XX : Somebody that I used to know

Honestly Milana had never felt such a zest for life. Obviously, she had felt it partially when she was freed from the stone but it was something else now. Now she was in control. And none of Mila's protests could change that. She had to recognize that the human was determined. She had always known that she would pose a fight. She had lived enough with her to know that Mila was anything but cowardly.

Unfortunately her time had come.

She readjusted the belt of the long black skirt she had found in Mila's closet before standing up to look in the long mirror in front of her. She had to recognize that these Founders' parties were ultimately useful. Mila had kept outfits worthy of matching the witch in her. She readjusted the sleeves of the black crop top that she had paired with the long skirt before adding a long scarf over her shoulders to replace the cape she used to wear. Now she looked more like herself. With the exception of the new, much more pronounced shapes of Mila. She glanced at the rest of her body, testing some more plump parts before raising her head with a smile.

This body pleased her.

She could feel Mila's disdain only that added to her amusement at her. There was no way her little temper would succeed in destroying her enthusiasm.

Unfortunately she hadn't appeared for nothing. And it was time that she created a bit of chaos in this boring little town.

She glanced at the lookalike still down over her shoulder before advancing toward her despite Mila's warnings. It was almost sad how Mila still cared for her sister despite the fact that she had tried to kill her. She knelt by pressing her elbows on her thighs before releasing certain strands from the face of the doppelganger to observe her."Mhm ... she's not even as beautiful as the Original."

She rolled her eyes as she straightened before stepping over her in impassivity. She had more important things to do.

Her first steps outside had been invigorating and full of experiences. Even after living so long inside Mila's mind, she was still not used to the change of this world. She had Mila's knowledge but some things still managed to surprise her.

She definitely regretted her time. The metal blocks they used for transportation were barbaric and far too noisy for her liking. In fact, everything was much noisier. Hence the reason why she could feel revived once she found herself crossing the forest of her youth. The wolf side residing in her was in perfect harmony with her connection with nature coming from her witch side. And she knew that little Mila was much more robust than she would have thought. And with the knowledge she had she could easily intervene. But not without spilling a little blood in its path.

Until now everyone had seemed to ignore Mila. So, she was going to make sure that no one forgot her.

Easily reaching the huge Mikaelson mansion, Milana paused outside the entrance with a certain sense of disgust. She really hated the ostentatious things of this new world.

However, that was not what challenged her. No, it was the energy coming from the place. There was a witch in these walls. And she was willing to bet it was the little witch that Mila cared about so much. That probably explained why she couldn't untie Mila from the others. Milana was to salute Klaus's intelligence at the time. Speaking of her former lover, part of her wondered how he would react to her appearance. However, a much more informed part suspected that he would not be particularly happy to see Mila relegate to the background. She was far from stupid; she had seen how the man she once loved had become a monster. And yet her little alter-ego had idiotically developed a certain empathy towards him. She cared about him.

Milana could not be more pleased. She had executed her plan wonderfully. She had protected Mila ergo from herself and secured her own freedom. She no longer had to worry about the Mikealson. Now she was free to act. And she was going to strike.

Deciding to make an entrance worthy of her former companions, Milana entered without bothering to knock before heading to the place where the energies all seemed to gather. Some stronger than others.

Almost instantly the smell of blood reaches her nostrils. Most notably vampire blood.

She frowned before opening the double doors in a huge crash using her magic. The trio inside the huge hall immediately turned to her as a result, allowing Milana to take a step into the hall before Rebekah's confused eyes. Conversely Klaus seemed to have a livid look as he realized who was in front of him.

Finally, only the famous vampire had haunted Mila for a long time before he fell back on his sister. The latter was tied by bear traps planting their fangs in his wrists. A long stream of blood dripping down his black shirt while a long series of knife cuts adorned his bare chest. You didn't have to be a soothsayer to know what was going on here. At the sight of the knife in Rebekah's delicate hand, Milana knew immediately that it was a revenge fabricated from scratch by her friend of yesteryear.

The stormy blue-eyed vampire struggled through the dizziness to see where the crash was coming from just to widen his eyes at the sight of her."Mila! "

"Try again."

A heavy silence ensued in which Rebekah's eyes widened in the realization."Milana, is that really you?"

