Rotten Shreds.
Vampire Stand-off.

I reaped my sorrows. Bargaining had been a speciality that Milo had commended. He smiled greatly when I'd negotiate deals with fellow kingdoms. However, in this situation, I felt as though I was a ghost to my own lore.

Kael was not pleased to know of the deal I had made.

"You told them they could stay here?"

He held such a prowling scowl, I flinched as he cocked his head to the side. I never knew what to expect when he puffed his chest and looked away from my frame.

It meant he was thinking, which couldn't mean anything worthwhile on my end.

I nodded my head, no words being pulled from my mouth. It was like the siblings had to pry my tongue with an invisible string in order to get me to talk. I had no desire to entertain them. Not any more than I needed to.

"They are blood sucking demons!"

He yelled so abruptly, resounding and gallingly. Inej only stands beside him, eyes bonded to the floor with her hands twisted behind her back. I could tell she was just as restless of my decision, but held back her vile breath.

I stuttered to respond, but something finally released from my gasp.

"As are you, and yet, I allow you to stay."

I instantaneously shut my mouth, eyes splayed as he sprinted towards me, hand wheezing my throat. He held me menacingly against the wall, my feet barely grazing the ground. I squinted while he pointed my face up towards the ceiling.

"You allow me to stay?" He chuckled daringly in front of me, "I!" He slams my skull further into the wall, acting as though he is knocking sense into me, "I allow myself to stay here! You mean nothing in this situation."

I could feel a tear stinging my eyes. His thumb sharply tugged along my skin, digging itself deeper as his anger heightened by my remark.

I grumbled and gargled out a tone, despite it being scraggy and congested.

"I— I'm sorry, I must've overstepped."

I croaked as my feet swayed in the air. My hands flew to his one hand, prying and pulling his touch away from me.

He scoffed thoughtlessly, disgusted in my tone and tossed me to the side; releasing me from his grip. I was expecting him to retort and belittle me, but the comment never budged. He turned his back on me and stalked to Inej.

I couldn't hear what they were whispering about. I knew nothing propitious, as Inej peered her eyes over to me every so often. I scurried to my feet and cradled myself softly, feeling the rashness of warmth against my neck.

Kael appeared heated, more so than earlier. Inej must have spoken in such a disgraceful volume as he rolled his eyes and palmed her in the face. They could never seem to get along; always outraged, never satisfied.

I wanted to leave the room, but I knew if I disappeared from their sights, I would be in trouble later for my disobedience. Though, Kael didn't even seem to notice my appearance as he fled to the opposite end of the room.

Inej swiftly nodded her head, giving me a knowing look. I was finally on my way out. Though, I knew this wouldn't be the end of my conversation with Kael. His disapproving nonsense was only scratching the surface.

He did not want other vampires meddling into his and Inej's reigns.

As I headed for the door, a jiggle of the knob snapped open and I flinched back. Eyes trailing the ground towards the groups shoes, I allow myself to glance in their direction.

It were my guests. The Mikaelsons. Half of them, at least. Elijah, I have known for certain, the others I was wary of. I couldn't quite remember their names, but that was due to my own fault.

Elijah curtly smiled at me, just as surprised to see me. His eyes dilated and soothing.

"My apologies. We heard a commotion and wanted to make sure everything was alright?"

He piqued his curiosity, looming his gaze directly at me. The question seemed to be more designed for me than anyone else. I gulped loudly and turned my head in the path in which Kael was standing, before adverting it back and promptly nodding my head.

I didn't allow myself to get in trouble.

Kael launched himself off the wall, stalking closer towards the Mikaelsons. He wasn't in any mood to talk anymore, but I was incorrect, as he was only irritable with my presence.

"Benedetta, leave."

His tone presumptuous and crude. He waved his fingers in the air, signaling for the Mikaelsons to step forward. This was a challenge I did not want to be sacrificed for.

Though, the exit was full and I had no way out.

"Why must she? We only wanted to check on her."

The man spoke fluently and confidently. He held no concern for Kael, that much had been impressive.

