"Are you going the bonfire tonight?" Rebekah asks me as I approach my car.
"I wasn't planning on it, why?" I ask as I throw my bag in the back.
"I want to go." She states simply.
"You should. It'll be fun for you." I tell her with a smile.
"Come with me."
Looking at her, I can see the wariness in her eyes. She's never had an actual high school experience or a real friend, and since I'm her first friend that isn't going to be murdered by her homicidal brother I sigh, "Fine. I'll go."
Smiling brightly, "Pick me up at 8."
"Being demanding must run in your family." I laugh, "Tell me, is this something I can look forward to with Kol?"
Laughing lightly, "Of course it is, we all know what we want. With you though, I doubt he'll have to demand a single thing from you or even would at all. For you two it'll be as easy as breathing, you'll be so in tuned to what the other needs or wants, if I was a lesser being I might be jealous."
"It's terrifying if I'm be honest." I admit to her, "I want him so badly. I know in my soul that he's meant to be mine, he's the whole reason I'm even alive, but knowing that as soon as he wakes I have that kind of commitment for eternity…fucking terrifying. He's had a thousand years give or take to search for me, be prepared to find me one day. I've had a few months, my whole life has changed so drastically in those months."
"I won't tell you that he'll be easy to be saddled with for eternity, but I can tell you that you are beyond perfect for him. You hold your ground so fiercely, are so loyal to those who deserve it, you love with everything you have, he needs that." She sighs, "He'll be the rock you need, with one look he'd destroy a city for you if you truly wanted."
"Now there's a scary thought." I laugh, "Can you imagine, me being the cause of an entire city burned to ruin?"
"It'll happen one day, and I'm certain I'll be there to watch from the sidelines as it does." She laughs with me.
"What do you want Nik?" I ask groggily as I answer my phone.
"Well love, Stefan just called me to let me know that apparently you're sister has daggered Mikael." He tells me.
Sitting up straight, "There's no way she could have daggered him, even if the Salvatore boys both helped her. She's not strong enough and neither are they, no matter how much they like the believe they are."
"My thoughts exactly, love. Most startling Rebekah corroborated the story." He tells me scathing, "I need you to do your best to find out why that is. I'll be coming back to Mystic Falls with quite a few hybrids, but I do not like being played for a fool."
"They won't talk to me about it, but I'll try Bekah. No matter what, I'm her only true friend so it shouldn't be terribly difficult to get her to come clean." I tell him as I make my way to the bathroom. "I'll call you as soon as I know."
"You're a saint, Olivia." He praises.
"Flattery gets you nowhere, Nik." I laugh as I hang up.
This whole situation is a mess. One giant uncalled for mess. Frankly I don't want any damn part of it anymore. For one day, just one, I want a drama free day. It's wishful thinking on my part, as I will probably never achieve that goal a day in my life.
"Going out?" Kyle asks from his seat at the table.
"Scooby gang's planning something, even roped Rebekah into it this time." I tell them as I pour some coffee in the travel mug. "Nik's asked me ever so politely, to go and find out what the hell is going on."
"Rebekah lied to him?" Jenna asked astonished.
"Apparently." I shrug, "And now it's my job to find out why. I have no doubt that Elena and them dug up something to use against her. Deep down Bekah is a vulnerable teenage girl who wants acceptance and friendship."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Kyle asks.
Ever since Chris left to go back to New York he's taken on the roll of protective older brother even more, especially with all the drama that goes on here.
"I'll be fine Kyle, I can't be killed remember?" I smile at him.
"Chris left me in charge of keeping you safe, as if I don't already do that every time you come to visit us anyway." He says annoyed, "Just because you knew him first doesn't mean I wouldn't give everything I have to protect you."
"And I love you for it." I smile at him as I lean down to kiss his cheek, "Besides, if I didn't love you, do you really think I would have let you meet Jenna. She needs you protecting her more than I do since she's the human in this situation."
"Just because I'm human doesn't mean I can't take care of myself." She huffs.
"Of course it doesn't." I smirk at her.
"That's it, get out of here before you two gang up on me again." She tells me, pushing me towards the door. "Call if you get into any trouble."
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" Damon drawled annoyed from his seat on the sofa.
"Absolutely nothing. I'm not here for you." I say not stopping for a second on my way up the stairs to the room Rebekah had claimed as hers for the time being.
Opening her door I see her fussing with her hair, "You and I need to talk. Put shoes on and lets go."
I turn not bothering to look back and see if she's following me. I know she will, I've never spoken to her that way before. Never demanded that she do something, but right now she's put a kink in my goal to get Kol out of that damn coffin.
We don't speak on the drive, not until I'm sure I'm far enough away from any other vampires in town. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Looking over at me startled, "Excuse me?" she asks annoyed.
"You lied to Nik. I want to know why." I tell her plainly.
"He called you…of course he did." She mutters, "No one thought about that."
