AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright here's the next bit. I serioussssly got carried away on the Kennett train last chapter. I may re-watch the older episodes yet again... I miss the Mikaelson family being whole. Also holy crap, did you all hear the news about Nina leaving?! O_O Im kinda... Relieved yet kind of worried. That will either be the show's redemption after the fallout of her and Ian making things awkward orrr it will be the final nail in the TVD coffin. Would be nice if they put the Original family back in the TVD mix. The real original people _ Now for the fun to continue. Hope you all enjoy it! Elijah will be reappearing soon! ;-)
DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)
Bound By Blood
~Previously in Bound By Blood~
Closing her eyes, she turned away as she pulled her sweater tighter and swiped her hand in the direction of her home locking the door and activating the protection spells she'd placed around it ever since the ritual. Letting her hand fall to her side, she kept moving down the sidewalk, not letting herself look back. No turning back now, Bonnie. At least now he knows the truth.
Looking up at the sky with the sun about to rise, she sent a prayer to the spirits. Help me, Grams. Help him. Please.
Chapter 18 - A Promise Made
Standing frozen on the sidewalk, Kol was reeling at what he'd just heard. She didn't have to tell me any of that. Why did she do it?... Because she trusts you, you idiot. His mind replied sounding strangely like Rebekah. Rolling his eyes as he could imagine his darling sister's reaction if she ever learned she'd become the voice of his conscience he sighed. So much for not upsetting her.
Brow furrowing, he stared at his boots lost in his own mind as a thought came unbidden, making him snap his head around to stare in shock at the witch's disappearing form. Gulping, he closed his eyes as a breeze brushed through his hair and against his face calming him. The spirits were kind to that girl. He just hoped that they could protect her.
Biting his lip he flashed to Bonnie's side, watching her as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye while they kept walking.
When he offered a tentative smile, she pressed her lips in a thin line before eventually nodding and finally turning her head to look at him. "I won't give up you know."
Kol inhaled deeply and sighed as he slid his hand around hers and gently squeezed it. "I know. One thing at a time, Bonnie, that's all I can do right now." When she smiled and nodded in agreement, he smirked slightly. Thank you, Little Witch. Her eyes narrowed and he felt a gentle push from behind making him stumble causing her to laugh quietly. Glaring playfully, he paused as he went to pluck a leaf out of her hair. Hearing her breath catch, he looked in her eyes as he let it fall from his hand. "You're not weak, Bonnie. Nor are you a bad person. Life hasn't been kind to you, but here you still stand protecting what you believe in and the people you care about. Even those of us that don't deserve it. You're stronger than you know." Seeing her shiver, he slid his jacket off and held it out to her. "Here."
Bonnie shook her head and blushed as she knew she was shivering for a whole different reason even though she was cold. "I'm fine, really, keep it." When he merely quirked an eyebrow in reply, she bit her lip nervously. Laughing when he then stepped behind her expectantly holding it up for her to slip her arms into it, she shook her head as she relented. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
"Nik says it's one of my most annoying qualities actually," Kol chuckled as he stepped in front of her to straighten the jacket over her shoulders, before saying, "Which to me, means my most fantastic trait ever." Hearing her giggle, his eyes softened as he took in her appearance. Sparkling eyes, wind ruffled hair, and one stunning smile. He was almost jealous of his jacket at that moment. Hands stilling at that realization, he almost missed the best moment of his day. Almost.
Feeling goosebumps cover her arms as the warmth of the coat traveled into her, she inhaled and relaxed as the scent reached her nose. Damn he smells good. Hearing him choke on laughter, her head snapped up to his as she realized he'd heard that. "Uhhh, I mean..." Trailing off she realized there was no way out of that. "Oh god." Burying her face in her hands, she felt her face burning in embarrassment.
Nudging her shoulder, he daringly wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they kept walking. "It's perfectly alright, darling. You smell absolutely delectable," he assured her, earning him an elbow in the side as her face turned crimson.
