Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Bottomless Cup
A/N: Not gonna lie. The only reason why I haven't updated is because of Animal Crossing. So sorry! Here's the next chapter, feels so long ago, especially with all this quarantine-ing. Hope ya'll are staying safe!
Enjoy!
Perspective: Elena
-x-x-x-
"Hate is a bottomless cup; I will pour and pour."
- Euripedes
There had been chaos.
Those gun shots.
And the blood.
Whose blood?
Jackson.
Jackson had appeared.
In a split second, your shock and fear had given way to anger. It only lasted for that one second—or at least, you think it did because next thing you know, you're coming to with the world bobbing from side to side.
It's black.
You're pretty sure you've opened your eyes already but it's still dark. And hard to breathe. And you feel sore.
God, my shoulder, you think as your other senses pull you from your groggy state.
It takes a moment, but you quickly realize why it's harder to breathe.
Your hands are tied behind your back, there's something over your head and your mouth is covered shut.
Tape?
With a jerk you struggle. Someone is carrying you, but your sudden movement must've caught them by surprise because you fall.
You land partially on your bad shoulder, but your cry is muffled by the tape.
"Stop."
There's a low voice above you.
"Stop!"
Rough hands grab you by the arms, pulling you up and practically slamming you against the wall.
The bag over your head is pulled off and you're assaulted with blinding light and the sight of Jackson Pierce.
"Stop!" he pushes you again, eliciting another muffled cry.
Goddammit!
Despite wanting to make this harder on him, you stop.
"What the hell is this?"
You blink away the dark spots in your vision as a woman comes up behind Jackson.
"Jackson, what the fuck?" she voices again.
The woman stands with a hand on her hip as she watches with distaste.
The man in question glances over his shoulder. "Sophia? I didn't think you'd be here."
Sophia… You grunt, forcing yourself to focus. Katherine had briefly mentioned Jackson's sister when you had asked. They weren't friends, your twin had said, and other than that you have no other information about her. Is she a friend or foe?
"Well, I am. Who the hell—oh, Katherine?" she concludes once she gets a better look at you. You also get a better look at her and you note that she does look similar to Jackson.
She's tall, though slender, but unlike Jackson, she has a head of blonde-ish red hair which, logically, according to the laws of genetics, is dyed.
You try to read the woman's expression, but the raised brow doesn't give much away.
Though, "oh"? Is that it? How often did this happen that Jackson bringing someone tied up and gagged only elicited a simple "oh"?
"What are you doing, Jack? Why is she here?"
Jackson tilts his head, "Haven't you seen the news? The bombing?"
She doesn't answer.
"Well, there was an accident with a prison transport. Father thinks it was the Mikaelsons, but they haven't claimed anything."
"That doesn't explain why you have Katherine."
"Sure, sis, but this isn't Katherine."
She turns skeptical but her tone is more annoyed than anything, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Jackson chuckles and Sophia rolls her eyes as she comes closer.
"Stop being cryptic. What are you talking about?"
"This is Elena. Katherine's twin."
"Her twin? Katherine has a twin?"
"Yeah."
The woman scrutinizes you with her eyes. You'd say she doesn't believe him, but she only asks, "Why is she here?"
Jackson turns to her, away from you. You try to push him off, but you have no leverage.
"Hold on. You really don't know? Father hasn't told you?"
"I've been avoiding him," she says and looks to you pointedly as if to get back on topic. "So?"
"Elena is going to help us."
Your eyes dart between them and you grunt your disagreement, Like hell I am.
"With what?"
"Well, you see, turns out our aunt is alive."
"Aunt... Amelia?"
Jackson nods, "And she has all of grandfather's inheritance hidden away somewhere. Luckily, we have Elena to trade for it."
A beat passes. "You're going to trade her as Katherine."
"Yup."
You glance at Jackson. You don't realize how hard you've dug your nails into your own skin until you unclench your fist and feel the cramp in your entire hand.
Sophia narrows her eyes again before breaking into a grin, "I swear to god, Jack. You almost got me there. Father did tell me to watch the news. That bombing? They're saying Katherine did it. How did you find her so quickly?"
"I—" he sighs, "You don't believe me?"
"Please. What're the odds our cousin has a twin and you just happened to find her the same time Katherine escapes prison and bombs a motel?"
