Chapter 38

Who wants to live forever

"Look! It's moving. It's alive. It's alive... It's alive, it's moving, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, it's alive, IT'S ALIVE!"

"Of course it's alive you nutcase," Kol muttered. "Why are we watching this?"

"You don't like classics?" Klaus asked.

"I like the book better."

"Hmm, I'm surprised that you have even read it."

Kol didn't bother to reply, he was dangerously close to sober up. That was unpleasant. His hand was resting on Seraphine's leg. She had fallen asleep a while ago and her head was on a pillow on Klaus' lap. Kol really wanted to yank her away from his brother but he didn't want to wake her. The day had been very long for all of them. She looked so peaceful now. If only he could scoop her up and take her somewhere far away… He would make things right this time, if only… This was ridiculous; it had to be either booze or the binding talking. Why the hell was the damn thing affecting like this now? The thought bothered him so much that he asked the question out loud.

"Clarice said that the double binding probably have something to do with it", Klaus replied entwining his finger in Seraphine's hair. "It had somehow made the connection stronger."

"Great job, brother, thanks a lot", Kol muttered.

Klaus snorted.

"We could argue about this the whole night but I don't see any point in that. What's done it's done."

"What if the binding can't be undone?"

Klaus was quiet for a while before answering.

"Then I guess we have to make sure that she stays alive."

"She's human, do I really have to remind you…"

"No", Klaus interrupted him. "That's my point; we can't let her be a human."

"Oh. But I thought we talked about turning her already and decided against it."

"Yes, but I'm sure there are ways to make that happen."

Kol bit his lip and looked at Seraphine who was breathing peacefully.

"Let's say that we find a way to turn her", he muttered. "Then what?"

"What do you mean?"Klaus asked.

Kol rolled his eyes.

"Are you suggesting that we'll continue like this for…the rest of eternity?"

"No, of course not. What are you suggesting then?"

The truth was that Kol had no idea. All he knew was that he wasn't going to lose her. How can you lose her when she has never even been yours… Great, he really was sobering up.

"She's mine", he muttered.

"Hmm, I don't see your name on her."

Something about his brother's arrogant tone really made him lost it.

"Really? How about now?"

Before Klaus could do anything, Kol scooped her up and pressed his lips on hers. Her eyes opened and she tried to scream.

"Knock it off!" Klaus shouted and jumped to his feet.

"Make me", Kol replied licking his lips.

"Please stop…" Seraphine tried to say but neither of them was listening. In that moment they lost all self-control they had left. Even her distress didn't snap them out of it when they started to drag her back and forth like a ragdoll.

"Stop it!" she shouted desperately. "It hurts!"

They had both grabbed a hem of the t-shirt she was wearing as a nightie and yanked so forcefully that the fabric was torn, leaving her standing between them wearing nothing except panties. They stopped and stared at her intensively. She was gasping in shock, trying to hide her breasts with her arms.

"Seraphine…"

"I'm so sorry…"

"Stay away from me", she hissed and ran into the bedroom as fast as she could. Her heart was pounding like a drum. Bastards. It took a long while before she managed to calm down. Strangely her first thought was that she had really liked that t-shirt and she hoped that she wouldn't have worn it tonight. The thought of having to wear clothes they had chosen for her made her angry. She had nothing she could call her own. Except… Her hands were shaking when she picked up the teddy bear from her bag and curled up under the covers holding it. She didn't cry, they weren't worth it. She would be stuck with them until she would die… Hopefully that would happen soon.

...

"Your brother owes me a lot for this", Clarice muttered when she and Elijah stepped out from an elevator.

"Yes", Elijah replied. "He certainly does."

He definitely wasn't in a good mood after a long journey but his appearance was as flawless as always. That was one of the reasons why Elijah liked his suits so much, it was impossible not to look stylish while wearing a tailored suit. Nonetheless he was sick of always cleaning up other people's messes, mostly his siblings. His brothers had certainly done foolish things before but this had to be some kind of record.

Witchcraft and spells were never something that should be taken lightly; they should have known that better than anyone. Not to mention they had dragged an innocent human girl into the middle of this whole mess. He was determined to do what he could in order to help her but unfortunately things had got a lot more complicated after someone had killed those witches. Elijah sighed before knocking the door. Klaus opened it almost immediately.

"Clarice, I'm glad that you could come."

The witch crossed her arms.

"I am not in the mood for small-talk so let's cut to the chase", she stated and marched in.

"Niklaus", Elijah greeted his brother before following her.

Kol was sitting on the couch watching TV but he stood up when they walked in.

"Where's the girl?" Elijah asked.

"She's sleeping", Klaus replied. "There's no need to bother her with this."

Elijah frowned.

"Bother her with this? You do realize that this is her life we are talking about?"

Apparently Klaus decided to ignore his brother and turned to Clarice.

"Please tell me that you have some good news."

The witch shook her head.

"No, I'm afraid not. As I already told you, only the witch who had done the binding can undo it but if I understood correctly, that is no longer an option."

Klaus and Kol seemed more than tense.

"What are you saying?" Klaus asked. "That she will be bound to us…forever?"

"No, I wouldn't say that. She is a human so forever sounds highly unlikely", Clarice replied calmly.

"That is not acceptable," Klaus said. "You must find a way to turn her without…killing us."

The witch sighed.

"In order for her to become a vampire, she would have to die, as you know. There is no way around that."

"There has to be!" Kol snapped.

Clarice looked at him callously.

"There are more than a one way to become an immortal", she said calmly. "Not very pleasant ways perhaps…"

"Do what ever you have to do", Klaus interrupted her. "She must become an immortal, no matter what. I don't care if you have to…"

"No."

The one quiet word made them all to turn around. Seraphine was standing in the doorway wearing a long creamy nightie. Her fists were clenched and she was shaking.

"No," she repeated.

"Sweetheart…"

"No, no, no! I won't allow you to do that! I won't!"

"Calm down", Klaus and Kol said simultaneously.

She gave them a murderous look.

"I don't want to be an immortal."

"Sweetheart", Klaus said calmingly. "You must understand that since you are bound to us…"

"You know what, that's not my problem," she interrupted him coldly. "I didn't ask to be bound to either of you." She turned to look at Kol. "If you would have come to me and ask, I would have done my best to help you to find your brother. But that's not really what you wanted, was it? You just wanted someone to push around and deal with your crap! The truth is that you're nothing more than a selfish spoiled brat!"

His eyes narrowed but she wasn't finished.

"And you," she hissed looking at Klaus. "If you wanted to prove that you can be a bigger ass than your brother, then congratulations, you succeeded. Long story short, screw you both!"

She turned around and marched back into the bedroom slamming the door shut. Elijah couldn't help but smile. He had actually wanted to say that to his brothers for a long time. Yet he had never thought hearing it from a petite human girl. Good for her.