I do not own The Vampire Diaries. That is the property of author L.J Smith. I do own however, my OC Grace and this story.
Please review and no flaming allowed!
Enjoy x
THE MONSTER BREATHING MEN WOULD KILL
"The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it." ~Bram Stoker.
Mikaelson Mansion
Day
I stormed up to the front doors and roughly threw them open, feeling anger and worry for poor Caroline's safety as I stomped inside. Rebekah immediately blurs in front of me, stopping me in my tracks; the expression on her face, a combination of worry and anger also.
"Grace, for God's sake! Calm down right now. You are not thinking this through." She scolded me, and all I could do was scowl at her in frustration.
"No, Rebekah. This insanity has gone on long enough. This ends now!" I insisted and moved to walk around her to the staircase. She seizes my upper arm in a firm grip and starts to drag me to the living room. "Let go of me!" I growled, trying to break her grip. But my sister only tightens it.
"I think not. If you won't listen to me, then you'll bloody well listen to him." Rebekah retorted, frog marching me into the room where Nik was going about, packing. He glances up and raises an eyebrow at the both of us, before resuming his task. "Alaric Saltzman just tried to kill me." She announces.
"I'm sure you meant to say: 'he tried to kill us', right?" I corrected her, earning an eye roll from Rebekah as I folded my arms across my chest and focused on Nik. "And Caroline, also."
Nik doesn't bother to glance over at us, "Alaric Saltzman is supposed to be dead." He responded, monotonously. The scowl on Rebekah's face deepens.
"Well, he's not and he's a vampire thanks to mother's spell with a white oak stake that can't kill him." She reports, and Nik pauses and looks at us; his interest caught. I looked at him beseechingly.
"He's strong, Nik. Too strong." I warned him, and he sighs in irritation.
"Where is he now?" He asks, and I straighten up, gripping the back of the sofa with both hands, as I watch his movement and listen to his words with anticipation. I couldn't attempt to save Caroline without his help. But I would if push came to shove.
"He's stuck at the school without a daylight ring, but as soon as night falls he'll come after us." Rebekah answers, urgently. "We need to leave now."
I looked at Rebekah in dismay, "Hang on. We can't just leave now." I protested, and Rebekah waves her hand at me, flippantly.
"Your little friend is a vampire; she can take care of herself." Rebekah stated and I bristled in anger.
"Like hell. You saw the same thing as I did when you staked Alaric, Bekah, and then he threw you around like a ragdoll. If we ditch town now, Caroline will be as defenseless as a bloody cat toy." I protested. Rebekah opened her mouth, presumably to argue the point when Nik jumped in.
"Fine." Rebekah looked at him in outrage, while I felt the beginnings of hope and relief rise. "I'll collect Elena, we'll be on our way." Then it deflated faster than letting air out of a party balloon.
"Excuse me?" I blurted out in disbelief. Nik had completely dismissed my desire to rescue my defenseless friend from the clutches of my best friend's reanimated drinking buddy, now on the warpath to eliminate all vampires, and all for Elena bloody Gilbert?!
Unbelievable.
"Forget Elena!" Rebekah shouted, angrily. "You don't need any more stupid Hybrids!"
"What I need is protection from Esther's continued assaults against us." Nik insisted, scowling at his sister.
"We'll protect each other, like we always have." Rebekah stubbornly insisted as I glanced slyly at the entrance to the living room, which Rebekah was currently standing in front of, trying to calculate my best chances of getting out of the room without being stopped. "Always and forever, Nik." Rebekah reminded him, as I concluded that I'd have a snowball's chance in hell of making it past my sister unnoticed. So, I decided to just wait for the opportune moment to act.
"I'm not leaving without her." Nik insisted, warningly. Rebekah just glares at him.
"I'm leaving now." She declared. "You can either walk out that door with me or you are on your own." Nik just looks at her, saying nothing. "Fine. Trust your hybrids over your family." She gestured between me and herself, and I scowled at her. "Let your spite be the death of you, see if I care." Nik and I watch as she flounced out of the room, almost walking straight into Tyler on her way out. "Move it, sire boy!"
Tyler steps to the side and watches her go in total bewilderment. "What's her deal?" He wanted to know. Nik stares at him as Tyler continues walking into the room. I chose that moment to take my own leave.
"Where are you going?" Nik demands, and I pause on the threshold.
"Where I was planning on going before Rebekah dragged me in here: to go and save Caroline." I responded, before continuing towards the staircase. I barely make it to the bottom step when I thud unceremoniously into Nik's chest as he blurs in front of me. "For fuck's sake!" I growl underneath my breath and take a single step back to look at his angry, disapproving face properly.
"Sorry, love. Not going to happen." He protested firmly, and I mentally counted backwards from ten to curb my temper.
"Well, I don't see you dropping everything to help me." I pointed out, trying to walk around him. But he grabs a hold of my upper arms and stops me fast. "I'd like to point out also, that Caroline is your friend too." I added, tersely. Nik let out a low, frustrated growl.
"He will kill you without a second thought, Grace. I cannot let that happen." Nik stated, angrily. I impatiently brushed off his hands and jogged up the staircase with Nik following close behind.
"Some things are worth dying for, Nik." I retorted.
"Yeah, not this. Why are you being so stubborn? You're behaving worse than Rebekah." I spun on the spot and brandished a finger at him, jabbing him hard in the chest.
"The difference between Rebekah and I in this situation is that she is acting selfishly, and only thinking of herself." I defended my actions. "Kind of like you are, as a matter-of-fact." I added, before turning towards our bedroom door and throwing it open, making a beeline for my weapons duffel bag.
"I am trying to protect this family!" Nik roared at me, causing me to flinch, but only slightly. "And I'm trying to protect you!"
I paused as I pulled free the baseball bat Henrik and I used to clean Mikael's clock and set it to one side, before grabbing a few daggers and a machete, zipping up the bag and shoving it back into the walk-in wardrobe.
"And I appreciate this, Nik, and I love you so much for it. But sometimes, I think you go a little overboard." I responded, cupping his cheek with one hand before turning and picking up the baseball bat, and strapping the daggers and machete to myself. I could feel Nik's mystified eyes digging into the side of my face before he let out a frustrated snarl when I was halfway down the corridor.
"Alright!" I jumped and turned to look at him, warily. "If it means so much to you, I'll help you rescue your bloody friend." I grinned triumphantly. "But we are leaving as soon as we've done so."
"I'll accept those conditions." I replied, satisfied.
Gilbert Residence
Day
Nik and I made our way in the direction of the high school; presumably to follow through with my intentions of rescuing Caroline from evil-Alaric. However, Nik unexpectedly made a small detour, and we found ourselves standing out the front of the Gilbert's. I frowned uncertainly.
"Uh, Nik? This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I wished to rescue Caroline." I pointed out, leaning my weight on the baseball bat as I used it for a walking stick. Nik focused on the house with a stony expression on his face, as he acknowledged my observation.
"All in good time, sweetheart. We're just here to pick up something before we go." Nik responded calmly, analyzing the house.
"Pick up what?" I asked, cautiously.
Nik chooses not to reply to the question. Instead, he strides up the footpath leading to the front door and presses the doorbell. I follow quickly and stand at the bottom porch step, chewing my bottom lip nervously. Nik obviously had a plan set in motion but had chosen not to let me in on it for whatever reason. The front door opens, revealing a surprised, but wary Jeremy.
"Klaus?" He spots me standing behind him and raises an eyebrow. "Grace? What do you want?" Jeremy asks, looking puzzled. I waved at him, but Nik smirks.
"Now is that any way to treat guests?" He asks, and I aim a scowl at the back of his head, questioning why he was behaving like an arse towards Jeremy … until Stefan walks up behind my fellow medium, and I immediately understand.
"What are you doing here, Klaus?" Stefan demands and the smirk on Nik's face broadens.
"Well, for starters, young Jeremy here could show some manners and invite us inside." Nik thumbs over his shoulder towards me, and I hesitantly step up the steps to stand at his side, also questioning why he doesn't simply go on in; since Jeremy had given both Nik and Rebekah free access into the house, the day he and I went on a little 'stroll' down memory lane via premonition. Damon walks into view, and my eyes widen in surprise. Stefan steps in front of Jeremy, who scowls at him in annoyance.
"Why don't you go up to your room?" He 'suggests' to Jeremy who opens his mouth to protest vehemently. He glances at both Damon and me and deflates when I nodded in agreement.
