A/N: This is quite a long chapter, granted as it's been almost 2 months since I last updated. Enjoy!
Chapter 25: As I Lay Dying
Mystic Falls Cemetery
It amazed me how hard it was to live in Mystic Falls nowadays. Not when everyone's life was in danger because your friend decided to cross the Big Bad Hybrid. I had lost many people in my life now that grief didn't bother me anymore. I could simply ignore the hole in my chest without even turning my humanity switch off. When did my life, our lives changed so much?
When I was human, the only problem was my crush not liking me back. And Elena borrowing my clothes without my permission and kept it in her closet. The only nuisance in my life back then was Dad nagging at me for coming home late. Not to forget Mum chastising me for not being the good girl like Elena was. But there was no scheming and plotting against the Hybrid Master. But now we were just waiting for the axe to fall. And I supposed it'd already fallen.
I glanced at my tombstone and snorted. At least I already have my grave. They just need to dig it again and buried me there. I leaned back against my father's tombstone, missing him very much. All that I need now was for him to stroke my hair and tell me everything will be okay. I closed my eyes when I felt the hot tears welling in my eyes, and wiped them angrily when the tears fell. Then I heard footsteps approaching me, before I felt his presence. I gritted my teeth as I calm myself, growing annoyed at the intruder.
"Are you here to gloat?" I asked him snidely, although it didn't come out as malicious as I wanted it to be because of my condition.
"Not happy to see me, love?" Klaus's British accented voice washed over me and I clenched my jaw even tighter. I really hate that British accent when it was mocking me.
"I'm dying here and you won't leave me at peace?" I asked him and he smirked.
"Well, I'm here to wait for Stefan giving back what's mine," he said, the smile on his lips didn't falter.
"Well, do it somewhere else," I hissed and groaned in pain.
"Tell me love, has the hallucination begun?" he asked with a devilish smirk and I glared at him in hatred, cursing the Original Hybrid under my breath.
32 Hours Earlier – Mystic Grill
"You are feisty when you are mad," I heard Damon said to Elena and rolled my eyes.
"It's not that I'm mad. I'm just…I'm worried," Elena said.
"But why? He lost his job at the Grill. He can survive, Elena," Damon said and I frowned. I would have gone there if I wasn't still mad at Damon about Homecoming.
"He is spiraling. Ever since Bonnie broke up with him, he is moody, he is not really talking to anyone," Elena said worriedly. The glass on my hand shattered as I felt my blood boiled hearing her whines.
"Sorry about that," I smiled charmingly at the waiter who was nearby, looking at me in shock. I walked over to them and Damon gave me a look from afar.
"It's typical teenager," Damon said to Elena before tilting his head toward me and Elena turned around.
"Nessa," she said, a little surprised. "Are…are you okay?" she stammered and I gave her a smile that I'd learned from both Rebekah and Klaus, which was scarier than death glares.
"I couldn't help but overheard you two talking," I said lightly. "Jeremy is not talking to you, since you were spending your time with Damon, and trying to bring back no-humanity Stefan. Stop pretending to be worried about his life since we all know you just think about yourself. Stop looking out for him too. That's my job since you've abandoned him a long time ago," I said and ended it with a smile as if I was just talking about the weather. Damon pulled Elena back and stared down at me.
"You're mad at me, don't lash out at her," he said and I scrunched my nose at the smell of alcohol in his breath.
"Actually Damon, unlike her, my world doesn't revolve around you," I said with a sneer.
"Vanessa," Elena interrupted and I shot her a glare. "Where have you been?" she asked worriedly and I literally had to take a deep breath from lashing out at her.
"Mikael tried to kill you, I knew about it, and I didn't do anything to stop him, so…get over it," Damon drawled and I rolled my eyes.
"It disgusts me that you are more selfish than Klaus," I hissed, feeling the dark vein appearing underneath my eyes and my fangs lowered.
"Oh well, speak of the devil," Klaus said, appearing out of nowhere and announcing his presence. I turned around seeing him smiling gleefully, flashing his dimples. "Don't mind me," he said innocently.
"Klaus," Elena said nervously.
"You gonna do this in the Grill? In front of everyone? It's a little beneath you, don't you think?" Damon asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with a mate," Klaus said and I snorted. "Get a round in, would you Tony?" he said to a dark haired man, proving his point. Klaus broke into a winning smile when he saw Elena's face.
