A/N: Just a story I'm putting together, mostly for my own amusement. So this story was inspired purely by two YouTube videos created by NureTaa.
Title: Of the Same Litter
Summary: This was too far even for him. In our long lives I've tried to redeem Nik but up till now my efforts have been fruitless. But all this time I was able to hold onto the knowledge that he was at the very least capable of being saved, I saw it day in and day out with how he was with Miklavz. Now I have no idea how to feel about Niklaus and the idea of my brother's salvation feels like a fleeting hope, nothing but a wistful dream.
Rating: M
Central: Niklaus (Nik – Family nickname, Klaus – Name known by through the Original rumours) and Miklavz (Mik – Family nickname, Klavz – Name known by through the Original rumours).
Plot: As it is now, this has no definite outline. As I see it, it'll follow TVD until the beginning of TO. There may be many diversions from the canon plots, or there may be few. It's as of yet, undecided. Usually I strive to either greatly change a canon plotline, or simply write in plenty of stuff between the plotline while adding to it with small changes here and there; though the first option is my preferred option.
Warning: Excessive violence and blood, minor/major torture scenes from and to major characters, and strong language. Future chapters also may include some questionable tastes, and dark themes.
Word Count: 4,996
CHAPTER 2 || Two-faced Older Brother
Niklaus POV
"Brother." Hearing my brother's voice calling me I came to a stop and turned to face my twin. I had been leading us towards the quarry, the site in which the sacrifice would be taking place. Taking in my brother's irritated look I jutted my chin forward slowly before tilting my head expectantly as my patience thinned. "Well Miklavz, what's with the hold up?"
"My belongings, I'm sure you've lugged them around with you in your travels over the last five decades? Take me to them before the ritual." The last sentence was not a demand, nor a request. It was spoken as a simple statement, as if he could care less if I obliged him or not.
"It would only be fair I suppose." I accepted his request with a sigh, "While we're there we can get you out of those filthy clothes as well. But we must hurry, the moon shall reach its apex within the next hour and I still have to take you to the quarry, then leave to retrieve the Doppelgänger, and return all within that short time frame."
"Then we shall be quick." Miklavz replied, before waving his hands at me to lead the way.
Grabbing a pair of clothes out of my wardrobe that were similar to mine only with a purple dress shirt and rather than formal footwear I grabbed my brother a pair of combat boots before handing him the outfit. It wasn't long before he came back from around the crates changed.
"So where are my belongings then?" He asked as he placed his hands in his jacket pockets idly.
Turning around I went to the container opposite the crate holding our families coffins and opened the metal double doors. "Everything you own is within here."
Miklavz walked into the container with a curious expression as he examined the metal storage device. Slowly his gaze washed over his belongings, his body rotating in all three hundred and sixty degrees as his eyes took in his stuff. His hands glided over a few things here and there as he spotted some trinket or another. For a moment I thought a genuine smile fell upon his lips at the sight of a box of books, both of literature and grimoires. "Would you please wait for me outside Nik?" He spoke suddenly pulling me out of my assessment.
I almost refused, but instead I simply growled lowly before turning and leaving. "Don't keep me waiting longer than necessary." I muttered.
My mind drifted over all the possible scenarios of why he'd want to be left alone. But no matter the theories my mind thought of the only resolute one was that he planned to betray me again. It was paranoid contemplations. That is all it was, nothing more. There's nothing he can do against me anyway, especially now that we'll be Hybrids by the nights end. Most likely he wanted to spend a few sentimental moments alone with some trinket of his, or just have a moment to himself while being surrounded by familiar items.
"Shall we?" Turning around I spotted Miklavz leaving the storage complex, he paused for a moment to indicate for me to take the lead.
"You remember the plan. Hide out until the moment to drain the Doppelgänger comes, we wouldn't want to play all of our cards at once just in case." He simply nodded as his hands found their way into his jacket pocket once more, and then we headed off to the quarry.
