He knew the moment the news that someone who resembled Ariel Winchester was spotted in Virginia that it wouldn't end well. That's why he called her in the first place, to give her warning, and a head start if she decided to run. She had always been closest to him, so he protected them, that girl and her daughter. The boys could hate him for it all they wanted to but he wouldn't betray her trust no matter what they said.
Dean had called him asking about something that seemed supernatural where she was, he gave him a warning. Those boys wouldn't be able to handle the truth. Hell there were times that he still found it hard to believe. So he told them to leave it be, that it was handled.
So he knows to expect them when she calls to tell him that she made them leave. He's sure that it hurt her to do so, if the way she sounded was any indication. Because he knows that she's not heartless, that she does still care about them. But she had to do what was best for her daughter and he could understand that. She wasn't his, not biologically, but she was more his daughter than her father's.
The sound of slamming car doors pulls him from his thoughts, Bobby sighs deeply. He felt for the boys truly, but he knew what she had done was for the best. So he knew that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. No this wasn't going to be fun.
"Bobby!"
…
When Ariel was sure her brothers had left the town only then did she allow herself and Marianna to be in more public places. They could never know about her daughter. She wouldn't allow it. Damon and Klaus met them for lunch at the diner. Ariel didn't bother try to figure out what either of them were planning.
Bringing Damon into the fold had always surprised her. Klaus trusted so few with his secrets that it was an actual shock to her that he'd tell the other man about his plans. Damon seemed happy to help, as long as Ariel promised to ensure the doppelgangers survival. Which she did, seeing as she was certain that the girl needed to live so more Hybrids could be made.
"Hello love." Klaus kissed her cheek first before bending down to pick up their daughter. The little girl was quick to nuzzle her head into his neck, resting her heavy head on his shoulder. Ariel smiled at him, before turning to look over at Damon.
"I hope you don't think that's how you should be greeted." He snarcks at her, she laughs a little.
"Of course not, but it's how you should be greeted." She leaned up and laid a kiss on his cheek. Damon just pushed her off of him and made a face at her.
"Your boyfriend is standing right there." He wipes the faint stain of her lipstick off his cheek, and she rolled her eyes.
Klaus snickered at the display but looked down to see Marianna giggling at them. "Are Uncle Damon and Mommy silly?" Her smile just widened at all of them, Ariel smirked at Damon who just let out an over exaggerated a sigh. The three adults made their way to a booth.
…
"Katherine's in town." Their reaction to this statement made by Damon a few days later is absolutely hilarious to the dark haired male. Each party has two different levels of murderous intent etched across their faces.
"Here, in this town. Does she know Nik's here?" Ariel was the first to recover from the shock and is quick to get a feel for the situation.
"I don't think so, but I'm pretty sure she's here for Elena." Damon tells them as he pulls a liquor bottle out of the cabinet.
Klaus takes a deep breath, he has too, or else there is no telling what he will do. Ariel looks over at him from the corner of her eye concern clear in her gaze. He shakes his head. "It needs to stay that way." His words are muttered harshly, angrily. That wench being here could ruin all his careful planning, but it could also ruin the life Ariel had made here for their daughter.
Ariel turned her focus back to Damon, he was fixing himself a drink from her personal liquor supply. She knew seeing Katherine now after everything that had happened wasn't easy for him. He had loved her for the better part of a hundred years, and she well was a bitch. Her lips pursed as she thought more about the vampire doppelgänger. "Do you think you'd be able to figure out what she's up too?" Damon nodded his head at her question before taking a huge gulp of the drink he'd made himself.
Ariel had some of the best scotch.
"Sure, should be easy. She's currently at the Boarding house tormenting Stefan." He tells them while leaning into the kitchen counter. All of their plotting always took place in Ariel's kitchen. Usually because she was always cooking or making something in there. Right now it appeared to be some sort of bread.
"I need to go back to New York." Damon watches as her facial expression drops when Klaus says that.
Klaus apparently notices it too because he says this next. "I want you and Mariana to come with me. Just for a little while." Ariel for the first time since he'd entered the kitchen turns fully away from bowl she'd been kneading dough in to stare at the blonde Original. Damon takes this as his que to leave.
He really didn't want to hear or see what would happen next.
"After everything I just did to ensure we could stay here, and now you're just asking me to uproot our lives here for an unforeseeable time? That's not fair Niklaus." Her voice is small, it's barely above a whisper as she speaks. This hurts her to have to think about them.
He doesn't get mad at the defiance in her words, he knows better. Klaus knows what he's asking of her. So he remains quiet allow her time to figure it out. He knows that he cannot force her to come, not realistically. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.
Ariel bites her lips, she knows that them going with Nik is the best course of action if Katherine is in town. She had her own history with the women, an ugly one, one that only one party was aware of, it was a history that desperately needed to stay forgotten. Buried. But leaving now after everything, after what she'd done to them. It just wasn't fair. This was their home, Marianna had a life here friends here. How could she just pull her daughter from that?
