Chapter Twelve. A Martyr Grows Cold Tonight.
Part Three.
Christmas shopping takes time. But with the holidays right about now…I have time (:
Isa practically runs up the stairs—but she has had enough of it. She has enough of the people that are trying to keep her down and that won't try to understand her or empathize with her in any way. If she didn't let Klaus use her as a plaything than she won't let anyone else use her as a plaything. Oh, that sounded a bit wrong, she thinks to herself, but smiles nonetheless.
After all—if Klaus can change in such a way that he shows respect and kindness than Elena and Damon aren't even trying. It should be more than easy and normal for them. Well, you know what they say, Isa frets against herself, never think that you know someone because they might surprise you. Unfortunately, they had to surprise her in an unpleasant way. Why can't they just understand that she isn't fully aware of what is suddenly evolving between Klaus and her, all whilst she knows that it feels good… even if it should feel wrong.
Isa has finally reached the top of the stairs. Isa looks forward but she can only see more groups of people, just like downstairs. She looks sideways. Their hallway—no, his hallway is actually very excluded from the rest of the house. Like he wants to preserve a certain kind of peace in this way. Isa hadn't really noticed that before.
She slowly walks to the hallway past the first three doors.
Suddenly, a couple images flash in front of her eyes. Her and that man on the bridge. He had been there—seemingly out of nowhere, just when Ellen drove of the bridge. She hadn't even seen or heard his car for that matter. So, perhaps… he was there before she came.
Isa's eyes widen gradually.
He… he must have been responsible in one way or the other. After all, he did give her that message even if he said that he didn't know what was inside and—it couldn't be a coincidence. Isa doesn't believe in coincidences. They are always too much fitting to just happen from scratch.
But then—what is she exactly doing? Isa inhales through her nose. She can feel the hairs in the back of her neck standing upright and it is only now that she notices that her entire back is tingling, like… like she's being watched.
Isa swallows heavily. A plan already forming in her head. She can do this.
She slowly pushes open the door of his bedroom. She left the paper with that message in her book as a bookmarker. If he grabs her…after a while, Klaus will notice her demise and it is most likely that he will come to search here. If the note is right somewhere for him to see…he'll know something went wrong.
It's a gamble. But better than nothing. She really hopes that she means that much to Klaus, that he will come to find her. Perhaps he might not even notice her demise… but she has to try. Because her instinct is telling her that something is wrong. It's more like knowing that feeling. It's more like doing than thinking.
Isabelle walks inside, her bare feet slide over the rough wooden floor making them even sourer than they already are but she tries to smile. The longer that she can push this, the more chance of a good outcome. How could she have been so careless? She should've told Klaus about that dead threat. She should've… but why didn't she?
The way that he looked at her while they were dancing… it still feels surreal. He looked like…he looked like a man that would give her the world. It's exactly the way that she imagined a man looking at someone that he cares deeply for. But…it just can't be her. She hasn't done anything for him. She accepts him. But—it—that…can't make someone care for you, can it? It as normal as breathing for her. Well at least, it can certainly not make someone fall in love with you. She's just a silly, naïve young girl in his eyes. Jesus…she never thought about that before. But in comparison to his existence…he must really see her as a child.
She sighs.
Well…better hope that he sees any value in her, child or not. Because she needs him to. And she needs to trust that he will. She needs to trust herself to trust him. Perhaps—somewhere…there is a chance that what she saw in his eyes…what she saw reflected in them…has the tiniest bit of truth in it. At least, the tiniest bit of value.
So, he must come to find her. She walks forward, breathing in.
The nerves in her body are drawn tight. It's really unsettling. It feels like the beginnings of a panic attack without the panic in it. But for some reason—she isn't scared. She's just very anxious.
Because somewhere, she actually anticipated something like this to happen.
Katherine was furious with her for imitating Alexandra. Someone standing in the road to get her killed, and would've succeeded if Klaus hadn't found her. The witch that cornered her in the middle of the town square while she was spending time with Klaus. And then that man…who delivered the message and possible made Ellen kill…herself.
Nik—Klaus, is so powerful with barely no weaknesses at all. But he has also destroyed so many lives and hurt so many people that it is inevitable for him to have enemies; powerful, dangerous enemies. And Isa is human. She's human and almost defend less. And she's under his care. So…it was inevitable that there were people who wanted to kill her—or come after her…because…
Isa frowns.
…why actually? She can't be his weakness. Because that would be that he would care about her in more ways than one. And—she—just… no.
