Chapter 9: What We Fear
"Fear makes us feel are humanity." ~ Benjamin Disraeli
….
Cecelia walked prickly down the halls of the Louvre, her black Mary Jane heels clicked with each step. With a certain amount of hurry to her step she continued on her way until she came upon the Mona Lisa, pausing she stood in front of the famous painting. "I remember when this was painted." A voice said from behind her, turning her head she smiled at the petite frame of the voice.
"You always had a thing for artist." She said pointedly to the woman behind her. The new comer raised a brow at Cecelia.
"You are more aggravated than normal, what happened." She questioned Cecelia, giving her a concerned look. Cecelia sighed, running a manicured hand through her thick locks of hair before speaking.
"Katherine Pierce called me this morning." The other woman came to stand at her side, a frown forming on her lightly freckled face.
"And, calls from her normally don't rile you up this much. Tell me Cecil, what has that Petrova woman done to get under your skin so quick?" She questioned, Cecelia looked over the painting for a moment as if inspecting it.
"Natalie, she plans to wake Mikael." Her voice was somber, expression dark. Natalie took a deep breath, her expression registered fear, and confusion.
"How does she even know of Mikael? He's been entombed for almost twenty years now. And before he was a recluse, you only knew of him if you were in his way to find Klaus." The octave in her voice was high, panic clear in her tone.
"I don't know, I fear what is coming. If Mikael is awoken, then after he gets it out with Klaus… there isn't any doubt in my mind that we are next." Cecelia spoke only the truth, a truth unfortunate.
…..
"They want to wake Mikael." Rebekah's voice rung around her head, it was as if Persephone couldn't comprehend what she was saying. Finally after moments of silence she found words.
"That is a horrible idea. Please tell me you told them that was a horrible idea. There is no part of your father that is honorable. None." Persephone all but pleaded as she stared at the blonde.
The two were sitting in the grill eating lunch as per usual since Nikluas abandon Rebekah here and she had decided to annoy that Salvatore's by staying at the boarding house. Persephone looked like she was thinking. "I tried but that little conniving bitch says they're going to wake him up anyway." With those words Persephone stood slamming some bills on the table and storming out. On her way out of the grill she ran into Damon.
"So glad to see you back to your dark brooding self." He said, before he could get his usual smirk across his face Persephone's hand and racked across his cheek a loud smacking sound echoed. Damon's hand reached up to touch the now red flesh.
"What the hell Persephone?!" He demanded as he went to reach for her, she simply sidestepped him.
"That's for being an idiot, do you fools really plan to wake Mikael?" She questioned, her tone harsh. Damon's brow rose.
"You know Mikael? The original father." Persephone's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"I know him, he tortured me for the better of six months to get information out of me in the 1800. I'm telling you, as a friend that this is a really bad idea." Her voice held a certain amount of sincerity to it, and Damon found himself having to look away. She was making him feel very guilty, and he didn't even like her right now.
"Look, I'll think about our little talk but right now I have to go free my brother." Persephone recognized the amount of bullshit in his told and let out a sigh.
"You do what makes you happy, but I warned you. This is a death sentence." She turned, leaving him standing in front of the grill alone.
….
Persephone could feel the vervain ropes tied around her wrist, the gag in her mouth as it felt like razors with every breath. There was only one man alive who would go through such measures to torture her. Her head hung down, mangled black stands covered her bloodied face. She could sense him, as he lingered against the wall. Finally after several moments footsteps approached her, the rugged man leaned down his gloved hand forced her face up to look at him. His large hand held her face in place so she had no choice but to stare and the empty eyes of the original father.
"If it isn't Death, they talk a big game about you girl. You're loyal to him." Persephone gave him a cold look. That was when she felt the gag be ripped from her mouth.
"It's nice to see you to Mikael." She sneered at him, spitting her vervain coated salvia at him. He took the wooded stake in his hand and slammed it down onto her naked thigh. Persephone didn't give him the satisfaction of screaming, instead she bit her lip.
"I gave you another chance, and yet you stupidly fell right back in step with the boy." He twisted the stack, she grimaced in pain.
