"You are so young, Lyra, too young to understand this, but I shall tell you anyway and you'll understand it later: men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We love them; they are brave, proud, beautiful, clever; and they die almost at once. They die so soon that our hearts are continually racked with pain. We bear their children, who are witches if they are female, human if not; and then in the blink of an eye they are gone, felled, slain, lost. Our sons, too. When a little boy is growing, he thinks he is immortal. His mother knows he isn't. Each time becomes more painful, until finally your heart is broken. "

~The Golden Compass~

...

Thick, wet, tears fell in streams down her cheeks. Coating freckles, running mascara. Gross harsh sobs caught in her throat. She'd held it end for this long and now she could no longer hold it. No longer contain her sorrow. Marcella fell into Roman's arms and bawled, wrapping both her arms around his neck burying her face into his shoulder. Eternity had run out. Isadora was dead.

How did you move an immovable object?

You don't. You break it.

And when the immovable object was a stubborn little girl with possessive tendencies you broke her by taking away her toys. Ripping her possessions from her hands. Forcing her to see your way. Even if your way was wrong. Even if it would hurt even more people she loved, took and broke more of her things.

She wouldn't be broken so easily.

Marcella sniffled as Roman ran his hand down the length of her curls. His other hand held up to the others in the room. The other witnesses to the heartbreaking scene. No one would dare come near her at this moment.

Their condolences would do neither of them any good. They weren't the ones who paid the consequences.

She was his to console. Isadora has been their partner. Roman sighed. He whispered small reassurances into her crown. That it would be okay, Isadora wouldn't want her to be sad the former Fae Queen has finally gone home. That if they could bring her back she'd only tell them off, that she was happy to take a blow. Isadora knew what she'd done.

The dark woman always knew what she was doing. She protected her subjects, her things, just like their tiny dancer. And Marcella was hers, as much as she was his. Roman knew ultimately that Isadora was always going to die for the girl. The lost soul, the wayward child. Marcella needed to be protected.

She always had.

"Marcella. What will you do now?" The hunter had made an enemy of her. Of them. So what were they going to do about it? How were they going to make him pay?

Marcella pulled away from him staring into expressionless eyes. She was sure hers mirrored his. No emotion, no reason. Her mind was set.

Maybe once they could have redeemed him, told him the truth. About the terrible curse that had been his wife. About all the sins she'd committed against them. Maybe once this could have been avoided. Reconciled easily with anymore pain or bloodshed. Perhaps it could have been different, gone another way.

However; Mikael had slighted her. He'd played a game with her he didn't understand the rules of. That he didn't know the parameters of his opponent. He took from her, stole the life of someone she loved.

Now. Now he would pay.

There would be blood.

Marcella collected herself carefully, gently shifting to stand. Roman closes his eyes to her knowing well what she was capable of. Of what she would do next. He listened to the soft padding of her steps as she walked away from him.

She eyes both of her boys very carefully as she approaches. She lets them take in the look of hurt on her face, the streams of ruined makeup, the natural outcome of expression show on her face. Her hand slowly intertwines with Damon's as he reaches for her, she brings his slightly calloused fingers to her mouth and she presses a gentle kiss into his knuckles before letting go. Marcella glides past him offering a thankful smile before she turns her full attention to Niklaus.

The hybrid is staring at her with almost concern. With what might have been considered regret. Even though he's never stoop to such things. Never admit to such feelings. He didn't have too she could see it in his eyes well enough. She tiptoes to him, placing both of her hands on his cheeks. Resting her forehead against his chin.

"No more running, no more fleeing. You are not alone. You are never alone. It's time to end this." She whispers softly, kindly rubbing her thumb over the stubble of his face. Listening to the slight hitch of his breathing as she speaks.

She understands how he feels. But it was time. At some point you had to face your enemies head on. You had to take the reins back, take control. This time, this time he wouldn't be alone. She'd never let him feel alone again.

Roman shakes his head standing to his full height dusting off his jacket. It was time to go. There was work to be done. A score to be settled. Only a fool stole from a god. Only a fool killed his queen. Only a fool tried to hurt a princess. Didn't they know that the princess was actually the dragon in disguise and she'd burn the opposing kingdom to the ground. Now he had things to do. This would be the last time a fool threatened his domain.

Mikael was a fool.

...

After the revelation of Isadora's death and getting to watch Marcella sort out her emotions. Make her careful decision, her vindictive plans and righteous choices Damon went back to the boarding house. He hadn't seen tail or hide of his brother or his annoying human girlfriend in a few days. Despite already knowing the role each of them played in the recent tragedy Damon wanted to see what Stefan had to say for himself.

Because he distinctly remembered Marcella already warning Stefan not to mess with her things. And wouldn't it be a darn shame if something were to happen to poor little Elena. Like Damon cared at all about the outcome of the dopplegangers life, she hurt his best friend more than once. Right now Elena Gilbert was still useful to Marcella so he couldn't just kill her, lucky girl.

His small companion isn't with him she had stayed with Niklaus. Damon thought that perhaps there was one person who had worse daddy issues than he did and he didn't envy the man at all. In comparison human Giuseppe had been an easy kill for them to take, he meant Stefan to make. The oldest Salvatore hadn't even gotten the pleasure to kill the man who had taken so much from him.

He was sure to make sure someone else did. That blond bastard Marcella was so fond of had his support too. Even if he didn't know it. It was funny just exactly how similar and different they were. Damon thinks, that this could have gone a completely different way if it hadn't been for their girl.