Isa takes the book from the table and holds it in between both hands. She doesn't dare to look around. But she'll have to. And now, there's this thought that perhaps she's just being paranoid and imagining things because she's so angry and hurt and disappointed with Elena and Damon. But there's only a second—a second of hope and relief…before she looks sideways and sees the man standing there.
With his dirty blonde hair, chiseled features, cold posture but blue eyes. She thought his eyes to be brown…dark…like hers. But perhaps—it is the same as with Klaus, the first time. Perhaps, emotions or mainly rage and blood causes their eyes to darken. Like the mask behind their face. The first and tiniest sign for the predator that is about to show. Which would indeed make him a vampire.
She pulls her bookmark out of her book and lets it fall to the ground. And in less than a second drops her book, to conceal her first action. He cannot notice. Faking it as being startled by his presence.
She tries to run for the door…distraction. But he blurs forward, like she expected him too, grabs her arms tightly and blurs backwards, placing her in the arm-chair. He looks…he has this kind of look…almost like…pity. Instead of taunting, like she thought him to be.
"I'm sorry, Isa. But you're the only weakness that we can use." He says. This is going exactly as she anticipated. But she doesn't feel like smiling at her own cleverness. The confrontation…the reality of her anticipation…is surging through her like a shockwave.
Isa frowns, staring up at him. "W-who are you, actually?"
"Thank-you, Stefan. Good work, I knew that you were more than capable." comes the sharp and irritating voice of no other than Katherine. They're…they're working together.
Stefan just hums, almost rolls his eyes, and pushes himself up on his forearms.
Isa 's frown deepens as that name causes certain knowledge to come back to her conscious brain. It would make sense if he was…"Stefan Salvatore. You must be Damon's younger brother."
He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at her in irritation. "So, they told me about you?" He really seems like the broody type of guy. But she could use that knowledge. Everyone has a weakness, some harder to find than others. And there are very few people that know how to make their weakness their strength so it cannot be used against them. Stefan does not seem like such a guy, honestly.
"Yes. And that you used to be Elena's boyfriend before you went of tracks. Finding a weapon that can kill him. Whilst, you know that killing him, kills you. Both of you. Hello Katherina." Isa turns to the other arm of the chair. Katherine is looking through their closet.
Katherine doesn't even look at her. Just smiles tauntingly while she goes through her clothing. "But that's where Noah is for. By now, he's probably already done with the spell. Only needs to set wards, so no-one can disturb us and that little witchy friend of yours cannot interfere."
"Wait... Noah…the one who gave me the dead threat that you delivered." She swallows heavily, turning back to look at Stefan. "What kind of spell?"
But instead Katherine answers, "It will wipe out everything that you are or ever have been. No reincarnations. Nothing. You'll become his puppet. And—"
"—he's yours. You've threatened his son, haven't you?" Isa finishes for her, putting every single connection together. Making connections in her head and putting puzzles together is what she's good at after all.
"Clever girl, are we?" Katherine replies tauntingly.
Isa glances at her book on the ground. The dead threat—it's the piece of paper that she used as a bookmark. If he sees it—Klaus will know that something is wrong. He'll know. She glances at the both of them and breathes in. They can't see it… so, she has to find a way to distract them. Perhaps, she should try to read Stefan. He gives of this discomfort in his sphere, together with his coldness. She could use that.
"Stefan…this isn't the way. You have family…friends. People who care about you. People who used to trust you. Do you know how important that is in life? In any kind of existence, no matter how long? Hating those that have hurt you isn't the way, it will feast on your insides, if it hasn't already. And you'll become everything that you don't want to be. It's a circle. A downwards spiral. It will destroy you. Don't let it, while you still have people that care about you." She tries to think of everything that she knows and has seen about rage. Perhaps, she can talk some sense in him.
Katherine puts her hands in her sides, and glares at her. Her dark, brown curls fanning over her shoulders. "I care about him. And that's enough." She bites, and smiles as if she can control everything around her with just a couple of words.
But Stefan ignores her, and that doesn't go unnoticed to Isa. "What do you know about that? You haven't even lived. And you care for a monster, Isa." He says empty, glancing at the ceiling like he's more irritated with her than actually listening to her words.
Isa furiously raises herself to her feet, staring him deadly in the eye.
"And you're not a monster? You haven't killed? Ripped out people's hearts? Sucked them dry until there wasn't a single, drop of blood in their system? I have seen it happen before, Stefan. No-one is a monster by default. You choose to be one or not. But everyone deserves the chance to choose." She lets the words sink in for a second. Stefan is looking at her. The emotion wiped from his face. That's a good sign. At least, he's listening now.
