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Oh my god, I am so so sorry for the long wait! I really didn't think it had been this long! I am a horrible author :( Fair warning, I didn't check for typos – I wanted to get this out there asap D:

Disclaimer: I do not own TVD

Chapter Nineteen

Almost Gone

Dover, England 1560

Rebekah ran as fast as her feet would carry her, her long dress swishing around her. Her normally impeccable hair fell lose over her shoulders as the wind whipped through it. Her mind was alight with worry and complete and utter panic. It was almost midnight now, and it was only thanks to the candles lit about her house and her superior vision that she managed to avoid running into something.

How could this have happened? How did we let it happen? The entire Forbes line… All gone…

As soon as she reached the attic of her home, she burst through the thick wooden door to her manservant's chamber, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Please, no, no… And then she saw him, sitting up from where he had been sleeping in his bed, shirtless and confused. Rebekah took no mind, however, too relieved at seeing him alive. She ran forward and embraced him tightly.

"Richard! Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" She gasped out, practically falling into his lap as he struggled to catch her in time. She ended up sitting beside him on his bed, her face tucked into his shoulder, arms around his neck.

"M'lady, I..." He hesitated, muddled as to what had gotten into Lady Rebekah. Still, he ended putting his own arms around her, holding her shaking body tightly to him.

"I was so worried you were dead!" She said thickly as she finally pulled back a bit so she could look into his face. "I don't know what I would have done if you were..." She muttered, glancing away.

Richard put all propriety to the side, unable to stand seeing his normally strong Rebekah look so hurt. He placed a tentative hand on her cheek, forcing her to look back to him. "M'lady, tell me, what has happened? Why the panic?" He asked softly.

Her small covered his own, sad eyes focused solely on his. "Oh, Richard... It's... it's your family."

He froze, panic rising up his chest, choking him. "What about my family?" He managed to ask.

He was surprised to see Rebekah's clear blue eyes fill with tears. "They..." She stopped for a moment, pulling his hand away from her cheek and holding it in her lap. "They were killed." She said finally.

"Killed? But that can't possibly be..." Richard muttered, going completely pale, shaking his head in denial.

"I am so sorry..." The blonde vampire whispered as she watched him break down in front of her. It seemed it was slowly sinking in as his dark brown eyes, usually so kind, so gentle, filled with agony, tears beginning to run down his cheeks. "They were attacked by one of our enemies, we didn't get there in time to stop them..." Rebekah continued, her own heart hurting, for him and his family.

"Did anyone survive?" He was barely able to say the words.

"Caroline. And the baby." Rebekah confirmed with a small, sad smile. Richard only looked ahead, his face now completely devoid of emotion, trying his best to keep it together. The only reason she knew he was being torn up inside was by the tight grip he had on her hand.

"The baby?" He asked in monotone.

"Robb's daughter." The Original said. Already an orphan and barely a week old.

"And Robb? Laura?" He looked hopefully to her, almost like a child would his mother.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, almost too quietly for him to hear. I am so, so sorry. You should never have to feel this pain. Not a good man like you. Not you. He only nodded, once again withdrawn, though she could still see the anguish in his eyes. He won't ever be the same after this.

Nothing will ever be the same.

"Where is the babe now?" He asked softly.

"Safe with Elijah." It had been the oddest thing to see, this poor baby hadn't stopped crying for hours but the moment Elijah had taken the tiny thing into his arms, she had quieted, staring up at him with big eyes. Maybe it was because her elder brother gave off a calming energy… or maybe it's because he reminds the poor girl of her father…

"Good, that's good." Richard muttered to himself, breaking through Rebekah's thoughts. "Caroline... is she alright?" He asked after a moment.

Caroline? I don't she'll ever be alright again. Rebekah briefly considered lying to Richard and telling him that everything was going to be just fine, but she knew she couldn't. Not with this.

"No, she, she saw them, slaughtered on the floor, I don't know how long she must have sat there..." The Original had to stop for a moment, uncharacteristically overcome by emotion. "I've never seen her so..." She took a shuddering breath, once again looking toward Richard. "Nik couldn't bear to see her in such pain... He wanted to protect her, so he... he took her memories."

There was no shock on his face, nothing discernable. I suppose after everything that has happened, nothing more can surprise him, she noted sadly.

