Disclamer: I don't own TVD, if I did it would be very different.
A/N: Thanks everyone who R&R, followed and favorited this story! I'm sorry that it took this much time to post the new chapter, but it is extra long (the longest I have ever written). The first half of the chappie was betad by Lotheriel, thank you. A huge thanks also goes to siberia21 for amazing proof reading.
Chapter 6:
After the Originals left and Elena was quite sure they were out of hearing distance she turned her gaze to the room's remaining occupants; all eyes were turned to her. Before they arrived with Elijah at the Boarding House he advised her to try projecting calmness, not letting her friends play on her compassion. At least, that's how Elena had chosen to interpret his words.
Damon poured himself another glass of bourbon before sauntering over to the Gilbert siblings and stopping before them. The anger was almost visibly rolling off of him.
"Tell me, you weren't stupid enough to make a deal with Him again." Damon stressed the him, the capital could be heard in that word and it was obvious to everyone that he was speaking of Elijah. "Tell me that this is a smokescreen to get them off our back!"
Before Elena or Jeremy could say a word he continued. "Because then, I'd applaud at your performance and planning abilities."
Elena was unable to look into Damon's penetrating, aqua blue eyes any longer. She turned her head towards Caroline, hoping that at least one of her friends would understand the decision that Jeremy and her made and stand beside them. She could tell that Caroline was not happy, but she couldn't detect any anger or disappointment directed toward them either. With this in mind she spoke primarily to her blonde friend.
"Yes, we agreed to their deal." Elena stated in a surprisingly strong voice. She refused to be cowed under their gazes, she didn't do anything she should feel ashamed of.
At her words Damon threw the crystal tumbler in his hands into the empty fireplace. The glass shattered into a million tiny pieces, causing Elena to flinch and look back to Damon.
"Well, this is no surprise." Stefan spoke up for the first time in a long while. "You are always ready to do as Elijah orders."
Jeremy saw how those harsh words hurt his sister, he wanted nothing more than to shake some sense into the Salvatores. They expected that the Gilbert siblings would fall in line with their plans and expectations, all the time. If they didn't, the Salvatores would lash out. He noticed more than once that this was true not only of Damon but of Stefan too, only his way tended towards guilt tripping with a few harsh statements and some twisting of the truth.
"Oh, for God's sake, let's finally drop this farce." Jeremy growled, standing up from the couch and glaring at the brothers. "You made it crystal clear that you are not happy with what we have done. So what? We heard you loud and clear. What do you expect now? That we simply overlook the fact that we made a deal and continue to work behind their backs to find the cure?" His dark brown eyes fixed onto Damon. "I will not kill to complete this damned map and nothing will change my mind, Damon. There's no way, that I'd risk the Originals wrath for trying to play them. This ridiculous meeting here today shows that obviously you only want the cure for your own selfish reasons." He shook his head. "I really should know better than to think that you'd be able to understand us."
Everyone was stunned by Jeremy's speech. Caroline's mouth was actually hanging open, as was Elena's. Stefan wore a shocked look, however Damon's face showed only fury. His eyes were blazing with anger.
"Oh, yeah. Only yesterday you were singing quite a different tune." Damon snapped. "You actually believe that insane tale that snob bastard told you, idiotic boy."
"Damon," Elena whispered with an almost pleading note to her voice. Silently asking him to calm down and listen. "you really want to hazard the resurrection of every supernatural' creature just for the probability of a cure? Please, try to understand. I don't want my brother killing hundreds of vampires over this."
As much as Elena tried to reason with Damon, she knew that in his state of anger she most likely would not get through to him. She went over to him and stood close as she looked up into his angry dark blue eyes.
At the sidelines, the others waited nervously. All of them tense and ready for whatever may come next.
"You want to become human again, not me." Damon spat angrily at her. "And after what we have done, you just give up without even checking if it's true what they said."
"I don't know what I want." Elena blurted out almost shouting in Damon's face. She started to become extremely angry, her emotions were all over the place. Why couldn't Damon understand? She was constantly worrying about her brother, she was barely coping with the situations that came one after another without break. She has had no time to think on what she wants, or on how she wants to live her life in the future. She was overwhelmed by these constantly changing, intense feelings almost twenty-four seven.
Finally registering how agitated she was, Damon took her face in his hands and tried to soothingly convince her that they at least should check what they heard. Again without conscious thought, he used the Sire bond to persuade her, but this time Elena felt it. She could detect that small part in the back of her mind which told her to go along with what her Sire said without arguing.
Jeremy watched, horrified, as he saw his sister wavering in her decision, but to his surprise the next thing he saw was Elena shrugging off Damon's hands and backhanding him.
"Do not try to control me again." Elena hissed in fury, accentuating each word like they were a separate sentence. She then turned on her heels and marched out of the house, Jeremy hot on his sister's tail.
Caroline threw an angry glare towards Damon and a disappointed one at Stefan before also leaving.
After taking another deep breath Elena sent a slightly strained smile towards Jeremy and Caroline to reassure them she'd not fall apart. She signaled them to get into the car and started it.
They drove in silence to the Gilbert house, all immersed in their thoughts and processing what went down in the last few days. When they arrived they spotted Matt waiting for them on the porch.
Matt could see that something had happened which had made all of his friends tense and not too happy. He had come because he was curious what happened last night after he left with Jeremy; later he had just gotten a text stating that everything was alright and they'd speak later. Greetings were exchanged and they all entered the house.
"What happened?" Matt asked, cutting to the chase.
While the others made themselves comfortable in the living room, Elena went into the kitchen and brought a bottle of booze and four glasses back with her.