"Oh, I'm hurt, Beks! Didn't you recognize me?" Milana replied with a smile so opposite to that of Mila before pointing the other vampire in the room with slight mischief."Yet my love recognized me right away. Although if I trust his expression, I was not the one he wanted to see. Right, Niklaus?"

"What did you do to Mila?" Asked the chained vampire immediately.

This fanned a dark smile on Milana's lips as she transferred all of her anger to the vampire. She walked slowly and confidently as she laid out all the vampires."She disappeared. It's all thanks to you! I should thank you and your brother for that btw. You totally destroyed her. Using her best friend in a plan that could kill her? Bad move, Damon!"

"What plan?" Klaus asked visibly recovered from her appearance.

Milana could easily feel Mila's objection deep in her chest leaving her hesitated for a moment before giving a look at Damon."Even after all that, she still struggles."

"Is she still there?" Suddenly asked Rebekah looking almost relieved."I mean, is she still in you?"

Milana frowned briefly at the blonde who appeared to be attached to the original host of her body."We just swap places. She was unable to handle the betrayal."

She gave a scathing look at the vampire currently in excruciating pain before suddenly raising her hand to his heart. Almost instantly the vampire screamed in pain at the sensation of his heart being pushed out of his venous networks.

"You said you loved her. But you ended up choosing Elena." Milana growled fiercely as she stepped closer to the vampire without ever stopping to torture him."For over a year I have watched Mila being used, mistreated, put away and all that for what ? To save a little ungrateful who should have been dead long ago? Don't you know how to recognize fate when it presents itself to you?"

She put more pressure on Damon's heart causing the vampire to cry out in agony before she felt a hand on her shoulder."Don't kill him. We have other means of revenge."

"Revenge ?" Milana repeated, letting go of the vampire's heart to face her former friend."I'm not here to take revenge. I'm just here to free myself." Grinding her jaw, Milana turned to Klaus coldly."Where's your witch?"

"A witch ? What for ?" Niklaus repeated innocently, letting Milana squint her eyes at the hybrid.

"Even if I couldn't feel her energy, I still knew how to read through you, Niklaus." She recalled with slight irritation."You're still the same."

Klaus gave a small breath visibly amused by her call before motioning for her to follow him. Milana ticked her jaw as she followed him without giving an afterthought about the vampire still chained.

"So, how do you find the new world?" Asked Klaus cheekily, letting Milana roll her eyes, a habit that reminded him of Mila.

"Ask what you really care about, Niklaus." Milana replied as she crossed the huge reception hall next to him."I know you care about the little human inside of me. She seems to be the only one to devote a certain confidence to you regarding your humanity. And this is something that scares you. You are a proud man but you have no confidence. You don't believe you're worthy of devotion. You're afraid of never receiving love and acceptance. Hence the reason why you never stop playing with Mila. You push her away and then you try to charm her and finally you push her again. You were much more enterprising at the time."

Klaus left a growl annoyed by her analysis."I don't care about an unimportant little human. I have a vast army of hybrids with unquestionable loyalty!"

Right, except that one of his hybrids had left town to break the bond between them and another was plotting with the Scooby-gang to kill him and his family. Indeed, an unquestionable loyalty.

"Whatever, Niklaus. Your lost." Milana retorted, giving a simple shrug clearly uninterested in her former lover now.

However, she hadn't even taken a new step that Klaus had suddenly grabbed her biceps forcing her to turn around to face him. She straightened in defiance as he took a deep breath before giving an almost vulnerable look at her."What happened to Mila? "

"She was betrayed. This is what happened to her." Milana replied sadly before showing the entrance."I can feel the energy of the witch from Ayanna's bloodline."

"I'll go in first." Klaus announced, returning to his former charmer ways."Your presence could be just what we need to force her."

Milana wanted to tell him that she could take care of it herself, but she was not particularly inclined to trust him completely. Besides, she was somewhat intrigued by the way he was going to look at it.

So she would let him manage things for the moment.

She stayed back as he entered the living room before using her hearing to listen to their conversation."Tick, tick, these are the time of spells now."

"I have not yet mastered the spell that will untie you." Immediately challenged the witch Bennett, leaving Mila to fuss more in her head."It's far from easy. Especially under threat!"

"I warned you, right?" Klaus said stupidly using good old threat tactics."If you are looking for help, I will be happy to kill those who come to your rescue."

