Chapter 44: The End of the Affair

Summer 2010

They had, once again, been in the car for an ungodly long duration of time. This time, Ellie was placed in the middle of the backseat between Klaus and Stefan. For whatever reason, Klaus had decided they needed a driver as opposed to them driving themselves. But, to be fair, the back of the SUV was roomy enough that they weren't cramped into one another. Ellie was too sick of being in the car to really take any interest in their surroundings. So, she had her head rested on Stefan's shoulder, half asleep. At least, she was until Klaus spoke. "Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan."

"Chicago?" She asked in surprise as she straightened up slightly. "Why are we in Chicago?" She rubbed her eyes of any sleep as Klaus stepped out and offered his hand to help her out as well. Ellie took it gratefully before looking around in confusion at their surroundings. "What is this place?"

"What are we doing here?" Stefan asked as they followed Klaus.

"I know how much you loved it here." Klaus told him and Ellie frowned slightly. When had Stefan been in Chicago? Not only that, how would Klaus know that Stefan had loved being there? "Bringing back memories of the good old Ripper days."

An eighteen wheeler's lights were shining brightly towards them as Klaus opened the door. It was mostly carrying the caskets of Klaus' family inside it. "Blocked out of most of them." Stefan replied. "A lot of blood, a lot of partying. The details are all a blur." He confessed.

"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what makes it legend." Klaus told them. "Word was The Ripper of Monterey got lonely, so he escaped to the city for some comfort. It was prohibition. Everything was off limits then, which made everything so much fun. You would have loved it, darling." They listened as Klaus explained what the city had been like back then, and Ellie noticed the fond reminiscence in his tone. "Chicago was magical." He eventually said.

"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it." Stefan replied, unimpressed. "Like I said, I don't remember most of it." Ellie followed Stefan's movement as he walked away, and caught an odd expression on Klaus' face. She tucked away the observation for later. She doubted he would tell her why he made that expression, at least not yet.

"Down to business, then?" Klaus asked.

Ellie made a face. "You still haven't explained why we're here. I doubt you've brought us all this way only to relive Stefan's old Ripper glory days, or whatever."

Stefan had questions of his own. He jumped in, asking, "Why am I still with you? We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?"

"To answer your question and yours, love, we're going to see my favorite witch." Klaus told them as he walked past them. "If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her. Like you said, love, it's not like the answer to our problem is going to be written down in any old grimoire."

"Wait, then why did we stop here?" Ellie groaned. "We've been in the car for ages, Klaus."

Klaus grinned at her whining. "We have some very precious cargo to drop off, love. Wouldn't want Elijah's casket to get scratched now would we?" She made a face at his cheeky comment. "Come now, come now, don't make such a long face. Where we're going isn't much farther. My favorite witch is keen on staying in a particular place. You'll see why when we arrive."

"Might as well get it over with." Ellie huffed to herself as she piled back into the middle seat. "You owe me for sticking me in the middle seat for this long." She groaned.

Once Klaus and Stefan were back in place next to her, she dropped her head dramatically onto Stefan's shoulder. "Well, you look rather cozy from where I'm sitting." He commented smugly.

She rolled her eyes, unsurprised by his comment. "You know, for someone a thousand years old, you're awfully dramatic."

Klaus let out a loud laugh. His voice was full of mirth as he replied, "A thousand years is far too long to be so serious all the time. Trust me, I've watched Elijah do it. He'd have had much more fun if he lightened up a bit."

"Mmhmm." She replied as she watched the scenery through the front. She'd never been to Chicago before. It was a very different place when compared to Mystic Falls. Klaus had been right, the drive to wherever they were going wasn't long and she took his hand once more as he helped her step out. "Thank god."

She wasn't sure where they were, but Klaus seemed pleased and she followed him and Stefan inside. "Looks familiar, doesn't it?" He asked.

"Nope, can't say I recall." Ellie said sarcastically. At least, for now, he was in one of his moods where Ellie could make sarcastic comments without really worrying about his reaction. Hell, Stefan said sarcastic things even when Klaus was pissed, and Klaus had yet to maim or kill him.

"Hilarious." Klaus drawled.

"I can't believe this place is still here." Stefan replied as he looked around in fascination.