"I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour," Damon said.
"My sister seems to be missing. Need to sort that out," Klaus said dangerously, glaring at Damon.
"Cute, blonde bombshell, psycho. Shouldn't be too hard to find," Damon said, glancing at me pointedly and Klaus smiled, slightly amused.
"Excuse me?" I asked Damon and he smirked a little.
"I was describing your friend actually. But if the shoe fits, Cinderella," he said, quirking his eyebrows and I rolled my eyes.
"Truth is I've grown to rather like your little town. Think I might fancy a home here," Klaus said, taking the dart from Damon's hand. "Oh, I imagine you're wondering how does this is affect you. The answer is, not in the slightest. Unless I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves you can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word," Klaus said.
"And what else do you want?" I asked.
"Well for starters, you can tell me where I might find Stefan," he said and I turned to Damon. No one had seen Stefan since Homecoming.
"Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass," Damon sneered.
"Well you see that is a shame," Klaus said, his tone rose with an edge of danger. He turned around swiftly and threw the dart, hitting the bullseye. "Your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what's mine," he said dangerously.
"That sounds like a Klaus and Stefan problem," Elena said and Klaus took a step towards her but Damon stepped in between them and Klaus laughed a little.
"Well this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart," he said and smirked.
Mystic Falls Cemetery
"Stefan doesn't care about me. At least not anymore. He won't give your family back just to save me," I said.
"I know. Except that your sister cares. And I happen to know that she is very persuasive in getting what she wants," Klaus said. I just replied with a groan, feeling very sick in my stomach. At the same time I needed blood, my throat was aching for that sweet taste. But I'd seen what happened to Rose, she became rabid and I might kill someone.
"Why is your grave here?" Klaus asked out of nowhere, just noticing my tombstone. He squatted down, examining it.
"People get tombstones when they die," I said, rolling my eyes and he turned to look at me curiously, prompting me to talk. "May 29, 2009," I said with a sigh. "My parents, Elena and I were in a car, driving back home and I don't know what happened. But the car drove over the Wickery Bridge…" I said, shutting my eyes close. Was I hallucinating? Reliving the accident again? I could see everything played out all over again. The scream, the water, Stefan pulling us out…
"Stefan jumped in and saved us…but he wasn't strong enough. I asked him to leave me there, not out of selflessness. But because I was selfish. I couldn't imagine living a world without my parents…without my father. But just as I was about to die, I realized I didn't want to die. But it was too late," I said.
"You have to have vampire blood in your system to become a vampire," he stated and I nodded. It took me a while before I could continue.
"Katherine saved me and fed me her blood. She taught me how to be a vampire, how to survive, how to fight…and because she needed something from me. I was right. She asked me to go to Elijah, begging for her forgiveness and freedom as Cassandra," I said and scoffed. "Well, since I didn't know what truly happened, Elijah knew I was an imposter. Although he was fooled, for the first five minutes," I said, slightly laughing. "You should see the look on his face. I'd never seen someone with that much of hope."
"Love is vampire's greatest weakness," he said for the second time to me, and I smiled.
"Love makes you weak but only if you let it control you," I said.
"And yet you love him," he stated and I shrugged.
"Not anymore. I hope," I said. "Love is weakness, I agree. Look at where I am now," I added, looking up and holding his gaze.
28 Hours Earlier
"Hey, Jer," I greeted him as he entered the house.
"You're going somewhere?" he asked.
"Just out," I said.
"Just in time!" Elena shouted from the kitchen and I raised an eyebrow at Jeremy.
"For what?" I asked as we walked to the kitchen.
"We're cooking," Elena said and I looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"Sorry, just passing through," Jeremy said, heading to the fridge.
"Ah, well I thought we would all stay in, have a meal together like a typical, atypical family," Alaric said awkwardly.
"What's the occasion?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?" Jeremy asked.
"Maybe because you got fired and you didn't tell anyone," Elena said pointedly.
"He told me," I interjected.
"Yeah, I told Nessie. Look, can we do this later? I made plans with Tyler. He's right outside," Jeremy said.
"Oh wait! When did you start hanging out with Tyler Lockwood?" Alaric questioned.
"Didn't you guys hate each other?" I asked and Jeremy rolled his eyes at me.
"Does it matter?" he asked Alaric and me.
"Yeah, Jeremy! It matters. He was sired by Klaus. He's dangerous," Elena said and I rolled my eyes.