At the mere mention of a killing, Milana could suddenly feel Mila struggling with all her might, causing for the first time a reaction as she suddenly grabbed her head in pain. So that was what the headaches that Mila complained about looked like.

Milana gave a small growl, frustrated by her persistence, before standing up to the witch Bennett's statement."It's the spell that causes me the problem. I really don't know if I have enough strength for that."

Milana rolled her eyes at her reaction before taking the lead as she in turn entered, immediately calling out to the witch."For that I can help you."

"Mila?"

Milana rolled her eyes, clenching her jaw. "I'm seriously losing patience. Do I look so much like this little human?"

"Milana." Bonnie breathed, widening her eyes in the realization.

"See? Trust yourself a little. It's your energy that helped my mom bond us. I don't think you're making the slightest effort." Klaus asked immediately with a winning smile as he approached Bonnie before giving a teasing look at Milana."And you ? What do you think ?"

Milana rolled her eyes, clearly weary of his little power plays, before settling on one of the sofas, giving a bored look at the hybrid."You made her work under duress. What did you expect ?"

Honestly Milana wondered why Mila stayed in this town. She could have fled a long time ago. Nothing really kept her here except her love for the people of this town. And they had easily shown her that they didn't really care. It was time for her to understand that she had to survive for her and only for her. She could easily hear her protests about it, but she knew deep down that she was right.

"Alright." Klaus said as he grabbed his phone right away to make a call, leaving Milana to squint her eyes at her distrustful ex-lover. A distrust shared by Mila for once."Kol?" So, are you having good weather there? In this beautiful city of Denver!"

Almost instantly she could feel Mila freeze at the mention of the city where her twin brother was. Worse still, she could feel a new dash of betrayal at the mention of Kol standing next to her brother. So that was where he was. No wonder he didn't want to tell her where he was.

Milana had to admit that she had been strangely surprised by Kol's attitude towards her human counterpart. He looked almost like the human she had known. Except that he seemed even more arrogant and mischievous than she had known him. Nevertheless, it was obvious that Mila had set a foot in a love triangle without even knowing it.

So Milana had decided to revel in the spectacle in order to see who would win the impregnable heart of the little human. She had pleasantly surprised her on this point. Love was not something that came easily to her. It was a point they shared. But now that Mila felt aggrieved by all the parties in which she thought she trusted, Milana was impatient to see more.

Once she was responsible for saving them, of course. Milana was certain that even Elijah's compulsion was not enough to force her to live. She had always had a dark side. It was something she had easily noticed and appreciated in Mila. She was much darker than everyone around her seemed to think.

"Hope you're ready to help her."

Milana emerged from her thoughts clearly surprised by this sudden habit so foreign. It was definitely something she was not used to doing. She had always bottled up her thoughts. Mila was the one who got lost for several minutes thinking about the life she led.
Obviously she had finally gotten into the habit herself.

"I'm not one of your enemies you can threaten, Niklaus." Milana snapped, letting an ounce of Mila's mind catch a glimpse of her words.

A fact that surprisingly had the gift of bringing a smile to the hybrid's lips."Why should I threaten you, love? You came of your own free will."

"Only because this little fool was ready to let herself die." Milana replied coldly, sparking two wide looks from the hybrid and the witch surrounding her."Don't look at me like that. You know full well that it would be her choice. This is-argh!"

In a moment, Klaus was by her side with his hand hovering over her back in an awkward manner as Milana again held her head at the sensation of Mila's struggle.

"What's happening ?"

"Is Mila okay?" Witch Bennett asked immediately, glaring at Niklaus.

Milana let out a curse before she straightened up, shaking her head."It's nothing. We must believe that she found her desire to live now that I took her place."

Milana gave a puzzled look at the proximity of Niklaus reminding her that too much their moments together before swallowing as she gave a look at the witch Bennett. The latter looked strangely at the pair visibly also aware of the behavior so contrary to the hybrid. The latter gave a look at Milana before standing up."If you need anything-"

"I would take my pain patiently." Milana replied immediately."My only mission is to break this spell."

"Glad to hear that we are on the same side." Klaus replied bitterly between his teeth.

It was obvious that he lacked Mila's warmth and sincerity. However, he was going to have to deal with Milana for now. The little human deserved a little lesson. Milana had had more than enough of her sense of self-sacrifice. She deserved to live just as much as Elena. Just as much as every member of this city. And until she realized it, Milana was going to keep the reins.

