Hey all! A special warm welcome to my new readers! I shed a happy tear when I read from the reviews that I had myself a couple of binge-readers (sigh) I think I can die happy now.
Anyway! This chapter has a little gore and a concept I want to write an entirely new fic about. I admit, I don't ready TVD fictions unless they're OC or SI so I don't know whats out there, but I love RipperStefan potential. I want to write a dirty fic that brings him to light, but I won't for a loooong time unfortunately. I have other fandoms I want to touch on before I throw more of myself into this one aha!
Anyway, just curious; has anyone listened to any of my music recs for this fic? Just wondering what your thoughts were on them and if you have your own songs that you imagine Lia singing. Would love to know!
Enjoy!
Chapter 20
Bodies drained of blood
A young girl with bite marks, near-to-no memories or paper trail left.
A vampire-hunter brother that found his way back to her and joined his town's council.
Returning townspeople, immortal and once again taking up residence in the boarding house
Vampires. New faces. Salvatores.
Blue eyes were pinched as the man collected a suitcase and started packing the necessities for a trip back home to Mystic Falls, taking barely ten minutes to collect what he'd need and walk it out to the car. He sighed as the ignition turned over, closing his eyes and preparing for the phone call he was about to make. He scrolled through his contacts, finding the name he'd been searching for and hitting 'dial.'
Ring
He hated talking to her.
Ring
He understood why she did it; of course, he did.
Ring
He would forever hate what she had become.
"John."
"Isobel," John Gilbert sighed. "We have problems."
*TVDM*
"Elena."
Elena spun in her heel, the voice halting her journey through the school building and bringing a smile to her face.
"Stefan."
Her arms immediately wound around his waist as he pulled her in, sighing in content. They'd spent the night together, but even the hour apart had felt too long.
"How are you?" the vampire asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt the tranquil mood.
"Better," Elena sighed, pulling back slightly to look into deep green. "Worried, but better."
Stefan smiled sympathetically at the brunette just as her attention was drawn to something behind him. He watched her eyes widen; an array of emotion crossing her features before settling on a cross between compassion and trepidation.
"There's Bonnie. I'm going to give her the talisman," doe eyes looked up, beseeching. "It was her family's."
"Of course," Stefan nodded, letting his arms drift back down to his sides. He followed a step behind as she made her way to the Bennett who was rummaging around in her locker.
"Bonnie, hey," Elena smiled tentatively, internally wincing as her friend jumped.
"Elena," Bonnie was surprised. She regretted how harsh she was with Elena when they'd been kidnapped, but she couldn't regret her words. She definitely wanted to stay out of anything Lia.
"Uh, I'm sorry, about yesterday," Elena started, wringing her hands as she looked at the witch earnestly. "I didn't mean to make you so uncomfortable; I just didn't realise how serious everything was. I- here," Elena dug through her messenger back, quickly wrapping her fingers around the cool metal of the necklace. "The-Kaliope, she gave it back yesterday."
Bonnie held her breath as she slowly reached for the large crystal, unable to stop her hand from trembling. Her fingertips brushed the cool surface, feeling the hum of magic. She blinked in shock.
"Did she not open the tomb?" Bonnie whispered as she finally took the pendant from Elena's open palm.
"She did," Stefan frowned heavily. "She just didn't need that to do it."
Bonnie swallowed heavily.
She never needed it?
They'd been trying to get it in vain?
But her Grams… were they simple entertainment for her? Were they part of her game?
She should have known.
"So, there are a bunch of vampires on the loose?" Bonnie looked around nervously as the hairs on her arms stood to attention.
"We can only assume so," Stefan admitted grimly. "We didn't stay any longer after watching her demolish the tomb's entrance with sheer strength."
Bonnie licked her lips nervously. "Should- should we investigate? See what's left of it?"
"I think that's our best option to get answers," Stefan nodded. "I'm not in a hurry to confront Kaliope again."
"Careful, Stef. You'll hurt a girl's feelings."
A shudder rolled down Stefan's spine as the three of them turned to look at the newly-arrived Lia. She'd come to a stop just behind Elena, hiding her from Bonnie's view until the girl moved. One had rested on her cocked hip while the other held the strap of her messenger bag. For once, she was alone.
"Kaliope," Stefan greeted cautiously, trying to casually pull Elena behind him while feeling like the canary standing in front of the cat.
"Are you happy with yourself?" Elena demanded viciously from behind her 'higher ground.'
