Chapter 37: Tricks to Death

Heat from skin to skin contact warmed me as I woke. Rays of morning sun shined through my windows and bounced off of pieces of glass. Arms were wrapped around me and a chest was pressed against my back. Then, I remembered. Kol was in my bed. He had spent the night in my bed! I asked myself, "Is he wearing any pants? Was I drunk last night?" I slept like a lamb that night. Apparently with Klaus, Stefan, Elijah, or Kol in my bed I sleep fine. I must just need a man to sleep beside me. I only love Stefan in a relative way, Elijah is like a brother to me, but then it starts to get complicated. I loved Klaus. I really and truly loved him, but then bad things started happening. When I left him, I was still in love with him. I simply can hold a grudge for a long time and only ever truly fell out of love with him when he daggered me. My brother in law, Kol, how could I fall asleep in his arms and enjoy his touch? He was going to ask my sister to marry him. What kind of person would I be if I had feelings for the man my sister loved who was also my husband's half brother? A horrible one. A horrible, egotistic, self centered person. We could only ever maintain a friendship. Right?

I tried to get out of bed without Kol noticing, however, his grip around me was too tight and I woke him. He yawned as he stretched and then proceeded to look at me with a devilish look. With this look he got up and I praised the Lord when I noticed he was wearing boxers. He proceeded to the bathroom that was attached to the room and turned on the water to the shower. Then, he motioned for me to come. 'He wants to shower with me? What! Did I sleep with him last night?' Not knowing how to proceed, I froze for a moment before going into the bathroom. He shut the door behind me and sat on the floor. I followed suit.

Before I could say anything about this strange behavior, Kol began in a hushed tone. "You want to get back at Klaus, right? After all, he become obsessed with Katerina and the curse, daggered me, self destructed, daggered Elijah, trick you into being his slave, daggered you, tried to get you to sleep with him. Need I go on?"

"No. I get your point and you know I hate him just as much as you if not more," I whispered back. "What are we doing on the bathroom floor?"

"So no one hears us. Now, I have a plan to upset Klaus. Maybe make him explode and selfdestruct again." He raised an eyebrow.

"Go on."

"Cheating." He had lost me. "Lying, love, sex."

"I don't understand."

"What's the one thing he loves the most?"

"His broken family."

"Exactly and who does he love the most?"

"Me?"

He nodded. "Remember, he's only ever had eyes for you and only ever slept with you. Then, consider his values and how you have only ever slept with him."

I interrupted, "Actually, he might think I slept with either you or Elijah, but he doesn't know which."

"Thats good. We can work with that."

"Again, I need to know where you're going with this."

"Imagine if he thought that we were together."

"He would be crushed, maybe cry, and" Then, I understood where he was going. "And he would never recover. He'd be hurt worse than anything he's ever done to us before." I pondered for a moment at the possibilities. "Tell me what I have to do," I stated in all seriousness.

"To start off with, he'll assume that we slept together last night. Then, since the shower is running he'll think that he showered together and had shower sex. All we have to do now is pretend that we're a couple. Simply, be all over each other in front of him and some heavy making out."

"Sounds simple enough. I'm in."

"He hurt you too many times to count. Last night was uncalled for. If I could take away your pain, I would. I will never let him hurt you again," he promised as he tucked a wild strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you the last hundred years. I thought-"

"You were there for me. Everyday you were there for me. You've always been there for me, Kol. When you were in the coffin, you got me thru each day because I knew I had a purpose. I had a goal to free you and seek revenge on Klaus. You've always been there. Not always physically, but you've been there." I placed my hand on his heart. He hid his heart from most, but I knew it was there and it was good.

We exchanged hopeful smiles before parting. He proceeded to shower and I took one after him.

I headed downstairs to the living room after I was fully dressed and looked smokin. Elijah stood there alone holding burnt sage. "Good morning, Elijah," I said cheerfully.

"I'm worried about mother. Have you not noticed her strange behavior?" he asked me.

"Wow. Good morning to you too." He rolled his eyes. "She's always acting strange in my book."