"He can still hear you. He is right outside. Besides you of all people are gonna lecture me on who I can and can't hang out with?" Jeremy asked snidely and I smiled a little.
"What did I tell you Elena? Stop trying to control his life!" I said and she glared at me.
"I found your shirt, Vanessa. And there's blood on them," she blurted out angrily and I scoffed.
"I'm a vampire, in case you forgot. Your ex-boyfriend is a vampire and you hang out with Damon. Caroline's a vampire too and Bonnie's a witch. So what if Jeremy's hanging out with a hybrid?" I asked.
"Like Vanessa said, stop trying to control my life," Jeremy said, backing me up and scoffed.
"What is with the attitude?" Elena asked angrily.
"Whatever, this is lame, Tyler's waiting," he said and turned his back to leave.
"No, no! You're not going anywhere. Especially not with Tyler," Elena said, blocking his path.
"I'm with her on this, Jer. Sorry," Alaric said when Jeremy looked at him for help.
"Well I'm with Jeremy. If it bothers you so much I can go with him. But it's not like he needs a babysitter," I snapped at Elena. Jeremy looked grateful but we both knew we need to bow down to Queen Elena. Nothing can make her change her mind. But that didn't mean we can't play a little. So I looked at Jeremy pointedly, and tilted my head to the door. Just push Elena out of your way and go, I thought. But apparently Jeremy had better plans.
"Alright, fine. You want me to stay in? Let's all stay in then," he said. "Yo, Tyler! Come on in!" he shouted before Elena can stop him. Tyler opened the door, and walked into our home, having been invited in. When Jeremy smirked at Elena, I couldn't help but smirked too. Is it bad that I felt proud of him?
"Hey," I said and Tyler offered me a smile while both Elena and Alaric looked displeased. "Did all of you forget how to treat a guest?" I asked, annoyed at everyone who just stood there dumbly. I pushed Tyler lightly to get him to walk as Jeremy fetched him water.
"Thanks," he said and I narrowed my eyes at Elena who was crossing her arms.
"This is weird. Klaus has hybrids stalking me and now you're just sitting in our kitchen," Elena said and I huffed.
"Maybe I should go," Tyler said getting up but I pushed his shoulder down with my vampire strength.
"No, you're staying for dinner," I said, smirking at Elena.
"Nessie, this is not the time," she said with a sigh and I grinned.
"Oh, it's always the time, sweetheart," I said. Whenever Elena and I got into a fight, I would deliberately do everything that she didn't want me to. Like this, for example. It was pretty childish, this little war had started since Elena learned how to annoy me, i.e. 6 years old.
"Stop it, both of you," Jeremy said and I scrunched my nose at him in distaste. He nodded at the seat across Tyler and I rolled my eyes before taking my seat.
"Sit, Elena. We're having that family dinner that you want us to have so much," I said sweetly and Elena's face reddened.
"Stop it," she said to me. "You sure you can stay?" she asked Tyler. "You don't have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master first?" she asked and Tyler laughed.
"It's not like that, Elena," he said lightly.
"Tell me Tyler, what's the difference between being sired and being compelled?" Alaric asked, sitting down as well.
"Compulsion, that's just a mind control, like hypnosis. And being sired is…it's like faith. You do something because you believe it's the right thing," Tyler explained.
"So you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing?" Elena asked with doubt.
"I don't serve him. Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that," he said. The way he said it, it certainly showed the sirebond. How he believed in Klaus and would do anything for him.
"So you're doing this…because you're grateful to him?" I asked and he shrugged.
"What if he asked you to jump off a bridge?" Alaric asked suddenly.
"He wouldn't! And even if he did I'd be fine. I'm a hybrid," Tyler said.
"Okay, so what if he asked you to rip your own heart out?" Elena asked.
"Again, he wouldn't," Tyler said.
"What if he did?" Elena asked.
"I don't know! Then I'd rip out my heart! You guys sound like Caroline, getting all freaked out over something you don't understand," he snapped, frustrated.
"You're right Tyler I don't understand. Klaus has terrorized every single one of us and you're just blindly loyal to him," Elena argued.
"You're overthinking it. I can still make my own decisions," Tyler said and I pursed my lips. Jeremy's phone rang, and he excused himself to get it.
"So that thing I told you to do," I heard a very familiar voice on the phone and found myself frowning.