Elijah POV
As I came up on Stefan I paused for a moment, watching him. Stefan was reserved; he constrained himself with an enclosing and rigid posture. Chances are he felt of himself as composed, as if he was cloaking his emotions. But in reality the young vampire wore his emotions on his sleeve; his very closed off and uncomfortable sleeve. But there were remarkable similarities between us, especially in this moment. Stefan's inner struggle was nothing short of obvious. To kill my brother, my last remaining sibling, was tonight's sole goal. I'd be alone, but oh so satisfied. No hesitation, surprisingly, simply a steady and prepared sense of purpose. The rest of my siblings would be avenged, and that's what mattered in the end. With that determination in mind I moved forward, closing the distance between the two of us.
As I was a few meters away he had heard me coming and turned around. A simple subdued but polite nod was his form of greeting as I began speaking. "Bonnie did the locator spell. They're at Steven's quarry." Idly I noticed his right hand clench into a fist while his opposite hands fingers twitched. His anxiousness was needless to say, apparent.
"I'll head over there first, and you'll follow with Bonnie once it's time." Stefan replied as I reached him.
"Just as the moon hits its final phase." I recounted the plan with him. Stefan slightly nodded again in agreement. "She's to stay hidden until then. He cannot know that she's alive."
Stefan's gaze shifted to the right as he started walking off. His feet managed two steps before I spoke once again. "You're very honourable." My voice carried out as I simply stared at where he'd been rather than face him.
At that he paused for a moment before slightly turning back once more. "Are you?" A moment of silence followed as he stepped back in front of me. "Because this whole plan is um, it's contingent upon your honour, Elijah."
It was a little refreshing. Most people would be too fearful of me to question me so openly. That's one thing I both respect and loathe about the Salvatore brothers. Although the fact that after everything, Stefan's still unsure if my motivation is reliable, that is slightly irritating. "I won't fail you."
The doubt in Stefan's eyes was heavy as he spoke his next words, "Klaus is your brother." He simply noted. "I know if…" Stefan's gaze shifted downwards for a moment as he paused before returning and continuing to hash his doubts, "I wanted to kill my brother a thousand times then … Never been able too."
"Well Klaus was not my only brother." I began before pausing. Before I could continue Stefan interjected, "That's right, Elena told me about Klaus's twin. She said his name was Klavz." His eyes narrowed slightly, frustration lacing his near glare.
Choosing to ignore him for the moment I continued on, "I had siblings … Parents," I spoke with what I was sure to be a deadpan look, as even just mentioning them hurt, but I was well versed in the methods of concealing one's emotions; methods that the younger Salvatore brother had obviously yet to learn, "I had … A family. Over the centuries Klaus hunted them down one by one and he took them, from me. He scattered them across the seas where their bodies cannot be found."
Before the silence could linger Stefan spoke his realization, "You want revenge." His light words that carried heavy meaning, heavy insinuations, were spoken lightly. They were uttered so simply as if speaking of the weather. It had me considering my reply carefully as his still narrowed gaze was reluctant to relent on his doubts. "Sometimes there's honour in revenge, Stefan." I returned with a slight curl of my lips, "I won't fail you." I simply repeated once again.
The night's events were nearing as the silence hung; I know we both felt it as we stared at each other. One more break in that silence was made by Stefan. "Please end this." He said with a hint of desperation and hope before he turned and started to walk off once more, this time I didn't stop him as all that needed to be said had been spoken.
Miklavz POV
Idly I listened to my brother, knowing he was enjoying the moment as I hid in the woods, out of sight. The doppelgänger, who looked so much like Katarina and Tatia before her, was pleading for her aunt's life. Going on and on about how she followed all of my twins rules and how some bloke named Jeremy couldn't be left without a family. To me it was tedious, as I knew my brother would not be swayed, so I groaned as the silence carried on and he seemed to 'contemplate'.
"Well, well." My brother finally spoke again before taken in a slight breath, "I don't recall you being on the guest list."
My brows furrowed in confusion as I moved off the tree I had been leaning against. My vision was heightened enough as an Original that I could see the quarry perfectly through the large distance I was, even through the trees and darkness. But my brother looked off and up to the side at someone I couldn't see from here, I even heard the doppelgänger gasp slightly as she looked off in the same direction. Before I could make my way to a vantage point that gave me a better field of vision, I heard a voice I thought I'd never hear again that had me stop dead in my tracks.
