Klaus turned as James walked into the room, a small notebook in his hand.
“Is that it?” asked Klaus, reaching for the book.
“Every werewolf and potential werewolf in New York & the surrounding area,” noted James, handing it over. “I included addresses and pack information where available.”
“Excellent,” replied Klaus. “Thank you, James.”
“Of course, sir. Will there be anything else?”
“No, that will be all.” Klaus dismissed James and returned to the book. He and Kol had discussed the need for advanced security a few days ago. They needed more warning than enemy knocking on the front door. Klaus suggested sentries, posting lookouts in shifts throughout the city and outlying areas. He felt that a combination of vampires and protected humans would work.
It was Kol who had suggested hybrids and Klaus quickly agreed. Hybrids were naturally loyal to him which meant he didn’t need to spend as much time checking up on employees. And as Kol pointed out, hybrids were immune to the restrictions of the sun. Klaus had James put a list together, including anyone who had yet to trigger their werewolf gene. Klaus wasn’t risking his security network on incomplete information.
Klaus marked several pages in the book. He wanted loner wolves, those who had hinted at wanting to be hybrids, or people with no family who had yet to trigger the change. Wolves in packs weren’t as open to the hybrid idea. Klaus wasn’t ready to risk making an enemy who could go after Caroline by turning the wrong hybrid. Once he had his list of wolves to turn, Klaus grabbed a few vials of Elena’s blood from the secure storage locker and headed out.
It took only a few minutes to reach his first stop. A young wolf named Allie had been going out with them socially and become close with Rebekah. She was rather infatuated with the idea of hybrids in general, though not specifically with him. Caroline had made quite certain that Allie understood the need for distinction on that front.
He rapped loudly on the apartment door. “Allie? It’s Klaus. May I come in?”
Allie swung open the door. Like most wolves, she kept a simple style. Jeans and boots with a loose oxford knotted over a black tank top. She looked slightly puzzled at Klaus’ sudden appearance at her door. “Klaus? What’s going on?” She stepped aside to let him in the apartment. He’d been over a week ago with Caroline so the official invitation was no longer necessary.
“I’m curious,” said Klaus. “Do you have any interest in gaining a few powers?”
Abby smiled. “You’re making hybrids.” It was more of a statement than a question but she still paused to allow Klaus to confirm her conclusion with a brief nod. “Then I’m very interested. What’s the catch?”
“I need sentries throughout the city,” explained Klaus. He saw no point in hiding his purpose. Those who were on board would be leaders in his security team. Those who weren’t…well Klaus found anyone could be persuaded eventually.
“So what do you need from me?” asked Allie. She had already rolled up her sleeves to leave her veins open. The wolf was very familiar with how the hybrid transformation process worked. She also knew that Klaus didn’t tell people about his plans until he was ready to execute them.
“Leadership. Once you turn, I want you heading up a team to watch this particular neighborhood. If an enemy makes it into the city undetected, I don’t want to find out in my living room.” Klaus spoke matter of factly but his tone made it very clear what would happen to a sentry who let a threat slip by.
Allie nodded. “Okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And what do I get in return?”
Klaus as slightly taken aback. Not that he was overly surprised that someone would want to make a deal, he just hadn’t expected Allie (or any of the wolves) to realize they could ask until they’d been turned. And then of course his own feelings on the matter would persuade them not to ask. His demeanor reflected none of these thoughts as he answered Allie. “My protection.”
“Regardless of whether I am currently working for your family,” insisted Allie. “And I want Mikaelson protection, not just yours. Can you grant me that?”
“Clever. Very well, for so long as I, or a member of my family is capable, we will protect you if necessary for so long as you are loyal to us.” He reached out to shake Allie’ hand to seal the deal.
“Swear it,” said Allie.
Now Klaus was truly impressed. While Originals were known for keeping their word, it could still be broken. Swearing invoked an ancient magic, sealing the promiser to his words. To break a sworn oath was risking death, no matter what your supernatural ancestry.He wouldn’t offer this deal to most wolves, or anyone, but the fact that Allie was smart enough to ask was enough to make him agree. It would also further secure her loyalty, making her the perfect leader for his troops. And Klaus was no stranger to a well-worded oath.
“This I swear,” he said now, uttering the words that would secure his oath.
Allie smiled. “Shall we then?”
Klaus bit into his arm and held it out for her to drink. Allie drank quickly and cleanly, leaving only a single trickle of blood as the wound healed.
“Apologies for this next part,” said Klaus, before reaching out and snapping Allie’s neck. As the wolf collapsed, Klaus set her on the couch until she woke up. While he waited, Klaus walked through Allie’s house, familiarizing himself with as many details as possible.