"Vanessa," Tyler called me and I turned my attention to Tyler.
"How are you doing?" he asked and I looked at him weirdly.
"What? Why?" I asked and Jeremy returned back to his seat.
"What was that about?" Elena asked as I tried to recall the voice.
"It was nothing," Jeremy replied quickly. Tyler glanced at me nervously, before checking his watch.
"I got to go. Um, thanks for the food offer, but…" he trailed off, not really sure what to say.
"Next time," Alaric said and he nodded.
"V, can I talk to you for a second?" Tyler asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, I'll walk you out," I said, glad that I could leave the room. "Since when do you start hanging out with Jeremy anyway?" I asked as we walked to the door. I didn't hear his answer, but I did hear the sound of my neck being snapped.
6 Hours Later
"Vanessa?" Elena asked as she peeked through the door. "I need to talk to you."
"What?" I asked, putting away the photo album.
"What were you doing?" she asked me softly and I knew she was going to ask me to do something.
"Just going through old photos," I said, shrugging. "What do you need?"
"Why do you always do that?" she asked. "You act like I'm a nuisance."
"Maybe you are," I replied without thinking before biting my lip when I saw the hurt in her eyes. I sighed, tired. "I'm sorry, what do you need?"
"I…I want Jeremy out of Mystic Falls. Away from harm," she said.
"You want him to leave town? He won't just leave us to fend for ourselves!" I argued.
"I asked Damon to compel him. He told me to ask you first," she said.
"If Damon hadn't told you this, you wouldn't have asked me, would you? Gosh, I can't believe this! Jeremy has the right to make his own decisions, Elena," I said, almost growling. It always made me mad whenever Elena tried to be in charge, take control of our lives when she clearly had no right to do so. She's not our mother.
"I want him to be safe-"
"I thought we had that covered! We're giving Rebekah in exchange of Jeremy," I reminded her and she shook her head.
"Yes, but do you trust Klaus? And what makes you think there won't be any danger after this? Something will come up and it will start all over again," she tried to reason and I scoffed.
"Didn't you see this evening? Jeremy chopped off a hybrid's head!"
"And that's why he needs to leave! This isn't the life he needs to live. He's sixteen for god's sake!" she screamed back and I threw the photo album across the wall in anger. She jumped at my sudden outburst and I glared at her.
"I became a vampire when I was sixteen. I killed a man when I was sixteen. This wasn't the life I wanted and needed to live either but I had no choice. If you want Jeremy to leave town, the least you could do is let him decide. He has the right to make his own decision. And for the last time, Elena, stop trying to control our lives!" I was so angry to the point I was ready to rip her throat out. She was scared, I can see that in her eyes, but no matter how afraid she was of me, Elena will always do what she wants.
"If you do this," I said quietly, the black veins underneath my eyes disappearing and my fangs retracted as I calmed down. "You just proved yourself to be the controlling and selfish little bitch and know this, Elena. I don't want anything to do with her," I said, looking into her brown eyes that widened as she heard what I just said. I left the room fuming, feeling the need to kill someone.
4 Hours Earlier
"Son of a bitch," I groaned as I massaged my neck, coming back to the world of the living.
"You're awake," Jeremy said, glad. I frowned at Alaric's injured and…dead body.
"What happened to Ric?" I asked.
"One of Klaus's hybrids hit him," Elena said and the door opened.
"How is he?" Damon asked.
"He's dead, but he had his ring. Klaus's hybrid hit him. Now we just wait," Elena sighed.
"Jeremy, why aren't you wearing vervain? Where is your bracelet?" Damon asked and I looked at his empty wrist.
"I don't know," he muttered, not really sure.
"It was Tyler! It had to have been. That's why he was hanging out with you. To get you off the vervain," Elena said and glared at me.
"And where were you?" Damon asked, looking at me.
"I was dead," I snapped.
"You're lucky he didn't bite you, did he?" Damon asked and I shook his head.
"I'm not the target," I said.
"Not yet," he deadpanned. "Klaus is trying to send us a message. He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of his dead family members," Damon told us.
"Coffins?" Elena asked.
"Yep! So all we have to do is find four coffins and voila! No one else on your family's Christmas list needs to die," Damon said.
"Wait, that's your big plan? To steal back four dead Originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else we know?" Jeremy asked.
"You got better idea?" Damon raised his eyebrow.