"I'm here to talk." I frowned, my confusion hitting a point that it turned to frustration at my lack of knowledge on current events. "Very well, then." My brother replied before taking off in a slight 'swish' of wind, probably appearing wherever Stefan was. Not even two seconds past before my brother spoke again, "What can I do for you, Mr. Salvatore?" I smirked at how excited my brother sounded. My brother never changes, always loves being near his favourites.
In the background I heard the doppelgänger and the vampire speaking but disregarded it in listening to Stefan and my brother. "You don't need to kill Jenna. I'll take her place." My eyebrows rose at this, the Ripper of Monterey, willing to sacrifice himself for a just turned baby vampire, for an all intents and purposes human? That must just grind my brother's gears.
"Oh I don't know. I rather appreciate the symmetry of three women, three Goddesses … Sacrificed at nature's altar." My brother's drawl was quite revealing. Niklaus was enjoying this, messing with his Ripper, enjoying it because he was angry with him.
"Don't play games with me; you get what you want either way." Stefan replied casually, his attempt at restraining his anger and desperation was unfortunately futile.
"Quite the hero. Aren't you?" To the ear not used to my brothers voice, they'd of missed the anger lacing it, but it rang clear as day to me. "Yeah I've heard that about you." So he didn't allow Stefan to remember him, so they aren't travelling together then. Somehow the Ripper has gotten himself in the middle of all of this all on his own.
"Just make the trade, me for Jenna." His voice laced with determination. I could easily tell at his tone that Stefan was not going to be swayed by nothing short of physical force. My brother's answer never came, but I heard them make their way down back to the field and fires in it.
"Elena…" I heard from the vampire, she spoke softly, worry thick in her voice.
"I have to do something … This can't happen … None of it." The doppelgänger rambled, sounding slightly hysterical. Obviously her resolve to allow herself to be sacrificed crumbling as my brother threatened her loved ones left and right despite her obedience.
"Quite the predicament." My brother's voice was heard once more as he and Stefan walked out of the tree line and into the field. "You know it's, funny. All this talk about preserving family and, here's Stefan, granting your wish." He spoke towards the doppelgänger, voice heavy with bitterness.
"Stefan." She whispered softly, clearly anguished. Stefan nodded softly, "It's, okay." He said kindly with a slight smile of reassurance.
My elder twin walked up next to Stefan. "Well." He began, bringing his stake up to point between the vampire and the Stefan. "Who's it going to be Elena?"
"No." There was a heat as the doppelgänger refused, a heat radiating in her determination. It would have been admirable if she wasn't fooling herself into denial.
"Don't worry. There's actually no choice." My brother's deceivingly soft voice rang out before he appeared behind Stefan and staked him in the back. The doppelgänger's anguished "No!" resonated throughout the quarry as Stefan gasped, my eyes widened in disbelief. "Stefan!" Hearing the doppelgänger's cry had me taking in a large breath myself in shock.
My brother pulled back on the stake and I heard it break as he pulled it away and released Stefan. At this I released the air in my lungs and closed my eyes as I realized that my brother was putting on a show as always. Nik had made his choice, the only reason he'd break a piece of a stake in someone was to keep them down but alive, my brother had chosen to sacrifice the baby vampire.
"I have, other plans, for your boyfriend. I want him alive … But for now." Suddenly my brother spun with another 'swish' as he snapped Stefan's neck with a twirl. So he's still as melodramatic as ever. "Whenever you're ready Greta." He grinned as he looked over his shoulder at the witch.
The witch's chanting filled the quarry as she raised her hands and the fire before her increased in height. In contrast, the fire around the baby vampire diminished completely. "No." Was the only thing I heard from the doppelgänger at her realization as my brother faced the other vampire.
"Your turn." Nik sang out with anticipation.
"No, Jenna, no!" The doppelgänger once again tried to pass the barrier around her to reach her caregiver, but was stopped by the rising fire. The vampire looked to the doppelgänger before saying, "It's alright Elena … I know what I have to do." Suddenly the vampire was upon the witch, fangs tearing into her neck. It was hard, to ignore the impulse to stop her, but I managed as Niklaus appeared behind her and shoved the stake into her side. The baby vampire dropped on her stomach across the altar. "Jenna no!" The doppelganger's cries out, this time more intense and broken then any of the times beforehand. The girl's sobs were piercing the otherwise silent field. The vampire's head rose and looked toward her ward; blood covered her mouth, her breathing was heavy as she watched the doppelgänger cry with a pained look.
