Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or The Originals
…
"We both know that your little potion wouldn't have worked," Damon snapped, chucking back the bourbon he'd just poured.
Shaking her head, Kira turned back to stare out of the window she'd been gazing through for the last fifteen minutes.
"You know, Damon," Sliding the box shut, the dark-haired ancient glided gracefully towards the stairs. "You talk a big game, but you don't actually know anything."
How had things gone so wrong? Gotten this bad this fast? Every time she thought things couldn't possibly get more complicated, any worse, they did.
Curses.
Petrovas.
Doppelgängers.
…Originals.
That had been the most horrifying shock of them all.
Elena; her sister, her naïve, romantic twin, was the focus of not one, but two, Original vampires.
She'd heard of them, of course. The first family was a difficult thing to miss when you surrounded yourself with the cream of the supernatural world. But this was different. This wasn't theory, conjecture. This was staring right at her. Refusing to be ignored. Looking delectable in a suit.
"She'll never forgive you for this. And forever, for a vampire, is a very long time," Elijah murmured thoughtfully, his mild tone so at odds with the impact on Damon's face it was almost cruel.
He knew exactly how hard his words had hit the older Salvatore.
He'd intended them to.
Turning around, Kira stared blankly at the lost look on Damon's face, finding the smallest sympathy stirring inside of her at the bleakness in his eyes.
She didn't agree with her sister's decision to trust Elijah. He had no reason to go out of his way to make sure she survived. Such an occurrence would only be a plus to him, not a necessity. So, no. Unlike the raucous going on upstairs at the moment, Elena hyperventilating because she had vampire blood in her system, Kira was, for the first time, glad that Damon was around. He seemed to be the only one willing to make the difficult decisions in order to see that Elena survived tonight. Whether that be through waking up as a vampire or not, so be it.
Seeing the black-haired man leave the room, keys in hand, sapphire eyes lifted to the ceiling before following.
…
Walking at a fast pace, Kira pushed herself to keep step with the handsome blonde sociopath she was stalking.
Klaus.
It seemed unbelievable to her. The monster that scared the majority of the supernatural community to their very bones, and he was here, in Mystic Falls. Her hometown.
"Have you got them?" The english accent was a surprise but it fit him, lent his innocent visage a charming angle, an edge. "Good. Put them in the tomb." Without another word, he hung up, striding into a run-down apartment block.
Sitting with Damon and Alaric at the grill, listening to the black-haired vampire moan, she'd needed little incentive to follow the dangerous man who wanted to murder her sister when he'd left the grill, having delivered his threat.
She might not be able to do anything as a spirit, not anything without Davina here at least, but that didn't stop the overwhelming need to gather information on the enemy.
Being dead really was cultivating the worst habits. The little moral dilemmas of her youth, eavesdropping, stalking, spying; were now something she couldn't help but do. And in this case, she was going to use her invisible presence to the maximum. She wanted to know everything there was to know about Niklaus Mikaelson. His strengths, his weaknesses. Everything.
"Would you mind turning that down?"
Kira stopped short in the open doorway, sapphire eyes widening as she took in the vampire that had to be none other than Katherine Pierce.
"Shit…" She breathed, moving further into the room to circle the woman.
The differences between Elena and the vampire couldn't have been more stark. At least to her. And she wasn't talking about the curly hair. Katherine stood straighter. With a confident sensuality that spoke of a knowledge of what her appearance did to men. A dangerous, cunning aura seemed to wrap around the sexily dressed vampire, leaving Kira with the all too accurate impression that this woman was used to getting everything, anything that she wanted.
"Take off your bracelet," Klaus ordered, levelling the power of his sea-green eyes on the doppelgänger.
"B-but I'll burn," Katherine's voice trembled, real fear mixing with the smugness that had seconds before dominated her brown orbs.
"You have no choice," Klaus shrugged, as if it were out of his hands.
Kira's eyes narrowed on the by-play, seeing a loathing between the two that she'd rarely seen the like of before.
They truly despised each other.
Katherine slipped the sunlight bracelet from her slim wrist, stepping into the sun.
Screams tore through the apartment, both Kira and Klaus looking on at the scene with a detached curiosity. Klaus, taking pleasure in Katerina's pain. Kira, more interested in ascertaining his motives for asking the vampire to step into the light than the agony of a stranger.
