Chapter 11

"Niklaus!" Elijah's angry voice called.

Niklaus turned to look at his brother tensely, he only wanted to get to his chamber. Everything had gone horribly wrong and he needed time to think.

"What is it?"

Elijah glared at him furiously while marching over to him.

"You lied to me," Elijah hissed.

"About what?"

"About Fay. You said that she wanted to wed me."

Niklaus froze, he had forgotten all about Fay.

"What happened?" he asked tensely.

Elijah crossed his arms and pressed his lips together.

"I decided that I would take her as my wife and I went to her chamber, thinking that she would be happy. She ran away like a hunted deer."

"What did you do to her?" Niklaus snapped.

Elijah's eyes narrowed.

"I kissed the woman who, according to you, was hoping for my proposal."

Niklaus opened his mouth in order to say something, but nothing came out. He was unable to form any words. This whole thing was a disaster. Fay, Aurora, Lucien…

"Niklaus?" Elijah demanded after a moment of silence.

"This is my fault," he murmured. "All of this. I… I did this to her."

"You did what?"

Niklaus squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears from coming.

"I took her innocence."

"I see," Elijah stated coolly. "You bedded her and now you're tired of her, so you wish to pass her off to someone else."

"No! No, no, it wasn't like that…"

"How was it like then?"

Niklaus swallowed, trying to pull himself together.

"She had feelings for me, and I did…do care about her too. We did some things, but I never intended to bed her. I did mislead her, and I am deeply ashamed of that. I should have told her that my feelings for her weren't as strong as her feelings for me. I… I didn't want to hurt her, but that is exactly what I did. Especially when…" Niklaus paused and wiped away a stubborn tear that was rolling down his cheek. "Father thought that she was trying to run away. He was going to flog her and… teach her submission. I tried to stop him, but I wasn't strong enough. He would have hurt her, so I… I hurt her instead."

Niklaus didn't dare to look at his brother, he didn't want to see the disgust in Elijah's eyes.

"Are you saying…"

"Yes," he murmured. "I took her body. She should have hated me for it, but she didn't. She said that she loved me, and she understood." Niklaus paused and wiped away another tear. "I truly wanted to make things right or at least try. I was going to wed her and spend the rest of my life with her. It made no difference that I didn't love her, I was sure that I would eventually learn to love her. But then… I met Aurora and I fell in love with her. I tried to deny my feelings, but I couldn't. She is the one for me and it kills me to imagine my life without her."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Elijah asked after a long pause.

"I was ashamed," Niklaus replied quietly. "I wanted a life with Aurora, but I couldn't abandon Fay. I thought that maybe if she would have feelings for someone else, I wouldn't hurt her so badly. I know it was a selfish thought and I'm so sorry I lied to you."

Elijah was quiet for a while before replying.

"You need to tell her the truth."

"I know and I intend to, but right now there is something else…"

Niklaus didn't finish his sentence when he saw Fay walking across the hallway with a guard.

"What is this?" Niklaus asked sharply, his eyes on the guard.

"I was ordered to escort the lady to her chamber," the guard replied.

"Ordered by who?" Elijah asked.

"The Lord Tristan."

"Well, the lady is with her family now, so you can go," Niklaus stated.

"But I was ordered…"

"I said you can go," Niklaus snapped. Thankfully, the guard was smart enough to obey. Fay had kept her eyes on the floor, but Niklaus could tell that something was wrong.

"Fay?" he said, trying to touch her face. "Are you…?"

"Do not touch me," she stated icily. Her tone of voice startled Niklaus, she had never spoken to him like that. Slowly she looked up and met his gaze. Her eyes were as cold as ice.

"What has happene…"

"I know," she cut in. "I saw you with the Lady Aurora."

Niklaus froze.

"Fay, please…"

"Right now, there is an innocent man suffering in the dungeons," she cut in. "I am asking you to help him."

"Lucien?" Niklaus gasped.

"Yes, the guards took him. Please, help him."

Niklaus nodded.

"Yes, of course."

"I am coming with you," Elijah stated.

"Thank you, brother." Niklaus paused and looked at Fay. "Go to your chamber and wait for us there. I… I will come back as soon as I can and… Please, wait for me."

She didn't reply, but he could see her pain.

"I am so sorry," he murmured before hurrying to the dungeons. Two guards tried to stop him and Elijah, but Niklaus threw them against the wall without even slowing down. He could already hear Lucien's screams. Niklaus ran down the stairs and saw Lucien chained to the ceiling. Tristan was flogging him.

"Have you two come to watch as Lucien receives his punishment?" Tristan inquired as he noticed Niklaus and Elijah.

"Why torture a loyal servant?" Niklaus asked tensely. "I am sure this is all just a misunderstanding."

"One that remains outside of your concern," Tristan replied. "As a son of the Count, I can discipline staff as I see fit. Should you take issue, allow me to remind you that you are guests here." He paused and hit Lucien with a whip.

"Step away from him!" Niklaus demanded. "Now!"

Tristan looked at Niklaus and smiled.

"I know what you are. Our servants speak of demons hunting in the night. I myself interviewed one such maiden, quite pretty. She happens to be the only survivor of these attacks, so I asked what manner of creature had hunted her. She said she was certain it was the Lord Kol, but with a face of the beast."

Niklaus tensed, trying to stay calm. Damn Kol.

"Your entire family sought refuge, claiming to be nobles, when in fact you are beasts," Tristan continued. "It seems that you are hiding, which means you are afraid. Somewhere out there, something is even more savage than you."

Tristan turned back to Lucien and tried to whip him again when Niklaus zoomed in front of him and grabbed him by the throat.

"This is not going to be pleasant," Niklaus snarled.

Surprisingly, Tristan didn't seem even slightly afraid. No, he was smiling.

"Do as you please, but know that if anything happens to me, I have instructed my fastest riders to spread word of your presence here and whoever seeks you, will certainly hear the news."

"Niklaus," Elijah said firmly and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Release him."

Niklaus pressed his lips together, he wasn't going let this bastard go.

"Please," Elijah added tensely.

No. Unfortunately he didn't have much choice, not if he didn't want to risk his family's safety. Tristan gasped for air few times as Niklaus let him go.

"See," he stated smiling. "We are not so different after all. You wish to protect your family and I wish to protect mine." He paused and walked over to Lucien. "Besides, you should be thanking me. This scum didn't just offend my sister by daring to touch her, he also tried to violate that pretty little ward of yours."

"What?" Niklaus murmured tensely.

"Oh, you didn't know?"

Lucien screamed as Tristan cut his face.

"Well, you can thank me later."