"This is Elena, and she was actually with Katherine."
"Because that makes it more believable, sure."
Jackson's shoulders shake as he laughs, "You really have been avoiding father, haven't you?"
"I just got here, for your information," Sophia says, annoyed. "And besides, what're you trying to accomplish by passing Katherine off as someone else?"
"This isn't Katherine, see for yourself!"
Without warning, Jackson rips the duct tape off your mouth. You cry out at the sting.
"Tell her your name," he instructs.
"Fuck off," you sneer, anger boiling as you once again have the ability to verbalize your disdain. This monster. He'd killed your brother. He'd killed Jeremy and gotten away with it!
"Seems like Katherine to me," Sophia concludes, and Jackson shakes his head.
"Come on, Elena."
"Where the hell am I?" you question instead.
"One of my father's houses," he answers easily. If you somehow find a way to communicate with anyone, 'one of Tobias' houses' won't be much of a clue.
"You've been here before," Sophia says skeptically. "It's pretty obvious."
"I'm telling you, she hasn't. This is Elena."
The strawberry blonde studies you from head to toe, her eyes narrowing as they meet yours. You've grown familiar with that look, so it's not hard to read the displeasure she has in her eyes.
You shift a little, leaning onto your own feelings of resentment as you demand to the younger Pierce, "Where's Katherine?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Where the fuck is my sister?!" You push at him but with your hands tied, you still have absolutely no leverage to shove him away. "You have her phone! How did you find me?!"
In the middle of a crowded city, no less.
"Now now, Ms. Gilbert. No need to raise your voice."
You look to the new voice as the man enters the room.
"You…" you find yourself hissing.
Despite the bad quality of Freya's video, you can tell Tobias looks the exact same. But over his confidence, his movements show what the camera couldn't. He moves rigidly, revealing his discomfort at the gun shot wound he'd gotten from Tony that first time you'd met him.
This man.
He'd been so blasé. Killing Tony, shooting Robero, and then locking that freezer door with Katherine in it.
You feel yourself shake, not with fear but with unbridled loathing. You almost have no idea who you hate more: father or son?
"What is she talking about, dad? You said this phone was a duplicate."
"Where did you leave her?" you demand, further pushing Jackson's inquiry. If you weren't so angry, maybe you'd have time to question his confusion. As it turns out, you don't care about Jackson at all.
Tobias takes his time, stroking the thin beard on his face as he studies you. "Hmm."
"Dad," Jackson calls but the man only spares him a glance.
"Elena," he begins. "How would I know that information?"
"I got texts from her phone. The one you took from her!"
"That is quite an accusation. Last I saw, you and she were running away side by side."
That makes you pause—only for a moment—because you should know better than to tip your hand. Kol had said Tobias doesn't know about the video.
"I know you have her. Where is she?"
"If we had her, why would we need you?" Jackson jabs, but it isn't the threat that he thinks it is.
This fucking idiot.
"Yeah," you say, "why would you?"
Tobias hums for a moment, unfazed as he sits on the couch with a hand over his wounded chest. He turns on the tv with a remote and flips through a few channels.
Jackson and Sophia exchange looks.
Ultimately, the older man doesn't give you an answer.
"You two are serious," Sophia questions her father bringing the attention back to her confusion.
"I told you. Why would I lie about that?" Jackson says.
"Hey," you call out to Tobias from the wall you're still leaning against, "Answer me! Where's Katherine?"
"Shut up!" The hand to your face is so sudden you fall on your bad shoulder again. Jackson seethes, "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"
You gasp at the stinging in your jaw and you feel Jackson pull you up before the stars even clear from your vision.
"Don't think that just because you look like her…" he sneers into your ear before Tobias cuts in.
"Son."
Your jaw tightens. God, if only your hands weren't tied.
"Keep your hands to yourself. Elena is our guest."
"You really are serious," you can hear Sophia cut in.
Tobias sighs, tossing the remote onto the coffee table, "Son, there's no need for those ties. I'd like Elena to take a moment. Sit down. Relax."
"Relax…?" Jackson begins his protest but stops short and does what he's told.
You rub your wrists, jerking away from Jackson.
"Come now, Elena," the older Pierce invites. "We have a lot to discuss."