"All right, that's enough," The blonde haired man waved casually. Katherine flashed into the shadows, pressing herself tightly against the brick wall at her back. "Guess I was wrong." He shrugged, turning back to the computer on the table.
Sapphire eyes narrowed as she watched Klaus pick up his phone, holding it out to Katherine with a cruel smirk curling his lips.
"Why are you giving me this?" Her ancestor asked shakily.
"Call Elena's aunt," The Original ordered. "Get her out of the house."
"But-"
"Unless, you want to take her place in the ritual?"
Horror storming through her, Kira fought down the urge to scream, knowing it would do no good, as she watched her sister's mirror image call Jenna. She put on a superb performance. A panicked, crying plea for Jenna to come pick her up from the school. And Kira knew it would work. Her aunt was probably racing out of the house as they spoke, nothing but worry for her niece clouding her thoughts.
No! No! This could not be happening!
Throwing one, last scorching glare at the dangerous Original she'd never wished to have to see, Kira spun on her heel, and ran.
…
Clutching Jenna's dead body in her arms, Elena cried softly into her Aunt's reddish blonde hair, her throat sore from all the tears she'd shed.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Jenna was never meant to get involved.
Stroking the back of her finger along her aunt's cool cheek, another wave of tears pulled at her lungs, burning her eyes.
And suddenly…she wanted her sister.
Terrified, grief-stricken, tormented…all she wanted in that moment was Kira right here beside her. Telling her that it would be alright. That she'd fix it. That she had nothing to worry about. Because unlike Stefan and even Damon's words to the same effect, she'd never believed them. But her sister? Her twin? She'd have found a way out of this. Elena knew she would have. She'd have done whatever needed to be done, betrayed anyone they needed to betray, gone to whatever lengths she needed to go to in order to make this situation disappear.
She just-! Hiccuping, she pulled Jenna deeper into her lap, drawing comfort from her familiar presence. She wanted her sister! Was that so bad? Was that such a crime?!
She just wanted Kira's blazing blue eyes to lock with hers, to see her throw a hateful look Greta's way, and when Klaus eventually arrived…
Kira would have fixed it.
She would have fixed everything.
…
Standing still in the square, hands hanging limply at her sides, Kira wracked her mind for a solution. There had to be something that she could do!
Staring up into the steadily darkening sky, sapphire eyes suddenly narrowed.
Of course.
She'd heard them talk about it in San Francisco. About a place of power in Virginia. It had taken her by surprise because she'd recognised the town's name. Her town. The young warlock had apparently been in touch with a very powerful witch that came from those parts, wanting her help, and had been making enquiries about the rumours of such a place.
If he'd been right…
Closing her eyes, Kira centred herself, forcing calm that she didn't feel into her mind.
Breathing out slowly, she reached, sending her magic out like a web, looking for anything that could possibly be holding that much power.
…There.
Eyes snapping open, she took off at run, following the direction her magic was pushing her in. Trees moved quickly, her spirit body never tiring, and it was barely half an hour later, the sun having finally set, that she reached her destination.
Emerging from the thick trees into the valley below, her eyes instantly focused on the run-down, enormous white manor standing on the crest of the hill.
Power.
Absolute, incredible power circled the structure, warning off deceivers.
Without any hesitation, Kira stalked forward, determined to find some way to salvage this night. To save her family. Because she'd be damned if the hundred spirits occupying the mansion refused to help her.
"Why did he take Jenna?" The soft, distraught question pulled her up short, and Kira turned around with a shocked look as she located the source of the enormous magic she could feel pulsing beneath her skin.
Bonnie.
"A punishment for meddling," Elijah stated grimly, sharing a look full of understanding with Stefan Salvatore.
"It's not fair," Bonnie said bitterly, her eyes glassy.
But Kira was much more interested in the ocean of power she could feel swirling through her old friend. It was more magic than even the Harvest had gifted Davina and her with!
How was that possible?!
Unless…
Eyes widening, she looked quickly up at the suddenly quiet structure above her…Of course…
Shoving her hair back violently, Kira let a little scream of fury leave her lips, pressing closed fists tightly against her skull.
