Damon irately rubbed his bloodshot eyes before running his palm through his dark, messy head of hair.
He let out a lengthy yawn as he reached the bedroom mirror. In his reflection, he noted the dark circles in the banks of his eyes.
"You look terrible," he'd imagine her caution and he couldn't help but smile.
Damon leaned against the wall whilst peering through the lemon chiffon lace curtain. He watched as the snowflakes tumbled from the misty morning sky. The great willow trees hung heavy under the weight of the snow, the ground covered in a thick blanket of white slush and the large pond was frozen over.
He wondered if the Ashcroft's ever used to skate on the ice way back when.
Mikaela slept for what seemed like an eternity. She'd come around periodically calling out her brother's name.
The days, weeks and months streamed by furiously, but still she didn't fully awaken.
The only stir was outside in the ice-kissed garden where Mikaela's faithful troops patrolled the mansion. Her aura was faint, but everyone could feel she was still there, still alive. After the turmoil caused in the mountains, a werewolf retaliation was eminent, however the queen's army was ready.
Each corner and crevice inside the old châteaux was silent, but in his mind, Damon replayed every moment he spent in the mansion out loud. The honest conversations, bursts of giggles and the brush of her silky soft skin against his.
He took a large gulp of the creamy chocolate liquid Greta brought him earlier, but instead, craved the blood dripping into Mikaela's veins. He wished he could peer into her dreams or even place himself inside of them, but, even now, Mikaela's fences were tougher than any of his attempts.
Defeated, Damon took a seat next to the large ornately carved king-sized bed where she lay. He softly rested his head on the silky sheets beside Mikaela's still frame. Overcome by exhaustion, he closed his eyes and travelled back to a time when he laid beside her on that very bed, caressing her curly locks as she slept beside him.
Klaus' shoes clapped loudly against the hardwood floors of the family living room as he marched up and down past the roaring fire. Torn between paying her a visit and giving up, he settled for pouring himself another bourbon.
Glass filled to the brim, he started to pace once more, taking large gulps of the oak liquid and mumbling obscurities to himself as he did.
For the first time in a long time, he considered what would be best for someone other than himself and the gesture surprised him. He knew for sure then that he loved her.
He loved her like he hadn't loved any other.
The thing that frustrated him most, was that he wasn't in control of the situation.
If this were just someone he could compel and make feel what he wanted them to, his life would be a breeze. But Mikaela was special. He would never want her to do anything against her will. No matter how much he wished she would.
"You'll be sending smoke signals soon if you keep pacing like that," Rebekah remarked.
"Don't you have anything better to do?" Klaus glared at her. "Perhaps pretending you're just a normal teenager or whatever it is you're into these days."
"I'm just amused that the great Niklaus Mikaelson, actually has feelings." His sister replied.
Klaus smirked. "Yes, well, maybe now you'll see that you've been wrong about me all along. That I'm not the monster you make me out to be."
Overwhelmed by his emotions, he tossed the near empty whiskey glass into the toasty fire beside him.
"Dammit." He cursed to all who would hear and seconds later he was out the door.
"Damon," a whisper pestered him from his trance.
"Damon," he heard again, this time reacting to his name.
"I'm up, I'm up," he mumbled.
"No, you're salivating over my sheets." A familiar giggle responded.
"Mikaela," he awoke with a jolt.
And there she was, standing beside him.
"You're up," he could barely believe his own words, "You're fine."
"Ye of little faith." Mikaela joked, removing the syringe from her arm.
He jumped to his feet, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
Not wanting to ever let go, he pulled her closer towards him and rested his forehead on her shoulder, breathing in her sweet jasmine scent.
His lips brushed against her throat… and the next time on her earlobe.
Damon lifted her face towards his.
He stared deeply into her hazel eyes and she was equally lost in the light blue pools that were his.
He counted down the milliseconds it took for his lips to reach hers.
Three... two… one.
But Mikaela reluctantly pulled away from Damon's sturdy frame.
Klaus' large hands rapped hard against the enormous mahogany door.
"I need to see her." Klaus roared as the door flung open.
"I'm right here Nik," Mikaela soft voice travelled from the centre of the staircase.
Klaus' gaze moved quickly to wear she stood. He could hardly believe his eyes. He dashed up the stairs in super speed and threw his arms around her.