Bonnie's eyes widened at her friend's stupidity.
"Always. I'm quite the brilliant specimen, aren't I?" Lia sighed happily, twirling prettily on her toes before focussing back on the idiot couple, tilting her head in contemplation. "But something tells me that particular question is aimed at something specific."
"How can you be such a monster? These people are innocent and you just let a bunch of hungry vampires out because, what, you felt like it? Damon asked you to? Why?" Elena tried to keep her voice down but she was burning with righteous fury, confident in her position behind Stefan.
Lia studied her for a few seconds before she grinned maliciously.
"Tell you what, Elena," Lia took a step closer, her eyes glowing, mouth parted and teeth bared as she looked up at the human girl. She looked slightly deranged in her near-malevolent excitement. "Why don't you three go and take a look at the tomb after school? Go see for yourselves just how many vampires will be terrorising the town. Then," Elena's eyes lost focus as Lia came closer still, her sweet breath filling her senses. "Feel free to march right up to my face and tell me what a monster you think I am." Lia pulled back and spun gracefully, skipping away while calling over her shoulder, "I look forward to it!"
The three she left behind shared an anxious glance and a stuttered exhale. The tension was cut by the sound of the school bell.
The vampire, witch and doppelganger continued on their way, pushing the ominous invitation from their minds as they tried to focus on normal, at least for a while longer.
*TVDM*
Damon definitely didn't feel better, but at least he didn't feel like he wanted to tear open every brown-eyed brunette that stumbled into his path.
He stumbled downstairs, surprised to find Enzo enjoying a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon with what looked like a delicious cocktail of blood and bourbon. He was about to complain when his eyes honed in on the replica of the meal sitting across the table.
Having friends was awesome.
Damon gracelessly fell into the chair, his eyes sensitive, his head tender, and dug in.
Enzo at least had the decency to wait until he was finished eating to begin.
"What are you going to do now?"
Damon didn't react as he stared at his empty plate, slowly swirling the red liquid around the glass.
"Well, I would have said travel, go see friends, but-well," Damon's eyebrows jumped mockingly as he looked across at Enzo. "I don't have any."
Damon frowned, finishing his drink. When he met Enzo's gaze again, it was with a more serious mien.
"You and Stefan are all I have in this world, Enzo," he admitted quietly. "I just got you back. Where you go, I go."
Enzo nodded easily, finishing his own drink as he came to a stand. "An easy decision, then; we're staying."
Damon grimaced, regardless of the weight that instantly fell off his shoulders at the quick acceptance. "Mystic Falls; a town that's never dull, what, with the supernatural council constantly sharpening their stakes and pitchforks."
Enzo rolled his eyes as he dug into his pocket for his vibrating phone. "How dramatic you are," he frowned at the caller ID, raising an eyebrow at Damon as he answered. "Carol; this is a surprise."
"Enzo, I'm so sorry to call, but we've found another body."
Damon's eyes widened as he recalled Stefan's concern about the vampire stalker Elena had attracted. Enzo's eyes narrowed slightly at the look, watching as Damon blurred away only to return a second later with the compass, earning him an impressed look.
"Damn it. And without the compass, we have no leads," Enzo paused for dramatic effect before boldly declaring, "I'm going back out there. I'll scour the area again, take a metal detector or something. It's too risky to be out and about without it if there's still one of these beasts in town. I'll call Zach, too. I'm not sure about you, but I'm almost out of vervain. He did mention before he left that his eldest nephew was in the know, maybe I'll pay him a visit."
"Please, Enzo. I don't know what we'd do without you; thank you. Let me know if you find anything. I'll let Liz know."
"Thank you, Carol. It's the least I can do for the town that took my little sister in and protected her before I could find her," Enzo declared emotionally, ignoring the eyeroll Damon sent him.
"Oh, Enzo, of course. Ah, before I forget, John will be here by this afternoon. I finally had the chance to call him and fill him in. He's concerned about his family."
Enzo was not happy. "Of course. I look forward to meeting the mysterious Mr Gilbert. Thank you, Carol. I'll be in touch."
He hung up, tapping his phone to his lip as he thought.
"Well, would you look at that? Lorenzo St. John has some tricks up his sleeve."
Enzo looked to the other vampire, smirking in amusement as he saw the compass open in Damon's hand.
"It's not about what you know, mate, it's all about who."