They'd already given their power to Bonnie.
There was none left for her to use!
…
Standing silently in the corner of the room, she couldn't help her eyes from darting, once again, over to John Gilbert.
Her Father.
She was adopted. Unbelievable!
Pushing off from the mouldy wall at her back, Kira paced the room, watching Bonnie perform the linking spell with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, this was her sister, her twin, and she wanted her to survive, more than she wanted John to live. But he was still her family. And, apparently, one half of the reason that she was even on this planet at one point.
She'd never given John much thought. He'd always just sort of been there. He was her Uncle. She didn't particularly like him, but neither did she dislike him. She just hadn't….cared enough to get to know him. Always having something to do.
She wondered if she should feel guiltily for that indifference. If it had hurt him. But, no matter how hard she tried to conjure the emotion, she couldn't. That's just not who she was. She lived in the moment, and Kira had never been in a place in her life that Uncle John's presence ever affected her. Was she supposed to lie?
Watching Jeremy fall unconscious into John's waiting arms, Kira finally just shook her head, walking briskly out of the room to join the little war council outside.
Elena was all that mattered at the moment. Elena and Jenna. There was nothing she could do about John. The acknowledgment sent the smallest lance of sadness racing through her and she almost sagged in relief, the evidence of some empathy inside of her soothing her conscience.
"Bonnie is the only weapon that we'll need," Elijah stated confidently, leading the way towards the quarry.
Huffing out a breath, furious with the events that had spiralled out of her control, Kira kept pace with the determined Original, just as eager as he was to reach the ritual as quickly as possible.
…
Folding the letter in two, John carefully slid the paper inside the envelope before taking his ring off and placing it on top of the letter.
"Are you scared?" Jeremy's soft voice broke the silence between them and he looked up to see his nephew staring at him through sad eyes. "To die?"
Shaking his head, he rose slowly from the rickety chair. "No." Crossing his arms across his chest, he peered out the dirty, grease-stained window, his mind on what Elena was going through right now. "I'm not afraid to die."
"…Why?"
Breathing out, he gave Jeremy a small, sad smile. "When your parents died, your Dad, I lost my way. Grayson and I…we were thick as thieves growing up, but we took different paths in life and grew apart. Knowing that he wasn't ever going to be there any more was hard." Swallowing with difficulty, he forced himself to go on. "…But it's nothing compared to what I felt when I heard that Kira…your sister…that she was in that car too."
Jeremy looked liked he'd been punched, the colour draining from his face. "...Kira?"
"People say that the worst kind of loss in the world is when a parent looses their child, and they're right," John said tightly. "I might not have been a father to Elena or Kira, but I watched them grow up. I knew them. They were mine…I remember being there when they took their first steps, when they talked for the first time. And I remember the moment I realised that while I'd never have to worry about Elena, Kira was going drive me to an early grave," He laughed, memories floating through his mind of happier times.
"She used to drive Mum and Dad to distraction," Jeremy admitted with a small grin. "I remember this time when the twins were fourteen and Dad caught them sneaking in through the window after curfew; Elena was scared out of her mind, but Kira, she got that stubborn look in her eye, that one that told you you'd never win, and she proceeded to talk and argue her way out of what should have been at least four weeks of grounding."
John knew his face was betraying how utterly captured he was by the story, but he didn't care. He'd spent so long making sure he never showed just how interested he was in the two girls, his two girls, that it was beyond wonderful not to have to pretend anymore.
Smiling to himself, John fingered the ring on wooden table, his heart hurting at the thought of his youngest daughter never having a chance to learn about their heritage, about him, but he'd see her soon. He'd see them all soon.
And he could wait for Elena. Happily.
"I'll be with them, Jeremy," He told his nephew softly. "With my brother, and my Kira. So, no…I'm not scared."
...
"I didn't bury them at sea," Klaus gasped, choking on the blood in his lungs. "They're safe. Their bodies are safe." Grabbing ahold of the arm Elijah had buried in his chest, Kira took a panicked step forward when she read the pure shock that bloomed in Elijah's eyes.
No. He couldn't believe him!
"I'll take you to them," Niklaus promised, nodding at his brother.