"Is she safe?" He asked, desperation clear in his voice.

"I think so, Nik will have made sure of that." Though she didn't exactly approve her brother's decision towards Caroline, she couldn't help but feel a tugging at her heart when she thought of the pain he was in.

They both fell into silence, unsure what to do next. Richard seemed to be off in his own world, his mind whirring, still processing, his eyes holding such torment as she had never seen. His only connection to this world was the hand he still held. Rebekah wasn't sure how long they sat there together, with Richard just staring at the floor and her looking at him, wondering how she could ever make this better for him.

It seemed like an eternity later that Richard returned his brown eyes to hers, spilling over with tears.

He lifted a fist to his mouth, trying to quell his sobs, strong shoulders shaking. Rebekah felt her heart shattering as her Richard, her noble, kind Richard broke down in front of her, the grief too much for him. Without thinking about it, she reached forward and pulled him to her, holding him close against her. It seemed like this made his walls crumble completely as he wrapped his arms around her waist, not even worrying about what was proper or appropriate for them, instead burying his face in her neck. Rebekah, in turn, tried her best to soothe him, running her fingers through his brown hair even as her own eyes filled with tears.

"Why would anyone do this?" He asked brokenly. "To Robb? How could anyone do such a thing?"

"I don't know, I don't know." She whispered. But I do know. Because I've killed. For the first time in a long time, Rebekah was hit with guilt at her actions over the years… was this what the loved ones of those I killed felt? Did this happen to them too?

"They're dead. They're really dead. And to think Caroline... all alone... I... I should have been there, I should have done something, anything." Richard was barely coherent as he tightened his arms around her even more. Luckily, Rebekah was anything but breakable.

"Richard, this is not your fault. There was nothing you could have done. I promise you, we will find whoever did this, my brothers and I will make sure of that." She told him, wanting to do anything for him.

"They're dead." Is all he said, pulling back from her to look at her with brown eyes filled with hurt and childish confusion. "Why are they dead?" He asked her.

Rebekah put her hand on the side of Richard's face, shaking her head sadly.

"I don't know." She repeated.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

Richard stood quietly by the door of Lord Klaus' new estate, the one he shared – used to share – with Caroline. Today would be the last day he saw any of the Mikaelson siblings, he knew. He felt as if it hadn't quite hit him yet that he would no longer be in their employ, seeing as he was still grieving the loss of his family; it had barely been a week. A week. Has it really been that long?

Soon enough, the front door of the estate opened and out walked Lord Elijah, holding a tiny thing in his arms, followed closely by his sister, who looked a little less immaculate than usual, sadness in her eyes. Richard could already hear the light gurgling sounds coming from the baby girl who was laying comfortably against the Original.

"Richard." He greeted as he stepped in front of the former manservant.

"Lord Elijah." He replied, nearly silent as he bowed quickly. As soon as he was upright again, the Original handed him the babe, and if Richard hadn't known better, he would have said that the lord was reluctant to give her to him.

"I pray you take of yourself… and the child." Elijah told him seriously, holding his gaze with his own ancient one.

"Of course, m'Lord." Richard replied, holding the child to him as he stared down at her. Robb's daughter… A protective feeling rose in his chest as he looked down at her plump cheeks, her little fist curled next to her mouth. She's my daughter now, Richard found himself thinking unexpectedly.

Lord Elijah nodded at him once more before returning to the estate without another word. As soon as he was gone, his lady stepped forward, strangely hesitant.

"Lady Rebekah." He said, smiling lightly as he took in her appearance. She would always remain beautiful, even when he was gone from her. Richard only hoped that she would continue laughing as well.

Rebekah shook her head gently. "Richard, you have been by my side for near two decades now. I'd like to think we are parting as friends…" She told him lightly, reaching forward to touch his elbow. "Please, call me Rebekah."

"Of course, m'L- Rebekah." Richard replied after a few moments, correcting himself. Normally, he would have insisted on maintaining the rules of propriety but as it was…

"Promise me you will be careful." Rebekah said, her grip on his elbow tightening slightly. "For both your sakes."

"I promise."

The original nodded in approval, before glancing around her discreetly, noting there was no one around. She then pulled something from a small pouch, hidden in the linings of her dress, before holding it out to her former manservant. Richard glanced down to her hand, a vial held within her fingers. He recognized it immediately – with what the Originals required at times, they came at a steep price, sometimes payment even consisted of their own powerful blood. These vials were specially created for that purpose, spelled to keep their blood liquid and pure within it.

