Hi Everyone! I'm proud of this chapter- I worked really hard on it! A couple of my closest friends have turned on me because I chose family obligations over them, and so it has been a rough couple of days. It's okay though- a positive is that I was able to channel a lot of those feelings into this chapter!
Review please? It will make me smile!
At first, there's no pain.
Elena feels as if she is floating in utter solitude, surrounded by a veil of foreboding darkness. She feels frantic hands shaking her body. Elijah? Stop! Elena tries to move her lips but her mouth refuses to work.
She feels completely at peace, like everything is right. But for her heart to feel so content, so warm, she would have to be with Kol. In this dream, or whatever it is, Elena tries to move and look around in vain. Absolute darkness. Yet- she feels his presence. Her heart knows he's here, even if her mind refuses to believe it.
Elijah holds Elena firmly. He is strangely mesmerized by the tranquil slumber she has evidently fallen into. He whips around quickly, but then feels foolish.
For a second, he thinks he senses Kol. But that would be ridiculous.
Rebekah gasps in horror. Elena suddenly contorts in evident pain, shaking and crying. She's thrashing around, trying to get to something. Or to someone.
For Elena, it all ends as quickly as it starts. Instead of bliss, she is thrown into a state of pain and confusion.
It hits her. She's feeling his pain. She attempts to look around, thrashing against the worried arms trying to secure her.
Fear, anger, rage, bitterness, regret, passion…Elena feels
"Oh my god, Elena!" Caroline shrieks, trying to revive her best friend. "Is she having a seizure? What do we do? Elijah snap out of it!" Caroline looks around angrily, wondering why no one else seems to be concerned.
Rebekah too, briefly panics.
Klaus says what Elijah has already realized.
"Would everyone please calm down? If you all used your supernatural abilities, you would find her heartbeat is absolutely normal, and there is not one supernatural being anywhere near this vehicle. Which can only mean that something is happening to her mentally."
"Well forgive me, Nik! Do I look like a doctor?" Rebekah snaps, and shares a knowing look with Caroline.
"Either she's dreaming, or something supernatural is happening within her." Elijah meets Klaus' eyes in through the rearview mirror, privately projecting his own thoughts.
"But she's not a witch." Caroline throws her hands in the air, feeling exasperated.
Klaus softens his voice, not wanting to upset Caroline anymore. "No Caroline, she's not. However, she is the doppelganger; a supernatural being. And we've only just begun to reach the tip of the iceberg as to what exactly that means." He has his suspicions, but he's been alive long enough to know to keep his mouth shut.
Klaus continues driving steadily, wondering. How much pain is Kol in?
Elena moans, feeling suffocated by the arms and the worried looks surrounding her. Kol. She looks all around the car, subconsciously massaging right above her heart where there is now a reoccurring sharp pain.
Caroline holds both of Elena's hands in her own. "Elena, do you remember what we're doing?"
Klaus is tempted to roll his eyes at Caroline's dramatics, but Elijah warns him with a look. Klaus decides to listen to his older brother.
"Of course I remember," Kol breathes in the scent of her hair, laughing lightly. "I just can't believe that's the day," he shakes his head, smiling.
"What?" Elena tries to pull away, feeling embarrassed but he only tightens his hold. "You think it's funny."
"I don't find the day you decided to fall in love with me funny, Elena." He speaks quietly, remembering the day.
Elena smirks. "Oh please, I never had a choice with you. I didn't decide. It just hit me… and I knew, and that's what makes love so special You can't control love." She quickly throws the sheet over her face, knowing that she's only boosting his insatiable ego.
"I honestly doubted we'd ever see you again, after that night. You, Elijah, or even Finn for that matter. And after that kind of betrayal, I couldn't blame you." Her eyes grow distant at the thought of never seeing him again. "But then, in Denver all of sudden you appear out of nowhere."
He can't let it go. "So what was it? My leather jacket…my batting skills?" He winks at her as she peeks from underneath the sheet.
Elena huffs. "Your batting skills nearly killed Damon! He was just trying to protect me," she pokes him in the chest, trying to get her point across. "I'm pretty sure Jeremy about died when he realized who his new friend was!" She can't help but smile.
"I'm never leaving again. Well, I'm sure I'll leave but I'll never leave with you, and Jeremy was able to get over it. Look at us now…we're practically good friends," Kol insists.