"That bad, huh?" Matt commented with a slight shrug as Elena poured them all a generous amount of vodka. Before answering her friend Elena took one of the glasses, swallowing a healthy amount of its content.
"No, last night went surprisingly well." Jeremy told him. "This morning on the other hand, not so much."
Elena saw the curious looks from Caroline and Matt, so she quickly continued. She and Jeremy explained them what happened last night and what kind of deal they made with the two Originals. Then they recounted what happened at the Salvatore's, with Caroline adding her own two cents.
"Wow." For a moment that was the only thing Matt was able to say. When he finally could gather his thoughts he continued. "Are you all right?"
Matt directed his question to all of his friends. He knew how important all of this was to each one of them; to Caroline and Elena because they could be human again, and to Jeremy because he was a hunter.
"I don't want to turn back into a human." Caroline whispered and gave her friends a slightly insecure look. She was worried that they might judge her. Somewhat surprised and quite happy to only see curiosity in all their eyes, she was encouraged to continue. "I prefer who I am now to the person I once was. I like being strong, I like that I'm able to protect my mother, my friends and myself; even if I can't do anything against someone like the Originals, then at least from some danger."
Matt understood what Caroline was saying perfectly. Not long before they got together he only thought of her as one of Elena's best friends. He couldn't understand what Elena valued so much in the shallow, neurotic, insecure blonde. But, he won't deny that he fell in love with her after she transitioned. Becoming a vampire helped her greatly with her insecurities and personal flaws.
Elena had loved Caroline like a sister for a very long time now. Her thoughts were actually very similar to Matt's; with the difference that she had always seen behind what her friend's tough exterior hid. She saw the wonderful, loyal and understanding friend even if Caroline behaved insensitively at times.
"So, you are not angry with me, are you?" Caroline asked when she couldn't stand the silence anymore.
In a second, Elena was embracing Caroline and said to her with tears in her voice "No, of course not. I'm just happy that you are content to be who you are."
Caroline was ecstatic at her words. She hugged her friend back as tightly as she could. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Jeremy and Matt's happy and slightly horrified expressions at the possibility that they'd cry with Elena. After a few moments had passed they released each other and gave one another a final, watery smile.
"Okay guys, we're done crying for now." Caroline assured them, chuckling. "Now, that I confessed; who is next?"
Swallowing, Elena sighed and hoped for the best. "I don't know what I want." Caroline reached for her best friend and took her hands between her own and squeezed them. "I thought that I wanted a human life and now that I'm a vampire I don't know if I could go back. I feel raw. And now I don't really have a choice to even try it."
Jeremy felt sorry for his sister and yes, for himself too. He hadn't wanted to become a hunter yet he is one. He could deal with that. What was killing him from the inside that on a subconscious level he wanted to, no still wants to kill his sister and their friends. He constantly has to fight for control to not just attack them. If Elena turned back into a human he wouldn't have to worry about trying to kill his only living family.
"Elena, all this doesn't matter." Matt spoke up, unable to keep his worry for her out of his voice. "We will stand by you and Jeremy and help you through this."
Elena couldn't help herself, she let a tear slip out and roll down her cheek. Despite this she sent a genuine smile to all of the room's occupants.
"I… Can I ask a question?"
"You already did, Care." Matt had a warm smile on his face as he spoke. Elena and Jeremy just chuckled at the slightly vexed look that Caroline wore. Then she turned towards Elena.
"You slapped Damon and told him to never try to control you again." Caroline started and all of them frowned at her words in confusion. "So, how it is possible that you were able to resist the bond?" Caroline pointed out the interesting detail.
"I have no idea. But it was the first time that I was able to tell that the bond tried to affect me." Elena added, a note of wonder in her voice.
They all sat in silence for a while to contemplate what they had discovered about the bond and what the consequences of letting the cure go would mean for their respective futures.
"Oh, oh-oh." Caroline piped up and started to shake her head in disbelief.
"What's wrong Care?" Elena asked confused, her emotions echoed by the boys.
"We completely forgot to tell Bonnie all of this." Caroline was slightly freaked out. They all groaned. How could they do this?
Matt grinned. "So… Which one of you will tell her about the newest developments?"
Jeremy rolled his eyes, Caroline grumbled under her nose and Elena just sent a glare his way.
o-o-o-o-o
Elijah opened the door to Klaus's mansion. The mansion his brother wished to be their home when they were finally reunited after more than 900 years. He let his youngest brother, who was carrying their half-brother and their precious baby sister, enter before him. As Kol arranged their brother's body on the saloon's comfortable dark brown leather couch, Rebekah went to the opposite side of it and sat down. Her once innocent and expressive face held an indifferent, cold mask now. Not something he was happy about, but he couldn't blame her after what they've all been through over the long centuries.
As Elijah observed his siblings, he wasn't sure how long it would take for them to be able to move on and be the family they once were or if it was even possible after all this time. He was aware that it wouldn't be easy, but he hoped for it to be soon none the less. Especially as he wished for their family to grow with at least one member in the foreseeable future; he wanted to be able to be with her without seeing his siblings and her at each other's throats. Both these hopes were still far out of his reach.
Kol went over to the couch and set down beside their sister, for once deciding to hold his tongue while they waited for Klaus to regain consciousness. Elijah walked over to one of the windows and looked out on the beautiful garden bathed in the silver light of the moon. Not a long time after this, his ears picked up the sounds of Klaus awakening.
