Chapter Thirteen
1797 Words
When I walk into the Grill, I find Rebekah just about to leave.
Allison: “Rebekah, where have you been? I haven’t seen you since Nik tried to drain Elena.”
Rebekah: “Oh, just daggered in a box, thanks to Elena.”
Allison: “Really? Elena did that? Why?”
Rebekah: “I would love to know that myself. I was actually trying to help her at the time before she literally stabbed me in the back.”
Allison: “I’m so sorry that happened to you. Why are you here now, though?”
Rebekah: “I was inviting Matt to the ball tonight. Are you going to be there?”
Allison: “Yeah, Nik invited me.”
Rebekah: “Well, I can’t wait to see you there.”
Allison: “Likewise.”
She leaves, and I walk over to Caroline and Elena, who are looking at me with questioning looks.
Elena: “What was that about?”
I take my seat as I reply to her.
Allison: “Nothing, really. We bonded before Klaus brought Stefan and I back here, and I haven’t seen her since Senior prank night.”
Elena and Caroline share a guilty look.
Allison: “So Elena, why did you stab her in the back?”
She looks surprised at my question.
Elena: “How did you - Did Rebekah just tell you?”
Allison: “Yes, but I’m sure there must have been a reason for you to do something like that. So now that there aren’t any other vampires around, tell me why.”
Elena: “We were trying to kill Klaus, and I couldn’t take the chance that Rebekah might have tried to interfere. He is her brother, after all. It’s not like I wanted to do it.”
Caroline: “You did what you had to, Elena.”
Caroline puts a hand on Elena’s shoulder to comfort her.
Allison: “I can understand that. I don’t like it, but I understand. So, are you two going to the ball tonight?”
Elena: “Yes, actually. Esther invited me.”
Caroline: “I’m definitely going. Matt needs someone to protect him.”
Elena: “Are you going too?”
Allison: “Yes, Klaus invited me.”
She looks stunned at me.
Elena: “Why would you go with him?”
Allison: “I said I would give him a chance to prove himself. So, of course, I will honor my word. Plus, I need a distraction after last night.”
She looks sympathetic as she touches my hand.
Elena: “How are you doing?”
Allison: “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Caroline: “Klaus has some sick, twisted Cinderella fetish if he thinks he can win you over.”
Allison: “I don’t know. It seems more like a Beauty and the Beast scenario than Cinderella.”
Caroline: “You’re right, and that makes it worse.”
She huffs as Matt brings me a drink. I take a sip to calm myself. I knew I couldn’t tell them how I felt when he invited me.
Allison: “Can’t we just talk about something else?”
Caroline: “We should go shopping. It’s a last minute ball, and we still need dresses and shoes.”
Elena: “That could be fun.”
Allison: “Why not? I already have a dress, but I could use some shoes to match it.”
Caroline: “How do you already have a dress?”
I avoid eye contact as I look down at my glass while replying.
Allison: “Klaus may have given me one.”
Elena: “Really? And you accepted it?”
Allison: “It’s a stunning dress.”
Caroline: “How does he even know if you would like it?”
Allison: “He probably picked up on my taste when I went shopping with Rebekah. She had nothing from anything after the 1920s, so I had to help her find a whole new wardrobe.”
They both groan.
Elena: “Can we see it?”
Allison: “If you want to. It’s back at my house.”
Caroline: “Let’s go.”
We returned to my house, and they liked the dress too. Then we go shopping and find dresses for them and shoes for all three of us.
6:30 finally arrives just as I finish getting ready, and there is a knock at my door. I answer the door, finding Klaus looking very handsome in his suit at my door.
Klaus: “You look lovely, Allison.”
Allison: “Thank you. You are quite dashing in a suit.”
He gives me his signature smile before guiding me to his car and taking me to his house.
When we enter, I am stunned by how extravagant everything is. It is so beautiful, I am speechless. We mingle with some of the other guests before Elijah approaches us.
Elijah: “Allison, seeing you again is a pleasure.”
He kisses my hand.
Allison: “Yes, I’m happy to see you out of that box finally.”
We both smile while Klaus rolls his eyes.
Klaus: “Must we bring that up?”
Elijah: “We are all out now and together as a family.”
Allison: “And yet, I have still not met your other two brothers.”
Klaus: “There’s not much need. Finn is a bore, and Kol can be quite reckless.”