"Burnt sage… She was doing a privacy spell. Rebekah says mother love us. Also, Finn has been doting on her and I don't trust him. He hates what we are, he always has. Mother says she wants to make our family whole again, but it doesn't add up," he said with concern.

"You already know I don't like her. If she thinks for one second that I'm buying into this forgiveness crap, she is seriously delusional."

"You are the master of holding a grudge."

"I like to think of it more as being consistent," I replied. "She better get her facts straight right away because I am never forgive or making up with Niklaus. Also, I would not be in this mess if it weren't for her. If she hadn't placed that stupid curse on him, then everything would be fine. I wouldn't be broken. This whole family would be whole." I signed. "Look, there's a simple solution to your worries. Elena had a meeting with the bitch and said that everything was fine. Was she lying?"

"Yes, her heartbeat jumped up."

"Ask her again. Confront her. If she really is lying then you know what to do."

"You missed Kol my a few minutes. He was acting extra cocky this morning. What's been going on between you to lately?"

"Nothing," I tried to defend myself. "We're just best friends and I haven't seen him in years."

"Sit," he said sternly and so I did and he did as well. "You're up to something."

"Never," I mocked him.

"You and I both know that as much as you hate Klaus right now, you're still married to him and would never cheat on him. Klaus may not know it, but I do. Kol slept in your bed last night and there was a shower this morning. I know this has to do with Klaus. What are you two up to?"

"We both have a common interest. Revenge. We can't kill Klaus at the moment but we can make him suffer by pretending to be together. It would crush him. I just want to make him cry a little. Okay, a lot. It's not like I'm going to sleep with Kol. It stops at making out. I swear." I threw up my hands in defence.

"Just be careful. You know that I love you. I just don't want you to get hurt anymore."

"I won't. The only one getting hurt will be Niklaus. After everything, he deserves it."

Elijah headed out to find Elena and I told him to keep me updated and call me if he needed any help. Then, I proceeded to do a little exploring.

After an hour, I made my way to the bar. As I entered, I noticed the two brothers having a chummy old time and walked with purpose and sass towards them.

"Red," stated Klaus. "Join us for a drink?" he asked with hope.

"A drink with you? I'd rather die of thirst." I moved closer to Kol. I was brushing up against him when I said, "But you can buy me a drink later. As long as you're not with him."

"It's a date," replied Kol as he kissed me on the cheek. I placed my hand on the side of his face and gave him one long, gently kiss. That was the first time I had ever kissed Kol and boy was he a good kisser.

"I have to go," I whispered in his ear before walking out the door.

As I left, I heard Kol say to Klaus, "She always did look good walking away from you." And I couldn't help but smirk.

Walking across the street outside the bar, I heard Klaus storm after me and almost get hit by a car. "Red!"

I turned around to face him. "Seriously, did you not get that big hint back there?"

"You're cheating on me? After a thousand years of marriage, you're Kol's new plaything? I don't understand. I know we had a little spat last night, Love, but I thought we were making progress."

"Well we're not and I've moved on. You simply wanted to have sex last night."

"It wasn't my intention, but you kissed me back. You let me touch you and you touched me back. I thought you wanted me." He sighed in distress. He took my hands, sat himself on a bench, and I had to sit as well. "Just tell me what I have to do." His eyes pleaded for me, but I had to be strong and remember my mission.

"You can't do anything. Don't you see? What's done is done." Why wasn't that clear to him?

"Just talk to me like we use to. We use to talk about everything. You said that we've both changed and maybe we have. So, talk to me. Get to know me again and let me know you. I dare you."

"Fine, but know that nothing you say or do will stop me from being with Kol."

"I just want to talk about you. Your hopes, your dreams, everything you want in life."

"There's no need to talk about those things because they remain the same." I smiled genuinely and the smile was returned.

Suddenly, Klaus shot up and placed his hand over his heart. I began to feel a strange pain on my heart as well. What was happening? "What did you do?" he asked me.

"Nothing!" I stood up too and he grabbed me forcefully.

"What did you do?" He was panicking and so was I.

"I didn't do anything. Stop it! I'm feeling pain right now too so back off!"

