summertime road trips and ragers
Bella sat in the passenger seat of the car thinking back on the last two months with her bare feet propped up on the dash. She found the fact that even though her twin was the more sociable of the two of them that it was her that had to convince Nik that emotions were a lot stronger when it came to feelings like gratitude and loyalty if they weren't forced. Finally being able to connect to his wolf and understand his instinctive need to control who was involved with or around those he considered pack helped too. Her knowledge and his instincts fee Nik was soon listening to his wolf more before acting on his impulses as his siblings liked to call them. With Tyler contacting old pack mates of their uncle Nik had changed more than a hundred willing wolves to hybrids and as they travelled across the country the pack was growing into the army of his dreams this also allowed for him to figure out which ones could be trusted to be around his blood pack when they were awoken. Though Bella had really only paid attention to one she wolf unparticular who was around Tyler's age and on the hunt for information about her own pack with only a crescent moon shaped birth mark to go on.
The she wolf seemed to have the same effect her duckling did when it came to keeping Bella's attention. Though the she wolf declined for the moment the chance to change Bella had a feeling they would be seeing her again in the future. Bell also found that Nik had the same fondness for games that she did and found great amusement in playing with the scooby gang when Damon informed them that his brother had let their sire out from the cave and they were now trying to find either his father or his siblings. Bella was not surprised that he was still punishing Katherine what did surprise her was that he was listening to his brothers suggestions on how to increase the females paranoia. Finding out that Katherine seemed to have a good grasp on tracking Nik he decided to play some more and started acting like he did not know that the doppelganger was alive. Which was why they found themselves driving to Chicago if only to convince the witches would believe the story he was weaving this included him being quite put out with his hybrids "failing". The she wolf helped in that regard by spreading rumors around and letting Tyler know when the rumors would be checked out. Bella with the help of her twin giving protection amulets to their new pack members had kept even the spirits on the other side from seeing them change they just assumed all of the attempts had failed.
Maddox had also helped Bella perfect her act of being a convincing witch if she ever felt the urge to show the scooby gang that she wasn't a wolf though she liked to imagine their expressions. While he was helping with that she was showing him that he truly had no limitations on his magic and working with him on the elements leaving only his seelie gift of foresight to be taught by King Oberon. She found it amusing that while she favored the earth element her twin favored air and could be seen shortly after learning the basics creating mini tornados on his hand. Bella had also been reading the grimoires she brought along the most interesting one being Emily Bennett's so far as she mentions creating the prison world spell for a special group of vampires she trapped within one. Bella had a feeling the spell was going to be experimented with by the other fae just as much as the cold ones would be mostly to see how they could improve it. She was now slowly translating a grimoire that seemed to be from a witch that was one of the earlier Bennett witches she hadn't found anything interesting yet but she always did like translating text.
Before she could get to the next page her jeep stopped in front of a old looking bar, which caused Bella to shake her head since it seemed most of the witches she meet or stole from seemed to have bars. Nik guided her into the bar with an arm over her shoulder and Maddox following behind as he approached the bar he spoke.
"So a hybrid walks into a bar and," he was cut off by the witch that approached them.
"Stop, you maybe invisible but that doesn't make you funny," sliding into one of the empty booths in front of them she continued to talk. "I know why your here a hybrid trying to make other hybrids that kind of news travels." Her eyes traveled over the twins before speaking again.
"The weaker ones aren't getting your answers for you because they are asking the wrong spirits for a spell this old you need to contact the witch that created it." as she stared Nik down he answered back.
"Well that would be the original witch and she's very dead," he smirked though he didn't like his mate being called weak even if she was playing her role well with her twin.
"I know and to contact her I'll need help, bring me Rebekah." Nik rolled his eyes before saying.
"Rebekah, is a bit preoccupied," the witch shrugged before standing. "Rebekah has what I need bring her to me."
Nik rolled his neck in shoulders as he contemplated his next actions just as Bella's phone went off with a text message from Damon. Bella showed the message that read they would be here in a few hours before he disappeared from the booth and reappeared in front of the witch as she walked towards the bar. Bella heard the neck snap before walking toward the curtain door to see if their were any books for her to get. The only grimoire she held was her own personal one but it was a large grimoire and would added to Bella's horde nicely. Maddox found a few objects that were holding magic to add to his horde as well, before they joined Nik back at the front more than happy to help start a fire to cover the death of the witch.
Nik drove them to the Langham Hotel before checking into the Infinity suite which turned out to be the pent house suite. As the butler service brought up their bags and Maddox got settles into the guest room of the penthouse. Bella headed to the white Statuario marble master bath room and decided that was going to enjoy the spa amenities of the tub while over looking the city. Twenty minutes later Nik decided to join her since he had finished be a control freak about their bags being brought up. two hours later n which the relaxation turned into some fun which would require the use of the waterfall shower. Bella received a phone call that let her know that Damon and Enzo had arrived and were n the regent suite below their before agreeing to get ready and head out to a club for a night of dancing and in Damon and Enzo's cases feeding while dancing.