"Just turn it off. Jenna. Turn it off." The girl begged, "You won't be scared anymore." Nik flipped the vampire over onto her back before kneeling over her. Taking a moment to look over the vampire he was about to sacrifice, my brother seemed to shake with anticipation. Without warning he brought the stake down, plunging it into the other vampire's heart. "NOOO! JENNA!" As she died I could see her stare into my brother's eyes, life leaving her with small futile gasps. "No, Jenna." The girl's muffled sob had me closing my eyes. I didn't particularly care for any of them, but there was always something about someone mourning over a family member that willed me to comfort them. Nik rose up to his feet, arms spread, and what looked like a shocked expression taking over his face before he composed himself and walked away from the corpse and faced Greta.
After that there was nothing but the chanting of the witch for a long while. My brother did not speak to the doppelgänger, choosing to let her mourn in peace as he watched the witch perform the spell. Eventually there was a gasp, followed by heavy breathing, it came from the Ripper. Watching him, as I was quite bored at this point, he reached for the piece of wood lodged into his back but failed to get a grasp of it. His gaze travelled to the doppelgänger and he must have noticed the absence of the other vampire and the tears most likely staining the girl as he quickly looked over to the boulder made altar which found him facing the recent sacrifice. His pained voice broke out quietly, "No…"
As my brother watched the witch Greta pouring blood into the cauldron, ignoring Stefan's awakening, I listened. "I'm so sorry." He said simply. Hearing the girl shush him at that had me tilting my head, then I smirked at the next words that left her mouth, "They're going to kill him." Obviously these people didn't know what kind of hearing we had. If I could hear her, then my brother could hear her all too clearly.
Nik turned around, an expression of satisfaction mixed with triumph consuming his features. His slow stride over towards the final sacrifice was a deliberate way to allow him to revel in the moment. "It's time." He spoke to the girl, but his eyes met mine even at our large distance. The fire around the doppelgänger diminished just like before with the wolf and the vampire. My brother offered her a hand with a large smirk. His smirk turned to a frown as she rose to her feet herself and ignored the offered hand as she passed by him and made her way towards the altar, though my lips curved up into a smirk of their own at that. As my brother circled around the doppelgänger on the altar eyes trailing over every inch of the girl, his voice rang out with impatience, "Come on Miklavz we don't have a night."
I saw the panic and shock as it made its way into both the doppelgänger and the Ripper's eyes. With a quick and determined, and entirely human paced stride, I made my way into the quarry all eyes but my brother's fell upon me. As I made my way onto the altar I heard a pained groan come from Stefan who was clearly trying to get to his feet but failing. The doppelgänger eyes never left mine, she held my gaze as I stood before her, and suddenly she spoke, "You're alive?" Her whispered voice had me raising an eyebrow but before I could contemplate any of it my brother's hand found itself on the girls chin.
Slowly, Nik turned the girls head until she was facing him, her eyes blazing furiously into Nik's own. "Thank you, Elena." Elena's reply was quick and devoid of any emotion, but the fire never left her eyes, "Go to hell." Nik slowly moved the hair aside, exposing her neck while he smirked at her reply. As Nik made his way behind her, I closed the distance between me us as her gaze shifted from Nik to me she seemed to shake a little, Nik looked up and nodded as I moved the hair on the other side of her head before I returned his nod and we both began to drank from the doppelgänger.
Nik was slow to do so; he seemed to actually take care when sinking his fangs in her neck. Dare I say it; my elder brother was actually gentle with the doppelgänger. On the other hand, I was neither gentle nor rough. My fangs found their way to the left side of her neck, and I sunk them in without any thought of it. My right hand found its way around the girl, winding up on her lower back, while my left hand found itself on her hip. At this, I was leaning over her, pulling her closer. Nik had his right hand just under her throat, and his left on her left arm. Nik was leaning back, supporting the weight of both the girl and I as I leaned into her.
