Awareness came slowly in the darkness. Senses stirred. The stench of rotting death filled his lungs along with the old scent of burning candles. So different from the smells of blood and the garage he recalled before pain and darkness.
Thoughts, memories rushed in and suddenly he gasped for air. His deep brown eyes flung open. The tomb that surrounded him danced with shadows from the flickering flames. So he was not where he should be, he mused. No matter, his visit would not be long.
Carefully, he took stock of his predicament and felt the cold metal binding his wrists. Gathering his strength he yanked on the chains that bound him to the wall. They did not yield. He felt that familiar sensation that accompanied witchcraft. So his mother did not want to relent her prize so easily. Finn would pay for his treachery. Once more he yanked on the chains.
A smooth voice calmly spoke from the shadows. "They will not break, Elijah." With measured steps, Esther emerged from the dark cloak that lined the walls. "My son. My noble, brave son. What has become of you?"
"Only that which you created, mother." Elijah spat with venom.
She paid his comment no mind and continued, "Love is what created you and love is what destroyed you. It was my love for my children that turned you into these creatures. And it was your love for your family that broke you first. Your soul was tortured even as a child. And as we ran from our home, from the pain of losing your sister, your birth could not heal your father's heart. Finn was lost and took no pleasure in you, he felt you a betrayal of the sister he lost. Mikael raised you as a warrior, without love or compassion. And yet despite it all, you are the most human of my children. Without you Niklaus, Rebekah, Kol and even Finn would not have clung together for a thousand years."
"I would appreciate you getting to the point sometime this century mother, or at least before your host dies." Elijah spoke evenly with measured tones, just enough of his disdain seeping into his words.
"My point, as you put it, is that you bind this family together. And without you the destruction that they would reap upon this world would be beyond reckoning. Niklaus and Rebekah look up to their big brother and would follow your lead. I can offer you freedom from the life I condemned you to a thousand years ago. Give you new bodies, a new life, a human life, filled with love and the opportunity to have a family."
"We are already a family. New bodies would sever us from our bloodlines; from each other."
"These are only bodies. Your souls would still be connected. But you would be able to love and care for humans without the blood lust or the chaos. And with hope, you could marry and have children of your own."
"Klaus had a child and your witches stole her from us."
"They weren't my witches, Elijah. But I cannot condemn them for their actions. While I regret the outcome and the loss to our family, it was a merciful end to what truly could have happened. Be thankful the baby did not survive. But that could be remedied by allowing me to gift you with a normal life as well as your brother and sister. You may all yet experience the joy of parenthood."
"Your gifts always come at a high price. And after our last meeting, there is nothing you can say that could convince me of your good intentions. Now release me, I will hear no more of your lies." Elijah pulled on the chains again to emphasize his request.
The witch turned away from her son. "We are not finished here." She began to re-arrange some of the items on the alter in front of her. "For so long, I wished nothing but happiness for you, my sweet child. And at one time, I believed you had found it, with Tatia."
"Do not speak her name!"
"I dare say, in her own way, she loved you very much. But her heart was impure. She could not fully love you. It was her games between you and your brother that I first saw how vulnerable you could be, despite your father's heavy hand. And if you were vulnerable, so were all my children. We already lost one of you and when we lost Henrik, we had no choice but to save you."
Elijah scoffed. "You are telling me nothing that I don't already know. Must I listen to your rambling forever? Is that my punishment?"
"No! I just want you to understand. To know the true path we lead. After your changing, we had no idea of the blood lust that would consume you. And when you came to me heartbroken and covered in blood I told you to clean yourself. Wash away the mess and you wash away the sin. But I was wrong, you simply buried the pain and truth. You are a mask."
Growing tired of her veiled attempts to help him, Elijah shouted, "Enough! It is time we end this little chat and get on with whatever it is you are planning."
