Chapter Thirty Six
My eyes snapped open, my lungs demanding oxygen, causing me to gasp loudly. My mind was overrun with images of Tunde propelling his blade through my heart and I had the sudden urge to make sure everyone was okay, as I knew he would have gone after them once he had captured me. With that thought in mind I forced myself up, managing to get off the bed, though I stumbled and had to grip the bedpost for support.
'Easy love.' Nik murmured, his arm gently winding around my waist, supporting most of my weight as he gently led me back onto the bed, ignoring my protests.
'He's going to come for them,' I whispered, trying and failing to get out of his grip.
'He's gone, love.' Nik promised me, the sincerity in his voice making me pause.
'What do you mean gone?' I asked.
'He took off after the hold he had on you broke. Without your strength he was no match for three originals as well as a vampire and a werewolf' Nik explained, his hand entwining with mine, it felt so nice, so comforting that I didn't question it at first, but then I remembered that he had lost his memories.
'Did Elijah ask you to watch over me?' I wondered, not knowing if he would have cared about me being injured.
'No, love. After I got you out of the warehouse I bought you back here to recuperate.' His voice was soft, while his eyes shined with remorse.
'I don't understand.' I said, frowning in confusion; why would he come for me if he didn't even trust me anymore?
'When I found out that you had essentially walked into a trap, Elijah went back to the compound to face Tunde with everyone else and I got Sophie and came after you. Once we had got you out of there we started to walk back when a very familiar truck caught my eye.' He murmured, his free hand reaching up and brushing a curl behind my ear, a gesture that made me shiver and feel warm at the same time.
'Okay…' I trailed off, urging him to continue; I had no idea where he was going with this.
'A truck similar to the one you, me and Stefan travelled in over the summer.' Nik said, his confession making my heart skip a beat.
'You remember me being on that trip with you?' I asked.
'I do,' he grinned, 'the truck triggered the memory of me realising that I was in love with you, and with that everything else came back as well. Just like Sophie said.'
I stared at him for a moment, completely stunned, my eyes filled with tears, one escaping and trailing down my cheek. I couldn't believe that he had his memories back. A part of me couldn't believe that the witches had gone through that much trouble to rid him of his recollections of me only for him to get them back not twenty four hours later. I was snapped out of my thoughts by Nik gently caressing my face, his thumb wiping away the lone tear that had fallen, the gesture seemed to bring me out of my trance and I reached forward, my arms going around his neck as I hugged him close to me, inhaling his scent and finally feeling calm, relieved and whole.
Nik chuckled, but it wasn't a sound of humour, it was one of relief. I realised then that he had been concerned over my reaction because of how he had reacted to me when he had awoken after the ancestors had taken over his mind. With that thought in mind I pulled back and lightly slapped his chest.
'That was for getting all pissy and territorial with me yesterday.' I told him smiling when he looked surprised at my lack of anger.
'I think I deserve far worse than that, love.' He replied, moving his eyes away from mine, but not before I saw them fill with remorse. I bought my hand to the side of his face, urging him to look up at me and when he did I placed a soft kiss to his lips, amplifying the comfort I was sending to him.
'No you don't,' I disagreed, 'the ancestors knew what they were doing; they knew how you would react to me. Ester knew how you would react. I don't blame you.'
He opened his mouth, probably to disagree, but I slammed my lips to his. I poured everything I felt for him into it, the love and happiness that he was back, the only other assurance I could think to offer him. He responded in kind, his lips moving almost tentatively against mine as if he didn't think he deserved any kind of affection, but that disappeared when I bought my hands to caress either side of his face, deepening the kiss. I pulled away; he placed a soft kiss to my forehead before he forced me to lay back down, promising to return with blood. While he was gone I noticed that I couldn't hear anyone else in the house; the only heartbeats were Klaus' and my own. While the only other member of the family with a heartbeat was Hayley, everyone else usually made at least some noise to hint at where they were and sometimes what they were doing. But aside from Klaus' heartbeat and the sound of the fridge opening and closing in the kitchen, there was nothing, and it concerned me. I knew that Tunde hadn't killed any of them but I could feel that something was wrong.