She straightened as she heard Klaus leave the room before turning to the witch Bennett."So, this spell."

She rose to retrieve the familiar Esther spell book from her fingers before raising her head to hear the witch's question."Why are you here?"

"Sorry little beginner but I'm afraid you have to be more specific." Milana replied with a scoff as she settled back into one of the sofas.

Bonnie clenched her jaw."You didn't seem to have any problem letting Mila take control before. Why take her place now?"

"Oh I see. You're afraid of what I could do." Milana agreed with a slight bitter smile on her lips before giving her a knowing look."Esther did more than channel the magic of your bloodline, right? She told you about me."

"You shouldn't exist." Said the witch Bennett.

Milana nodded her head in agreement. "Mhm, that's not wrong. But still like all the vampires, werewolves, and other creatures that make up your friends."

Bonnie seemed visibly taken over by her return before letting her real worry cross her features."Are you going to let Mila take back her place ?"

"Eventually." Milana accepted in a hum before giving a look at the witch Bennett over Esther's grimoire."Once you both understand that it's time to stop sacrificing yourself for others."

Bonnie immediately left a scoff. "So what? Is that some kind of punishment? Did you take control because Mila wanted to let herself die in order to kill the Originals?"

"How many more people will you have to lose to meet Elena Gilbert's needs?"

This imposed a certain silence between them as Bonnie swallowed clearly in shock before looking away, uncertain. Milana left a simple nod before plunging back into the ancient writings of her past.

The next time Klaus came back to check on them, it was already dark and until then Bonnie had been a diligent little witch. She had just followed Milana's directions without a word. Milana was even almost certain that Bonnie could have benefited from her magic knowledge if the situation was different.

They finished lighting the candles when a sudden cry of pain arose throughout the mansion. Milana already knew what it was, but that didn't stop the human inside of her from jumping like Bonnie.

"What was that ?"

"There is nothing to be disturbed about." Klaus said nonchalantly and mockingly as he gave Milana a knowing wink.

The latter rolled her eyes, making sure to continue preparing the spell unlike Bonnie who insisted."Yet I am. And it's you who disturbs me."

"It has always been his favorite activity." Milana still sparked a nostalgic smile on Klaus' lips.

However, the indignant look of the witch Bennett quickly shattered their moment."How can you smile at him? He uses people to get what he wants! It's not correct ! If Mila knew he was watching over Jeremy she would be mad."

"Lucky she's not there then."

"Mhm, better manage your anger Bonnie." Klaus commented with a little more firmness.

"You servitor of the natures, real little beings temperamental." Milana commented in turn visibly amused by the little useless fit of the witch Bennett.

"In her defense, I know things have not been easy for her." Klaus replied, leaving Milana to straighten up, intrigued by his way of managing the thing with strategy."With your mother who abandoned you. Once again. It's cruel, I know, but I'll help you find her. Finally, if you want, I have friends who can bring her back. Or if you prefer, bring her back in small pieces."

Almost instantly Milana could feel Mila's will to regain her being as she seemed to be taking control of her.

Unfortunately for her, she was in a position of strength at the moment. She had full access to her energy and her wolfish side. It was almost a lost cause for Mila.

Nevertheless Milana took pity on her human counterpart."This is what we call a dick move as Mila would say."

This challenged the duo, leaving Milana to sigh before joining the side of the witch Bennett to stand up to the obstinate hybrid in front of her."May I know what's wrong with you?"

"The little Jiminy Cricket inside of me." Milana replied simply."We don't want to hurt anyone. Especially not those who have already suffered enough. I can do the rest of the spell, Niklaus. Free her."

"What? No!" Bonnie suddenly exclaimed indignantly at Milana as she gave her an irritated look.

Unlike Klaus as he let out a bark of laughter before pointing the witch in amusement."It looks like she wants to stay."

"Now is not the time for your humorless little jokes." Snapped Milana, glaring at the hybrid before taking the witch's forearm sharply to force her to face her."Listen to me, I knew your ancestor. She taught me everything and I can assure you that she would never leave an opportunity like this. So, you're going to listen to me and leave this mansion of horror."

"If you think I'm going to abandon Mil-"

"Mila has been on her own for a long time now!" Milana immediately interrupted her with coldness and barely controlled rage, leaving Bonnie shocked by the guilt. Milana held her gaze before giving Klaus a look of impatience."I need the blood of every member of your family. And release her!"