"Now." Damon pipes up, sternly. Jeremy sighs, throwing Nik and I an irritated scowl and one at Damon who shrugs unperturbed, before stomping his way upstairs. Nik watches him go, looking amused.
"Hm, poor lad. Loses one questionable father figure, only to be replaced by the likes of the two of you." He muses, casually.
I elbowed him lightly in the ribs, "Knock it off, Nik." I muttered, rolling my eyes. Damon looked sheepish, while Stefan looked at us with distain.
"Yeah, um. About that." Damon began, and Nik and I focused upon him. "Something happened." He looked at me urgently.
However, Nik intercepted.
"Yes, yes. We know all about my mother's invulnerable little creation." He stated, impatiently. "That's why I am here." Nik reveals, and both Damon and Stefan freeze and look at him suspiciously. "We're leaving town, just need to pick up a few road trip necessities. Spare tire, flashlight, doppelgänger…" He trailed off, and I look at him; feeling betrayed.
"Can't help you there." Damon replied, before clapping a hand on Stefan's shoulder, pulling him back and slamming the door in our faces. I immediately turned on my fiancé, who stares me down, unfazed.
"Did you just lie to my face, Nik?" I demanded, as Nik starts to pace the front porch. "Telling me exactly what I wanted to hear, just so you could get your own way?!" I was furious. Nik pauses and stoops down to pick up the rolled-up newspaper by the front door. He turns and looks at me with hard eyes.
"Of course not, darling. I have every intention of helping you." Nik responded, and I looked at him with confusion as he examines the newspaper calculatingly. "Just tying up some loose ends before we go."
My phone suddenly buzzes from the pocket of my dungarees. I pull it out and glance down at caller ID: It was Damon.
"I'll be right back." I announced to Nik, who nods, still examining the newspaper and then glancing up at the front window where we could both see into the living room.
"I'll be here." Nik replies absently as I stride off towards the main sidewalk to answer the phone.
"Care to explain yourself, Damon?" I demanded, turning to look at the Gilbert's living room window, and spotted Damon; his phone clamped to his ear, looking right back at me and at Nik who was still contemplating something involving the newspaper in his hand.
"Not particularly." Damon responds, bluntly. "But suffice it to say, Elena's not here." He adds, and I gape at him in disbelief.
"What?" I blurted out, grabbing Nik's attention as he frowned at me curiously then glanced at Damon, who stiffened. "Where did she go?"
"Inquiring minds want to know. But smart money seems to point towards the high school to save Caroline." Damon guessed.
"Son-of-a-bitch!" I muttered, angrily. "Little miss martyr strikes again." I quipped, and I saw Damon's eyebrow rise.
"Aren't you about to do the exact same thing yourself?" Damon pointed out and I tightened my grip on the baseball bat, to prevent myself from doing something I might regret.
"The difference is, I have indestructible back-up to aid me. Elena doesn't." I stated, using the bat to point at Nik who had straightened up, focusing determinedly on the window. I knew almost immediately what was about to happen next. My eyes widened in horror. "Oh, shit…" I muttered.
"What is it?" Damon demanded immediately.
"What's going on?" I both heard and saw Bonnie walk into the living room, followed closely by Stefan who looks out the window at Nik and me.
"Klaus wants in, we have to keep him out." Stefan explained to Bonnie. I hear Damon click his phone off and wonder over to peer out of the blinds for a better look at what might have gotten me so afraid. His eyes widen in alarm when Nik suddenly pulls back his arm; his blue-green eyes hardened with anger.
"Don't, Nik!" I shouted and ran towards him. But Nik hurls the newspaper at the window with his vampire strength and it smashes through, flying straight into the living room. Damon, Stefan, and Bonnie all duck for cover. "Oh, God…" I moaned exasperatedly.
"I think you're probably gonna want to let us in!" Nik shouted insistently. His request is understandably ignored; presumably because all of them inside were probably trying to figure out where Elena could've possibly gone and why she didn't bother to tell anybody.
"Nik, you needn't bother. Elena isn't even in there!" I told him, and he paused in front of the neighbor's white picket fence to turn and look at me incredulously.
"How pray tell do you know that my sweet?"
"Damon told me just before you lobbed that newspaper into the house." I explained.
"They could've just been saying that to protect her." Nik pointed out, and I rolled my eyes as I watched him rip out two fence pickets and pick up a child's soccer ball from the neighbor's front yard. A devilish smirk spread across his face.
"Paranoid much?" I muttered, dryly. Nik ignored me and kicked the soccer ball hard towards the front door, which bursts open and allows the ball to fly in. "Besides, Damon is on our side, remember?"
"Then why is he here then?" Nik asked, walking up the porch with the fence pickets in his hands. I shrugged impatiently at him.
"How should I know?" I retorted. "Wait, don't!" I intercepted too late as I watched Nik hurl one of the pickets into the house and panicked when it narrowly missed Damon's head, sticking into the wall behind him.
"Get down!" Stefan hollers at Bonnie and Jeremy, who was looking at Nik in bewilderment, and pulls them down behind the breakfast counter.
"Hey!? Watch it!" Damon growled, indignantly. Stefan rose to his feet and tugged the picket that nearly bisected Damon's head and throws it back at Nik, which grazes over his shoulder. In retaliation, Nik breaks the other picket in two and chucks it inside again; breaking a picture. "You missed him!" Damon jeers and I scowled at him unamused as Nik strides off to retrieve something. I made to run inside to confront Damon, but he intercepted me before I could take a step through.
"Have you got a death wish?! Help me end the siege!" I yelled at him, impatiently. Stefan's phone suddenly rings inside, and both Damon and I turned to look at him almost immediately.
"Alaric." Stefan immediately looks furious. Something that smelt sharp and metallic like petrol wafts into my nose, and I turned and saw Nik striding up to the porch holding a propane tank and a lit newspaper aloft. Damon swore underneath his breath and shields me behind him for protection; getting ready to pick me up and leap for our lives onto the front lawn, as Stefan comes up to the front door. "Put it out." He demands to Nik, firmly.
"Come outside and make me." Nik taunts him and raises an eyebrow in surprise when Stefan acquiesces.
"Elena's not here. Alaric has her and Caroline and he's gonna kill them both unless you turn yourself over to him." Stefan announces. We mentally sigh with relief when Nik drops the propane tank and newspaper. I stepped in front of Stefan to give him a piece of my mind.
"Are you insane? Do you really think that Nik is just going to willingly walk towards certain death just to rescue Elena and Caroline?" I questioned him, leaning into Nik when he steps up behind me and wraps an arm around my waist, in an attempt to calm me down.
"I concur." Nik echoes my sentiments.
"I really wish we could. Unfortunately, if Alaric kills you, there's a one in four chance that we will die too." Stefan states, and I give him a sour look.
"Gee, did you just figure that out?" I asked sarcastically and winced a little when Nik pinched my side warningly.
"I'm happy to take those odds." Damon piped up, and I aimed my glare on him. Stefan turns to look at his brother.
"And there's a hundred percent chance that Tyler dies also." He pointed out and Damon looks frustratingly nonchalant.
"I'm good with that too."
"Yeah, well I'm not. I'm over all this death nonsense." I complained, and I break away from Nik's embrace and started to pace the porch, agitatedly. "Look, as much as it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to even say this, why don't we figure out a way to put Alaric down, so he can find some semblance of peace?" I suggested.
A few minutes later, it is Nik and Stefan who are pacing the front porch, while I take a seat on the steps and Damon is leaning against the picket; both of us watching them calmly, waiting for them to come up with a solution to the problem since I was fresh out of ideas, and Damon was stubbornly being uncooperative.
Nik suddenly stops pacing and turns around. "Okay, how about Damon sneaks in and distracts Alaric, while Stefan grabs Elena and carries her to safety?" He suggests.
Damon makes a face, "Uh-huh, that's a great idea. What's to stop me from getting killed instantly?" He asks, flatly.
"Nothing." Nik replies, innocently.
"You're all forgetting that Caroline is in there too, boys." I pointed out, getting fed up with Nik and Damon throwing shade at each other. Stefan apparently agreed with me.
"This isn't really helping too much."
"I might have an idea." Bonnie pipes up, walking out from the house. All attention is directed towards her. "My mom used a desiccation spell on Mikael that immobilized him for over 15-years. If I can get it, I might be able to use it on Alaric." She suggested.
