[𝟷] 𝘾𝙍𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙊𝙍𝙉𝙎, 𝘕.𝘔. [EDITING]

𝕏𝕏𝕍𝕀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren ran her hands over her dress as the morning sun rose over the buildings of The French Quarter.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was a floor-length gown that had a plunging V-neck that ended just past her breasts. Her pink bra - the same color as the dress - just barely peeked out. Floral decorations ran up her shoulders, starting from her bodice and ending at her shoulder blades where it swooped down.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A mesh layer ran over the top of the dress with little diamond beads that shimmered in the light. The arms were see-through and baggy, cinching in at her wrists.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Sighing, she fixed the thin black belt again, making sure it was secured.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Her white hair fell down over her back and shoulders - unkempt but still tolerable. It was curly from being braided overnight.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Making a face, she brushed the little bits and pieces into their proper places, applying a bit of oil to smooth the ends down.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren surveyed the room in the reflection of the mirror. Her skin had covered itself in goosebumps. She spied Klaus, standing on the balcony in the morning light.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His back was to her, but she could see his taut muscles beneath the black dress shirt he wore. His black leather pants were a little less dressy, but he could surprisingly pull it off.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I was under the impression that I was the one who got up early," Wren hummed as she stepped out on the balcony barefoot. The concrete was warm beneath her feet. "Yet here you are, already prepared for the meeting."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I could hear you tossing and turning all night." Klaus' eyes moved away from the sunrise to lock onto his mate. She looked tired but had a certain sparkle to her eyes. "You had trouble sleeping."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren shrugged. "Nothing I'm not used to." She leaned on the banister next to him, a small smile growing on her lips. "It's so peaceful." She could faintly hear someone down the street, plucking the strings of an acoustic guitar.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The sound was beautiful.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Klaus felt his lip twitch a little as he watched her. She leaned a little too far over, her head facing a sound that he could hear as clearly as if it were right next to him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Their gentle peace was interrupted by the sounds of the maids downstairs setting the table. He could hear Marcel talking to Diego faintly, but put it out of his mind as Wren turned to him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She watched his face for a second. "It's time, isn't it?" Her own face fell slightly, nerves plucking at the chords of her anxiety. She tried to imagine that they were guitar strings and find a rhythm in them, but the feeling overtook her as soon as she had conceived the thought.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Breathe, love. I'll be right there with you the whole time."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren sighed, looking up at him. He was so gentle with her, but this was something that she had to do. Something she couldn't afford to lean on him for. "Thank you, Niklaus." She leaned up and pressed a feather-light kiss to his lips.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Her quick and confident footsteps echoed all around. The click, click of her heels met the ears of every vampire in the compound.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The table was set, and the inner circle of vampires stood around it, watching her as she descended the stairs. She kept her head and eyes straight, not caving to the stares that pierced her skull.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It seemed an eternity had passed by the time she reached the bottom, and moments later she had taken her place at the head of the table.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Klaus came down a few moments after, standing on the opposite end where Marcel was to his left. He watched her with a smirk as she regained her nerve.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Biting the inside of her cheek, she bent her fingers slightly, pulling out all of the chairs with her mind. "Please, be seated."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Let us begin with a toast to our shared gift - immortality." Klaus stood, holding his thin glass in his hand. The champagne within bubbled temptingly. "After a thousand years, one might expect life to be less keenly felt, for its beauties and its sorrows do diminish with time. But, as vampires, we feel more deeply than humans could possibly imagine."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The vampires around the table exchanged glances, their eyes wandering over to Wren, who sat with her glass in her hand.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Insatiable desire," Klaus's eyes flashed over the table, pausing on Wren before moving on. "Exquisite pain." He raised a hand, gesturing for the group of waiters to come forward.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀They all stood next to a vampire, slitting open their arm to pour their veins into a glass of blood.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren's face stayed stoic, but her eyes snapped to her mate.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Klaus raised his glass. "To our victories, our defeats, and to this city - my home again!" He smirked. "May the blood never cease to flow..."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"-And the party never end!" Marcel finished with a grin.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The vampires around the table hesitated.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren stood with a smirk. "And the party never end," she echoed.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"To New Orleans!" a curly-haired vampire, Diego, said as he raised his glass. His eyes remained on Marcel the entire time.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Klaus smirked. "To New Orleans!" he repeated.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"New Orleans," echoed the rest. Everybody raised their glasses, clinking them together, before indulging in the crimson liquid that had filled their cups.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Wren stayed standing as the rest sat down. "Marcel brought something to my attention yesterday." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was confident. "That I have made a grave error in my first day of ruling over you. I walked in here - into your home - and expected to be received with smiles and celebration.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I wish you all to know that I will not make that mistake again. I will do everything in my power to earn your respect and your loyalty - but I do not expect it without having to work for it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It is with this knowledge that I have decided to offer you and your community this one service; the removal of our rivalry with a pillar of the witch community. From this moment forth, I claim absolute Regency over my coven." Wren smirked, raising her glass. "Go forth and spread the news. Valeriya Romanov is no longer the Regent of The Everlastings." She observed the faces of everyone who sat at the table. "I am."