Hybrid Heart

VIII. I Fancy You

I've been sitting with Rebekah for almost half an hour. She'd told me a bit about her life. I liked her actually, contrary to what Caroline predicted.

"Who did you invite tonight?" I ask her.

"Matt Donovan, know him? He's gorgeous, looks glorious in a suit." She answered, her eyes averting to the tall blonde man standing right next to Caroline. Matt looked like Matt in a suit. But I hardly noticed him most days. He liked his own company and so did I, meaning our paths only crossed on occasion.

"Yeah, he's nice, you like him?"

"What about my brother, do you like him?" She turns the question on me, very quickly.

"Would it offend you if I said no? I can't say I know Klaus well at all. He appears sometimes, says something awful or does something terrible and then leaves again. He is charming though, I will give him that." I admit, shrugging my shoulders.

It didn't seem fair to speak ill of somebody in front of their family. My answer was diplomatic and rather avoidant. Rebekah must know the sort of person her brother was, I doubt I even knew the half of it, but I wasn't about to sully decent conversation with animosity. Despite there being a great deal of it, among my peers. The glass in my hand was half empty by this point, though it was my third, I wasn't drunk enough to start giving emotionally honest answers.

She gives a small smirk and nudges my arm as if to tease me. Rebekah had been clearly been lacking some sort of kindness from women in her life. Perhaps she lacked it from people in general and was just better equip to deal with men, given she had spent her life around her brothers. I would have to ask one day but on the first meeting, I really shouldn't be so bold.

"Annabella. Sister. I trust you're both enjoying the evening. I'm yet to see the two of you apart and away from the bar." The accented, smooth voice of Elijah Mikaelson greeted us before I saw him.

He looked only slightly more dressed up than usual. In fact, the only time I'd properly met Elijah, he had been dressed in an expensive looking suit. His formal wear was likely just as comfortable for him as his usual attire. He was undeniable handsome, as if he were sculpted carefully. His eyes, however, were much like Klaus', very old.

"Tell me you haven't come over here just to lecture us, Elijah." Rebekah spoke into her glass as she sipped.

"No, I haven't. It's nice to see you again, Annabella. You look marvellous." Elijah bows his head.

"Thank you, nice to see you as well." I smile politely, unsure of how to properly respond. There's a seriousness to Elijah but it isn't at all malevolent. Almost like a university professor or something.

I'm not sure if Elijah can sense my unease or if he's trying to figure something out about me but he doesn't hide that he's staring. It was a suspicious look, one that I'd have shrunk under if I didn't have a few drinks in me. My guess would be that Klaus had told all of his siblings a couple of things about me and that had caused some curiosity. Rebekah had already confirmed that he'd told her about me and I'd met Elijah once before, which may have inspired discourse.

"I trust Rebekah is welcome and not imposing?"

"Yes, she's very welcome. I'm the one that imposed, if anything." I answer quickly as Rebekah scowls beside me.

"I've found my sister has one of the more enjoyable companies, out of my siblings." Elijah let's his eyes wander to the crowd. He must've already had some trouble with his brothers this evening, judging by the jibe.

"Do you all spend much time together?" It might've been a ridiculously human question to ask but I was human.

Elijah and Rebekah look to each other and then take a moment to think about it. I didn't think too much about the question. Specifically when it came to Rebekah, who had gaps in her life due to being in a box.