Nik looked skeptical, "If and might? Your words inspire such confidence."
Bonnie ignores him, choosing to focus on Damon and Stefan, and pretending that I wasn't there either. I rolled my eyes and got to my feet, reaching for Nik's hand when he gestured for me to walk to him. I cuddled up to him as he absently kisses my hair and rests his hand on my belly, possessively.
"I'll get it." The arrogant, little witch stated confidently. "But even with the spell, we'll need a lot of vampire muscle to take him down." She glances at Nik with hard eyes. "Including yours."
"Just so we're clear, the sun sets in about eight hours." Nik reminds them. "If we don't succeed before then, Elena will be dead, Grace and I will be gone, and the rest of you will be left to fend for yourselves."
Let's just hope the plan does succeed… I thought pessimistically.
Mystic Falls High School
Day
With the plan laid out, we all split up with the intention of meeting up at the school, after Damon and Bonnie retrieved the desiccation spell from Abby, Bonnie's mother. Stefan, Nik, and I pull up to the school's parking lot in Nik's car. We get out and Stefan's phone buzzes with a new text message.
"Abby just showed up." He tells us both.
"Good. Perhaps this plan won't be an epic failure after all." Nik replies, coolly. "You know, if this does go off and we drop the history teacher in the Atlantic, I'm still leaving with Elena." He reminds Stefan and I shudder at the mental picture.
Won't that be fun? I mentally drawled.
"I'll go with you." Stefan volunteered, and Nik threw him an amused, mocking smirk.
"Really? What's the catch?" He asks him, and I glance at Stefan, also curious and suspicious.
"There's no catch. I'd turn my back on everything here to make sure Elena's safe." Stefan declared.
I snorted, "That would be a very romantic gesture, if it wasn't so nauseatingly sad." I commented, and Stefan scowled at me.
"Now that was harsh, love. I think both Rebekah and Kol are rubbing off on you." Nik teased, affectionately. I let a tiny smile spread on my face.
"Hardly, Nik. Besides, you cannot tell me that you don't agree with me." I defended myself, and Nik chuckled.
"Of course, I do. But there is a time and a place for such things." Nik replied, tucking a loose bang behind my ear. I grinned at him, as Stefan rolled his eyes at our harmless public display of affection and walks away from us.
I giggled at this.
"Was it something we said?" I asked, innocently.
A short time later, Stefan, Nik and I eventually locate Damon and Bonnie who were trying to convince a reluctant and stubborn Jeremy to surrender his Gilbert Ring to them. I suddenly felt that familiar sensation of dread and doubt. Something bad was about to happen.
Nik greets them, all smiles. "Look at this, one big, happy family." Bonnie pulls out a small vial of blood from her pocket and holds it out so that Nik, Damon, and Stefan could see it.
"Drink this." She instructed them and Damon takes it, looking hesitant, and Jeremy and I looked on in curiosity. "It's my blood. It bridges us all together so that when I stop Jeremy's heart, you'll have the power to stop Alaric's." Bonnie explained, and I gaped at her in shock.
"Sorry? You're gonna do what to Jeremy?" I spoke up, feeling protective of him and a little sickened.
"They need to make a physical connection to Alaric's bloodstream; a vein, artery, something connected to his heart." Bonnie explained, before encouraging them to have at it with her blood. I pulled a face as Damon sips at the vial before handing it off to Stefan.
"If one of us gets a clean shot, take it, the other two: hold him down." He advises before taking a swig from the blood and passing the remainder to Nik. The feeling of dread would not go away, and I knew that somehow something fishy was going on. I immediately went over to Nik and gently grabbed his wrist, stopping him from drinking the rest and drawing his undivided attention.
"Don't, Nik. I don't trust them." I explained, and Nik frowned at me. "Something doesn't feel right about this." I urged him and Nik studied my face before nodding a little.
"I'm inclined to agree with you, sweetheart. But it's not like we have any other options." Nik whispered to me; his blue-green eyes filled with doubt. "Still, just to be safe…" He turns towards them, while I stood beside him eyeing them mistrustfully. "Before we all walk through those doors, let's get on the same page, shall we? I was the one who created your vampire bloodline, therefore I am responsible for your life and Tyler's life, Caroline's life, and of course, Abby's life, should anything go wrong."
Damon frowned at him, "Or you're just lying to save your ass."
"Damon, you know he's not lying. Nik told you so when we first learned after Sage died, that when an Original dies their entire sire line goes with them. Remember?" I chided him, and Stefan and Bonnie looked at Damon accusingly. Nik reached out and took my hand, stroking it soothingly with his thumb to calm me down, as it was obvious that my emotions were getting the better of me.
"But go ahead, call my bluff, let the teacher kill me." I tightened my grip in Nik's hand. "You'll all be dead soon thereafter." Nik swallows the remainder of Bonnie's blood, then tosses aside the vial and pulls me off to the sidelines. "Baby, I need you to calm down for me. Your heart is pounding like a jackhammer." Nik scolds me and I struggled to obey him.
"I can't help it, Nik. I don't want anything to happen to you." I panicked, and Nik sighed heavily and pulled me into a hug.
"Alright, sweetheart. Hush now, just relax and try to follow my breathing." Nik instructed, and I rested my head against his shoulder. "That's it; deep slow breaths. In and out, in and out." I closed my eyes. After a few minutes, I felt calmer. "Very good. Do you feel better now?" I nodded against his shoulder, and Nik pulls back to look me in the eyes. "You're forgetting that I'm unkillable, they cannot hurt me." Nik felt the need to remind me, and I chuckled weakly.
"I remember, Nik." I apologized for being silly.
He kisses my forehead, "You don't ever need to be sorry, love. I'm touched that you care." Nik reassures me. I cupped his cheek.
"Of course, I care. I love you, Nik." I whispered to him. A crooked smile spreads across Nik's face, and he kisses me gently.
"I love you too, Grace. Always and forever." He murmurs back before we pull apart and Nik leads me by the hand back over to the Salvatore's, Bonnie, and a concerned looking Jeremy.
"Everything okay?" Jeremy questioned, and I throw him a probably unconvincing smile.
"Peachy keen." I responded, squeezing Nik's hand. Stefan rolled his eyes, while Damon stared at us blankly. But I could see a hint of concern reflected in his baby blues also.
"Let's just get this over with, shall we?" Stefan said, derisively. Then he, Nik, and Damon turn and walk towards the school, leaving Jeremy and Bonnie behind. I moved to follow the three of them, when Damon suddenly stops me.
"Woah, woah. Where do you think you're going?" He asks me, stepping into my path. Nik and Stefan stop and look back at us impatiently, while I frowned at Damon's question.
"To save Caroline and Elena?" I answered, wondering if this was a trick question.
"No, you're not. You're gonna wait out here with Bonnie and Jeremy." Damon stated, and I immediately went to protest. But Nik unexpectedly backed Damon up.
"For once, I agree. Stay here. You'll only put yourself into danger and hinder us in our rescue." Nik said, and I opened my mouth to retort; but closed it again when Nik's eyes flashed at me, daring me to disobey him.
"Fine." I mumbled and took a seat beside Jeremy, as they blurred inside.
I pulled free a whetstone from my pocket and sulked as I started sharpening my daggers and machete to pass the time. I think I was so intent on my task that I didn't notice when Bonnie and Jeremy snuck away. Thanks for the heads up, jackasses… I thought, feeling surly as I tucked away the whetstone and stood up to stretch. I was nearly bowled over when a blonde blur by the name of Caroline suddenly crashed into me.
"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry!" A visibly freaked out Caroline started apologizing to me.
"Never mind about me, are you okay?" I asked, inspecting her from head to toe. She seemed unscathed; but then again, vampire healing worked miracles.
"I'm fine. But Elena's still in there with Alaric!" Caroline started to panic, and I made her focus on me.
"Shh! Calm down, Care. They'll save her." I reassured her, causing Caroline to frown at me.
"What about you?" She demanded, and I blinked at her in confusion.
"What about me?"
"Why aren't you in there with them?" She asked, hands on her hips as she looked at me disapprovingly. I sighed heavily.
"I was told to stay here for my own protection." I muttered, grumpily.
"Since when has that stopped you?" Caroline wanted to know, and I just looked at her blankly. "Look, I get that you don't like Elena—" Caroline began, and I instantly cut her off.
