Hello everyone!
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season!
A quick shout out to winxgirl1997 for reviewing, and a quick note, I do not own the poem below, so don't sue me!
Enjoy the new chapter!
Leaning against Nik I read the poem he was reading.
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine.
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
"This is a little on the dark side."
Nik scoffed and lowered his arm so it rested around my waist and his hand sat on my stomach.
"So this is what you do the first time we're back together as a family, vampire book club."
I felt Nik sigh as he answered his sister.
"Reading edifies the mind, sister. Isn't that right, Elijah?"
"Yes. That's quiet right, NiKlaus."
"And what's this business?"
I glanced at the bleeding girl on our table, before turning back to the book in Nik's hand.
"This is a peace offering. I presumed, after so much time desiccating in a coffin, that my big brother might be a bit puckish."
I sighed as the brothers went at it, again.
"So I explained to my little brother that forgiveness cannot be bought. I'd simply prefer to see a change in behavior that indicates contrition and personal growth, not this nonsense."
"Well I couldn't very well let her go to waste, could I?"
The brothers shared a look while Becca complained about the rug.
"Well, I suppose I'll fetch the rubbish bin because you're staining a 200-year-old carpet."
She walked away as I slowly detached myself from Nik and wondered into the kitchen, deciding some food would be good. Opening the fridge I smiled at Elijah as he walked in.
"Listen, I know I'm the only one in this house that actually drinks milk, but would it kill any of you to make sure it's on the grocery list?"
Becca smirked as she walked by with gloves.
"Speaking of, add bleach."
I laughed while pulling out ice cream.
"You know, I do hope my siblings were hospitable toward you in my absence."
I smiled at Elijah while pulling out a jar of pickles.
"They watched over me as much as they could. Except for being attacked by French Quarter vampires. I've had to live in a house with a secret dungeon full of coffins, and I was nearly murdered by witches who are convinced that my baby is Lucifer."
I paused as Elijah put everything I had pulled out back and handed me a healthy breakfast. With a light sigh I hugged my friend.
"I missed you. Tell me you have a plan to get me unlinked to Sophie?"
He smirked and nodded.
"We won't have to kill anyone."
I gave him a look while taking a bite of the cereal.
"All right. Potentially everyone."
Walking back over to Nik I took a seat next to him, enjoying my breakfast as Elijah took over our problem.
"Poetry about poisoned apples from dead trees, looks like someone is worried about impending daddyhood."
Nik scoffed as I smiled at him.
"Nonsense. Elijah is back. In his presence, all problems turn to pixie dust and float away."
I laughed as Elijah walked in.
"Strange, I don't recall any pixie dust from the darkness of the coffin I was recently forced to endure."
"What are you doing with mother's spell book?"
I turned to see Elijah pulling a page out of the ancient book.
"Well, in exchange for my freedom, I promised the witch Davina that I would share a few pages from mother's grimoire. It'll help her learn to control her magic. Thought we'd begin with a little unlinking spell."
I smiled a thanks as Becca continued to question him.
"Wait. You want to use her to unlink Liz from Sophie Deveraux?"
"Sophie brought us to this town under false pretenses. She doesn't just want us to take down Marcel and his minions. She wants to take Davina back. So she yoked her own cause to ours with magic, threats, and half-truths. Well, no more. As of now, our deal with Sophie Deveraux is null and void."
Nik smiled next to me as I grinned at Elijah.
"NiKlaus, I need you to come with me. I need 5 minutes alone with Davina. You need to make certain that I am not interrupted."
He turned to Becca.
"You stay here and watch Liz."
"How did I get elected supernanny?"
I started laughing as Nik stood up.
"More importantly, who put him in charge?"
As the brother left I smiled at Becca as she sighed and went back to cleaning the blood out of the carpet.
"What are you doing?"
I sighed as the blonde watched me continue with my light exercise.
"I may be pregnant but I'm not going to get fat in the processes."
"Is that safe?"
I nodded towards a book on the table, raising an eyebrow Becca picked it up.
"Yoga for Pregnant Women? Well okay then."
I laughed, perfectly at peace with my wings stretched out to keep my balance when I felt my temperature raise.
"Oh."
"What's wrong?"
I swayed on my feet, causing Becca to grab me.
"I don't feel so good."
"Let's get you to bed, sleeping it off should help."
I nodded, leaning on my sister as she helped me upstairs, giving my neck a hard look.
"What's that?"
Reaching up I was surprised to see blood on my fingers.
"I…I don't know."
Laying on the bed I started panting, sweat starting to appear as my temperature slowly rose.
"Water, please?"
Becca nodded and took off before appearing with a glass and a damp cloth, as she placed the cool cloth on my forehead I downed the water, praying Davina would be able to unlink me from Sophie before my baby was terminated. Hearing footsteps we looked up to see Elijah and Sophie walking in, Becca immediately jumping to my defense.
"What the hell is she doing here?"
"I'm trying to help."
"Help? You're the reason we're in this bloody mess. Why aren't we unlinked with this witch already, Elijah?"
Elijah gave her a stern look as I took another sip of ice water.
"Rebecca, let her do what she can."
"I may know a way to slow the fever down, but I'm gonna need some special herbs. I'll text you a list."
"Fine. Happy to play the fetch girl."
Becca left in a huff as Sophie approached me, using my wings I knocked her away, giving her a go-to-hell look while Elijah stepped up to force me to calm down.
"Let her help Liz, we need to keep you calm."
I nodded, still hesitant with the witch so close. Elijah walked over and picked me up, carrying me down to the pool as Becca walked in with the herbs. Sitting on the edge of the pool I started to pant as my fever became worse.
"She's burning up. We need to do this now."
Elijah ran over and stepped into the pool as Sophie told him to get me in the water, leaning forward I clung to him as the cool water hit my burning skin causing me to gasp.
"I can't lose her again Elijah."
"Shh, you won't Liz."
Sophie came running into the pool and handed me a cup.
"Drink this. You're gonna have to get her heart rate down."
"And how do you suggest I do that?"
"Hold her. It's a natural human remedy to slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure."
Throwing the cup away I clung onto Elijah, panting as I tried to force myself to calm down. Feeling my wings floating in the water, panic setting in.
"I can't breath."
"Liz, Liz, long deep breaths, listen to the sound of my voice, you'll be ok."
I nodded, gasping for breath when all of a sudden I caught my breath and could feel my temperature lowering. Elijah slowly let go of me and we realized the link was broken. Leaning against him I sighed in relief.
"Come on, let's go."
I nodded and let him lead me over to the edge of the pool when Sophie spoke up.
"Elijah as soon as your brother finds out that the link is broken, he'll kill Agnes. I know you don't owe me anything, but please don't let him kill her."
Elijah jumped out of the pool to grab his jacket as Becca helped me out of the pool.
"Elijah, she's our only access to the power we need to survive. Promise me that you'll stop him."
I watched as Elijah pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.
"It's me. Where are you? Don't hurt her. I'll be there shortly."
He hung up and looked over at Sophie.
"I'll make you one last promise. I won't let my brother kill Agnes."
I turned and blocked Sophie from getting to far; pulling the towel Becca had given me closer around my body.
"I know you were just using me to save your people, but try it again, and I'll kill you."
She nodded as she left, walking inside I walked upstairs to dry off and crawl into bed, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep till Nik returned.
Hearing a knock on the door I sighed and walked downstairs to see Marcel smiling down at me.
"Hi there, remember me?"
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