Chapter 21
Italy, 5 days earlier
Rebekah gasped in shock as she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Nik, he was standing beside her bed. His tunic was bloody and her first thought was that he had hurt himself.
"What happened?" she gasped.
He looked at her coldly before replying.
"Ask him."
Her eyes widened in shock as he stepped aside, revealing the pierced body hanging on the wall. Alexander. He had betrayed her. Stabbed her. No...
"Only he cannot answer because I ripped out his tongue," Nik continued.
Tears were coursing down Rebekah's cheeks as she looked at her brother.
"Nik... I had no idea..."
"But you should have," he cut in harshly. "Your whole family was nearly wiped out because of your stupidity."
Rebekah was too shocked to reply. Alexander was dead. She had loved him with all her heart and he had betrayed her.
"What did he promise you?" Nik snapped.
Rebekah looked at him with her tearful eyes.
"Nothing," she gasped. "Nothing."
"He wouldn't have made a move like this unless he knew that you were vulnerable," Nik snorted. "You trusted him. Over me!"
Rebekah flinched and sobbed harder.
"What did he promise you?"
"Nothing, Nik, I swear," she sobbed.
"What did he promise you?!" he shouted.
"Nothing..."
He grabbed her arms and yanked her to her feet.
"Tell me, Rebekah!"
She closed her eyes and continued sobbing.
"I thought... I thought that he loved me."
"Well, that's just sad," Kol's voice said from the door.
Rebekah opened her eyes and turned her head away.
"Go away," she murmured.
"I was not the one who almost got us all killed, so no, I do not think I am going anywhere," Kol huffed.
"Enough," Elijah stated as he entered the room. "Let her go, Niklaus."
"She betrayed us," Niklaus snarled.
"No! I did not know, I swear..."
"Niklaus!" Aurora cried out while appearing in the doorway.
Rebekah fell on her bed as Niklaus let her go. She curled up into a fetal position and sobbed hopelessly. Aurora pounced on Niklaus, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
"Thank goodness... Are you hurt?"
"I am fine," he replied. "Rebekah's lover and his friends almost succeeded killing us all. Thankfully you were not here."
She pulled away and cupped his face.
"I was restless and I went riding." She paused and let out a sob. "I almost lost you..."
"Yes, yes, very sad," Kol huffed.
Aurora gave him a glare.
"No one asked for your opinion."
"Careful, princess," he hummed. "Your horns are showing."
"Nik, are you going to let him talk to me like that?"
"Alright," Elijah huffed. "I think we all need to calm down..."
"This was a punishment," Rebekah murmured absentmindedly.
"What are you talking about?" Niklaus snorted.
"She is clearly in shock," Aurora said. "Let me talk to her, I can calm her."
"She almost got us all killed..."
"Please, Nik. She is still your sister; I know you do not want her to suffer."
"Fine," Niklaus snorted. "But we are not nearly done, Rebekah."
"Perhaps I should stay..." Elijah started.
"No," Aurora cut in firmly. "I think Rebekah is more comfortable talking to another woman."
Rebekah couldn't really hear the rest; she could only think about one thing. Fay. She had felt the guilt for so long and now she was sure that this was her punishment.
"It's alright," Aurora's voice said as she laid down beside Rebekah. "We are alone now."
"I deserve this," Rebekah murmured. "After what I did to..."
"No," Aurora cut in and touched Rebekah's cheek. "You protected your family."
"But I..."
"Rebekah, listen to me. I sacrificed everything for your brother, I know how you feel. But you did the right thing."
"Did I?" she murmured.
"You did. She would have destroyed your family, you know that. Your brothers would have ended up hating each other. All because of a worthless little servant."
Rebekah shook her head.
"She wasn't worthless."
"No, of course not. Forgive me, I only meant that she was very selfish for playing with your brothers like that."
"I still cannot believe that she did that," Rebekah murmured. "She seemed like a kind and modest girl."
"Well, she suddenly got attention from two handsome men," Aurora pointed out. "Something like that can make any woman arrogant."
"Perhaps, but I still cannot believe she acted like that."
"Yes... People are capable of all kinds of things. Believe me, you did nothing wrong."
"Why do I still feel the guilt then?"
"You need to forget the whole thing," Aurora replied firmly.
Rebekah looked at her.
"Have you not ever wondered what happened to them?"
Aurora shook her head.
"No. Tristan was always strong; I know he can take care of himself."
"Do you miss him?"
"Of course I do, but I made my choice. He would have never let me go."
Rebekah sighed tiredly.
"I still feel guilty."
Aurora cupped her face and leaned closer.
"You need to stop that. You did what you had to do for your family. And besides, you didn't leave her alone and defenseless, I am sure everything worked out for her. For all of them."