Whether it was a hundred years, or even a thousand, Azalea never knew the entire time she lay there in the depths of the cave, her childhood etched into the walls around her.
And when she finally did wake up, it was eight hundred years later.
The teenage couple ran down into the caves now, laughing as they went, imagining the looks on their parents faces if they saw them together.
Orange and amber bathed the walls as they ran deeper into it, and suddenly the young man frowned, holding up his flaming torch, staring at the walls that was covered in white shapes and marks.
"What is all this-?" The girl wondered, and the young man raised a hand to the runes, realizing. "My father mentioned these. They are so many hundreds of years old... they said there was tunnels under my home, but no one ever found them. Not for a hundred years at least..." But then he remembered something else- the girl who should never be awoken.
Was that story true as well-?
"Stay here-" he muttered, then stepped forwards, raising the torch... and almost dropping it in shock at what he saw.
The girl gasped in horror, raising a hand to her mouth, eyes wide.
For a moment, the pair were transfixed in curiosity and horror at the figure lying upon the floor, her clothes so very dirty and immensely torn, eyes closed with a blade in the middle of her chest.
"What... is this-?" She muttered, stepping forwards and gulping hard, crouching down and prodding the girls arm, screaming as she realized that she was real.
"The stories were true..." He mumbled, then crouched down too, understanding now how the entrance had been concealed so very carefully so that it was next to impossible to find. It was only the flood that had shifted the rocks...
"Who- who is she-?" The girl pressed, unable to take her eyes from the figures face. Still as a statue with fire red hair splayed out. Her clothes looked like something from the Middle Ages. Something like eight hundred years ago.
"I don't know." The boy said truthfully, thinking about the stories told within his family- the Lockwood family. He reached forwards, touching the hilt of the blade, his companion hissing. "Leave it alone-!"
"But she's dead. And that dagger may be worth something. It looks valuable." he told her, then groaned as he yanked it out, staring at the blade admirably-
"Beautiful." He grinned, then tucked it inside his jacket, feeling a chill down the back of his neck, his girlfriend muttering. "Come- let's leave. I'm scared."
He agreed, getting to his feet and walking out, staring once more at the dead girl upon the ground-
Stories like that couldn't be true... could they-?
-AtY-
It was an hour later that a loud gasp echoed through the caves, accompanied by a few groans as the figure turned over onto her stomach, raising a hand to her chest, coughing for a moment.
"Ow..." Azalea moaned in agony, feeling a hunger like never before shoot through her. She pulled herself up to her feet, grabbing the wall as she almost fell, her energy levels next to zero.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to think, trying to remember...
Then she did- Mikael.
That man was in for hell-!
She walked over to the exit, then looked up, night vision kicking in. Azalea frowned as she saw the symbols on the wall, stepping forwards and raising a hand to them. Odd. They hadn't been there before... and they looked so old.
Her hand brushed the two names close to each other now, and she felt a twinge in her chest as she saw her own and Niklaus' name etched into the stone.
"Nik." She realized, walking out the stone doorway, wondering how long she had been 'dead.'
Outside, Azalea frowned when she found that the trees were all different. Everything was changed... new trees, new landscape.
A new world.
She stepped forwards, the urge to eat dominating everything else as she pricked up her ears, listening-
Then she heard a horse and rider coming up the road.
Azalea swallowed hard, veins on fire as she dashed forwards, jumping onto the rider as he cantered by, smashing him of his horse as she ripped into his neck, draining him until he was next to dead- she vowed never to kill anyone, and she wasn't starting now.
She groaned, raising a hand to her head as her strength came back, chest heaving.
But now she looked down to the man who was still awake, but groggy, his horse nowhere in sight, bolted away in fear.
"What- What year is it-?" She asked him, clenching her hands together as the warmth spread through her from the blood.
"18-1864." He whimpered, terrified she was going to bite him again, but she wasn't.
She had other things on her mind-
1864.
It hit her now full on- she'd been dead for eight hundred years.
Oh god... how-?
"Is there a town nearby?" She asked now, feeling lightheaded from the shock. The man flinched as she turned her attention to him once more, then muttered.