You don't move as you rub the stinging in your cheek.
"If you prefer to stand, who am I to judge?"
A lot to discuss? Yeah, you do. Like for starters, where is your twin?
"You must be wondering why you're here."
"Aunt Amelia is alive," Sophia interjects. "Jackson just told me. She's really not dead?"
"Fortunately, the disease your grandfather said that took her life was actually fabricated."
"And now she has all the money," she finishes.
"Absolutely. Now leave. Both of you," Tobias instructs his children much to their dismay. "I need a moment in private with our guest. Do fill your sister in on what's going on while you're out there, Jackson."
Sophia leaves out the door before Jackson even steps back from you with his hands up. In response to your glare, his lips curling in mutual distaste as he follows his sister out the door.
Your glare doesn't change as it moves onto to the older Pierce.
He has the audacity to smile at you.
"Elena. Don't be shy. Please sit. I've got a proposition for you."
You don't say anything, but you don't do anything either. A proposition? Was he really going to ask for your cooperation with Amelia? After kidnapping you? After killing—After shooting Robero dead and locking Katherine in a freezer?
"What makes you think I'd agree to anything you say."
"Normally, I wouldn't care for your cooperation, but I know my sister. She'll want to talk to you. You'll need to convince her who you are."
"No," you say immediately.
"You're a fugitive right now," he starts without missing a beat, "but what would you do to have your name cleared?"
Your glare eases a little at your curiosity. Where is he going with this? Did he know about Jeremy and Jackson? Would he really hand over his son in exchange for Viktor's money?
"Ironically, I know quite a few people who would kill to have themselves cleaned of all their wrongdoings. But I propose something much much simpler. All you have to do is convince Amelia to hand over my inheritance."
"And in exchange, you'll clear my name."
He rubs his chest a little, wincing at his own touch but that glint in his eye stays.
"In order to return Viktor's wealth to the rightful owner, you would assume the role of Katherine. Her identity."
Even if you hadn't seen the video where Tobias lays out this plan to Katherine, or if Jackson hadn't been explaining all this to Sophia right in front of you, Katherine is way too stubborn and this situation might as well have been inevitable. Especially if she really is… gone.
"Frankly, I have the means to restore Katherine's reputation. To exonerate her of my father's gruesome death."
Wait. He can't be saying what you think he's saying.
"You want me to pretend to be Katherine… even after Amelia?"
"Why not?"
Because Katherine will come back. What would she say when she sees you sitting all cozy with the man that framed and killed her?
No, he hadn't killed her, you backtrack the thought. He attempted to kill her.
You jaw tightens. You almost say "No" again right away but then, what would that get you? Another punch to face, no doubt. Or at least something along those lines. Convincing you to pretend to be Katherine? This can't be Tobias' only plan. Especially if you refused.
"Other than Viktor's money," Tobias continues his reasoning, "my sister gave a considerable amount of wealth to her daughter the day she was removed from her life."
Is that why younger Katherine bought into the lie that her mother was dead?
"You'll have more than plenty to live off the rest of your life in peace."
You can't hide your distain for this man, or his son but you're suddenly reminded of what Katherine would do.
"Take her identity," Tobias offers, "and when all is said and done, you'll be able to walk out of here free and unharmed."
"Exonerated?"
"Yes. You'll be free."
No. Katherine will be free. When she comes back, her name will be cleared if you do this and if Tobias keeps his word.
If, you have to repeat to yourself.
"I'll do it," you admit. "On one condition."
"What would that be?"
"Let Katherine go."
He raises his brows, studying you for a moment. "I don't have her. What makes you think I know where she is?"
"You have her phone."
"No. I have her number. Hacked her number. You heard my son, if we had her why would we need you? I don't know where my niece is."
Liar.
"Look, Elena. As much as it's preferred, your cooperation—your consciousness, isn't necessary for me to execute my plan. Do this, and no harm will come to you. Your life will be yours."
"You mean Katherine's life. I'll have her life."
"It won't be any problem for you. You already look the part."
Take over her life? Pretend to be the daughter Amelia took in? A way out of your own, away from the Gilberts, and not to mention, surely a luxuries life. He's right in more than few things. You're identical and no doubt Tobias can make Katherine innocent with just one word.
