TVD Katerina Petrova

I’d recently been banished from my family in Bulgaria. I was still wealthy but couldn’t escape the night when my child was born, taken away. There was a moment where a few noblemen attempted to court me, they had no idea I was a mother, or that I’d been exiled, they merely knew me as a rich woman from Bulgaria. Appearance was not vanity, it was strategy, and that is a game I understood as a young girl.

England offered something close to a second chance, and I wore it well. The jewels on my wrists and throat along with powder and elegant gowns concealed the parts I didn’t want revealed, business kept me wealthy while getting me more connections to more nobles. There were rumors of a noble family, similar to my own. I stepped out of my carriage in an olive gown just off of my shoulders, it was my signature along with a big necklace in the middle of my chest just above my bust. My hair was wildly curled. It was one of my signatures, spending hours on my appearance was key for more business. Stepping out of the carriage, I’m met and escorted by an attractive man, blue eyes, he looked younger than the other lords or noblemen. Accepting his arm I walked into this big beautiful palace, it felt older than all of the others I’ve seen. It almost felt like magic, which my father swore was the work of the devil.

I offer a curtsy I’ve practiced a million times in the mirror as I’m brought deeper into the house, being introduced to the family. They are known as the Mikaelsons. It seemed like an old name. Like my own. The young man who picked me up was dismissed by one of the noblemen, appearing to be brothers. I could see one another’s face in the other.

“My name is Katerina Petrova, from Bulgaria my lords.” I spent months trying to smooth out my accent, yet now I sounded like a mix of the two. It was best not to lie about my heritage to them, especially men of this status.

The seemingly older brother stands to greet me, it making my heart jump a bit. I was always skittish to meet new people but this Mikaelson family felt almost like my own. Noble, peaceful.

“That’s very kind my lord…” I pause realizing I have yet to know his name. His presence felt older than his appearance and his composure was still.

“Have you been to Bulgaria?” The gentleman nodded before taking my hand placing a kiss.

“It is lovely to meet you. Mila Katerina.” The elegance of him speaking in my language, it feels safe, like a blanket my mother made and my father would wrap around me as a girl. If only there was a way to be pure for them again. But being with child out of wedlock was a mortal sin. The first thing they did over listen, was take my child and make me run. Run far away to where I am now. Away from my family and child. Yet here I am now, in the company of the Mikaelsons. The old saying of where doors close a new opportunity arises becoming my reality. It was easy to forget the good things of your old life when it was taken so cruelly. It’s easier to enjoy what you have in the moment, wealth and business was my new life.

He called one of his servants to summon another, he also appeared young but his presence remained as powerful if not more than the one before. They knew how to make an entrance.

“This is Katerina Petrova Niklaus.” The scruffier, more untamed man walked to me, examining my face, even grabbing my chin, a curl falling from being put up.

“I am sorry my lord- Niklaus.” As my hair touched his skin, the apology came out, it was one of my many habits since my child. There were many things to be sorry for, but I fear the one person that deserves it the most will never hear. My eyes turned glassy for a moment before being snapped into reality by his gentle yet calloused thumb. Perhaps he was an instrumental.

“No need for formalities with me Katerina, you may call my dear older brother Elijah, or my lord.” Niklaus chucked, Elijah staring me down. The scruffier man was the younger brother funnily enough, but he did have the more playfulness of the younger brother to begin with. Elijah was more noble, serious, calculated and careful. Like me, and I think we knew that about each other without saying.

Niklaus kept his finger on my chin, seemingly examining my skin.

“How old are you Mila?” I temporarily freeze at the question before answering honestly.

“Eighteen my lord.” Elijah’s eyes become darker than the dark brown I saw before. They lighten back up and Niklaus places his hand in his pants which honestly for being a noble or royal Niklaus would look no different than a servant or homeless man, but he was still captivating as ever. Elijah was so well groomed and taken care of I could smell his incredible cologne even across this room as he’d made his way across within an instant without me realizing. It was hard to get things past me. My mind may have wandered, but I always felt that time slowed when it did and that I could always keep up.

“We have big plans, Katerina.” Elijah offers me a seat which again, I didn’t even realize he’d made it this close to me.

“You are fast my lord, enough to keep me on my toes.” I lift my dress before sitting, Elijah tapping a fork on the glass before a woman approaches. She was mystically beautiful, with glassy skin and beautiful jewels, a specific stone in the middle of her chest.

“My lady, what a beautiful necklace. What is that stone?” It was like nothing I ever saw. It glistened in every light.

“It is called a moonstone, my lady.” She immediately came to examine me, her eyes lighting up, yet a hint of sadness arose deep in them.

“How old are you?” She paused, not knowing my name.

“Katerina Petrova.” Elijah introduces us and I go to try and stand to greet her formally however she waves it off, examining me more.

“Is she, or is she not?” Niklaus looked at the other woman in the room and weirdly I felt examined, as if everyone was looking at me. The lady nods, before Niklaus smiles happily. Elijah also smiled with his brother. The lady left and a servant came to serve us exquisite food. A large lamb was beautifully glazed in honey with an acceptable amount of wine. There were beautiful crystal chalices for us to drink from.

“Allow me Mila Katerina.” Elijah pours my glass, keeping that piercing eye contact. Those hazel daggers made my thighs squeeze together out of intimidation.

“Thank you very much Lord Elijah.” You could see the fire in his eye as he was called my lord. Men often enjoyed power, women enjoyed devotion and loyalty, it was easy to read people, their desires mostly, but these men were so different from normal men especially of their status and age.

“It is wine of twenty years. Sweet for a sweet lady. Mila Petrova.” Elijah winks before drinking his own glass elegantly, Niklaus sipping his but it dripping along the side, him using his thumb to clean it over a napkin like a normal Lord. He was captivatingly informal, these little habits that Elijah did not have made him uniquely enticing. Lord Elijah cut a portion of the meat, placing it cleanly on my plate, with some of the vegetables and potato. Elegantly I grab a fork as my mother and servant taught me, taking a bite of the beautiful meal.

“It is delicious my lords, thank you kindly.”

“It is the work of my dearest brother, Niklaus.” The brothers smirk.

“Oh my, but do you not have chefs or maidens? Why would you treat one such as I so kindly, regardless of my status.” Niklaus smirks even harder, sipping his wine.

“Because you, Mila Katerina, are an extraordinary woman with an incredible purpose and are a diamond in a mine. We see you and wish to court you.” Niklaus looks with fiery eyes and Elijah smiles as well. Before they both eat from their own plates.

“You have outdone yourself today brother.” Elijah points out and Niklaus smirks again.

“You as well, you’ve found the one we’ve been looking for. It felt like we’d been searching for hundreds of years.” My heart flutters at it, these men were so captivating. Finishing my meal, we spend a while speaking about business, our dynamic. I’d be their companion, their lover for a time. I found myself cautious of Niklaus, his boyish grin reminded me that devils can be the most devious. But Elijah’s presence was soothing and calming that it eased any fear.

“Mila Katerina, we insist you stay with us, it is our pleasure to provide and assure your absolute comfort.” Elijah purrs and it sounds lovely as ever. Being taken care of is a luxury I’ve always craved. Financially of course, it was no issue however I hungered for more, to be satiated in my desire to find a new family. One who valued all I was, who did not judge or abandon me at an error.

“We are already a family, Mila Katerina, and we wish you part of it.” Elijah encourages.

“Thank you my lords.” One of their servants’ eyes locked onto me. No words were exchanged. Just a cold blank stare.