"Listen, take this." The blonde told him, looking up at him earnestly. "I know you will try your best to keep yourself safe, but there are things out there that even you can't protect yourself from, you should know that better than anyone. I can't… I can't leave knowing you are in danger…" She struggled to get her words out and Richard almost immediately gave in. She truly cares about me…

But he didn't give in to her, not about this. Because he did not want to live as a vampire, he'd seen too much of the bad parts that came with it. He could not watch everyone around him die again, nor could he bear the idea of living on the blood of others in order to survive. So, he shook his head, declining her request gently. "I am sorry, I can't take this."

"Please, Richard, please." Rebekah shocked him by practically begging him, her eyes wide with panic at the thought that he would not take her protection, what little she could give. "I am asking this of as your friend." She finally ended up saying.

Richard kept his eyes on hers for a while longer. This is Rebekah, m'Lady Rebekah, the woman whom I have followed everywhere… Can I not do her this one kindness? She has always looked to me for guidance, reassurance. It was for things that Richard finally answered."Very well."

Rebekah immediately smiled, relieved and placed the vial in his outstretched fingers.

"Thank you." She told him, still holding his gaze with her own. "I…" She hesitated. "I am going to miss you." Before he could process what she had just said to him, Rebekah reached forward clutched Richard, holding his face gently in between her dainty hands, pulling him down and placing a tentative kiss on his lips, so light that at first he thought he was imagining it. Richard, shocked at the abrupt and obviously unplanned action, barely found himself kissing back when she pulled away suddenly. They were silent for a moment as they stared at each other. "Goodbye, my friend." She whispered through the quiet and all he could see was the blue of her eyes.

He tried to think of what to say to her, of all the words that he had kept hidden inside for years. And then the shifting child in his arms brought him back to reality as the little girl tried to fight against him and began to make upset noises. Richard rocked her a bit, attempting to sooth the fussing baby.

"Sh, now, child, everything will be alright. I will make sure of that." He told her softly, glancing up to continue his conversation with Lady Rebekah only to notice that she was no longer. Gone, the only sign that she had been there in the first place was the vial he still held between his fingers and slight tingle on his lips.

As the baby began to quiet, calming down, Richard walked toward the carriage that was waiting to bring him to his new life.

He said only one thing as they pulled away from the estate and the Mikaelson family forever.

"Goodbye."

Mystic Falls, 2010

"I am so glad you're here, Uncle." Caroline said as she pulled back out of her uncle's arms, tears in her eyes.

"I am glad as well, sunshine. I have been too long without my family." Richard replied, smiling down at her in that gentle way of his. The two last Forbes' stood silently with each other for a moment longer, happy to take a pause in their crazy worlds and just appreciate the fact that they were with family again.

Of course, it didn't last long, not with the Mikaelson siblings in the room and the Original witch planning all of their ends.

"What are we going to do now?" Rebekah asked, briefly glancing towards Richard before looking away, keeping her eyes on her brothers instead.

"I think it is time we put our mother back in a box." Klaus announced with a smug smirk, stepping forward.

"That's always your solution isn't it?" His younger sister replied with disgust. "It isn't that simple, Nik!" She hissed.

"Well then what do you propose we do 'Bekah?" Klaus asked scornfully, glaring at his sister.

The blonde opened her mouth as if to say something and then shut it with a sharp snap a moment later, lost as to what they could do; this situation was unprecedented. "I don't know." She admitted.

"I didn't think so." The Original hybrid said, shaking his head as he crossed his arms, smirking once again. Caroline could almost see Rebekah steaming at the derogative comment and knew that this would probably break out into an all out war between siblings.

"Now is that the time for petty disagreement." Elijah intervened, stepping away from Klaus and in between his brother and sister, trying to remain calm in this tense situation. "Our mother it plotting against us, the last thing we need is for there to be discord amount us."

"For once, I'm inclined to agree with good ol' 'Lijah here." Kol put in from where he was leaning casually against the doorway.

"Yes, thank you, Kol." Elijah replied with some frustration, knowing that his comments were not helping anything in their situation.