Isa lowers herself back on the heel of her feet and calms her voice. "Nik—Klaus, has done unreasonable things—and no, I don't accept them. I am far from alright with them. But I have seen who he is. Ruthless and cold on the outside, emotional and caring on the inside. A man is more than his past, Stefan. Klaus is slowing seeing that. And you can too."
Stefan clenches his fists together at his sides, firing blazing in his eyes. "Don't try to compare him to me. I'm nothing like him." He snaps in agitation.
Isa slowly shakes her head. She can see it in his eyes. They call eyes, the door of the soul for a reason.
"Everyone is unique. But—I know you care, Stefan. You care so much, that the pain is too much to endure. And hate is easy. Hate is similar to pain. It feasts on your inside in the same way and it feels like you have control over it. Like you are the master of hate. But hate is just an illusion. Hate conquers the mind, like a merciless being. Leaving you empty, instead of powerful."
Stefan averts his eyes. "I'd rather be empty than to feel pain. Than to have to go through that again."
Isa bites her lip. "OK, that's very understandable. But—does the end, justify the means, Stefan? Is it all going to be worth it, in the end? Fight for yourself…fight for something. Or the emptiness will consume you. And what a martyr, that is."
There falls a silence for a second. And suddenly someone starts to slow-clap. Isa glares over her shoulder at Katherine, who's grinning devilishly at her. "What a speech! If we weren't turning you into a vegetable—you could've made a career out of it. Perhaps become a novelist or something dork-y and useless like that. It would suit you."
"Better than being a lost cause, like some people." Isa snaps at her. She turning Stefan in to this. And Isa knows he's a good person. She has seen it in his eyes, has felt it. Just like she did with Klaus. Only easier because of the less layers in his sphere.
Katherine raises herself to her feet. And slowly saunters forward. "Yeah, because you would know all about that, wouldn't you?"
Isa fakes the same grin as that Katherine is wearing. "I have seen a couple, just like I am watching one now. What do you think you're going to reach with this?"
She looks sideways at Stefan for an answer. "Payback." He deadpans, a little grumpy now. Interesting. Perhaps—she did get through to him. But not enough it seems.
"Oh, you mean—you want to become exactly like him? Killing me because it seems that he cares about me, just like he did with what you cared about? Your family would be very proud of you, I'm sure."
Suddenly, she's pressed up against the wall. Katherine's hand on her throat, cutting off her air-pipe. "Don't you even dare." she bites at her, her eyes growing darker and darker. Isa grabs her wrist and pulls it back in order to breathe properly.
"I-I'm not afraid of you, Katherine. You're nothing… in comparison to him. You only do this—because of him, can't you see that? And at first, when I looked at Elena…I only saw you. Your overbearing image and I couldn't think of her as simply Elena. But now—you just look like a part of her shadow. Someone to pity because of your hate and meaningless existence."
A head appears through the door. It's the witch. "It's ready." He says, with a firm, serious nod of his head.
Isa groans a bit, when Katherine drops her to the ground. She rubs her sore throat and looks up at him with pity in her eyes. "N-Noah—I presume. D-Don't do this—I'll make sure nothing happens to your son."
"You think I do this because of my son? Because yeah—it's not easy with two vampires breathing down your neck. But I'm not doing this for them. I'm doing this for me. I want to see you suffer. I want to see you in merciless pain. To let you watch while you lose everyone you care about."
Isa looks at him in horror. "W-why?"
That wasn't a good question. He looks even more angry than before. And his hands clench together as if he could break her neck right in that second. "You killed my mother."
Isa frowns in utter confusion. "I never killed anyone."
"You freed her…" Noah glances at Katherine with the same look. "—and because of that, she killed Lynn."
After a short while, Isa eyes widen in realization. "Adelaine... is your mother?"
The dark-skinned man just stares blankly at her. "Was. Thanks to you."
"I feel really horrible. But I did not kill her—if it had been up to me, she would've been alive now." Isa means every word, and looks at Katherine with the same deadly expression.
"You freed the vampire. What did you think would happen? They only exist to kill humans, nothing else. They are predators by nature, controlled by blood. Killing is what they do. You released the vampire and she killed my mother. It was your action that caused my mother's dead!" He snarls at her.
Isa breathes in. Why does she always feel the strong need to defy everything? "Point one. As far as I am aware…Katherine has a perfectly working free-will. Her choices are hers, not mine. Second of all—don't you think that something is wrong in this picture then?" Isa points at the three of them, working together as a team.
Noah raises his head. "I will do what is necessary. Even if it means working with murderers."
Isa raises her eyebrows. She just cannot comprehend this. "Even if it means working with the women who killed your mother?"