"It's a gain, I assure you."
You seethe.
Did he really think this tactic would work on you? As enticing as leaving the Gilberts and Jeremy's death behind, no amount of bribery could convince you to betray Katherine like this.
But she's betrayed you first.
(And she's dead.)
You shake your head.
"Is that a no?"
"No," you say. You aren't going to get anywhere arguing with him. "I mean. If I did agree, what would I even have to do?"
Satisfied that you haven't outright denied his proposal, he smiles, "I'm going to set up a meet with Amelia. My sister will want to see Katherine. You'll need to convince her you are who you say you are."
"That's it?"
"That's it. And after I get my money, I'll call in a few good friends of mine to get you acquitted."
"A few good friends?"
"We never met eye to eye until recently, but you might know one of them. Warden Lockwood."
You frown. Katherine had suspected that the warden had been bought off or blackmailed and she was right.
"Katherine won't ever have to worry about looking over her shoulder ever again. You won't have to worry about looking over your shoulder ever again."
You don't answer right away but eventually, you nod. "Okay. I'll do it."
"Amazing. This calls for a drink."
Tobias gets up, walking over to his liquor table and turning over two glasses. You haven't drank anything alcoholic since the night Jeremy died. But hell, if you were really going do this, you'd need something stronger than water.
You finally sit down with your eyes going to the news on the tv.
Shit. What did you just agree to?
Convince Amelia that you're Katherine. Is that even possible? Maybe you can just not say anything and get away with it. And even if you do succeed, what's stopping Tobias from negating his part of the deal?
When Jackson heads back into the room, Sophia isn't with him.
He sees you sitting at the couch, eyes on the news, and he scoffs.
"Where's your sister?" Tobias asks as he pours his cup.
"With the other… prisoner," he answers, but he's looking at you; the reminder of what you are no matter your deal with his father clear on his face. "I need to speak with you, father."
"Not now."
"It's important," Jackson insists, and the way he keeps glaring at you makes you wonder. "It's about Katherine."
"Son, we've been over this."
"No, you never answered my—!"
"Jackson! Mind your tone with me." Tobias' voice booms suddenly. He's gotten closer to you, a hand on your shoulder as he passed the glass tumbler. "Elena, excuse us a moment."
You watch the two of them leave with Jackson jerking from his father's grasp as he stomps out first.
Now that you think about it, he hadn't been in Freya's video with Katherine. Maybe he doesn't know what happened but what that means for you, you have no idea.
You stare at the glass of whiskey for a moment before putting it down. You get up to walk to the door.
They may not want you to hear, but you've been left with no supervision and looking around shouldn't be something to avoid. Maybe you can even escape, though that might be too hopeful to expect.
Putting your ear to the door, you listen and after a long moment, you only attempt to open it when you're sure no one is on the other side.
To your surprise, the knob turns, and you peak outside. Much like the room you're in, the hall is decorated the same. Simple, though somehow regal.
Rubbing your bad shoulder, you cradle your arm as you start down one hall.
It's quiet. Too quiet, which leads you to believe that this place is big, and you could get lost if you don't pay attention. That doesn't mean that you take your time looking around though, this isn't the Mikaelson lake house.
What's your plan anyway?
You'd thought to eavesdrop on Jackson and Tobias, but it seems they've gone out of their way to keep you from overhearing anything.
You walk through the halls, finding it odd that it seems like no one else is around, but most of the doors you come across are locked and you don't find anything useful in any of the ones left open.
There isn't any real reason for stealth until two hallways later when you finally hear voices coming from a room.
It's muffled from down the hall where you're standing, and when the door opens, and slams shut you hide behind a large potted plant. Sophia walks out, luckily heading down the other side of the hall before disappearing.
There's a loud clang of metal and glass behind the door, followed by some cursing before it quiets down.
Huh.
You'd have just kept going but you recognize that voice.
"What the bloody hell did I say about—" Kol cuts off when he sees you. "Elena?"
The door you've opened pushes back a tray and some broken glass from a bowl of food, causing streaks on the floor.
You'd ask what he's doing here but his hand cuffed wrists behind his back explains itself. He's the other prisoner Jackson mentioned, but what would Tobias need him for?