"Of course none of them thought about that, Bekah, they're utter morons with one track minds who can never follow through with anything!" I exclaim frustrated.
"He killed my mother." She says, interrupting my rant.
Well…that's news. I never doubted the terrible acts that Nik has done in the thousand years he's lived, but to kill your own mother…I can't understand. Nik is all about his family, which you'd know if you looked even an inch below the surface of the façade he puts on.
"Why would he kill your mother?" I ask her softly.
"She cursed him, Olivia. She turned her back on him and he killed her." She tells me, "He told us Mikael was the one who had done it. He lied to me."
So that was what this was all about, he lied to her. He took her trust and twisted it for his gain. It made much more sense to me now that she would even entertain the idea of betraying him; it wasn't because her mother was killed, but because her older brother who she trusted so completely had lied for a thousand years. That kind of betrayal runs deep.
"I would say that I'm sorry, but I know firsthand that means shit in these situations. So instead, I'll say that I understand why you did it. I'm not happy with it, but I understand. I need you to understand that I won't let anything happen to Nik. I know that you're hurting and that is exactly how you should feel right now, but I also know that deep down you don't want your brother dead. Not for good." I remind her gently, "If anything, leave. Once all this is said and done, once everyone is out of their coffins then go. Explore this world and see what it has to offer. Meet new people, find new loves. Experience life away from the overwhelming protection that your brothers have cast on your life for so long."
She sat quietly for a few minutes, just staring out the window of the car. "I'm angry…I'll admit I'm more hurt than angry, but I don't wish for him to be dead." She says quietly.
"He's going to hate me. Oh my…I mean I let them convince me to betray my family! How dare they use me as a pawn!" She shouts as it all catches up with her.
"There's the Rebekah I know." I laugh.
"I'll kill them." She seethes. "Rip their hearts from their chest. How dare they play me and think they can get away with that."
"All you have to do is go along with it. Go to homecoming like you wanted, have this experience tonight and we'll get revenge later. I need you to be my ears as I haven't spoken a word to them in a few days I have no idea what is going on." I tell her, "Don't trust them for a moment, Bekah. They'll stab you in the back as soon as they have an inkling that you could be a threat to their plan."
"Thank you, Olivia. You've been a breath of fresh air for my family, our family. I couldn't be more happy that you'll be around for eternity." She smiles at me, before schooling her expression. "Now take me back to the boarding house, I need to get ready for this dance."
"Yes Ma'am, whatever you say." I say sarcastically.
Walking out into the hall, "Jenna? Can I borrow those silver pumps?"
She pokes her head out from her room, smiling at my dress, "Yeah, come on in."
Pausing at the door, "Is Kyle decent? I know he's good looking but there is only so much of him that I actually need to see."
Laughing loudly he yells, "I'm decent enough. All the naughty bits are covered."
"You look worried." Jenna points out as she hands me the shoes.
"I am. I haven't heard from Bekah since I dropped her off at the boarding house." I tell them as I slip the shoes on, "After all the shit that's gone down, I can't help but think they've done something and I have zero time to go and see if they did. Nik's already called twice to make sure I'm not late."
"You really think she would let her guard down with them" Kyle asked me.
Shrugging, "Yes. She's vulnerable right now. She may be an original vampire, but she's still just a seventeen-year-old girl. I'll have to deal with that tomorrow, tonight is all about making sure Mikael dies."
"And you're certain you don't want me to come with you tonight?" Kyle asks, double-checking.
"I'll have the utterly annoying but more immortal than I am hybrid with me, I'll be perfectly fine." I tell him smiling, "Besides, how often will you get this house to yourselves?"
"Touché." He laughs, "Call me if anything goes wrong and I'll be there within minutes."
"I promise." I smile walking out of the room.
"Remember to try and have some fun! And be careful!" Jenna yells down the stairs at me.
"There you are love." Nik smiles at me as I walk into the Lockwood house.
"Commandeering Tyler's house?" I ask slightly confused as I watch dozens of people setting up for a party.
"I've spent years planning my fathers wake, this wasn't how I intended it to happen but this is how it will. Besides, a homecoming dance with booze sounds so much better, don't you think?" He asks me with a smirk.
"Almost anything is better with alcohol." I laugh, "Have you heard from Rebekah?"
Frowning at me, "She hasn't been answering my calls. I assumed she would arrive with you."
Shaking my head, "I dropped her off at the Salvatore's after we had a little chat about why she lied to you. Told her to let me know if they come up with any other brilliant ideas but she never called."
"Rebekah is fickle, I'm sure she's fine." Nik says as he guides me towards the backyard, "Speaking of why she lied to me, what did she tell you."
"She knows that you killed your mother, that you've lied to her for the last thousand years. Understandably, she was a bit upset about it." I tell him. "I convinced her to realize that even though she was upset and definitely wanted to rip your heart from your chest, that she didn't want you dead. She seemed to become rational after the talk and went right back to being her lovely, bitchy, demanding self."