Ellie sensed a strong presence and looked over to her left to see a beautiful black woman with stunning white hair standing there with a look of disbelief on her face. "You've got to be kidding me."

"So, a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender…"

"Stop." The woman said immediately, cutting Klaus off. "You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny."

"Oh I like her." Ellie grinned brightly at the woman. Anyone who didn't seem impressed or intimidated by Klaus was someone Ellie would probably get along with.

"Of course you do." Klaus replied with a roll of his eyes.

The woman was looking Ellie over. "Now what's a bright little witch like yourself doing with these two?" She asked Ellie curiously. Her gaze flicked over to Stefan, who was staring at her with open curiosity and confusion. "I remember you." She confirmed.

"Yeah." Stefan replied. "You're Gloria." When she hummed in confirmation, Stefan asked, "Shouldn't you be…"

"Old and dead?" She finished for him. She grinned warmly at him. "Now if I die, who's going to run this place, huh?"

Klaus looked ever so pleased. "Gloria's a very powerful witch." He told them.

"I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells, but don't worry. It'll catch up to me one day." Gloria told them.

"Stefan, why don't you and the little witch go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Klaus asked, though they were all aware it was a dismissal of the two of them.

For what it was worth, Stefan took it in stride. He gave a small smile and said, "Yeah, sure thing. Come on, Ellie."

"You look ravishing by the way." Klaus was telling Gloria as Ellie and Stefan walked behind the bar.

"Don't." Gloria said, stopping him with a single word. "I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels." Ellie spared a glance to see that the other witch had taken a seat across from Klaus.

"So what am I doing wrong?" Klaus inquired. "I broke the curse."

"Obviously you did something wrong." Gloria informed him bluntly. "Look, every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old… we'd have to contact the witch who created it."

"Well, that would be the Original Witch." Klaus told her. "She's very dead." Ellie wasn't entirely discreet as she watched him, but she did catch the satisfaction in his tone and on his face at that declaration. It wasn't surprising though, if she'd been cursed for a thousand years, she'd be glad the person who cursed her was dead too. There might have been something more on his face, but she wasn't sure what.

"I know." Gloria said. "And for me to contact her, I'll need help." There was a tense pause before Gloria spoke again. "Bring me Rebekah."

Rebekah? Who was Rebekah? "Rebekah." Klaus repeated in disbelief. Whoever the girl was, Klaus didn't seem too pleased that she was what Gloria needed. "Rebekah is a bit preoccupied."

Gloria wasn't fazed. "She has what I need." The woman didn't even miss a beat. "Bring her to me." Klaus' somewhat smug smile faded at the woman's statement.

"What is this?" Stefan asked and Ellie turned towards him. He looked entirely confused as his attention focused solely on Klaus.

"What's what?" Ellie asked.

Klaus stood as he replied, "Well, I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place."

"But this is me… with you."

At Stefan's confession, Ellie carefully plucked the picture from his hands. She was startled to see both Stefan and Klaus grinning brightly towards her, their arms slung over each other's shoulders as if they had always been friends. Hell, they looked as close as brothers. "Holy shit." Ellie muttered. "Wait how do you not remember this, Stefan?"

Stefan just shook his head with his eyes wide. "I have no clue." He told her before turning back to Klaus. "What the hell is going on?"

"Come now, we have to fetch Rebekah." Klaus said suddenly, turning on his heel and walking out of the bar.

"Who's Rebekah?" Ellie asked as they piled back into the car, this time Klaus was driving. She climbed into the passenger's seat to keep Stefan from doing something stupid. "Also how do you know Stefan? This picture looks like its from the twenties? But you never said anything about knowing Stefan and he's definitely not made it seem like he knows you."

Klaus didn't respond to their pestering as he pulled the car back into the place they'd been before they went to Gloria's. Ellie and Stefan shared a look of frustration and confusion as Klaus walked ahead of them. Stefan has apparently decided that he'd held his tongue long enough and said, "This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?"

"You said it yourself, that time had a lot of dark holes." Klaus shot back. It sounded like a lie to Ellie.

"No, if you knew me, then why haven't you said anything?" Stefan demanded.

"I'm a little busy right now. Memory lane will have to wait." Klaus deflected and Ellie was trying desperately to put together the puzzle before her. What the hell was Klaus not telling them?

