XVII : Chasing the dark

It turned out that my time may not have finally come yet. Even if it pained me beyond words to know that it had come at the price of Bonnie's mother. Although I assume that Damon had been rather perceptive in how he handled it. It turned out that killing a lineage of witches was not the only final option.

Unlike Milana, a witch couldn't be both a vampire and a witch. So, Damon had chosen to turn Abby into a vampire in order to save us all. Well, save Elena and me.

I was certainly not happy with how the evening went, but I couldn't really lie that I was relieved to be alive.

The news was a lot to take in as yet another parent had been hurt because of this fucking world of supernatural. I had no doubts about Bonnie's current state of mind. If Elena and I had lost a lot, that was nothing compared to Bonnie. I didn't even know how I could deal with her after all this.

I let a simple sigh at the thought before leaning on the edge of the sink in our shared bathroom. I looked up at my reflection just to lower my eyes again towards my chest. I could still feel this excruciating pain down my chest. I had never felt anything like it. Even my wrist pain seemed ridiculous compared to what I had felt earlier.

Dripping at the mere memory, I looked at my bandaged wrist before straightening up just to take a quick break at the sight of Elijah placing an envelope on my sister's bedspread. I held my wrist against my chest as I ventured into the entrance to my sister's bedroom just to meet Elijah's shameful gaze.

"Are you leaving sweet words on my sister's bed now?" I asked in an attempt to ignore the biggest problem between us.

The latter straightened up at my sight, giving a conscious look on my wrist before thrusting a hand into the pocket of his pants."How do you feel ?"

"I'm fine. It's not the first time I've hurt myself." I replied clearly aware that he had avoided my roundabout question about the envelope.

Almost immediately the vampire suddenly accelerated in front of me letting me hold a start as he took my face in his hands. I held my breath as he detached one of his hands from my cheeks before bringing his wrist to his lips. I looked bemused and slightly fascinated as I saw his vampire face for the first time. He bit frankly in his flesh leaving me to widen my eyes in confusion and slight anxiety.

However I wasted no time in shaking my head fiercely as he brought his bloody wrist to me. "No!"

"Yes. You need it." Objected the vampire letting me reach for his hand still on my face before lowering it.

I stepped back, avoiding watching the flesh of his wrist close before looking up at the Original." I can't. I'm still connected to you and your family."

"In this case, you can continue to live."

"As a vampire." I remembered with a deep frown that the vampire imitated before swallowing as I decided to confide in him."I don't want to be a vampire. My life is already pretty chaotic as a human. Like Elena, I will probably make the worst vampire there is."

Elijah nodded at my admission before giving me a look of regret and shame."I'm sorry for your friend and her mother. I must do some very unfortunate things today to save my family."

I was gauging the vampire's sincerity before licking my dry lips as I asked."Would you do it again? If you could, would you do otherwise?"

Elijah straightened his shoulders as he looked over my head in thought before shaking his head as he met my gaze again."Probably not. Not knowing that you're related to us. You don't deserve to die. You have to live a long and peaceful life."

I couldn't help but leave a scoff at that."Yeah, right! Go tell that to the guy up there who think it's hilarious to see me fighting death."

Despite his obvious self-pity Elijah soon cracked a semblance of a smile in response to my words before resting his palm against the apple on my cheek. I froze under his touch as I let his penetrating eyes subdue me before trying to shift as I noticed his pupils dilate.

A fact he also seemed to realize."You're not under vervain."

"Elijah-"

"Don't move."

I froze under his compulsion cursing myself like never in my mind at this point before gradually feeling my will slip away to let his control take over.

Now would probably be a good time to use your little magic tricks, Milana!

Despite my internal prayers, Milana simply seemed to remain silent, leaving me prey to Elijah."You have to promise me one thing, Mila."

"Elijah, don't." I pleaded as I could feel a tear of frustration running down my cheek.

"I regret having to leave. It has become too dangerous for my family to stay together." He explained calmly leaving me to tremble in anxiety."But you don't have to give up. I want you to promise me to stay alive. No matter what. Even if it means sacrificing people you love."

I could feel fear and dread invading me at his request only I was literally unable to do anything to counter him. I could feel my mind screaming at me to refuse only I found myself stupidly nodding my head like an automaton.

"I will survive. No matter what. Even if people have to die for it."