"What's my dislike for Elena got to do with this?" I accused, and Caroline looked wearily at me. "She might piss me off, but an innocent life is an innocent life, and I wouldn't abandon her intentionally." I chided her.
"So? What's stopping you?" Caroline demanded. I paused, hesitating. "Please, Elena's one of my best friends. Help her!" She pleaded, and I nodded reluctantly.
"I'll try. I just hope Nik or Damon don't skin me alive for ignoring them." I promised. "You better go." I suggested and Caroline nodded, looking relieved.
"Be careful." She blurred away and I turned towards the hallway, summoning up my courage before I rushed inside, praying that I didn't meet up with Alaric first.
Inside, I held up the baseball bat high for protection and hurried as silently as I could down the hallway of lockers, trying to locate where the rescue was taking place. I had just turned down another hallway when I heard something slam loudly into some out of sight lockers. I froze, slamming myself up against the wall, desperately swallowing a large lump in my throat.
"I should kill you." My eyes widened when I heard Alaric's menacing voice growling down at somebody. "I should gut you like Brian Walters, Bill Forbes, and all the other cowards I plan on ripping apart." My hands tightened on the handle of the baseball bat as the adrenaline pumped through my body. "You're the worst offender of them all, Elena." Fuck! "You don't deserve to live." Alaric declared.
"So then, why am I still alive?" Elena retorted, and I shut my eyes in exasperation, trying to summon my patience. Don't wave the red flag at him, Elena! "There's obviously no humanity left in you, so what's stopping you, Alaric? If you want me dead then kill me." She egged him on, and I prepared myself to run out to beat Alaric out of the way from Elena. "Do it! Kill me!" Elena screamed, and I immediately ran towards them. Just as I came into view, holding the baseball bat aloft, Alaric's eyes turned from red back to normal, and he lets Elena go.
"Let her go, dick!" I threatened and tensed when Alaric made to launch himself at me. But at the last second, Stefan and Damon rush in and grab Alaric by the arms.
"Do it now!" Damon shouts, before turning his angry eyes on me. "What part of stay outside where it's safe did you not understand?!"
Before I could respond, Alaric pushes them off him and breaks Stefan's back. As he drops to the floor, temporarily dead; Damon swore and I swung my bat hard at Alaric's head, aiming to stun him and cause him to see stars momentarily. But he grabs the bat, ignoring when his hand starts smoking from the vervain coating the wood and rips the bat out of my hand, throwing it over his left shoulder.
"Shit!" I muttered, then struggled and kicked when Alaric grabs me by the dungaree straps and hoists me into the air. I grabbed at his wrist, digging my nails into it trying to break his grip. Damon tackles Alaric, who lets go of me automatically, and I landed on my arse with an annoyed grunt. I got to my feet, in time to see Alaric snap Damon's neck, temporarily killing him as well. I looked away from Damon's body and moved to shield Elena protectively, staring down Alaric defiantly as he takes a step towards me, moving in for the kill.
"Time's up, girls." Alaric taunts us, and I reach for one of my daggers to defend us. Suddenly, Nik appears and rushes towards Alaric, shoving his hand into his chest.
"You picked the wrong girl to threaten." Nik snarled. However, Alaric somehow manages to pull Nik's hand out of his chest cavity and throws him to the ground.
"Nik!" I yelled, in alarm. Alaric walks over to him, grabs him, and hurls him against the lockers. Nik collapses into a heap and Alaric flips him over, preparing to stake him with the white oak stake. "Oh, no you don't!" I growled and plunged my dagger into the back of Alaric's hamstrings. He roars in pain, giving Nik the advantage but my distraction technique fails when Alaric continues to try and push the stake towards Nik's heart and my love tries desperately to push it away.
"Stop!" We all look at Elena, who is holding one of my daggers to her throat. I raise my hands up calmly and take a cautious step towards Elena, but she aims a warning look at me. "Let him go or I'll kill myself." Elena threatens.
"Put it down, Elena." Alaric orders.
"Or better still, give me back my dagger." I suggest instead. Elena ignores me, focusing on Alaric.
"Why? Because you still need me alive?" She questions him. "There's a reason why Esther used me to make you, isn't there?" Elena guessed. "She didn't want you to be immortal, so she tied your life to a human one. Mine." My eyes widened and I looked over at Nik, whose eyes were focused on Elena calculatingly. "That way you have only one life span to kill all vampires and then you'll be gone. So, when I die, you die too. That's it, it has to be!"
"Let's not find out." I suggested, calmly.
"You're wrong." Alaric tells her.
"Am I?"
"Is she?" I echoed, looking at Alaric disbelievingly. Elena decides to call Alaric's bluff and begins to drag my dagger across her throat. "No, STOP!" I scream and launch myself at her.
"Stop! STOP! STOP! STOP!" Alaric panics, giving Nik the opportunity to throw Alaric off him. He rushes at Elena and me, wraps an arm around both our waists and blurs away.
Mikaelson Mansion
Day
When Nik stopped running, I shook the cobwebs from my head and realized that he had blurred both Elena and me all the way back to the mansion. I took one glance at Elena and realized that she had passed out along the way. No surprise, she was still bleeding from the slight cut she made across her throat when she attempted to follow through with her bluff.
"Oh, no!" I immediately clamped my hands firmly down on the wound, feeling Elena's blood welling up between my fingers. "Quick! We gotta stop the bleeding." I said, frantically. Nik pushed me one side and ripped into his wrist, letting a mouthful of his blood trickle down Elena's throat. He then stood up, pulling me to my feet beside him; but didn't let go of my arm.
"Clean her up, and get things set up. I'll be right back." He orders one of his hybrids, and I looked at him in bewilderment, then flinched at the angry expression on his face that was directed towards me. "Come with me!" He snapped and led me upstairs towards our bedroom. I knew that he would be angry with me, but this was something new entirely. "How dare you!" He snarled through gritted teeth, the second after we went inside, and Nik slammed the door behind him. "How dare you put yourself in danger, and deliberately disobey me! Have you got no sense of self-preservation whatsoever?" He demanded as he paced like the wolf he was, in front of the fireplace, and I immediately got defensive.
"I was only trying to help!" I shouted back, and Nik whirled on me, furiously.
"Help?! What sort of help would you have been if Alaric had attacked you without warning? Fat lot of help you would've been with your limbs scattered throughout that bloody school!" Nik retorted, and I made a face at the mental image he painted with his words. I opened my mouth to say something else, but Nik raised a hand to silence me. He closed his eyes and shook his head firmly, obviously not wishing to continue discussing this subject and risk losing his temper. He stormed towards the door and flung it open, stomping down the corridor, without a second glance.
"Wait a minute! What about Elena?" I asked, jogging after him down the corridor.
"What about her?" Nik replied, curtly.
"Well, what did you mean when you asked them to set things up? What does it have to do with Elena?" I demanded, having a bad feeling about what Nik was up to.
"Nothing that you need to worry about." Nik responded, and I stepped into his path and frowned at him.
"Well, when you say things like that, all it does is make me worry." I insisted. "Look, I may not like the girl, but it doesn't mean that I want anything bad to happen to her." Nik walks around me towards the living room. "Nik, I know that I fucked up, and I'm sorry. But please, tell me what's going on." I pleaded, contrite. There was a knock at the door before Nik could answer me. Sighing, I turned and headed to answer the door, and blinked in confusion when I saw a nurse standing there. "May I help you?"
"Thank you for coming." Nik piped from behind me and opened the door wider, allowing the nurse entrance into the mansion. I stepped aside, and looked at Nik for an explanation, which he pointedly ignored as he smiled pleasantly at her. "Right this way, please." Nik gestured to the obviously compelled nurse who followed him robotically. I watched in bemusement as they walked towards the living room, where Nik had been the process of entering while I had been asking for an explanation.
Figuring that the arrival of the nurse was the answer to the question I had asked Nik, I followed both of them and saw Elena sitting upright in a chair, still unconscious.
"Seriously? You're collecting more blood from Elena?" I looked at Nik in disgust. "Rebekah's right, you are obsessed." I concluded, and Nik glowered at me for the comment.
"Don't you start." He warned. The nurse sets up the necessary equipment for the blood collection, and I stood in the doorway watching the whole process. Nik stood in front of the fireplace, glowering into the flames. My head jerked towards Elena, who suddenly stirred and gasps in pain when the compelled nurse inserts the needle into her arm.