'Where do you think you're going?' Nik demanded, his arm coming around my waist as I clutched to the third floor railing.
'Where is everyone, Nik? What's going on?' I asked, clasping his arms for support; his hands tightened on my waist and I knew if he weren't holding me at that moment I would have fallen.
'Come back to bed and drink up, love. I'll tell you everything.' He promised, trying to turn me back in the direction of the bedroom but as he did I caught sight of the courtyard on the ground floor. Tunde was lying, dead, in a circular symbol with other shapes distributed on either side. He was wearing the same white suit he had been wearing yesterday, a pool of blood around his head and a gash across his throat.
'What the hell?' I murmured, Nik followed my gaze and frowned in confusion at the sight before us. He shook his head and a long sigh left him as he reached for his phone in his back pocket, managing to lift me up with one hand, my legs winding around his waist in instinct. He walked us back into the bedroom, placed me onto the bed and handed me the blood bag he had somehow stored in his back pocket.
'Niklaus, I am rather busy.' Elijah answered, sounding rather pissed off in all honesty.
'Yes, brother I'm sure you are. I just thought you'd like to know Tunde is dead in our courtyard.' Nik replied, an ironic smile on his face that made me roll my eyes as I placed the now empty blood bag on the bedside table, feeling my strength return.
'If Celeste resurrected him she must have killed him when he fulfilled his purpose.' Elijah murmured, his voice calm though I knew he was probably anything but.
'Speaking of the witch… any news?' Nik asked, his hand rubbing back and forth over my right leg as if to remind himself that I was actually there.
'I haven't located Celeste yet, but I assure you I will. I do however; have some news that might bring interest to you and Kimberly. Is she awake yet?'
Nik's eyes met mine before he pulled the phone away from his ear and put it on speakerphone.
'Hey Lijah.' I murmured.
'Ah, Kimberly. I'm glad you're alright.' Elijah responded, his voice genuine.
'What was the other news you had brother?' Nik interrupted, impatient.
'Well, Sophie's niece, Monique literally exploded from her grave this morning. Now seeing as Tunde is now dead, I'm assuming that it cannot be a coincidence.'
'Wait. If Tunde had to die for one of the girls to come back, that means that there are another three witches need to die so that the others can return.' I said, my tone hopeful.
'It appears that way, yes. But due to Tunde's desire for revenge against us, it can be assumed that the other witches strive for the same intention.' Elijah said, his voice almost drowned out by the voices around him.
'Well that narrows it down. I can't possibly think of any witches who may wish ill intentions to us.' Nik muttered sarcastically, making me snort in amusement, he mock glared at me and I held my hands up in surrender.
'Yes, Niklaus you are truly hilarious.' Elijah's voice was condescending, 'now if you'll excuse me I have matters to attend to.' With that, he hung up the phone.
'Okay, now what exactly have I missed?' I asked, my hand entwining with his, resting on my lap.
He started with yesterday; he had come to save me while Elijah, Bekah, Kol, Elena and Hayley had fought Tunde. He managed to desiccate Kol, Bekah and Elena whilst he was channelling my power. Hayley had been the first he went for and he knocked her out instantly and he had just been about to desiccate Elijah when Tunde suddenly lost his power, which would have been when Nik broke the link that Tunde was using to channel me. Elijah had compelled some passers by in the streets to enter the compound and feed the desiccated vampires in order to return their strength. When he had bought me home, Nik had suggested that Kol, Bekah and Finn take Hayley and Elena back to the plantation, as at the time Tunde had still been a threat, though it looked like they were going to stay there at least for another night as Hayley had invited the werewolves from the Bayou over, offering them the endless woods by the plantation as a place to transform with her as tonight was a full moon. Nik had said he was going to stay with me while Elijah was trying to find Celeste.
'I don't like the idea of Celeste being alone with Elijah, and I have a bad feeling about Bekah being at the plantation tonight.' I said, grabbing my phone after I located it on the bedside table before I dialled Finn's number.
'Kimberly?' Finn answered, sounding concerned, 'is everything alright?'
'Nik was just filling me in on you being at the plantation, I have a bad feeling about Bekah being there tonight. Could you please keep an eye on her?' I asked, trying to hide the panic from my voice.