There was a moment of tense silence and Caroline couldn't keep herself out of this discussion; she was just as much a part of this as the rest of them. She decided to start by stating the obvious, wanting them to get back on track. "We need a plan."

"But how? We all know Esther will be on her guard now." Klaus told them agitated as he seemed to gravitate closer to Caroline, his previously angry feelings towards all but gone; he still didn't like that she had deceived him about Richard and his part in taking Finn out of play. But, for now he needed to focus on a much bigger problem – his mother. "The only time she will be vulnerable will be during her next attack." He continued.

Klaus' words lit a light in Caroline's mind. Oh my go- why didn't we think of this before? It's the only way! "So we prepare for her attack." She began stating her idea with a small smile of triumph. "We strike her when she is vulnerable." Caroline played off Klaus' words, watching as her companions processed what she had just said. The offense has always been a good defense, she found herself thinking.

"Of course." Klaus exclaimed, his smirk widening into a smile as he looked at her with no small amount of pride. The younger vampire barely managed to keep herself from blushing.

"But first, we need to know more about her, her tricks…" Elijah said, bringing them back to reality. This is going to be dangerous, more dangerous than anything we've ever done.

As they thought on who would know most about Esther, it seems most of them came to the same conclusion. Apart from Finn, there was only one other of her children that Esther had considered her protégé when they had all been human, Caroline knew.

They all turned to look at the Original sister.

"Rebekah?" Caroline ventured, causing the much older vampire to look at her, resigned. She had wished it wouldn't come to this, that there was some way to convince her mother that they were still her children; and maybe there still was. But, she needed to make sure she and her brothers, Caroline…and Richard, she needed to make sure they all made it through this.

So, her heart sinking, Rebekah started to tell them all of the magic and power her mother possessed.

Rebekah watched with a heavy heart as her brothers and Caroline left the parlor, all going their separate ways. What have I done? I have given the key to killing my own mother. The mother that I have missed for a thousand years. The blonde Original sighed deeply, ready to head up to her own room, wanting to get away from everyone when she spotted Richard standing outside, deep in thought as he looked up at the stars.

She found herself walking to him without even thinking about it, stepping gingerly outside and standing next to him.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" She asked him after a quiet moment.

"Rebekah?" Richard asked, seemingly surprised to see her by his side all of a sudden. The Original turned to face her former manservant fully, suddenly beyond furious at him, more angry at him than she had ever been before.

"Why didn't you ever tell you'd turned? Why didn't you find me?" She asked in an accusing tone, her eyes narrowing as her heart began to rush in utter rage.

"You know why." Richard replied after a moment, sighing lightly.

"No, I don't know why, so how about you enlighten me." She scoffed in return, glaring at him.

He shook his head, declining to answer. "I'm sorry." He said instead.

"You're sorry?" Rebekah asked incredulously. "Just tell me! Tell me how you didn't have the time to tell your friend that you were alive all this time." Tell me how I wasn't important enough for you. Tell me how little I mean to you.

"We've always been more than friends. You must know that by now, Rebekah." Richard said, his brown eyes holding her blue ones.

"I-" She started with another scathing comment before she realized just what he had just said to her. She shut her mouth with a snap, looking at Richard disbelievingly. Does he-? Does he feel-?

Richard barely seemed to notice her reaction, sighing wearily as he moved back and sat down on one of the lounge chairs, placing his head in his hands, running his hands through his unruly brown hair. "By the time little Caroline died…" He said, trying to explain himself to her. "I was in no place to come see you, not after that. So I wandered, and I though about everything. My family, my role in this world… you." Finally, Richard looked back up at Rebekah, his eyes full of sadness. "I couldn't come to you, Rebekah, I was afraid to. I knew I wouldn't be able to hide what I felt."

"And so you let me think you were dead? For centuries, Richard, centuries. You were gone to me and… and I couldn't… I…" Rebekah couldn't continue, ashamed to feel the tears blur eyes.

"I'm sorry." He repeated again, reaching out to her.

Rebekah pulled back angrily, tears streaming down her face now. "Stop saying that! You're not allowed to apologize to me. Not after that. God! Didn't you think I felt the same about you? Didn't you know that?" She looked him in the eyes as she said this, finding his brown ones widening in surprise before they softened.

In the next instant he was embracing her, his arms locking around her smaller frame tightly. Rebekah felt the anger drain out of her, and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest. He's, he's here. The first friend I've ever had. The only man that has ever loved all of me.