"Mmm, a little green-eyed Fae we both know and you love while I admire from every angle?" Damon watched in fascination as the compass actively avoided touching in Enzo's direction. "You think she'd let me join this secret squirrel club you've got going?"
"For a price, of course," Enzo nodded solemnly, stepping closer to the curious Salvatore. "You see, there are two things that are required before one receives an exclusive invite; first, a recommendation. You can have mine, as long as you pay the second."
Damon rolled his eyes at the serene smile Enzo wore as he paused for effect. "And you call me drama-HRRRK!"
Enzo happily punched Damon in the throat.
Damon dropped to his knees, wheezing and coughing roughly. Spit was flying everywhere as he gripped his neck protectively, eyes watery and face red.
"I promised myself I'd do that at least once," Enzo sighed happily before digging into his pocket and pulling out a copy of the necklace every vampire and human currently residing in Chateau Athánatos wore. "Welcome to the club. We host meetings ny time we feel like it and our leader is easily bribed with caramel shakes."
Damon glared into mirthful brown eyes before snatching the crystal strung on a leather cord. He pulled the compass back to his face, his glassy eyes widening at his sudden immunity to being spotted.
"Worth it," he strained, rolling his eyes as he slipped the leather around his neck and tucked it into his shirt. Clearing his throat a couple times to make sure it was up to par once more, he turned a smirk to Enzo. "Does that mean Stefan can get one too for the same price?"
Enzo chuckled maliciously. "I wouldn't bet on it; that right there was Mates Rates. At my last count, Stefan was friends with none of us."
Damon grinned.
*TVDM*
"I've told you all I know of the curse and Katerina," Rose frowned as she looked at Slater. "Why are you so interested now?"
Slater sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked down at the screen of his laptop. "There's a girl in town, human, with a very familiar face."
A surprised noise left Trevor's throat. "A doppelganger?" he asked, incredulous. "Here?"
Slater nodded grimly as he felt Susie lean into his side more firmly. "Jeremy's sister, to be precise. We want to know everything we can."
Trevor leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as his eager gaze met the researcher's. "Slater, this could spell our freedom. If we offered her to Elijah-"
Slater was already shaking his head.
"I can't- we can't, do that to Jeremy," Slater denied. "But I don't think you'll have to worry about Elijah or Klaus anymore. At least, not with Lia in your corner. She wasn't kidding when she declared herself a deity. She's the closest this world has, apparently."
Trevor slumped back, stumped at the honesty that was all over the other vampire's face.
"She'd do that?" Rose couldn't dare hope. They'd been on the run for so long; for freedom to be here, to be so close that she could taste it… "She'd really protect us?"
"Of course," Slater looked at them like they were sprouting extra limbs. "You're my friends. When Lia loves, she loves deeply, just like vampires. She's fiercely loyal, putting family above all and proving time and time again that it's not blood, it's choice. She really is our token Hufflepuff, though Enzo gives her a run for her money," Slater smiled fondly at the light giggle from his lady love.
"Thank you," Rose whispered, her eyes shining as she looked at her blue-eyed friend. "You have no idea what this means to us, Slater."
"Though," Trevor started mirthfully as he knocked shoulders with his best friend. "I think Rose might have Lia and Enzo beat for Hufflepuff of the year. She has 500 years on them when it comes to proof, after all."
The four laughed before settling into a comfortable silence, each left with their own thoughts. Rose was the first to break it.
"Elijah was a foot soldier to Klaus," she admitted. "No less terrifying in power, of course, but the Easter Bunny in comparison. Klaus was the one in charge."
"And Lia will deal with them," Slater stated firmly, with all the confidence in the world.
Rose didn't even realise she was crying until Trevor wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Hey, now, pretty girl," he cooed tenderly, a soft smile on his face as he gripped her hand. "What are we?"
"Family," Rose whispered instantly, leaning into his side and she smiled gently through her tears. "Forever."
She closed her eyes as she felt him drop a kiss on her head.
"Just be careful, Slater," Rose finally opened her eyes, revealing a fierce flame of determination to make sure her words were heard. "We trusted a Petrova doppelganger and it led to us being on the run for 500 years. Don't let this one do the same to you."
Slater's arm was around Susie, squeezing her tightly into his side as he nodded seriously at the vampire pair in front of him. He wouldn't let anything tear his new family apart.
Not if he could help it.
*TVDM*
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Stefan asked the girls as he pulled the keys from the ignition.
Elena nodded firmly. "We have to see, if only to understand what she meant."
Bonnie said nothing but nodded all the same.