"Up this road. Mystic Falls."
"Thank you." Azalea sighed, then groaned, biting into her wrist and put it to the mans mouth for a second, making him drink. She glanced up, then back down at the man as she compelled him.
"You did not see me. You fell of your horse, which ran away. That is all."
"That is all." He muttered, then blinked, frowning as he found himself on the ground, his horse nowhere in sight-
Stupid bloody animal for throwing him off-!
-AtY-
As Azalea found the town, she realized this was where her house had been...
But it was long, long gone now...
Also, the town was called Mystic Falls, a growing community as well.
So much had changed...
And her family were gone, scattered to the winds no doubt.
People stared at her in fear as she walked through town, her hair a complete mess, and ancient dress torn in a good few places. They were human, these people... she could smell it.
Azalea did the first thing she could think of and found a dress shop, compelling the woman who owned it to fix her up with a dress from this age.
An hour later, she found herself in a deep green dress, chest hurting from the thing called a 'corset' evil, evil creation! Although, she had to admit that it made her boobs look good. Those old dresses from her time weren't the most flattering of things.
And dresses these days were magnificent. So beautiful...
As the woman curled her hair, Azalea noticed that the family ring she wore on her right hand was gone. Huh. Someone had probably stolen it for the money...
There was no honor these days. But she hoped there was.
When it was done, an emerald adorned necklace was put around her neck, and she raised a hand to her hair, feeling how curly it was. When she looked in the mirror, Azalea was shocked by how... stunning she looked.
The shop door tinkled now, and she turned to see a young woman walk in... and she looked slightly familiar, like she'd seen her once before.
"Here you are Miss Katherine." The shop keeper smiled, handing over a pair of white gloves to the young woman who smiled, then looked to Azalea with a frown. "I do not recognize you-?"
"Azalea." She nodded, and the woman frowned, wondering why that name sounded important. "Katherine." She told the flame headed girl, then froze as she truly stared at the woman-
Vampire. And an old one too.
Azalea saw her discomfort, eyes flickering to the door and asked. "You seem anxious?"
"Vampire." Katherine snorted, and Azalea frowned. "There are more-? Please- do you know of one named Niklaus? Or Elijah?"
The vampire before her gasped quietly, then went to run out, but Azalea grabbed her, slamming her into the wall as she scowled. "What? Tell me- you know him?"
Katherine was silent, and Azalea snarled, hissing. "I am really in no mood bitch. I've just woken up to find that I've been dead eight hundred years... so tell me now-! I'll compel you I swear to-"
"Vampires cannot compel another one." Katherine scoffed, trying to push the girl away, wondering why... something felt odd, but then she frowned.
"Eight hundred years-? As in... you are from the eleventh century-?"
Azalea shut up, vowing not to tell anyone about her family. This era of history was strange... she should leave her own in the past where it belonged.
"Yes." She snapped, and Katherine gasped, the need to run dominating everything-
This woman was an Original.
"Let me go!" She snarled, pushing the Original away, who finally lost her temper, remembering the effect Mikael had had on her when he sunk his own fangs into her neck. The younger vampire yelled as fangs ripped into her own, panicking and truly thinking she was going to die, but Azalea let her go, staring down at her figure, realizing all the sudden who she reminded her of-
Charlotte Petrova.
The woman who had almost been the first one Niklaus slept with, and the woman that had broken Elijahs heart...
Azalea crouched down before her, cocking her head a little as Katherine gasped. "Please... just-"
"Shut up. Now... where is Niklaus?" Azalea asked, unable to believe how much she looked like Charlotte. Katherine shook her head and mumbled. "I do not know. The last time I saw him was in 1492..."
"You make it sound like you are running from him." Azalea scoffed, and Katherine frowned, unable to stand up, but still managed to sit up straighter. "Wait a moment... you don't know-?"
Azalea was silent, then asked. "Know what-?"
Katherine fell silent too, then she said coldly. "Are you here to kill me?"
"Why would I want to kill you?" Azalea laughed, and Katherine couldn't believe her luck- this was an Original that was completely in the dark. She knew nothing of the last eight hundred years...
