I am so sorry. I have been preparing for some exam, that's why I couldn't update soon. And we have a new character in this chapter. She is another one of the people who are linked to Niklaus' humanity.

So on with the chapter... I do not own anything, other that Arabelle Mikaelson,...

The days followed, Damon and Arabelle avoided each other as much as they could. The heated kiss they shared in the living room of the boarding house was so intense, that made them very awkward around each other than ever. Every time they crossed path, the kiss made its appearance in their mind almost immediately. Despite the fact that, it made their encounters uncomfortable, Arabelle did not regret it. But the annoying voice in her mind said, 'But he did. He regrets it. He's in love with Elena.'

She would do anything to stop that treacherous voice that made her feel so insecure. Never once in her life, did she felt insecure as she did now. She has always carried herself with an air of confidence and elegance, but just one look from Damon Salvatore, all that she never felt in a thousand years came stumbling at her doorsteps.

Thankfully for her, Niklaus has asked her to meet him in the woods alone. She was waiting for him since nine, saying that she wanted to meet someone in the next town to Rebekah. Since Rebekah knew that she was fond of the little family next town, where she stayed little over a fortnight. She wouldn't say anything to Rebekah. For some reasons she has been spending more time with the Salvatores than her. Something was up, and she would not let on anything to her unless she knew she was being faithful to her family.

A twig snapped, Arabelle's entire demeanor changed, changing her to alert mode. But judging by the light footsteps, she knew who was approaching. "You are late, brother"

Niklaus sighed, "I had to make sure that no one knows I am here. Any news, Belle?"

Arabelle debated internally whether to tell him or not, but at last decided she must. "Rebekah has been spending a lot of time with the Salvatores lately. And the gang's still planning on taking you down"

"Maybe she fell 'in love' with one of them" Niklaus said, "But keep an eye on her, will you?"

Arabelle nodded. "What about the hybrids?"

"They are training. They will be added strength when Mikael comes to town" Niklaus said.

"Niklaus" Arabelle started, but hesitated.

"What is it, little sister?"

"Maybe I could go with you. I could train the hybrids for you?" She asked nervously. She knew she had to stay in Mystic Falls to keep an eye on what was happening.

"Belle, you know very well I can't trust anyone in that God forsaken town." Niklaus said.

Arabelle grimaced. He was right. Rabekah was indeed acting weird for the past week. And the Salvatores are hardly ever in the boarding house. Something was up. But she didn't know what it was.

Arabelle smirked. "Did you tell her?"

Niklaus blinked. "Bloody hell! She is going to be furious"

"We can't blame her, can we? She demanded that you call her as soon as you break the curse. It's been a month, brother and you are yet to call her"

"I'll call her now"

"Good luck with that"

Niklaus glared at her.

Niklaus was terrified. He was not sure what excuse he could come up with that would save him from a Mikaelson wrath. Praying all that above him, Niklaus dialed her number. The call was answered on the second ring.

"Hello" a sleepy female voice came from the other side.

"Nadia" Niklaus said, making his heart into a stone, awaiting all the sweet words that would be delivered to him.

"Uncle Nik?" Nadia said with what sounded like surprise. "What the hell. It's been two months since you left England, but only now you got the time to call me?"

Niklaus grimaced. He could not blame her. It was his mistake and he must be the one to rectify it. "I-I'm sorry"

That only seemed to infuriate Nadia further, "Keep your sorry to yourself"

Arabelle extended her hand asking him to give her the phone. And he did. Nadia was one of the few people he was terrified of. Nadia might not be a Mikaelson by blood, but her temper was far equal to the one of Mikaelson's. That only to be expected. Niklaus was the father figure she had ever known in her life. She was only two years old when he took her in. He worked hard to make her not like him. That was why Arabelle taught her everything. He did not want Nadia's pure heart to be corrupted by his darkness.

When she was twenty-one she asked him to turn her. And he did. He trained her to be a fine vampire with Arabelle. He made a supernatural kingdom for her to rule in London. She was the Queen of Supernaturals in London. And he was terrified of her.

"Nadia" Arabelle said.

"Aunt Belle" Nadia greeted. "Did he break the curse?"