I could feel many more tears following the first one leaving the vampire to bring his index finger against my cheekbone to pick it up. He wiped my tears before plunging his eyes into mine again. I found myself again losing consciousness as the pull of his compulsion made me listen to him.

"You will keep this promise in mind. Even if you won't remember this moment. From the moment I leave this room you will forget everything. Including seeing me."

I could feel every minute of that moment fading away from my memory before I suddenly frowned as the vampire suddenly lowered, holding my face again in his hands. He surprised me again as I could suddenly feel his lips depositing a chaste kiss on my forehead. I could feel my heart speeding up in my rib cage as I realized it was a farewell.

"Goodbye, Mila."

I suddenly closed my eyelids just to reopen them immediately at the sudden sensation of a gust of wind. I almost frowned immediately as I realized I was in Elena's room before pausing at the feeling of dampness along my cheeks.

I was unable to explain why but I suddenly felt empty.

I brought my fingers against my cheeks just to amplify my frown at the feeling of tears.

What the hell? Why was I suddenly crying? Truth be told, what did I do even in Elena's room? Better yet, why couldn't I remember how I got there!

It was a feeling that I knew only too well. There was only one thing that could make me forget several minutes of my memory. The compulsion. That or early Alzheimer's. And I was damned sure that I didn't have such a pathology yet. Especially since I hadn't had time to binge with everything that had happened lately.

I immediately brought my arms around my trunk to the sudden sensation of a shiver running through me at the mere thought of a vampire using his compulsion on me. Who could have done such a thing? And especially why?

I glanced nervously across Elena's bedroom before pausing suddenly as a sudden thought came to my mind.

To survive. I didn't know why but it was the only one I could think of. No matter what it cost. I had to live.

The thought seemed to persist in my mind like some kind of idea caught in my mind. It was like my brain reacted accordingly. I hadn't suffered such embarrassment after having suffered one of the stupid little tricks of the vampires. I was wondering if it had to do with the fact that Milana lived in me.

Again, I wondered why this damned ancestor had done nothing to prevent this compulsion?

Worse still I kept asking who could have done such a thing? And above all, why? Why ask me to survive no matter the price?

Now it could very well have been Damon but I doubted that his obsession was mainly focused on me right now.
Klaus?

Impossible. He had not been invited.

Likewise for Rebekah.

Stefan had many other issues to deal with.

That left more than one person.

Elijah.

Hence the reason why I found myself slamming the door of my car sharply while irritatingly staring at the big mansion in front of me. I buttoned my coat to barricade myself from the cold before wrinkling my somewhat indecisive lips. I was not sure I wanted to hear the truth and even less confirm my suspicion about Elijah.

However, it was not long before I took a step forward just to jump back to avoid being run over by the sports car suddenly stopping in front of me.

I didn't even have time to utter an insult that the passenger door was abruptly opened soon followed by a familiar angry voice. "Get in!"

"Kol?"

"Get inside! Now!" Kol snapped giving me a dark look from behind the wheel.

Realizing that provoking him more after what happened last night would probably be my death sentence, I just nodded my head before bending to his demands. I cautiously climbed into the passenger seat, ignoring the sporadic beat of my heart before rushing to tie myself down as he stepped on the floor.

Being seated next to the most volatile of the greatest mortal vampires in history was not really the idea that I had come to come to confront Elijah.

I was about to face Elijah, but I was sure I was partly safe with him. Kol, that was another story. He had yet to say anything since we had started driving and that was close to an hour ago, he just stared forward with this angry look on his face. I could easily feel my phone tempting me in the back pocket of my jeans only I was not really ready to test my theories on the vampire. Not when Elijah's compulsion prevented me anyway.

I had to live. Even if that forced me to bow to the slightest demands of the damned vampire by my side.

Hence the fact that I suddenly restrained a cry of dread as he gave a sudden steering wheel to the side before stopping the car completely, sending me briefly against the seat belt.

I fell back violently against the seat letting me restrain a groan as I could again feel pain adding to my already throbbing wrist before turning my head towards the vampire simply to realize that his seat was already empty.

I widened my eyes in the realization before hastening to take off my belt in a bad feeling. I had dealt with volatile vampires enough to know that it was never good when they were confronted with their heightened emotions. No matter how maniac they could be. Not to mention that Milana knew a whole different side of the vampire. A charming and funny side.