Maybe...
"Because Klaus is a monster." She told the woman, and Azalea frowned. "Excuse me? No he isn't."
"There's a curse on the species, Azalea. Do you know anything of that? The Sun and Moon Curse?"
Azalea shook her head, frowning. "Why are you running from Nik-?"
"Because he wants to kill me. He... has been chasing me for so many years." Katherine muttered, wondering how the hell she was telling this Original these things. But they realized-
She was being compelled.
So it was true- Originals could compel vampires.
For the next hour, Azalea got everything out of the vampire before her, pinning her down and making her spill her guts, draining her even more if she moved a little too much.
When she had everything, Azalea just couldn't believe what she'd heard-
Niklaus sounded like a monster now.
How could this have happened-?
Azalea looked once more to Katherine, then cocked her head, musing for a moment, then compelled her-
"Forget you ever saw me. When you do see me again, I am a newcomer to town that you like. You won't realize I am an... Original? only that I am a vampire."
Katherine blinked, then she groaned as she found her head pounding, wondering how she'd ended up on the floor of the dress shop-
It had looked like she'd fallen over and knocked herself out.
-AtY-
Later that night, Azalea was drawn out from her walk around town by music coming from a mansion that was bigger than her own home had been.
She went to walk inside, but then groaned as she realized she couldn't enter the place.
"Why are you standing out there my dear? Come in!"
Azalea was taken by surprise at that, and stepped in, looking up to see a young man with blondish brown hair that reminded her of Niklaus' and he smiled, walking over, frowning.
"Do you not have an escort?"
Azalea was stumped for a moment, the forced out a smile, shaking her head. "No, I'm afraid he bailed out on me."
The man scoffed, then took her hand, pressing his lips to it with a smile. "Stefan Salvatore." he told her, and Azalea smiled, inclining her head. "Azalea."
"Azalea?" Stefan inquired, and suddenly she realized that people in this day and age had a last name, so she quickly invented one.
"Azalea Ashford."
"A pleasure." Stefan smiled, then Azalea asked. "Where is Katherine?"
"You know Katherine?"
"Briefly." She chuckled, and he nodded, taking her arm and leading her to the dance room, saying. "She is dancing with my brother at the moment. But if you wait a moment, she shall be over in a second."
Azalea nodded, then he left, making her chuckle- maybe some men these days did have some honor left.
She sat down and watched Katherine dancing with Stefans brother. Azalea noticed his very good looks and felt herself sniff back a tear-
Where was Niklaus-? She refused to believe he had become a monster...
Complete and utterly rejected the idea.
-AtY-
When Katherine was finished dancing, she walked over to the woman that had requested her, going. "Yes?"
"Katherine Pierce?" Azalea asked, and the woman nodded, frowning. "Correct, Miss-?"
"Call me Azalea." She told her, then held out her hand with a grin. "Just checking in with the other vampire in town."
Katherine realized now, then took it, nodding. "Oh, I didn't realize. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Azalea smiled, then the other brother walked over, the dark haired one, asking. "A friend of yours Miss Katherine?"
Katherine smiled too, then nodded. "Yes, this is Azalea. She is new to town."
It was almost like a question, and Azalea nodded. "Yes. I come from... so far away now."
The man was silent, then he took her hand and pressed his lips to it with a smile. "Damon." He introduced and then Katherine asked him. "May I have a word alone with her?"
"Of course. Good night Katherine, Azalea."
He left, and Katherine turned to Azalea as she asked. "I need your help. I've heard... you are running from someone-?"
Katherine paused for a moment, then she scoffed. "Who said that?"
Azalea took her chances-
"A man named Klaus."
Katherines eyes widened, and she muttered, eyes flicking to the entrance. "Does he know where-?"
"No. But... I must find him. Do you have any idea where I might find him?"
"No. Klaus finds you, not the other way around." Katherine told her, feeling uneasy, then asked. "And why are you looking for him?"
"Personal reasons."
"Revenge?"
"... I guess so."
Katherine scoffed, then shook her head. "You are so foolish. You want to die? He will tear your heart out in a split second."
