Woww... I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of support I get for this story. It makes my heart happy to know that you all are as invested in this story as I am... that you identify with the characters and what they're feeling and you have expectations for what's happening and where the story is headed. I think it's every writer's dream to have readers who get so emotionally involved. I frustrate myself and make myself laugh and cry when I'm writing this story, and when I decide on what I want to happen next, so it's great to get that response out of my readers as well. I really do appreciate all of you :) Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. And please do, continue to review :)
"Help?" Rebekah scoffed, incredulous, her sheer malicious barely contained. As Klaus barrelled himself towards Esther, a feral look in his eyes at Esther's audacity, both Elijah and Kol immediately held him back. Fin taking a protective stance infront of Esther. But it was to no avail, as Rebekah acted in Klaus' stead, shoving Finn roughly aside, and taking a firm grip, wrapping a hand tightly around Esther's neck. Esther's eyes bulged, surprised by the unexpected attack from her only daughter, but did nothing to defend herself. "Help?" Rebekah repeated, her voice so full of disdain. Her brows furrowed, she turned to share a knowing look with Klaus. Klaus wearing a self satisfied smirk, hardly trying to get out of Elijah and Kol's grip, that had now loosened around his arms. "How dare you come here, and pledge to help us?" Rebekah said, giving Esther a derisive smile. "You have no right" she said shaking her head. "Mother..." Rebekah sneered, her grip on Esther becoming painful. She could feel Esther struggling for breath, and underneath the anger and resentment Rebekah felt towards her mother, she wondered why Esther hadn't fought back. She wondered why Finn hadn't come to his mother's aid. Rebekah frowned, as realisation dawned on her, she slowly released Esther. As Esther slumped, her hands on her knees, struggling to catch her breath. "I should kill you" Rebekah muttered. "You do not deserve a second chance" she said, shaking her head. Then turning to Klaus, Rebekah smiled almost apologetic. "She's telling the truth Nik" Rebekah sighed sadly, "she's here to help us."
Klaus' smirk wiped off his face, as his anger returned. In one quick move, he easily shoved both Elijah and Kol off him, and flashed over to Rebekah who was standing infront of Esther. Finn became alert once again, now sensing a genuine threat. "I don't care" Klaus snarled, looking down at Rebekah. "I don't need her help" he stated, contemptuously. He glanced at Esther, his eyes flashing yellow, with specks of gold in his irises. His fists were clenched tightly, anger radiating off him. Rebekah bristled. "It's a trick" he said, his voice barely a whisper. "She means to hurt us, to hurt me, to hurt our family" Klaus stated matter of factly. "And I will not allow anyone to hurt us, ever again" and Klaus sounded so resolute in his conviction, that even Finn was taken aback by Klaus' proclamation. Elijah and Kol shared a look, before Elijah tried, "brother..."
"No" Klaus practically growled. "She" he said, pointing an accusatory finger at Esther, who was regarding him with an almost pained expression on her face, "does not deserve a chance." Klaus placed a shaky hand gently on Rebekah's arm and moved her aside. He took a few measured steps to stand infront of Esther, who had motioned for Finn to stand aside. "We do not need you" Klaus said, pouring as much malice as he could into those few words. And when he saw the hurt flash in Esther's eyes, her eyes filling with unshed tears, Klaus gave her a bitter smile.
But Esther held her head high, and after taking a few calming breaths, she regained control over herself. "I am so sorry Niklaus" Esther said honestly, her voice raw with emotion, as her eyes filled to the brim with tears once again. Her emotion was clear on her face, and it completely disarmed Klaus. He took a step back, unhinged by her apology. Rebekah gasped, grabbing on to his hand for support. Or was it to give support? As Klaus interlocked their fingers and held on to Rebekah's hand tightly.
