xii.
As she calmed down, Alex tossed the pillow across the room, looking up to the ceiling with a sigh. In order to keep her friends from coming to look for her, she decided to type out a message in the notepad of her phone to copy and paste into each of the girl's inboxes. Knowing they'd compare messages in the morning, she personalized each one slightly so that she didn't sound too robotic. She knew the first thing Elena would assume was that the blonde was kidnapped— the Gilbert girl always thought Alex was too trusting of others. It wasn't that she was trusting, but that she knew that she was certainly— almost always— the most powerful being in the room.
Alex held her cellphone above her head as she typed, thinking of how to word her messages due to her varying closeness with each girl in question.
To Elena— I'm at home, safe. I know you have no idea if I'm telling the truth or not, but I need you to trust me. Buffy needs some space, but I'll come back around soon enough.
To Bonnie— I'm home safe. I'll see you all on Monday.
To Caroline— Had no service. Home safe. See you Monday.
Alex sat up, shoving her phone into her back pocket as she began to stand. She looked around the library, not really paying attention to the books that scattered around the room. The last time she was home it wasn't for awfully long. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had been home for more than an hour. She reached her arms out behind her, stretching slightly, before she made her way back into the foyer. Without thinking, her feet took her up the stairs that led directly to the loft and master bedroom. Her brow furrowed when she reached the top of the stairs. The door to her left, Tori's bedroom door, had slid open. She shook her head, chalking it up to a trick of the light from where she stood downstairs.
Taking a step into the room, Alex sighed. The floors creaked as she moved, putting her dominant hand into her pocket as she leaned against the door frame. She glanced around the room at the dark walls and large windows, exactly what the teen had asked for in a bedroom. Items that the Mikaelson had collected throughout their travels sat on the headboard of the bed that hadn't been touched in 145 years. A glint of silver on the wall above the headboard caught Alex's eye. She took a few steps forward, her eyes adjusting to the dark as she moved. The closer she got, the more the object glistened. She stopped at the edge of the bed, reaching forward to run her fingers across the blade. She smiled softly, remembering the day Tori had been gifted the sword that hadn't moved from the wall since the estate was built in 1769.
Toriana ran down the shore. The moment she had seen the ship head in she'd bolted from the village look out to meet it. It had been a daily ritual for the past week: help with chores, check on Tatia, sneak to the barracks to train for a few hours then sit up at the look out to watch for the ships until one of her siblings or the coven came searching for her. It felt like it had been one of the longest months of her life. While she loved all her siblings dearly, she was closest with Alex even though they were six years apart in age. Toriana looked up to her older sister— the way she fought, her control of her magic, everything. They were just similar. Yes, she adored Rebekah, but it wasn't the same.
As Tori ran, she was thanking the gods that she'd spent her time in the barracks as she was in trousers and not a dress. Otherwise, this run would have been horrible. Finally, she was close enough and could clearly see the blonde hair and build of her sister. "Alex!" The name fell from her lips with excitement and relief, the older Mikaelson was okay. The brunette skidded to a stop on the shore in front of Alex, a smirk on her lips. "Welcome home."
"There she is," Alex grinned, taking her wrist guards off before wrapping the brunette in a hug. "It's nice to see a welcoming face around here. Where is everyone?" She asked, more a question about Tatia than their siblings and parents. "I brought gifts back from Europe."
Tori held her close, her body relaxing finally after weeks of being on edge. "She's in the village but I'm sure the moment she saw me take off she knew," she whispered before pulling away. "I'm not sure what Rebekah and Henrik are doing, but Elijah and Niklaus were attempting to spar earlier. Mother's helping Ayana and I haven't a clue where father is." Toriana didn't normally watch their siblings. While the village was one of Vikings, it was relatively safe during the day. Her smirk returned at the mentionof gifts, "Well, it looks like we will have to find everyone then."