Stefan reached forward and jerked Klaus roughly, forcing the older vampire to stop walking. "What the hell is going on?" Stefan demanded.

"Stefan." Ellie warned, tugging slightly on his arm. "Calm down."

"You should listen to her mate."

"I don't want you to tell me to calm down. I want you to tell me whatever the hell it is you're keeping from me." Stefan snapped. "Answer me."

Klaus casually removed Stefan's hand from his arm. "Let's just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start. To be honest, I hated you." Klaus confessed. "You see, you had taken a shine to Rebekah. The two of you were together constantly, and I didn't like that. I didn't trust you. Quite frankly, I didn't think you were worthy of her. Neither you nor Rebekah liked it when I told her it was time to go. She needed to be reminded that as my sister, she needed to do as she was told."

"Your sister." Stefan repeated. Ellie was only somewhat surprised at the revelation. This place was clearly where Klaus was intending to keep his siblings while they were in Chicago. So if he brought them here to get Rebekah, it only made sense that she was one of the daggered siblings. "So I knew another Original vampire?"

"If you can't handle it, then don't ask." Klaus replied, walking off. Why did he keep doing that? He had never really been one to run away from a conversation before. Ellie followed him and there was a sudden pain as she recognized the energy of the casket to her right. Elijah was just inside, but she would never be able to get him undaggered without Klaus seeing.

When she stepped up to the now open casket, she was greeted with the sight of a pretty blonde in a dress clearly from the twenties. If it weren't for the unnatural grey tone her skin had taken on from being daggered, Ellie was sure the girl before her would be one of the most beautiful people Ellie had ever seen. "I don't recognize her." Stefan said from where he'd stepped up behind Ellie.

"Well, don't tell her that." Klaus replied without looking away from Rebekah. His gaze was tender, and surprisingly filled with love. He looked like he absolutely adored his sister. But how could he love her that much when he'd stuffed her and his other siblings in boxes for so long? But he must love her. If he didn't would he have dropped them all in the ocean like he'd told Elijah? "Rebekah's temper is worse than mine." He said fondly as he pulled out the dagger. "Time to wake up, little sister."

When there was no immediate reaction, Ellie asked curiously, "How long does it normally take for them to wake up? Is how fast they wake up affected by how long they were daggered?"

"Any day now, Rebekah." Klaus called out. It sounded exactly like how Ellie would call for Jeremy to wake up when he was being stubborn. Ellie was carefully storing away the information for later, because she knew she'd get nothing from Klaus right now. "She's being dramatic." He told them. "And to answer your question, little witch. I haven't the slightest idea."

"Look, why don't you just tell me what the hell is going on?" Stefan asked as he crossed his arms. Ellie mentally congratulated him for keeping his composure as well as he was. "I mean, you obviously want me here for a reason, right?"

"Well you have many useful talents."

"Do I?" Stefan asked skeptically. It was clear that he thought Klaus was full of shit.

Klaus turned suddenly to face the two of them. "In fact, I learned some of my favorite tricks from you." Klaus said. He gave Ellie a wicked grin. "You're going to love this. Stefan and Rebekah had picked up this pretty little thing for supper and brought her to Gloria's. They hadn't really maimed her, of course, just some light drinking, when her husband came barging in, demanding to know where his wife was."

"Why do I feel like this isn't going to be good?" Ellie asked Stefan as she pulled a face.

Stefan shared her look. "I was a Ripper and apparently pals with Klaus here. There's no way it was good."

"Oh, but it was. You see, Stefan compelled the man to sit down. I remember so vividly how you stared him down as you slit his wife's wrist. Just enough to fill up a glass. Even I was surprised when you made him drink his own wife's blood. The whole glass." Klaus explained with a small grin. "I was your number one fan."

As he told them the story, he was leading them through the building. "No offense Stefan, but ew." Ellie said as she gagged a little at the thought.

"And why should I believe any of this?" Stefan took her comment and Klaus' story in stride.

Klaus stopped at a guard and compelled him, "When she wakes up, tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar. Then volunteer your carotid artery and let her feed until you die."

"Where are you going?"

"You think I'm lying, Stefan." Klaus replied. "You and I knew each other. You trusted me with one of your secrets. And now I'm going to prove it to you."

"How?" Ellie and Stefan asked at the same time.