We were both drinking in the blood slowly, savouring every drop. It had been a long, long while since we shared like this before. There was a part of me that wanted to revel in it, to enjoy the companionship of my brother, but I shoved it down in anger. Suddenly I felt my brother's left hand grab my shoulder in a tightened grasp before he pulled me closer, sandwiching the doppelgänger between us even more. My brothers other hand reached across the front of the doppelgänger between mine and her chest and tightened his old on her as well. My mind drifted towards different times, similar times, times that were so far away from now, but were very much the same. It was for a moment, almost like nothing had changed between the two of us. But everything between us changed, and there was no going back.
The source of blood between us quickly became dead weight as she faded, and slowly died. When my brother's grip on my shoulder let up, I released the girl. Nik looked up to the sky as he released her, her body falling to my right. I turned away from my brother who was still staying at the sky with his arms spread out and mouth ajar. Nik was enjoying the moment; reveling in the joint act we just took apart in as well as the ritual we just performed to finally break the curse. As I looked over the field I could hear Nik's breathing behind me, it was just as laboured and deep as my own. Hearing the fire crackle as the light to my right diminished I turned to the witch as I wiped my mouth clean of blood. The witch was staring at my brother in admiration, my gaze followed hers and I saw my brother roll his shoulders as he slowly took a step forward to me, his gaze seeing through me rather than me. There was a light hissing coming from his throat, and I could see it in his eyes, he could feel it, feel the power just like I could. It worked, I knew it did, I could feel it.
Nik grabbed my shoulder with a tight grip as he stepped off the altar and dragged me with him. After a few large steps across the grass his head turned to me, "I can feel it!" His voice was gravelly, and every syllable was expelling a deep power beneath his annunciations. His eyes lit up as he released my shoulder and turned his head idly back in front of him. We both kept moving, probably for the same reason, it burned, beneath the skin. Standing still would have been too uncomfortable, all I wanted to do at the moment was take off into the forest, but the fire inside, it made me numb. I could feel the transformation coming. At the corner of my eye I saw Nik smirk. "It's happening." He whispered.
At his words I found myself looking towards the moon, the very full moon that hung above. That's when it hit, the crunching of bones. They were breaking, reshaping, the transformation, Nik was right, it was happening. Nik gasped beside me, and I let out a deep groan and almost toppled to my knees. But I wasn't ready, not yet. At that thought, I tried to will the transformation away, and I could feel the bones beginning to settle, to listen to my will. As much as I wanted to let the wolf out, I had to try to stall, and I could feel it working. It wasn't just being stalled, it was actually stopping completely. Did that mean we had full control over our wolf side? That we could perhaps even change at will?
I looked over to Nik who was still moving forward, I could hear his bones snapping still and he was letting out groan after gasp. My own bones were healing as I watched my brother stumble and nearly fall. "NIKLAUS!" I roared letting all my hate I'd been holding in for over fifty years spill out of my voice. My brother spun and then I saw it, his eyes golden, even the fang's, there were six, a somewhat hybrid of the fangs of a vampire and the fangs of a wolf. Before he could reply or I could make a move suddenly we were both flung across the field in opposite directions. As I quickly brought myself to my feet I heard the chanting of an unknown witch. Looking towards the voice I saw her eyes lock with mine before her hand twisted and I felt an immense pain everywhere. Bones were breaking once again and my head was exploding. I managed to look over to my brothers witch Greta, as the unknown entity turned her focus to Nik, but I found Greta dead on the ground with some man in black standing above her looking towards Nik. Quickly he averted his eyes from my brother and gathered up the doppelgänger's corpse before he started making his way towards the Ripper.
With the witch distracted and my healing faster than ever now that the curse was broken, I sped up and across to the dark haired vampire. As I impacted him he flew to the ground along with the body he was carrying. Rage, that's all I felt, so I barely even processed Stefan's scream, "NO!"
My fangs elongated and my eyes changed as I saw the black haired vampire look up in confusion before I descended upon him before he could realize what happened. Appearing behind him I pulled him to his feet and sunk my teeth into his neck, arms latching across him, one hand across his throat and the other on his abdomen. The feeling of him struggling only amped me on, and in the heat of the moment I disregarded the incredible taste of vampire blood, which I'd been denied for over fifty years, and I ripped his throat out with my teeth. His body dropped as nothing more than dead weight at me feet and blood oozed down my jaw and soaked my shirt. Stefan stared up at the body in pained shock and sadness. That's when I realized my brother wasn't screaming in pain anymore and I came back to my senses too late.