Klaus took a few steps back, wrinkling his lips in fun as he retrieved a box already containing the blood of his siblings before motioning to Bonnie."It looks like you're no longer useful to us. You can dispose, little witch."

Meanwhile, Milana turned around the round table containing the burning candles before taking the cup to give to Klaus. However, she emitted a new frustrated growl as it was Bonnie who took it from her hands. She narrowed her eyes at the witch weighing the pros and cons to push her out before rolling her eyes in abandonment about her."I'm staying !"

"Well you have to believe that we're all going to stay eventually."

Klaus bit into his palm to press his point before joining Milana's side as she began to recite the spell soon joined by Bonnie who took her hand to channel more power. They added one by one the vials of blood from each member of the Mikaelson family in the cup already containing Niklaus' blood before pouring it on the wooden table.

Milana suddenly held out her palm to Klaus through the spell ignoring his look of disbelief before prompting him further. She barely felt the pain from his fangs suggesting he had been intentionally delicate in his bite.

However, she ignored this finding as she poured her own blood into the mix letting her watch the pool of blood grow to create branches of a tree. The candles grew in huge flames, allowing Milana to recover more strength from the witch Bennett. The puddle separated at six specific points, leaving Milana to step back to catch her breath.

She turned to Niklaus giving a firm nod."It's done !"

Almost instantly she could easily feel the pull indicating the takeover coming from Mila. She let a smile curl her lips before suddenly feeling her eyes roll in the back of her head.

It was time to give way to the little human.

The next time I came to, I left a shocked gasp clearly confused. I looked around in panic as I came to realize that I was no longer in that dark corner of my head. I was no longer forced to endure Milana's atrocities.

However I was quick to frown more as I finally took in the room where I was. The last thing I remembered was Milana and Bonnie breaking Esther's bonding spell.

Except it seems that I was currently in a room of some sort. A room quite luxurious and artistic at the same time. I was currently on a huge king bed with thick sheets, a ton of pillows once lay under my head. I straightened up clearly confused before taking more in my entourage. No matter who owned this room, the person was quite messy when it came to their art supplies. Or maybe he just didn't care about the other furniture. It was obvious that the person who owned this room attached great importance to art.

I didn't know why I was convinced it was a man, but it seemed impossible to me that this room belonged to a woman. I tried to ignore the fear still installed along my limbs following my recent episode of transfiguration before I got up slowly and carefully from the bed.

I continued to watch the place I was in, being careful not to step on the crumpled balls of paper lying on the floor. The sight of my lace-up boots lying at the foot of the bed made me realize my condition. I looked away from my ancestor's choice of clothing before rushing to get my shoes back.

No matter where I was, I was not going to stay very long.

I had to make sure Bonnie was safe and sound. Worse still I had to make sure that Damon was still alive. I had to admit that a darker part of me had been proud of Milana for the way she had handled the situation. But I couldn't afford to keep thinking like this.

I got Milana's scarf to cover myself since I couldn't help but feel a cold enveloping me since I woke up. I headed straight for the bedroom door just to realize that I was obviously still in the Mikaelson mansion.

Worse still I could still hear Damon's screams. I assumed that I was spending less and less time recovering from Milana's jumps.

Nevertheless I could see that I had spent most of the day locked in my own head while Milana did as she pleased with my body. I still couldn't believe she had hinted that Klaus had something for me. Worse still the hybrid had almost seemed genuinely worried about me.

However, it didn't take me long to get out of my thoughts quickly as I saw Stefan at the bottom of the stairs. He had a large sports bag in his hands, so I could easily guess the contents. I assumed that the unbinding spell had really worked in the end.

"Stefan!" I said, relieved to see him before hurrying down the stairs at a run as he paused.

However, it was not long before I saw the wary look on his face as he examined me from head to toe. I clearly slowed down uneasily under his stern gaze before swallowing as I stopped at his height.

"Who am I talking to?" He asked cautiously.

"I know it may be hard to believe, but it's me." I said somewhat anxious after all the things Milana had done. If he was here, I had no doubt that Elena and Felix had reported to him the actions of my ancestor.

"What proves to me that it really is you?" Hesitated Stefan again.