Kael groaned, treading forward with his hand against my back. The ridge of his knife pierced my skin, his thumb just barely covering the tip of it as he eagerly edged me to move.

My eyes flutter to the two men and then to the two woman, pleading for them to let me out. The woman step aside, but the two men cowered and crowded the doorway.

"I must speak with you," Kael responded, observing their censorious looks, "alone." He did not want to play any games, he wanted them gone.

Grudgingly, I noticed the pair of brothers separate from the frame, allowing me to exit and flee to my activities. I knew I needed to tend and water the flowers in my garden, so I hurriedly fled. But I wasn't as fast as the man holding my wrist.

My breath hitches, I could feel my mouth gape. My back facing his before whirling me around. His umber eyes bore into mine, I felt enthralled by his intriguing and intelligent persona. He spoke so powerfully and clearly with his eyes.

"Are you alright?" He scrutinized his features towards me, already guessing my answer was to be one of a lie.

My eyes always did betray me.

"Splendid, Mr. Mikaelson."

I presented a promising smile while his dropped. He hummed politely before releasing my arm. Nothing else was said as the group of four crawled into the room and slammed the door shut.

I withered away, frowning at the thought of yet another bloodbath.

୨ৎ

"Don't you suppose that was a little dramatic?" A woman of wit spawns the two idiots planted in the center of the room. She could easily pinpoint their reek and sadism; she held no altruism over rotting immaturities.

Inej curls her tongue, whirling it against her cheek as she eyed Kael with her arms crossed. She could practically sense the peeling of ire that weathered and soddened within her. She held back such a nefarious tongue for the sake of Kael and his ways. If not, she would've retorted cattily in return by now.

"What is the need of your presence? Why are you here?" Kael double questioned, cross-examining any of the four who stood before him. Such an open-ended discussion beginning to stir.

They all glance at the other, Elijah pursing his lips thinly.

"No need to fret. We already discussed with Lady Benedetta."

Kael perceived the family. They all held commensurate mannerisms. Polished and refined. Hands pooled together and laid nicely behind their backs. Their gazes remaining the same, stropped and aloof. Kael refused to be drawn to a requisition.

He grunted, he couldn't tell the family Benedetta was not of importance in this matter. Because the truth of it all? She was, and that's what made him feel dismayed. The worst of it, they oddly appeared to have some sort of allegiance towards her repletion.

He couldn't stand it. Any other guests would've been down by his feet by now. Either that, or ruined by clot and demise. He did not like to be the weaker subject.

"I asked," Kael took a stringent step closer, trying to appear fearsome like he did to Benedetta, "where do you come from?"

The gentleman next to Elijah cracked a genuine smile as he smeared his teeth into a linear line. Kael's attempt to be frightening was comical to his sinuous grin.

Elijah merely kicked his leg to the side, urging his brother to act accordingly. Something in which Kael had to often do to his sister.

"Vilbar, long ways from here," Elijah replied with a simple nod.

Kael furrowed his brows, uncertain of the reason they approached Benedetta's kingdom. Surely they could've found a better deed elsewhere.

"It's an unfortunate circumstance," he glares at the man, darting his eyes around his siblings, "that you must leave."

The woman scoff, watching as their brothers glare in return. They couldn't possibly believe the audacity of the milksop.

"Leave? For what purpose?" The woman pestered, her brows tapered.

Kael licked his lips, kicking one foot in front of the other, "We cannot have lingering vampires in the palace."

Elijah smirked, "A shame, really... because we have no intent on leaving."

Kael's chest heaved, his breathing sporadic. He did not like Elijah or the way he spoke to him like a dimwit. Inej cowered closer, feeling as though it was an intimidating act. The Mikaelsons didn't even move an inch, nor did they blink.

Kael sped towards the woman that soured a disgusting pour from her mouth, he didn't like being told what to do, especially from a woman. His teeth harping and eyes leaping towards the nape of her neck. Though, she was keener and swifter. He was incredibly emasculated against her.

Exchanging the roles, she held a grip along his neck, raising her hand higher as he pedaled his feet into the air, suffocating his hands around hers. She used a virulently powerful force against him, not even allowing him the chance to wither.