Klaus didn't look back. "We're going to your old apartment."

"This should be fun." Ellie said, though neither Stefan nor Klaus seemed to be listening to her.

The drive wasn't disgustingly long, thank god for small mercies. The elevator in the building was nonfunctional, so they'd had to trek up the stairs. "What a charming little homestead." Klaus said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. They walked to the front door and Klaus stopped, staring suspiciously at the door handle. He forced the door open and walked inside. "Do you feel that?" He asked them. "Is anybody here?"

At once, Ellie felt a familiar magical signature. Elena was here. "It's been vacant for decades." Stefan denied. Ellie wondered if he was aware that Elena was there. "People must break in all the time."

"Abandoned apartment like this would be good for parties or getting high." Ellie commented. When Klaus raised an eyebrow, she added, "My brother was a stoner for a while. I know some of their tricks."

"Why'd you bring us here?"

"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood… I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual."

It seemed to click to Stefan suddenly as he stopped fiddling with a book that had been sitting on the table. "To write it down."

"And relive the kill." Klaus added. "Over and over again." Klaus was nearly gleeful as he pulled open what had looked to be a bookcase, but was really a hidden section, probably once used for hiding illegal alcohol. "You believe me now?"

Ellie knew that Elena was just behind that wall, and things could get very bad, very fast, if Elena was found out. Stefan stepped forward and Ellie knew he'd seen Elena from the way he froze. Luckily, it seemed that someone was looking out for them. Klaus had turned on his heel and was lazily making his way around the apartment. "Look what I found." Stefan called, and for a split second, Ellie was sure her heart stopped. Instead of Elena, Stefan pulled out a bottle. "1918. Single malt."

"My favorite." Klaus replied. "Let's go and find someone to pair it with."

"Ew." Ellie groaned in disgust, but Klaus just gave her a grin as they walked out of the apartment.


They were back at Gloria's and the bar was now in full swing. "Where's Rebekah?" Gloria asked as Ellie, Klaus, and Stefan sat at the bar.

"She'll be here." Klaus replied confidently. "I can't just conjure her on demand."

Gloria gave him an unimpressed grin. "Were you and Rebekah friends?" Ellie asked the older witch curiously. "While Stefan and Klaus were apparently wrecking havoc."

The witch smiled warmly. "Rebekah was one of my best customers. Always tipped everyone well, and she was always kind to me. Things are different now than they were back then. And oftentimes, back then wasn't a very friendly place to be for a woman of color like myself." Gloria said. "Her first several interactions with that one there included her telling him and his little crew of rich boys to shut the hell up."

Ellie made a face. "Stefan you sound like you were a frat boy."

"Something along those lines." Gloria confirmed.

Klaus clearly noticed when Stefan didn't reply to Ellie's comment. "What's with you? I thought Chicago was your playground."

"So this is why you asked me to be your wingman?" Stefan asked as he stood abruptly. "Because you liked the way that I tortured innocent people?"

Stefan was clearly upset, but Klaus didn't seem particularly bothered. "Well, that's certainly half of it."

"What's the other half?"

"The other half, Stefan, is that you used to want to be my wingman." Klaus replied as he poured the three of them shots. He slid Stefan a shot before handing Ellie hers. She downed it in one go. "Nice one, love." He poured her another as he said, "You thought I was a good friend once, and I thought the same of you. We were comrades." Stefan looked like he was trying to piece together what the hell was happening as Klaus held up his shot. "To friendship."

There was something in Klaus' expression. Maybe it was hope, Ellie couldn't be entirely sure. Maybe it was a fool's errand to try and see if there was something good in Klaus. There was absolutely a chance that he was as much of an evil monster as everyone said. But people said that Katherine was a heartless bitch, and she wasn't. The Katherine that Ellie had gotten to know could be ruthless, yes, but she'd not taken advantage of Ellie when she was vulnerable. In fact, she took care of Ellie when there was nothing to gain from it. "To friendship." Ellie repeated as she clinked her glass with Stefan's and Klaus'.

Maybe things would be a bit easier if she gave Klaus a chance. The deeper they got into Klaus and Stefan's history, and Klaus' near desperation for more hybrids, Ellie felt a bit more empathetic of Klaus. It didn't seem like that far of a reach to say that Klaus was very lonely and wanted companionship. Why else keep someone who didn't even remember that they were once friends?