"Kol!" He exclaimed and rushed off. I followed. I found myself in an alleyway next to the Mystic Grill. Next thing I knew, I saw Kol daggered. Klaus ripped the dagger out and I knocked Alaric against the closest wall. Stefan tried to attack Klaus, but Klaus knocked him out. "I should have killed you months ago," Klaus spat at Damon.

"Do it. It's not going to stop Esther from killing you," replied Damon.

"What did you say about my mother?" asked Klaus.

"You didn't know I was friends with your mummy? Yeah, we have a lot in common. She hates you as much as I do."

Klaus growled in Damon's face and was about to attack when Elijah appeared. "Leave him! We still need them, Niklaus."

"What did she do, Elijah?" I asked. "You said you would call when you knew anything."

He walked towards Damon, holding a phone. "You tell me where the witches are or I'll have my sister kill Elena right now."

"You told me we had until after nine."

"I'm sure Rebekah will be more than happy to start her work early." Then, the two vampires and the human left.

I was on the ground with Kol trying to get him up when I asked Elijah, "What is happening?"

"There's no time to explain. We're wasting time and I'll explain everything on the way. Okay? Now let's."

We followed Elijah quickly as he explained to us how the bitch was to kill us all. We arrived at an abandoned witch house where we found Esther and Finn.

"Come forth my children," said the Evil one.

"Stay beside me, Mother," commanded Finn from inside a salty circle with fire.

"It's okay. They can't enter."

"That's lovely. We're stuck out here, while the favorite son plays sacrificial lamb. How pathetic you are, Finn?" asked Kol.

"Be quiet, Kol. Your brother knows virtue you cannot even imagine," said Esther.

"But, you don't know virtue. After all, Niklaus is the product of that scandal," I said and of course received one glare from the witch and one from the cranky hybrid.

"Whatever you think of us, killing your own family will be an atrocity," said Elijah.

"My only regret is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago," said Esther

"Enough," stated Klaus. "All this talk is boring me. End this now, Mother, or I'll send you back to Hell." I would have sent her there myself if I could.

"If anyone deserves to die, it would be you," I spat at her. "You destroyed my life."

"No. You destroyed it all on your own. Niklaus forgave you a thousand times over and you refused each time to meet him halfway. That's on you. For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim, suffered while you all shed blood. Even you, Elijah, with your claim to nobility, you're no better. You, Rufina, I was force to watch as you tossed my son aside as if he was nothing. I saw you play each of my sons. You never deserved the unconditional love that Niklaus gave to you. All of you. You're a curse on this Earth. Stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life, I'm sorry, you've wasted your time."

"I never beg," I spat.

"No! Sisters! Do not abandon me!" cried Esther as the flames rose.

"Mother!" shouted Finn who then grabbed Esther and disappeared. The flames flared up one last time before dying out. We stood there in shock.

Back at the house, I found Elijah pondering in front of a window. We were alone and he said, "Esther was right."

"What do you mean?" I asked and he turned around to face me.

"My talk of virtue. When it suits my needs, I kill, maim, and torment. Even today, I terrorized an innocent. I used Rebekahs hatred of Elena to get what I wanted. I wielded her like a sword. My own sister..

"You did it to protect us, Elijah. That's who you are. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to die yet. I thought I was for a long time and I tried to. I tried everything, but then the one opportunity that I had to die came and at the last minute I realized that I wasn't ready. You can think whatever you want, but you did the right thing. And Elijah? You're a good man. You simply have trouble seeing and believing it."

"She made my siblings vampires. She didn't make us monsters, we did that to ourselves."

"It's only instinct. We survive and when we truly want to control ourselves, we do." He began to walk away. "Elijah, wait." He turned around and I met him halfway. "Kol and I are leaving. You're welcome to come with us."

He thought for a moment. "Their still out there. I can't go on knowing that my family is still in danger. I'm leaving too, but I must go alone. I need to extinguish the threat because-"

"Because that's who you are Elijah. You're the protector. No matter what your mother thinks, I know you're an honorable, good man. You're also selfless. I admire that about you. I wish I knew how to be more like you." I gave him a small half smile and he returned it by kissing my forehead. "Will you tell Nik that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything." We parted with a goodbye hug that seemed to last forever and I told him to call me if he needed anything at all.

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