I hastened to outside looking for the vampire before leaning on the hood of the mustang as I nervously looked around. Being in a hunting party was the last of my wishes."Kol?"

Suddenly the vampire was in front of me with the scariest expression that let me swallow in panic before backing away in fear."Kol ..."

The vampire continued to tread threateningly on me forcing me to step back more and more before suddenly jumping as he ends up grabbing my arm. My brain was screaming at me to run away as Elijah would have told me to, but the vampire seemed to easily guess my next move.

"Don't run. You're going to stir up the monster in me." He grumbled in a dark, throaty voice letting me freeze with eyes as wide as gravy boats.

I absolutely hated Elijah for implanting this stupid idea of survival. Now I was barely able to stand up to a vampire without fear for my life."Kol, I know what Esther did is sick. The bitch deserves to die. I know it, she linked me to you. You and the rest of your family deserved much better than that. Milana showed me that you are much more than the creatures that Esther had created but-" I began.

"She's trying to kill us! She said her only regret was that she not let us all die a thousand years ago, called us a curse upon this earth when it was her who made us all like this in the first place! She's the one who took the magic away from me! I'm like that because of her!"Kol yelled and then proceeded to just lose it.

I was left speechless as I literally watched him destroy everything in his path. The only thing that reassured me was the fact that I was not in the place of this tree that he broke in half. I knew Kol had always loved being a wizard but I wasn't really aware of his self-loathing. It was obvious that he was much more than his family portrayed him. He was not as volatile and maniac as they seemed to think. Above all, he was misunderstood.

Even if he gave me goosebumps right now.

Nevertheless I knew enough to know that it would be pointless to reason with him. So, I gave a last contrite look at the vampire before going back into the cabin of the car. I hastened to turn on the radio to try to drown out the cries of rage from the vampire before I made myself more comfortable in my seat.

It was only when the cries were replaced by the heavy silence that I lowered the volume of the indie rock station before I looked over my shoulder in curiosity.

"Mila. "

"God damnit!" I yelp by immediately bringing my hand to my chest after the fright the vampire had just given me before turning to him with a scathing look."Really?"

"You stayed." Said the vampire in a strangely monotonous tone.

I left a scoff."You didn't really leave me the choice. We are god knows where! I'm not even sure we're still in the state of Virginia."

"You could have taken the car."

I frowned, finally realizing his tone strangely contrary to his usual attitude before looking away somewhat ashamed at my admission."I don't know how to drive a manual."

To my amazement a slight smile appeared on his depressed face before he suddenly frowned in disgust. "Where does this awful music come from?"

"This is the twenty-first century, my friend." I chuckled, intentionally turning up the sound before making stupid dance moves in the hope of changing his mind.

However, I certainly didn't expect the vampire's sudden expression of admiration. I immediately slowed down my movements becoming more and more hampered by the intensity of his gaze before clearing my throat awkwardly.

"Anyway… what did you do with your free days? How can you not know the music of that time?" I said, controlling my tone despite the fact that I could still feel his gaze on my profile.

"You're really different from Milana, darling." Kol said in turn letting me turn to him with a raised eyebrow. "She would never have accepted such behavior on my part."

"Oh I'm not saying I accept your behavior. I'm just saying that I understand it. Believe me, I also wanted to destroy a thing or two when I learned that your mother had linked me to you."

I smirked at the end of my statement as I turned to the vampire before suddenly finding myself frozen under his dark chocolate brown eyes. I swallowed some embarrassment before feeling the red suddenly rise to my cheeks.

A fact that was enough to fuel the vampire's huge ego."What, darling? Is there something bothering you? Did you just realize that you chose the wrong brother?"

"Don't be arrogant."I warn him with a small smile on my lips.

I didn't really know what was going on between the vampire and me. Especially after what I had just seen. However, after having rubbed shoulders with Elijah and Niklaus I had to admit that it was nice to find myself alongside someone who freely expressed his emotions. He was fully open.

To tell the truth, it was quite easy to be by his side.

I knew what he was and what he was capable of. There were no secrets. At least not immediately. And for once, it was my own observations. It had nothing to do with Milana's impressions.

"What are you planning to do now?" I asked finally clearly interested in his thinking.