'Of course.' He responded, saying goodbye before he hung up the phone.
'Why don't we just go out there and protect her ourselves?' Nik suggested.
'While I don't like Elijah dealing with Celeste on his own, we need to go to Cami, apparently the same witch who hexed her brother has returned from the dead to hex her uncle.' I said giving him a look.
'If this is one of the resurrected witches… why would she go after Father Kieran and not our family?' He wondered.
'No idea. But we need to go, and I need to call Marcel.' I said, making a move to walk to the door but Nik grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him.
'What do you need with Marcellus?' His eyes were hard, but not in a way that made me fear him.
'If one harvest girl has popped up after Tunde was killed, he has a right to know about the possibility of Davina coming back.' I told him.
He stared at me for a long moment, an unreadable look on his face and before I could focus on what he was feeling he responded, his voice low, 'he'll be somewhere in the city. When Davina died… I lifted his ban; I figured that losing his daughter was painful enough. He deserved to be able to come home.'
'You were right to do that, Nik.' I murmured, when I realised he was concerned that I would be angry at him for doing it, probably because I was the one who had been furious with him when he had led hundreds of his men into a battle they never could have won.
I informed Marcel of what was happening with Davina, and just as I was about to hang up he told us that Cami was now in the know of the supernatural world thanks to an encounter with a vampire that tried to feed from her. With that information in mind we made our way to the church not really sure of what we were going to find. I realised we when we walked in there, hand in hand, and father Kieran gave me an odd look that I was wearing pyjamas I didn't remember changing into. I just shrugged it off; there were more important things that I needed to focus on.
'Thank God you're here. Marcel told me about you and your family so if there's anyone who knows how to break a witches hex it has to be you guys right?' Cami said from her uncle's side, looking in between Klaus and me pleadingly.
'It's a witches hex, sweetheart, it's a little more complicated than that.' Klaus said, his voice petulant; I squeezed his hand in warning.
'Who did this to you exactly?' I asked, sending waves of comfort to father Kieran and Cami.
'It was a witch who used to live in New Orleans, her name was Bastianna. Marcel ordered her death after the massacre that happened at the church because she hexed my nephew, Shaun.' Father Kieran explained, causing Klaus and I to share a look.
'So there's nothing that can be done?' Cami said, sounding defeated.
'He didn't say that. Maybe we can try using compulsion?' I suggested.
'That could work. We'll just have to drain the vervain from your system first, mate.' Klaus told Father Kieran, they both went over to the stoup near the front of the church while Cami and I followed a few steps behind.
'If there's anything that can be done, Cami, I promise you-,' I started but I was cut off when my phone began to ring from the pocket of my pyjama shorts. I fished it out, sending Cami an apologetic smile in the process.
'Marcel, to what do I owe the pleasure?' I said, answering the phone after I checked the caller I.D.
'I've got Sophie prepped and ready to locate the remaining three witches who Elijah's ex girlfriend resurrected. We get them, we get Davina back. Are you in?' Marcel asked, his tone begrudging.
Klaus and I shared a look, and when I was sure that he was happy to continue helping Cami and Father Kieran without me, only then did I respond to Marcel's offer.
'I'm in. Where are you?'
'The compound. You'd better hurry, Sophie's already chanting.' Marcel replied, and as if on command I could hear a female voice speaking in the background.
'You're leaving?' Cami asked, sounding concerned; when I sensed her fear over being left alone with Klaus I took it immediately.
'I am. Marcel has a lead on getting Davina back and Nik has got this. You don't have to be afraid of him, Cami. Not that I blame you if Marcel is the one who filled you in on the history of vampires. The two of them aren't exactly best friends anymore.' I said, squeezing her arm in comfort, sharing a charged look with Klaus, it was one filled with electricity, promise and things we didn't care to say in a room where in which we weren't alone. With that, I flashed back to the compound.
When I got there Sophie was standing over a map surrounded by what looked like ash, chanting but nothing was happening. Marcel was stood in front of her, his arms crossed in his brown leather jacket as he kept his eyes locked on the map, urging the ashes to move. Just behind Sophie was a younger girl; she was wearing a white flowy dress and eyes that looked like pure evil. I knew that it was Sophie's niece, Monique, but I had a feeling that the extra time she had spent with the ancestors had messed with her mind; I sensed hostility and an unquenchable desire for the ancestor's cause flowing from her. I knew that I wouldn't trust her before she had even opened her mouth.