"Be careful. Moving only makes it hurt more." She warns Elena, who frowns in confusion and then looks at me in surprise when she spots me standing in the doorway looking pained.
"Grace? What's going on?" Elena asks, then sees her blood starting to flow down a tube. "What are you doing?" She demands to the nurse, who doesn't respond.
"Draining you of all your blood." Nik responds to Elena's question, causing me to look at him in absolute horror, and Elena to suddenly realize that she was tied down to the chair she was sitting in.
"W-what?" I whispered and clammed up when Nik threw me a hard, 'do not question me' glare as the blood bag starts to fill up. Tyler walks into the room, carrying a box of Nik's stuff and freezes when he sees Elena and what is happening to her.
"Elena?" He puts down the box and walks towards her, only to pause when he sees me looking stressed. "Grace?" I shook my head at him, trying to warn him to stop what he was doing. He frowns at me, suspiciously.
"Tyler, help me!" Elena begs, frantically. Nik turns away from the fireplace and walks over to where Elena was tied down, and where Tyler was standing looking between Elena and me, and then at Nik when he approaches.
"He can't." Nik explained to Elena whose eyes widen in fear. "He needs to go fetch me some more empty blood bags." He glances at Tyler absently. "About three liters' worth, please Tyler." Nik instructs him, sternly.
"Tyler, please. Get Stefan, please." Elena pleads.
"No, Tyler, get the bags." Nik orders one more time, raising his voice. I frowned suspiciously at Tyler when he hesitated instead of immediately going to do Nik's bidding like before. Then he rushes to help Elena, shocking me completely. Nik intercepts him, before he could do anything. "Forget the girl and get the bags. Now!" Nik snaps. Tyler looks once again at Elena before turning and walking from the room.
Elena glares at me, hatefully. "Why aren't you stopping this? Even you must know how wrong this is!" I just looked at her blankly before avoiding eye contact. "Or are you too wrapped around Klaus's finger to give a damn?" She added spitefully. I snapped my head up to look at her in outrage.
"Okay. Just for that comment, you can go to hell. You save your own damn hide, you ungrateful little bitch." I spat venomously. Elena's eyes widened at my words, then she froze when Nik walked up behind her and grasped the back of the chair.
"So, that's it? You're just gonna bleed me dry?" Elena guessed, and Nik smiled pleasantly at her; but the warmth never reached his eyes.
"Yes, but don't worry, it'll be completely painless." He told condescendingly. "As the last drop is drawn, you'll simply fall asleep." He stated, and I glanced at the tube, drawing away Elena's life pull by pull with morbid interest. Sure, death by exsanguination was a horrible way to die; but the way Nik described it, didn't make it sound as bad as it really was.
The nurse returned periodically to switch out the filled blood bag for a fresh one, and every time this happened I could see Elena getting weaker and weaker. Guilt started creating muffins in the pit of my stomach.
"What about your hybrids?" Elena slurred. "You'll need more than this to create your army." Nik reaches out and takes a blood bag from the nurse. He shrugged, carelessly.
"These last few liters will have to suffice." Nik explained, and I turned to leave the room; unable to continue watching Elena wasting away. I walked over to take a seat on the steps, and somehow could still hear the conversation in the next room. "You see, by attempting to kill us, my mother strengthened the bond between my siblings and me. I don't need hybrids. I have my family."
I buried my head into my knees, and without meaning to; some tears leaked from my eyes because of my despair. I heard Elena make the tiniest scoff.
"If you believe that, then why take my blood at all?" I looked up, frowning. "You want a backup family. You know that your siblings will never trust you again." Elena pointed out, and Nik paused, obviously letting her words sink in before responding in a typical Klaus-like way: denying it completely.
"Never is an awfully long time, love. They may trust me again in time, or not. I honestly don't care." Nik responded, dismissively. Oh, but you do, Nik. That's the thing. You're just too stubborn and prideful to admit it… I thought sympathetically.
"Sweet dreams, Elena. It's been fun." Nik murmured to her, before I hear his footsteps approaching the foyer as he left Elena to her fate. I sat up a little straighter and wiped the tears from my eyes as Nik came into view. He paused and took in the sorrow on my face, and the redness of my eyes, and the hardness on his face softened a little.
"Hey." I greeted him and pulled myself to my feet. Nik suddenly raised a finger to his lips and gestured to the other room. 'What?' I mouthed at him, and Nik shook his head in response before doing an about-face and walked back into the living room. I followed out of curiosity and concern. I inwardly groaned when we saw Tyler attempting in vain to liberate Elena from the chair.
Elena's eyes sluggishly widened when she spotted us, or more specifically, Nik. "Tyler." She tried to warn her friend, and he turns and glares defiantly at Nik.
"So much for that sire bond." Nik's voice was as smooth as silk.
"I'm not your little bitch anymore." Tyler announced, earning a dangerous smile from Nik. He walked towards him, calmly.
"How did you break the sire bond?" Nik asked, pleasantly.
"By breaking every bone in my body, a hundred times for the girl I love." Tyler explained, smugly. I raised an eyebrow. Caroline's a lucky girl… I thought doubtfully. Nik looked surprised, then frowned.
"That's impossible." He declared.
"Is it?" Tyler taunted him, walking right up to his former master. "Or maybe real love is stronger than fake loyalty." I bristled at that, not noticing Nik looking over at me with solemn eyes. "But what would you know about that?" Tyler sneered. I stomped over to him and slapped him so hard across the face that his teeth slammed together, and his head turned sharply.
"You've got a lot of nerve, Tyler. You have absolutely no idea the kind of life Nik has lived through." I seethed. "And what's more, you don't give a shit. You deserve everything that's coming to you." I felt Nik reach over and seized me by the wrist, pulling me to his side as Tyler turns back to glare at me, wiping at a trickle of blood that dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"You know, you should be thanking me." Nik pointed out, squeezing my hand in gratitude, as he continued talking down at Tyler. "I gave you a gift. I took away your misery."
"You didn't give a crap about me! You just didn't want to be alone!" Tyler shouted.
"Wrong! He's not alone. He's got me, and despite their obvious differences, he's got his brothers and Rebekah. Even if he makes their lives difficult at times." I retorted, angrily. Tyler ignored me and turned to walk back to Elena, helping her up from the chair, and supporting her weakened condition.
"Come on." He coaxes her. However, Nik breaks away from my side and rushes towards Elena pushing her down. Her head ricochets off a ledge and knocks her unconscious just as Nik grabs Tyler by the throat and slams him against a wall.
"Goodbye, Tyler." Nik says to him and tries to pull Tyler's heart from his chest. However, Tyler turns the tables on Nik and twists his arm around.
"Stop it! What are you doing!" I shouted at Tyler in alarm and jerked my head towards the door when Stefan and Damon barrel into the room. Stefan charges at Nik and plunges his hand into his chest. I wail in horror. "No, stop! Nik!" Nik looks at Stefan with betrayal, and he slowly starts to desiccate. "Leave him alone! Nik! Nik, please don't leave me!" I sobbed, rushing over to stop Stefan. But Damon grabs me around the waist stopping me from getting closer. "Let me go! Nik!"
Nik continues to become more decrepit looking, and I struggle and buck against Damon, trying to get free. I managed to get one arm free and reached for Nik. His eyes swiveled in my direction as he finally becomes completely neutralized. Damon finally lets me go, and I scramble to Nik's side, sobbing uncontrollably.
"What have you done!?" I sobbed angrily. "Nik, I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me…" I whimpered and jerked back in shock when his eyes opened and stared right at me. "Nik…" I lowered my face to his chest and started crying into it.
"We should get her home before the sun sets." I hear Stefan suggest and I raise my head from Nik's chest and see Stefan, Damon and Tyler crowding around and helping Elena to her feet. However, Damon shakes his head and takes a step away from them.
"Damon?" Elena whispers, sounding hurt.
"Do what you want. I'm staying here." Damon stated, coldly. Stefan and Tyler escort Elena from the house, and Damon turns and squats down beside me, putting a comforting hand on my back. However, I immediately shrugged it off.
"Go with them." I spoke up, and Damon looked at me with surprise. "I want to be alone with him." I stated, feeling numb.
"Are you sure? They'll be back for him soon." Damon reminded me and I nodded.