Nodding once himself, Stefan climbed out of the car, waiting for the girls to join him before they all ventured down into the underground passage that led to the tomb.
"What's that smell?" Elena instantly complained as they descended the stairs.
"Nothing good," Stefan furrowed his brow as he cleared the last of the stairs. His eyes widened almost immediately. "No, go back! El-"
"Oh, my God."
Elena's eyes were wide, horror coating her features as she looked at the carnage in front of her. Headless bodies, their skin grey and covered in black veins. Blood and gore splattered on the wall next to the staircase, dark and drying in a pool on the floor.
Behind her, Bonnie threw up.
"Monster," Elena breathed, staring at the entrance of the tomb. She didn't want to go in there, not if it was like this.
27 people had been in there.
Were they 27 bodies now?
Would they even be able to tell?
Elena felt dizzy, cold sweat breaking out over the back of her neck, her palms, her forehead. She was pale and shaky and her chest felt like it had been caved in.
She couldn't breathe.
"Come on," Stefan gently but firmly lifted the girls in each arm so that he could cart them back upstairs, his expression grim. "I'm taking you to Sheila."
Bonnie was shaking her head, trying to rid it of the image that was seared into her brain. Elena had gone into shock.
Both girls were silent as Stefan stopped the car in Sheila's drive. He left them in the car as he ran to the door and knocked
"What do you want, Vampire?" Sheila snarled, crossing her arms and remaining inside the front door.
"Bonnie's in the car, so is Elena," Stefan quickly explained. "They're in shock. I need your help."
Sheila's eyes flashed as she looked between the forever-teen and his car. She steeled her nerves and stepped over the threshold, following the vampire to the catatonic girls.
She didn't invite him in, simply had him go to the backyard so that he could sit at her outdoor setting and look through the open window as she settled the girls at the dining table. She puttered around, making some herbal tea before quietly questioning Stefan as to what happened.
He explained the return of Emily's talisman, the idea to head to the tomb and Lia's ominous words further encouraging their curiosity. Then he described what they'd seen.
"And that was before we'd stepped foot into the tomb," Stefan admitted quietly as Sheila placed the ready tea in front of the trembling teenagers. "I raced them to my car before they could snap out of their shock enough to venture in. I'm going to go back, just to make sure the vampires are truly dead; that those two weren't just a diversion, but I couldn't do that while the girls were with me."
"Wise of you," Sheila murmured as she held her hand to Bonnie's forehead. Eyes pinched, she turned to Stefan one last time. "I will nurse them back into awareness. You go and confirm that there's nothing for this town to worry about."
Stefan nodded, eyes flicking to Elena once more before blurring away, forgoing his car in favour of running.
He needed to burn his energy, clear his mind and focus. He was disgusted with himself, once again hating everything that he was at the reminder of the monster that lived inside. He could feel it, rattling against the flimsy restraints a diet of animal blood had created; the primal being was dripping with excitement, with longing, with bloodlust and approval. It pulsed through his veins and stirred his blood, bringing his exhilaration to an all-time high. He hated it, was sickened and ashamed by it. But he could not lie to himself; not when the beast in him was baying for more.
He wanted it.
He wanted to see what Lia was capable of; to see the gifts that she'd left him.
They were more exquisite than any bouquet.
Lava spread, hot and heavy, in his belly, stirring his baser desires.
He was repulsive.
He was burning.
His lips curled back and he growled.
Elena could never see him like this.
She was so pure, so righteous, so good.
She could never love a monster.
*TVDM*
Lia slowly came out of her mediation, her connection with the earth falling away, leaving her to her thoughts.
The Five.
She'd watched the first of the supernatural hunters and their attack on the original vampires.
Niklaus, son of Mikael, was an enigma.
Silver daggers, imbued with magic and dipped in white oak ash.
Kemiya at its finest; the combination of science and magic.
Why was Niklaus immune?
A dud?
Pfft.
No, it was something to do with Niklaus himself.
Was it relating to his interest in the sun and moon curse? Sun and Moon, Vampire and Werewolf, Day and Night, Gold and Silver.
Lia blinked.
No.
But…
Werewolves were the original reason he and his family had been created.
Her heart hurt for little Henrik.
Was the mother a faithful wife?
It was an explanation.
A fitting explanation.
Was he a werewolf?
If so, why did no one know?
Is that why the fake curse exists?
Ugh.
Damn the planet for not giving her a search bar. The internet had ruined her.