"I don't care" Klaus repeated, shaking his head. It was a vain attempt, as Klaus' voice betrayed him. His voice sounded so weak and broken even to his own ears, and he hated that Esther could elicit any sort of feeling from him. But he knew it was Caroline's fault. Even now, when she was not here, she still made her presence known. Before Caroline, Klaus would have already killed Esther, ripped her heart right out of her chest before she had ever gotten the words out. But after Caroline, telling him to connect with people, bringing the humanity out of him... he had begun to stop, think and then react. To listen. And it proved to be his downfall now. When his mother of all people could get inside his head. Esther's apology mean't nothing to him. Esther mean't nothing to him. But as a single tear spilled over, slowly trickling down her cheek, Klaus' heart clenched. Esther was still his mother. She had given birth to him, taught him how to walk and talk, fed him, had asked for Mikael to turn him into a vampire as well. Why? When Mikael had beaten Klaus bloody, Esther never tended to his wounds. It was Rebekah who bandaged him, stroked his hair until he fell asleep. But it was Esther who had given Rebekah the bandages and ointments and showed her how to apply it. When Klaus was sick, with a fever, it was Rebekah who tended to him, feeding him soup and medicines. It was Elijah who performed Klaus' chores. But it must have been Esther who made the soup, for Rebekah could not cook. It was Esther who bought the medicines from the shop. And it had to be Esther, who convinced Mikael to leave Klaus alone, when Klaus was too weak to bear the brunt of the man's malice.
Shaking his head to rid himself of his wayward thoughts. Caroline and Ivantika were in danger, how could Klaus possibly allow Esther to help, when he couldn't trust her? Klaus didn't trust her. He would never trust her. Not after...
"I know that you hate me, with every fibre in your being, for all that I have done and failed to do, Niklaus" Esther's soft voice, caught his attention. Klaus looked at her, and her eyes shown so open and sincere, that Klaus almost wanted to believe her. He wished that this was not the same woman who had cursed him for nearly a millennium, suppressing half of who he was. Who, once returned from the dead, had tried to kill him and his family, not once, but several times. Who had been so absolute in her resolve, to rid the whole world of vampires entirely. Why would Esther possibly want to help? Klaus frowned, entirely too perplexed. He idly noted that Elijah and Kol had come to stand by his side, effectively letting Esther know that they stood by him and whatever decision he would make. Rebekah rubbing circles on the back of his hand, with her thumb, trying to soothe him. He gently squeezed her hand, and caught her small smile, from the corner of his eye. This was family. This was loyalty. This was love. How could Klaus have not seen that all that he had yearned for over the centuries, he had had all along?
"I know that I have hurt you and your siblings, in ways in which a mother should never even contemplate, but I have" Esther continued, her voice wavering slightly "and for that I am truly sorry, Niklaus." A few more tears fell down Esther's cheek, and she took a deep, but shaky breath, clearly rattled by her own confession. She looked down momentarily, before looking up and giving him a small smile.
Klaus scoffed, but it was half hearted. He looked away, letting go of Rebekah's hand, and running his hand through his hair, frustrated. "Is it my forgiveness you want mother?" he asked honestly. Shaking his head, "so I can welcome you with open arms, the mother I never even had, so you can put a white oak dagger through my heart?" Klaus turned away, ashamed by the emotion that had unintentionally seeped into his voice. Such a display of weakness, he chided himself.
Before he finished, Esther was already shaking her head. Taking a determined step, she lifted a hand to touch his cheek, but Klaus flinched. Esther pulled her hand back, smiling sadly. "I have been a fool" Esther sighed. She chuckled bitterly, a dark expression taking over her features. "So blinded I was by my love for Mikael, that I did not see..." she said, shaking her head. "I was wrong" Esther admitted. "Does not one get the chance to atone for their wrongdoing?" she said, her voice taking on a pleading edge. Her eyes filled with tears once again, but Esther hastily brushed them away with the back of her hand. "The witches are no longer a threat" Esther started.
"Mother..." Finn interrupted her, his brows furrowed in worry as he cast a fleeting glance at Klaus.
"No" Esther said, shaking her head. "I will say what I came here to say, and if Niklaus chooses to kill me, then so be it" she said firmly, but giving Finn an affectionate smile. "But I will say my piece regardless. I need no reassurance of my safety." Finn did not look convinced, his worried expression never changing, but he nodded.
