Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Please support the original release. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you moon, kouga, munke, Navywife,ashes, and Roxhall for your reviews! Sorry for the delay. It's been crazy here lately. I've got a double chapter posting for you guys to hopefully make up for some lost time! Hope everyone is doing great! Thanks for all the support! Don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
[Mikaelson Manor]
Stefan didn't like Bella doing this. He stopped Bella's Jeep and sat there a moment. "You really don't have to do this."
"I do." Bella said, swallowing. "Stefan… he's not going to go away. This way, there's peace. I donated blood and Damon gave me his blood, so I'm prepared. So, please, let me do this."
Stefan wanted to protect her from everything. He couldn't believe that Damon would even give her his blood, especially after everything they talked about. "Bella… I can't lose you."
Bella swallowed. "Stefan… I know… about Damon compelling me. My memories started coming back… and I've done something that I can't take back or ever go back in time to make it hurt any less. And I'm terribly sorry. I never… I never wanted to hurt you-"
"I know about Georgia…. Damon told me." Stefan said, swallowing. "You love him."
"I do. But I do love you, Stefan. You've helped me more than you know, but… I just."
"You love him more. "Stefan said with a nod. "I understand. Of course, I hurt. Loving you was always doomed for me, I think. I'm not… strong enough to keep you happy and I accept that. I still don't want to lose you. If anything, I hope that after everything we've been through, we can be friends."
Bella smiled a small smile. "I'd really like that." She said and leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Stefan, you are so good. Your very soul is good. Please don't be discouraged. There is a girl out there that is perfect for you."
Stefan smiled at her. "Yeah. Maybe." He said, then looked back at the mansion ahead of them. "You didn't want Damon here."
"No. Because, if something goes wrong tonight, I don't want him to watch me die. Even if I do come back." Bella said. "I know it was selfish for me to ask you to bring me here."
"I wouldn't want you to do this alone anyways. I'm happy to be here with you." Stefan said and covered her hand with his. "No matter what happens, I'm always here for you." He said. He opened his door and went around to Bella's side and opened her door for her. He was nervous about the night. He didn't want her to lose her life. It was clear that she was prepared for anything. But it still didn't make him any less nervous.
They walked up to the mansion door and Bella went to knock, but Klaus opened the door before she could. "You're early little Swan." He said with a cool smile.
Bella nodded. "I try to be punctual. You have my blood stored from earlier. You have your wolf and vampire?"
"I do." Klaus said with a nod. "Bonnie is already here with her grandmother. Do come in and get ready or the ritual." He said, sweeping a hand out then stepping to the side so Stefan and Bella could walk past him.
They followed Klaus out to the back, through some double doors that clearly led to a courtyard. Bonnie was looking glum. You could tell that she wasn't looking forward to the spell, but she was doing it because her grandmother needed her to do this.
"Come take your place." Klaus said, placing a hand on the small of Bella's back, gathering a small growl from Stefan, but Klaus ignored him and guided Bella to a circle. He turned her to face him, his body close to hers. "You are quite the doppelganger little swan."
Bella looked up into Klaus's Ocean blue eyes. "I'm just Bella."
Klaus smiled a cat like grin. "Hmm, you are far more than that." He said. "Don't be afraid. I'll be gentle, only because you've been surprisingly cooperative and helpful."
Bella swallowed and nodded, she wasn't sure what was about to come next, but it was going to be something painful she imagined.
Stefan stood off to the side, his arms crossed and he was scowling as he watched Klaus prepare.
Klaus pulled his shirt off, his muscles gleaming under the light of the candles that were set up all around. He looked at Bonnie and Bonnie started the spell, chanting something in Latin that Bella hadn't recognized. There were two other circles, a vampire in one and a werewolf in the other. They looked calm, waiting for their lives to be sacrificed so Klaus could break his curse.
Bella watched as the vampire went first, the pain that flew over her face seemed so paralyzing and she cried out, her fangs popping forward as she clutched at her heart, before she gasped then her eyes blanked while she started to grey. Then the werewolf was next. He screeched out in pain, his nails sharpening and you could hear the cracking of his bones as he started shifting. Klaus was there in front of him now and he waited as the shift completed before Klaus ended the wolf's life. Bonnie's chanting continued as the spell took hold. Klaus's eyes flashed, turning a golden color as his werewolf curse started to break. He went to Bella, standing in front of her and she closed her eyes, swallowing.
Klaus's lips touched the skin at her neck, his fangs sinking into her neck. Bella felt her blood pool and leave, filtering into Klaus's mouth. She felt slightly weak, but he pulled away, her blood trickling down her neck. She swayed, but he reached out and held her upright. "A little longer little swan." He murmured, while Bonnie still continued the spell. Bella felt like her veining were liquifying and were on fire, as the spell took hold of her body. She felt her knees buckle and she cried out, her heartbeat rushing in her ears and her chest hurt from her heart speeding up so fast. "Look at me little swan. Fight it."
Bella opened her eyes and looked at Klaus, blood trickled from her nose and her entire body vibrated with pain. She hung on, trying to keep with the spell. Bonnie's voice rang in her head and the explosion of pain threatened to take her breath away, but she fought, even as her heart pounded fast and hard in her chest. She clung to life.
Suddenly the candles around them went out in one fell swoop and Bonnie's chanting ended.
The darkness enveloped them all. When Klaus opened his eyes to look at Bella, they were ringed in gold and he felt the true power of being a hybrid, running through his veins. Bella's dark eyes were dim, tired but she was alive. She looked back up at Klaus and he studied her.
"You're alive." Klaus murmured.
"I am." Bella said weakly. She reached a hand up, patting his cheek gently, her touch was weak, but it was the effort. "Are you okay?"
Klaus's brows furrowed together. "You're worried about me?"
"Of course." Bella said, blinking. She wiped her nose, the blood evident there, but she didn't seem alarmed.
Klaus was perturbed by how much Bella cared about him. How was it she cared if he was okay, when he put her through so much? "Little swan…" he murmured, before he lifted his wrist to his mouth and then put it to her lips. She stared up at him, shaking her head. "You're weak…" he said, his voice soft.
Stefan watched; his eyes wide at the whole ordeal. He hadn't been able to move just yet.
"I'm okay." She said and took a step back, wobbling a bit. "I just want to go home." She said.
Klaus nodded. "Of course. Stefan." He said, and that snapped Stefan out of his own trance, and Stefan stepped forward before swooping Bella into his arms. "Take care little Swan."
"You as well." Bella said and leaned her head against Stefan's shoulder, as he carried her away. She felt like she could sleep for a long time, but she just wanted to get back to show Damon that she was okay.
Once in the Jeep, Stefan fastened her in, and drove away from the manor. It was quiet for a while before Stefan spoke. "You didn't take Klaus's blood."
"I didn't."
"Why?"
"Because…"
"Because he's not Damon." Stefan finished for her, glancing over at her.
Bella looked at Stefan and gave a nod, before she looked back out the window. The night sky was speckled gloriously with bright stars. The moon was high in the sky. Klaus broke his curse and she lived to tell the tale. Now, she just wanted to get back to Damon. Talk more with Stefan and make sure he was okay next.