"I've decided to leave town for all a while because of this silly thing with my mother. Figuring out this strange new world that I've been missing out on." Kol explained with a slight excitement behind his eyes."Any chance that you want to be part of the trip with me ?"

I widened my eyes at his direct offer before giving him a surprised look."You want to take me with you?"

"Why so surprised love?" Kol replied with his usual charm before continuing maliciously."You're good company. And then I'm sure you could keep me busy."

If it had been at the very beginning of last year I would probably have been mortified by his innuendo but the last few months in the company of Damon had in some way immunized me against such language.

Instead, I just rolled my eyes before I turned in my seat to support his chocolate brown eyes."Yeah, I think I'm going to have to refuse."

"Really ? I might as well start the car and leave you no choice." He challenged with a spark of provocation in his eyes.

I knew for a fact that Kol in no way liked authority and orders. And if I believed his previous condition, I assumed that he had always been in some way controlled by his own brothers.

A fact that I decided to use against him."It would be like taking my free will. Why ask me if you still plan to do it?"

"Funny girl. Do you think I won't?"

"Oh, I'm sure you can." I nodded with a smile of my own. "I'm just saying you wouldn't be better than your brothers who put you in a coffin if you did."

Kol gasped as he glanced through the windshield before leaning a little towards me."I have always loved a girl with a brain. This makes the game more exciting."

"Who talked about a game?"

Kol raised his eyebrows at my tantalizing tone before he closed the gap between us more suddenly letting me realize how close we were. And as if that was not enough, the brown lowered his eyes to my thirsty lips. He looked up to examine my reaction just to leave an arrogant smirk on his lips before letting out a small sigh.

I frowned somewhat confused. "What? What's wrong ?"

"If you only knew how long I've been waiting for this moment." He confessed, turning his eyes back to me."You probably already know how much I wanted Milana. All my brothers and I wanted her. I don't want this to happen again."

"Sorry what?" I suddenly took offense as I stepped back, insulted."Are you saying you don't want to kiss me because you got tired of chasing the same girl as your brothers?"

Much to my annoyance Kol laughed at the sight of my expression before surprising me again as he suddenly took my face in his hand. I remained frozen under his touch before supporting his gaze with slight apprehension.

"What I mean is I want you to want me. And only for me. You're not Milana. You have nothing to do with her." He declared with a slightly possessive tone letting me swallow at the intensity of his gaze."Hence the reason why I want to wait. When I get back, we'll have plenty of time to catch up."

I immediately frowned in disbelief. "Sorry? Am I supposed to play the role of the young lady who unsuccessfully wait for her knight in armor? We are in the twenty-first century, Kol."

"Then you have to come with me to teach me the new conveniences of this world. " Cleverly retorted the brown letting me sniff a breath of laughter.

I sat up in my seat fully realizing how ridiculous and probably thoughtless our discussion was before waving him to turn on. "Bring me back before you decide to kidnap me for real."

I got out of my SUV once parked in our driveway before retrieving all of my belongings from the passenger seat. I stuck my coat on my forearm before heading to the porch stairs.

I had to admit that I had literally forgotten what to do at the Mikaelson mansion after my little getaway with Kol. Plus, I still had quite a bit to manage. Like the fact that I missed one of Ric's lessons again.

Honestly, I didn't even know why he continued to keep me as his assistant. I was barely involved in his lessons. Perhaps it was time that I recognized that his proposal was just an excuse to bring me back to Mystic Falls. And resigned at the same time. I had neither the time nor the inclination to continue.

I shook my head at the thought before opening my front door just to be suddenly cornered by Elena. The latter rushed down the stairs at full speed in my sight. "Mila? Where were you ? You were not in your room."

"Logic. Since I come from outside." I retorted sarcastically as I signed the front door under my shoulder before freezing as she threw herself around my neck."Wow, wow ... uh, what are you doing?"

"I am sincerely sorry for helping Esther." Elena immediately apologized visibly guilty before she pulled away while keeping her hands along my biceps."I didn't know she would bound you to them too. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you because of me."

I frowned more at her outpouring of feelings before grabbing her forearms to push her away."Alright, alright, I think I get it. You're sorry."

"Why don't you react more?" Elena asked immediately, sounding worried."You've almost died, Mila."

I immediately left a mocking scoff."Yeah, right. Like it hasn't become a kind of habit for us?"