"Of course I did. Of course I did." Richard whispered in her hair.

"You've no idea how much I missed you." Rebekah told him after a moment, her heart aching at the mere thought of how long it had been since she'd seen him last.

"I do." She pulled back, looking up at him surprised. Richard only gave her a small smile. "I missed you just the same."

Caroline had been so relieved when they made their plans to stop Esther; finally, finally they weren't going to just sit around anymore, they were going to defend themselves, they were going to win.

And yet, they still found themselves waiting. For a month. It was driving her crazy, waiting for Esther to make her move so they could put their own plans into motion. She just wanted it to be over, more than anything she wanted it to be over.

"Klaus, it's been weeks. How long do we have to wait?" Caroline asked as she settled down onto one of the many couches in his studio. It seemed she caught him at a bad time as his back tensed and suddenly he threw the glass he had been holding across the room, making it shatter into a thousand tiny pieces.

"I don't know, Caroline. I. Don't. Know. Anything." He yelled, before leaning back down on his desk, bracing himself by his arms, obviously worn from the tenseness of the whole situation.

Caroline stood, walking to Klaus and putting a gentle hand on his back. "I'm sorry. It's just all this waiting… I can't take it anymore." She sighed heavily. Klaus turned around to face her, all anger drained from his body as he placed both hands on her cheeks, putting his forehead against hers.

"Neither can I, love. Neither can I." He told her quietly, for once seeming his age. Caroline smiled sadly, clutching one of his hands in her own and bringing it in between them, threading his fingers with her own.

"Why can't we just be happy for once?"

"We're immortal, we are never happy, or haven't you heard?" Klaus replied sardonically, smirking half-heartedly.

"I am, though, when I'm with you." Caroline replied, her smile widening as his gaze softened. "I love you, you know that right?"

Klaus let go of her hand, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against his chest, smiling his first real smile in what seemed like forever.

"Well, why don't you show me?" He asked, with a suggestive sort of look. Caroline laughed at his expression, before complying and pressing her lips gently to his. She gasped as he immediately deepened the kiss, his hand moving to thread in his hair, pulling at the blonde locks.

She wasn't sure how long they stood, just kissing, when he pulled back suddenly, as if he forgot something important.

"Caroline. I love you too." He told her, his blue eyes burning into hers.

She only smiled and immediately pulled him down for another kiss.

Caroline woke up with the feeling that something was wrong, terribly wrong. She wasn't sure why or what it was, but she found herself standing up to find out, anyways. She did so quietly, not wanting to stir Klaus, who had finally managed to get some sleep, after weeks of being on constant alert. She smiled down at his form; he looked so young when he slept, especially sprawled out across the bed as he was. Bending down, she pressed a feather light kiss to his lips before quickly pulling back, not wanting to take any more risks of him waking up, not when he really needed some rest.

On the way out of their bedroom, she grabbed her robe, pulling it on despite the fact that as a vampire, she no longer felt the cool chill of the night. She walked down the stairs with a grace that only something supernatural could have, looking around cautiously, that feeling still tumbling around in her stomach. She soon found herself searching the entire ground floor of the mansion and came up with nothing.

But the feeling in her stomach just wouldn't go away and Caroline decided that maybe she just needed to feed; it had been a while since she had her last cup of blood. She made up her mind, heading to the kitchen.

Caroline sighed as she reached the fridge, opening the door of the fridge. She took one of the blood bags that she always kept stocked at the back of the fridge, quickly popping it open and taking a long gulp, sighing in slight pleasure as it ran down her throat.

She closed the door heavily and turned, only to have her heart stop at the sight that greeted her. Caroline took a deep breath, ready to scream for help when the witch in front of her raised her arm and the air caught. Caroline coughed, choking, her blood bag slipping through her fingers, spilling all over the floor, staining the tile red.

Caroline gasped, automatically trying to get oxygen, even though she technically didn't need it. Still, oxygen was vital to all creatures, even dead ones and as she panicked, she collapsed to the floor in the pool of blood, clawing at the invisible hand squeezing her throat.

"Esther?" She managed to choke out as the witch approached, looking down at her, her hand stretched out in front of her and towards Caroline. "W-What are you doing?"