"Yeah! Let's get the hell outta here! Pack our bags and go!" he shouted in frustration and I sighed.
"Jeremy, calm down," Elena said.
"No, no! I'm not gonna calm down, Elena! This happens every time, no matter what we do! Get on my case about school and work, who cares? None of us are gonna make it out of this town alive," he said and stormed out. I took my head in my hands before sighing.
"He said he wants his family back," Elena said suddenly and I looked up at her.
"No, no! I know what you're thinking. The answer is no!" Damon shot down the suggestion immediately.
"Wait, you want to give him Rebekah?" I asked, just to make sure that was what in her mind.
"If we give him Rebekah…" she trailed off.
"Yeah, then Klaus undaggers her, first thing she does is kill you! Frying pan, fire, not an option!" Damon said and I rolled my eyes.
"On the contrary, I think it's a great idea," I said and Damon gave me an exasperated look. "Hey, Klaus needs Elena alive to make more hybrids and he wouldn't take any chances of undaggering Rebekah if she's going to harm Elena," I explained and Damon groaned.
"Are you serious? Really?" he asked trying to change our minds.
"Klaus's coffins," Elena said out of nowhere. "How many did you say they were?"
Elena and Damon had gone over to find Bonnie and the coffins, while I headed out to find Jeremy. The last thing I need was for him to get himself killed when we already found a way to maybe save his life. I found Jeremy in the woods, confronting Tyler with a crossbow.
"It's Klaus, Tyler! What did you think was gonna happen?" Jeremy asked.
"He doesn't care about you. All he wants is to get his family back," Tyler argued and to my surprise, Jeremy actually pulled the trigger.
"What the hell?!" Tyler muttered in surprised as he caught the arrow.
"Whenever Klaus wants something, someone ends up dead! You think about that next time before you blindly do whatever he says," Jeremy spat out and turned to leave.
"Jer! You should get home. Stay inside. Klaus isn't gonna stop until he gets all those coffins back. He is not done with you," Tyler warned him and a growl escaped from my lips. I sneaked up behind him and snatched the arrow in his hand before plunging it into his back, stopping right before it pierced his heart.
"Vanessa!" Jeremy exclaimed in shock, his eyes were wide.
"Give your hybrid master a message; if he dares to harm Jeremy again, even if it's just a single hair from his head, I'll make damn sure he wouldn't see his family again! Starting with Rebekah," I hissed and twisted the arrow before pushing Tyler to the ground.
"Come on," I said to Jeremy sternly, grabbing his arm and dragged him back to the house. When we were out of the woods, Jeremy shrugged his arm off of me and I quirked an eyebrow.
"Don't do that ever again," he said to me.
"Do what?" I asked.
"You looked like you're about to kill him," he said.
"You're damn right. I'd kill him if he wasn't Caroline's boyfriend or ex-boyfriend in that matter," I said and shook my head. "That's not the point, the point is, you almost got killed, Jeremy. Do you realize that?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, okay? And I would-"
"No, listen. Going after Tyler? If Klaus wants him to kill you, he would have! I need you to be safe, stay away from danger, got it?" I asked him and he stared down at me.
"I can take care of myself," he said.
"The last time you died, I almost killed the Sheriff for shooting you. Do you know how much you mean to me?" I asked him quietly and heard his heartbeat raced down. He nodded quietly before taking my hand in his and squeezed it, assuring me that he was going nowhere.
"Who's that?" Jeremy asked, as we neared the house. There was a man at our doorway and I recognized his voice from the bar earlier, and he was taunting Elena and asking her to invite him in.
"Wait here," I said and was about to sneak up behind him but Jeremy grabbed my arm. "What?" I asked and there was something in his eyes, a determination.
"Wait here," he said before walking towards the house silently. He aimed the crossbow at the hybrid and pulled the trigger. I couldn't hide my surprise and watched dumbfounded as Jeremy entered the house calmingly.
"What happened?" I asked Elena. I kicked the hybrid leg, and seeing him motionless, I knew Jeremy had shot him right in the heart. When did my brother become such a badass?
"Alaric, he's-he's coughing blood. Something's wrong with the ring," she explained before turning to look at Jeremy approaching us. "What are you doing?" Elena asked but Jeremy didn't answer her, instead he chopped the hybrid's head off with a cleaver. Elena let out a small scream but I was too stunned to say anything.
