Chapter 10 - Wickery Bridge
« Speak! », exclaims Klaus after he served himself some bourbon. 'I wonder what it tastes like.' Yes, I've never had bourbon. But I had vodka, tequila and baileys.
« When we went on the so called road trip, ''that you loved by the way''. Um…yes that I appreciated. Mrs Anastasia and I talked. ''cried too!'' ''Shut up Ana!'' ''Mean!'' Can I continue or what? », Finn says, exasperated. Seeing as Kol, nor I nor Jere spoke he goes on, « Well like I said before I was interrupted, we talked and that made me realise how much of a bad brother I was. How untrustworthy I was. How I abandoned you so many times; How I treated you, us, like monsters, abominations. My own blood, my family. I regret everything I did to hurt you. I regret the moments I was not for each one of you, whether it was in our human times or after, I-I regret…and…I'm sorry. »
« Surely you're not expecting us to forgive you? AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE! » Klaus yells, throwing his drink to the wall. It shattered in thousands of pieces, probably how his heart is right now.
« I-i know and I'm not expecting you to do so this fast. Wh-when I was undaggered and Esther awakened, it is true. We…she planned to link all of us as one with the doppelgänger's blood which you drank at the celebration and- »
Immediately all the other siblings, except Kol stand up, screeching like mad hawks. Klaus vamp-speeds to Finn, holding him by the neck while the others stare, knowing that Klaus is really angry, the worst temper ever.
« YOU PLANNED TO KILL US! YOUR OWN FAMILY! And you dare ask for forgiveness when all you did was leaving us out while you were hiding behind our mother's back. » Klaus seethes.
« GUYS STOP! »
« You're in no place to tell me what to do, human. », Klaus spits out, not even turning to look at me.
« I know, but I- Finn is trying to apologise and explain not only how he feels but also what happened….At least give him time to plead. » I say.
« Brother, I think Finn here has something to say and it is best if he can express himself. And perhaps…beg for forgiveness.», adds Kol, of course that's how he adds support.
« Nik! Listen to Kol please, let's hear him out. »
Klaus hesitates to free him, eventually he does, though not without throwing him a nasty glare. Finn pulls off the wall to go and stand in the middle of the parlour after thanking Rebekah.
« Wh- before you were born, and our mother was pregnant with Elijah, there was Freya, my older sister…our older sister. She was taken away by the plague…An-and when she died, I felt as if she took a part of me with her, I felt alone. She was…she was my best friend, my sister and I loved her, still do, with all my heart. When you were born, I felt as if I couldn't be a brother anymore, I couldn't be an older brother. I thought you would have left me, like she did. » He pauses, with tears in his eyes. « When Rebekah was born, she looked so much like Freya, for a time I thought my big sister was reborn. But then I found some difference between you and Freya. Where Freya was eager to go play outside, Rebekah was more into staying at home, looking at clothes or being with mother. And I felt so alone. Elijah had Klaus, Klaus had Henrik, Kol had you all and Rebekah had her lovers. While I was alone. I was…jealous. »
'Whoah, I never knew this, he never said anything like this in the show. And I know what I'm saying because Ariadne is like a journal, spilling everything.'. I look at his siblings, seeing them with tears threatening to fall. 'It's always so emotional with the Sons.'
« Finn… I- we never knew about this why didn't you tell us. » says Rebekah.
« Well-I was ashamed of myself for not being a big brother like how Freya was a big sister to me. Plus when I saw Elijah acting like one, I thought…I thought you didn't need me, so eventually I stepped back and…made the mistake of believing our mother. I thought I was right, I mean we were causing destruction and chaos everywhere we went, so when our mother told me about the plan, she said we would be at peace even… even seeing Freya. And I'm begging for your forgiveness for this, for going against you, all of you, for abandoning you, brothers, sisters. »
After probably a minute or two, I see Rebekah standing up going to give a hug to Finn. I feel a hand reaching to mine, I look at it and look up at who it belongs to, Jeremy. I intertwine our fingers, squeezing his hand and giving him a smile. We look back to the siblings, and slowly Elijah and Kol do the same. However Klaus as usual the dramatic one.
« After everything you did… You betrayed us, your family…I knew you never liked being a vampire, let alone liked us, but doing this. »
« Niklaus! Our brother just explained to us, asking for our forgiveness not that we forget what happened. We're family Niklaus, and family always stick together, no matter what. » Yes tell Elijah.