Too-soft footsteps broke her from her thoughts.
*TVDM*
Elijah had spent the day researching, not only looking for the burial grounds, but also looking into the inhabitants of the town. He'd discovered that the human doppelganger lived with her aunt and brother, that the Bennett line resided here, and that the mysterious woman with brilliant emerald eyes was Kaliope Athánatos, the younger sister of Lorenzo and a relatively new addition to the town.
He'd decided to leave the woman who interested him so alone for now; not only did he not know exactly what he wanted from her, but the Martins weren't with him and, therefore, weren't able to ask her the questions they'd want answered.
But then he'd seen them.
Faces that had evaded him for 5 centuries; Rose-Marie and Trevor.
They were walking out of the house to the black SUV in the drive to grab their luggage.
They had finally been given the sun.
He wondered idly who was responsible before deciding it didn't matter.
They were here and they knew Miss Athánatos.
He wanted to barge in immediately.
He couldn't.
Not knowing what Kaliope was, if anything, he couldn't risk approaching the house before she or her brother returned home. He may very well need an invite and he wasn't about to reveal himself before he had the advantage.
He wasn't a newborn.
So, he'd seen the woman he'd been waiting for arrive home, seen her go straight to her backyard and had waited. When an hour had passed and she hadn't yet returned inside, he decided that he'd waited long enough and simply sped past the house and into the backyard, slowing his pace as he walked past a large tinted-window building. He found the woman sitting beneath a beautiful swaying willow, face serene and eyes closed. If Miss Kaliope was a simple human, he'd be able to simply compel an invite from her.
If not, well; there were other methods of persuasion.
Standing not 3-feet from her, his enhanced eyesight took in every flawless feature, every piece of evidence that the entrancing beauty in front of him was otherworldly. He'd been alive for a thousand years and could honestly say he'd never come across such perfection. Humans must have found her unnerving.
He found her captivating.
"Elijah, sonr ór Mikael. Velkominn," Lia greeted easily before her eyes slowly opened to reveal their remarkable colour. She stood, smoothing her long-sleeved green and black high-low dress and pushing her long tresses over her shoulder. Her lack of shoes left her pearlescent black toes on display. She grinned cheekily at the vampire, seeing the shock he'd been unable to hide. "What brings you to my fabulous abode this evening?"
Elijah took two steps closer to her, no doubt trying to intimidate her by using his speed. Elijah paused again, noticing how her eyes had easily tracked his movements.
At least she'd confirmed his suspicions that she was not entirely human.
"In this town, I am currently Elijah Smith; historian-cum-author, here to admire and possibly document this quaint little town in my latest book. I would appreciate the Mikaelson name remained undisclosed for a while longer."
"I'm sure you would. Come, let us have tea. I'm sure we can come to an agreement," Lia smirked knowingly, turning on her toes and slowly making her way to the gazebo. She smiled as the Original joined her, snapping her fingers and summoning tea and cake instantly.
Elijah simply smiled, barely blinked at the display of intricate magic. He knew, from his time spent with magic practitioners, that multiple little pieces were often more difficult to master than large destruction spells, but he refused to let a few parlour tricks upset his confidence.
He was a Mikaelson.
He was on guard, however. She may practice magic, but a simple witch she was not; not with the dangerous aura that casually clung to her like a second skin, coiled and ready to strike. It left him wondering just how sharp her claws were.
Lia, of course, finished her cake first. She peered across the table at her dining partner, a smile dancing in the corners of her lips unseen thanks to the teacup she held to her lips.
"I understand you are acquainted with my guests," Lia commented lightly, taking a sip before setting the chinaware back down.
"Quite," Elijah matched her tone, wiping the corner of his mouth with the napkin provided. "We have a long history."
"Yes, involving a certain Petrova," Lia nodded, tilting her head to the side. "Trusting Katerina ends rather poorly from what I've seen and heard. Loving her ends even worse." Lia's eyes were amused and challenging as she looked him over. "Which are you guilty of?"
"I wish for Trevor and Rose-Marie to pay for their crimes," Elijah stated firmly, ignoring the question for what it was; an attempt to rile him. "What do you wish in return for their release into my custody?"