With a deep breath, giving Klaus her full attention, Esther continued, "the witches are no longer a threat, as they no longer feel threatened. Some magical bloodlines have been entirely wiped out, by the Guardians, whereas those few powerful magical bloodlines remain."
"What?" Bonnie asked incredulously, her brows furrowed in dismay. "How could they just do that?" she asked, shocked. Kol flashed over to Bonnie's side, noticing her distress, and took her into his arms. The action did not go unnoticed by Esther. Wiping out entire bloodlines did seem a bit extreme. But if the Guardians were intent upon purging the supernatural world, so to speak, then it did make sense.
"For obvious reasons, the Bennett bloodline is one of the few that remains" Esther commented softly, a gentle smile on her face. "The witches that do remain, however, are powerful enough to control the werewolves and vampires that do still exist."
"You make it sound as though, there are only a few left" Elijah interjected, one brow arched, curious.
Esther nodded. "Whereas supernatural beings had grown to thousands over the centuries, there are less than a hundred vampires and werewolves in existence today. Numbers decimated at such a fast rate, within only a few short weeks. And they remain in existence due to one foreseen reason or another" Esther explained.
"The Guardians chose the most power witch bloodlines, and they also chose what vampires and werewolves they wanted to live too... me, Stefan, Damon, Elena, even Katherine, all live because the Guardians have allowed us to be a part of their new order" Bonnie commented, still wrapped up in Kol's arms as though she found safety there.
"Yes." Esther smiled, as if in approval.
"What of the hybrids?" Klaus asked, demanding Esther's attention. Esther swallowed her emotion, regarding her son tentatively, paying him extra care. Klaus knew what she was doing, and he would not allow her to manipulate him so. He was never the favourite child, so why should she even bother now? He held his stoic expression, awaiting her answer.
"The Guardians do not know much of the hybrids, therefore the hybrids prove to be quite an enigma. However, they are kept in the safety of the Original werewolf, Darius' pack," Esther informed him. "Your friend... Tyler?" Esther asked, looking to the Bennett witch. Bonnie nodded. "Is a true born alpha, and the hybrids follow his command, though their sire to you is strong" Esther explained, looking at Klaus. "They are safe... the Guardians wish the hybrid species no harm" she stated seriously.
"And yet, Mikael wishes to end me, and my bloodline, which includes the hybrids" Klaus said, looking at her disbelievingly. "And the Guardians have not ended him? Eliminated the threat to the species the Guardians seem so fascinated by..." Klaus asked, sharing a look with Elijah. Elijah nodded, sharing Klaus' train of thought. He felt his anger returning, her betrayal so carefully veiled, that Klaus almost missed it. Esther was cunning, unforgiving. Perhaps traits he got from her. Klaus could feel Elijah's anger as well, though it was carefully hidden under his human façade. If what Esther alluded to was true, Klaus would rip her heart right out of her chest. He would do it now.
Esther tensed. "Nikl..." her words were cut off, as Klaus' hand wrapped around her neck, lifting her, until her feet were dangling in the air. Esther's hands grabbed at his own, as she struggled to get out of his grip. Elijah had already snapped Finn's neck and Finn was a pile on the ground. Elijah placed a hand on Rebekah's shoulder, holding her in place. But he was forced to hold Rebekah in a deadlock, when she tried to go to her mother's aid.
"What is wrong with you?" Rebekah screamed. "Stop it! Nik, you're killing her!" Rebekah shrieked.
In Esther's eyes shown genuine fear, and Klaus revelled in it.
"Nik what are you doing?" Kol asked, flashing over to his side. He put a hand on Klaus' shoulder, obviously confused by what was happening. "Esther's trying to help us mate... you can kill her after" Kol reasoned.
With a snarl, Klaus released his grip around Esther's neck and shoved her roughly to the ground. Esther coughed up blood, gasping for breath, making dry heaving sounds as frightened tears spilled down her cheeks. "Mother dearest" Klaus said, giving Esther a serene smile, "why don't you tell everyone what the Guardians really want? Surely you must have known all along... isn't that why you're here? Hoping to band together with us and save yourself when the time comes." Klaus laughed, shaking his head. "You almost had me fooled..."