« Family? FAMILY! HE-. »
Jumping up from the couch I make my way to Klaus, tired of his excuses, « Oh stop with the excuses for God's sake. You're a Mikaelson, Finn is your brother. Yes he and your mother tried to kill you and your siblings but he didn't. Yes he betrayed you, all of you. But don't try to act like you're a St because you're not. You, Klaus, you dagger your siblings every time they do something you don't agree with, or they just disobey you as if you were the oldest. », turning to the others I continue, « You all did something against each other at one point, whether it was killing someone you love or trying to kill you. Yet here you are in the same room after everything that happened. »
« Isn't your motto Always and Forever? Finn did try to do the same, so why must he not have your forgiveness. He's a part of the Mikaelsons as much as you all are. He could have gone on with the plan, choosing the peace his mother said, but he didn't because he chose you! », I say to Klaus with a soft tone. He just looks at me with a stoic look as if he doesn't care, but I can see in his eyes the pain, the sadness, the anger, all in all.
After a big pregnant pause, he slightly nods his head, moving around me to reach Finn, while Remy comes to stand next to me, holding my hand. Well the moment of truth. They both stare at each other, Finn probably scared for rejection, when Klaus puts his hand on his shoulder.
Finally, Klaus hugs Finn, « I forgive you…brother. », he says. Then all the Sons hug each other. 'Aww…so cute. It makes me sick.'
« Aww look at that Remy, Finland is back in the treaty. », I say, trying to lighten the mood.
« Oh my God! »
After the talk yesterday at the Sons' mansion, Remy and I went back to Gilbert's house even though we were proposed to stay for the night at the mansion, my coma-bro and I felt like we were intruding on a family moment. When we arrived at the house, surprise surprise, Elena was there and let me tell you, the face she made when she saw Jere walking through the door got me rolling on the floor like a dog!
Yes you can picture it, me on the ground choking on my laugh, Jeremy probably tired of me already and Elena thinking I'm crazy. Anyways after I calmed down, we had a big talk about compelling people and acting like our parents and before I followed Remy upstairs I warned her about what might happen if she ever got one of her boy toys to compel one of us. Jeremy and I talked for about 2 hours and then we went to sleep.
However, like always, I don't sleep the whole night, it's probably 3am right now and I'm walking around the town with music in my ears : Skin by Rag'nBone Man.
I love going on walks, admiring everything around me, looking at the sky to stare at the stars. There are so many we can see yet, we can't see at the same time. Staring at them makes me feel like a grain of sand yet so tall at the same as of right now I'm the only one seeing their beauty, their significance. I remember when I was 5 and my mama stayed with me the nights, we would eat chocolate while contemplating the stars. We would give them names, imagine how they looked like and what their purpose was. She would often tell me : To see a World in a Grain of Sand. And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand. And Eternity in an hour., It's by William Blake, I didn't understand anything at the time, and I don't think I can right now. Maybe it's about how vast is our universe, so many things to see and discover, yet we lose our time with futilities and hide behind walls of lies…who knows?
Snapping out of those non-wanted sad thoughts, I realise I've reached my destination…well the first one. By now what's playing is Just like fire by Pink.
Jeremy just walked out of his home, it is now 9am and he can't seem to reach his sister, not Elena but Anastasia or better yet, as of how she likes to be called by her name, Mazikeen. He would have found it weird if he didn't think this unique name matches her personality. 'She might look like Anastasia from this world or universe but she's definitely not her. And as weird or bad of a brother I may sound, I like this one better…no I like her.' He thinks, after sending her yet another message while he's on his way to the Grill. Elena invited everyone of the Scooby doo gang to eat at the grill, even him.
When he enters the grill, there's almost everybody except Caroline and him of course. Approaching them, he greets them, they greet back even though it's awkward. After an awkward silence it's Bonnie who breaks it.
« So how are you doing? How does it feel to be back? »
He scoffs at that, to be back? « I feel good, and I never left willingly, someone took away that choice. And apparently it hasn't been the first time. », he spits back. 'It's a good thing Damon's not at this table.' He thinks, though he thought too fast.