Speaking of that, it was incredibly strange that Stefan didn't have the slightest inclination that he and Klaus had been friends once. Surely he should have remembered something. "So, I'm confused. If we were such great friends, then why do I only know you as the hybrid dick who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire?" Stefan asked. It was clear that he was drinking enough to start to get wasted.

"All good things must come to an end." Klaus told him, but it wasn't really a good answer, or an answer at all. "We were all having good fun at Gloria's as we always did, but the police arrived. They were sporting guns filled with wooden bullets. Rebekah and I needed to leave, and unfortunately at the time you were, unfortunately, a loose end that we didn't need." He didn't say it maliciously, just as a statement of fact.

Understanding washed over Ellie and Stefan. "You compelled me to forget."

"It was time for Rebekah and I to move on." Klaus said as he stared at his glass. "Better to have a clean slate." Stefan, despite not having his memories of that time, honestly looked a bit betrayed.

"But why?" Stefan pressed. "You shouldn't have to cover your tracks… unless you're running from someone."

"Storytime's over." Klaus replied. Ellie stiffened slightly as she felt a magical energy so very similar to Stefan's step into the bar. It made sense, where Elena was, Damon was sure to follow. Stefan glanced to his left and then looked over to Ellie. She nodded slightly before taking a drink.

"I need another drink." Stefan said. "A real one." Klaus didn't say anything and as Stefan walked away, he grabbed a bottle from behind the bar.

Interestingly enough, Ellie was a bit concerned by Klaus' reaction. Elijah had never mentioned anyone dangerous enough to have Klaus on the run. And if Klaus was bad, how bad could whoever it was possibly be. "Klaus…" She pressed slightly, nudging her shoulder against his. "He's right isn't he?"

"About what?" Klaus asked.

"About someone being after you." Ellie replied. "But it doesn't make sense. You're The Hybrid, who could be powerful enough to hurt you when even before the sacrifice, you were unkillable?" Klaus took a heavy drink. "Are they really that bad?" She asked worriedly.

"Why do you care?"

"I… it was bad enough when you were threatening to kill everyone I care about. Someone being more dangerous than you isn't something I really wanna deal with." She said finally. She didn't really have a good excuse as to why she cared. "I won't press you about it or them or whatever, it just caught me by surprise since Elijah never mentioned it." Klaus just hummed in response. "Klaus?"

"Yes?"

"But if Stefan and Rebekah loved each other so much, which it sounds like they did, and you and him were so close, why didn't you just take him with you?" Ellie asked curiously. "I mean, Stefan's a pretty loyal person, I couldn't really see him betraying you like that when you and your sister had meant so much to him."

"Better safe than sorry." Klaus told her. "You live as long as I have, you know that most people can never be truly trusted." Ellie thought suddenly of Elena, and how badly she felt she'd been betrayed by her twin.

"Last call. Drink 'em up!" Gloria called to the patrons of the bar as Damon approached and took Stefan's vacated spot.

"I see they've opened the doors to the riff raff now." Klaus drawled without looking over at the older Salvatore.

"Oh, honey, I've been called worse."

Klaus chuckled as he twirled around the little umbrella that he'd taken from Ellie's drink. "You don't give up, do you?"

"Give me my brother back, you'll never have to see me again." Damon told him.

"Well, I am torn." Klaus confessed. "You see, I promised Stefan I wouldn't let you die, but how many freebies did I really sign up for? And clearly you want to die, otherwise you wouldn't be here, so…"

"What can I say?" Damon grinned. "I'm a thrill seeker." In an instant, Klaus had his hand wrapped tightly around Damon's throat. Ellie spared a worried glance around the bar, but it had already cleared out.

Ellie stood as Klaus lifted Damon off his feet. Something cracked and Klaus said, "Oh, dear, what was that? I'm a little boozy." He held the sharp end of Ellie's little drink umbrella next to Damon's throat in threat. "So, you'll forgive me if I miss your heart for the first few tries." He stabbed low on Damon's chest, beneath his heart. "No, that's not it." He tried again and Damon groaned in pain, "Ohh, almost."