Scratch that. Kol is a Mikaelson. But also, how? What had happened at the city? In that crowd?
"I was hoping for a way out," you explain as you come closer to see if you can help him.
"Sorry to disappoint, love."
You shake your head, "How did they find us?"
"I'd be more inclined to ask you. I know I checked my bases," he replies as you check his restraints. It's a handcuff and it's attached to the wall by a longer chain.
You ignore the pointed blame because short of the phone you'd been using to text Katherine's phone, Tobias wouldn't have anything on you.
You pull at Kol's chain, not at all expecting it to budge. "Who has the key to this?"
"Sophia. But you won't be able to get it. Are you okay?" he glances at you from over his shoulder. "How did you get out of yours?"
"They took mine off when I was talking to Tobias and then they left me alone. They didn't lock my door either and there isn't anyone in the halls."
He frowns at that.
"You think they did that on purpose?" you ask, having your own suspicions. Though for what reason, you have no clue.
He shakes his head, "Even if there isn't anyone in the halls, there will be somebody outside."
"Do you know this place?"
"I think so. My memory's a little fuzzy but if I'm right, there should be a garage on the west side of the building."
"Is that far?"
"Yes, but Elena," he shrugs off your attempt to keep checking the cuffs, "Hey. Like I said. There might not be anyone around here, but you'll absolutely run into someone before you get there."
"You don't know that," you refute, but it's not like he's wrong. Sooner or later you'll run into someone. Or worse yet, Tobias will go back to the room you're supposed to be in and find it empty.
"No. What you need to do is find a landline and phone my siblings."
"Leave you here?"
"Short of cutting my arms off, it won't do us any good being stuck in this room."
You nod, "Okay. You wouldn't happen to also know where the phones are, would you?"
"There should be one in the kitchen, but the master bedroom should have one as well."
"Should?"
"I'd say so. Basic placements for these houses. Makes it easier to call the help. The one in the bedroom is on this floor so it should be easier to get to. It's probably at the end of the hall, from the… left of here. The one with the double doors, I'm certain."
"Alright."
With another nod, you set walk out of the room, poking your head out first before walking down the hall. Sending out an SOS is the priority, and after that, well, you wonder the probability of finding Sophia and wrangling the key from her. You rub your shoulder again. You doubt you'd be able to convince the Pierce to just hand them over and you doubt even more your ability to take it from her forcefully.
Much to your chagrin, you barely make it down the hall from Kol's room before you get caught.
-x-x-x-
"I'm disappointed in you, Elena," Tobias crosses his arms, but he doesn't look as disappointed as he says. "I thought we had an understanding."
"We do. There's no need for this," you say as Jackson deliberately tightens the rope around your wrist and the arm of the chair. "I was just looking around," you continue, though it sounds lame, even to you.
"Oh? And what exactly were you looking for?"
A phone? The garage on the west side? An escape?
You open your mouth to reply but nothing valid comes to mind. Shit.
Jackson pulls on the last bit of rope around your ankles before leaning in, "I told you to watch yourself."
"I said to you that I preferred we work together, but I didn't need your cooperation," Tobias speaks.
"We can still work together," you say. "I was just looking around. I didn't mean anything by it, I swear!"
There's a smile that creeps up Tobias' face and you suddenly want to claw it off his skin.
He doesn't respond.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
"Jackson, son, shut her up."
"Hey—!" you manage to get in a shout before Jackson ties a cloth over your mouth.
"Here's what's going to happen, Elena," Tobias begins, taking a seat in front of you. "I'm going to call my sister, and you will be here pretending you're Katherine, are we clear?"
"No!" you protest, really only mumbling under the gag.
Tobias only examines you for a moment, stoic. He laughs suddenly, bowing his head, "My apologies, let me rephrase that. You will do as my plan entails, whether you like it or not."
Before you can respond, his gaze drift up behind you.
"Ah, doctor," he greets someone you can't see yet. "Thank you for coming. You have what I asked for?"
Huh? Doctor? For him? For his gunshot wound?
There's noise. The thump of a box or some kind of case being set down and then opened.
"Yes."
A man appears from your left, going to check Tobias. He only takes a second to look over Tobias before the doctor's eyes set on you. Recognition is on his face but none of the shock, that usually comes from meeting people who already know Katherine, is present.