Klaus snarled as he sat up and took in his surroundings. Elijah turned back towards his siblings and walked closer to them. Before he could say anything, Klaus attacked, swinging back his arm and hitting him square in the face. To Klaus's surprise Elijah didn't even get off-balance.
Rebekah jumped to her feet and wanted to interfere before Niklaus could do further damage to their brother, but Kol stood to place calming hands on her shoulders; effectively telling her not to get between them. Elijah and Nik needed to sort this out themselves or they wouldn't be able to speak without attacking each continuously. Or, at least Nik couldn't hold his temper in check long enough.
Despite his surprise Klaus was not deterred from throwing another punch at his brother, but his movement was halted by Elijah who caught his wrist and twisted it behind him. Before Klaus could do anything further Elijah brought up his right leg and kicked his brother's knee hard enough to shatter the bones there, he then repeated the action with Klaus' other leg before he broke the wrist he was still holding in his grasp. Klaus screamed in anguish at the pain. After he was hauled to the couch by Elijah, Klaus and Rebekah both looked at him in astonishment, confusion and even a little bit of fright.
"Show some restraint." Elijah ordered Rebekah and Klaus in a soft voice.
Kol let go of their sister and took his seat again. He could practically see as Klaus tried to work out how the Hell Elijah became so strong. The corner of his mouth lifted.
Rebekah couldn't believe that Kol was smirking at the situation. She was panicking a little bit on the inside, Elijah had just shattered both Nik's legs and one of his arms and her narcissistic, psychotic youngest brother was only smirking. In her opinion, this couldn't end well. But, it was even stranger that it seemed that Elijah's sudden burst in power came as no surprise to him.
"It's time we sit down and have a little chat." Elijah stated before any of them could interrupt him with their questioning. His patience was already tried enough for one day and he had no desire to deal with Niklaus' and Rebekah's temper and pouting.
"We shall start with what is on the forefront of your mind." Elijah gazed at his two confused siblings.
"Why don't we let them boil in their curiosity for a little bit?" Kol couldn't help but interrupt. He thought that Klaus deserved a taste of his own medicine; he frequently kept them in the dark on one matter or another and held his "secrets" close to his heart more often than he shared them with his siblings.
"Kol!" The pure annoyance Klaus felt was easily readable; not only in his eyes and on his face but also in the stance of his body, even if he was slumped slightly on the couch.
Elijah's eyes narrowed and came alive with an intense fire, his gaze on Kol. "I've asked them to restrain themselves. My opinion was that I wouldn't need to extend the warning to you. Was I wrong?"
Kol's smile froze on his face at his eldest brother's words. Yes, he liked to tease and annoy his siblings and to test their limits. He also found a great joy in causing chaos and mischief, one could say chaos was his one true love. But his respect and admiration for Elijah has never wavered over the centuries, even as a human, he had always gave him the deference that was his due as the oldest sibling. To be reprimanded like this was a shame he didn't like feeling at all.
"No, you were not." Kol apologized without the words.
"You have us hanging at your words." Klaus exclaimed in exasperation. "Please elaborate."
Elijah nodded to Kol as a way of asking to explain what happened to their siblings, as it was his tale to tell.
Kol held in a sigh, he didn't want to disappoint Elijah for a second time. So, he started without any further fuss; Rebekah and Nik's attention completely on him.
"After, I managed to come down slightly from the blood lust and rage when we turned, I've wanted answers." Kol had a faraway look and was completely immersed in his own world as he spoke. "And the only one, who could give it to me was Father."
In the moment's pause, Klaus wanted to spoke up but Elijah silenced him with a look. He also sent a warning glance to Rebekah to let Kol retail the story without interrupting. This was hard enough as it was on all of them.
"I needed to know why he decided to hunt us down, why he killed Mother? Did he really become to hate us so much that he'd kill his children when once, he loved us so dearly that he convinced Mother to give us immortality, a sin against the balance of nature?"
These were questions that Rebekah always wanted to know the answers to, but had never had the chance to get them. She regretted to this day that she hadn't spoken to their Father last year, when she had the chance before Nik killed him.
"I searched for him and found him in the south coast of France. And to my surprise the first thing he did when he saw me was to hug me tightly. He had never been overly affectionate with us, yet with that simple gesture, he made it unequivocally clear that he still loved me. He still loved his children. We spent the whole night talking as we have never done it before. He told me everything Nik." Kol said darkly. "And before you say anything, I swore to him that I'd never reveal to any of you what we discussed and to keep everything a secret."
Kol paused and there was suddenly a strange look in his eyes. Rebekah tried to found out that look and realized that Kol was still grieving at the loss of their Father. She felt betrayed that he didn't say anything to them but… Kol has never ever broken his word once he made a promise. Even Elijah occasionally broke his promises when he saw no other choice to achieve his goals, no matter how much he regretted it each time that he betrayed his given word. It was that reason, Kol promised anything so rarely. Rebekah could actually count it easily the instances and not because she was intelligent or good at math.
"When we had finished telling the other our point of view and what happened in the last half a century, I asked for time to think and come to my own conclusions. In the end, I decided to forgive him and Mother. Additionally, I promised to not interfere in between him and Niklaus. At the time, I wanted nothing more, that you pay for what you did, Nik." Kol steadily looked Klaus in the eyes as he continued to speak. "But you were still my brother and I loved you enough to decide that I'll hold my neutrality. Thus, I've never done anything to aid Father in finding you and kept your secrets, while I did the same thing on your behalf where he was concerned."