"Now he's dead," he said and looked at me. "I told you I can take care of myself," he said before nodding to Alaric. "We've gotta get Alaric to the hospital now. Come on, I'm gonna need a hand," he said and I followed him quietly.
12 Hours Later
"Cheer up, Nessie. It's not like I'm going forever," Jeremy said, chuckling to himself while I seethed in anger. Jeremy seemed really excited about the new school in Denver as he packed while I just stood there.
"I know," I said. "Things will be different once you leave."
"For me or for you?"
"Both, but mostly me," I said. "Let's hope that both of your sisters are still here when you come back," I said.
"Well, don't tear each other's throat out," he remarked lightly and I just shook my head. By the time I reached school, my phone buzzed and I squinted at the unknown number.
"Hello?"
"So your friend Tyler just told me about your little threat," Klaus's voice greeted me and I rolled my eyes.
"It's not a threat, Klaus. Just a promise," I said calmly.
"Little Nessie, do remember who you are dealing with," he reminded me calmly, although I could hear a hint of amusement in his voice. I made a face at that nickname feeling annoyed at how Klaus always treated me like a child, given that he is a thousand years old, fine, I guess I would as well if I were him.
"Klaus, when it comes to family, you're not the only one who would do anything to protect them," I said.
"Elena had come to me. Promising to hand over Rebekah in exchange of your brother's life," he told me and I groaned. Jeremy is leaving town, what's the point of handing Rebekah over? This is why you keep Elena out from planning anything. She's just not that bright.
"I'll talk to my sister. In the meantime, don't kill or harm anyone that is related to me, understand?" I asked, before hanging up. I wasn't sure if I could talk to Elena without attacking her. I was pretty mad, no, like Hulk-rage, with her for still asking Damon to compel Jeremy out of the town. So eventually, her reason was that Jeremy wasn't leaving until two more days, and Klaus might do something while he was still in Mystic Falls.
After school, I waited for Klaus in the boarding house while sipping some scotch mixed with blood.
"You're early," I noted when I heard he let himself in. "Follow me," I said, leading him down to the basement.
"So you were lying at Homecoming?" he asked and I turned around, to look at him square in the eyes.
"About what?" I asked.
"About my sister," he said.
"I didn't know they were going to dagger her, but when I talked to you, yes, I lied," I said honestly.
"Give yourself a pat in the back then. I was convinced," he said and I narrowed my eyes at him, as I heard no sarcasm in his voice at all.
"You're not going to harm anyone, got it?" I asked as we stopped in front of the cellar.
"The deal is my sister in exchange of your brother's life," Klaus said and I shook my head.
"That's the deal you did with my sister. You're dealing with me now," I said firmly and Klaus stared at me for a moment , before his lips curled into a smile.
"I won't harm your brother and that guy-"
"Alaric," I added and he nodded. "Caroline, the Bennet witch, or Damon, anyone else?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Matt, our human friend, and Tyler. I want you to leave him out in this," I said.
"Alright then love," he said.
"Give me you word," I said.
"Yes, sweetheart. I gave you my word," he said patiently, his eyes bored into mine and I smiled at him.
"Alright then," I said, opening the cellar. I looked in pity at Rebekah's daggered body, still wearing the red dress that I chose for her. Klaus clicked his tongue in a mocking way, seeing his sister's body.
"My poor sister, I can't turn my back on her for a moment," Klaus said and I rolled my eyes.
"If you undagger her, she'll come after Elena," I reminded him and he gave me a smile.
"Don't worry, love," he said, before turning to me. I saw the glint in his blue eyes, and realized he was up to something. I thought back of my words in panic, knowing there was no way he would twist it. "I'm sorry love," he said and my heart skipped a beat, seeing the danger in front of me.
"You gave me your word!" I hissed, knowing he was about to break the deal, or maybe not.
"I did, and I would keep it. But you forget to add someone in that list," he said and I frowned, thinking. "You," he said with a smirk and a gasp escaped my lips when he pushed me against the wall, entrapping me. "No hard feelings love, it's nothing personal."
"Klaus, no," I pleaded helplessly, trying to push him away.
"I happen to like you love," he hissed dangerously, tugging my hair none too gently causing my head to tilt far back. "So I'm going to be a little kinder," he said and I saw his eyes glowed amber, the dark veins underneath his eyes appeared and his fangs lowered. I remembered the first time he bit me, his eyes were those charming blue eyes and it was harmless. In fact it was quite pleasant but not this time.