As Klaus snooped through Allie’s things he took note of a few details. She lived simply but comfortably, utilizing older furniture over the latest trends. Her personal items were limited, easy to move if necessary, but clearly important. A worn stuffed dog sat on Allie’s bed, pictures were in banged up frames, and a few journals sat on a nightstand.
Klaus didn’t look in the diaries. People still lied to themselves and journals were no exception. The best clues to a person’s self, to their character were always found in the day to day details.
More important to Klaus was the reading material he found on a locked shelf. Allie had the shelf hidden behind another to keep it safe and presumably hidden from unwanted guests. The books and papers he found showed clear research and notes on the powers of vampries and werewolves. Allie’s own notes separated truth from fiction (with a high level of accuracy) and had information recorded from recent hybrids. Allie was careful and thorough. There weren’t plans of takeovers or attempts to speculate on what could happen in various situations. Her notes simply detailed facts.
Research. Thorough research without embellishment from a supernatural meant one thing. A sense of self-preservation of epic proportions. Klaus rarely saw it in supernaturals, the desire for power was usually too strong. Katherine was one of the best. Klaus still hated the bitch but he had to respect her instincts. Vampires who pissed off Originals didn’t live long. That Katherine had at one point or another crossed every member of his family spoke volumes to her priorities.
Unlike Katherine, whose desire to look out for herself first meant her loyalties were fickle, Allie had clearly chosen a side. Her research indicated that she knew the Originals were the side to be on. In the few months Klaus had known Allie, he’s seen that once she picked a side, she stayed there even at personal cost. Which considering Kol’s hothead attitude, happened more often during their nights out than most of them cared for.
After about an hour had passed, Allie woke up with a jolt. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “That was unpleasant.”
Klaus handed Allie a vial. “This won’t be much better. Just take a small swallow. A little doppelganger goes a long way.”
Allie took a quick drink and handed the vial back to Klaus. “How long will this part take?”
“A few minutes,” he answered, as Allie started to convulse. As usual the hybrid transformation happened quickly and Allie bravely refrained from screaming during her transition.
It was when the transformation finished that Klaus realized he had a problem. Allie, as a hybrid, was no longer invited into her home. She was struggling to breathe as the magic behind the invitation attacked her.
Allie threw herself out the front door with a gasp. “Shit! Okay that part really sucked.” She inhaled deeply, trying to recover. Technically the vampire aspect meant she didn’t need air exactly but old habits die hard.
“This is a problem,” commented Klaus. One that he had no solution for.
“I can actually take care of that,” said Allie, fully recovered.
Klaus frowned. “How? You don’t have family and as a vampire you can’t exactly come inside to invite yourself in.”
“True,” answered Allie. “But in my research I picked up on a bit of wordplay. If I understand it correctly, there should be a loophole. Can you grab my phone for me?”
He picked it up off the desk and handed it to her, puzzled about the new hybrid’s plan. “What do you mean by wordplay?”
“The rules say a vampire can’t invite themselves in. It doesn’t say anything about someone’s wolf or human side being unable to extend the invitation,” clarified Allie as she searched through her phone.
“Interesting. But you’re still part vampire now. Unless you have a clone, I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” said Klaus.
“Better,” grinned Allie. “I have a voice recorder.”
The new hybrid hit play on a message. ‘Allie Kane, you are officially invited into your home.’ The message ended and Allie stepped over the threshold.
“Good thing you had that message ready to go,” said Klaus. He needed a better explanation for Allie’s preparation. A move like that was just a bit too clever.
“I did that several years ago when I first triggered my werewolf gene. I wasn’t sure if a normal vampire could turn a wolf. And I like my home too much to lose it on a technicality.” She set her phone down and poured herself a drink, handing Klaus one as well.
Klaus took a sip and waited for Allie to sit before sitting down as well. “There’s still a detail missing. You also died, that means the apartment ownership should go to whoever is named in your will. Thus negating the recorded message.”
“Ah yes,” said Allie. “Thought of that too.”
Klaus raised an eyebrow in question.
“I left the apartment to myself. Dead, alive, or undead, it’s still in my name.”
“Clever little minx,” said Klaus in admiration.
Allie shrugged. “The Boy Scout motto also applies to female werewolves.”
Klaus laughed. “Indeed. I have more people to visit today. Can you put together a shift schedule and response plan by tomorrow? I intend to have enough hybrids for you and I would prefer that you take charge of the neighborhood guard.”
“Of course,” answered Allie. “I can have it done by tomorrow morning if you want to come by and go over it. Then I can meet the other hybrids later and bring them up to speed.”
Klaus nodded, slipping his jacket on as he left. “Perfect. Thank you, Allie.”
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