Arabelle smiled as she said, "He did"

He heard Nadia squeal on the other side. He smiled as she said, "I am so happy for him. But also tell him I am also furious. I should have been the one to know first but instead I was the one to learn the news very last. And I am coming home"

"What? What about the kingdom?"

"It won't perish in my little absence. My inner circle would take care. Don't you dare think that I am going to sit here all alone when you two celebrate our first step to victory."

'So very like Nadia', Niklaus thought.

Stefan was sitting pacing the living room of the boarding house. He was torn between two sides. On one hand, Klaus helped him to find his way from being a Ripper. But he could not let him to use Elena as his blood bag. He was torn between love and loyalty.

No, he should not feel guilty for what he was going to do to Klaus. Elena was important. Everything came next.

They found Mikael who seemed to want nothing more than to see Klaus dead. He has the weapon that could kill Klaus. They have an Original on their side. That little revelation about their Mother's death made her choose their side than her brother's. But they could not trust her. The originals may hate each other now, but they fight like wolves for their family.

While he was going through their plan on his mind, the door bell rang. Wondering who was at the door, Stefan opened it to reveal a brunette with hazel eyes. The way she stood so stiff, Stefan was sure she was a vampire. "Yes?"

"I am here to see my aunt" the brunette said.

"Aunt?" He asked.

"Yes. You know, Brownish black hair, Blue eyes with impeccable character?"

"Arabelle?" he heard Rebekah say from the back.

"Yes. I am Nadia Mikaelson, Aunt Bekah" the brunette said.

Within a second Nadia was pinned to the wall by Rebekah, with her fingers squeezing Nadia's throat. "Who are you?"

"I told you" Nadia choked out.

"As far as I know, I don't recall having a niece" Rebekah growled.

'Oh, this is very entertaining', Stefan thought as he struggled to suppress his laughter.

"Rebekah stop" Arabelle came down the stairs in her vampire speed and threw Rebekah to the wall. "Are you alright?" she asked Nadia.

Stefan couldn't contain it any further, so he laughed. The next moment he found himself pinned to the wall by Nadia. "No one laughs at my family"

She was very strong, that he could not escape her. "I am sorry"

Nadia smirked, "Remember I am older than you, cupcake. Do it again, you will find yourself devoid of heart". Then she released him.

Stefan nodded. God, he was becoming more and more like his brother.

The house was so silent. But it was soon broken by Nadia. "So? Where is he? I didn't left my kingdom to get killed by my own Aunt"

"He's out of town, Nadia" Arabelle said calmly. "He'll be back soon. You can direct your storm toward him."

"Alright" Nadia sighed.

They were all alike. God, how many Mikaelsons were there.

"What the hell" Rebekah muttered.

"Oh. Rebekah, this is Nadia Mikaelson. Queen of London Suernaturals. Our niece" Arabelle said.

"How?" Rebekah asked confusion evident in her blue eyes.

Arabelle opened her mouth to say something, but Nadia cut her off. She turned to Rebekah and said, "You were daggered then. When the then doppelganger, ran off before Uncle Nik could complete the ritual, he was so furious. So he went to Bulgaria hoping to find her there. But when he arrived, she wasn't there. So he slaughtered the entire village. When he entered the last house in the village, there were an old woman and a young man. He killed them and went inside the house, only to see a two year old toddler sitting on the floor and playing. He couldn't kill her. For some reason, he calmed down as soon as the toddler hugged his leg and looked up at him innocently. So he took her with him, knowing full well that there was no one to take care of her. He brought her to England with him. He taught her everything, especially how not to be like him. He was so afraid that she might be affected by his darkness"

She drew breathe as she continued, "When she turned twenty-one, she asked him to turn her. He did and he helped her to adapt being a fine vampire. Then he built an Empire in London for the Supernaturals and made her the Queen. Me"

Arabelle was so happy that Nadia was here. At least she won't feel lonely. She has always admired Nadia. She was the epitome of elegance. Especially her dressing sense. She was wearing a skinny jeans and green top, with a leather jacket, that fit perfectly to her curves. She could practically see Niklaus frowning and chastising her for dressing so "vulgar". She was going to enjoy when they see each other.