"Elena needs you more than I do." I pointed out, coldly. "Besides, if you truly wanted to help, you wouldn't have held me back when it could've counted. You could've saved him." I indicated to Nik who was swiveling his eyes between us both, looking at me with sorrow. Damon looked a little crestfallen but nodded and left. As soon as I knew he was gone, I started sobbing again.
"Don't you worry, Nik. I'm going to fix this. I'll revive you somehow. I promise." I vowed. I eventually fell asleep, cocooning myself protectively around Nik.
I reawaken what seemed like hours later, lying on the Mikaelson's overstuffed sofa with no clue how I got there. Nik's body had completely vanished; which meant that somebody had obviously picked me up and deposited me onto this sofa, then stolen Nik's desiccated body. I would bet you everything that I had that it was Damon who put me here. Stefan wouldn't have bothered, and Tyler was probably off with the others celebrating that Nik had been seemingly defeated, if he hadn't assisted Stefan. I sat up, rubbing at my tired eyes, and swiveled myself around to sit instead of reclining on the sofa.
I knew that there would be nothing now to stop Stefan and Tyler travelling to the nearest cliff with Nik's body, and depositing it into the Atlantic Ocean. I knew I was racing against time to stop this from happening, but at the same time I was at a loss about how to go about this. I reached for my phone and speed-dialed the one person who had the potential to set things right.
"Thank you for calling. I am unable to take your call at the moment. Please leave me your name, number and message and I'll return your call at the earliest opportunity." I rolled my eyes at the overly formal voicemail greeting. Have you not got an informal bone in your body, brother? I cleared my throat.
"Elijah? This is Grace. I need your help." I greeted, sorrowfully. I hung up immediately after recording the message, and nearly threw the phone across the room when it started ringing. "Hello?" I answered tentatively.
"Grace? I just got your message. What seems to be the problem?" Elijah greeted me. I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from crying again. But somehow, Elijah heard me. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He sounded urgent, and I swallowed hard.
"Could you come home, please? What I've got to say can't be said over the phone." I asked.
"Of course. I'll see you soon." Elijah replied without hesitation.
"Thank you. Bye." I mumbled and hit the end button. I started to whimper and curled up into a ball on the sofa, sobbing into my knees.
"Grace?" I glanced up and saw a serious Kol standing in the doorway, with a frowning Henrik standing beside him. His mischievous brown eyes widened when he saw my tears. "My God, darling. What's happened?" Kol walked briskly into the room and took a seat beside me, cradling me in his arms. Henrik perched beside me on the armrest, looking worried.
"Nik…" I stuttered, and Kol immediately looked thunderous.
"What about him? What has he done?" He demanded. I shook my head frantically.
"It's not something that he's done, Kol. It's what's happened … to him." I hurried to explain.
"What? What happened to Nik?" Henrik asked, confused. I spent the next few minutes explaining to Kol and Henrik exactly what transpired in their absence, and by the time I had finished, Kol was baying for blood.
"I'm going to kill them." He vowed, livid. I couldn't help a small smile spread across my face when I heard Kol swear vengeance for his brother. That's the funny thing about families; no matter how many times you announce that you hate them or want to kill them for one reason or another, the love is always going to be there regardless.
"Who is going to kill whom?" We turned our heads when Elijah suddenly stepped into the room, all business like and stern-faced. "Who has wronged you this time, Kol?"
"Elijah!" I brightened and instantly ran to him, seeking his comfort. Elijah warmly returned my embrace and kissed the crown of my head.
"Well, Kol?" Elijah prompted, heading over to the wet bar and helping himself to a scotch. I retook my seat beside Kol.
"You better make that a double, brother." Kol suggested. "And while you're there, fix Grace and I one." Elijah scowled at him in annoyance, but complied nevertheless, while I protested.
"No, thank you. I'm fine." I insisted. But Kol grabbed my hand and started stroking his thumb across my knuckles, comfortingly.
"Trust me, poppet, you look like you need one." Kol insisted, and I reluctantly accepted the tumbler from Elijah and took a tentative sip. "It seems that our brother has gotten himself in trouble." Kol explained to Elijah who perched on the second sofa.
"What sort of trouble?" Elijah asked, also taking a sip from his drink.
"Nik has been desiccated, Elijah." I explained, causing him to pause mid-sip and look at me with shock. "Like Mikael was 15-years ago by Abby Bennett."
Elijah swallowed as his brown eyes filled up with anger.
"I see. Who is responsible for this?" He demanded.
"Stefan Salvatore and Tyler Lockwood." Kol replied almost immediately, with a nasty little smirk on his face that made me shudder.
"With help from Bonnie Bennett." I added. Elijah nodded, and mulled this over in his head, letting it sink in. "We haven't got much time, Elijah. Nik's body has already been taken, who knows what's going to happen to him." I stated, urgently.
"Calm yourself, sister. We'll sort this out." Elijah promised me, using soothing tones. "Does Rebekah know?" He asked me, and I shook my head.
"No, but she will soon enough. I'll make sure of it." I vowed, angrily. Elijah nodded once again, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "What do we do now?"
"I think I shall go and have a little chat with Elena and her little friends." Elijah decided, ever the diplomat. "I shall get to the bottom of this. You can be sure of that." He promised.
"I'm coming with you." I declared and Elijah raised an eyebrow at my decision.
"Are you sure that's wise, Grace?" He asked, and I nodded fiercely.
"Very sure. I want them to pay for what they have done to Nik." I said, and Kol grinned at the venom in my tone.
"That's our girl!" He crowed, proudly. "Don't you agree, brother?" Kol asked Elijah who rolled his eyes at Kol's enthusiasm about revenge. But I was sure that I saw a tiny smirk touch his lips, and I knew that he agreed completely with Kol.
"Oh, boy. Those guys are in for a rude awakening." Henrik declared, looking mildly uncomfortable with our plotting.
Two Days Later...
I reached out a freshly manicured hand and pulled one of Nik's leather jackets from its hanger. I was dressed in black from head to toe; from my hair, which I had shoved into a tidy bun held into place with hair chopsticks, all the way to my black ankle boots with a spiked heel. I was on a mission.
"Grace, sweetheart? Are you decent?" I heard Elijah's voice call out from behind the bedroom door. I stepped from the walk-in and walked towards the bed, tossing Nik's jacket onto it as I called out.
"Yes, you may come in." I replied, and the door opened revealing a pensive Elijah.
"Are you positive you wish to come along with me today?" He asked, with concern.
It had been two days since Stefan and Tyler desiccated and stolen Nik from underneath our noses, and word on the grapevine was that Elena had collapsed and was taken to the hospital. Today would be day two of her return from there, and also time for her and her band of fools (minus Caroline, Jeremy and Damon) to face the music of their actions. I offered my brother a cold smile as I shrugged on Nik's jacket. A faint aroma of his cologne still clung to the leather.
"Quite positive. You don't mess with this family, and not expect that there will not be consequences to their actions." I replied, walking to the door. "Shall we?"
"Of course." Elijah agreed with a tight smile, as he stepped back to allow me through the door first. "But while I admire your dedication to our family, dear, don't let your emotions cloud your judgement. If you show hostility, we won't get what we desire in the long run." Elijah advised me, and I paused halfway down the steps. "Do you understand?" He asked, firmly.
"Yes. I'll do anything to get him back." I responded, clenching my hand in a tight fist.
"And we will. I promise." Elijah said, sincerely. Kol appeared from the next room, and paused at the bottom of the steps.
"How are you feeling, darling?" He asks me, tenderly. I offered him the same cold smile I gave to Elijah back in Nik's room.
"Better. The pain still comes in waves, but it'll be worth it in the long run when we get Nik back." I said, taking Kol's offered hand and squeezing it. I miss the concerned expressions exchanged between both brothers as Elijah and I eventually walk out the front double doors and drive to the Gilbert's in Elijah's car. Nik's car still was there, but I planned to drive it back to the mansion when this whole mess was sorted out. We drove in semi-silence, only broken by the easy listening music playing from the radio, and eventually pulled up to the Gilbert's house.
Gilbert Residence
Day
"Shall we?" Elijah asks me, and I nodded once. We get out of the car, and I stride two paces behind my brother as he calmly walks up the front porch and wraps his knuckles on the front door. I paused on the bottom step, deciding to let the surprise of Elijah's return register with Elena before making it clear that she and the rest were in deep shit, unless they agreed to our compromise. "Relax, love. Your pulse is racing." Elijah tells me, and I draw in a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down.