"Two weeks, we'll come to New York for two weeks, give Damon some time to figure out exactly what Katherine's plans are. Then no matter what, Marianna and I come back." Klaus purses his lips at that, this is not exactly what he had hoped to happen but for now it would have to do.
"Alright, two weeks, then we all come back."
..
Two weeks turned into two months. She thought that morning while looking at the calendar while making breakfast for them. Ariel should have known.
"What do you mean someone kidnapped Elena? I thought you were supposed to be protecting her?!" Ariel observed Nik growl into her phone. Damon had called this morning to inform them that Elena had gone missing from a party last night. One where they so happened to be trying to kill Katherine.
Klaus hangs up aggressively, and presses the phone back into Ariel's hands. "I'm going to kill him." She rolled her eyes at him but nodded her head regardless. The woman highly doubted he'd actually go through with it. Damon was her friend after all.
He looked like he had something snappy to say to that but was interrupted by Marianna stumbling half-awake into the kitchen rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Ariel held back a snicker as Nik took one look at the little girl and completely became a different person. She felt bad for anyone who thought they'd be able to come between that man and his daughter.
Marianna had a fever last night when they had put her to bed so Ariel had allowed her to sleep in late this morning. It appeared she was still feeling bad. Ariel watched as her daughter sort of just fell into her father's arms and allowed him to scoop her up. The frown on his face also clued her in, he looked concerned.
"Still feeling bad princess?" Marianna's nod of confirmation was weak as she buried her face into his neck and shoulder. Ariel walked over to the two then, leaving the dishes in the sink.
She placed her hand on the back of Marianna's neck, the heat could be felt before their skin ever made contact. A deep frown settled on her lips. "I think we should take her to see a doctor." Ariel mouths quietly to him, not wanting her daughter to hear the word doctor.
Kluas nods his head in agreement. "I can have someone come here." He pauses, hating himself for the question he's about to ask her. Ariel gives him a look as if she has an idea. Marianna dozes off again.
"You want me to go back to Virginia? Now?" She gives in incredulous look as if she doesn't believe it. He nods, Ariel huffs.
"I have this feeling that Elijah is connected to this." Ariel grits her teeth. That would not do. They couldn't have him poking his self-righteous nose into things.
"He wouldn't be on a war path if you told him the truth." She points out while walking over to where her purse ism grabbing just her keys from within it, everything else she had a second set of at home. Nik gives her a look. Ariel waves her hand dismissively at him then.
"I'm going, I'm going. End of the week you better be back with me. And you better keep me updated on her condition." He gave a nod and watched as she disappeared, the only indication that she'd been standing there was the fall of a single white feather and the sound of fluttering wings.
Now to call the doctor. He carried Marianna back to her room and laid her carefully on the bed before settling himself next to her. Klaus could make the call from here. He also sent a text to Damon letting the younger man know Ariel would be getting their doppelgänger back to them.
..
Ariel landed in the middle of a dimly lit and dust covered living room, the young human doppelgänger was sitting on a vintage couch. She made a startled noise. The woman held a finger up to her lips while stepping over to stand next to the couch, she made a motion for Elena to stand. Her hands fell upon the teen's shoulders holding them protectively.
"Everything is going to be fine." She spoke just then the air around them shifted, a dark look settled over her face. One Elena did not see.
The teen is now standing behind her, Ariel was fast. In front of the woman she could make out the stature of another person. A man. "Rosemary you did not mention her." His voice is cool, there is an age too it, and a warning hidden in his tone. Elena is suddenly very glad to be standing behind the older woman. It was probably the safest place for her to be at that moment.
Ariel reached forward and patted Elijah's cheek in a very condescending manor. "Don't frighten the children dear, it's very unbecoming. I've only just arrived." He grabs her wrist forcing her hand from his face. She doesn't seemed to be too bothered by him.
"As interesting as it is to see you, you are in my way." She smiles, it's not a nice or kind. It's a very threatening smile one that warns him. This is the smile of a lioness before she devours her prey.
"Unhand me Elijah, you won't like what follows. Miss Gilbert is under MY protection. Please do not think I will just hand her over too you. Especially when you were so careless with the ones before her." His teeth grit together, he drops her wrist. Ariel turns her attention to the two spectators.
As her eyes landed on the male companion he burst into a million bloody chunks. The woman screamed and rushed forward. Ariel didn't even move to get out of the way, she gave a small flick of her wrist and the woman was sent into the wall behind her. "I'm sparing your life, don't waste it. You won't get a second chance." She informed her coly. Rose stood slowly groaning as she did, before rushing out of the room.
Elijah was actually startled by this display of power. He'd never known her to be so strong, never knew her to have so much control over her abilities. Then to see them so profoundly used. The strength of an angel. It was truly a beautiful to behold. Her cool eyes turned back to him, the girl still standing behind her.