Recognizing the stubborn streak the prevailed in the Mikaelson blood, she decided to indulge him. "Fine. I am willing to offer you two choices, that not only effect you but Niklaus and Rebekah as well. The first, you can take my offer to be placed in new bodies. To live out the rest of your lives and die as humans. The second to continue in the abominations that you are, however, at a far greater price than you may be willing to give."
Looking down, Elijah couldn't prevent the choking laugh that escaped him. Drawing in a deep breath, his muscles ached. The fight in the garage had been taxing to say the least. He was tired and hungry. Esther's heart beat was loud, strong and steady. Whatever it was she was offering, she believed in it. Not that that mattered. In Mystic Falls, her heart beat steady as she toasted to their reunion with the goal of linking and killing them all. No his mother died long ago, this witch in front of him was only a shell with memories that could cut him to shreds if he allowed them to.
Elijah hardened his heart. Cut off the emotions that could so easily overpower him if kept unchecked and glared the husk in the eyes. He would not give in so quickly. All he needed to do was wait long enough for Klaus to find them. "As I already said, dear mother, your gifts always come with a high price. For me to take option one and willingly transfer to a new, mortal body. I am certain you would wish for me to convince Klaus and Rebekah to do the same. I cannot make their choices for them, Klaus especially. And I am sure there is more to this process that you aren't telling me. And as for option two, killing you would be a much easier proposition to remain as we are and that is a price I am willing to pay."
"Damn you, Elijah!" Esther slammed the alter in front of her before twisting around to glare up at the man who was once her child. "I love you. It breaks my heart to see the monster you have become." She stepped up to him, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek. He recoiled from her touch. "My burden was watching my children from the other side as each of you inflicted all sorts of pain and suffering on this world. I watched as my noble son dredged through the darkness. Your morals are your shield, wielded only as you see fit and cast aside at a moment's notice.
"It is true, there is more to switching bodies. As payment for this request, the spirits demand you be purified first. Lay out the demons that haunt you, strip down the walls you've erected to hold your emotions at bay and face the atrocities you have committed. You must be re-broken so that you can be mended. It will not be easy but you would be free from your past."
"To what end?" Elijah demanded. "You say that I must be purified and broken. So what then of my memories? You may rip my soul from this body and place it in another. But I will still have those memories. I can still feel the same emotions of what I had done. You cannot take that away from me."
"But I can, sweet child, need you only ask. I have already done so."
"You lie!"
"No. There is a red door in your mind that we have locked away those early days and the pain with them. If you choose purification, I will unlock this door. Show you the truth and set your soul free."
"There is no truth that I do not already know."
"But there is. However, I fear to unlock this door may break you beyond mending, which is why I have given you a second choice. Perhaps it is your love for this family that may fix it, if you are strong enough to bear the burden."
"And what is this second choice?"
"As I said before, Niklaus and Rebekah love you very much, they have always looked up to their big brother and you have always done your best to protect them. When I told you that to clean the mess cleans away the sin, you did not apply it only to yourself, but to our family. How many times have you cleaned up after them? Buried the bodies? Stamped out the fires? Hid the destructive path they paved? Not just to keep Mikael from finding you but because deep inside the monster, there was still a sliver of your human self appalled by what you and your siblings had done. You have taken the brunt of their anger to keep the peace. You a willing patsy to their crimes and you have never asked them for anything more than to keep the family together."
Incredulously, the vampire balked, "So I am the weak link in our family, because I care?"
"No, it is because you care, too deeply, that you are stronger than all of them put together, including your father." At that comment, Elijah's chocolate gaze found hers. "And it is that strength you would need to tap into to live out your lives as Vampires. This second choice will be harder than anything you have ever faced before and one I do not offer lightly. But it is the only way, I hope, to one day stop the destructive path of our family. If you be willing, I will leave this world, return to the other and never come back, unless you call upon me."
Elijah's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. He could not fathom the game she was playing. After all this time she would simply walk away and let them be? Why? How? At what price? He had to know. Cautiously, he asked, "What would I have to do?"