They would spend three days going to different clubs at night and getting to know Enzo as they saw what Damon was like with his switch fully on. Bella could say the chaos the three of them would sow in their games was going to be so much fun for her. Before Damon headed back to Mystic Falls to act like a witch had clued them in that the alive doppelganger would be why his plan was failing. They let them stew in the paranoia before following behind Damon knowing that the Hybrids were going to be setting up shop in her old mansion . Nik having arranged for her horde to be moved along with any of her personal things. Tyler would be keeping his room in what was to become one of many hybrid pack houses through out the country. Bella was right about the chaos they caused that night while she helped Nik terrorize the doppelganger and Damon's brother even going as far as to give back the memories from the twenties and even compelling him to turn his emotions off. Her twin had followed their cousin to help finish the other pranks and managed to meet his mate in Caroline all the while messing with the witch. Bella would have been impressed with Stefan and Katherines threats of waking Mikael but really she was more hoping that they weren't bluffing if only to stave off any boredom she would have later on.
Nik made it look like they had managed to scare him out of town when really he was at the mansion he had bought under Bella's magic and watchful eye getting the coffins to town so his siblings can be awoken and calling Elijah to inform him that he needed to be careful if he planned on following them to the cemetery. Maddox found the fact that his little blonde mate could fool even Nik's father into thinking she was on their side all the while telling Bella what was really going on like how the scooby gang now thought that Tyler was sired to Nik. Damon just managed to pull off the concerned for his brother act as well to the doppelganger who seemed to refuse to believe he was together with Enzo no matter the compromising positions she found them in, some of which were very much planned to get their point across.
Bella was sitting on the floor staring at the coffins the siblings were daggered in her eyes darting between the auras as they showed the last emotion before the dagger was pushed in. Though what really caught her attention was the fact that the three siblings much like Elijah had the block keeping them from connecting to the missing pieces. What was different was the wells of magic she could feel just waiting to be used behind each meaning Nik would no longer be the only original Hybrid of his siblings which begged to question exactly how strong Elijah was going to be as the only true original vampire when the block was removed. Before Bella could study the red chains that indicated the blood magic used to keep the block in place. The two awake brothers in question wandered in before Nik helped her off the floor and Maddox placed a cloaking spell on the siblings coffins allowing only the forth coffin to be seen if anyone was to come looking.
Bella could feel Nik's paranoia starting to bleed in to his aura before meeting his eyes and asking him to trust her with hers. Before he pulled her into a kiss remembering the conversation they had last night when Bella found out that in order to help his siblings she needed to find the access point of the soul magic for the blood magic the doppelganger would be used for to work. This revelations triggered a vision of his mother a live and casting a spell in a ball gown which meant that Bella would have to use the access point the witch was using to help the unlocking. Working through his paranoia to trust in not only his mate but in his siblings was a work in progress but he helped in setting up the next pieces in the game now that Mikael had been spotted in town.
Few hours after Mikael being spotted Bella received a phone call from Caroline that Mikael had been daggered for attacking the doppelganger. Bella found that her brother would know how to sooth over her temper about her dance being taken over and moved to Lockwood manor as a "wake " for Mikael. Bella choose to wear black going with a short off the shoulder black gown that hugged her curves and a pair of black Louboutin heels. Just as she was finished curling her hair deciding to leave it down she felt a presence behind her and a cool metal slipping around her neck. Looking up into the mirror her eyes meet Nik's as he slide a necklace around her neck placing a kiss once he snapped it in place. looking at it in the mirror she couldn't help but smile at the dragon breath opal that was intertwined in vines. turning in his arms she gave him a kiss in return before accepting his arm allowing him to escort her out to the car.
Bella ignored Damon's brother as he approach Nik to talk to him and looked around the area taking note of the older vampire nearby that held a lot of anger as well as noticing Damon and Enzo. As Nik pulled her over to dance Bella spotted her twin with Caroline and that the vampire doppelganger was the one present not the human doppelganger. After a few dances Bella split off in search for Tyler finding him knocking out his human friend. They walked back down stairs as Bella noticed all the other auras leaving expect for the scooby gang and her group. She just reached the bottom steps as she heard the words leaving the older vampires mouth.
"Who do you have other than those loyalty you forced," as Bella stepped to Nik's side she barely glanced over the vampire doppelganger who was acting like the human one. She couldn't help but smirk as she weaved her magic on to the scene ensnaring all that were present while grabbing Nik's hand and pulling him from the illusion and off to the side to watch it play out. Soothing the fear and the hurt through the bond and watching a awe took its place as her magic played out the scene. Bella had to say she was not surprised that the bait for the witch was taken as she felt Damon's brothers aura appearing a few feet away and being ensnared too. As the white oak stake clattered to the floor since their was no body for it to be thrown at Nik thought quickly just as The vampire doppelganger stood up and set off the grenades. Bella's magic broke allowing all of them to see her standing by Nik with the stake in his hand as Mikael turned back around in confusion. He didn't get to ask any questions though as Nik shoved the stake in his chest before stepping back as the body caught fire. Allowing Nik to play with the others Bella noticed Elijah presence as he collected the body and the stake before nodding to each other as she cloaked him.
As the rest of the scooby gang left Bella grinned as Nik picked her up in a spin seeing and feeling through the bond how free he felt though the grief was still there for the man he use to call father even if it was buried for the moment. He left the car for Maddox to take Caroline home before speeding off with Bella in his arms. A few hours before sunrise as Bella snuggled into his bare chest they both thought that the next few days were going to be the most interesting with the awakening of his siblings and getting them caught up and involved in the games they were playing.