"I'm here to stop it... I'm here to help" Esther said forcibly, struggling to get back on her feet.
Klaus scoffed.
"Would you all like to tell the rest of us what the hell is going on?" Damon piped up, irritation colouring his tone. But he looked genuinely worried. As did Bonnie and Elena who were holding on to each other. Bonnie was regarding Esther seriously, as though she was on high alert, preparing for an imminent attack from the Original witch. Preparing to use her magic against Esther if need be. Whilst Stefan looked entirely too downcast, brooding. There was something off about him that Klaus couldn't quite put his finger on. The Ripper seemed too distant as of late... and
"Yes, please do" Katherine drawled, clearly annoyed. "What's the point of having us around, if you don't let us know what's going on?" Katherine asked. "How are we supposed to help?"
Elena scoffed. "I didn't think you cared" she muttered.
"Not much of a surprise... considering you don't think at all, little girl" Katherine commented, giving Elena a derisive smile.
Elena narrowed her eyes and made a move in Katherine's direction but she was quickly cut off by Rebekah. "This" she almost snarled, "is not about you." The look Rebekah gave Elena was bone chilling, enough so for the doppelgänger to take a step back. "This is about getting Caroline and my niece back" Rebekah stated. "Leave your petty squabbling for when you have nothing better to do..."
"Rebekah's right" Stefan said, speaking for the first time. Taking a good look at the Ripper, he looked pained, heartbroken almost, but physically defeated as well. There was a haunted look in his eyes, that wasn't entirely new, but it had never been there before either. "We have to find Caroline" he said, his voice barely a whisper. "It's been over a day and she's practically alone... with Mikael." Stefan looked worried. It was worry. That same feeling of helplessness, hopelessness... to be weak and vulnerable. The Ripper was worried about Caroline. Klaus knew that Caroline belonged to him now, but Stefan and Caroline were still friends. Best friends. It would not hurt Stefan as much as it would hurt Klaus. But it would still hurt. Perhaps Stefan blamed himself. Isn't that how Klaus felt? Knowing that Ivantika and Caroline's predicament was simply the result of them being cared for, by him. And had not been strong enough to protect them.
"We'll find them" Klaus stated, matter of factly, and he didn't know if he said it to reassure the others or to reassure himself. He turned to look at Esther, who appeared outright distraught by the turn of events. Good. Klaus gave her an expectant look. She wanted a chance. Let her have a chance to explain herself, before he killed her, for her attempt at betrayal, once again.
"When Mikael told me that the Guardians had appeared to him, giving him the power he needed to end you and your siblings... I knew that this was wrong" Esther explained. "The Guardians had wiped out entire witch bloodlines, for their own agenda. Innocent people, whole families... gone" she said sadly, shaking her head. "I thought ridding the world of you would undo the wrong I did by making you immortal... but this... this is wrong. Killing innocents..." Esther's voice sounded so broken, as she struggled to continue. Taking a deep breath, "it was not your fault" she admitted, looking at each of her children. "Becoming what you are, is what Mikael and I forced you to become... and it was not right of me to decide that you should die. If anyone should suffer for my wrongdoing... it should be me. You were all so innocent..." she said, sounding almost wistful. A few seconds ticked by and there was silence, but for Esther's laboured breathing. Her breath hitched in her throat.
"Ivantika... my grand daughter" Esther stated, "is a creation of magic itself. She is of the earth. Pure. Unlike you, and the Original werewolves... Ivantika cannot be killed at all. She is entirely invincible, indestructible, without weakness. The Guardians want to create a new world order, so to speak, with Ivantika as their weapon of choice to ensure that order is kept."
"V would never allow them to use her so" Rebekah started, shaking her head.
"Oh, but she is just a girl" Esther said, "so easy to forget that she is but a child... who knows what will happen if she be left all alone in this world."
"Don't be ridiculous" Rebekah snapped at Esther. "Ivantika's not alone..."
"But she could be" Klaus said, cutting Rebekah off. As realisation dawned on him, "if Mikael were to kill Caroline... I would wish death upon myself. And with my death, the death of the Salvatores and the Petrova doppelgängers would soon follow. What affect would that have on the Bennett witch? What effect would it have upon you? What would Ivantika think? How would she be convinced?"
