Chapter 5
Creating a monster
My dear brother
I am not sure how to start this letter, but I know I want to write it. How could I simply leave without any explanation? Yes, by the time you read this, I will be gone. It breaks my heart to leave you, Bekah, Kol and even Nik, but I feel I have no choice. I cannot stay, I simply cannot. I need to find my own path in life. Perhaps you have noticed that I have not been the same person after we left France.
The truth is that I am not sure who I am, but I know who I am not, a person who leaves her own brother daggered. Please, do not get me wrong, I am not blaming you on anything and I wish you, all of you, to be safe and happy. I can only hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me and respect my decision.
Your loving sister
Ginna
Elijah sat on his bed and read the letter again. She was gone. Ginna had left with Finn. Niklaus hadn't noticed that yet, but he would soon. Elijah pressed his lips together, his guilt felt overwhelming.
…I have not been the same person after we left France….
He had only tried to protect his sister. She had deserved so much better than someone like Tristan de Martel. Maybe Elijah hadn't been the one who had actually compelled Tristan to abandon Ginna, but he was guilty as well. Not to mention Tristan was a vampire because of him. When he had found out how that bastard had been taking advantage of Ginna, how he had stolen her innocence… Elijah had lost his temper and attacked Tristan. The consequences had been very ugly.
Then there was Niklaus. Elijah felt that he had created a monster. The rage he had felt when Aurora had told him that Niklaus had murdered their mother… He had completely lost it. All he had wanted was to make Niklaus pay. He closed his eyes and sighed tiredly. What was done, was done, he couldn't take it back. There was no chance Niklaus would simply accept Ginna's departure, especially when she had taken Finn with her. Why had she done this? There would have been other ways. If she would have only come to Elijah first… Now he had no idea what to do.
Ginna was exhausted, she had Finn had ridden the whole night. She truly hoped that they had long enough head start before Nik would notice that they were gone. He would no doubt be furious and Ginna had learned enough about his temper to take his anger seriously. She had to admit that most of the time she barely recognized Niklaus anymore. He had used to be kind and compassionate, now he considered such feelings as nothing but a weakness. She had no doubt that he would run one of those damn daggers through her heart without hesitation if he would catch her. Unfortunately they had to stop, their horses needed some rest.
"Finn!" Ginna called and nodded towards the small field ahead of them. The river was near, so the horses would also get some water. Her brother understood what she meant; they both stopped their horse and dismounted. Neither of them spoke when they took care of the horses. Ginna also washed her face in the river. Finn was handing her a handkerchief when she looked up.
"Thank you," she said.
"I believe I should thank you," he replied calmly.
"You would have done the same for me."
He nodded.
"Yes, I would have, but still… Thank you, sister."
She smiled at him and touched his shoulder.
"You are welcome."
They were both quiet for a moment before she continued.
"So… What now?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, along with father, we also need to run from Nik now, so… Are we staying together or going to our separate ways?"
Finn looked at her calmly.
"Do you wish us to go to our separate ways?"
"No," she replied without hesitation. She didn't really need to consider her answer; the truth was that she didn't want to be all alone. "I would like us to stay together, I believe we would make a good team, but if that is not what you want, I will respect your decision."
He was quiet for a brief moment before replying.
"A team?"
She nodded.
"Yes. We could look after one another, like a family is supposed to do. What do you think, brother?"
He observed her with a blank expression before his lips curved into a smile.
"I think I would like that. And I believe you are right, we would make a good team."
She smiled too and kissed his cheek.
"Alright, brother, you and me then. I believe we can find some peace. For both of us."
He nodded.
"Let us hope so."
Meanwhile in Hungary
Tristan, Lucien and Aurora were all sitting in the parlor of the house they were currently staying. None of them had said a word for a long while. Tristan was holding Aurora and calmingly stroking her hair while Lucien concentrated on his third bottle of wine. 112 years they had lived the lives of someone else. 112 years had been stolen from them. They had been used like their lives wouldn't matter. To Tristan, that however wasn't the worst part. Ginna… The things he had been forced to say to her… The hurt on her face… He had broken her heart. He had lost her. She had been taken from him.
"Well…" Lucien murmured after a very long silence. "Wasn't that a fun century."
Tristan didn't say anything; he didn't have anything to add to that.
"They deserve to pay," Lucien continued and took a long gulp out of his bottle.
"I agree," Aurora murmured. "I want Elijah to suffer."
"They all will suffer," Tristan stated, his voice held no emotion.
They had taken the only woman he had ever loved from him and made him to hurt her the worst possible way. All of them would pay for that.
"Sounds good to me," Lucien huffed and handed Tristan the bottle. "Drink, 'brother'?"
Normally Tristan would have refused, but now he took the bottle and emptied it with one long gulp. Ginna… He made a silent vow to himself that he would find her. No matter how long it would take.