Speaking of, "I am going out. Are you coming?" she asked Nadia.

"Yes, please" Nadia sighed.

Arabelle frowned. She turned to Rebekah, "Rebekah?"

"Oh no. I want some alcohol to digest this" Rebekah said as she moved toward the bar.

Arabelle and Nadia rolled their eyes. She nodded to Stefan and went out of the house with Nadia. She started walking toward the woods. "How is everything going, Nadia?"

"Good. But we got a bit of a problem in Paris. Seems there's a ripper set on reducing the human population there. I sent some of our men, vampires and warlocks, to bring him London. I will have to try fixing him. If I fail, I have to kill him."

"I was asking about you, Nadia. Not the empire"

"Good, I guess" Nadia said with a little hesitation. I didn't come across the one yet, Aunt Belle."

"You will. And in the mean time, you'll keep yourself entertained, I guess" Arabelle said, hoping to lighten Nadia's mood.

"God, Aunt, I am following your footsteps. No man can have me except for my soul mate"

Arabelle was very surprised to hear those words from Nadia. When she said four hundred years ago, that she would only follow Arabelle's footsteps, she was not jesting. She was so proud of her niece. It was times like these that she appreciated herself that she did a nice job of bringing up her niece. With culture, compassion, love. It was times like these she wished she had her own children.

"Well, well, well! What have we here?"

Nadia Mikaelson, Queen of the London Supernaturals, was walking along side Arabelle in what seemed to be woods. When Aunt Belle told her that Uncle Nik was out of town, it went without saying that, the present company does not know about Uncle Nik's whereabouts, Aunt Bekah included. she only wished her family would be reunited again so she could live with her mother and the man she considered her father. But it has to wait. It could not happen until Mikael was dead and all the threat looming over her family was extinguished. She was waiting for that day. For so long. For four long centuries.

She missed being in London. The empire was four centuries old, built after she was turned. Uncle Nik worked hard to build the empire. London serves as the hub. The supernaturals of England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Norway and Sweden were under her reign. It was no small work. But it was Uncle Nik's hard work and she wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it.

Nadia was happy, but she was not ecstatic. She missed her human days, especially her childhood. She missed Aunt Belle's love and Uncle Nik's warmth.

Somewhere from her memory, a childhood incident popped up.

Eight-year old Nadia was afraid to thunder. She was afraid of the sound it makes, afraid of the light it caused in the dark night, afraid that some ghost might be lurking in the dark.

So she did the only thing she ever did in this situation. She opened the door of her room to the corridor. Moving soundlessly, terrified that something might pounce on her in the dark, she opened the door to the room next to hers.

There inside the room, on the king size bed, her beloved Uncle Nik was laying. She ran straight to the bed and took refuge under the cover. Someone tugged at the cover, who happened to be Uncle Nik.

He smiled at her, "What happened, poppet?"

She blinked with her puppy eyes, "I was afraid. Thunder"

"Nothing can harm you, poppet. I won't let anyone hurt you" Uncle Nik said.

She snuggled close to him, hugging and seeking his warmth and strength. Uncle Nik has always been her savior. He was strong, fearless and powerful. She felt very embarrassing about being weak. And so she asked. "Uncle?"

"Yes, poppet?"

"Is it weak being afraid?"

Uncle Nik took his time in answering. "No. Your fear is the source of your strength. So, no. It is not weak being afraid."

Satisfied with his answer, Nadia slept. That night was the first time Uncle Nik gave her a dream. With a stream, wildflowers and peace.

Uncle Nik and Aunt Belle took at most care in her life. Aunt Belle wanted to make her an impeccable lady, but Uncle Nik brought her as a tom boy. There wasn't a tree in the estate that escaped her. She has always wanted to be like Uncle Nik. Strong. Fearless. Powerful. But he taught her the importance of moral, told her that she must be calm and collective, told her to behave in well-mannered way, told her she must learn to negotiate any kind of problems only by speaking.

In other words, he wanted her to lead safe, boring and adventure-less life.

But that doesn't mean she did as they told her to.