Noah takes a step forward and points a trembling finger at her. "You did that. Your soul is tainted. Your own dreams are seducing you. Nothing about you is pure anymore." He spits it out, like venom.
Isa exhales deeply and combs a hair behind her ear. She scratches her wrist, averts her eyes for a second and then looks right back at him.
"A lot of people do think that, yes. Because I'm silent and shy. Because I haven't been in relationships, haven't walked the road of drugs and all that. But Noah… anyone—no matter the age—who opens his eyes for the first time and meets with the world… realizes how many bad things it holds within—realizes that good and bad doesn't exist—nor does wrong or right—but that everything is just a pile of stuff that you get, in which you have to find your own way—…anyone who sees that, isn't pure anymore. Purity is for the mindless, for the blind. I was never one of them to begin with."
Noah shrugs, probably not even listened to her. "Well—I still need my revenge. Though—that caretaker of yours…what was her name again? That was a good start, wasn't it?" His grin widens, white teeth showing.
Isa's eyes widen. He-he…"You—"
"Nah. Me. Compulsion is a sweet kind of torture. Though—it was his idea. A clever one, I must admit. It will make the following steps much easier, won't it?" Katherine chimes in, faking a dumb expression and looking over at Noah.
"Yes. To explain it—I'm going to enter your mind. And feed the shadows within. But—everyone's mind is build in, with a defense mechanism. How stronger your willpower, how stronger the defend mechanism. And considering the fact that you can harness yourself against compulsion and are able to seduce Niklaus, of all monsters—I think you have too much of it. So, we needed a traumatic event, to open up some cracks…"
Isa averts her eyes and stares into nothing. She blinks at the stone wall as all the pieces fall into places. Her insides feel hollow at the moment. "Ellen was collateral damage. Just a pawn in your plan. YOU USED ELLEN—TO—to…be able to use me." She whispers to herself, she feels herself tear from the inside for a second. She was the cause of all this.
Katherine steps forward and pushes a couple of curled pieces over her shoulder, and caresses her cheek with a finger. "Oh, sweetheart. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're so young and…naïve. You haven't learned that love is a weakness. Love is the crowbar that opens up walls and that can be used as leverage. We did you a favor, actually."
She looks towards Stefan. "You were there to watch it happen? You saw me—saw me run after her—saw me trying to safe her. You were just there to rapport back to your master. You—you COWARD." She spits out, losing all belief in him at once.
Katherine takes her chin and digs her sharp nails in the flesh. She smiles tauntingly. "…OK, enough of this. Say everything that you have goodbye, Isabelle. Because—next time you wake up. You will be nothing but an empty shell for me to occupy."
-0-
Suddenly, a hand grips Damon's arm tightly and turns him around. "Where's Isabelle?" Klaus demands, looking at him with that all too familiar you're-a-dead-man look.
Damon averts his eyes for a split second but then meets his eyes with the usual loathing. "I don't know—and for the record…seducing Isa to get in your bed or be your little puppy dog…not cool, man. But I guess you only wanted to add to your usual villain reputation." He grimaces in mockery.
For just a moment, Klaus looks taken aback. Like someone slapped him in the face. But then a scowl shows on his face and he points a threatening finger at Damon. "It seems that for an odd reason, she considers you as a friend, instead of garbage but the moment you cease to be of meaning to her—I'm going to tear your heart out."
Elena's eyes narrow at him, in a certain kind of arrogance. One, that he recognizes all too much. "Why defend her? She's just a plaything to you. We know that whatever you did after Ellen's dead, was to get in her head. And it seems that you succeeded. You monster." Elena spats out.
Klaus raises his back and steps forward right into her personal space. "You have no idea what you're talking about, doppelganger. I suggest that you are careful with your words… say such a thing again… and your importance to me, disappears all the same."
He turns around, looking at the banisters of the staircase and back into the room. She's too small for him to notice between the crowd. But he just has this bad feeling. He waited for her in the ballroom, chatting to meaningless and useless people, who fretted about their dance. But the only one that he wants to chat with isn't here. And for some reason, that seems all too unlike Isabelle. She might be extremely shy at times… but she wouldn't back down like that. "She even defended you, you know. Against us. Her friends. Isa is strong, there's no question about that. But we should've known better than to let her stay with you." Elena says with a certain disgust in her voice.
That's the last drop. Even he has his borders. Klaus turns around violently. "Isabelle is perfectly capable of making her own choices. And I guess—it would be better for all of us if you would search the definition of friendship in the right dictionary because you haven't shown the least bit of trust or compassion that she deserves!" He bites out. "And I most certainly have better things to do than waste my time with you lot."
He just turns around without saying more and pushes through the crowd.