Kol let Bekah and Nik gather their thoughts for a few moments. Elijah stood in front of the fireplace as a calming presence to all of them. Kol was actually happy with the decision he made centuries ago; Elijah was truly the rock of their family, the calm bay they could return to for peace and advise every time, no matter what heinous acts they have committed. Elijah has never ceased to be searching for Klaus's and his redemption.
"Although, there was one thing I could forgive, but not forget. I couldn't feel nature and communicate with the spirits anymore. So, I asked for compensation; in the face of that I was willing to promise and forgive Father agreed."
"Now you got me worried." Klaus mocked and dismissed the whole matter with a wave of his hand. Mikael was dead and couldn't do anything. Kol was just wasting his time. Before he could voice this, Kol managed to pin him to his seat with the look of victory and glee on his face.
"I asked him to go through a ritual." Kol increased his siblings nervousness with his every word. He also deliberately worded things in a way to keep them on edge for the longest time possible.
"Tell us now." Rebekah finally snapped. "Or I'll rearrange your face, Kol."
"The ritual stipulated if Mikael ever died, Elijah would inherit all his powers and abilities." Kol looked very smugly at Nik and Rebekah. "So, our dearest brother is without question the most powerful immortal in existence beside Silas."
Klaus couldn't believe it. He was beyond furious. How the hell he didn't notice the change in power when Elijah attacked him when he had woken from the dagger? He didn't like the implication of what this meant even less. He was the hybrid, he should be the most powerful in the world. His brother swore him Always and Forever. Elijah should do as he says!
Rebekah just sat stunned in her seat without even moving a muscle, or taking a breath. Her mind processing what she heard at a lightning speed.
Elijah observed his siblings every reaction. He wasn't so worried about Rebekah, but Niklaus stiffened in visible anger. He had fancied himself the head of their family whose lead they should follow. Elijah was very aware that this was partially his fault, he had let this delusion grow because he felt that his half-brother deserved some kind of compensation for what life dealt him. He hoped that Niklaus would learn over the years that they'd always be family. He'd be his brother no matter what and stand by his side.
Kol saw that Klaus was moments away from a tantrum the size of the Pacific Ocean. He told his brother repeatedly that he has no right to order him around. He had never obeyed Klaus when Kol didn't agree with his ideas. Because his loyalty belonged to Elijah as the eldest. He never made it a secret that he considered Elijah the head of their family after their parents had turned them.
"Just because Elijah had spoiled the two of you beyond everything that's good and bad." Kol said deridingly. "You really forgot the values we were raised with? The world may evolve and so we should keep up with the time's ideals somewhat; but I cannot believe that you abandoned the customs which we cherished so much." Kol stood up and started pacing agitatedly.
"It is quite enough, Kol." Elijah felt, it was time for him to take back the control over their conversation. He agreed with Kol completely and he demonstrated this with his silence throughout Kol's speech. This gesture showed, without a hint of doubt, his complete support at what Kol said.
Now, they'd see what Rebekah and Niklaus would decide. From now on, the decision was completely in their hands.
There was a heavy silence for a few minutes. Finally, Rebekah slowly turned her gaze to Elijah and looked into his eyes unwaveringly.
"Dear Brother, I will stand beside you, I have no greater desire than to reunite with our family in happiness once again. Family above all, always and forever."
Elijah couldn't be happier. His precious sister would be with them, no more lies, no more betrayals. He slowly walked over to her and extended his hand to help her stand up. As Rebekah stood before him still holding hands he leaned closer to her and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. They looked into each other's eyes and saw nothing but acceptance and love.
Elijah let his sister retake her place on the couch. He saw from the corner of his eyes as Kol reached for Rebekah's hand and gave it a warm squeeze. Kol also smiled at her with real warmness in his deep brown eyes for the first time in centuries. They'd need time to rebuild the bond they once had, but the first steps were taken.
The only one who didn't share with them his decision remained Klaus. They all turned toward their fuming brother.
"You are all sentimental fools." Klaus spat at them. He didn't want to bow to Elijah, but he also didn't want his siblings to be a united family without him. He should dagger them all, but his sister hold onto those now, and the white oak stake was in Kol's possession. He wasn't sure that he could take on Elijah; he had no idea how strong he became and had no way of finding it out.
No matter how angry he currently was, Klaus could at least be honest with himself enough that he loved his siblings and would rather spend eternity in their company instead of being alone.
"All right, our family shall become whole." Klaus said with reluctance in his voice but Elijah saw for the barest of moments the true desire in his eyes of them being together again. He knew, that at the current moment he couldn't really ask more from him. His brother needed to rediscover his humanity which he so desperately tried to extinguish in the last thousand years.
"You don't have to be bitter about this, Nik." Kol teased but his eyes were a lot less cold than before. Rebekah was relieved and anxious at the same time. She had hope that they'd be happy again, like they were in New Orleans a hundred years ago.
In an instant, Klaus was out of the room. They heard that he was in the kitchen and opened some cabinets, there was clinking too like when glasses were placed on a metal surface. Klaus was back a moment later, he held a tray with four champagne glasses in one hand and in the other there was a bucket with ice and a bottle of champagne in it.
"I thought that we should at least make a toast at the happy family event." Klaus said with minimum amount of sarcasm in his tone.
The Originals sat for more than an hour drinking and silently coming to terms of their new situation. All highly aware that they needed to discuss the cure and Silas. Rebekah despite the happiness she started to feel still wanted to be human, as their joy in the past never lasted too long she was still skeptical of how long this time it would last when they managed to overcome their differences. However, in her heart there was the most dangerous kind of feeling blooming, hope. That this time, with their mutual acceptance for Elijah to be what always should have been his role, this time things would be different.