"Yeah, OK, no," Lia sighed in exasperation while rolling her eyes. She snapped her fingers and Elijah watched as the tea set and dessert plates vanished as quickly as her propriety. "I'm not giving you anything. You have the opportunity to make a deal with a supernatural being of unknown potential. If you cannot let your grudge against my friends go, you're going to walk away like a good little boy or things will get very bad, very fast. The consequences for going against me are not pleasant," Lia grinned wickedly, reminding Elijah alarmingly of his youngest brother despite his climbing rage. "Just ask Anna," Lia gasped, her fingers to her mouth. "Oh, wait…"
"I must ask that you watch your mouth," Elijah retorted sharply. "I am over 1,000 years old, the first of my kind. You will treat me with respect."
"Respect is earned, Suits! What, you want a gold star for making it to 1,000?" Lia scoffed. "If you think you are the oldest being on this planet; think again, child."
Elijah rushed her.
Lia had time to roll her eyes before she backhanded his reaching arm, snapping his radius and ulna cleanly in two. Getting up from her chair and grabbing the front of his suit, she ran him down the few steps of the gazebo, slamming him into the grass-covered ground. The soil compacted instantly under the cracking of ribs, forcing his body into the earth by at least 5 inches before she stood back, arms crossed, hip cocked and eyebrow raised as she looked down her nose at the immortal.
Elijah wheezed.
"Seriously, did you bathe in 'Smug & Proud' this morning? Best be careful; great for the hair, horrible for chance meetings with your betters."
"I apologise," Elijah strained, his eyes dazed as he looked at the deadly creature.
"Your apology is accepted so long as you don't attempt anything so stupid again. You may not have Trevor and Rose. In fact, you will pardon them of their crimes and leave them alone so they can finally live their lives. In return, I'll help you with whatever you're in town for so you can go away."
Elijah stood, brushing his suit down as best he could while he observed the unknown entity in front of him. His eyes narrowed.
"In order for you to offer your services, I need to know what you are and what you're capable of so that I can factor you into my plans."
He watched in fascination as an arrogant smile curled at her lips; her arms dropped from across her chest to rest on her hips. She stood straighter, her chin high and eyes brimming with pride and self-satisfaction.
"What I am varies depending on who you ask," she flipped her hair off her shoulder, letting it cascade down her back elegantly. "I am the most formidable being on the planet. I'm impossibly fast and strong. My skin is near-impenetrable and my magical prowess unmatched. My beauty stands head and shoulders above all others and my voice was created by the Heavens themselves. I am-"
"Say it, Bella! Say it, out loud!"
"NO!" Lia whirled around, stomping her foot and throwing her fists down as she spotted Caroline, Jeremy, Slater, Susie, Rose and Trevor standing by the house; all able to hear thanks to their jewellery enhancements or species. "Caroline! You ruined it! It was my moment! Mimi, make her stop!"
Jeremy blinked. "Make Caroline Forbes stop?"
Lia froze, mouth open, as she realised the uselessness of the demand. She pouted, her large, glassy eyes pulling at everyone's heartstrings; Elijah even took steps forward, prepared to comfort her.
But Caroline Forbes would not bend.
"Oh, please, put the waterworks away. I thought you were the most formidable being on the planet?"
Lia dropped her head back and groaned at the sky, cursing her desire for friendship before looking back at Elijah with a defeated expression.
"I'm an alien mermaid."
"Yes, you are!" Caroline cried excitedly.
Jeremy, by this time, had reached Lia's side. He drew her into a side hug, ignoring the Original completely, and rubbing her arm comfortingly. "The first step is admitting it," he smiled proudly.
"You guys are so mean," Lia complained, letting herself be dragged into the house. "I'm going to drop all of you as soon as Qetsiyah comes back. Who knows, maybe Elijah will turn out not to be such a game of Scrabble. He could be the missing Buzz to my Woody!"
"I beg your pardon?"
Lia turned her appalled gaze to the oldest vampire just outside of the backdoor. "You don't know Toy Story?"
Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly. "I can't say I do."
Lia closed her eyes against the horror that was this reality.
"I'm not sure I can invite you into my home, Mr Mikaelson" Lia declared gravely. "This new information reflects poorly on your character."
Elijah raised his brow.
"Oh, alright," Lia huffed. "Gosh, everyone has panty problems today. Come in and behave or I'll rescind your invite." Lia looked smug in an instant. "I can do that, y'know. I'm good."
Jeremy sighed as he pulled her across the doorway, ignoring her indignant cry. "You can stare at yourself all you want while we're sleeping, Narcissus, but we're here to talk about the importance of my sister, remember?"
