*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'*.𝚘𝚗𝚎.*'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
"𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜"
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'*..*'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
Italy, 1114 A.D.
"Aza, go introduce yourself to the new family in town. Might make you a few new friends for a change." Alexander told his sister as she was tending to the garden.
"Alexander, I appreciate the constant reminder that I am going to end up alone and being a disgrace to my family, but I'd rather claw out my own eyes than go meet any more of your broody friends." Azalea stood up and handed him her basket of berries. "Now, bug off and go teach your vampire sermons somewhere out of my earshot."
"What? You don't believe me?" Alexander asked, baffled.
"Brother, I believe you, but not everyone wants to hear the screams of innocent people as you burn them and drag them to their deaths like lambs to the slaughter." Azalea said in disgust. Her brother pushed her against the wall.
"I'd heed my words if I were you. I could have you killed for saying such things."
"What are you going to do, Alexander? Lock me in a box and release me into the daylight? Or maybe use your silly little sword that deciphers the marks on you? I dare you, but if I die, let it be known that I will haunt you for the rest of your life. If the creatures of the night don't get to you first." Alexander stomped away when she finished, passing the new family. They were all staring at her. She knew they saw everything, and probably heard it too. They'd think she was crazy. The blonde girl was the first to budge, walking up to Azalea.
"Are you alright? I overheard." She said, concern written into her facial expression.
"Yes, thank you. You must take me out to be crazy. I promise I'm perfectly stable. I just can't bare to see what he's doing to those people." Azalea's eyes softened.
"You don't think they're monsters or anything?" She asked.
"Not at all! My brother refers to me as a sympathizer. I prefer actual sane person. Almost everyone else here thinks me crazy, but I promise, not all vampires desire to harm every human in sight..." She trailed off, looking at the ground.
"I'm Rebekah Mikaelson." She smiled. Azalea looked back up at her.
"Azalea De Luca. My friends call me Aza." Azalea introduced herself.
"Well, Aza, come on then. You should meet my brothers." Rebekah linked arms with the human.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Azalea said, before Rebekah dragged her over to the group of men that were previously staring at her. She gave an awkward smile.
"Brothers, this is my new friend, Azalea. Azalea, these are my brothers, Finn." She gestured to the tall man with defined cheekbones. "Elijah." She gestured to the man who held a very proper stature. "Niklaus." She gestured to the blond man that resembled her slightly. "and Kol." She finally looked at the proud looking man.
"Nice to make your acquaintances, but I really must go now." She turned to Rebekah. "If you need anything, just ask myself or my brother, wherever the filthy rat is. I'm sure we'll be able to help." She looked at the brothers one more time, to see Niklaus and Kol laughing at her comment, while the other two kept their composure. With a small smile, she ran off.
Later on, as she still sat in the garden and the sun began to set, she saw someone walk towards her. "It's getting dark, love. Care for someone to escort you home, keep you safe from the monsters?" She looked up to see Rebekah's brother, Kol.
"I assure you I can fend for myself, and my brother should be here shortly. Besides, if I am to be attacked I'm sure my screams would alert everyone in the area." She retorted, standing up and facing him.
"Oh, but you underestimate them. I'm sure anyone with half a brain could figure out how to keep someone like you quiet." He taunted.
"Pardon? What do you mean by 'someone like you'?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was interrupted. "Brother, I insist you stop trying to scare the poor girl, who is obviously just trying to work without your... disturbance."
The two looked over to see Elijah standing there, arms folded behind his back.
"As you wish." He complied with a smirk. He walked past as Elijah walked closer to Azalea.
"I'm sorry for my brother's... mannerisms. He can be overwhelming at times." Elijah apologized, but Azalea just waved it off.
"I'm used to men labeling my gender as my weakness. It's quite alright." He gave her a look. "I promise. Don't worry." She gave him an encouraging smile. He turned to leave, before looking back at her.
"Goodnight, Azalea. Rest well." Elijah told her. She nodded with a small smile.
"You as well, Elijah. You as well." She mumbled. She was beginning to think that the Mikaelson's weren't that bad. Maybe they were different.
She waited until the sky was nearly pitch black and the only light she had was the moon, before giving up hope on her brother. She picked up the basket of fruits and vegetables she had collected, and began walking home. Her heart pounded against her chest as the path got darker and narrowed. She stopped as she heard rustling in the brush.
"Hello?" She looked around, to see nobody. She shrugged and kept walking. The noise got louder and louder. She picked up the pace, in hopes to return home quicker, but she was too late. Within moments, the person she'd known as Kol Mikaelson had he pinned against a tree.
"What are you doing?" She asked, trying to get out of his grip. A smirk grew onto his face as he looked her in the eye.
"Don't scream." He compelled, she looked at him with confusion. Then, she remembered the bracelet her brother gave her, that he said would protect her from vampires. She took a quick glance at it, but Kol understood. He grabbed the bracelet and tore it off of her wrist. With a displeased look, he once again met her eyes.
"I hate to do this, because I love a good plea for mercy, but don't scream." He compelled her again. This time, her lips quivered in fear.
"Stop. Don't." She breathed out, as he bit into her neck. She tried to let out a scream, but she couldn't. She could only groan in pain as he drank from her.
"Kol. I suggest you stop this instant." She heard a voice ring out in the night. Kol let go of her, allowing her to sink to the ground.