Klaus also surveyed his siblings and came to the conclusion that he had to be the one to bring up the not so convenient matters of their life. He was aware that Elijah wouldn't start the conversation as he always listened to his siblings and took in every detail before making a decision.
"I loath to be the one to break the momentary peace, but we have things to discuss." Klaus said without a hint of regret in his tone. "First, point on the agenda: I still want Elena to be human again as she is quite an integral part of making hybrids. And don't even start with that I have you, so I have no need of them."
"Not this again." Kol rolled his eyes in exasperation. They were at this at the last thousand years. He will give his older brother that they were handy, but his incessant harping on the matter become old at least 700 years ago.
Elijah knew they'd be back to this. He stood up and went over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass before he turned back to his siblings one hand in his suit pocket the other holding the glass. He gazed into Klaus's eyes.
"I'll never let you torment Elena again." Elijah said in his calm way, which conveyed that he'd not tolerate any argument on the matter.
"Dearest Elena again." Rebekah moaned. "I can't understand the hold you let them have on you, Elijah. Every time one turns up…"
Elijah silenced his sister with one cold glance. He knew that Rebekah and Klaus were to object and try to fight him where Elena was concerned. But this was the one thing, he wasn't going to make any leeway or compromise about.
Before any of them could utter another word, they halted in surprise; Elijah was smiling a warm smile, an unreadable look in his eyes with a faraway look. Kol couldn't help but had a mischievous smirk on his lips, his own brown eyes dancing with merriment. He'd bet all his fortune on what Elijah'd reveal their siblings next and he'd make the same wager on their reaction to it.
"I wish to take her as my Eternal Mate." Elijah stated.
'Bingo!' Kol thought and the smirk on his lips has grown even wider as he casually leaned back in his seat making himself more comfortable. Now, he just needed to wait for Elijah's words to sink in his siblings minds. And yes, there it was.
"What?" Rebekah screeched in outrage a few octaves higher than she normally spoke.
"This is a bad joke, Elijah." Klaus growled furiously. "I get it, I deserve a lecture and you decided on one of the things which is most important to me. I congratulate you, brother."
Elijah went over to Niklaus at speed which even his siblings weren't able to follow clearly and had him dangling in the air by his throat.
Klaus tried to break the vice like hold on his neck, but he couldn't do anything. His brother's grip too powerful and at his struggling it got even more crushing. It'd not need much more and Elijah'd shatter his windpipe.
"This is not up for discussion or debate." Elijah used the same soft voice as he ordered Niklaus, as he did not long ago in the Boarding House with Damon.
Rebekah and Kol also stood up and were tense waiting for Klaus's reply.
Rebekah mentally scolded herself for her naïveté. She has always looked down on those who thought that Elijah couldn't be just as cruel and sadistic as Klaus or Kol. That he wouldn't remind his own siblings in a swift way of his power when he felt the necessity for it arise. Yet, she conveniently ignored this part of his personality too, because most of the time he was the gentlest, most protective and caring brother anyone could wish for. But today, she heard him use that too calm, too soft voice twice. Further more, the calm impenetrable mask, Elijah displayed most time, melted into something much more malicious and predatory. His eyes were incandescent with rage.
"Elena is mine." Elijah said with a tone that could have shattered glass. "If you so much as touch her with a finger, brother or not, you can be sure that I'm going to make you beg for death for the rest of eternity."
"Elijah!" Kol shouted. He didn't try to touch his brother, but his voice managed to calm him slightly. "Please. We can do this in another way."
Klaus met his brother's gaze, he didn't want to give up on Elena's blood, but in truth he had never been more scared of anyone. And for the first time, he fully believed that Elijah'd go through with his threat and show no mercy. Elena would be part of their family.
"My most sincere apologies." Klaus finally managed to choke out. "I promise you, that I'll lay no harm to your intended."
Elijah searched his brother's face for any sign of deceit, when he found none he slowly let Niklaus go.
Rebekah and Kol sagged their tense stances in relief. This horrendous episode seemed to be over. The awkward silence that followed helped none of their nerves, but they steeled themselves. They needed to get everything out in the open before they could live in peace.
As they all tried to relax and recollect themselves, Kol let his mind wonder to last night. When they arrived back to Elijah's house from the Gilberts; after entering Elijah had him against the wall almost instantly, his left hand pinned him to the wall of the entrance by his right shoulder. The grip was not hard enough to cause pain but it wasn't gentle either.
"I'll not tolerate you playing your games with Elena." Elijah said possessively.
Kol gazed at him with a very curious look after that. "Why?" He tilted his head speculatively. "I don't plan to hurt her, just a little bit of fun. You were never concerned about who I decided to take to my bed."
And there it was again, Elijah's eyes flashed with a possessiveness he had never seen in them over the centuries. Not even Tatia and Katerina managed to bring forth this kind of reaction from his brother.
Kol decided to speak up before Elijah would do anything more drastic. "I won't say, it wouldn't be a pleasure to lay with her." Elijah growled. "But, she actually reminds me of Adelina."
At Kol's last sentence, Elijah immediately released him. He'd have appreciated if Kol said so first and wouldn't have tried to annoy him to get a reaction. His baby brother was hopelessly fond of chaos and mischief and didn't spare even him. Although, he was much more restrained.
Kol was still chuckling as he followed his big brother into the parlor. "Your expression was priceless, and you know it." He teased good naturedly.
"Are you satisfied?" Elijah asked, while he sat down in one of the armchairs. He leaned back and crossed his left leg over his right knee, the picture of casual elegance.