Lia sneered. "Don't get me started on that disaster. If she's not trying to convince you I'm planting thought babies in your brain, she's ignoring you completely. She's already pretending Caroline doesn't exist; apparently our beautiful blonde is not worth her ridiculous rescue attempts. Can you imagine what would happen if she found out she had an important role to play? Regardless of whether it called for her death or not, she'd immediately remember that, as always, she was the star in her world and would try to dictate everything. Honestly, she's th-"
"Lia," Jeremy sighed.
Lia's mouth immediately snapped shut as she took her own seat in the living room, Rose and Trevor sitting as far away from the Original as possible.
Elijah was surprised by the vitriol in Lia's tone, especially when talking about her friend's sister, but before he could question it, Jeremy was addressing him.
"We need to know exactly what she's needed for and keep her out of it as much as possible."
"On that note," Lia clapped, her mood taking a 180 as she looked back at the intrigued Viking. "What's the real curse about?"
Elijah paused only briefly before an amused smirk pulled at his lips.
"'Sun and Moon Curse,' sounds very biblical, doesn't it? Niklaus and I designed it centuries ago."
"In order to have two supernatural species keep an eye out for a doppelganger or the moonstone, right?" Slater leaned forward, a gleam in his eyes he could not contain.
"Yeah, clever," Lia deadpanned. "It's all for Nik, right?"
Elijah's focus snapped away from the curious Ravenclaw, his focus intent on Kaliope. "And why do you think that?"
"I didn't before today," Lia admitted, leaning back in her chair and snapping her fingers to summon glasses and two pitchers of lemonade. "I came up with a theory just before you interrupted after being shown your first encounter with the Five."
"The Five?" Slater breathed, fingers twitching for his computer.
"Shown, how?" Elijah demanded.
Lia waved them both away.
"Nik was stabbed with the dagger, just like all of you, but he was the only one not affected. The alchemy behind their creation was sound; a creature of the night was weak to the moon's metal when it was imbued with magic. The fact that it didn't work obviously leads to why and that leads to what else? Looking back at it alchemically, when paired with a vampire, the moon's silver could only be stopped by very few possibilities, which leads to the question; would the sun's gold? If so, why would it work? This, obviously paired with the fact that you'd named it the 'Sun and Moon' curse, led me to believing that Nik wasn't your run-of-the-mill vampire and that the title didn't have anything to do with your target audience," Lia looked Elijah in the eye, her viridian gems sparkling with curiosity and mischief. "If I'm right, the name of the curse was made in humour. A bit on-the-nose, isn't it? Was it your idea, or your half-brother's?"
"Lia leaps in logic," Slater shook his head, running his hands through his hair.
"What?!" Lia cried. "It makes perfect sense!"
"Of course, it does!" Slater damn-near wailed. "It's just ridiculous that you thought of all that based on something as simple as a silver dagger not working! What if it was simply a dud?"
"I already crossed that off," Lia rolled her eyes. "No way would the Hunters or the witch they worked with risk the wrath of the Undying Ones. They would have checked them dozens of times."
"You're correct," Elijah interrupted the debate, thoroughly impressed and perplexed. "The curse has kept Niklaus's wolf bound for a millennium. It was thought that his chance of breaking it was gone with the turning of Katerina, but the existence of Miss Gilbert obviously disproves that."
Lia scoffed. "Oh, please, seriously? Doppelgangers are a supernatural phenomenon that occurs because Nature is still trying to fix itself. Silas and Amara are still alive, desiccated though they may be. They are the only true immortals to have been created. Forget witches and their spiels about balance; Nature only has one rule," Lia paused, pleased that Elijah was giving her his undivided attention. "'Everything must die.' It doesn't care when, it doesn't care what you do during your time on the planet, and it doesn't care what you are, but everything must have a mortal weakness. Doppelgangers are mortal shadows that are literally brought into existence for the sole purpose of dying; they're nature's glitch. If the bloodline dies out, it will jump to another. It isn't their family line that keeps them going, it's nature. The only reason killing off their bloodline would be a pain is because there would be no way to track down the new family the-" Lia frowned in thought. "Uh, faces? Genetics? Curse? Had jumped to."
"There are two lines of Doppelgangers?" Elijah asked, marvelling at the influx of information.
Lia raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "I'm not your history teacher; look Qetsiyah, Silas and Amara up yourself."
Elijah conceded, leaning back in his chair. "I have allied myself with a family that I believe you're acquainted with; the Martins." At Lia's blank look, he continued. "You had business with their daughter and sister a few months ago in a café called Atlas Coffee."