Clearing her throat, Bonnie took a couple deep breaths to cool down as she unceremoniously pushed his arm off her shoulders, causing Kol to pout at her. "Let's go find your brother." When he finally stopped teasing and grew serious once more, she waited until they'd crossed to the next street before casually letting her hand brush against his and lacing their hands together as she gently squeezed back. Your welcome... Smirking, she glanced sideways at him. Mini Mikaelson. When she heard a strange noise between a squeak and a moan come from him she laughed.
"I can't believe Blondie told you about that!" He groaned, hanging his head as they rounded the corner, almost to the manor.
"Small town, Kol. Everyone knows everything." When he arched an eyebrow, she scrunched her nose slightly. "Okay, almost everything."
Humming in agreement, Kol hopped up the steps holding the door open and letting her pass through causing her to arch an eyebrow at him this time. I have manners. I just... Don't use them very often.
Snorting, Bonnie accepted his help removing the coat. When he froze as he was placing it by the door, she grew concerned. "What is it?" He turned and looked passed her to the staircase. When she twisted around, her mouth parted as she took in Elena's pale form coming down the stairs. "Elena, what's wrong?" She felt a breeze as Kol flew by her stopping in front of Elena on the steps.
Feeling the turmoil that was crashing down on the girl's mind, Kol wrapped his arms around her, pulling Elena into a tight hug. Speak to me, dear, what's happened? Her hands shaking as they fisted in his shirt worried him. Sensing his siblings joining them in the entryway, he tried to give her some privacy. Elena, what happened?
"I read the letter," she whispered, her voice cracking as she pulled away, not caring that everyone heard. "I woke up and what you told me earlier kept going through my head. You all were right that I needed to see what Elijah had to say." Looking down at her hands, she slowly unfurled her fingers showing them the crumpled up ball of paper. Meeting Bonnie's gaze, she held it out to her best friend. "Read it. They deserve to know."
Carefully taking the paper from Elena, Bonnie glanced around as she saw the concern on all their faces. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out the paper and began reading.
"Elena,
Today I did things I abhor to protect the one thing I value most. My family. If anyone can understand that, it's you. Your compassion is a gift, Elena. Carry it with you, as I will carry my regret.
Always and forever,
Elijah."
Eyes darting upwards, Bonnie looked from Kol to Finn to Klaus to Rebekah, and finally, back to her best friend. "Elena..." she murmured stepping forward to hug her friend, meeting Kol's stormy eyes over her shoulder seeing his hands flexing at his sides.
"He's not coming back, Bonnie," Elena mumbled numbly, her eyes burning, but no more tears able to fall. She couldn't feel anything now. She was just... Blank. "Elijah's never coming back."
"Shhhh," Bonnie soothed, rubbing her friends shoulders. "It's going to be okay, honey. I promise. I'll fix this. Everything will be fine."
Frowning at the witch, Rebekah stepped forward. "Just how do you intend to do that, Bennett?" When Kol glared at her, she raised her eyebrows in question.
Ignoring the sibling quarrel, Bonnie kept one arm wrapped around Elena, as she held up the letter with her other hand. "With this." Meeting Kol's gaze, she smiled briefly in reassurance before facing everyone. "Elijah's a smart man... Most of the time," she growled, feeling her friend trembling. Eyes narrowing she met each of theirs in turn. "Yet this letter just gave me the one thing I needed to find him." Smirking, she turned her eyes to meet Elena's. "Don't worry, Elena. Elijah's coming back. Whether he wants to or not."
Looking down at the paper in her hand, Bonnie clenched her jaw tightly. "He should know better than to mess with a Bennett witch."
Eyes lighting up as he understood what she left unsaid, Kol grinned impishly. The one thing they needed to search for Elijah, and it had been right under their noses all along. His gaze took in the determined glare in her eyes and the way she was standing defensively around Elena. For once, he was glad he wasn't on the receiving end of a witch's temper. Especially as furious as he now knew that she was. Her frustration with him earlier was nothing compared to the world of pain he sensed that she had in store for his brother if Elijah made one wrong move.