"Very." Kol answered then went over to the drink cart and poured both of them some bourbon then took one of the tumblers handing it over to Elijah before sitting down opposite of him on the couch with his own drink in hand.
"How serious are you about this girl?" Kol asked, leaning forward with apparent curiosity.
Elijah contemplated how much he should tell Kol. He swirled the liquid in the glass in his hands as he finally decided that he'd be completely honest. "I want her as a mate."
"Wow…" Kol only gave so much reaction. He noticed that Elijah behaved in a vastly different way with Elena than any other woman before her. But he'd have never imagined that it was this serious.
"Do you want me to leave her alone outside of our agreement?" Kol asked with a little bit of his reluctance creeping into his voice. He wanted to get to know Elena Gilbert. The first time he saw her at the ball, his interest was picked; if for nothing else, because his siblings all had very different things to say about her.
So, he observed her discreetly. The first thing that stood out about her that Elena Gilbert wasn't able to hide her emotions. He could practically see every emotion coming off her like an aura that surrounded her being, that as a vampire she still had this quality was astounding and it was a major attraction for him. Finding someone that was so open with their emotions, even when she tried to mask them or hide her real ones… Kol knew how to read people after being alive so long, he had spent a lot of time observing and learning the nuances between masks and real emotions over the centuries and in his experience even those who turned off their "humanity switch" still displayed their thoughts and feelings, however diluted they were clearly, if you knew what you were looking for.
His interest only grew when he made acquaintance with Jeremy Gilbert who adored his older sister and told him many stories about their childhood. Finally, last night cemented his decision that he would befriend the beautiful brunette. But if his brother so wished it, he wouldn't approach her until she was an official part of their family.
Elijah sighed and shook his head. "No, you can approach her. I know how much you miss Adelina and I wouldn't stand in your way, if you had found someone who might be able to alleviate the emptiness that her death left behind." Elijah sent a warm smile to his little brother. "I'm actually happy, that you think so highly of her. I only expect that you don't cross certain boundaries."
Kol was ecstatic on the inside. So, he decided that he'd start early as Elena's newest friend.
"And what will you do about your current mistress?" Kol asked with a frown. "I don't think that you'll be in Elena's good graces when she finds out about your dalliance."
"Elena has no equal." Elijah answered, discomfort visible in his eyes.
"I'm aware, but none the less you will have a hard time." Kol pointed out. He shrugged and took a swallow of his drink, emptying his glass. He stood to pour another glass and silently, with only his gestures, asked if his brother also wanted a new drink. Elijah just raised his half full glass and slightly shook his head in the negative.
The conversation lulled into silence for a few moments while Kol came back to his seat.
"Why did you not take steps if you'd felt the pull?" Kol asked suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Because a mate would do anything and everything for their intended and she wanted to be human, raise children, die. But that wasn't the reason why I hadn't approached her. Elena was too young when I first met her. Actually, I did everything in my power to view her as nothing but a tool for my goals because of my history with the Petrovas; I consciously suppressed every emotion where she was concerned. I had never felt such possessiveness towards anyone before, such desire to protect, to hold. Yet, I have foolishly shoved these emotions to the deepest parts of my mind and heart. I buried them."
Kol listened enraptured to Elijah's every word, he observed every emotion that passed in his eyes while sharing this very important story with him.
"Do you have any idea what I needed to experience to finally realize what, who she was?" Elijah said with disgust lacing his voice. "I wanted to kidnap her from her family and friends and in the process, as punishment, kill the Salvatore brothers. She stood a few steps away from me in a cabin beyond my reach and tried to negotiate a pardon for her friends. She threatened to stab herself with a knife in the stomach if I wouldn't agree. I called her bluff. Without almost any hesitation she plunged the knife into her abdomen and I wasn't able to get to her. I've never experienced such dread, the realization resonated through my very being. In that moment, I'd have given everything to be able to help and hold her. I surrendered myself to her demands so she'd let me heal her. When she stumbled into my arms, I couldn't pay attention to anything else but the need to save her life. She plunged a dagger into my heart."
Kol couldn't believe it. He was very grateful for his self-control that didn't let him to hang his jaw open like an idiot. Not only Elena daggered Rebekah, but she actually managed to do the same to Elijah. With a plan so painful to herself and the even greater risk, that with a few centimeters in the wrong direction the stab could have been fatal. His respect for her shot up even more.
Kol also found immense amusement in the fact that Elijah, cool collected Elijah, almost overlooked what was before him. This was the first time, that Elijah's control proved to be a hindrance. And what a gigantic mistake he almost made. If it wasn't for the matter, he'd never let him live it down.
"And what's about the annoying boys who stalk her every movement?" Kol asked with a raised eyebrow. He couldn't fathom why they were still alive. Why would Elijah let them live and sniff around her?
"That leads us back to Elena being way too young." At Kol's flabbergasted look, Elijah elaborated. "I wanted her to mature in her own pace, to experience the world. To learn and make her own mistakes before I approached her again."
Elijah uncrossed his legs and put down the now empty glass on a side table before he stood up and went to stand before the fireplace as he continued.
"I wanted nothing more than tear out the hearts of the brothers. But she was in a relationship with the younger one and felt herself in love for the first time. After what she went through already, and what was still before her I hadn't wanted to cause her even more heartache. That relationship wasn't far from its end, I'd not given it 3 months. As for Damon, she was already aware that her feelings run very deep for him. I made the decision to not interfere."
Kol saw that how much this cost his brother even with his back turned to him as Elijah gazed into the fireplace. He'd have immediately let her know, consequences be damned. But Elijah was ready to suffer in silence while Elena grew older. It was a cruel joke from the universe that despite everything, Elena turned at eighteen.
