Chapter Text
New Years Eve 1899, New Orleans
Morgana was walking down the crowded street, dancing a little as she went. Music was playing and people were ready to start the countdown to the new year, the turn of the century, 1900.
She was smiling to herself when she was roughly yanked into an alley. She immediately began kicking and screaming, but the music and the hand covering her mouth muffled the sound too much, and her attacker was strong.
They spun her around to face them. Their eyes were bloodshot, veins crawling underneath. Morgana grabbed their arm and called on Fire, burning it. They screamed and let her go. She whipped around to run, but they quickly grabbed her and held her even tighter, crushing her.
"You're a feisty little witch, aren't you?" They chuckled in her ear. Their breath was a horrid mix of blood and alcohol, and smelling it almost immediately made Morgana queasy.
She felt something warm and wet move along her neck and realized they were licking her. A whimper slipped out despite herself, and they chuckled again.
"Don't worry, pretty thing," they hushed, brushing her hair completely out of the way. "This won't hurt. Much."
She thrashed again, and they growled and tightened their grip, making her gasp in pain. There would be bruises on her arms and sides. If she survived.
Teeth grazed Morgana's neck, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Suddenly the teeth were gone, and so was the grip of the attacker. She whipped around, anger surging, and fireballs appeared in her hands.
"That's no way to start the new year," a new man tutted, holding the vampire against the wall. He forced his hand inside their chest, smiled cruelly, and ripped their heart out.
Morgana put out the fireballs and watched the newcomer warily. He turned to her. "Are you alright, love?"
Under different circumstances, she would note later on, she would have melted at his voice.
She nodded. He took a step toward her and she took a step back. He stopped. They studied each other for a moment.
"Thank you," Morgana said.
He smirked. After another long, uncomfortable moment, she nodded at him and went back on the street, making sure to stay clear of the alleys this time.
A hand grabbed her wrist and she spun, ready to shove some element into their face. She stopped when she realized it was the man.
"I never caught your name," he said, raising his voice to be heard over the music.
Thoughts flew through her head. She could give a fake name or a smart answer. Or she could play coy.
"Morgana," she replied. He had saved her life. Giving her name was probably one of the least harmful things she could do.
"I'm Klaus," he said, raising her hand and kissing her knuckles.
Hell, if he kept looking at her like that Morgana was done for. She smiled.
"Allow me to escort you home?" Klaus asked.
She winced. "I'm afraid I don't have one quite yet. I just moved here." Not a total lie. She was getting ready to move, but she still had her house.
Someone shouted something about time, and the crowd started rushing to the nearest clock. Morgana and Klaus moved with them.
The crowd started counting down the final seconds, and Morgana clapped when midnight struck, a huge smile on her face.
"You could stay with me until you find some place," Klaus said.
She stared at him. It was risky. But then, she hadn't lived with a stranger before, so it would be something new.
High on the energy from the crowd, Morgana agreed, and Klaus took her to the compound.