Oh no he wouldn't. Not to her anyway.
"Maybe so... but I still need to find him. What about-?"
"The other Originals? Do you have a death wish, Azalea?" Katherine laughed, leading them outside, and Azalea snapped. "Trust me- when you find yourself trapped in a cave for eight hundred years... you want revenge."
Katherine shut up now, then frowned. "Eight hundred years-?"
"Yes. Now do you understand?" Azalea snapped, letting the lies flow as she added. "Trust me- death would be welcomed after all those years. So... am I alone in searching?"
Katherine was silent, staring at the girl that was so much older than herself, knowing full well not to pick a fight-
She wasn't an idiot.
"I truly do not know." Katherine sighed, then shook her head. "I've spent all these years running from him, not looking for him."
Azalea nodded, then raised a hand to her hair for a moment, groaning-
How the hell was she going to find him-?
"But... I hear of the other Original, Elijah... A few days ago he was in Atlanta. I imagine he is still there or nearby."
This was the break she'd been searching for, and Azalea nodded, turning away, but Katherine grabbed her arm, hissing.
"You're a fool to think you can kill Klaus!"
Azalea just stared, then yanked her arm away, snorting as she walked off without another word-
Killing him was the last thing on her mind...
But killing Mikael was.
-AtY-
Azalea stole a horse from the Salvatore house, feeling guilty- Stefan and Damon Salvatore had seemed like nice enough people.
This place called Atlanta was a good days ride away, and when she finally arrived, she truly saw how much the world had changed-
The houses were bigger, grander. There was carriages, large dresses... just... everything had advanced so very much it was almost scaring her.
She sat on her chestnut horse as she rode through the town, keeping an eye and ear out for anything relating to Elijah. It had been two days since he'd last been heard of, and she was praying against everything she believed in that he was here... somewhere.
All night she searched the town...
And nothing turned up.
She walked down the street with the horses reins loose in her hand, tears finally making themselves present-
Was this how it ended-? Alone forever...
There was a clip-clop of hooves behind her now, and she didn't even bother turning, but then a voice called.
"Azalea-?"
She stopped dead, then turned with a frown, looking to the figure on the ebony horse, then her eyes widened as she recognized the man, feeling numb as he flashed down, hugging her tightly for a good few minuets, saying into her hair.
"I thought you were dead..." Elijah muttered, tears in his eyes as he held her tightly, shaking his head. "Lea... god..."
Azalea closed her eyes, letting him hold her for another few minuets, but then he let her go, except for her hands, saying. "You're alive-"
She nodded, then Azalea smiled. "You don't know how good it is to see you. I thought..." She trailed off and Elijah took her face in his hands, kissing her forehead, groaning.
"We thought you dead."
"I was dead." Azalea muttered, and finally sighed.
Elijah paused, then said in a low voice. "Father, Mikael... told us you had been torn apart by the werewolves."
Azalea shook her head, then chuckled darkly. "It was him who killed me."
The pair were silent, then Elijah sighed, closing his eyes. "We should have known. But Niklaus..."
Aazleas eyes widened, and she almost begged. "What happened? Where is he-?"
"Lea... after you died, Mother cursed Niklaus."
"Wh-? What-?"
"His werewolf side was... shut away. Mikael destroyed the village... then he killed Esther."
Azalea gasped, tears sparkling in her eyes. "No... how- how could he-?"
Elijah looked down, then nodded, his eyes sad. "Niklaus saw it all. And then Mikael left. He's been hunting down Niklaus ever since."
The pair were silent, then Elijah said quietly. "Niklaus thinks you are dead."
A silence...
"How... did he take it-?" Azalea asked, almost cautiously. Elijah just said, voice still low, almost sombre. "I've never seen him like that before. He just... almost gave up on life when he was told that you had been torn apart. He was destroyed. For days he didn't speak... he just, well, wasn't himself. No matter what he tried... he couldn't even kill himself. It was horrible to watch. Me and Rebekah had to keep a close eye on him for a week or so." He chuckled weakly, then looked to Azalea who had tears running down her face in horror-
What had Mikael done-?
"Where is he?" She asked now, and there was an almost dark like silence, and Azalea frowned. "Elijah... where is Nik? Where is Rebekah?"
"I don't... me and Klaus are no longer brothers."
Azalea let that sink in, then she muttered. "But-? What happened to 'together, always and forever?'"
Elijah glanced behind him as a man walked up, then sighed. "Let's continue this at the place I am staying."
Azalea nodded, then got up onto her horse, following Elijah on his own, wondering what the hell ahd happened to destroy the family... that unbreakable bond that they had had...
-AtY-
When they got to the mansion Elijah was staying, he asked the maid at the door to bring them a bottle of red wine to the drawing room.
Azalea sat down on the lovely dark brown leather armchair, another opposite with a oaken table between them. Elijah sat down, watching the maid set the glasses down, pouring in the wine, but as she went to move off, he called her back over, going.
"Your hand my dear?"
She extended it, and Azalea watched as he bit into it swiftly, letting the blood drip into each glass for a moment, then nodded to her. "Thank you. Go and put a bandage on that."
The maid left, and Azalea raised the glass to her lips, taking a sip- it was lovely.
"You were saying?" She asked him now as he set his glass down, and sighed heavily.
"Klaus is obsessed with making more hybrids and breaking his curse. After he was cursed... he changed. He's... I'm sorry Lea, but he's not the same anymore. More cruel, more bloodthirsty. He's a true predator, and he will stop at nothing to break it."
For the next few hours, Elijah told Azalea everything that had happened, exactly as he remembered it, watching with a heavy heart as the girl before hims own started to slowly break.
"This... cannot be true-" Azalea just muttered, tears rolling down her face, wondering why she was so upset. How could she let herself cry this much-?
Maybe it was an enhanced emotion vampire thing...
She cared too much... and now it was enhanced.
"I'm sorry my dear, but it is. All of it." Elijah told her quietly, and she looked down, staring at the carpet for a moment as she muttered. "He's lonely, Elijah. You know that as well as I do."
"I do." Elijah nodded, and then groaned. "He has to be stopped Lea. Truly."
"If you are planning on hurting him-!"
"Lea-"
"Shut the fuck up! I don't care what's happened in all these years... but he's still my lover-! I still love him! And I swear to god if you plan on hurting him-!"
Elijah let her rant, then sighed. "Don't worry Lea. I have no way to kill him anyway."
Azalea glared, then got to her feet, walking upstairs and slamming the door behind her, sinking down it to the floor, letting the tears spill out-
What the hell had happened to everyone-?
Together, always and forever.
That was a distant memory by the sounds of it now.
Later that night, Azalea lay on her wide four poster bed, staring at the flickering of the candle in silence, her tears long dried up. But now she got to her feet, pulling the door open and walking out into the hallway, pushing the one at the end open, the figure sat in bed reading, but now looked up as she closed the door behind her.
"I can't sleep." She mumbled and Elijah sighed, setting the book down as she got into the bed too, letting him pull her into his arms,hugging her, going.
"I missed you."
Azalea nodded, head against her brothers chest. "I'm glad someone did."
Elijah chuckled, then said, smoothing the fire red hair back. "I'm seeing Rebekah tomorrow. I think... she's going to be happy to see you."
"Oh god... screaming?"
"Yes. You know her."
Azalea chuckled against his chest, then nodded. "I do." But now she smirked. "Your hair... it is so much shorter."
Elijah snorted, then looked to her hair, retorting. "You like it?"
"It's... strange, but I like it."
He was relieved at that, then put an arm around her, letting out a sigh. "I love you, Sister."
Azalea chuckled, closing her eyes, the thought of meeting Rebekah tomorrow on her mind as he blew out the candle, answering back-
"Love you too Brother."
-So! Awake at last, and the truth is out:( but Rebekah's back next chapter;D no Nik just yet:( Anyway, thanks for the immense reviews last chapter! Woke up and checked them, hardly able to believe my eyesXD thank you again! There should be another chapter up later for sure:) Glad ya liked this and next up soon enough! And do watch Immortals with Joseph Morgan in- just EPIC! x Nic