"Oh, right, yup; swapped her a couple pretty crystals for two daylight rings before I was magically inclined. Her family trying to track her down?"
"Yes," Elijah smiled though he was trying to come to terms with the fact that the powerful entity in front of him had such immaculate control of her magic even though she'd barely had it for more than a few weeks. "Since your meeting, she'd become resilient to all tracking spells."
"Oh, it's more than just tracing spells she'll be immune to, now," Slater bobbed his head, partly regretting opening his mouth as the attention of the most powerful vampire in the room turned toward him. "We've tested it; any kind of magic just slides off. The only way for any kind of spell to work on someone with the crystal in their possession is to remove it from their person. It works congruently with other spelled pieces, though."
"And, pray tell, what is this crystal?"
"A tear."
Elijah blinked. "A tear?"
"What?" Lia hackles rose defensively. "I cry, too!"
"Your tears," Elijah didn't question so much as stated.
"Alien mermaid," Caroline offered in explanation.
"Can we talk about how we're going to save my sister, now?" Jeremy asked tiredly.
"Indeed," Elijah's gaze swept over the human boy before returning to Lia. "Simply put; the Martins want their family member back and I want Niklaus to pay for his crimes against my family. We need to find the burial ground of the witches in this area so Dr Martin can harness their power and, at the crux of the ritual, we shall kill my half-brother."
No one dared to breathe.
"You wish to commit fratricide?" Lia's voice was low, her breathing even though her hands were clenched tightly in her lap. "What crime could he have possibly committed to break the bond of brotherhood?"
"He has lost my family to me; thrown their coffins in the sea to never be uncovered again."
"You have proof?"
"I have his word."
"So, that's it?" Lia demanded. "Words that could have been said in the heat of the moment, words meant to hurt, and you would kill your remaining brother? You believe his word over past actions?"
"Niklaus has become a monster."
Lia's eyes finally snapped to meet Elijah's, unveiling the untamed fury that raged in poisonous green.
"I rescind my invitation."
Elijah was heaved from the house by an invisible force, destroying the front door in his wake. He landed gracelessly on his back, wood and glass scattered around him. He jumped to his feet; jaw clenched and eyes blazing as he rushed the door.
His body recoiled as it rammed into a barrier.
"What is the meaning of this?" Elijah growled, his eyes narrowing on the infuriated woman who stood just beyond the doorway. Her arms were crossed, her hair dancing in an unfelt wind.
"I refuse to help family kill family. You are on your own."
"Rose and Trevor will not be safe," he threatened before bellowing in agony. He held his hand to his face to cover the now-empty socket of his right eye, his other fist clenched in pain and fury.
"You will not touch them unless you like having pieces of you taken away," Lia raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Now, leave."
A snap of her fingers and the door was back in place and closed.
Elijah slowly removed his hand, his other unclenching and reaching for his handkerchief. He looked around slowly and blinked, testing his newly regenerated eye before setting to work cleaning up his blood as he walked to his car.
Crystalised tears, extreme magic capabilities and a speed and strength that easily bested his own.
With one last glance at the house, Elijah put his car in drive and pulled away.
It would not be the last time he came into contact with the woman. For now, however, he and the Martins had research to do.
*TVDM*
The beauty of the Other Side was that it was vast; it literally covered the world. There were so many places to hide, so many places to run from the newly-proclaimed the hunter that sort to take the magic of all those that resided in this shadow of an afterlife.
The terrifying truth, however, was that the hunter was also the creator. No place was truly safe in this plane of her creation. The only option was to run fast and far and never look back.
And so, Esther ran.
She would not fold. She had a task to complete; a self-imposed mission to eradicate the abominations that had plagued the earth for far too long! They upset the balance of nature; they were monsters that she'd borne. She punished herself for a thousand years; watching their monstrosities, watching their humanity fade and their beastly natures take over and the carnage they left in their wake.
No.
Qetsiyah would not stop her.
She had to end the world's suffering.
She was the only one that could.
And she knew her time to do so was coming.
She'd watched as her cursed son organised his move to Mystic Falls, in search of whatever trinkets had caught his eye. She'd set herself with determination, knowing that she'd find herself close to not only one of the most powerful ley lines in the United States, but also to the Bennett line.
They would release her.
She'd leave the Other Side with her magic intact.
She'd walk amongst the living.
She'd do her duty.