As my gaze looked up I found the witch and before I could do anything she cast her spells on me once again bringing me to my knees. This time I refused to fall completely and met her heated glare head on with fangs bared. My screams were directed towards her, my arms at my side, and hands clenched as I leaned forward on my knees. Willing myself once more I struggled to bring a knee up and began to stand. Her face took on a grim determination suddenly and the pain magnified dropping me face first into the ground as the increased pain was to sudden to prepare for. My palms met the ground in an attempt to lift myself but it was futile.
Behind the witch I saw my brother struggling to stand, a glare met the back of the witch's head as he blurred towards her. "Bonnie look out!" I heard Stefan shout but it was unnecessary as I saw a suit draped figure collide with my brother and knock him back onto his back with a sharp punch. My eldest brother stood eyes meeting mine in pity, Elijah shook his head before turning back to Niklaus. "Elijah! What are you doing brother!?" I heard Nik shout in anger. My gaze travelled back to the witch, the one powerful enough to make me scream, and I saw her hand twist once again this time it caused a sharp pain near the base of my neck and then everything went was dark.
Stefan POV
As soon as Klavz stilled, Bonnie was next to me pulling the broken stake piece out of my back. My eyes went to my brother we groaned and stood as Bonnie help me to my feet. "Damon, take Elena, get her out of here." Damon looked very disoriented but nodded slightly as he rolled his head along his neck. As he picked her up and sped away, I moved towards Elijah, who had his hand in Klaus's chest.
"I didn't burry them at sea!" Klaus gasped out with pain lacing his voice. Elijah looked over past us towards Klavz and I realized what he was thinking. "Where are the rest!?" He spat out at Klaus.
"Their bodies are safe." Klaus replied which seemed to be a challenge for him as he was hissing slightly. "If you kill me, you'll never find them!"
"Elijah!" I called knowing what he was thinking, knowing exactly what he was going to do. The problem was I couldn't even blame him for it, because I'd do the exact same thing in his position. Elijah's eyes met mine before I continued, "Don't listen to him."
"Elijah." Klaus whispered, "I can take you too them." He struggled to speak, "I give you my word, brother."
Elijah looked between us and Klaus with an unsure expression. "Do it and I'll take you both out." Bonnie told him. "You'll die." Elijah met Bonnies determined look as he said this, "I don't care!" She practically growled.
The elder Originals gaze met his brothers before his eyes met mine, "I'm sorry."
"NO!" I shouted, followed by Bonnies own shout. I tried to close the distance, but it was hopeless as they were already flying through the fire and gone before I even got two steps. Bonnie and I were both breathing heavily as the events of the night finally caught up with us. Bonnie looked at me with a 'what now' expression as her hands grabbed her knees to steady herself. My mind jumped back to the temporally dead Original and I quickly turned around to find him still there. Elijah couldn't have taken both, not without risking being taken down by Bonnie. We had Klavz, so we had leverage.
A/N: Originally this was going to end very, very differently. Like, this whole part of the TVD universe, the sacrifice, and this whole chapter even, I had only one part of it planned out. The rest I was just improvising. But then the part I had planned completely changed. What I had planned will be delayed, and will take place next chapter in a different part of the canon story. Next chapter will definitely be the first we see of Miklavz flipping the TVD-verse on its head. Won't be a large significant change, but it will be a temporary impact.
Unfortunately not a lot is changed in this chapter, pretty much nothing really, but it had to be done. We're be entering the new territory though from here on out, I'm not saying it'll be drastically different from canon, but it could be. At the very least there will be some significant changes, especially because as I said before, Miklavz has his own obsession and it'll be his own little subplot that'll interject into TVD-verse. Also, as you can probably see from this chapter, Miklavz shares a trait with his father, Mikael. Miklavz has a taste for vampire blood over human blood.
Oh, lastly, I got a poll up on my channel that I'd appreciate if anyone reviewing/faving/following this story or any of my stories could take a moment to go and vote on it. I have a lot of uploaded stories, and their all unfinished and periodically updated every few months or so. The poll is simply my top 8 favourite stories I've written, I would like to know what people want me to be focusing on the most, so if you're interested in a particular story of mine go vote for it!