Inej gapes, unnerved but indignantly hastes over to aid Kael. Ripping the woman off, she stumbled back into her family's line, watching as Kael shook off Inej's grasp.

"You may try to kill us, but it simply won't work in your favor."

She grinned playfully, forgetting about the scene that had just unfolded. Meanwhile, Kael couldn't seem to rid it out of his mind. Flabbergasted and frustrated.

"And why is that?"

Kael didn't understand it. They were all vampires; all the same. How was she significantly stronger?

The man next to Elijah promptly spoke, a sense of pride and egotistical contempt humoring his lips, "Let's just say, we are a bit more experienced than you are."

Inej and Kael glare, Inej interjecting the conversation before her brother could even get a word in.

"We're all vampires here, we all die the same."

Precisely true. As they were all vampires, piled and consumed into the small room, but there was a vast difference between the two against four. Kael and Inej were meaningless and reckless, they wouldn't survive a day in the real supernatural world.

The group guffawed, venomously and pointedly. And they were laughing hysterically at the pair.

Rushing and killing one of the newborn vampires assistants, one without a name as they didn't care for one, the man with strikingly blonde hair did it so effortlessly. Ruthlessly, he rips their heart out— coldblooded and desperate. Inej's eyes prickled tears, while Kael became restless. Angered and bemused that Benedetta allowed vampires into their territory. This was exactly the reason as to why Kael immensely distasted their presence.

"We can easily do that," Inej bites back.

The same woman responds, growing tired of this pitiful game and argument.

"Then why don't you?" She taunts her in a facetious tone. Her lips tantalizing into a voluminous grin.

Kael lewdly eyes Inej, dare she ever keep her mouth shut, it would allow him to think clearly. Her antics had caused him to reluctantly accept their presence.

"You may stay, but do not cause trouble around here."

Elijah dryly chuckles, "Why must you think we should listen to you?" He narrowed his eyes straight at him, he couldn't possibly comprehend his relevance or orders. He was as measly as newborns could get.

"It's my word around these walls."

He tried so hard with his confidence, but none of them roistered along with it.

The Mikaelson family all eye the other, flummoxed. They had thought Benedetta was the root to all the decision making.

"Is your name Benedetta?" Elijah questions cockily, already knowing the answer. He smugly eyed him, awaiting his cowardly reply.

Kael gulped thickly.

"No."

At least he truthfully answered, Elijah thought to himself.

"Precisely so. I already negotiated a deal with the governess of the kingdom. But don't worry, we won't be of any threat."

Elijah observed his demeanor. His shoulders hindering his own balance. He knew the sudden change of heart, understanding he wasn't nearly as capable or strong than they were. And never once, would Kael ever amount to what they were.

Elijah's brother smiles widely, he couldn't make any promises. Inej looked like a delicious meal to devour. Her snarky and sarcastic attitude would get her one day.

Despite his surrendering obligations, Kael felt like they were a threat to his plan of new doings and beginnings. Benedetta knew of Kael and Inej being vampires, they didn't know of her knowing they were too. It was an advantage against them, and he couldn't have that.

Kael just nods his head, while Inej is perturbed. She had wanted to tear and rip them apart, just like they did to one of their own. Inej did not like to be angry, always needing to feast when dissatisfied.

"Neither will I or my dear sister," Kael's eyes trail to his sister, who only carried a scowl on her demented face.

The two sisters scoffed at her incompetence.

"We shall see about that, won't we?" The blonde girl challenged. She could practically see the rage in Inej's stance. She enjoyed being the cause of such anger.

Kael nodded, a conceited smile evident as he replied.

"My love," he motioned towards the woman near the door, "show them to their quarters."

And as quickly as they entered, they left to fit in comfortably. Not before they snarled once more at the both of them. They were just as much of a nuance to them than they assumed they were to Benedetta. Nonetheless, a deal had been reached.

The vampires were to leave the others alone. Though, some of the Mikaelsons couldn't promise such a favor as Elijah had pledged. It was only a matter of time until they all crossed paths again, especially when it came to Benedetta.