"Don't make me hurt you Elijah, you know that I can and will." She felt a shift of air around them, as Damon appeared behind her. He grabbed Elena and made haste to leave them. Sparing one glance at Ariel's stiff form before bolting. Elijah made no move to follow, too focused on the woman before him. This could not be the same person.
"What has my brother done to you?" He whispered reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. Ariel swatted his hand away. She did not appreciate him trying to be so familiar with her.
"Nothing." She skirted around him, he eyeballed her curiously. What game were they playing here?
"You are not the same girl I remember. The Ariel I remember would have never have been okay with that." He make a gesture to the fleshy pile of what used to be a vampire. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well that Ariel died, a thousand years ago I might add. Your parents made sure of it. So forgive me if I do not meet up to the standards of a ghost. Now as fun as this reunion has been I must be off." She left him standing there in the poorly lite abandon mansion to think on her words.
Elijah stood there baffled. How very interesting.
..
Ariel reappeared in the Salvatore living room several hours later. Damon handed her a glass of scotch. "Thank you. How is Elena?" She mumbled pacing around the living room.
"A little startled, still trying to make sense of what happened, she's home my baby brother keeping careful guard like the good puppy he is. Katherine as expected is no help." Ariel frowned at him. He watched her make circles on the hardwood for about five minutes before demanding answers.
"I see you've gotten control over your powers." His tone is dry and she gives him an unamused look.
"I've been busy while in New York. Where is she now?" She asked settling next to him on the couch. Damon gave her an appraising look, trying to figure out what was going on here.
"You want to talk to her?" He asked with a raised brow. Ariel bit her lip.
"We believe it is the best course of action now. Elijah snooping around makes things harder." She leans forward setting the glass down on the old piece of furniture. Damon sighed.
"She's in the tomb. And she has the moonstone." He can't remember a time when he's seen her look so satisfied. "Good, means this will be fun."
Ariel stood before offering her hand to him. Damon accepted it reluctantly allowing her to pull him to his feet. He really hated to see just what her definition of fun entailed. It didn't sound like anything too pleasant. Not if her look was anything to go by.
They arrived at the steps of the tomb within moments. Ariel descended them first, her eyes held a determined look in them. He followed slowly before stepping around her to push the stone away. She watched with a strange expression. "You don't have to stay." Her tone is soft, as she offers him an out. Damon shakes his head. "I'm staying." She gave a small nod before approaching the entrance of the cage they trapped the doppelgänger vampire in.
"Katerina I think it's time we met." Her voice reminded him of a deadly melody as she spoke, more siren than angel in that instant. Damon would hate to be on the other end of her ire at that particular moment, he almost felt bad for the woman who broke him. Almost.
Ariel prays the vampire doesn't actually remember her. Because this would become very ugly very quickly if she did.
Katherine came forward leaving the safety of the darkness. Someone knew her name. Someone she'd never met. That was not a voice she recognized. So you can imagine the surprise on her face when the speaker come into view. The woman wasn't someone she'd ever met, not personally. But she knew of her.
"Hello Katerina." The voice sent chills down her spine, fear clinging to her bones.
She was his wife. Klaus knew where she was, he found her.
But how was she alive? From all the stories she'd ever heard of this woman, she'd died when they were all still human. What was going on? Katherine didn't have to wait long for her answer.
"I'll give you a moment to collect yourself, people are usually surprised. I am an angel after all." Her eyes glowed with a sudden blue hue. She looks over to Damon who had been unusually quiet this whole time, and then she realized something. It was clear by the look on his face. He knew, this entire time he knew.
"You know about him, about the real sun and moon curse?" Katherine demanded, practically screaming at him. He shrugged his shoulders. Ariel just smirked. It seemed as if she truly did not recognize her
"Please don't screech dear, it's really unbecoming of someone who is supposedly a lady." She was past the burrier and in Katherine's face then. Ariel stuck her hand in the pocket of the dress the vampire was wearing pulling out the moonstone. "This belongs to me." Before Katherine could stop her she was out of reach and standing next to Damon, she turned her heel having got what she came for. The dark haired vampire followed her never sparing Katherine a second glance. She watched them walk away from her. Her leverage gone.
Ariel called Nik with an update as soon as they were out of hearing range, as soon as she hung up her temple started burning. The strawberry blonde woman fell forward Damon barely caught her. She'd over extended her powers today. He carried her to the car and drove her home, knowing she'd be fine when she woke up. Damon sent a text to Klaus from his phone before slamming on the breaks just before arriving at her house.
Her brothers were back, and they were not alone.
He cursed vehemently. This was not going to end well. And here he thought he wasn't going to have to kill people today.
XOXOX
I don't know anymore. Please let me know what you think.
Sincerely, La'Rae
