Chapter 11: Nikolaus

Red's P.O.V.

For the next few years I visited Nikolaus when ever I could. We would play games and laugh. Sometimes he would even try to show off his sword fighting skills. Other times we would talk, sometimes about serious things and other times we would talk about less serious matters. For example, whenever he liked a girl he would tell me all about her. Then, he would ask me for advice on girls, which I gladly gave him.

One would think it strange for a little boy to have a friend who is not only a girl, but much older than him. But, it was not strange for him. I could tell he felt closer to me then he did with anyone in his family. He was always very open and honest with me and I tried my best to do the same, but that became difficult when I was trying not want to ruin his life.

He was about sixteen when I visited him and he started asking questions. I only found it fair to tell him the truth.

"Red?"

"Yes, Nikolaus."

"The day we first met, was that an accident?"

"No." I paused. "Nikolaus, I am going to tell you the truth about yourself, because you are old enough to hear it and I feel that it is not fair to you if I withhold the truth from you."

"The truth?" He seemed a little confused.

"The day we met was not an accident or a coincident. I had been watching over you for some time. But, it is only because I care about you and because I am your-"

He cut me off. "My mother. You are my mother aren't you?" I nodded. "I always knew my family was not my real family!"

"How did you know?"

"They always treated me different from everyone else." He seemed sad, yet relieved at the same time. "Besides we both have hair that is a ridiculous color helped point out that it was you. Everyone else in my 'family' has black hair."

"I am truly sorry I did not tell you sooner. As your mother I should never have given you up."

"Why did you? Did you not want me?" Did he really think that I did not want him?

"Of course I wanted you! But, let's just say there were some family complications. I promise I will explain it to you when you are older. Besides, there is something rather important I need to explain to you."

"What is it?"

"I know this is going to sound crazy and you may not believe me but... You are a werewolf." He then burst into laughter. I thought he was going to start crying because of how hard he was laughing.

"Yeah, sure." He rolled his eyes. Really my own son just rolled his eyes at me.

"Listen to me I am being serious! You possess the werewolf gene and if you activate it you basically become bound to the moon. You become forced to turn every full moon, and when you turn you have to break every bone in your body. It hurts like hell!"

"Oh really. And I suppose you are a werewolf?"

"Something like that."

"And how exactly does one break their 'curse'?"

"You have to kill someone."

"What?" He seemed to be taking me a little more serious now.

"Even if it is an accident and you kill someone you turn. It is a curse I would not wish on anyone. I just wanted to warn you. If I were you I would try not to ever kill anyone. Please, do this for me. That is the only thing I will ever ask of you."

"I will not try to activate my curse if you can prove you are a werewolf."

"Fine. Arm wrestle me."

"What?"

"Just do it." He thought he was so strong. Ha, guess again. Then, in one foul swoop I pinned his arm down, almost breaking it.

"No fair! We never said go."

"Well to bad. Do you believe me know?"

"Yes. I promise I will not try to activate my curse."

"Thank you." I knew he did not believe me. "Here, this is for you." I handed him a piece of paper.

"What is this?" He looked at it with confusion, then opened it. "It is a location. Why?"

"It is incase something happens. If anything ever happens to you and you need my help then you will be able to contact me. It changes frequently so I will be sure to send you a letter with my location every time it changes. Only contact me if it is absolutely important. As in your whole family dies or you activate your curse important." He nodded and slipped the paper into his pocket.

"Why can I not leave this wretched village and go with you? This people are not even my family, you are! I always knew I did not belong here, that I had been abandoned!"

"No, Nikolaus! I did not abandon you! I did what was best for you!"

"What was best for me? NO! You did what was best for you! These people do not give a rats ass about me! They may claim to love me, but they do not feel that way, they are incapable of it!"

Crap he was right. At the time it seemed to be what was best, what was right. I thought I was saving him from my true loves wrath, but I was only save myself.

"I am sorry," I whispered.

"You are sorry?"

"Yes. You are right and I am sorry. I thought I did it for the best, but... I want you to know that I love you. I have always loved you. I will understand if you never want to see me again."

"Mother, I-" I cut him off by disappearing with my speed as a tear started to escape.

I just left him there, I thought to myself. I just left my only son there after I had just dropped multiple bombshells in his face. I was a horrible person, no I was a horrible mother.

I could not see him again, I could not face him. I could still watch over him to protect him, but I could not face him. He would probably hate me for the rest of his short life. But, I had to make sure he knew I still cared and was there for him. I had to make sure he always knew where to find me.

I got back to our current home as fast as possible. I bursted through the door only to find Elijah, who seemed as if he was about to leave. I was a wrench, and he could tell.

"Rufina, are you okay?"

"Yes. No. I do not know." I could not make up my mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Yes, sort of, but no. No, I do not want to talk about it." I had made up my mind." I can see you are about to leave, and I do not want to ruin your evening." I moved my gaze to the floor.

"My plans can wait. After all I am your friend and I am here for you."

I sighed. "It is just... just that... I could really use a hug." I was full of sadness and about ready to break down at any moment. But, he saved me by pulling me into his embrace. He wrapped one of his strong arms around me. He used one of his hands to hold me still and stroke my head.

"I am a horrible person." I cried into his shirt.

"No, you are not. Shhh. Everything is going to be okay," he whispered into my ear as he tried to comfort me.

We just stayed there for the longest time as he whispered sweet comforting things into my ear and rubbed my back. He then kissed me on the forehead, pulled away but still had his hands on my arms, looked me dead in the eye, and said, "I will always be there for you."

He had promised thet before, and he never once broke that promise. At the time I wasn't sure why. Why he would care so much had always been a mystery to me. Lucy and Rebekah were wrong, he did not love me like Nik did. He loved me like a sister/best friend who he could tell anything to. Right?

He still had his hand on my arms and I was about to say something back when Nik appeared and Elijah released me. I turned to Nik.

"Red, are you okay? What happened?" he asked. He seemed concerned, confused, worried, maybe even hurt that Elijah was comforting me instead of him. But that was ridiculous! Elijah and I were just friends, brother and sister really.

"I-I am fine." I sniffed one last time and did my best to try and wipe my tears. I did not want him to see me like this. "I was just upset and need a hug." I turned my head slightly to look at Elijah, but he was gone. I looked back to Nik, who was now right in front of me. He pushed back a lock of my untamable hair and wiped away my last tear.

"Do you wish to talk about it?" he asked concernedly.

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. I wanted to assure him that I was his and only his till the end of our existence. For a split second he seemed shocked that I hugged him, but quickly got over it and hugged me back with reassurance.

I could tell he was not planning to let go anytime soon. I also could tell exactly what he was thinking, "Mine."

A.N.

Okay so I know this chapter wasn't that long, but the next one will be much long I promise. It is called An Afternoon Chat or a Daytime Snack. I know this chapter didn't have much to it, but the next one is going to explain some of the past. So, there will probably be a flashback. Also, this chapter would have been longer, but I wanted to break it up from the next chapter.

Thanks for reading! Please review because I would really like to hear your thoughts on the story so far! Also, next chapter will be AMAZING so get pumped and be sure to check it out when it is published! (:

Thanks again for reading and please review! (: