14. Alliance

Gia jumped out of bed screaming. Her voice echoed through the night carrying the horror that filled her mind and the shape of a man in her blurring vision. Danny, his memory haunted her even now, tormenting her with everlasting guilt. The dreams had faded these last few months but tonight they came back with vengeance.

Her heart was racing, beating in an unsteady rhythm caused by the still remaining terror of her dream. Gia inhaled deeply and tried to calm herself down. Her eyelids dropped and she tried to empty her mind. No use. She could still see him, still smell and taste him. He was locked inside her mind, heart and soul and she was unable to open the lock and set him free.

A small sound echoed from her side and Gia abruptly opened her eyes. She turned to face its source and froze on sight, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. For a moment she thought her nightmares had come to life. Danny, her beloved husband, standing a few feet away from her with darkness in his eyes. Ready to strike her down. Her mind knew he would never blame her for what happened but her heart refused to believe it. Then her mind suddenly cleared and the curtains that blocked her vision fell. Within a moment, she could see perfectly clear.

It was Elijah standing there half shrouded in darkness, his eyes just as dark, detached. He watched her for a minute, studying her then he approached her slowly. He raised his arms and dragged her into a strong embrace. Gia stiffened to the touch.

"It is alright." He said to her. "You are here. You are safe. Whatever this is, let it go. I am here for you."

It took a while before his voice penetrated her walls and for the words to sink in.

"Elijah?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Elijah tightened his hold.

"It is ok. I am here for you. I will always be here."

Gia fell back to his chest and allowed herself to relax a little. She felt safe, protected. Danny faded into the night and Gia felt herself strengthen. The nightmares were pushed back to the background and the light reached her aching soul.

"How long have you been here?" she asked. "Why are you here?"

"For you. Why else? I was on my way to my bedroom when I heard you. You were shifting in bed, turning over and over again and I could hear your heart racing. I was worried. You woke up just as I came into the room but you were too distressed to notice me. Do you want to tell me what happened? What you saw?"

"It was my husband." Gia said with a trembling voice. "It was the day of his death. It was my fault. All of this is my fault."

"Gia, look at me." Elijah cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes. "None of what is happening is your fault. Do you understand me?"

"But…."

"None of it."

"I'm the reason he died Elijah. You don't know what that's like."

"Don't I? Gia, If anyone knows how you feel that is me."

"What do you mean?"

"I have been alive for a long time and I have done things. Things that could be considered evil. And there were things I could have done. People I could have saved but I did not and they paid the price for it. And I've lost people too. People that mattered to me. I betrayed them, left them alone to face my enemies, my psychotic brother. And it wasn't only for a few years like you but centuries and centuries of reliving that same circle of pain, betrayal and violence. I know how you feel Gia. I have been there. I have been you and believe me when I say this; none of what has happened is your fault."

"How did you do it? How did you move on?"

"I did not. Not really. I might have moved forward with my life but there is a hole in my chest that never really closed." Elijah took a deep breath and stated. "Until now. You have reawaked parts in me that I thought were gone forever. You took me out of the numbness that I used to call life and made me feel again. I will not lose you Gia and I will not allow you to lose yourself. Do you understand me?"

Gia nodded, tears running down her cheeks. Elijah brushed them of, leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her lips. Just a simple brush of their lips holding the promise of a new beginning.

Mikael was soaked in blood. Bodies were everywhere. Some still in their wolf forms, others half dead begging for mercy. The moon was high in the sky signaling their transformation. Mist had appeared out nowhere limiting the visibility but Phoenix saw perfectly clear. As the only other vampire in vicinity he had an advantage the wolves never had. Mikael was unaware of his presence there. He was too caught up in the kill to notice, savoring their pain. Phoenix thought that if he really wanted it he could have killed him right there. It'd be nothing really. But that would not solve his problem. His son still had the necklace of protection in his possession. He could not be touched. Not by magic anyway and Phoenix was not physically strong enough to take him on. No, he needed Mikael. He needed himand when Elijah was dead so would he be.

Phoenix cleared his throat to make his presence noticed. Mikael abruptly turned around and had him by the throat within seconds, lifting him from the ground.

"Who are you?" he asked with menace.

Phoenix tried to speak but he could not find his voice. He tried again, this time a whisper came out.

"Help. I'm… I'm here to help you."

"Help me? You? What could you possibly have to offer me? You're nothing. A child, an abomination. You have nothing to give me. " Mikael squished.

"E…Elijah." Phoenix managed to say feeling the pressure on his winpipe rising.

"What did you say?" Mikael released some of the pressure he was applying and allowed Phoenix to speak.

"Elijah. I now where you can find Elijah."

Mikael put him down, removing his hand from his neck.

"Speak." He ordered.

"He is with someone. A woman." Phoenix searched his face for any sign of recognition.

"Why should I care about who he's with? My son always had a certain affinity to the fairer sex. This is meaningless."

"This is a weakness. A weakness you could exploit." Phoenix insisted. " Take Gia out of the equation and you weaken him. Isn't that what you want? To kill your sons? Kill Gia and you would have your chance with Elijah and once Elijah is gone then you would have a real opportunity with you other son, Klaus. Elijah's loss will significantly weaken him. And you know that as well as I do."

"My sons are already weak. I do not need to weaken them. They are nothing compared to me."

"Oh, yeah? Then why are they still alive? Why are you here playing with wolves instead of taking them down? I'll tell you why. Because you can't. You might be strong but you're not strong enough, not yet. But you could be, with my help. Listen to me and you will not lose, ignore me and… Well, good luck with your sons. You're gonna need it."

"What help could you possibly offer to me? Except from information about Elijah's latest conquest that is."

"Magic. I can give you the benefit of magic."

"You think of me for a fool?" Mikael started circling him. "You're a vampire. Vampires can't do magic."

"Yeah, well, I'm not your typical vampire. And things do change."

Phoenix raised his hand, whispered a few strange words and a triskelion sign appeared in the air. It moved towards Mikael and a burst of light surrounded his body before the sign disappeared of sight. Mikael fell on his knees and screamed as the sign reappeared on his forehead sucking the light in it.

"What have you done to me?" Mikael asked with a pained voice, kneeling in front of Phoenix.

"I gave you the power to defeat your son. Now use it."

Phoenix left the forest, leaving Mikael behind and never looking back. There was no need for him to remain there anymore. He had done what he came here to do. Once the time was right he would know it and he would come for her. And with his new abilities, he would make her his whether it was her body he owned or her soul.