"Weren't you afraid that one of them would turn her?" Kol asked almost musingly.
Elijah at last turned back to face his brother. "After we were un-daggered, I compelled them to never turn her. They could give her blood only to heal her, but never with the intention of turning her."
As always, Elijah took care of everything, yet because of a meddling doctor and their sister, Elena was a vampire now. A vampire who was Sired to that cocky bastard Damon Salvatore.
It's no surprise, that after thinking, that he lost Elena before he actually had her Elijah disappeared from Mystic Falls. In the light of this new information, he could now understand why he took that scheming, manipulative, heartless bitch as his mistress.
After a brief silence Kol started to musing about his siblings reactions when Elijah finally decided to share with them Elena's new status. An all too sadistic smirk curled his lips as he thought about the tantrum that Nik would throw over losing the control over Elena completely. There was also their baby sister, she'd have some hissy fit of gigantic proportions.
Kol slowly came out of his musing of last night. And for his pleasure, he heard Nik and Rebekah moaning to Elijah about his decision, plus in Bekah's case the unfairness of the universe that that bitch Elena always got everything on a silver platter.
Kol couldn't help himself anymore and burst out laughing at how accurate his prediction of his siblings' behavior turned out to be. His reward for laughing at them was a hard, annoyed glare from both.
Elijah only shook his head at their behavior. They were all more than a millennia old, yet sometimes behaved like children. This warmed his heart that some things didn't change with time.
"I've heard quite enough." Elijah silenced his siblings. He let them went their frustrations so they'd be able to concentrate on Silas. He wanted to stop them before they'd really get into their rant. "I don't expect an overnight change in your emotions where Elena is concerned. However, I do expect an immediate change in your behavior. Show her the respect that is her rightful due."
Klaus and Rebekah were silently fuming at Elijah's orders. But Elijah communicated through his eyes that they should follow this order to the letter or he won't held back on their punishment.
"Now tell me, what do you want exactly from finding this cure?" Elijah asked with the usual pleasantness back in his features and voice.
"I want to be human again." Rebekah stated without further prompting. Despite their suspicions Elijah and Kol still felt surprise at her words. None of them wanted to believe this. So they really needed to dig deep into the matter.
Elijah saw that his sister was serious. He spoiled her, gave her anything she wanted most of the times. But the look in her eyes managed to convince him that she was completely honest. She really thought that she wanted to be human.
At the same time, Kol thought that they needed to reason with her. She couldn't want this. Despite their many quarrels, he didn't want to see his sister grow old, eventually die and leave them behind. They had already lost their Father and Finn.
"How do you know that being human is the answer you're looking for?" Elijah tried to reason with her. "I mean it's nothing but a romantic notion. The grass won't necessarily be greener, Rebekah."
"You're probably right." Rebekah said while looking Elijah in the eyes unwaveringly. "But I don't care. I want to live a simple life as a normal person. And when it ends, it ends. We've had twenty lifetimes together. Isn't that enough?"
Klaus just rolled his eyes at their sister's patheticness. She was one of the most powerful and feared individual in existence, yet she wanted to throw away all of it.
Kol just listened. He couldn't believe that Rebekah was pushed so far that she wanted to leave everything behind for the prospect of a happy human life. Something she may never have even if she became human. That is not guarantee for happiness. True as a young girl, when they were still alive, she wanted nothing more than a good husband who'd respect her and children who she could shower with love. But he thought that Rebekah was at the very least content with her life.
"I just don't understand." Elijah shook minutely his head, displaying his confusion. "I mean, why must you always consider our family a burden? Always and forever. I mean, those words are as important to me today as they ever were."
Rebekah could barely hold back her tears at Elijah's heartfelt words. His brother knew perfectly how to use words to make her shift in her decision. But for the first time, they ceased to have convince her. All they caused was sadness.
"You will always be my brothers." Rebekah looked around in the room to meet Nik's and Kol's eyes too. She wanted to include them more. "And I will never stop loving you. But now it's time for me to live and die the way that I choose." Her teary gaze was turned back to Elijah. "Not the way you and Nik want me to."
Rebekah released a long sigh. "But, I think that will never come to pass as you'll do everything to not let me find it."
The sadness in his sister's voice and eyes made Kol speak up. He hasn't wanted to reveal this in front of Nik, as there had to pass a long time before he could trust him completely again. However, he didn't want to let his sister be miserable.
"Fine, Bekah…" Before Kol could say anything further, Elijah interfered.
"Rebekah, it is no secret that you're impulsive, emotional and at times morally questionable. Prove to me that this is not just one of your whims, that you know precisely what you're giving up here."
"Why are we even speaking about this, as you decided that the cure stays wherever it is?" Klaus spoke up too, while scowling at his brothers.
Kol turned a questioning gaze toward Elijah, seeking confirmation that if he should speak or stay silent for the time being. While they silently communicated, Klaus and Rebekah got even more annoyed.
"I'd do anything." Rebekah continued as if Nik hadn't uttered a word. Her curiosity was picked at why Elijah stressed so much these questions. Kol obviously wanted to tell them something.
"I want you to live for a year as a human." Elijah declared without any hint of a joke in his expression. Rebekah could only gape at him, he was actually serious. "You upheld the terms that I set for you at the duration of this time, which will include not drinking from humans, eating as one consuming only blood bags and going to school as a normal seventeen years old beside a few other details. The most important part, No vampire privileges, No strength, No compulsion, No nothing."
They all waited tensely where this was going. They knew their brother well enough, that he was offering a deal to their sister.