The front door opens, revealing a tired, peaky Elena who immediately pales when she sees stern-faced Elijah standing on her doorstep.
"Stefan." She whispers, urgently. Almost immediately, Stefan and Matt, who happened to be standing nearby, looked over to the front door and spotted Elijah. Stefan came walking up to stand behind Elena, and I bristled almost instantly, still picturing the image of Stefan plunging his hand into Nik's chest as the love of my life slowly desiccated before my eyes.
"Hello again." Elijah greeted the couple, politely. "May we come in?" He asks, and they look confused.
"We?" Elena blurts out, and Elijah merely steps to one side to reveal me standing behind him. I see Elena's face pale even further and Stefan suddenly look agitated. My brother extends a hand towards me, and I slowly take it; feeling uncomfortable underneath the concerned look Elijah was giving me.
"Yes, Grace and me." Elijah explains with a tight smile, as he pulls me to his side; not releasing my hand. "Sorry to say that our presence here is not a social call, but rather one of business." Elena and Stefan's eyes swivel towards me, and my eyes narrow angrily at them. I relax a little when Elijah's hand descends onto my shoulder; anchoring me to the here and now, so I didn't do something drastic, like punch Elena in the face or donkey kick Stefan in the nuts. "May we come in?" Elijah repeats himself.
"Uh, of course." Elena responds weakly, and opens the door wider as she steps aside to allow us access. "What can we do for you?" She asks with exaggerated politeness.
"We're here to discuss Nik, as a matter of fact." I spoke up for the first time, smirking coldly at Elena and Stefan who stiffen when he is mentioned.
Elijah, Matt, Stefan, Elena and I relocated to the kitchen, where it seemed somebody had been in the process of cooking something before our arrival. Matt, Stefan and Elena perch or crowd around the breakfast counter, while I slouch casually in the kitchen doorway with my arms across my chest, and Elijah paces the length of the kitchen while attempting to negotiate with them for the past five minutes.
"From what you have told me about the situation, it seems that all we need is to take that stake away from him." Elijah deduced, like it was obvious. "Once he's been disarmed, the weapons in my possession, my family will scatter to the ends of the Earth and Alaric will follow us." He promised. My eyes widened a micro fraction, as I mentally questioned if I was a part of that 'family' equation, or if they were going to abandon me here in Mystic Falls as a misguided attempt to protect me, a lowly human.
Like hell would I let that happen… I thought stubbornly, as Stefan walks over to take a seat beside Elena.
"And you'll just run?" He asks Elijah, sceptically. My brother nodded, not fazed by the younger vampire's doubts.
"We've done it before. Klaus and Rebekah spent the better part of a thousand years evading my father. What's another half-century while Elena is able to live out the rest of her natural life?" Elijah confirmed.
"Will Grace be joining you?" Matt asks, pointing towards where I was standing.
"That goes without saying." Elijah frowned, and I sag with relief as Elena looked worried.
"We've finally stopped him, Elijah." She stated, referring to Nik. "After everything that he's done to us. I can't just let you bring him back." Elena insisted.
"Well, sometimes we all have to face facts, that life is not fair, sweetheart. I've accepted this, it's about time you did as well." I piped up, sounding snide.
"Grace…" Elijah warned me sternly as Elena glared at me and I fluttered my eyes at her and smirked. **"Œrinn, dýrr! gereigir defy mik!" He raised his voice using old Norse, and I backed down and glared at the floor. Elijah sighed with exaggerated patience before responding to Elena's plea. "I give you my word, Elena. We will not revive Klaus within yours nor even within your children's lifetimes. Perhaps that will finally teach him some manners." Elijah hoped. I looked at him, sceptically.
On what planet? I thought sardonically. Matt frowned, and caught Elijah's attention.
"Why should she trust you? All you've done is screw her over." He pointed out.
Elijah looked shamefaced, "And for that, I am deeply ashamed." He stated, and Elena smiled gratefully at him, then flinched back when Elijah frowned fiercely at the three of them. "But know this, she could have been dead the instant we walked through that door tonight." He looked pointedly in my direction, indicating that if I had my way; Stefan and Elena would be punished quite severely. "So Elena, I leave it to you to make the decision whether to trust me or not."
I closed my eyes in despair. Elijah might as well have dumped his brother into the ocean personally. Sometimes his diplomacy really irked me. I jumped ten feet into the air when Bonnie's voice suddenly interrupts.
"How do we know your psycho siblings won't kill Elena the first chance they get?!" She demanded, and I scowl accusingly at the trio when I realised that Bonnie's voice was coming from Elena's phone on the breakfast counter. However, I was surprised when Elijah didn't appear irritated that Bonnie had apparently been listening into the conversation the entire time.
"Bonnie? Where the hell are you communicating to us from?" I wanted to know.
"I'm giving her a lift somewhere." Damon's voice cuts in and I raise an eyebrow. Since when would Bonnie willingly bum a ride from somebody she despises?
"Could you be more specific?" I asked, shortly. But Elijah intercepts before Damon could respond if he chose to respond.
"Rebekah and Kol will honour the terms." He promises as their proxy. "If you return Klaus' body to us, Elena will come to no harm." Elijah stresses, and Elena looks at Stefan. "Do we have a deal?"
Stefan shrugs, "It's up to you, Elena." He says as Elena looks hesitant.
"Why do you want Klaus's body?" She asks.
"He's my brother." Elijah responded, matter of fact. "And Grace's fiancé. We remain together." It appears that none of them liked this answer that Elijah had given them, since they continued to procrastinate further and have a silent discussion between them. Eventually, Elena sighs and nods her consent.
"We have a deal."
While Elijah and Elena go over the finer details of the arrangement, I excuse myself and head to the bathroom to relieve myself. I had just finished washing my hands and exited the loo, when I noticed that the front door was open ajar, indicating that whoever opened it was in a hurry. I walked closer to the door to close it when I froze hearing muted conversation on the front porch. I pause directly behind the door and inclined my head so I could make out what was being said.
"So what are you gonna do?" I heard Matt's voice ask, solemnly. I frowned, who was he talking to that wasn't already sitting in the kitchen playing bodyguard for Elena?
"I dunno." I raised an eyebrow. When did Jeremy get back? "It'd be expected that I'd want to run inside, grab Elena, and get her out of here and away from all this." Jeremy responded. "But Klaus and Grace helped me out, and I don't want to betray them after everything they've done for me." He confessed, sounding conflicted.
"Jeremy, this your sister we're talking about, the only family you've got. You should go with your gut instincts." Matt urged.
"Look even if I was in favour of getting Elena the hell outta here, good luck getting her past all the vampires in there." Jeremy pointed out. "I even got cornered by Alaric, demanding to know where Klaus's body is. But I have no idea." Jeremy stated, frustrated.
"I do." Matt replied after a couple of seconds, and sighed heavily. My eyes widened when I heard them get to their feet, and sprinted as silently as I could in the direction of the bathroom just as the front door opened and both boys stepped in. I made a show of looking like I had just finished my business and was on the way back to the kitchen.
"Grace!" I was nearly bowled over by Jeremy who came over to hug me. I awkwardly returned the hug. "Are you okay? I heard what happened to Klaus." Jeremy greeted me, and I smiled bitterly.
"I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard, mate." I mumbled despondently. Then feigned curiosity at the suspicious look on Matt's face. "You alright there, Matt?" I asked, and the blonde gave me a fake smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He replied. I nodded, and the three of us returned to the kitchen. "Hey, Jeremy's got an idea about how we can lure Alaric out into the open so we can get that stake off him." Matt announced, and I tried to hide the knowing smirk on my face when Elena and Stefan instantly brightened.
"Go ahead." Elijah prompted.
"I know where Klaus's body is being hidden." Matt confessed, and pales a little at the stern scowl Elijah gives him for not being upfront about this knowledge a little sooner. Jeremy pulls out his phone and waits for the instructions. We all stare at him expectantly, and Matt looks uncomfortable at the attention.
"Apparently Klaus's body is hidden in a storage unit a few miles from here." Matt reveals.
"Are you telling us the truth?" Elijah asks, calmly. Matt nods, and I let out a relieved sigh and Jeremy accesses Alaric's speed-dial; putting it on loudspeaker so that everyone here who wasn't a vampire could hear.