Both Damon and Elena frown at his retreading figure. It's nothing like Klaus to back down. He would never. Most certainly not after the way that Elena and Damon spoke to him. This is so unlike him that Damon turns towards Elena and frowns. Something must be off. Really off. Concern spreads through both their bodies like a wildfire.
Perhaps—they should find her. First. Or at all.
"He really did seem stressed-out." Elena murmurs softly, speaking both their thoughts.
"Yeah… I say that too." Damon replies back, already scanning the room for the familiar white fabric.
"That's because he really is…stressed-out. Probably worried like hell even." Caroline chimes in, appearing from her spot in between the crowd, looking at them in some kind of pity.
Elena steps forward, putting her empty cup on the tabletop of the buffet, next to her. "What do you mean, Care?"
"He…Klaus…he invited me to be here. I thought to taunt me or whatever. But he…apologized for Tyler. Promised to bring him home…without a sire bound." Elena recognizes her expression as regret now.
Damon's frown deepens. "What?"
Caroline smiles awkwardly. "Yes…I know. I felt the same. But—he—he did it for Isa, you know. And when I said that it was mean of him to trick her like this…he turned angry like just now and he told me that Isabelle is simply too clever to be seduced by him. When I asked him, if he liked her…Klaus told me that he saw this light inside of her, and that she is different from the people that he has known. So—I really do believe that he actually…like-likes her."
"WHAT?" Damon spats out.
"…yeah. I know how that looks. But he seemed so sincere. And the way that they danced…" Caroline mumbles softly and half lost in her thoughts. "…I mean…it could be. He might be a monster in our eyes and we want nothing more than get rid of him. Isa—she…perhaps, she got to him. And saw something in him. It could be. And perhaps…he's right. It's actually none of our business what Isa does. We've kind of been right up in her space."
Elena's brows furrow together. And she softly nods after letting the words from her best friend seep in. They both look towards Damon. And his eyes widen in a hell-no expression before sacking off in a fine one. "Okay, all things aside—especially the thought of Isa and that monster because there's no way in hell—we've been kind of overbearing and I went quite far just now. So, I'll try to find her so that I can apologize. Again."
Elena smiles half and Caroline just nods.
Damon slowly pushes past them and through the crowd, following the way that Klaus went.
-0-
Where am I?
Isa looks around, reaches out to feel the air around her. But there's nothing solid hitting her fingertips. Everything is white around her. Like clouds. She always thought the entrance to heaven to be like this. Is…is she death? Her eyes widen.
"Hello?" She calls out softly, feeling like she is actually disturbing something sacred. She looks at her sneakers. She's not drowning or anything. What is she walking on? Is she floating? She walks forward and suddenly the air tightens around her, like a sauna. Like liquid taking form. She feels very hot for a second.
And then there's a change in the view before her. Something…darker. Something…different. She slowly strolls over to it—not knowing where else she should walk to or if she's even walking. Everything looks the same besides that dark spot in the distance.
It comes closer and closer.
So, she is walking towards something.
Before Isa has even time to comprehend it, she feels solid ground beneath her feet. Like a wooden floor, with large, beech wood planks. Wait—she recognizes this. Of course, she should.
She looks up and her eyes meet with familiar white and baby blue paint. Her eyes meet with banisters, and a small staircase running up against the wall.
She blinks. And just for a second, she sees dark red finger prints splattered across the wall, and on the floor like it rained red liquid inside of the house. And a body—a body that she knows. She blinks awake again.
…There's nothing.
The air feels—normal. Not sharp and cold but more—like filled with steam—that has turned colder because it has risen to the ceiling. And there's this smell of rain and…sand. Well, perhaps not sand but something earthy.
Isa can't really place it.
But what she can place it—that this is it…this is her childhood home. Her house in Alaska. She's back!
"Sweetie! Can you come here for second?"
That's Ellen's voice!
"Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming."
Holy mother of God. That's…that's…her mother's voice. It's her mother. That has to be. She would never forget such a voice.
Isa walks towards the voices, coming from the kitchen.
-0-
End Part Three. Chapter Twelve.
Sorry, guys. I was kind of distracted with Christmas shopping. And I have to run because I have to go to Grams and Mom's side of the family. Which I don't like. But yeah, I'm laaaate. Aaaaah. I overslept.
The next and last part involves, interesting things with Isa and Klaus. Sorry for the wait but it's Christmas guys. The next part will be uploaded around Thursday, I think.
HAVE A NICE X-MAS.
I wish you all luck and prospect. (: And thanks for the beautiful, stunning and ravishing reviews.
I laugh and jumped and happy-danced some away with them. x, Lionfeathers.