I winced, shrugging my shoulders."The easy answer would be to give you a secret that only we know, but Milana had access to all of my memories. She probably knows everything."

"So, I don't really have a choice." Stefan said, shaking his head."I guess it's going to have to do it for now. Would you know where my brother is?"

I lowered my eyes as I remembered what Milana had done to Damon before I nodded my head as I took the initiative to show him rather than explain to him.

Unfortunately, I came to an abrupt halt as the hole of guilt was suddenly overflowing and threatening to make its way up my throat. I've seen bloodbaths before. I had even experienced bloodshed through Milana's dream memories, but that was something else entirely. It was pure torture. And it was very different to see Damon in that position now that I was back in the front row again.

On the ground was a clear tarp to protect the flooring but must of it was covered in pools of blood. His shirt was undone and there wasn't an inch of skin that wasn't stained red all the way up to his neck. I could easily see the exact place where Milana had tried to tear his heart from his chest by the simple thought.

His arms were extended up to the air so that they made a V and that was the most gruesome sight. Razor sharp teeth of bear traps clamped into his wrist, keeping the wounds open, preventing him from healing. His head bowed forward, as if the effort of holding it up was just too much and all I could see was one cheek, far paler than usual.

I noticed Stefan advancing, throwing the sack of stakes at my side, immediately diverting my eyes as Damon tried to raise his head at the approach. However, I didn't expect to hear him tell his brother about me."Don't trust ... her. The bitch is… crazy. Mila-Milana…"

"I know." Stefan assured, nodding his head in compassion before turning to me and the opening. "Klaus! I'm here ! It's time to settle this!"

I swiveled on my heels soon enough to hear Rebekah's familiar heel approach before I quickly took a position alongside Stefan as the Original duo appeared in the hallway.

"Ah perfect ! A hero! And you're Mila again from what I see." Klaus announced, tilting his head slightly at the sight of my retreat."What do you want ?"

Stefan remained stony as he signed the leather bag."I came to make a deal with you."

"Stefan, no! What are you doing ?" Damon grumbled under his breath visibly in pain.

"Rebekah burned the bridge but she didn't burn the original sign. With the last of the White Oak Damon and I fashioned nine stakes."

"It's impossible!" Rebekah objected, shaking her head.

"Finn is dead."

"You kill my brother?"

I widened my eyes as I turned to Stefan at this new information before stepping back to Damon in panic as I could once again feel Milana's energy. She clearly seemed as shocked by the news as the rest of the Original family.

Stefan glanced at Rebekah before approaching Klaus impassively."Give me Damon and the eights stakes who can cause your death are yours."

Klaus gave us a cool, calculating look."How do I know you're not lying just to save your brother?"

"There is no other." Stefan assured leaving me somewhat skeptical.

A fact obviously shared by Klaus as he headed straight for Damon."Well, let's check it out."

I tried to move past Rebekah as Klaus asked him to leave. Damon objected in the first place visibly still conscious enough to fight.

However, Klaus insisted with that famous macabre smile.

"Nik, he's my plaything not yours! You can't decide that." Whined Rebekah.

"The fuck? " I exploded, giving a scathing look at the blonde."He is a person, not some fucking toy."

"He deserved it. He used me." Defended the blonde."Milana understood me at least."

I opened my mouth for a rebuttal when a cry of pain reached my ears. I immediately turned to the vampire just to see Damon dragging his wrist through the traps, making the gouges in his skin deeper. Klaus lips had curled in satisfaction.

"Stop it!" I demanded; rushing over to the men."Please, stop it, Klaus!"

"Alright, you can stop." Klaus, said, waving his hand disinterestedly at Damon before he turned to us with my hateful gaze focused on him."I had to make sure the vervain was out of his system."

Damon headed drooped again but his eyes turned up enough to glare at me. Unfortunately, my gaze went back to Klaus as the latter grabbed his neck in order to force him to look at him. He compelled him as he asked him how many stakes it had left. Not surprisingly, it turned out that Stefan had lied letting me look up at the ceiling in indignation.

"Eleven. We are far from the eight announced." Klaus coolly noticed as he gave Stefan a look.

"You should never have been lying."

"You will have the other three."

"Yeah that would suit me." Klaus replied, crossing his hands behind his back before giving another threat to Damon."Or as you lie, maybe I'm going to compel your brother so that he chews his tongue."