"Yes?" Alaric's bored sounding voice answers. Jeremy looks nervous, so I walk over and take his free hand causing the 16-year-old to look at me in surprise. I smiled reassuringly and encouragingly at him.
'Go on.' I mouthed at him, and Jeremy smiled, drawing in a deep breath as I release his hand and retreat back to where I had been standing before.
"I know where Klaus's body is." Jeremy tells Alaric.
"Good. Tell me." Alaric demands, sharply. Jeremy swallows hard, but frowns with a determination as he improvises a false location.
"Damon's on his way to bury him in the woods off route 12. I'll text you with the specifics." Jeremy lied convincingly. I was impressed. Who knew he could be Machiavellian when the situation warranted it? I could picture Alaric wearing an evil, triumphant smirk on his face at this moment.
"Thank you, Jeremy. You're doing the right thing for your sister." Alaric promised, and I glanced over at Elena who was looking at her brother with a troubled expression on her face.
"I know." Jeremy agreed, looking over and locking eyes with Elena as he hangs up. I straighten up from my lean, while everyone else looks at him with either admiration or disapproval.
"Looks like he bought it." I commented needlessly, before pulling out my phone and accessing my text messages.
"Who are you texting?" Jeremy asked.
"Rebekah. Just keeping her informed about Nik's whereabouts." I replied, not looking up from my texting. Just before I hit send I looked up cautiously at Elijah who had a blank expression on his face. "Is that okay?" I asked him.
"By all means." He responded with a small smile, as I hit send.
Soon after, Stefan and Elena disappear upstairs presumably to her room, while Elijah leaves with Jeremy to go to the false location to intercept Alaric and try to stop him long enough to disarm him from the indestructible white oak stake. I had originally intended on going with them to help, but Elijah firmly suggested that I stayed put; despite my strong reservations about being stuck in the Gilbert house with one of Nik's attackers.
'It's for your own safety, Grace.' He had insisted, and even though I hated and resented the idea, I knew better than to argue with him. So I resigned myself to go and sit on the swing chair on the Gilbert's front porch, waiting for my brother to return, hopefully with the stake in hand. Heavy footfalls grab my attention, and thinking that it was Alaric, I immediately brandished my dagger at the intruder, only to mellow when I realised that it was only Rebekah. She eyes my blade, unimpressed.
"Jumpy much, love?" She drawls at me, and I scowl at her unamused as I sheathed the dagger.
"What are you doing here, Bekah?" I questioned, solemnly.
"Not moping about for starters." Rebekah replied, ignoring the glare I aimed at her. "I'm going to the storage unit you mentioned to rescue Nik. Figured you'd like to come along?" She guessed, and I immediately got to my feet and walked over to her.
"You figured right. Let go get our Nik back." I said, and got into Rebekah's car and sat back in my seat and relaxed, knowing that I was only a car trip away from seeing Nik again and hopefully rescuing him.
Storage Units
Night
Rebekah and I made it to the storage units, and I took one look at the massive building and swore colourfully underneath my breath.
"Christ! It's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack." I despaired.
"Well, it would, if we weren't meeting Damon here for his assistance." Rebekah retorted and I looked at her in surprise.
"Oh, yeah. Of course!" I replied and then smiled slyly at her, which made my sister look at me cautiously. "So how is everything going with Damon?" I asked curiously, as the elevator we had just stepped into started making its descent. Rebekah looked at me with a raised eyebrow, probably questioning why I was asking at a time like this. Which was true, but I couldn't help but wonder since I hadn't seen them together for any long length of time recently.
"Is this really important?" Rebekah snapped, and I shrugged.
"It's a distraction." I said, and Rebekah looked at me, miffed.
"My love life, or lack thereof, is a source of distraction for you?"
"Yeah?" I replied, like it was obvious. Rebekah sighed heavily, scowling at me before replying to the question.
"I honestly don't know." She responded. "I'm still questioning whether Damon is right for me, or if I should break things off before Nik kills him or I do." Rebekah stated, brutally honest. My eyes widened in alarm.
"No, you are not going to kill him if things don't work out between you. He's one of my best friends, Bekah! And I'll never forgive you if you do." I warned her sternly, making Rebekah pout and glare at the elevator doors.
"Well, we haven't gotten to that point just yet, sweetie. So calm down." The elevator dings, and the door slides open. "Let's just rescue Nik and get the hell out of this horrendous place."
"Agreed." I said, as I followed Rebekah out of the elevator and started looking around at the endless corridors of roller doors and groaned in frustration.
"Damon! Damon, where are you?" Rebekah yells, impatiently. She starts walking down a random corridor, and I follow like a duckling behind her. "Damon, this isn't funny." She complains in annoyance when we don't come across, or Damon makes himself known after a few moments.
I pause and suddenly feel like somebody was watching me, and every instinct I possessed as a medium told me that it wasn't anything good. I quickly jog to catch up with Rebekah who had walked on without me, and as we turn down another row of storage lockers, something reaches out and grabs me and Rebekah from behind; covering our mouths with their hands so we didn't scream. I glanced behind and sagged in relief when I saw Damon's face … then wanted to slug him for scaring the crap outta me.
"Rebekah. Grace. Shhh!" Damon whispers to us, urgently. What I had wanted to say to him died on my lips as I took in the anxious expression on his face. For once, Rebekah also had no snarky remark to throw at him either. Instead, we follow Damon towards a nearby storage unit marked with the label '1020' and watched him snap of the padlock with a simple flick of his wrist. Damon rolled up the unit door as quietly as he could, revealing a large burnished black coffin waiting inside with piles of other junk. "C'mon, let's go!" He urges. The three of us quickly push Nik's coffin out and wrestle the bloody thing around corners trying to find an alternate route out, to presumably avoid Alaric; whom I suspected was who I could feel looking at me from the shadows.
"Fuck, this thing is heavy!" I groaned, as we finally made our way out of the warehouse and were wheeling it towards Rebekah's idling car.
"Less bitching, more pushing." Damon grunted, and I rolled my eyes but continued pushing. We had almost made it to the boot of the car when Alaric jumps from out of nowhere, grabs Rebekah and slams her head against the side of her car and throws her to the ground. "Rebekah!" Damon yells and rushes at Alaric, while I attempted to continue pushing the coffin towards the car.
However, Alaric kicks Damon aside and rushes at me backhanding me out of the way and opening the coffin lid, revealing Nik who had been restrained by chains. I glanced up at Alaric from where I had crumpled to the asphalt and saw him pull free the white oak stake from his jacket.
"NO!" I roared, and grabbed his arm to stop him from staking Nik in the heart. Nik's eyes fly open and immediately focuses on me. His blue-green eyes widen in horror when he realises what I was attempting to do. Rebekah gets to her feet, and rushes at us to try and help me.
"NO!" She echoes me, but Damon also gets to his feet and runs at her.
"No, don't!" He restrains her with all his strength. "Grace, get out of there!" Damon yells at me, in alarm. Alaric and I struggle with the stake; and I was amazed that I was able to hold him off for as long as I could … until Alaric easily slams the stake into Nik's heart, revealing that he was toying with me and making it seem like I was stopping him when I really wasn't. Nik and I gasp before his body suddenly goes up in flames, just like Finn's did when Elena staked him.
"NO! NO! NO!" Rebekah wails, and my fingers go slack on the stake as I watched the love of my life slowly burn to death. I fall to my knees, staring into nothing as my sister continues to scream and cry behind me. Alaric steps away from the coffin, dislodging the stake from Nik's heart and smirking at Rebekah, his next target.
"Next." Alaric announces.
"Rebekah, run. Run!" Damon screams, pushing her in the opposite direction. I hear her hesitate momentarily.
"What about Grace?"
"I've got her, just go!" Damon promises, and I hear her blur off. There is a struggle that I barely acknowledge as Damon attempts to hold off Alaric to give Rebekah a head start, but judging by the grunt and body thudding to the ground he was unsuccessful. A moment later, I drag myself to my feet and stared mournfully at Nik's badly burnt body. I reached out a shaking hand and touch his face.
"Come back. Please, come back." I begged. Damon comes over to me.
"Grace, honey?"
I turned to look at him, "He's really gone, isn't he?" Damon nodded and my legs give way underneath me as the world starts to fade away. The last thing I heard before it went dark was Damon's frantic voice calling my name.
A/N: A nice long chapter to hopefully appease my faithful readers. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Please review. TTFN xx
** "Enough, dear. Don't defy me!"