She was brought back to the living world by Aunt Belle's question. "How is everything going, Nadia?"

Thinking Aunt Belle was asking her about her empire she said, "Good. But we got a bit of a problem in Paris. Seems there's a ripper set on reducing the human population there. I sent some of our men, vampires and warlocks, to bring him London. I will have to try fixing him. If I fail, I have to kill him."

"I was asking about you, Nadia. Not the empire"

"Good, I guess" Nadia said with a little hesitation. "I didn't come across the one yet, Aunt Belle."

"You will. And in the mean time, you'll keep yourself entertained, I guess"

"God, Aunt, I am following your footsteps. No man can have me except for my soul mate"

"Well, well, well! What have we here?" they heard from behind them.

Even before they turned around, Nadia knew who it was.

Uncle Nik.

Nadia glared at him, placing one hand to her hip while the other pointed accusedly toward her. "You!"

He only smiled. The audacity, Bloody hell!

"You failed to call me" she accused, "You promised. And you broke it. How could you?"

"Is this how you greet your favourite uncle after a long time, Nadia?" Niklaus asked.

"If you were expecting a hug, you are sorely mistaken" Nadia said sharply.

Then Uncle Nik frowned at her. "What the bloody hell are you wearing?"

"What?" she asked.

"Is this how a lady wears her dress? You are a Queen. Act like one" Uncle Nik yelled.

She was furious at him, but even more so at Aunt Belle. She was laughing.

"Oh! I knew I shall enjoy it" she said in between her laughter.

Nadia glared at her, and then at her Uncle, "I passed the age for you to chastise me over my dress, Uncle. I think it's time we train your hybrids"

Uncle Nik only scowled at her more. "Very well"

And so they did. They helped Niklaus to train the hybrids. And agreed they would meet everyday around four, to train the hybrids. As Nadia says, Strength in number.

Alaric could not understand what to make of Damon's behavior. He has been acting weird lately, one minute he was plotting Klaus' demise, the next he was all brooding and frustrated with everyone. Even Stefan couldn't understand his 'off' sessions, as they liked to call it.

He was not the same Damon who was pining over his baby brother's girlfriend. Lately, Damon's not melting the way he always does whenever he was with Elena. Yes, he was being the usual overprotective self. But he was literally avoiding Elena as much as he could. He was not volunteering to be Elena's 'bodyguard' as he always did. Rather, he was insisting Stefan do that and spent time with Elena.

This worried Alaric so much. Not that he was complaining Damon's lack of interest. He hated seeing his step-daughter in such a dilemma between two brothers, who loves her equally. One happened to be kind hearted, brooding, reformed ripper and another happened to be annoying, impulsive vampire, who also happened to be his friend.

One way he was happy that Elena doesn't have to go through this kind of torture, but he was also afraid that Damon's lack of interest may prevent him from protecting Elena. Not that he was not doing that. But Alaric didn't know when it stops and Damon would turn his back on them.

And another trouble. Stefan just sent them a quick text that there was another Mikaelson. A niece, of whom even Rebekah was not aware of. And another troubling fact was that she was the Supernatural Queen of London. So, if they hurt the Mikaelsons, the entire London Supernatural population might come for revenge.

Life in Mystic Falls could not get any more complicated.

"We must do as Mikael says, if we want Klaus dead." Alaric said.

Yes, he would do as Mikael says. Only to see Klaus dead. If not for him, Jenna would have been alive. If not for him, he would have married the woman he dearly loved and started a new life, new family with his step-daughter and her brother. He lost the only hope for a family he ever had after Isobel.

And Klaus would pay for it. He lost Jenna. But he was not going to lose Elena and Jeremy as well.

"We can't. He might want to use Elena, and we can't let him do that" Damon said as he hopped on to the writing table on which Alaric was leaning.

"Can't see the love of your life get hurt, eh?" Alaric asked.

Damon hesitated.

Then it hit Alaric. Damon was genuinely lost his interest in Elena. What prompted that?

"More like I don't want my baby brother to go all ripper" Damon said nonchalantly.

Alaric didn't say anything. He might have to keep an eye on Damon.

Hope you liked it. Until next time...