?: “Well, that wasn’t a very nice way to describe me.”
Another man walks up to us with what seems like a roguish smirk on his face.
Kol: “I’m Kol Mikaelson. You must be Allison Forbes, the one my brother has been searching for during the last century.”
He kisses my hand.
Allison: “Indeed I am. It’s nice to meet you, Kol.”
Elijah: “We must go welcome the other guests.”
Kol and Elijah leave while Klaus turns to me with a serious look in his eyes.
Klaus: “Allison, whatever happens tonight, do not be alone in a room with my mother or Finn. I don’t trust them not to try something.”
Allison: “Alright.”
He kisses my hand. I see my sister enter the room, and she looks very anxious.
Allison: “Klaus, can you get me a drink?”
Klaus: “Of course, love.”
He looks at Caroline before giving me a smile and leaving for a drink.
Allison: “Care, you look beautiful in that dress.”
I hug her.
Caroline: “You look beautiful too, Ally. Have you seen Matt or the others anywhere?”
Allison: “I haven’t really had the chance to look around much, but I saw Matt with Rebekah. Damon was with Carol Lockwood a minute ago.”
Caroline: “Well, it looks like Elena has a mysterious new man.”
I look over at the drink table to see Elena and someone I’ve never seen before. Klaus joins us and hands me a glass.
Klaus: “Here you go, Love.”
Allison: “Thank you.”
Klaus: “Caroline, you look lovely.”
Caroline: “Thanks.”
Allison: “Klaus, who is that man walking away from the drink table?”
He turns to see the man.
Klaus: “That would be my older brother, Finn.”
Caroline and I make eye contact, both worried about Elena now.
Elijah: “Uh, if everyone could gather, please.”
We turn to see Elijah on the staircase.
Klaus: “Excuse me, ladies. Allison, wait here for me.”
I nod before he walks toward the stairs with all of his siblings.
Elijah: “Welcome. Thank you for joining us.[A woman joins them from the top of the stairs] You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it’s tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance.”
Caroline: “Who do you think that is?”
Allison: “Maybe their mother. She’s the only one I haven’t been introduced to.”
Elijah: “Tonight’s pick is a centuries-old waltz. So if all of you could find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom.”
He and his siblings walk down the stairs while their mother goes back up.
Caroline: “I guess we know why Klaus wanted you to wait here.”
Allison: “Yup.”
Klaus: “Allison, would you join me for the first dance?”
Allison: “Alright.”
He takes my hand and leads me into the ballroom. Caroline joins Stefan, Elena dances with Damon, and Matt joins Rebekah. The waltz starts, and I find it difficult to turn away from his gaze.
Klaus: “I’m glad you came.”
Allison: “Well, it was either caviar or sympathy casseroles.”
Klaus: “I heard about your father.”
Allison: “Please, don’t.”
Klaus: “Very well. Onto more mannered subjects, like how excellent of a dancer you are.”
Allison: “I had training. I was Miss Mystic Falls for three years before my sister.”
Klaus: “I know.”
Allison: “How could you possibly know that?”
Klaus: “You are the most interesting thing in this town.”
Allison: “I doubt that.”
Klaus: “You shouldn’t.”
As part of the dance, we have to separate, and I turn into Elijah’s arms.
After the song ends, Elijah excuses himself, and I go outside to find the horses. I stroke one along its muzzle. It whinnies.
Klaus: “You like horses.”
His voice startled me a little.
Allison: “Yes, I used to ride when I was younger, but I haven’t had the opportunity in the last 10 years.”
Klaus: “Maybe I could take you one day.”
I shyly smile.
Allison: “That would be nice.”
Klaus: “You know, horses are the opposite of people. They’re loyal. My father hunted me for a thousand years, and the closest he ever came was the day he killed my favorite horse. He severed its neck with a sword as a warning.”
Allison: “Did you ever consider sitting down with your father and talking it out?”
Klaus: “I’m afraid my relationship with my father was a little bit more complex than yours.”
Allison: “Maybe so, but I let my father go with no regrets.”
I'm starting to notice how cold it is out here.
Klaus: “Are you cold? Would you like to wear my jacket?”
Allison: “Why don’t we just go inside? I’ve gotten enough fresh air.”
Klaus: “Alright.”
He holds his arm out to me and escorts me inside once I wrap my arm around his.
- Writer