"Do it!" Bonnie snarled, her eyes aflame having caught the same wavering in Elijah's eyes that Kira had. "Do it, or I take you both out."
Kira breathed deeply through her nose, sapphire eyes narrowed on Elijah's conflicted face, searching frantically for the smallest change in expression. For how he was going to react. What he was going to do!
"You'll die," Elijah scoffed furiously, throwing Bonnie a look devoid of patience.
"I don't care!"
Everything seemed to stop in that moment. The air, the blazing heat of the fire, the intense magic surrounding them. Everything just stopped.
And in that moment Elijah turned back to look at his brother, tortured indecision clear in his eyes. And she just knew.
Kira knew exactly what he was going to do. Who he was going to choose.
Because she would have made the same choice.
And it was that foresight, that understanding, that allowed Kira to act where the others were too slow.
Throwing out her arm, Kira poured everything she had into her desperate need to break Elijah's legs. To keep him here. To give Bonnie enough time to launch her attack. She couldn't possibly take them down by herself, but she'd be damned if she let them escape.
"I'm sorry," Elijah whispered, his arms moving to circle his injured brother and speed away, but something unexpected happened.
He cried out, falling to his knees, Klaus tumbling out of his arms.
Kira pushed her body for more, the sight of her sister's dead body, drained of blood, and her aunt's staked corpse, playing over and over in her mind's eye.
There was no way she was letting them leave. No way!
Her other arm joined its twin, twisting the small amount of power she had available to her, forcing the connection between Davina and her to its limit, interfering in the living world in a way no witch on the other side had ever been able to before.
"What are you doing?!" Elijah growled, brown eyes flashing furiously at Bonnie's bewildered, confused looking figure.
Pain spliced across her eyes and Kira cried out, the tenuous connection breaking.
The effect was instantaneous.
Elijah rose to his feet, the bending bones in his legs already healed, and collected his brother. Speeding away.
"No!" Stefan and Bonnie's twin shouts were nothing compared to Kira's overwhelming anger as she sunk to her knees against the dirt ground.
Fire still blazing around her, magic exhausted beyond the limit, sapphire eyes never moved from the spot the two Originals had disappeared from.
She'd failed.
She'd seen what Bonnie and Stefan hadn't, she'd seen the decision in Elijah's eyes as he was making it, and she'd acted. She'd done everything right. Everything! But she hadn't had the power to hold them. Not two Originals. No matter how angry or emotional she was. It wasn't enough. Not as she was. Not as a spirit.
Staring unseeingly down at her hands, drowning in the feeling of failure, of overwhelming, debilitating frustration; a cold, mocking laugh suddenly echoed around the Quarry.
Kira's head snapped up instantly, locking eyes with Qetsiyah's deeply amused face.
"Bravo, Kira," She crooned, her toga-style dress flaring out dramatically as she crouched down in front of her. "No one could fault your effort. Taking down an Original vampire is no easy feat. Why do think no other witch has ever managed to do anything to them from the other side?" She smiled cruelly.
"You followed me here?" Her voice was like shards of ice as she stared up at the woman. "Were you that worried?"
"Well," Tessa smirked, her eyes sweeping over the site of the sacrifice. "Judging from your lack of impact here tonight, I can relax. Perhaps I overestimated you."
Drawing back, Kira climbed slowly to her feet, suppressing the wince of pain as she settled cold eyes on the ancient witch opposite her. "Don't think you can manipulate me, Qetsiyah," She sneered. "The mere fact that you followed me to Mystic Falls betrays you."
"Don't be like that," The mocha skinned woman smiled at her in amusement. "The hybrid breaking his curse is news even to me." She shrugged. "I wanted to observe the monumental occasion."
"Of course," Kira chuckled darkly. "And I suppose you're also going to tell me that those weaves of yours haven't loosened further tonight?" The flash of anger across black eyes was all the confirmation she needed. "I thought so."
Turning to leave, her head pounding unceasingly against her skull, Kira paused at the edge of the trees, looking back at the loathsome woman one last time.
"It must be hard to watch the world you painstakingly constructed slowly unravel before your eyes, not able to do a thing about it. All because of the actions of an upstart, seventeen year old witch, no less." Sapphire eyes gleamed. "Must be killing you."