"It's simple really." Esther said monotonously, coming closer and closer. Caroline tried to crawl backwards but her whole body seemed to be on fire now, burning its way through her body, leaving only agony in it's wake.

"S-stop." Caroline choked out, tears of pain blurring her vision. Soon enough Esther was right before, crouching down so she was at the younger blonde's level. She tried to move away, she really did, but she was far too week for that, and Esther was far too strong.

In the next instant, she felt the witch press the palm of her hand to Caroline's forehead and her entire soul seized in anguish. It was like there was something being forced into her, another presence, something that didn't belong. It was taking her over, slowly, painfully, until all feeling finally began to fade.

Fading, fading, everything's fading, Caroline found herself wondering, her mind a daze, her eyes becoming heavier and heavier.

Fading, fading-

Gone.

When Caroline awoke, her body was moving, doing things without her permission. She was walking somewhere, carrying something heavy in her arms. She tried to look down to see what it was but she couldn't. She couldn't do anything, she was just here, in the back of her mind, observing.

It was a cage, an unbreakable, unbearable cage. She fought against, trying to figure out what was going, what had happened.

And the she felt it again, the other presence, the one that didn't belong. The presence moved her head, forcing her to look down.

Caroline knew exactly who was in her mind when she saw the face of the body she had been holding in her arms.

Esther.

It was like knowing who it was unlocked her thoughts and in the next moment, Caroline could see everything, she could see Esther's mind.

Must hide my body until I can return to it later, must complete the mission, must, must, must… The thoughts invaded Caroline's consciousness, thoughts that were not her own.

It seemed that the witch could sense her too, however, and in the next instant, Caroline found herself being attacked in her own mind, Esther's voice telling her to sleep, to leave, to sleep.

Caroline tried to fight her off, she really did. She tried to fight of the lulling, the darkness, because she needed to stop Esther, needed to stop her from doing what she was about to do.

But she wasn't strong enough. She was never strong enough.

The dark surrounded her.

Caroline wasn't sure how long she'd been here, locked away in this dark corner of her mind. She banged against the walls of her cage, trying to get herself out. Let me out! Let me out! I need to stop her!

I have to save them!

Please, please…

She couldn't do it, she couldn't, she couldn't…

And then she heard it, the thought that changed everything, that made her fight harder than she ever thought she could.

Niklaus, Esther thought, Niklaus will be the first.

Caroline panicked, her heart, her soul, clenching in fear. No, no. I won't let that happen! With all her power, she bashed against the walls of her dark cell, and she did it again, and she did it again.

She did it until finally, finally she crashed her way through.

Caroline could see through her own eyes again, could feel her bod, she realized after a moment. And then she actually saw what was in front of her. There lay Klaus, just as she had left him, sleeping soundly. Her heart sunk in relief until Caroline felt what she had in her hand.

A stake. White oak stake, the thought was filtered through Caroline's mind. Immediately Caroline fought even harder against Esther, as the witch battled for control over the vessel she was possessing.

Get out of my body, you bitch! Caroline shouted at her only to hear Esther chanting something back at her, something in a language she did not recognize. Caroline felt herself weakening again as Esther gained ground, forcing Caroline's arm to move so it was poised about Klaus' sleeping form, right above his chest.

Her arm began moving downward, hand wrapped tightly around the stake. The white oak stake. Down. Down. Down. Ready to drive through his heart.

Caroline fought Esther with all of her bitter determination, with all she had.

All of the strength in her body when into that hand, fighting against herself. And still down it went.

No, no, no, no.

Down.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Down.

The stake pierced his chest.

Caroline screamed.

OK guys, that's it for this time, next week the final chapter and then after that the epilogue! Don't worry, I won't keep you all in wait… again. Also, I hope the ending wasn't too confusing.

Just a side note, the whole blood vial thing was something I did because it occurred to me there was a flaw in my reasoning when I said that Richard was given Rebekah's blood as an emergency measure, one that would last long enough for him to actually get use of it. As you know, there weren't any freezers or fridges at the time and without them the blood would certainly coagulate, therefore rendering it useless (at least from what I understand). Soo, anyways, that's where the whole magical vial thingie came from ;)

About the white oak stake, you will find out how Esther got it next chapter ;) (Look at Robb's message for clues ;D)

Anyways, thanks for reading and let me know what you think!

RW