Despite all that had transpired up to this point, Esther dropped her gaze, closing her eyes allowing a single tear to break free. She did not wish this on him, but she saw no other way. Banishing the ache in her heart, she took a deep breath and faced her son once more. "Nature's spirits were angry when you were created. They demanded balance. At first I pleaded for you all because I could not bear the thought of losing you. But after a thousand years I finally understand why they were angered. In those early years they had offered me a compromise, one that I refused to accept. And now, it may be the only way to save you all.
"Elijah, our family has caused much pain in the world and we have not received it in equal measure. True we have torn at each other, attempted to kill each other but we survived intact. We have made many enemies and yet we still stand. In truth we have not faced the consequences of our actions. The spirits ask that one of my children bear the burden of the others. Should any inflict pain and suffering on the world, one would pay the price, and with equal measure feel that suffering in return. For all the death and pain lashed out, one would incur the backlash. Blood for blood. From your father to little Rebekah, it was our bloodline that caused this imbalance, then it must be our bloodline that pays it."
It didn't take a genius to know what she was saying. Elijah stood tall. "I am no stranger to pain. I have lived with it for over a thousand years."
"That may be true but it would not just be your indiscretions, but Niklaus' and Rebekah's as well. And it would now include Hayley too, as she had Niklaus' child. Be thankful though that the child did not live, for with each generation it would be multiplied. If the child matured and continued the destructive line of our family... second generation, twice the pain. And if that child bore children... third generation, thrice the pain.
"You should also be thankful that your brothers were wise enough to accept my offer. With Finn and Kol's souls in different bodies, purified, then they no longer fall into our blood line. Their actions would be theirs to pay. Do you understand?"
Oh yes, he understood quite well what she was proposing. It was merely a question of what he was willing to do for his family, should her proposal be true. "If I accept this offer, accept the consequences of everything my family does, you would simply walk away from us, leave this world forever and never look back?"
"Yes, the spirits would be appeased and I could find peace at last."
"And what of Finn and Kol? Would they return with you?"
"No, I have set their souls free to live out a normal life should they choose. A mortal life. When they die, they will join me."
"What assurances do I have of this bargain? How can I know you will not renege on this deal?"
"The spell must be cast with another witch present, a witness if you will. I will choose someone other than Finn to perform it with me, as I fear he may not approve of this option. Once the spell is cast, if I even attempt to set foot in this world again it will break the spell and you will be free of the burden and the spirits will lash out at all of us. There will be no where safe for any of us to hide. However, should the pain ever be too much for you, you only need call my name and recite an enchantment and I will come and take your soul and move it to a new body. And hopefully by that time your brother and sister will finally be ready to do the same."
Elijah's gaze turned inward. She had given him a lot to think about. Could it be so simple to be free of her? To end this cycle of hatred in their family? To live without the yoke of their parents and finally have peace? It is possible, for Rebekah, for Klaus, for Hayley... for Hope. How could he refuse?
"It would be unfair to demand an answer now. I will give you time to think." He barely registered the words as she caressed his cheek. Slowly she turned and left him alone with his thoughts.
* T * O *
Outside the tomb, Finn waited for his mother. The moment she emerge, he pounced, growling. "Why did you lock me out, mother? I thought we had a plan."
"Plans change, Finn." She brushed past him and continued on her way.
Quickly, falling in step, Finn questioned, "How so?"
"I offered your brother a choice."
"Yes, to switch bodies or die."
"No, there was a third option."
At this, Finn stopped and grabbed his mother's arm. "What do you mean a third option? We never discussed anything else before."
"And that is because I believed the path we were on was the correct one. Now I am not so sure."
"And why is that? What has changed your mind?"
"When we first brought your brother here, I wanted to see what our chances of success were. So I cast a spell with his blood to see what the future might be. And all I saw was more pain, death and destruction. To continue with our original plan would mean that we would lose our family. So I gave him a choice."
"And what choice would that be, mother? And why did you not offer it to me or Kol?"
"Because my son, you would not be strong enough to handle it. And Kol has not mastered his own pain let alone others."