He tilted the little piece of wood upward and pushed in. "You want a partner in crime? Forget Stefan. I'm so much more fun. Come on, Sabrina, tell him." Klaus slung Damon away, crashing into one of the tables and breaking it.

Klaus broke off a leg chair and replied, "You won't be any fun after you're dead."

Before Klaus could stake Damon, the wood erupted into flames. He shot Ellie a look but she held her hands up in defense. "It wasn't me!"

"Really?" Klaus asked as he noticed Gloria.

"Not in my bar. You take it outside." She insisted.

Gloria stood there, unimpressed by the display, as Klaus told Damon, "You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom. When I'm done with him, he won't want to go back."

He released Damon and Ellie looked at Gloria in apology. "I'm sorry about the mess. But I suppose you know how Klaus can get."

"Yes, I do." Gloria confirmed. "Men are all the same." She said with a roll of her eyes. "I hope you know you're paying for a replacement." She told Klaus, unbothered by the scene before her.

"Yes, yes, of course." Klaus replied. He turned to Damon with a look of warning. "Now leave, before I change my mind about letting you leave with your heart still intact."


After everything that went down at Gloria's, once Rebekah was still a no-show, Klaus took them back to the building where the caskets were. "Stefan, you stay out here while the little witch and I go and check on Rebekah." Klaus told them. Stefan frowned slightly, but nodded. Ellie followed Klaus inside somewhat hesitantly. But she thought it was fair to be nervous about meeting another Original. She wasn't surprised when she saw Rebekah's casket was empty.

"Klaus." Ellie whispered and tilted her head towards where the body of the security guard lay.

"Rebekah…" He called in a sing-song voice. "It's your big brother. Come out, come out wherever you are." Ellie stepped back slightly out of nerves as she waited.

There was a rush and a blur of white before Klaus gasped out in pain. "Go to hell, Nik!" Rebekah said through gritted teeth as she pushed the dagger in deep.

After he recovered from the pain, he pulled out the bloodied dagger and dropped it to the ground. "Don't pout. You knew it wouldn't kill me."

"Yeah, but I was hoping it would hurt more." She shot back. Ellie was still trying to get her brain to catch up with the situation. Rebekah turned to walk away when she spotted Ellie. A dark look rushed over her features and she had a death grip around Ellie's throat a second later. "What the bloody hell is this?"

Klaus didn't seem surprised as he pried Rebekah's hand from Ellie's throat. In her shock, Ellie hadn't even thought to use magic to defend herself. "Now, now, don't go killing off our friends before she even gets a word in. It's bad manners." He chided in amusement.

"Our friend?" Rebekah made a face. "Who is she and why is she here?"

"This is Eleanor. She's a companion of ours and she's rather handy." Klaus introduced. "A handy little witch, if I do say so myself."

Rebekah's eyes widened in shock. "A witch? But that doesn't make any sense."

"She seems to be one of a kind. And I can't let you go off killing her now can I?"

"Why shouldn't I kill her just to spite you?" Rebekah spat angrily.

"I understand that you're upset with me, Rebekah… so I'm going to let these two little things go. Just this once. But I'd hate for you to go and kill her when I've brought you a little peace offering." Klaus said before calling out to Stefan, "You can come in."

Ellie had moved enough to see the way Rebekah paused in confusion as she turned to look ahead. When he walked in, Ellie watched as Rebekah's eyes lit up in happiness. "Stefan." She looked like she wanted to smile, but when Stefan didn't immediately react, she faltered.

Klaus strode over to Stefan and said, "Now, you remember."

Stefan closed his eyes as the memories washed over him, and when he tilted his head with a look of near awe at Rebekah, she gave him a hopeful little smile. "Rebekah." He said softly as he stepped towards her. Rebekah was standing very still and holding her breath as she waited to see what he would do.

He'd almost reached her when Klaus called, "Stefan…"

Stefan turned on his heel to stare at Klaus. Ellie, like Rebekah, held her breath. But she did it more in fear of messing up what seemed to be a very important moment between the three before her. "I remember you. We were friends."

"We are friends." Klaus corrected. For the first time, Ellie didn't doubt his sincerity in the slightest. He genuinely still considered Stefan a friend. He turned to Rebekah, the warmth that had been on his features a second ago had diminished some. "And now the reason, you're here. Gloria tells me you know how to contact the Original Witch."