'I can't do this, I'm not as strong as I like to think I am,' Sophie said after a while, sounding like she was close to giving up.
'Keep trying, okay? No deal if you don't find what we're looking for,' Marcel said, his voice ruthless but I could feel his desperation to get Davina back.
'Concentrate and trust yourself. You can do this.' I assured her, sending a comforting wave in her direction, prompting her to send a soft smile my way, which I returned, and a moment later her chanting continued. For a moment it looked like she was fighting a losing battle, as the ash failed to move once again, but I felt a wave of frustration come from Monique as she regarded her aunt with annoyance. A few seconds after I picked up on her emotions I noticed her lower lip trembling as if she was chanting at a volume not even my supernatural hearing could pick up; the ash started to move. We all waited for it to come to a stop anxiously, but when it did Marcel and I shared a look of confusion.
'It's only picked up one witch.' Marcel said, sounding close to throwing furniture against the wall to tamper his frustration.
'That's the only magic I could find.' Sophie said apologetically.
'Well, try again. We can't get leverage on Celeste if-' Marcel shouted but he was cut off when Nik suddenly appeared in the room, stood just to the side of Monique, as soon as he appeared, I knew what he was going to do and I moved to block him but he anticipated my move and wrapped his hand around the throat of the girl.
'On the contrary, I have all of the leverage I need.' Nik smirked and in a flash he was gone.
I grabbed the table and threw it against the wall, pissed. I got a bad vibe from the girl, but that didn't mean I wished her dead, which Nik was probably counting on the other witches wanting as well.
'I'm going after him.' Marcel stated, looking annoyed.
'No, we both are.' I declared, looking over to Sophie, 'stay here where it's safe.' I didn't stick around to hear her response as I focused on the pull that appeared whenever Klaus and I were separated and allowed it to lead me to him, Marcel following closely behind. We found him ranting and raving in the street, dragging Monique by her arm with one hand, while in the other he was holding Papa Tunde's blade.
'Bastianna I know you're here, come out and face me or I will kill your first resurrected harvest girl, but this time she will stay dead.' His tone was mocking and he had a dangerous smile playing on his lips.
'Nik, is there a particular reason for this or are you just feeling particularly murdery today?' I asked with a smirk; I knew he wasn't going to kill her so I refused to panic.
'It's quite simple really, love.' He said, his smirk remaining on his lips as he turned to fully face Marcel and I, 'the compulsion didn't work so I'm going to the source.'
'And the only way to do that is to threaten a sixteen year old girl?' I said, my head tilted to the side as I pretended to contemplate my own proposition, 'I don't think so, Nik.'
'You're going to stand against me?' He demanded, his tone causing me to roll my eyes.
'Reign in your temper, big bad wolf, I'm saying we were in the middle of doing a spell to find one of the witches you're after. You don't need to do this, you're just being as impatient as ever.' I said, stepping closer and reaching out to remove his grip on Monique's arm, I didn't get that far however because he flashed himself and the girl out of my reach.
'Let me do this my way, love. Trust me it's been known to bring results.' He smirked, but there was something in his eyes that made me pause: fear. He thought that I was trying to stop him because I wouldn't love him if he hurt the girl, and him keeping hold of her was his act of defiance; he was trying to convince himself that he didn't need my love and affection if I were to act against him by putting a stop to this. Before I could assure him in the way that he needed in that moment, Marcel decided to pipe up and ruin everything.