"What's wrong, brother? Aren't we meant to feed?" Kol asked Elijah, who walked towards his younger brother.
"She is one of the few who would tolerate our kind, and Rebekah has taken a liking to her. You know how she would feel if you killed her only friend." Elijah pointed out. Kol threw up his arms.
"Fine, ruin all of my fun. I'll just feed her my blood and compel her to forget." The brothers both looked back, to find her gone. They looked at each other.
She ran through the woods, looking back to make sure the brothers weren't after her. She let out a grunt as she tripped, quickly scurrying to her feet and continuing to run away. She couldn't believe it. The Mikaelson's were vampires. She looked back once more, and as she did, she ran into something. She turned back to see Klaus. "No. Please."
She held her arms up in defense. He grabbed her, bit into his wrist, and shoved it into her mouth. Against her will, she drank it, the metallic taste running over her tongue and down her throat. He then began to drag her behind him. "Please, stop. I won't say anything. Please."
"Oh, I know you won't and unfortunately, my sister would be upset if I killed you, so we'll just have to compel you, but first you need a change of clothes." Klaus said, as he continued to drag her. She didn't let the tears that were in her eyes spill out, she couldn't. It wasn't long before they'd reached the place where the Mikaelson's were staying. Klaus pulled her in front of him as they entered the sitting room, where Rebekah and Finn sat.
"What did you do, Nik?" Rebekah asked, standing up.
"Don't blame me. My guess is it was Kol." Klaus told her as she walked towards Azalea. "She was running through the woods when I found her."
She looked at Rebekah in fear. She shut her eyes tightly as Rebekah reached up a hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Don't be scared. We aren't going to hurt you. Right, Nik?"
"Right. Her dress is absolutely filthy. She'll need one of yours." Klaus went straight to business. Kol entered the room.
"Well, you aught to tell Elijah you found her." Rebekah sped up and pushed him against the wall.
Azalea let out a small yelp at the inhuman speed.
"You imbecile! You knew I wanted to become friends with her and you went after her anyway!" She shouted at her brother. She grabbed a knife and slid it across his neck as Azalea helplessly watched.
"Rebekah! That's enough." Klaus yelled, causing Rebekah to careless toss the knife behind her and back away from her brother, whose wound was already healing. "Take the girl and get her cleaned up and changed. I'll deal with Kol."
Rebekah complied, grabbing Azalea's hand and taking her down the hall.
"Kol-" Klaus started.
"What, Nik? Are you gonna threaten me, too? We are a predatory species. It's what we do."
"Go find Elijah." Klaus told him with a scowl. "Now!"
Kol left again, obviously angry. Klaus didn't spare Finn a glance before walking down the hall, through Rebekah's bedroom into her bathroom, where Rebekah sat washing the dried blood from Azalea's blonde hair. She was quick to cover her chest when Klaus walked in.
"It's nothing I haven't seen before, love." Klaus told the human, turning his attention to Rebekah. "Kol's gone."
"Good! Serves him right after what he's done." Rebekah said, as she dried Azalea's hair.
"Do you plan on keeping her all night, or do you think you could go quicker?" He said with crossed arms.
"Well, I'm sorry our savage brother decided to feed so messily from her." Rebekah said, as she grabbed Azalea's now clean hand to help her up. "Turn around, Nik."
Klaus complied. He heard he stand up from the water. "Thank you." She said softly to Rebekah.
"It's my pleasure." Rebekah told her. "Now, dry off whilst I go grab you a dress." Rebekah walked out of the room.
"You're going to make me forget all of this, right?" She asked Klaus. He turned, to see her with a drying cloth wrapped around her thin frame.
"Yes." He said, his lips formed into a tight line.
"How can you walk in the daylight without burning?" She asked, now a bit more confident.
"We have these rings, spelled to keep us from feeling the effects of the sun." He showed her his ring. She looked at it in fascination.
"Ko- your brother, he told me not to scream and I couldn't. Why?" She pressed on.
"It's a trick we like to call compulsion." Klaus explained.
"Right. Do you like the blue or the pink better?" Rebekah walked in with two dresses on her arm.
"Oh- no. I can't take one of your dresses. I'd feel horrible." Azalea shook her head. Rebekah held up the blue dress.
"Blue looks fine, then. Nik, what do you think?" She turned to her brother, who thought for a second.
"I agree, blue would look quite exquisite." Klaus said, leaning against the wall.
"Blue it is." Rebekah shoves the dress into her hands. "Nik, turn around."
With a sigh, he turned once more. Azalea hesitantly put on the dress, Rebekah helping her tie it up in the back. "It looks lovely on you." Rebekah praised, causing her to blush.
"I-I need to leave. My brother is bound to be worried about me." Azalea's face fell as she spoke.
"She knows that we have to-"
"Yes, Rebekah. She knows." Klaus grabbed Azalea by the arm, taking her back to the sitting room, which now held Elijah, Kol, and Finn. She couldn't even look straight at Kol. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, looking up at Klaus. He began to compel her. "You will forget everything that happened. All you remember is that you got you dress dirty, so you borrowed one from Rebekah and then you got in a long conversation. You are going to go home as quickly as possible."
Azalea walked away from the family, not sparing them another look. She walked home quickly, being careful with her new dress.
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