"Klaus, don't!" I exclaimed in horror.

"What are you doing this to yourself?"

I was suddenly startled by Klaus."What about you, huh ? You have so little gratitude towards me? I thought I had offered a target for your hatred, your aversion, an outlet for all this anger! In order to avoid you to turn it against you! I gave your life a purpose, a real meaning! I made it as a friend!"

I tried to stay straight despite the feeling paralyzing me a little more with each of his words before suddenly holding my breath as he passed Stefan to stand in front of me."And you, you should see the way you look at me! The judgment in your eyes! Am I really just the enemy to shoot for you? The one for whom you would willingly give your life in order to exterminate it?"

I could feel the tears rushing behind my eyes as I supported the enraged look of the hybrid noticing for the first time how genuinely pained he seemed. Unfortunately, he hid his emotions almost immediately with a manic laugh as he turned to Stefan, waving his hand between the vampire and me."No but you should rather thank me!"

"Stop it !"

Suddenly Stefan let out a groan of protest before pouncing on Klaus at vampire speed. He literally pinned him against the nearest wall, letting me swivel quickly on my heels just to see Stefan lift one of the stakes, probably his over Klaus's chest. The latter hastened to block him, leading to a power struggle.

"Drop that stake! And very quickly!" Klaus threatened in a cold, calculated tone."Or you and your brother will both die!"

"Stefan, please do what he tells you!" I pleaded, overwhelmed.

The vampire struggled a little more before finally giving in by lowering his arm before deliberately giving his stake to the Hybrid."Here ! All you have to do is bring me the other two."

"All of this is ridiculous." Suddenly Rebekah intervened, looking barely shaken by what had just happened. She walked over to Damon leaving me to widen my eyes as she reached for the traps in order to free Damon.

Klaus immediately passed me in the objection."What are you doing ?"

I rushed to Damon side as the entire right side of his body slumped forward. He groaned in agony as his left wrist had to suffer more of his weight. I ducked under his arm so it draped over my shoulders. I bit my lips and my eyes watered as Damon's left arm was released and I had to quickly wrap my arm around his waist to support him.

"It was me who brought him, it was me who set him free." Announced Rebekah before turning to Stefan."And we will do as we say now. Bring the stakes back to us and you will be saved. I leave you Damon and Mila as a pledge of good faith."

I was battling Damon's near-dead weight to watch Rebekah retrieve the stake bag before looking at Klaus' back as he addressed Stefan."Correction: Mila stays here, your brother can leave."

"What? No!" I growled through the struggle to support the vampire.

"Yes!" Klaus insisted before turning to Stefan to threaten him again."Bring back the stakes! All of them! Otherwise I will launch a merciless war against all those you love! Have I been clear enough?"

He passed Stefan with the intention of leaving before taking a break."Mila! "

"No!"

"Don't make me come and get you!" He warns, strangely reminding me of my father.

I winced as I gave Stefan a look just to get a nod from the vampire. I retained a grunt at his agreement before leaving Damon as delicately as possible.

I crossed my arms over my chest before following after the hybrid. I stopped for a moment in the hall by gauging the closed door before rolling my eyes knowing that he could easily catch up with me. Instead I decided to go find him to give him a piece of my mind. Only I certainly didn't expect to overhear an intense conversation between him and Rebekah. I was pausing at the entrance to the living room in which Milana had spent her afternoon before listening in curiosity.

"I can't believe Finn is dead."

"Good riddance." Klaus replied with no ounce of pain."He was too bulky."

"How can you talk like that about your brother?"

I frowned clearly as indignant as Rebekah."Alright then we're going to pray for Finn who has rested more in a coffin than lived as a man. He was an old fossil not gifted for life."

It was a recurring trait in the hybrid. Whenever he seemed to be in a situation where visibly extinguished emotions were at home, he always ended up using humor and derision. Unfortunately, it was also the only sign that also seemed to betray the little emotion he possessed.

I pulled back a little in nervousness as Rebekah's heels slammed against the ground."Is that also what you would say about me if I died?"

"You who let the two brothers slip away with what to kill us?" Snapped bitterly Klaus."We will see what the future holds. And since when have you had a crush on them?"

"The Salvatores fight like dogs but they will die for each other in the end! They know what the word family means." Said Rebekah suddenly, outraged."You destroyed ours."