Alex smiled, taking a step back before grabbing her rucksack and her armor in each hand before nodding in the direction of the village on the hill above them. "We've got a while to walk, might as well talk while we venture home." Alex took a deep breath in, taking in her surroundings. While she loved being out at sea, she constantly worried about her sisters and her companion. She silently hoped that the gift for Tatia's son would be suitable and that her wife would not have her head for bringing him home a gift in the first place. Alex stopped short, remembering something.
"Why do you think I ran all the way here?" Toriana teased. "I wanted you to myself for just a while before everyone else surrounds you." Or you slip off with Tatia, the girl thought, shaking her head as she looked down at her feet.
"Before we go, go grab that sword from the sand, Toriana." Alex smiled, watching the confusion in her sister's face.
Tori turned her head glancing at the sword before her sister once more, "Alright." One brow raised as she slowly did as she was asked. The blade felt comfortable in her hand, well balanced. She turned back to Alex, taking a few steps until she was back in stride with her. "I didn't think Erik could make a sword this balanced. Unless you've worked it, that is."
"There's no need for Erik to make a sword as balanced as that one unless you have me," Alex smirked, placing her hand on the hilt of her own sword. "Maybe later we will spar, show the boys how it's really done." Her mind wandered to what her brothers could have been sparring over, other than Tatia. Toriana chuckled, she couldn't name how many times she had wandered into her father's workshop only to find Alex smithing a sword or two.
"I would rather trust my life on a sword you made than him, and it's his job." That's when it hit her, "Wait..." her eyes wandered back to the sword, then to the one still on her sisters' hip, "Is this mine?" She studied Alex's face, "And of course we can spar if you aren't tired later. Those two wouldn't last a moment in battle. They wouldn't let me partake with them nor listen to my pointers. I've been practicing every day at the barracks though." She watched Alex start to get lost in her own mind. Tori lightly bumped against her older sister.
"Of course, it's yours little sister," Alex grinned, holding back a laugh. She knew this was the right time to bring a memorable gift for Tori, and she chose the perfect one. "I wouldn't make just anyone a special custom weapon. I bought the ivory for the hilt the day we arrived in Europe and customized the cross guard for you specifically. I've watched your stance and technique and made you your own sword based on that." Alex rambled, pushing the thoughts of her family to the back of her mind, simply happy to be on land again.
Tori's bottom lip moved between her teeth, a happy glint in her eye. "Thank you... thank you so much Alex. I truly appreciate this. I promise I will treat it with the best of care." She meant every word. This sword would never leave her side— or back— depending on the sheath she found for it. Little did either one know, even one thousand years later, Toriana would still have it in her possession in perfect condition. "Now we definitely have to spar later. I don't want my first time with it to be against anyone else." As the two sisters neared the village, Alex could see a familiar figure waiting for them by the fire.
"Seems she did know. Otherwise she would be busy as always." Toriana let out another soft chuckle, the words soft enough for only Alex to hear. "Do you want me to stay or go see if I can find Rebekah?"
"I know you will, Tori," Alex said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "And you're more than welcome to stay. Tatia and I have a month of catching up to do, but it can wait." Alex laughed, charging up the hill. "Last one up has to make the other's plate for dinner!" As Alex neared the top of the hill, she noticed Tatia running towards her, grinning from ear to ear. She quickly dropped her belongings and lifted the smaller girl by the waist, spinning her around.
"Hey!" Toriana took off after her sister before slowing down on purpose to allow the two a moment between themselves. She watched them a few paces behind, a genuine smile on her lips wondering if one day she would be able to ever find something like the two had.
"Welcome home, Alexandria," Tatia said, laughing.
"It would never be a true welcome without you, love," Alex placed the Petrova girl back onto the ground before placing a kiss on her lips. Their routine was always the same; Alex would return home, and Tatia would be waiting for her at the center of the village.
"No, don't worry Alex. I will gladly carry all of this for you," Tori sassed as she carefully balanced her new sword and gathered her sister's things, though the brunette truly didn't mind. If her sister was happy, that was all that mattered.
"It seems the little fox missed you dearly," Tatia said, nodding towards Tori who was carrying Alex's month ofluggage.