"He may not be your son, but it was your own son who betrayed me. I am loyal to those who deserve loyalty. Niklaus deserves my loyalty." She snapped, irritated with having been captured again by the psychopath. Mikael pulled the stack from her thigh only to roughly stab her in the collarbone.
"Don't say in name to me, don't speak to me of the wretched boy!" Mikael hollered. Persephone rolled her eyes.
"If not him, then what of your daughter Rebekah. She hasn't a clue of Niklaus' dishonestly. Yet you've been hunting her too just to hurt him. And she's your daughter, you're on flesh and blood. But you've thrown her to the wolves." Her voice was mocking, Persephone knew she was drawing near to a dangerous level. This game that she played with him, more than likely wouldn't end well for her.
In his rage Mikael lifted her up by the length of her hair pulling her from the chair. It was in this moment that Persephone kicked him in the jaw before cutting the rope on the knife in his other hand. Mikael yanked at her hair again but this time she twisted her head so fast that the length and extensions loosed from his grasp. Her foot made contact with his wrist before she ran off. Running faster than she ever had in her life.
….
Persephone could hear the sound of Rebekah's heels clicking against the floor at the grill. The blonde haired vampire was fast in her approach. Finally the original was before Persephone giving her a more than hurt expression. The dark haired woman sighed the tension was thick. Rebekah broke it first by speaking. "How long have you known?!" She demanded, with no preamble. But Persephone knew of what she spoke.
"Niklaus compelled me not to tell you, I wanted to." Lie. Persephone could care less had Rebekah known or not. Beside that was Niklaus's grave to dig. Not hers. Rebekah stared at her long and hard as if trying to determine if what Persephone said was truth.
"How did you find out?" Rebekah questioned her as she slid into the booth. Before she answered Persephone called Matt over.
"Mr. Donavan, can you please bring me a glass of wine." It wasn't a question and the human nodded his head before walking away to get her order.
"Answer me Persephone." Rebekah grew impatient with her stalling.
"Your brother told me after Bulgaria, he drowned himself in the booze before dumping his guilt onto me." Truth. Rebekah looked lost, like her whole life had been a lie.
"Your father still hunted you Rebekah and he knew you didn't know anything of her death. Whatever your thinking, whatever you feel you need to remember that you jackass of a father still aimed to hurt you while you were innocent." Rebekah's eyes narrowed at Persephone, the younger woman in immortality words haunted her. Then something occurred.
"How did Mikael know, I didn't know?" Rebekah questioned, Persephone accepted the glass of wine from Matt took a sip before responding.
"I told him. During the second time he torture me. He knew Rebekah, and he didn't care. Niklaus only wanted to protect you, and you know as well as I that more than anything he fears being alone. He would have told you, if he wasn't so afraid that you'd leave him." Rebekah frowned. Because in a way Persephone was making her feel guilty for hating Niklaus.
No. He had lied to her. Niklaus killed their mother. How could he want to protect her, if all he ever did was lie to her? "Your wrong, Niklaus only cares for himself. And he can root in hell for all I care." Rebekah stood and stormed away angrily, but mostly conflicted.
….
It was Stefan who finally called Persephone and let her know of their plan to kill Klaus, and how Rebekah was in on it. She decided then that the boarding house was where she needed to be. When she walked in, Persephone was met with the most gratifying sight. Mikael, in his rightful place. Daggered and laying on the floor.
"Dick." She muttered before stepping over his body and walking straight to the doppleganger. Persephone looked her over with a cold glance.
"If in any shape fashion or form that Rebekah gets hurt because of this. Just know that I am not kind. Especially to those who hurt my family." Persephone then looked over at a humanity-less Stefan. Her body turned and her feet carried her over to him.
"The first time I met you, you were like this. But that was the twenties and you've changed since then. I hope for your sake Stefan Niklaus restores what's left of your humanity. It be a shame for you to betray him and have to spend the rest of your immortality like this." With on last glance at the daggered Mikael, she headed to the door.
Elena, Stefan, and Damon all gave her a different look. She smirked, before calling over her shoulder. "I would just leave the dagger in his heart if I were you."
XOXOX
Okay, so I might have skipped an episode. But who cares? Certainly not me. Anyway let me know what you think. The next chapter is going to blow your minds. Until then…
Sincerely, La'Rae