He goes back to his briefcase and opens it.
You don't see what's inside but the man who came in rummages in it for a moment.
Tobias sighs like he's tired of dealing with you, "I knew you never actually wanted Katherine's life, but here I was, giving you a chance."
You shake your head, probably looking indignant enough to get Tobias to pull the cloth off your mouth. You glare mostly, but your eyes drift to where the doctor is, and you see what he's doing.
"Wh-what is that for?" you stammer a little, seeing the man pull out a few items and line them up beside the briefcase. A few things wrapped in plastic. A couple syringes. A few medical bottles of some clear liquid.
"That? Don't worry about that. At least not yet. I have something for you, Elena. I'd thought to reserve it till after the deal with my sister as thanks from me but... well."
He turns on the tv. It's still on the news channel and he adjusts the time, so it shows something that'd most likely aired earlier.
"It just made news, and I thought, hell, now is the perfect time to share it with you."
He presses play and the headline at the bottom rolls and reads, "Breaking News: Two Bodies Found Frozen in Freezer of Hotel Construction Site."
You shake your head.
Wait.
No.
No.
"Tonight, in Richmond City. Two bodies, one male and one female, were found by a construction worker, earlier this afternoon at a site of an unfinished hotel."
It cuts to a man outside with a hard hat and a reflective vest. "I was just making my rounds. I had to check the electricity on the lower floors. I never seen nothing like it."
Due to the state of the scene, police have speculated foul play and are currently investigating this case as a homicide.
Though they've been confirmed to have identified them, investigators have not yet released the names of the deceased."
"No," you mumble to yourself.
"Now, if I didn't know any better, it seems you know exactly what this means," Tobias speaks, watching you.
You feel numb.
"You see, I had kept something from you. I did know where Katherine was. Now you do as well."
No. This can't be happening.
She had found a way out.
There was no way—no damn way, that Katherine is dead.
You huff, trying to breathe before realizing something is going on when two men grab your already tied arm to hold you still.
Immediately, you squirm.
"Hold her still."
"What the fuck, no," you protest, seeing the doctor holding a needle in hand. "No!"
What are they doing?!
"Hey."
"Stop," you plead. You don't know what that is, and you'd rather not find out.
"Hey!" the doctor grips the back of your neck prompting you to look at him, "This is a sedative. If you keep moving, not only will I miss your vein, you'll end up with more holes in this arm than you will if you just stay still. If you want to make this painless, stay very still."
You don't want whatever "sedative" he's giving, but you understand that this isn't a situation where you have that choice. Even if you break free, where could you go? How far would you even get?
You calm down, watching with worry as the needle punctures your skin. As soon as he presses the syringe, you feel the way your heart stops racing. The substance, whatever it is, is cold. It scares you but there's a light feeling in your arm that crawls up to your shoulder, swelling like some great symphonic sound.
Sound?
What the hell are you saying?
Suddenly, you feel like you're floating.
You blink a little as the world sways.
"You can let go," you hear the doctor, but he sounds like he's talking through a tube.
"This is the new batch?" Tobias asks, getting a nod, "And the side effects?"
"Drowsiness, blurred vision, lack of coordination. In some cases, loss of time or memory, cognitive dissonance, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations."
"All of it?"
"No. It depends on the patient. Some of the trials haven't shown any at all." You feel like the doctor must've shown a light in your eye but for some reason, you're not sure. "It seems Elena is showing the basic desired effects."
"Hmm," Tobias observes, "But she'll still be conscious?"
"Absolutely."
"Good. Amelia will want proof she's alright."
"Fuck you," you mutter, feeling like you're talking through molasses. You're not quite sure how loud you'd been but Tobias grabs the doctor by his shoulder, turning him away as they continue speaking to one another.
You sit there, feeling so heavy—an invisible weight and thinning world prevent you from even wanting to move.
You shake your head.
You don't know how long it's been but the next time you look up, no one else is in the room.
Fuck.
"You couldn't just lie, could you?"
Even through the haze, you startle, the voice giving you a jolt you can barely contain as you meet her eyes.
"Katherine?" you exclaim, or at least you think you do.
She tilts her head, an almost exasperated sigh passing her lips.
She smiles.
"Hey, 'Lena."