« So I heard the little Gilbert is back home huh? Was your little trip to Denver good? », mocks Damon, because he absolutely has no need to feel bad for compelling him. Again Jeremy scoffs but decides to just ignore him, he'll go away.
« Oh are you ignoring me lil Gilbert. Did I hurt your feelings? », Damon taunts again. Jeremy was about to answer but Elena cuts him. « Leave him alone Damon. Why don't you go drink with Ric. »
« Fiiine Gilbert. » Damon agrees, then off he goes. 'A vampire huh? Talk about having a leash.' Jeremy thinks, smirking. Before any other conversation can start, Matt arrives and takes their orders and when he leaves Caroline arrives too. He doesn't bother taking part in a conversation in which he finds no interest, however it's peeked when he hears Caroline ask : « What are the Mikaelsons doing here? » Following her gaze, he sees them eating and discussing among themselves.
« I don't know. But they certainly have the nerve to come here and act like what they did was nothing! », says Bonnie, glaring at them.
« Can't you cut them some slacks? They're having breakfast as a family. I didn't know it was considered a crime. » He says tired of their criticising stares. Looking back at the Mikaelsons, he sees that Maze is not with them. Feeling worried, he goes to question them.
« Um…Hey? Sorry to bother you, I would just like to know if you haven't seen Maze? She doesn't answer my calls or messages and I'm starting to get worried. »
« Maze? » It was Klaus who asked with a confused look. He's sure he doesn't know any Maze.
« He means Anastasia brother. » Answers Kol since only Jeremy, Finn and Kol know. Then he looks back at Jeremy saying : « No we haven't seen her since she went back with you at your house. Why? »
« I haven't seen her this morning, she doesn't answer my calls or messages and I'm starting to get worried. », Jeremy says back.
« Well I'm sure she's off somewhere probably pulling a prank on someone. » Says Rebekah with little care. If she's being honest, from what Finn told them she seems like a Kol 2.0 and she never thought it was possible.
Thinking about what could have happened to her Jeremy is still worried, when she told him about her life before here, let's just say that her life is the definition of a triple rollercoaster and she did go on rollercoasters so many times!
Kol having enough of the silence and the worried look on the Gilbert kid tells him to sit down with them saying he will look for her, shocking the others.
Just then Sheriff Forbes enters the grill, surprising everyone since, the only times she goes there it's to arrest someone or without her sheriff clothes. Not minding the stares, she goes from table to table asking about a strange thing that happened last night, or more specifically around 4am.
The Mikaelsons, Jeremy and the Scooby doo gang all watch as Liz Forbes, the sheriff asks some questions. The vampires hear her clearly while the non ones just wait until she approaches them. When she arrives at the gang's table:
« Good morning kids. I'm sorry to disturb you but I won't be long. I just need to ask you a couple of questions. »
« Mom what's wrong? What's going on? », asks Caroline.
« Kids, have any of you been to Wickery Bridge last night near 3 or 4am? »
« Why? » It was Caroline who asked, the others, Jeremy and the Mikaelsons all looking at her mom.
« Well, someone lit the bridge and the town's sign on fire.» She says with a sigh, already feeling a headache coming from this affair. And like one, the gang yelled at once a ''What''. The mikaelsons are all confused not knowing who could have done it and why.
« What do you mean 'lit' them on fire ? » asks Caroline, emphasising on light.
« She means burn Caroline. », retorts Elena, exasperated.
« But how-what-why? », asks Tyler, more confused as if someone told him that Caroline and him are siblings.
« Yeah, that's impossible mom. Why would someone do this? Are you sure the fire didn't start because of um…because of lightning? », Caroline asks, not believing it.
« Caroline, i went there this morning after receiving a call telling me that the bridge was on fire. A fireman specifically told me that it wasn't an accident. Someone poured oil, essence on it and lit it on fire. » Liz says, feeling angry herself, why would someone do this, 'vandalism huh.'
« Okay listen Kid, if you know anything, or anyone who could have done this, Caroline you have my number, call me. Or better come to see me…Okay, have a good day kids. » And off she is to Mikaelson's table, after a chorus of bye mom and bye . And that's when both Damon and Ric approach the gang.
« Guys we need to find out who did it. My mom said it wasn't an accident. »
« Yeah Care you're right. » says Elena.
Caroline's mom was asking the same question when she saw that all had their gaze directed somewhere else, or better yet someone else.