"I'm glad. He needs them. You did make me so mad that day. But still, under all of the anger I loved you. You made me feel smart and strong and safe, and not like a liability. Like an equal."
He rolls over on top of her, simultaneously pinning her hands above her head, giving her a cocky grin. "And I assume I'm still doing the same?"
"I wouldn't be in this bed if not," she tells him seriously.
She takes advantage of his momentary silence to slip her legs around his waist and crush their bodies together.
"That's not fair Elena," he warns, already looking distracted, "I only have so much restraint around you."
"Isn't that why you got these walls soundproofed?" Elena grins and bits her lip.
"That's exactly right Miss Elena," he slips his hands around her waist, and whispers in her ear, "Why don't we test it out?"
"Elena, did you see anything?" Klaus asks with an even tone, knowing that his brother has always been a fighter. Klaus taught him how to be one, even though his methods were a bit twisted at times. But it's kept them alive. And in Klaus' eyes, that's what counts.
Elena shakes her head, but then hesitates, not wanting to sound stupid. "I saw flashes, briefly."
Klaus presses on, "Anything that could tell us more about his condition?"
"Well that's the thing," Elena fiddles with her hands, "They were memories. But even stranger- " She pauses, feeling foolish.
"It's okay, Elena, we felt it too. Like he was here." Elijah says gently, recognizing her insecurity and frustration. "I don't understand how you were able to feel that, I've never heard of it."
"Faster Nik!" Rebekah hisses, not bothering to pretend. If anything, she's more worried than ever. Her brother, her partner in crime in serious trouble.
"Oh I apologize, Rebekah, let me just push it too far, and when the whole thing breaks and we have to run, God forbid you get a leaf stuck in your hair, then we'll see how that feels." Klaus know he's only making the argument escalate, but it gives him the perfect opportunity to release the anger he's been holding onto for the entire ride.
Normally, Elena would find these arguments between the siblings humorous. But without Kol, they just seem to drain her emotionally. For the next hour, Elena sits, reminiscing on the happy times, and even the bad times. At least they were together. When Elijah offers his shoulder, Elena accepts. Though she has no romantic feelings for Elijah, he does have an uncanny resemblance to Kol, which is why she moves in closer.
An hour later, Elena can tell that Klaus is slowing down. She gulps, expecting a brutal confrontation any moment. Klaus shifts in his seat to where he can see everyone, "We're on foot from here." He offers no other pieces of information.
Elena nudges Caroline, who has fallen asleep. But Elena knows better. Vampire don't fall asleep, they to choose to sleep. They choose to sleep when they want to escape. Elena understands. Though Klaus has the best chances out of the whole group, Caroline loves him, and no matter the odds, she worries about what might happen.
Caroline jolts awake, looking disoriented. She squints. "That light is so bright," she complains while sliding on her jacket.
Elena glances around, only noting the couple of small lights in the interior of the car. She finds this odd, but with all of the stress that Caroline is under, Elena doesn't comment on it. She slips out of the car, waiting for Caroline to follow.
She hears Caroline moving around, and right as Elena turns, Caroline falls forward. "Caroline!"
Before Elena has time to attempt to hold Caroline up, Klaus has jolted to them, and puts one lean arm around Caroline's waist and pulls her to him, to the side.
"I'm fine, really," Caroline does not attempt to disentangle from Klaus. "I just slipped…" Everyone knows she's lying- vampire don't just slip.
Caroline reluctantly meets Klaus' gaze, silently conveying her fear. "It hurts," she admits, pointing to her chest, shifting nervously, "Just like Elena. Only, I didn't black out."
Typical Klaus, a vision of confidence and strength, he refuses to let her know that his mind is racing a thousand miles, spinning to try and understand what is happening. On the outside, he gives her a half smile and holds her close. "Be careful," he warns, though he makes no attempt to hide how much he loves her. "The safest place for both of you is to stay with us, at least until we get Kol and understand what exactly is happening."
Klaus turns to Elena. He tries to find the right words, but that is really Elijah's specialty, not his. Klaus is known for his mix of charm and bluntness, not comfort. "My mother is brutal, Elena. I know you felt Kol's pain, but when you see him, I imagine it's going to be hard," he confesses, "I need to know you can be objective and get through this, I don't want any liabilities." That's more like Klaus, always having to cover up any affection with rationalizing, but he does have a point.
