No One's POV

"Elskan, please stay with Finn." Elijah ever so gently lets go of Arabella's arm, having caught sight of the Salvatore brothers, as he, Arabella, and Finn now finished descending the grand staircase. "I have some business to attend to."

"Alright." Arabella nods.

"Not to worry, Elijah. I shall stay with her as well." Niklaus is suddenly by Arabella's side, offering her his arm.

Elijah nods once before disappearing into the crowd.

"Damon Salvatore." Elijah appears in front of the group. "We have unfinished business."

"I- Wait-" Damon says. "No we-"

"Yes. We do." Elijah states firmly, eyes darkening with danger. "I believe our deal was specifically stated. And you broke it. I do not take kindly to those who do not honor their end."

"Wait- isn't there- we were just trying- can't you see? Klaus is-" Elena begins to beg, but cannot find the words, realizing that Elijah was truly seeking vengeance over a slight against him or his family; not that either she, Caroline, or the Salvatore brothers quite understood what it was.

"My brother is not of your concern, Elena Gilbert. He has wronged myself and my family. But we can forgive. Family above all. Always and forever. Something it seems the Salvatores have not learned." Elijah states evenly, pinning both with a look. "That is not here or now. You have decided to test our family, to challenge us. We do not take that kindly." That is said with a heavy warning growl.

"Now, I do not know how your witch managed to open that coffin, but I assure you, my family will figure it out." Elijah talks conversationally. "But be assured, do not continue to challenge us. As for that woman; she is under our protection, our household, and if you even look at her wrong... We will slaughter you and all your family before burning this town to the ground. And we will do it without thought."

At that, Elijah strikes, hand thrusting into Damon's chest, twisting hard to grip onto his liver.

"Damon!" Elena cries.

"Mmm, I wouldn't move, little doppelganger." Kol tsks, eyes dancing menacingly, appearing again out of nowhere, both acting as a block for the Mystic Falls gang, preventing them from going anywhere, and a block from any partygoers from potentially seeing anything for Rebekah would have a conniption fit for ruining her party and causing panic. "The older Salvatore has been naughty."

"Take the Salvatore outside, Kol. I must get back to her." Elijah orders Kol, dumping a now unconscious Damon into Kol's arms, along with what looked like some random organ, Elijah having taken Damon's daylight ring, unbeknown to the knowledge of Stefan, Elena, and Caroline.

"Why do I get this job?" Kol grumps.

"Because I am older." Elijah smirks.

"I hate you Elijah." Kol glares before flashing off, still grumbling.

"Why!?" Elena cries, the usually honorable and noble Original not acting normal. "Who is she?"

"Sometimes, there is honor in revenge." Elijah answers mildly. "Damon crossed a line. Do not follow the same path."

"As for her…" Elijah pauses as he turns, wiping blood off his hand, it would not do for his mate to see blood on him, she got upset and fretted over him, which was silly, he couldn't get hurt and he didn't want her stressed.

"Arabella Mikaelson." Elijah decides to answer vaguely before disappearing back into the crowded ballroom.

"Oh, 'Lijah." Arabella worries a little, fingers brushing his chest, catching sight of Elijah and seeing a little blood on his wrists that he missed wiping off.

"It is not mine, Elskan. Be calm." Elijah quickly assures his mate, taking a handkerchief out of his suit and wiping it off.

"What happened?" Arabella asks.

"Nothing to concern you. A simple manner, Astin." Elijah offers, smiling at his mate, brushing her cheek.

"Brother, love. It's time to make the announcement." Niklaus comes up to his mate, Finn, and Elijah. "Kol is back now."

"Shall we then?" Elijah offers his arm once more to Arabella.

The Mikaelsons arrange themselves orderly on the stairwell, Arabella standing alongside Elijah, settled against the curve of his side, his arm securely around her, Niklaus not too far off, Kol to Niklaus' left higher up on the stairs, and Rebekah and Finn to the right, both further down on the staircase.

"Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever our family comes together to host a ball such as this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance." Elijah begins.

"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Elijah finishes.

"It would be rude not to dance, you know." Stefan offers a bit stiffly.

"It is tradition." Elena relents, taking Stefan's hand and curtsying.

"My Lady Arabella, may I have this honor?" Elijah bows formally to his mate, a smile playing at his lips.

"You may, Lord Elijah." Arabella giggles lightly, placing her hand in his.

"After centuries…" Rebekah mutters, watching and hearing her brother with Arabella, a devotion and love that had never died, it was beautiful; not like hers, who had been taken from her, because of her father Mikael and his cruelty which had forced her and her family to flee time and time again from their home.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Elskan?" Elijah asks, together the both of them floating around the dance floor.

"Yes, very much so, Elijah." Arabella smiles.

"Good. I am gladdened." Elijah smiles down at his mate before passing her off to his brother.

"Hello sweetheart." Niklaus greets.

"Hello Nik."

"Just like old times?" Niklaus moves them around.

"Hmm, yes. I suppose it is just as old times." Arabella remembers fondly.

"Do you like your dress?"

"I love it, Nik. Thank you."

"No thanks needed, love. I am glad you enjoy it." Niklaus answers. "And I do enjoy seeing you in it and your happiness." And with that last parting sentences, Niklaus passes his mate off to Kol.

"Why hello, bellissimo." Kol greets, a little mischief dancing in his eyes.

"Hello Kol." Arabella giggles a little.

"I see you've been enjoying yourself." Kol comments.

"And you've been terrorizing townspeople?" Arabella questions innocently.

"My little one has fire." Kol replies, sweeping his mate around the dance floor. "And only a little."

"I have been known to be observant. And I am well educated for a woman of my stature." Arabella reminds a bit haughtily in play. "But I simply know you, Kol Mikaelson."

"Oh, don't I remember." Kol mutters under his breathe a little.

Arabella catches it anyways and grins in playful triumph, Kol bowing to his mate as custom when the dance ends.

"My lady, thank you for indulging me in this dance." Kol flourishes a little, kissing Arabella's hand.

"My lord, thank you for this dance." Arabella giggles a little.

"Now, let us hunt down something for you to eat." Kol offers his arm to his mate, always conscious of his little mate's health and well-being as well as happy to take care of her.

Close by on the ballroom floor, Stefan had finished dancing with Caroline, who had, by the end of the dance, ended up being his partner.

"Who do you think she is? I mean, to them? Klaus even danced with her! I thought he liked me… I mean, not that I want him to like me… But still… She wakes from a coffin and suddenly she's like, what? No one else exists in the world?" Caroline rambles, watching Arabella with Kol, as she had subtly with Arabella and Klaus. "Stefan are you even listening? Never mind… You're like, completely useless these days."

"You know, brooding, grumpy Stefan is seriously not attractive. Besides, save that role for your brother." Caroline huffs, stepping away from Stefan. "And honestly, Stefan-" Her words get muffed by Stefan covering her mouth.

"Shhh…" Stefan says.

"Hey!" Caroline growls lightly.

Stefan moves a little close to Kol, who's leading Arabella out of the ballroom, Stefan pretending to continue to dance with Caroline while she still protested to Stefan's moronic life choices, when all of a sudden it hits him, both metaphorically and in reality.

"She's their mate."

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Hope you can enjoy it with someone special!

Or if you're single... Lols, like me... Here's an update to sooth your single souls! Bahaha!

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