Part 21

Bloody bunny

"Here," Rebekah said and handed me a glass. "Drink this."

My hands were shaking and I was too upset to argue, I simply emptied the glass with one gulp. The liquid, which was some kind of alcohol, tasted terrible, but I didn't care. I was sitting on Rebekah's bed; I couldn't even remember walking here.

"How are you holding up, apple girl?" she asked.

"I…I don't care if that was normal for vampires, I'm not going to be some shared toy," I muttered. "I'll rather face the sun."

"No, that wasn't normal," she replied and sat down next to me. "My brother can be an ass, but he doesn't usually act like that."

I pressed my lips together.

"I didn't lead him on; I just wanted to wash up before Kol would come back." I paused and felt my eyes filling with tears. "I didn't have anything else to wear…"

"It's alright," Rebekah sighed and placed her palm on my shoulder. "I didn't mean that you would have led him on, I'm just saying that he doesn't usually act like that."

I dried my eyes and tried my best to calm down.

"I… Thank you for saving me. I owe you."

"It was nothing," she huffed. "But… If you want to repay me, there is something you could do."

I swallowed and turned to look at her.

"What's that?"

She bit her bottom lip.

"Don't tell Kol what happened."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

She sighed and stood up.

"The thing is that I know my brothers and trust me when I say, nothing good would come out of telling Kol. He can be very… territorial and his temper is just as bad as Nik's. Believe me, things wouldn't end well."

I didn't know what to think, but how could I deny her request, she had just saved me. From her brother.

"Look, apple girl," she sighed. "I don't know what the hell was wrong with Nik tonight, but I will personally make sure that he won't touch you again, you have my word. All I ask you to do is not to tell Kol. Can you do that?"

I lowered my head and nodded.

"I won't tell him."

"Thank you," she replied, she sounded relieved. "Now, you mentioned that you have no clothes? Let's see what we can do about that."

"Belle?" Elijah said quietly while placing her on his bed. Bringing her to his room had certainly been a bad idea, but he didn't know where to take her and he needed a moment to think. Not to mention he needed to take care of her wounds. "Sweetheart? Could you please say something? Anything?"

Very slowly she looked up, her face was completely callous.

"What would you like me to say? I brought this on myself."

"No, no," he said quickly and sat down next to her. "This is all my fault, I can't tell you how sorry I am…"

She let out a joyless laugh.

"No, I wanted this to happen. Too bad he didn't kill me, but I'm sure he will."

Elijah was shocked, he had done this to her. He had broken her, destroyed the light in her eyes.

"Belle…"

He touched her hair, but that was a mistake, her scent reminded him of his painful hunger. What kind of a monster was he? She looked at him calmly and lifted her long hair off her neck.

"Go ahead."

"No," he replied tensely and stood up.

"Why not?" she huffed. "That's all I am to you, right? A doll you can feed on."

Her words cut him like a knife, he truly hated himself.

"No, you're not. I know you must hate me and you have every right to, but please believe me when I say that I never meant any of this to happen. I certainly don't deserve your forgiveness, but I will do whatever I have to do to keep you safe, you have my word."

She was quiet for a long while after that, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

"Did you lie when you said that you love me?" she finally asked.

He shook his head.

"No, I meant what I said. But I was selfish, I wanted…want your blood so badly that it hurts. I'm certainly not proud of it and you deserve so much better."

"Hmm. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't want something 'better'?" she asked sharply.

He was stunned when he looked at her.

"What?"

"I'm not as stupid as you seem to think, I am aware how much you enjoy my blood. I didn't mind you feeding on me because I love you and yes, I know what love is. What hurt me the most was your patronizing attitude; you have no right to say that I wouldn't know what I feel."

He didn't know how to reply to that, the look she was giving him was very determined.

"I… I didn't mean…"

She stood up and moved in front of him.

"I'm not some broken little girl, Elijah, I'm a woman and I know how I feel. I love you because of who you are, not because you helped me. I know I have many things to learn, but I will not be with someone who can't see me as a woman. Can you do that or not?"