"And Elijah?"
"Would do anything for his family. Don't you see? Of all my children he is the strongest. He has been there for his family through it all. Shown compassion time and again when all others have lost hope. He has shown his faith that our family can survive in spite of our afflictions and prosper, make a better world."
"You think that somehow our sister and brother may still be saved as they are? Walk away from revenge and hate? It's not possible."
"It could be, once they realize Elijah's sacrifice. It was Mikael's and my love that destroyed this family, perhaps it is the love they share for each other that can save it."
"And what is this sacrifice?"
"Should Elijah accept, any suffering inflicted by our family will be delivered unto him. Niklaus' unyielding path of destruction may finally be tempered once he knows that his brother will suffer for each and every action."
"That's it? And if Klaus doesn't stop? We will stop him, right?"
"No. If Elijah accepts, then I will return to the other side. And I would implore you to live out a normal life far from your brothers and when it ends join me."
"This is some kind of a joke. It has to be. Mother, when we awoke in Mystic Falls, we agreed that we all had to die. When you brought me back it was with the intention of moving their souls or killing them. Now you're telling me we are going to let them live as the abominations that they are and just walk away? No, I won't do it."
"Finn! It is not your choice to make. Now go make yourself useful and find Kol."
Disgusted by this sudden change of heart, Finn gladly walked away. He stormed out of the cemetery and around the block, his anger and revulsion over the current events steeping in his mind. As he circled back around, a seed of hate settled in his heart. It spawned a plan that would at least satisfy his anger for a time.
* T * O *
Elijah could not believe what his mother proposed. It still seemed too simple. Of course it would cost him dearly. But what was a little pain compared to the happiness of his family? They would be free of their mother. Their father would meet his end - again - soon enough. Klaus was strong enough to kill him before, and he is even stronger now.
With the family feud over, the werewolves would no longer need to bow to the witches and Hope would be safe. She could come home. Every cell in his body screamed that Hope was Klaus' salvation, their family's salvation. If Esther removed Klaus from his body, he would harbour the anger and hate forever as he would no longer truly be Hope's father. In spirit but not in body, not whole. Klaus would never accept their mother's offer. And the bloodshed would continue for eternity.
But with this deal, this sacrifice as it were, it would change all that. He could remain in this form and be strong enough to protect his family. He had to be. To Elijah the decision was clear as crystal. There was no other answer but yes. And he would tell Esther that the moment she returned.
It felt as if mere minutes had passed, and probably that was correct, when he heard the door to the tomb open. He looked up expecting to see his mother, however the person who entered sent a chill up his spine. Finn's expression was darker than he had ever seen before from his family. He wondered if something unspeakable occurred. "Finn? Has something happened to mother?"
"We have no mother." The warlock hissed vehemently. "She told me what she offered you. A chance to live as you are at a price. Perhaps, you don't understand exactly what that means brother. How about I give you a little taste!"
* T * O * T * O *
Well, look whose muse decided to pop back in for a quick tryst. Once again my daughter has pulled me into another fandom and this idea has been floating in my head for the past week, dying to get out. And so here it is. Hope it wasn't too bad.
Anyway, Esther's method of purification never really sat quite right with me. And given my predilection for Angst driven Hurt/Comfort (less the comfort) kind of fics, my mind toyed with another option. We have seen what lengths the trio would do for each other, despite the bumps along the way. Further, with my penchant for noble martyrs willing to step aside, forgo their own happiness for the benefit of others, my muse selected the noble stag. Now I am not sure exactly where this fic will ultimately end up, and depending on how much I want to keep with the series, elements here already propose concerns. As a result, I am curious to get some feedback, if at all possible. I find conversing with fellow authors sometimes helps me find direction.
In the meantime, I do have several more pages written and will continue to permit the rather organic process of writing and allowing the story to move me to press on while my muse lasts. So another post is forth coming, if desired. I do hope you all will let me know what you think.
As always, I thank you for reading, reviewing, faving and alerting. Until next time...
~Ari :D