"You're awake." He whispered.
"I'm awake." She grinned.
Outside, the wind started to pick up. The tumbling snowflakes turned to a curtain of white rain.
Mikaela felt drawn to the ice and cold as she progressed towards the large front door.
Sensing something was amiss, Damon dashed to the base of the stairs.
"Mikaela," he called out to her.
"I need to go," she answered.
"Go where," Klaus responded, placing his hand over her slender fingers atop the crystal doorknob.
"Away." Mikaela replied, not lifting her gaze from the handle.
Klaus grabbed Mikaela by her waist.
"No," he pleaded.
"Mikaela please," Damon tried to dissuade her.
She accumulated all her power, bending the elements to her will.
A surge of frozen wind zipped through the open door. Damon shielded his eyes from the oncoming ice whilst Klaus struggled to hang on to Mikaela.
More ice followed, scraping the hybrid's face.
"Don't." He appealed to her once more.
"Let me go," she said.
Eyes pitch black, she gathered the strength buried deep inside her. The windows around them shattered as a gush of wind broke through the glass. Klaus reluctantly released his hold of her in order to shield his eyes from the oncoming shards of glass.
The door shut with a large bang and when the two men returned their gaze, she was gone.
Overcome with a sense of dread, Mikaela zigzagged her way through the streets of Mystic Falls. She smelt it, all of it, warm underneath the layers of winter clothing, streaming violently through their veins. Her own veins crept their way to the surface as she prepared to pounce and slaughter the lot of them.
"Mikaela?" a voice roused her from her malicious thoughts.
She tried her hardest to compose herself as she threw her locks back.
Not him… Anyone but him, she thought to herself as the figure came closer.
"It's really you." The blue eyed boy grinned from ear to ear.
"Matt," she whispered, trying not to indulge in his charm. "You need to get away from me."
"What are you talking about," He enquired, raising an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"
"It's not safe to be around me right now." She said, clenching her jaw as to not expose her growing incisors.
Matt sensed her torment and hurried her to the closest empty alleyway.
"I thought they were keeping you fed," He finally spoke, unzipping his jacket in the process.
Mikaela couldn't take her eyes off the exposed body part.
Matt tilted his head, allowing Mikaela to savour what she craved most. She succumbed to the yearning and allowed herself to change completely. Her eyes were surrounded by dark circles. Teeth fully exposed, she clutched the back of Matt's head and leaned in closely. She looked nightmarishly, but he would do anything to help her.
A group of young men whistled at the two of them in the lone side street. If only they knew what was transpiring just a few metres away, Matt thought to himself, pulling her waist tighter towards him to keep up appearances.
Mikaela's lips smacked zealously against the side of his neck. The more warmth that filled her mouth, the more of it she wanted. Blinded by her hunger, she sought to consume all of his crimson goodness.
She jolted as she saw a glimpse of what would happen if she did.
Disgusted by her actions, she hastily pushed herself away from Matt.
"Mikaela, I'm okay, you can have more." he offered.
"I can't," Mikaela said, eyes brimming with tears.
She licked the remains of the blood from her lips. "If I continue, you won't live to see another day."
"I don't understand," Matt replied, "What's happening to you?"
"I need to leave Matt, I can't do this." She answered.
"Mikaela, we've done this before and we all know where that got you," Matt urged, inching his way towards her, "Don't run."
"I should've been alone then and I won't make the same mistake twice." She cried, increasing the distance between them.
"No, let me come with you again," he insisted, closing the gap between them once more. "I'll help you through whatever this is."
Mikaela smiled through her tears, "I'm going to ruin your life and I won't allow myself to do that."
"My life couldn't get any worse," Matt grinned.
"I'm so sorry Matt," she said, placing an icy finger on his lips as they came toe to toe.
"Don't push me away and whatever you do, don't make me forget," Matt begged.
Mikaela leaned up towards his lips and kissed him.
"I'll remember for the both of us." She whispered as their lips parted.
"You're going to forget that you saw me tonight." Her pupils widened as she compelled him.
She carefully tied his grey scarf around his neck, "You're going to zip up your jacket and forget everything we spoke of this evening. It never happened."
"It never happened," Matt repeated.
Mikaela couldn't bring herself to make him forget any more than that.
She turned on her heel and disappeared into the dark of the night.