Making a sound between a growl and a sigh, "This damn town…I'd burn it all to the ground if I wasn't so fond of it. After tonight we'll make sure that she's safe and unharmed."
"What exactly do you need me to do here?" I ask him as I notice people from school filing into the backyard.
"You're my backup love. If anything should go wrong, or one of the infuriating Salvatore boys gets in the way, then you'll be there to make sure they don't succeed." He tells me as he hands me a bottle of beer. "Blend for now, play the part of inebriated high school student."
"The day that the Salvatore boys actually succeed completely in any plan they create will be the day the world ends." I laugh. "I'll be listening, give me a shout if you need my assistance."
"I shouldn't be surprised to see that you're here." I hear Stefan say from beside me.
"It's the homecoming dance, Stefan. You've been in this town long enough to know that we take our dances quite seriously." I say turning towards him, "I have to say, I'm surprised that you are here."
"Klaus' orders." He shrugs simply.
"I'm sure." I muse. "Well, why don't we go and find him then. I'm sure that he's around here somewhere after that lovely little speech he made earlier."
"No need sweetheart," Nik's voice cuts in from behind us. "Hello Stefan."
"Quite the homecoming." Stefan comments.
"I've been planning my father's funeral for a thousand years. Granted, in no version of it were any of these people invited, but you get the idea." He smirks as he takes my arm and starts walking us through the sea of people.
"So what now? You just stop running?" Stefan asks him.
"No I reunite my family." He says simply, looking down at me with a small smile.
"Your family. You mean the people you cart around in caskets?" Stefan scoffs at him stopping.
"None of that matters anymore." Nik tells him with finality. "Mikael's gone. Bygones will be bygones."
Deciding to speak up, "The homecoming queen is still alive and well, so I'm assuming Rebekah isn't here yet. You wouldn't happen to know where she is, would you Stefan?"
"I have no idea. I thought she was coming with Matt." He answers looking at me with slight annoyance.
"Oh, be honest now, Stefan. Where's my sister?" Nik asks him again.
"I said I have no idea." Stefan shakes his head. "Now would you like me to take you to your father?"
Smirking at him, "Well, it wouldn't be a party without the guest of honor, would it?"
"Bring him here." I chime in cutting Nik off, "It would be a shame to miss out on such a great evening even for a minute."
"Yes, Stefan, bring him to me." Nik says looking him in the eye with a smirk.
"All right." Stefan says looking down before he shakes his head. "Perhaps there's something in it for me? My freedom from your compulsion."
"Oh, you want your freedom?" Nik taunts, "Well once he's dead and his weapon is destroyed, you'll have your freedom. It'll be my pleasure to give it back to you."
Watching him walk away I turn to Nik, "I believe you just put a slight kink in their plan."
"I want you to go somewhere for me." He tells me abruptly.
"Where?" I ask him confused, "I thought you needed me here."
"I need you to guard the family. Or more so, just wait there for me. I don't trust them." He mutters to me.
My heart leaps at the thought of being near Kol, "Where are they?"
Sitting on top of Kol's coffin, I nearly fall off it as my phone rings, startling me.
"Finally, Nik! It's been an hour." I yell at him annoyed.
"I apologize for that, love. It's over now. Mikael's dead, Stefan has his freedom and tomorrow morning we'll reunite the family." He tells me softly, his voice full of emotion.
"Why can't I just take the dagger out of Kol now?" I ask longingly.
"Tomorrow. They should be able to wake up in a home, not the back of a truck." He comments.
"Fine, fine. I'm going home now, I'll meet you here in the morning." I tell him hanging up.
Slipping off the coffin, I place my hand on it "Tomorrow Kol…we can start our forever tomorrow and I'll never leave your side. I'll admit since you can't hear me, I'm terrified. It's the most surreal feeling to know that this is the moment I've waited for and now that it's here I can't help but feel a tad insecure. I know that's ridiculous and I'm sure if you were able to respond to me that you would tell me as such. I already feel so deeply for you…and I haven't truly met you yet. The dreams have helped, but tomorrow…to be able to hold you in my arms is the moment I've waited for."
"Touching." I hear behind me.
Turning around with a small yell, "Stefan?!"
As he walks closer to me, I realize that I quite literally have nowhere else to move to. Trapped in the corner, "What are you doing here?"
"I am sorry about this." He tells me, and before I can utter out a word I feel his hands on my neck.
A/N:
I can not even tell you how many times I have written and deleted this chapter before settling on this. The last two months have been incredibly hectic for me as it usually is during the holiday season. I make no promises about when the next chapter will be up, but I am so incredibly grateful that you have all stuck by me throughout this story so far. So thank you for all the lovely comments on the last chapter, and thank you to all the new readers out there who have proven to me that this story is worth continuing even if it is taking me longer than anticipated. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!