the stairs while he addresses the people gathered because it’s family only.”
“Well, that’s rubbish,” Kol said disgusted.
“It was your mother’s wish.”
“We need to respect her rules, unfortunately. Had it been only Elijah’s wishes, then I would have said to screw it,” he kissed Bella on the cheek. “I’ll return shortly.”
“I don’t trust Esther,” Myriam said quietly. “She forgave Klaus for killing her, but I think she’s up to something. It’s just a feeling, you know.”
“Is it because they’re all basically worshipping her?”
“I think they’re genuinely afraid of her. Besides, Finn’s been following her around all day like a lost puppy,” Myriam continued. “Today I had to break up a fight between Klaus and Kol because Klaus was threatening to dagger him again.”
“Klaus can threaten all he want. Hell, he can even dagger Kol again, as long as he knows that I will undagger Kol and turn Klaus into the little puppy that he is.”
Myriam chuckled. “Weren’t you supposed to observe?”
“No one touches my Kol and gets away with it.”
“Spoken like a true Mikaelson,” Myriam said amused and took a sip of her champagne. “But don’t forget, if you touch my Klaus, I’ll be coming after you.”
“And I’ll turn you into the little trash panda that you are.”
“Yeah, there’s no fighting you, is there?” Myriam laughed.