"The Guardians would manipulate her" Bonnie filled in. "They would use her grief against her, to get inside her head and convince her to turn against you."
"How dare you think so little of her?" Rebekah spat, angrily. "She would never..." she said, shaking her head.
"She's just a girl Rebekah" Elijah said, his tone placating. "Ivantika is but a child. How would a child react to the death of both her parents?"
"No" Rebekah said, her voice pleading. Her bottom lip quivered. Shaking her head, "I refuse to believe that."
"It's entirely hypothetical of course, considering Nik's not actually dead..." Kol said, giving Rebekah a small smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. Damn him for trying to lighten the mood though. Then turning to Esther, "you said you could help" Kol demanded.
Esther nodded. "I have informed the witches that still remain, of the true intentions of the Guardians, and we have come to a collective decision to tear apart the alternate universe."
Klaus growled, but before he could say anything.
"Like how the witches tore the other side apart?" Bonnie scoffed. "That isn't helping" she said, shaking her head. "Dead supernatural beings have to have some where to go, otherwise the balance would be upset again, and nature would simply create another alternate world, that the Guardians can easily turn into their own living hell." Taking a few determined steps to stand by Kol's side. "I don't trust the witches at all. And I trust you even less. If you want to help" Bonnie said, regarding Esther seriously, "then convince the witches to send us there instead."
"You may be a powerful witch here Bonnie, but the rules are different over there" Esther said with such foreboding that Bonnie almost wavered in her resolve, but she didn't allow it to show. "Over there, the Guardians rule, and it is the dead who hold dominion over the living."
"Since we're all going to die either way... what's there to lose?" Damon said, nudging Stefan. "Come on, baby bro... it's time to put on your hero hair." Stefan shook his head, not the least bit amused.
"We have to save Caroline, and Klaus' daughter, one way or another" Elena said, casting a fleeting glance at Elijah.
"So can you convince the witches? Or do I have to?" Bonnie asked, looking at Esther cynically.
"Actually" said a familiar, though not entirely welcome voice. "I believe I can help, with our little witch problem."
"It's more of a spell problem, mate" Kol said, his tone full of disdain.
Klaus regarded him intently, before sharing a look with Elijah. "Where the hell have you been?" he asked, irritated.
Darius smirked. "Catching up with my dead mother... learning a few spells that could help me save my girl" was his cheeky reply. "You're welcome, by the way" he said, as he sauntered towards them, "for saving your mini hybrid army" he filled in.
Klaus' fists clenched firmly at his sides.
"You must be Esther" Darius said, looking at the Original witch.
"You must be my grand daughter's special werewolf friend" Esther said, by way of greeting, giving him a patient smile.
"I'm her mate" Darius said, keeping his stoic expression. "And you're... you're pathetic" he said, shaking his head. Esther's smile dropped. "Thinking you have any right to call her that... grand daughter." He scoffed. "The only memory she has of you, is you trying to kill her father." Darius looked at Esther critically for a moment. "I really don't like you" Darius stated, matter of factly. "So please stay out of my way. I don't know how the family dynamic works with you lot just yet, but I'm sure it'd be a bother if I killed you by accident."
It was entirely unexpected, but pleasantly surprising. Klaus chuckled, shaking his head. His fists unclenched, as he gave Darius an affectionate slap on the back. "You're a warlock" Klaus stated.
"Not entirely, but I have magic in my blood... it's what made me and my siblings what we are, when the witch cursed us" he explained. With a sigh, "My mother gave me the spell and I have enough magic in me to create a channel, but..."
"It'll only work if the connection is strong enough" Bonnie agreed. "Which means we have to focus on either Caroline or Ivantika, enough to be connected to them."
"And we'll just magically appear over there?" Damon asked, incredulous.
"Sort of" Bonnie nodded.
"We project" Darius said, "and if the projection's strong enough... you'll be able to teleport to the alternate world."
After a few moments of silence, as that information sunk in, it was Elijah who spoke up. "Well then" he said, "let us begin."