She had certainly managed to surprise him completely; he cleared his throat before replying.

"Yes, I can, but…"

"No, no buts. And enough with the coddling, you are not doing anything I wouldn't allow you to do. If you want to be with me then you will treat me as your equal, I won't settle for any less."

Despite of everything, he couldn't help but smile. He had certainly underestimated her.

"My sweet Belle…"

"Come," she said and took his hand. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you look terrible. We can talk more after you have fed."

He nodded gratefully and followed her to the bed. Seeing Niklaus' bite marks on her neck made him tense.

"Did… did my brother hurt you?"

"I'll live," she replied. "But I have to ask you not to take as much as usually."

"No, of course not. May I kiss you first?"

She smiled and lied down on her back.

"You may."

He leaned down and touched her cheek, just like many times before. But this time was different, instead of placing himself on top of her; he pulled her towards him and gathered her in his arms. She looked at him in wonder as his hand gently caressed the back of her neck.

"I love you," he said before leaning down and giving her a soft, sensual kiss. He truly meant it and he would find some way to get her out of this mess. She was his, only his and he would never let anyone to take her from him.

The sun had just risen when Kol returned; he wasn't in a good mood. Things weren't going the way he wanted with the girl, she was acting ridiculously. He had wanted a wildcat, not some bloody bunny. She should have been a fierce little baby vamp who would have hunt with him and shared his bed. He couldn't deny that he had wanted to bed her ever since they had met, but she had proven to be a real challenge in that department.

He had never before turned any of his toys, but there had been something special about her. Granted, his attraction towards her wasn't just physical, he had actually enjoyed her company and he had expected her to be a magnificent vampire. Was he disappointed, yes, but perhaps she would come around eventually.

He marched to his room only to notice that she wasn't there. Where the hell was she? It was morning so she couldn't have gone outside. Fortunately he could easily track down her scent; it led him to his sister's door.

"Bekah," he snapped angrily while yanking the door open. "Where's my…"

"Shh," Rebekah hushed, she was sitting on one of her armchairs. "She's sleeping."

He frowned and glanced at the bed, his baby vampire was fast asleep under the covers, she was wearing one of Rebekah's nightgowns.

"Why is she sleeping here?"

"Why not?" Rebekah huffed. "You haven't shown much interest towards her wellbeing."

Kol's eyes narrowed.

"What happens between her and me is none of your business, I'm her sire."

"Yes and what a great sire you are," she snorted. "I wouldn't even trust you with a plant."

"I'll be sure to let you know when I start to care about your opinions, sister dear," he replied and walked over to the bed. Rosalie had curled up into a fetal position; she flinched in her sleep when he touched her cheek.

"No…" she muttered.

"Come on, sleepyhead," he huffed and lifted her up into his arms. She shivered, like she would have been cold.

"Don't…"

"Can't you just let her sleep here?" Rebekah muttered tensely.

Kol was really started to be annoyed, this was none of Rebekah's business.

"She's coming with me."

Rebekah didn't say anything when he carried Rosalie out, for some reason she was squirming in his arms, probably having a nightmare or something.

"Stop that," he huffed. "It's just me."

"Don't… don't touch me… I don't want…"

She started to sob, making him more than uncomfortable.

"Rosalie," he muttered. "Could you please stop that? You're having a nightmare."

She didn't stop, not before he placed her on his bed and tucked her in. The curtains were closed, so there wasn't any sunlight. She seemed calmer now, she was hugging herself tightly. He sighed and touched her hair; there certainly wasn't anything fierce about her. No, maybe not, but he had to admit that she was a damn cute baby vampire. His baby vampire.

He looked at her for a moment before lying down next to her. Unlike her, he required very little sleep, but he really didn't have anything better to do at the moment. Carefully he put his hand on her hip and pulled her close. She didn't make a sound when he moved a stray hair out of her face and stroked her cheek. This wasn't so bad. No, not so bad at all.