'I have told you- we do not hurt kids!' Marcel shouted, flashing forward and knocking Monique to the ground in order to get her out of Nik's hold. Marcel grabbed the hand that was holding the blade and managed to get Nik to release it as it fell to the floor with a clutter. I was just about to intervene, tired of boys and their need to show how big and strong they were, when I heard the sound of a neck cracking and saw Marcel fall to the floor, temporarily dead. Of course, in this commotion I hadn't been paying attention to the teenage girl, the blade or the other woman who approached behind Nik and me. When I did realise she was there, it was too late; Sophie plunged the blade into Nik's heart, embedding itself in Nik's chest. I took his pain instinctively as we both fell to the floor, side by side, and while the blade was not in my heart, I felt the pain of it twice over as well as the unfortunate side effects, which I was thanking the mate bond for. I couldn't move, or speak and while Nik wasn't in any pain he was immobile as well, his eyes on me, clearly concerned before the darkness claimed us both. I swore I heard a woman speaking before I was completely out, but I was too far gone to make out what she was saying.
Third Person P.O.V. The Streets of New Orleans
Elijah was walking slowly and tactfully behind Celeste, recognising the mischievous glint in her eye, Elijah decided to find out what she was up to before he confronted her. He was so focused on following her, however, that he didn't notice that the area she had led them to was eerily silent.
'Are you going to follow me all night, Elijah?' Celeste asked, turning around to face the Original, her arms crossing over her chest and a smirk playing on her lips; him preoccupied was exactly what she needed.
'I am simply trying to identify your intentions. I assume you didn't resurrect three witches with no reason in mind.' Elijah replied, a hint of a smile on his own lips.
Celeste didn't offer an answer; instead she stepped forward, bringing her lips to Elijah's. He didn't pull away, feeling the old feelings he used to have for this very girl hundreds of years ago come to the surface. After a moment, she pulled away from him, her hands still resting on either side of his face, where they found themselves during their kiss.
'Oh, Elijah… my lost love,' she stepped back, and Elijah stared at her, a frown of concentration on his face as she continued, 'after all this time, don't you understand? I died because of Klaus.' As she spoke, Elijah started to feel particularly dizzy, to a point that he was struggling to focus on Celeste's words.
'And even after all his vindictive lies about witches that led to my death you stood by him, all because of your vow. Always and forever,' her tone was conniving and unforgiving.
'What have you done to me?' Elijah demanded.
'It's a simple enchantment,' Celeste smirked while Elijah struggled for breath, 'you needn't worry; I'm not here to kill you, Elijah. I'm here to show you the error of your ways; always and forever was the greatest mistake of your life.' She stopped speaking when Elijah fell to the floor.
'You poisoned me with a kiss.' Elijah stated at Celeste for a moment before his expression transformed into one of disbelief, 'at least you haven't lost your sense of irony.'
'We may have time for more.' Celeste smirked before she continued, 'but first I'm going to cure you of your greatest flaw. This absurd devotion to your lunatic family.'
'Your anger is with me, now if you have come here seeking revenge-,' Elijah started, his tone threatening, but he was interrupted by Celeste.
'Oh, I'll have my revenge, starting with Klaus- he is going to know pain and torment like he has never felt before, and seeing as his precious mate is so devoted to the monster, I figure it's only fair that she suffer for her wrongful choices as well. Unless you choose to save them, of course.' Celeste's smile became cruel and unwavering, making Elijah dread what more she could possibly have in store for his family, 'but then that leaves Rebekah, the tragic sister. She is about to find herself in quite the predicament. You could save her… but then that leaves Hayley in jeopardy…'
'No- no, no-,' Elijah muttered, a feeling of foreboding washing over him.
'Oh, the poor girl… she has no idea how dangerous it is to be loved by you.' Celeste observed Elijah's deteriorating state with obvious glee, 'oh well… with my body weakened by your spell you won't be able to save them all. You'll recover with just enough time to choose one.' Celeste held up her index finger as if to prove her point, before she continued, 'because I'm feeling generous and due to the fact that I have absolutely no use for her, if you choose to save Klaus, I'll allow you to save Kimberly as well. And don't think I am unaware of the two extra Original's at the plantation with Hayley and Rebekah; their presence won't make any difference. Elena is about to come down with a fever, leaving Kol to be her knight in shining armour and Finn is about to receive a call from that precious girlfriend living out of town.'
'The only question left is… who will it be?' Celeste held up her index finger to her lips in silent pondering before she continued, 'I can't wait to find out.'
With those departing words, she walked away, leaving Elijah temporarily unconscious in the middle of the street.