"Indeed he should," he agreed softly, bowing his head to her in gratitude for her assistance. You can run, Brother, but you can't disappear forever.
Klaus cleared his throat drawing everyone's attention. One look at the tension on his face and Kol groaned. "What now, Nik? Can't the world be sane for just one little minute without you spoiling it?"
Snickering at Kol's choice of words, Rebekah cut in. "Sorry, Kol, but I'm afraid the world hasn't been sane since you were brought into it."
"Oh sod off, 'Bekah, I'm having fun here." Flashing in front of his sister, he leaned down smirk in place." Besides, we both know that's why I'm your favorite brother."
"Mmm no, sorry, it's what makes you the biggest pain in my arse," she quipped teasingly, causing him to stagger back.
"That hurts, Sis, it truly does. Wha-"
"When you're both done acting like children," Klaus ground out, effectively ending the game, as he threw the ledger on the table in the middle of the entryway. "We have actual problems to discuss."
Elena recognized the book easily after spending so much time at the boarding house. "Where did you get that? Better question, how? Stefan and Damon wouldn't just willingly give it to you." If they weren't bonded to her, the others might've thought she was angry at them, but in truth, she was just curious... And worried what the two might do in retaliation.
Scanning the spine of the book, Bonnie and Kol shared a confused glance before turning to the others. "Yes, please do share, why exactly are we interested in the Salvatore's business management skills? Seems a rather dull thing to steal if you ask me."
When his siblings all found every other part of the room interesting, Kol turned to Elena. "What's so important about this book, Elena?"
"It's their lumber records," Sage answered for her, stepping forward from behind Finn to open the book to a specific entry before handing it to Kol. "Each and every transaction of any wood logging or lumber they ever dealt with."
Suspicion clouding her eyes, Bonnie crossed her arms as Kol gradually went still. "What does that have to do with our current situation?"
"Everything, Little Witch." Real fear locking him up temporarily, Kol shook himself and turned towards Bonnie. Taking a deep breath, he flexed his hands on the book as he turned it around for her and Elena to understand.
Sage went to protest, but Finn shook his head. These two young women had just as much right to know the truth. It could very well effect both of them in the future.
White oak? Feeling perplexed, Elena looked over at Bonnie who simply shrugged at a loss. With all her expanding knowledge as a witch, Bonnie didn't have a clue what this was about. She'd never even heard of white oak before today. Noticing Kol's bruising grip on the book, they glanced over at the rest of his family. Each and every one of them was on edge.
For the first time since the ritual, Elena willingly let the bond go free a little. The Mikaelson's weren't just on edge... They were terrified more than ever before. More so than when Esther had been promising their impending demise. Feeling dread creeping into her at that startling revelation, Elena squeezed Bonnie's hand for support. "Guys... What exactly is white oak?"
Klaus knew that Kol and Rebekah wouldn't be able to tell her for fear of sending her over the edge. Their bonds grew stronger by the day. By extension, so did the link with the family, but this... This could harm her just as easily as them. Walking up to the two of them he swallowed harshly and met their eyes. "I'm afraid, darlings, that, with the exception of extremely powerful magic, it's the one thing that can truly kill an Original vampire... And thus, as result, eradicate the entire vampire population. Every. Single. Bloodline."
Clasping Kol on the shoulder, Finn quietly retrieved the book. "We thought we had it handled with the bridge construction burning."
Bonnie gaped. "That was you?!"
Smiling tightly at the girl's shock, Finn nodded. "Indeed it was, Miss Bennett. It was too much of a risk to leave it alone. So Sage managed to get there and light it on fire before anyone else... Managed to get ahold of it." Frowning at the book in his hands, he sighed and elaborated when the girls remained silent. "We then discovered there was a second remaining fragment of white oak that had been reserved for the restored town sign. I sent Sage off to retrieve it. Only to have encountered a problem."