Even if I assumed it was less likely to happen in the future after what Elijah had done to me. I was always damn pissed against him.

"Anyway, I'm going to my room."

"Wait!" Hailed immediately Elena stopping me on the first step of the stairs."We need to talk."

Mentally I reprimanded myself for not having accepted Kol's proposal. "Don't pushed it, Elena. I forgave you."

Elena scoffed indignantly as her hands went to her hips."Do you even know what's going down all day?"

"No but I guess you will tell me." I replied with attitude.

"First of all, Meredith Fell shot Alaric last night. Right now, Sheriff Forbes has him locked up for some bogus case as the mystery murder that Meredith put together against him. Damon's being a dick and won't do anything about it. I confronted Meredith about it and she started saying all this horrible stuff about Alaric to try and convince me that he is capable of murder."

I gave Elena an apathetic look before sighing."He is a murderer, Elena. Well, unless you consider killing dead things legal."

"She's the murderer, Mila!" Elena insisted."Matt and I broke into her house to prove that she's setting Alaric up. She has everything on Alaric; medical records, old court documents. She even had an old Gilbert Journal. And we found proof that she's lying but Sheriff Forbes won't listen!"

"And the fact that the Sheriff doesn't want to listen to a bunch of teenagers surprises you so much. Of course." I commented, rolling my eyes before resuming my climb again."Sorry Elena, but I'm going to skip the Sherlock Holmes beginner class."

"Alaric was arrested for fighting four times before the age of 21. When he was at Duke Isobel filed a restraining order against him twice. And he's a borderline alcoholic vampire hunter."

I paused again leaving a scoffed to all of this barely admissible evidence before turning around with disdain."He was an angry teenager? So what? And Isobel? Seriously? The woman has spent half her life trying to become a vampire so excuse me for being a little skeptical."

"I know, right?" Elena nodded immediately before resuming with animation. "The county coroner's office listed Bryan Walter's time of death while Alaric was still at the Founder's Party. He has an alibi! Meredith is the one who signed Bryan Walter's death certificate and put time of death after the party. She's setting him up!"

"So this is her." I said with little interest.

Honestly there was very little chance that Alaric was the killer. To be honest, it was even highly unlikely. So, he probably wouldn't stay in the cell very long. I didn't really care about this. Plus it wasn't a case of monster magic. For once it had nothing to do with the damn world we live in, I was definitely not going to get involved. Nothing forced me to.

If Elena and Matt had managed to get so many clues then Caroline's mother would be doing the same. She definitely didn't need to get involved.

"Do you even care what can happen to Alaric?" My sister snapped.

"I think it's not my job to figure that out."

"You're almost as unhelpful as Damon! When I suggested he do something his solution was to rip out Meredith's tongue and feed it to squirrels." Scowled Elena.

"I guess it was much funnier coming from him." I pointed out before giving an indignant look at the ignorant brunette."The simple fact that you genuinely think he's not going to get involved is beyond me. We're talking about Damon. He likes to do things smoothly before waving his good deeds under your nose to make you feel bad."

Elena frowned at the ground, her eyebrows knitting together in thought."I'm not sure it's that. He's trying to be bad. Like tonight when Matt and I were coming home we ran into Damon and Stefan and this girl. Damon was healing her but it was obvious that Stefan had been feeding on her; he had this crazed, dazed look in his eye. Damon say it was 'just a little experiment' and there was no need to make it more dramatic than it had to be."

"You know what? I love how our conversations have evolved between us." I commented sarcastically before rolling my eyes at the sight of Elena's expression. "Look, don't get into the brothers' stories between Damon and Stefan. I know it might shock you but there was a time when they didn't have to fight over a girl. These are the kinds of moments that Damon tries to reproduce."

Honestly I still remembered all the stories Stefan had told me. There was a time, long before Katherine, when he and Damon were linked. And even with the trials and the vampirism it was obvious that they loved each other more than anything. I had witnessed often enough to know that all was not yet lost.

"How can you trust them so much?" Elena asked quietly, shoving her hands into her back pockets.

"Maybe because I listen to them instead of expecting them to meet my expectations?" I spat.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

I rolled my eyes again at her offended look before turning on my heels to face her."It means that maybe you should stop playing with them and make a fucking choice for once."