Elijah awoke some time later, to the sound of his phone ringing, with a gasp he sat up, answering his phone with memories of Celeste still lingering in his mind.
'Hayley?' Elijah said into the phone, his tone confused; it was a full moon she shouldn't be in any position to call anyone.
'Elijah, something's wrong; the rest of my pack has transformed but for some reason I haven't been able to.' Hayley's voice was one of concern.
In that moment Elijah knew that it had to have been Celeste; she must have cast a spell to delay Hayley's transformation, as she would be more vulnerable without her pack.
'Hayley, listen to me, I need you to find Kol or Rebekah or Finn-,' Elijah started, but Hayley cut him off.
'Finn had to leave; Elizabeth was having a family emergency. Elena passed out and Kol was getting nervous around the werewolves so Kol is looking after her at the compound and Rebekah went off with one of the humans that runs with my pack. I don't know where anyone is.'
'Hayley, listen to me, you need to get out of that house.' Elijah stated, keeping his voice calm to avoid worrying her, but in that moment he knew that anything he would say now wouldn't make any difference; he was going to have to choose.
'Elijah, I can't the doors won't open,' she stopped speaking and the sound of crashing could be heard in the background, 'the windows won't break… what is going on?'
Before Elijah could answer the line cut off, but not before the sounds of the smoke alarm going off could be heard, along with Hayley's scream. Without another thought, Elijah flashed to the plantation, breaking through the window that housed the room Hayley was in once he got there. He scooped her up into his arms, and in another flash they were in front of the house, Hayley struggling to get air into her lungs, while Elijah checked her over for any visible injuries. After he was sure she was alright, they both went back to the plantation, where Elijah found Marcel rallying up vampires in search for his brother and his mate.
'Marcel!' Elijah shouted, flashing in front of Hayley to pin Marcel to the wall by his throat, 'where are my brother and sister?'
'I don't know, I've got guys out looking for them now, alright?' Marcel huffed, not liking the current position he was in. Elijah didn't like his answer and he made it known by throwing one of Marcel's guys up against the wall.
'I don't know, alright? Klaus had one of his temper tantrums and tried to face a coven of witches on his own, Kim tried to calm him down but she couldn't, I ended up getting my neck snapped and when I woke up they were both gone.'
Elijah stared at him for a long moment, when he decided he was in fact being honest; he let his hand fall from his throat, lowering him to the ground.
'They also have Rebekah.' Elijah said, watching for any kind of reaction from Marcel, when he saw his genuine shock he dismissed him as having anything to do with what had happened, 'All of you search this town from top to bottom for my brother and sisters. I don't care how long it takes.'
With that all of the vampires in the room scattered, not wanting to get on the wrong side of the Original vampire.
What Elijah missed was Marcel's brief flicker of realisation as he put the pieces together; he knew exactly what a particular witch was going to want with Klaus and Rebekah, which meant one thing: Klaus was going to be furious when he found out.
That's chapter Thirty Six for you! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought :)
A huge thank you to lalalandmaniac, imwiththeband69, venushareddy62, ArcumLupus, necromancer and Arianna Le Fay for choosing to either favourite or follow my story- it means a lot! :)
XxSunnaxX: Love it! Can't wait til she wakes up :) Hopefully shy wouldn't forget Klaus now ;) :D I'm glad you liked it and I hope you enjoyed this one too, lovely :)
Mili: Amazeballs! I'm glad you think so ;)
Ovgsmesa: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That really didn't last very long at all. And again thank you! I am curious as to what Celeste is gonna be doing now that she's back, because I think this story has taken a different path compare to the TV show. I can't wait. XD You're welcome, I just couldn't bring myself to keep them apart for too long :) And things might move a little differently soon, but as for now I'm gonna be sticking pretty close to the original story line :)
MageVicky: Omg he got his memories back! That's great! I'm so happy! Take that, Esther! Kim is going to be so happy when she wakes up! But, was the guy able to use her as a sacrifice even though she can't die? That seems odd. I'm glad you liked it :) And he was able to desiccate her and continually channel her power because she has the power of an Original; if she had been an ordinary vampire it would have killed her :)
BeccaSco: awww I loved it! Poor Kim. I know, writing C34 broke my heart :(