I swallowed knowing full well that it affected the hybrid despite the fact that he pretended that nothing had happened."I always wanted a family. But nobody wanted me. We're untied today, we no longer have to protect ourselves."

I could feel Milana's frustrated reaction inside of me letting myself imagine the series of insults she reserved for the silly behavior of the hybrid. I hated to admit it but she was right in her analysis of the hybrid. He feared that he would not receive the devotion that he sought so much. So, he had to repel people with fear. It was what he had always done with me from the start.

Part of me was ready to accept the fact that he would stay that way but another part of me, I didn't yet know how strong it was, seemed convinced that he was not as inhuman as he seemed determined to portray himself.

Hence the reason why I decided to stop listening to this conversation before turning around. I went back up the stairs with the intention of spending the rest of my time in captivity in a place that seemed most comfortable to me. I closed the door to the room I woke up in before I gave the place a new quick scan. Being clearly more aware of my surroundings than when I woke up, I couldn't help but leave a grunt of disbelief as I realized who owned the room.

It was obvious now.

Klaus was the only artist in this family.

And as if choosing one of the mansion's rooms was not enough, the hybrid itself suddenly entered with a surprised expression at my sight."Mila? I must say that I didn't expect to see you here."

"I woke up here. I thought it was a safe place." I explained coldly before trying to overtake him to go out."Obviously I was wrong."

Unsurprisingly, the hybrid quickly raised his arm to block my way."You know, your hatred and your indifference towards me are starting to hurt my feeling."

"Well, I guess I wouldn't have to do this if you could behave like a human being instead of the monster you love to portray." I snapped.

"I'm an innocent victim." Klaus clarified by opening his arms wide in false disbelief."It was your little friends who decided to declare war on me. I only react accordingly."

I scoffed by crossing my arms over my chest. "And that required making so many people suffer?"

"You're so quick to judge me. And yet, it's quite obvious that for rational behavior you will pass. You, love, are tragically broken. Your survival instinct is so inexistent that you need someone else to have it for you. You're unable to ignore someone in need even if it means sacrificing yourself. But basically, it's not kindness, you're just devoid of all life. Your dearest wish is to-"

"That's not true!" I snarled, cutting him off. "I don't need Milana to have a survival instinct. It's a personal choice. I do what I think is the best solution. This is what is called being rational. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone who daggers family members out of fear of betrayal cannot understand such a term. You think you're acting for everyone's good but you're still a scared little boy, Niklaus. You-"

I didn't even have time to say more as the hybrid suddenly grabbed my throat before slamming me hard against his pine cabinet. I held back a groan of pain as my skull encountered the surface before trying to ignore the sudden nausea invading me.

"I could kill you with a snap of my fingers!" He barked in my face.

I opened my eyes as I swallowed, noticing that his hand was applying little pressure on my throat."Then do it!"

Klaus left a gasp visibly shocked by the conclusion in my gaze before slowly removing his hand from my neck. He shook his head as he backed up to his bed before falling on it.

Meanwhile, I brought my fingers against my now tender neck to test the pain before squinting at the suddenly seemingly exhausted hybrid. He lowered his shoulders in defeat.

I watched him for a moment in mistrust before standing up suddenly as he raised his head to gauge me in turn."You provoked me! You knew how I would react and again you provoked me intentionally."

"Someone had to dedicate himself to do it." I snapped back.

"Even if it resulted in your death?"

I shrugged knowing that it was probably the thing that scared me the most.

Silence fell between us as the hybrid lowered his eyes to his hands again before resuming with a certain purpose in his tone."I do this to protect myself. You cannot understand because you are still naive but people are not reliable. Love makes you weak. It gives others the opportunity to betray you at one time or another. So, if you have a problem with the way I act then you can leave, I won't hold you back but know that I would have no mercy on your friends."

I could feel my lips trembling under his final words letting me swallow before I just nodded. I could surprisingly feel the tears rushing behind my eyes as I caught my breath before clenching my jaw to ignore the pain suddenly seeping into my chest.

Turning around, I was about to reach for the handle before taking a break in uncertainty. It sounded strangely like a goodbye. A purpose for something that seemed to have started between the hybrid and me. I didn't even know when it started but maybe I wasn't always impartial to him.

In any event, it would seem that the question no longer arose.

Swallowing again, I pulled the door open before making my way outside.