"The difference between a werewolf bite and a hybrid bite, is that the latter is quite fast in doing the deed," he said and I cried out in pain when I felt his fangs pierced my neck. I didn't struggle, knowing it can worsen and might deepen the bite. His fangs retracted and I shuddered when his tongue swiped the wound, feeling it healed. But it'll get worse in a few hours or maybe earlier.
"I want my coffin back," he said, wiping my blood with his thumb. I just stood there, glaring at him as he scooped Rebekah into his arms. He nodded at my neck, and smirked. "Tick tock, love."
2 Hours Later
I breathed heavily as I threw the empty blood bag, looking around me at hundreds others lying around, all empty. I needed fresh blood. But I knew I would kill someone. Rose did. Call me sick and twisted but if I kill someone by my own choice, I wouldn't be too guilty. But if I killed someone by accident, then it would haunt me forever. My conscience was disappearing, taken over by this uncontrollable bloodlust.
It was hard, you see. Fighting someone that was inside your head. The sky was getting dark and I need to see Jeremy one last time if I was actually going to die. That might not be a great idea, I argued with myself.
"Bonnie?" I asked, just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
"Vanessa," she said, surprised. I swiped my hair to my left side, covering the bite.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling my heart raced as I heard Bonnie's steady heartbeat.
"I need to talk to Jeremy. Or you," she said. "Can you talk to Elena? Change her mind, please. You know it's wrong. Jeremy has the right to decide for himself," Bonnie said desperately and I nodded.
"I know. That's what I said. But now that I think of it, it's the best way to keep him safe," I said.
"Not you too," Bonnie groaned and I steadied my breathing.
"Better him gone for a while than dead forever, Bonnie. You brought him back from dead once, but you're not going to do it again and again," I hissed. "I need Jeremy to stay away from everything, I need him to be okay," I said.
"Are you okay?" Bonnie asked and I shook my head.
"I'm fine," I said hastily.
"You don't look fine," she frowned and neared me.
"No, don't come near me," I said, swallowing the urge to tear her throat out before it resurfaced again. Bonnie yelped when I lunged at her, fangs out but she held up her hand and I felt like my head exploding.
"What are you doing?" she asked in panic, before stopping the pain. "Oh my god," she gasped, approaching me. She pushed away the hair and examined the bite.
"Did Klaus do this?" she asked.
"You understand why I want Jeremy to go, do you? He lost too much, he can't lose his sister too," I said and groaned. My eyes widened when I realized something.
"You know where the coffins are," I stated. "Tell me," I said, my eyes were frantic. "Klaus will only heal me if he gets his coffins back. Tell me!" I hissed at her, and she disabled me with her power, making me curled to the ground.
"I'll get help, you're not going to die," she promised or at least that was what I heard before she left.
Mystic Falls Cemetery
"You don't look so good, love," Klaus commented and I ignored him. I needed to save my energy.
"You're not going to let me die," I said after a long silence and felt Klaus turned to look at me. I was too weak to look back at him, but it didn't matter. "You didn't save me from Mikael to kill me yourself," I said.
"That was under a different circumstance. I wouldn't be so sure right now," he said and I chuckled, although it turned into a coughing fit. I felt that thick liquid in my throat and retched, feeling lightheaded. I hate this feeling of being weak. I felt a large hand stroking my back, and someone pulled my hair out of the way as I threw up the thick and black blood. I thought it was Klaus, finding it absurd that he would even be this kind-
"Vanessa," that voice that I hadn't heard for such a long time said.
"Elijah," I smiled, feeling contented. I shut my eyes, knowing it was just a hallucination and cleared my head. But he was still there, talking about something. But I was too weak to listen to what he had to say, so I just sat there, looking at him. Then he brought his large hand to caress my face softly and I found myself smiling.
"I miss you," I said softly and he looked at me with his warm and gentle brown eyes.
"Everything's going to be alright, my dear," he said, stroking my hair gently. He brought my head to his lips and I closed my eyes as he kissed my forehead, feeling loved and cared for.
"Did you actually think that was real?" A snide voice that was so similar to me said and I looked up. I came face to face with my doppelganger that I thought was actually my reflection. Or maybe it was actually my conscience. "He doesn't love you. If you think that he did, even for just a measly second, then you're a foolish little girl," she continued maliciously and I seethed in anger, glaring at her.