"The Original Witch?" Rebekah said in distaste.

"What do you have that Gloria needs?" Klaus asked and Rebekah reached up in a move clearly meant to grab a necklace.

She looked down in panic when she didn't find it. "Where's my necklace? What did you do with it? I never take it off!" Rebekah demanded.

"I don't know. I didn't touch it."

"We need to find it, Nik. Now, I want it back!"

"Tell me that's not what she needs." Klaus shouted. "Tell me that's not what she needs, Rebekah!" He stepped forward and grabbed the blonde girl, shaking her roughly enough that Ellie instinctively took a step forward.

Rebekah broke away and rushed to her casket. She searched it frantically and when she couldn't find it, she slammed the casket shut and flipped it violently. It seemed Klaus was right, Rebekah's temper was just as bad if not worse than his.


Author's Note:

Enter Rebekah! Did Ellie and Rebekah's first interaction go the way you expected it to? I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and as always, please leave a review!

To xenocanaan: The death of the werewolves was incredibly hard to write, because I wanted her to be with Klaus when it happened, but I knew she didn't have it in her to kill innocent people. The reason she didn't use her blood is because it didn't even cross her mind. There was no need to use her blood when there was a human there, and there was no need to think that her blood was necessary. Their deaths will be sticking with her, and yes, the human died just before they went rabid from Klaus snapping his neck.

To brigitcharlesmatthew: I know! She bonds easily with people, especially when they've done nothing wrong. So their deaths were hard for her to watch. He is starting to care for her, plus I don't think that Klaus is always unnecessarily cruel. It honestly reminds me of how protective Marcel is of Davina and his whole 'we don't hurt kids' rule. Hayley and Ellie are going to be fun to play with once she introduced.

To afralmazouei: I really do feel bad for him. I think he wouldn't have been nearly so malicious if it hadn't been for Esther and Mikael. He really did do everything he was told and he still got screwed over. Yes, we love four chapters in two weeks lol. I am literally so excited for the ball! There's definitely going to be some fluff in it! Plus a little bit of flustered emotions. I'm currently writing the chapter where Ellie and Elijah finally confess and I'm so excited. It's later in the season than I'd originally planned, but the plot does what the plot wants lol.

To lolistarkiller: It's probably going to happen at one point, but she didn't do it originally because there was no reason they would have thought that it was needed. Multiple people have said they hoped she would do it, but at that point, she was exhausted from the hike and then panicked because she didn't know what was wrong. And I don't know if the doppelganger blood would even do anything once they'd had some other type of blood. Do you think that having the doppelganger blood after would reverse the effects and keep them alive?

To vivi. wie: I might have to delve into that and see. Yes, her blood will mostly like work just as well as Elena's. But I don't know if consuming her blood after someone else's would reverse the negative effects and keep them alive. For the witch aspect, it's curious because for the Traveler's, they could use Stefan's and Elena's doppelganger blood even though they're vampires and it worked. But Klaus couldn't use Katherine's vampire blood for his curse. So I think it just depends. But, Klaus had planned for Elena and Matt to get together and have another doppelganger in however many years, which would imply that any doppelganger's blood could be used, which makes sense since it was Tatia's blood that bound the curse and Elena's that broke it. Lol, I never mind ranting. I love it lol.

To AdiraBraelynn: I am genuinely so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you're going through. My aunt ended up in the ICU with it for a month before getting better. That was terrifying enough. I am praying for you and your family. Please, don't apologize for rambling you can always ramble here. Stefan and Ellie's clinginess during the summer kind of happened on it's own, though once they get back to Mystic Falls they're not going to always get time together. Several people made a similar comment about her using her blood, and the only reason she didn't was because she genuinely didn't realize she needed to. Klaus definitely needs some stability, all the Mikaelson kids do. Yes, Elijah and Ellie will definitely be dancing and there's definitely going to be fluff moments. Esther was awful and I will always hate her. Yes, he's still going to end up without his humanity for a while. It probably won't get really AU and will probably follow the show at least until we maybe get through season one of TO because everything is kind of necessary to get them to New Orleans. But I probably won't do the hollow arc in TO and it definitely won't end the same, so we'll see what happens when we get there. Once again, I'm so sorry for your loss. Stay safe my friend.

-Madame Magic

Posted: 12/12/20