"I'm ready," Elena insists, accepting Elijah's arm should another attack hit her. "I'm focused. I want him back." Elena keeps her voice strong and steady, but Klaus sees through it. She's miserable.
Klaus and Caroline take the lead. Klaus refuses to allow Caroline anywhere but his side. Rebekah tags along, and Elena sees that the Originals have strategically placed themselves around herself and Caroline, protecting them. She trails behind with Elijah. "Do you know this place?" To Elena, it's a dark piece of land keeping her soul mate trapped, but to Elijah, it's obviously something more.
Elijah smiles ruefully. "It's one of my brother Finn's estates. Quite fitting, considering his death wish."
Elena looks at him sympathetically, and doesn't want him to think she doubts him, but has to ask. "Do you," he looks at her expectantly, "have a plan?"
His voice comes out lightly. "We're just going to talk to them Elena, Mother can be reasonable." But at the same time, he ever so slightly nods his head up and down, silently telling her yes. She's not sure she wants to know.
They walk in silence, steadfastly approaching several elegant, but dark, structures. Elena scowls. Not again! Her head pounds and her expression changes into a grimace full of pain. At the same time, Elena and Caroline clutch their heads and gasp at the odd sensation of pain hitting them. Even Klaus, for some reason, stops, examining himself, feeling the same type of feeling when his siblings were all simultaneously daggered.
Klaus pushes Caroline's hair from her face, "Are you okay?" He's focusing on their surroundings, in full predator mode.
"Yeah," Caroline breathes, "I just- Are you okay? I can't explain it, I just felt like you were hurting. It scared me."
Klaus narrows his eyes, "Someone was trying to attack me. It was like with the daggers, it didn't hurt, but I knew I was being attacked."
Elijah hisses. "Typical mother. She can't attack all of us without using a substantial amount of power, and right now she wants to conserve it. She's going after the next best thing. The women we love."
Klaus speaks slowly. "So somewhere out there, Katerina probably thinks she's dying?" Klaus knows this is dangerous territory, but he can't resist.
Elijah speeds up, so that the two brothers are face to face, ready for a confrontation.
"Boys!" Rebekah scolds, giving the other two women apologetic looks. "Bigger picture here, please!"
Klaus reluctantly turns away. A small, but satisfied smirk appears on his face, but quickly disappears as they near one of the giant stone houses. They're here.
From the looks the three siblings are giving one another, Elena realizes that they are silently communicating. Although she desperately wants to pester them until they tell her something, for Kol she stays quiet.
They approach the heavy wrought iron door. Klaus pauses, and turns to Caroline. "I'm not asking you to leave, but I want both of you to wait out here, for the beginning. This could get nasty and I need everyone focused," he looks reluctant. "If we're held up…take Elena and run. Okay?"
Elena turns and lets them have a moment of privacy. Hang on Kol. Please.
Klaus busts down the door and enters, Elijah and Rebekah stationed on either side.
"Mother! Oh don't be a coward, let's have a little chat, you and I, I believe we have some unfinished business," Klaus goads, peering around, searching for Kol. He ventures into the next room, already knowing that his mother and Finn await, surrounded by a ring of contained fire.
Caroline listens closely, grateful for her superhuman hearing. "We're going in, now," she tells Elena, " Try to be as quiet as you can."
Back inside, Klaus walks into the stifling hot room. "I was beginning to think you all had reverted back to your old ways, stuffing one another in coffins," Esther looks at him condescendingly. Finn stands protectively at her right side, fully prepared for his death.
Klaus sees Kol, chained and surrounded with magic in the corner, in clothes torn and blood spatters all over the floor. Good. Klaus thinks, he never did know how to give up a fight. He's weak though, and Klaus can sense this. But he's still capable. Silently, the Originals work together to block out Finn, and instead communicate with one another.
Klaus saves the small talk and tells Kol what he needs to know.
To Esther, it's just another standoff.
Finn, on the other hand, tenses, waiting for something to happen.
Elena- Kol can't help but ask, panting in frustration.
Here. Safe. Elijah answers back quickly, wanting to maintain the advantage of surprise.
Elijah, Kol, Klaus, and Rebekah gaze at one another. They're ready. They start. The only sound heard is the fire cackling, the steady concentration of the siblings, and the oblivious looks of their mother and wayward brother.
Klaus knows he's having them attempt something in unchartered territory, but he also knows his brother is worth it.
To Be Continued!
Please review- What do you think the Sibling's plan is? Leave a comment!