"She's becoming stronger, she can handle it," Alex laughed, looking back at the Petrova girl. "I missed you." Tatia smiled at the blonde, placing her hand on the back of the girl's head and playing with the intricate braids that cascaded down the Viking's back. It was as if someone had filmed their first reunion and played it back every time Alex returned home. Their mannerisms were always the same, always in tune with one another. It had become a ritual between the two, greeting each other in the center of the village, having their moment together with the same repeated dialogue every time. Alex wondered if she'd ever grow old of that same meeting— if she'd ever wish they had said or done different things as the time passed.
"And I you, dear," Tatia smiled, pulling the Viking in for another kiss. It wasn't long before they were interrupted by the clattering of armor on the path behind them. The sound of Niklaus and Elijah arguing was what truly grabbed the blonde's attention, causing her to step back with her head snapping in their direction.
A groan left Tori's lips at the sound of her two older brothers sparring over Tatia once more, as if they hadn't learned their lesson the last time Alex had returned home from sea. "Ignore them," Tori whispered to Alex before looking over at her brothers. "You've seen those two fools with swords. They couldn't defend the village from a wolf if it came down to it." She smirked looking at the Petrova girl, "Not that I'd let it come to that if need be." She lifted her sword up slightly, her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth in excitement.
"Maybe I made you your own sword too soon if you're going to threaten to swing before ever using it in battle," Alex laughed, turning to lock eyes with her sister for a moment. It was then that she felt a concerned hand grip her forearm, bringing her attention back to Tatia.
"You made your sister a sword?" She gasped, trying to keep her voice down. "Aleksandria, she is much too young to be playing with weapons." Alex rolled her eyes, smiling.
"Tatia, the girl is sixteen. When you were her age you were married to a man from another coven and I was on a ship with him for six months, watching him pillage and betray your trust. She is more than old enough to carry her own sword." Alex shook her head, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Besides, at least one of my siblings needs to wield a weapon correctly with Niklaus and Elijah threatening to behead each other when they couldn't even step up and follow through with their family duties to fight the good fight." Alex turned to face her brothers, taking a few steps towards them while placing her hand on the hilt of her sword once more.
A gruff, sarcastic voice pulled Alex from her thoughts, causing her to nearly drop the sword from her hands. She blinked back the light that began to shine from the windows, turning towards the door.
"You just going to stand there and stare at that rusty old sword for the rest of your miserable eternal life, blondie?" Damon called out; his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the door frame. "No one's heard from her in almost a hundred and fifty years. Face it, XenaWarrior Princess isn't coming back." Alex clenched the hilt, not remembering when she had removed the sword from the wall in the first place. Her face hardened and she quickly looked away from the older Salvatore. She scoffed, placing the sword back on its mantle against the wall.
"Watch how you speak of her sword, Soldier," Alex turned to face the oldest Salvatore slowly, her eye catching the crumpled sheets in the bedroom across the hall. Her brow furrowed slightly as she tilted her head, trying to get a better look into her own bedroom.
"I don't think I've ever seen someone who seemed so disgusted to see me," Damon laughed, his forehead crinkling as he smiled. He followed the blonde's gaze, turning back to her with a slight brow raise. Alex pushed past him; the confusion etched in her face showing more with every step.
"Forget wondering how you got in here," Alex started, storming into the loft. She looked around the room, noticing little the things that were out of place. Books on the night stand that Alex knew she hadn't taken from downstairs in years. Pillows crumpled on the bed with sheets pulled back, along with the sheets that covered the portraits of Alex and Katherine in piles on the floor. She scoffed, turning around on her heels to look at the older Salvatore brother with a raised brow.
"Have you been sleeping in my house?" She turned back towards the bed, making her way into the master bathroom to find a bubble bath drawn, accompanied with a pile of clean, fluffy, white towels, an open bottle of red wine, and a wine glass— a quarter full with lipstick stains perfectly placed on the rim. "Damon, who are you fucking in my house?"