Sire
(The Vampire Rules)
Sire (noun): A respectful form of address for someone of high social status, especially a king; a father or other male forebear.
Sire (verb): To beget; procreate as the father.
Chapter 14: Back to Normal
After pronouncing the punishments, Elijah returned to his study with Trevor following close behind. Trevor knew he was expected to bring up his own situation. There was no question of Elijah forgetting the matter, he never forgot any transgressions. Elijah turned and faced Trevor who had just closed the study door. Trevor walked to his Sire, got on his knees, and lowered his head. "I am ready for my punishment, Sire. Should…should I retrieve the whip?" The whip had long since been packed away, but Trevor knew in which box it resided.
Elijah folded his arms and looked down at his servant. "Ah yes, the whip; I remember the last time I used it. Ironically, it was in a similar situation."
Trevor nodded his head still looking at the floor. "I had done something that put your family in danger, and then lied about it."
"As you did last night, although you didn't lie," Elijah stated. Then he added, "However, I did not tell you to monitor or restrict Hayley's movements therefore no punishment is warranted."
Trevor finally looked up at his King and exclaimed, "Sire, your generosity knows no bounds!"
Elijah indicated for him to rise and then put his hand on Trevor's shoulder. He looked him squarely in the eyes and with a deadly serious voice gave him notice. "Oh there are bounds, Trevor. I am telling you now if you ever let Hayley put herself in danger again, I will turn you inside out. Do you understand me?"
Trevor swallowed hard and replied in a trembling voice, "Yes My Sire, I understand."
Before dismissing the vampires, Marcel made sure everyone understood there were to be no more raids on witches or werewolves, and that all members of the Mikelson family, including Hayley, were to be respected and protected. He also handed out copies of the Vampire Rules and told everyone they would hold a discussion at the warehouse the following night. Rebekah, Marcel, Niklaus, and Hayley then stayed behind in the courtyard to commiserate. Rebekah commented first. "He seems back to normal."
"What do you mean, 'normal'?" Marcel inquired. Hayley piped up as well. "Yeah, what was going on with him anyway? He was acting so strangely when I went to talk to him, and then all of sudden he was fine."
Rebekah and Klaus looked at each other and then Rebekah turned her head back to Hayley. "Tell us everything that happened, every word, it's very important."
Hayley related the events and the conversation. Niklaus raised his eyebrows. "'Close the door', are you certain that's what he said?"
Hayley nodded her head. "Yes I'm sure. What does it mean?" Klaus looked at Rebekah again and they silently agreed to tell the story. In a very quiet voice she told a slightly revised version of the true history.
"When our mother made Elijah a vampire, she also gave him a coping mechanism she called the 'red door'. She knew the burden of being the first vampire, and of eventually turning all his siblings, would be heavy. In his mind, he puts anything that is too horrible to deal with behind this door. He retains the memories but not the emotions they caused or still cause. Over the years we've come perilously close to the door opening, but thankfully it never happened. But last night, it did."
"How did you know?" Marcel asked.
"Neither of you have known Elijah long enough to know this, but he is fastidious about his appearance," Klaus answered. "Apparently, keeping himself clean from blood is also part of how he copes."
"But last night he was covered in blood," Hayley said.
"That's right, and he didn't care or try to wipe it off," Rebekah replied.
"In addition," Klaus added, "the brutality with which he dispatched the night walkers was unusual, more like my style." He smiled causing Rebekah to roll her eyes.
"Just wondering," Marcel asked nervously, "what's his usual way of 'dispatching' with someone?"
"Normally he'd just rip your heart out and then wipe off his hands," Klaus told him. That didn't make Marcel feel any more comfortable about their king.
"None of that matters," Rebekah interrupted, irritated with them. "Hayley may have discovered a way to bring him back if this ever happens again. 'Close the door' might be a safeguard mother put in without even knowing it."
Hayley agreed. "It almost seemed like he was remembering something."
"Remembering mother telling him to close the door perhaps?" Rebekah asked Klaus. "She did whisper something to him," he replied, remembering the night Elijah saved him by killing their father. "Maybe last night he thought he heard her telling him what to do."
"We must all agree, and I will inform Trevor as well," Rebekah stated, "if the need ever arises again we will try telling him to 'close the door', and pray that it works."
A door upstairs opened causing everyone to turn and look up. Trevor emerged and gazed down over the balcony. "Lord Niklaus, Marcel, Our Sire requires you come to his study." Marcel gave Rebekah a kiss causing Klaus to avert his eyes. "Am I now to be subject to endless public displays of affection?" he griped.
"I hope so," Marcel replied with a smile on his face. Rebekah smiled as well then told Hayley, "Come on, girl talk time." They all headed upstairs, with the two females heading towards Rebekah's bedroom, and the two males to the office.
Trevor let them in and closed the door after them. He, having been dismissed for the rest of the night, then headed to his own room. The stress of the evening, especially anticipating his own fate, had exhausted him.
"Sire, I want to thank you…" Marcel began.
Elijah looked at him from his seat behind the desk. "Did I address you Marcel?"
Marcel swallowed, "No Sire, I'm sorry."
Elijah looked at his brother. "Niklaus, I want to discuss the current state of relations between the vampires and the witches." Klaus nodded his head, "All right."
The King then did address Marcel. "Marcel, you may thank me for my mercy when we are finished. But first tell me, how would you characterize the current state of relations between the vampires and the witches?"