Chapter 7

The weeks passed and Damon and Stefan worked hard with Ottilie, not only to build up her trust and confidence, but to help her get to a level with her school work that was acceptable for a 10 year old. They found that she was a good student, and learned quickly. In no time at all, Damon went to enrol her at the local school and so it came to her first day.

He went to wake up her that morning. He noted with satisfaction that she was consistently sleeping in her bed now, rather than on the floor. He went over to her and opened the curtains a little to let some light in. 'Otti,' he called gently. 'Time to get up, sweetheart. It's your first day at school.' Ottilie opened her eyes sleepily and grinned at him. She was really excited for her first day. She hopped out of bed and got ready for school while Damon went to the kitchen to make her some breakfast. Her appetite was far better and suitable for a nine year old now, and this was a great relief to him. Having devoured her breakfast, Damon and Stefan took Ottilie to school. As they got out of the car, they walked up to the front gates, with Ottilie clutching at both of their hands. They'd decided to call her their little sister, and it had been no trouble at all for Damon to compel them into not asking any questions about her sudden appearance. A teacher with a kind face appeared, introducing themselves as Miss Briants. 'Hello there, Ottilie. It's lovely to meet you. I'm sure you're going to make a wonderful addition to our class. I have another student who will be your buddy today, and will show you where everything is, okay? Alright, say goodbye to your brothers now.' Ottilie looked up at Damon and Stefan and her lip began to quiver.

'Hey,' said Stefan quickly, crouching down to be at her level. 'you are going to have the best day, and when Damon and I pick you up, we want to hear all about it. Right, Damon?' His brother nodded. 'Every last detail, little lady.' She giggled and he picked her up to hug her goodbye before passing her to Stefan. 'Bye Stefan, bye Damon!' she called, as Miss Briants lead her into the school.

The two brothers headed back to the mansion. When they got back, they were surprised to see Elijah and Klaus waiting for them. 'Miss Ottilie's first day at school?' questioned Elijah. The brothers nodded. 'Can we help you?' asked Stefan. They invited the Mikaelson brothers in, and they sat in the parlour. 'I hope you don't mind,' said Klaus, 'but we've been doing a little research into the charming Ottilie.' Damon looked a bit annoyed.

'I apologise on my brother's behalf,' said Elijah, soothingly. 'I realise that he has overstepped the boundary, but I think you will find the information of interest.' Damon nodded, still a little aggravated. 'I went searching the households around the woods where you found the child,' said Klaus, 'and I compelled them to tell me which house Ottilie was living in. I found it, a horrible place. She's far better off here.' Damon smiled smugly at this. 'I compelled the lady of the house to tell me everything she knew about Ottilie. Shamefully, she knew little but the name of orphanage where she got her from.' Stefan looked a little concerned.

'Did you hurt this woman? I'm not sure Ottilie would be happy with us if you did?' Klaus smiled, slyly, 'Oh no,' he replied. 'She is unharmed. She will be cleaning and cooking for the rest of her life, but otherwise, no. She is unhurt.' Damon snickered, enjoying the irony of the punishment. Elijah took over Klaus' story. 'We then went to the orphanage where Ottilie previously lived. Again, we compelled the staff there to give us Ottilie's full name, and any records they have of her.' He paused.

'Well?!' said Damon, exasperated.

'She was born 10 years ago to parents Connor and Delilah Benoit. The Benoits are an old family descending from New Orleans, I believe. They died when she was 2 and she was sent to the orphanage where she remained until she was 3.' Damon and Stefan exchanged looks. So she was indeed 10 years old, and had suffered in that house with the woman for 7 years. 'There's more,' said Klaus. Elijah nodded.

'Indeed. When she was an infant and her parents were alive, she required open heart surgery to try and rectify a genetic malfunction. Her records claim that it was partially successful, but she lives still with tachycardia, and that it would need checking regularly. Did you know this?' Damon shook his head.

'We knew she had a scar. Caroline suspected it was from heart surgery.' Stefan nodded.

'Tachycardia is when the heart beats too quickly. It's a type of arrhythmia. Damon, we need to take her to get that checked out. I doubt the woman she lived with before has ever had her checked.'

'I believe she may already have had a bought of this "tachycardia" since she met us, brother. Do you remember when she first met Elena? Her heart was going at a thousand miles per hour!' Klaus looked surprised.

'Elena? Why would she cause that reaction out of a child?' he asked.

Damon shrugged. 'I don't think she was best pleased to meet Ottilie.' He said, looking at Stefan who just stared at his feet. Klaus sniggered.

'Oh dear, poor Elena, having to vie for your affections.' He teased. Stefan looked uncomfortable. 'Well thanks for this information,' he said. 'We are very grateful to know about Ottilie's condition. We can make sure we can keep her healthy now.' The Mikaelsons nodded and bid their farewells.

Later that afternoon, Damon and Stefan were standing outside of Ottilie's school, waiting for her to come out. The bell rang and she appeared, hugging each of them tightly. Stefan picked her up, 'I missed you, Otti!' he whispered.

'I missed you too!' she replied.

'Did you have fun?' asked Damon. She nodded eagerly and chatted away all the way home about her new friends and her new teachers.

That evening, Damon had put Ottilie to bed. She'd been so tired after her first day at school that she was nodding off whilst she was eating her dinner. When he got back down to the kitchen, he noticed a text from Klaus on his phone. He called Stefan over.

'Damon,' it read. 'We forgot to tell you one other thing about Ottilie. Her birthday is in four day's time. She'll turn 11. Klaus.'

The brothers exchanged looks. 'I think we should ask Caroline to organise a party,' suggested Damon, jokingly. Stefan laughed. 'Do you think we could involve Elena? I'd really like them to get on.' Damon shrugged.

'As long as she doesn't hurt Otti, or cause her harm, I don't mind.'