"What sort of problem, Finn?" Kol hissed, anger coursing through him, realizing his family had been keeping this from him for weeks. Throwing Finn's hand off his shoulder, he backed away from him looking at each of his siblings in disbelief. "They clearly trusted you to handle it, even after you almost got us all murdered six weeks ago. Yet apparently, now I'm the one who can't be trusted to help? After everything I've given up for this family, you all keep this secret from me. Why?!" He demanded, chest heaving and throat sore from yelling as his family stood there in silence. Feeling a hand slip into his on his left, he closed his eyes as he took a few deep breaths, not wanting to scare Elena further. Her hand flexed around his in assurance.
Noting the tense atmosphere, Bonnie had a feeling his anxiety this morning had something to do with his siblings as well. Breathe, Kol. Let them explain. She wrapped her fingers around his right hand, unknowingly surprising everyone in the room. Catching his glance, she tilted her head towards his family. Forget Esther, forget Mikael, these people in front of you are your real family. Your blood. Don't push them away over a mistake. Swallowing harshly she focused on their joined hands. It's a hard thing to get back once it's gone.
Watching Bonnie through half closed eyes, Kol was tempted to brush the hair back from her face, but knew she needed a minute. Today had been hard for her. Grasping both girls hands tightly, he frowned as Bonnie's reasoning dug its way into his mind and wouldn't let go. Today had been hard for all of them. Shoulders sagging, he felt the anger slipping away. As much as his siblings drove him nuts, they'd made a promise. He wouldn't turn back on it now.
"Just tell me why. You owe me that much." Exhaustion was evident all over his body, but he wouldn't give in just yet.
Treading carefully closer to Kol, Rebekah arched a brow at the interesting turn of events with her brother and the two girls, but she was also relieved. If he wouldn't confide in his brothers or herself, at least these two seemed to be helping him. As much as it pained her, Kol had every right to not discuss the past with them. Their family had been broken for quite some time and it wouldn't fix itself overnight.
"We were trying to protect you." Holding up a hand at his protest, she frowned in regret. "Yes, we were wrong to do it. It wasn't fair of us to keep this from you, but as you said, Brother, you've given up everything for our family." Shrugging helplessly, she looked to their brothers before turning back to Kol. "We didn't want you to have to give up anything else. Not if we could prevent it before it was even an actual risk." Flashing a small smile, she tilted her head. "I may be your baby sister, but I still have the right to protect you. Don't I?"
Biting his lip, Kol saw the guilt clouding his brothers' faces as Rebekah explained. Always and Forever. The importance of Elijah's endearment in the letter to Elena wasn't lost on him. That was their promise to each other as siblings for a thousand years. His brother wouldn't say that to just anyone. Nor would Kol act like it meant nothing now. They really were his family even a thousand years later. Letting his hands slip away from Elena and Bonnie, he walked forward and pulled Rebekah into a hug.
Rebekah squeezed his shoulders and buried her head in his chest. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, 'Bekah," he assured her, nodding at Klaus and Finn in understanding. "All is well." Holding her against his side, he clenched his jaw in worry. "Now will someone please tell me and the lovely ladies here what the new problem is?" Seeing the synchronized roll of the eyes, Kol smirked briefly. Those two really should have been sisters.
Guilt flashing across her eyes, Sage dropped the bad news on them, since she was the one that lost the sign. "I went to get the sign from the Lockwood estate, but it was gone. I made some enquiries with the household staff only to discover someone else had already picked it up."
Eyes narrowing in suspicion, Bonnie held Elena's hand in her own tightly. "By who?"
Growling, Sage ran her hands through her hair. "Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Meaning they have every remaining piece of white oak that exists."
Arms going limp, Elena and Bonnie shared a horrified look as the implications of what could happen dawned on them.
Kol groaned and dropped his head on Rebekah's shoulder.
"Bloody buggering hell."