"You succeed, and you still believe this is what you want; the cure is yours." Elijah finished his list of demands with the part of what he'd offer her if she managed to comply with his stipulations.
"How?" Rebekah whispered.
"What?" Klaus roared in anger. It wasn't even a day ago that Elijah practically forbade them for going after the cure and yet their sister just needed to bet her lashes and…
"Kol, if you may elaborate before I had to suffer through another temper tantrum." Elijah waved his right hand in the direction where Klaus stood.
Kol nodded his head. "I've rebuilt Qetsiyah's entire work over the centuries, or at least enough to be able to find out how to make the cure. Give me a few months and with the help of Serena I can make it for you."
Kol enjoyed their flabbergasted look immensely. Nothing compared to shock his siblings so completely. Especially Nik, who fancied himself being ten steps ahead of everyone.
"What?" Kol mocked with no little amount of sarcasm in his voice as he looked first at Rebekah then Nik in the eyes. "You thought that I hadn't done anything constructive in all the centuries we've lived?" Kol shook his head while silent laughter shook his whole frame.
"Actually, I've hunted down, explored and where needed rebuilt most famous witches, warlocks, priests, priestesses and cults magical discoveries. Even added to most of them." Kol shared while a devilish smirk graced his face.
Elijah also found amusement in their siblings astonishment. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought they turned into statues. He leaned forward in his chair slightly while placing his right hand on his right knee. He was curious how long it'd take them to recover.
"You're a particular kind of bastard." Rebekah recovered first and sent Kol a murderous glare then she looked at Elijah. "Both of you."
"Oh, please." Kol commented, his eyes sparkling. "You always conveniently assume that just because I can't perform magic anymore, I ceased to research it. And, I'd like to point out that I've always protected the servants of nature."
"But, why didn't you say anything before?" Rebekah asked, tears of frustration in her eyes.
"Hey, I'll be the first to admit that I had struggled the most with coming to terms of being a vampire. And was pretty sadistic and crazy back then." Kol hold up his hands in a sign of innocence. "But, I actually enjoy being a vampire and hadn't felt inclined to make something that could jeopardize my continued existence as one."
Without any remorse Kol directed his next words to his backstabbing, traitorous brother. "Let's just say, that trusting you with this kind of knowledge isn't my first instinct, Nik."
"Niklaus!" Elijah asked for his attention before he could lash out at Kol. "I'm warning you. Don't even think about crossing me and plan to somehow steal this to force it on Elena."
Klaus marched over to Elijah to tower over him, as his brother relaxed back in his armchair. "So, Rebekah can get what she wants, but I can't." Klaus spat at his older brother.
"You think, I only prepared for a deal with Rebekah?" Elijah raised one of his eyebrows at Klaus. "I won't let you touch Elena with any ill intention. But she is not the only vampire doppelganger."
Klaus immediately understood what his brother was implying, and quite evil smile appeared on his face. "Katerina."
Rebekah saw that Elijah's countenance wasn't much more reassuring. Katerina's escape has always been a sore spot for his brothers. While Klaus only wanted to capture her to make her pay for that; Elijah held a soft spot for the first doppelganger and was prepared to save her life by some magical elixir which would have brought her back to life after the ritual. After that kind of betrayal on Katherine's part, there was no way in hell that Elijah wouldn't think up a spectacularly cruel punishment for her.
"Do you happen to know where Katerina is currently hiding?" Klaus asked with sparkling eyes.
"She is in my New York townhouse." Elijah announced, dark amusement lacing his voice.
"Yes, the admittedly gorgeous viper holds the title of Elijah's newest mistress." Kol snickered from his place beside Rebekah, whose face showed her disgust at this information.
"Could we speak about less nauseating things." Rebekah sneered. It was clear that Klaus has agreed to Elijah's proposal and was quite pleased with finally getting his hands on Katherine. From the looks of it, Elijah will greatly enjoy whatever Klaus comes up with for her.
Kol loved it when Elijah came up with solutions. He used Katherine Pierce and when she'd already be sure that she had managed to wrap Elijah around her fingers, his oldest brother would hand her over to Nik on a silver platter. An eye for an eye, or in this case, a betrayal for a betrayal. Elijah always liked poetic justice.
"What are we going to do about Silas?" Klaus asked, deciding to comply with his little sister's wish for a change in topic.
"I think that for the time being Silas is good wherever he is buried." Kol replied. "Without a complete Hunter's Mark, it is impossible to get into his tomb. We should concentrate on the Bennett witch and some college prof, who wants to revive Silas."
"His name is Shane." Rebekah added.
"Well, shouldn't we take care of Silas now? In a few hundred years, someone could accidentally stumble upon and release him. Why don't we resolve this once and for all?" Klaus asked while he glanced at Kol.
"For one, we don't know where he is buried." Kol hold up one hand and ticked off his points with closing his fingers one by one. "Two, Qetsiyah's descendant made sure that the Mark contains the spell and at least one of the hunters needs to be there with a complete tattoo for the ritual to work. Three, we only know one hunter, and we promised that he didn't need to kill vampires. And four, we don't know how many vampires needs to die to complete the blasted thing."
"Okay, then we'll concentrate on The Five, Bonnie and Shane first." Klaus said out aloud the conclusion they all came to.
The younger siblings all looked at Elijah to confirm that he agreed with this or not. At his nod the tension that was apparent in the room throughout the whole conversation disappeared.
The Original Family was united and on the same page for the first time in more than a hundred years.
A/N: The rating will be upgraded to M when the time comes for it.