"At least I'm not rotten to the core like you are," I hissed and screamed when she plunged her hand inside my chest, grasping my heart tightly.
"At least Elijah actually did love me. Unlike you, silly girl," she said and I screamed again, when she twisted my heart. I could feel the tears escaping my eyes, and it became too agonizing. "Let me do you a favour and rip your heart out," she said and laughed, the kind of evil laugh that gave me nightmares when I was a child.
"Shh, shh, it's just a hallucination. It's not real," I heard someone said and I cried out again. Why did it feel so real then?
"Here," I heard Klaus's voice said and opened my eyes slowly. My eyelids were too heavy but as I opened them, I saw Klaus holding out his bleeding wrist, offering me a cure. Then I laughed.
"Why?" I asked him, my voice becoming raspy.
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"Yes, in fact it is. You wanted me to die, and now you wanted to heal me," I said.
"I didn't want you to die. Now, take it," he said patiently.
"So that I can owe you my life? So that what you did to me will all be forgiven?" I hissed and he shut his eyes closed, almost in annoyance.
"You don't have much time, sweetheart. Unless you want to die, go ahead, do as you wish," he said and I glared at him. What games was he playing? "I'm sorry for what I did to you but you above everyone else know that I will do anything to get my family back," Klaus said.
"Then why not just let me die? That will certainly give them a message. I've grown tired of this anyway," I said, and coughed out blood.
"For what it's worth, Vanessa, I've grown rather fond of you," he said and I looked at him, wondering if I was hallucinating. "You were too young to be taken away as human. And even right now you're still too young to die as a vampire. Mark my words, sweetheart. There's a whole world out of this little town, waiting for you. You don't want to die now," he said.
"Sometimes it gets to tiring," I confessed. "My world is falling apart. Jeremy's leaving town, and I can barely call Elena my sister. My parents are dead, Jenna is dead. I'm all alone," I said and take a sharp intake of breath. It was getting harder to breathe.
"If there's anything that I've learned about you, sweetheart, it's that you're a fighter and a survivor. And you always cheat deaths, countless of times, I may say," he said, chuckling lightly.
"Why stop now right?" I asked and coughed again, before taking Klaus's wrist. He nodded and I lowered my fangs, before breaking his skin. His blood was rejuvenating, and I felt the change in my body and energy, feeling alive.
"Thanks," I said awkwardly and he laughed.
"Don't mention it," he said and his phone rang. "Stefan, how nice to hear your voice," Klaus said, delightfully.
"Tell your hybrids to get out of town, Klaus," Stefan said, sounding a little bored.
"Well that's not gonna happen until I get my coffins back," Klaus answered calmly.
"Okay, well then I'm gonna drive your blood source off Wickery Bridge," Stefan said and I shot up.
"What? Stefan!" I exclaimed in shock and Klaus held up his hand at me, and I can see he was fuming.
"I don't believe you, Stefan. You won't kill her," Klaus said. Then there was a little bit of chaos over the phone and I heard Elena choking and gasping.
"No! No! No! What are you doing?" Elena protested.
"What's going on?" Klaus asked, growing concerned.
"I just fed her my blood. No more hybrids if she's a vampire." My blood turned cold as I heard Stefan said that.
"You won't do it," Klaus said slightly worried.
"Really? Try me! Because your coffins are next to go. Say goodbye to your family Klaus," Stefan said snidely and I can hear the car being accelerated.
"Stefan! Stop!" I yelled. "Klaus, please!" I begged, looking at him in terror.
"Fine, I'll send them away. You win," Klaus said.
"Stefan! Stefan, stop!" Elena continued screaming.
"Stefan!" I shouted angrily, out of anger and out of anxiety.
"Stop the car, Stefan!" Klaus said through his gritted teeth and we heard the tyres screeched into a halt. Klaus hung up angrily and I fell to my knees, burying my face in my hands. Everything was so vivid suddenly. I wasn't sure if it was from me hallucinating, but I was all healed up now. Elena's screams brought me back to the night of the accident, and I had to take a couple of deep breaths before I can finally compose myself.
Klaus was long gone, but I appreciate the solitude. Sometimes, all you need was to be alone for a while.
TEAM ELIJAH OR TEAM KOL? Next chapter, the youngest male Original vampire is brought back from dead!