His girl.

He wasn't sure how he was expected to share her once her intended was awake. For now he wouldn't think about it. Wouldn't worry. Marcella had no intention of waking her love until the time was right. Damon knew that in her mind the time wasn't right, that it wasn't safe. She was funny that way.

Damon poured himself a glass and waited. Stefan would be down sooner or later to see what dastardly thing his older brother was up too now. He couldn't wait. This conversation was going to be delightful. What excuse would Stefan give him now? How would his baby brother justify these horrendous actions? Self-righteousness only worked so far, and only if it could be backed up.

The hunter his brother had unleashed upon them had taken from Marcella. She wouldn't let the offense slide easily, she wouldn't be so forgiving this time. Not when she'd already given Stefan one chance, not when she'd already warned him. Damon almost felt bad for his little brother.

Almost.

But Stefan had played with fire, and now it was raging. It would build, and fester. Sizzle, burn until it destroyed everything in its path. Like he said he almost felt bad for his brother. Marcella was a force to be reckoned with. Eden Mikaelson or not. If his brother survived the flames it be the last chance he ever received from her.

He took a drink.

…

Despite the emotional turmoil of the day Marcella still managed to meet Caroline for lunch with a smile on her face. Burying her pain deep so not to bother her sister with her concerns, with her troubles. Caroline didn't need that right now. No one needed it really. Marcella faked a smile.

Caroline threw her arms around Marcella pulling her sister close. She hadn't seen her sister in days, not since Damon came to warn her about a terrible evil they were fighting. Not since Isadora's untimely death days ago. The older girl knew that despite the cheer in those wide eyes and the smile on Marcella's lips that she was in a tremendous amount of pain.

Marcella loved Isadora. Caroline knew that it had been Isadora and Roman who'd helped her sister the mst after her assault. They'd helped her build herself back up, built herself stronger. Meticulously putting the pieces back together. It hadn't just been her, there was only so much a big sister could do from hundred of miles away. Their father had sent her away when it happened, for almost a year.

The person who'd come back while still Marcella was like a new creature. Caroline supposes that in her lifetime Marcella has gone through several stages of metamorphosis. People hardly ever changed, usually they just evolved.

They sat out on the patio of the restaurant. Marcella could only eat inside the grill so many times in her life. Besides, the weather was nice. Fresh air was good for the soul. She refused to hide, refused to be afraid. She'd asked for this game, there was no point shying away now.

Marcella would not be broken.

She tilted her head curiously at Caroline, opening and closing her eyes. Until she'd finally settled her question in her mind. Marcella needed to be sure. "Lina, are you still taking it?" The question is asked delicately, softly. Unsure.

Caroline doesn't even blink she just nods her head, reaching across the table to grab Marcella's folded hands. Comfort. "I am, I won't stop until you tell me too. I may not like it but I know why." She tells her. Marcella nods her head absentmindedly.

She hated to ask that of Caroline. Hated to put her sister in this position. But it was the only way she could be sure. The only way she could protect her right now if Mikael decided to do anything more to her. If he tried to push her any farther. It was the only way.

As long as Caroline had vampire blood in her system then nothing truly terrible could happen. If something happened to Caroline-god forbid- if she were to die permanently. Marcella knew that she wouldn't want to go on. That she couldn't. Caroline was the only truly pure thing in her life, the only actual good. If she didn't have Caroline there would be nothing to stop her from reigning down a terrible fate on the town and its inhabitants.

It would always be Caroline. Her guiding light, the moral compass. Without her older sister there would be nothing good left in her soul. Kindness to intolerance, and love to indifference. It is selfish. It always would be. But Marcella never claimed anything else.

It's the only way.

It's what she has to tell herself. It is what she'll continue to tell herself hours from now when Mikael snaps Caroline's neck. The harsh reality of the situation raining down. It's the only way she'll push the guilt away. The only way she can forgive herself.

Marcella never wanted this to happen. She never wanted it to come this far. The young bodied girl prays that Caroline will forgive her. That she won't blame her for this.

Her heart knots in her chest, as she pushes the tears back. She gently caresses Caroline's cold cheek. When her sister wakes up she'll be in transition, she'll have a transition to vampire just like Marcella had. For that alone she feels slightly better.

Caroline wouldn't have to stain her hands with human blood. Her sister would never need to kill. She knew what was happening, she would be prepared. Marcella would make sure of it. She'd help her every step of the way.

This time Caroline would not fall. She would rise higher than ever, she'd be better. Marcella wouldn't let her sister face this alone. No matter what.

No one would ever dare try to hurt her ever again.

Mikael would pay.

XOXOX

Hello my beautiful readers! I'm so sorry about the long wait for this chapter. Had a lot of stuff going on in my day to day life and haven't had the time to sit down and finish this chapter. So sorry about that! On that note because of the delay of getting this chapter finished it hasn't been proofread yet but I wanted to go ahead and let you have it. Just a warning. Also apologies for the shortness of this chapter but I really didn't want to put too much into it. I wanted to focus more on the terrible here. The next chapter will be longer I promise.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Your continued support means the world to me! Thank you so much for reading!

As always please let me know what you guys think, I love hearing from you all!

Honestly you are all the best. I have no Idea what I did to deserve such warm reception on this but thank you. Thank you. Your love and support means the world to me.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sincerely, La'Rae