Here is Chapter 4! We finally get a look at Alanna and find out which Original started the Salvatore's bloodline. After this chapter they will all be returning home and we will be moving towards actions scenes and relationship development. Alanna will also be in Mystic Falls so no worries, we aren't done learning from her yet.
I hope to have more done by tonight! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! :)
- Kristen
She looked at me intently. What do I ask first? She doesn't even know me and I'm about to ask every detail of her life I can…But I needed to know. "Who turned you?"
"That's a pretty personal question considering we're still just acquaintances. I think we should at least know a little about one another before sharing such dramatic details. Don't you?" She responded to me lightly, a small smile on her lips. She wasn't going to give up the important stuff too early.
If I couldn't ask the good question, fine, but I wasn't going to stray too far off topic, "How do you know the Originals?"
"She really does get straight to the point doesn't she?" She sighed looking at Damon, who just smiled. "I was the first vampire they ever made. I got caught between the originals feuds and got myself killed. Yep that's me, the eternal wedge. There are two things about Klaus that never change; his ridiculous self-righteous preaching and his horrible temper which leads him to kill out of anger. Which evidently are the exact ingredients that led to my humanity meeting an abrupt end"
"But why kill you?" If she was just some girl, what was the point? And if he meant to kill her why did she end up a vampire? Didn't that defeat the purpose of killing her? Or did it?
"I got in the way. Klaus was worse back then. He had no control, especially when his father started hunting him down. And then they started fighting amongst themselves. It was ugly; sides were taken. Rebekah, Elijah and Klaus stayed together. Finn and Kol went their separate ways. Something they were never forgiven for. I stayed with Rebekah and Elijah as I had nowhere else to go. It wasn't all bad, we had some fun. I spent most of my time learning, especially about magic and spells. I didn't like killing or pushing people about. I liked people, so I spent a great deal of time at court when I could. Things weren't all that bad; we were having fun at the courts of England in the 1400's until Katarina was found. Once the doppelganger turned up again, everything changed. Klaus had a one track mind and anyone who spoke a word against the ritual lost favour or their life. That included Elijah, who tried to save her. I left with him; leaving Rebekah alone with Klaus. Something I regret to this very day." She shook her head sadly, looking at her hands.
"Katherine?"
Her head snapped back up to look at me,"Yes. Klaus had spent years ensuring he could one day break his curse. Once that was in his sights, once it was possible, he was a loose cannon again. As dangerous as the new vampire he had been hundreds of years earlier. After Katherine got away, Klaus became more recluse and trusted very few. No more large courts or groups. Just a small band of the most powerful vampires and witches, and his sister, ever knew where he was. Elijah and I didn't even know where he was for the longest time. I can show you, if you like. What is was like, and what happened after Katerina."
"Show me? How?" I stared at her disbelievingly. How could she show me? We're in a hotel room and last I checked time machines we're only found in the movies.
"You really don't know much about vampire's true abilities do you?" She looked to Damon and shook her head. "You need to be educating this girl, her understanding is more limited than I thought. What does she think we're good for… parlour tricks?" She shifted on the bed, closing the distance between our two beds in order to reach me. "Give me your hand"
I eyed her suspiciously. "Elena, vampires' especially older vampires have more abilities than speed or hearing. We can fill heads with dreams and visions, control dreams and show memories. Most vampires don't use these skills effectively, but you'll find mine are very movie like. Highly enjoyable," she laughed lightly. "It's just a vision."
I gave her my hand, intrigued. I felt a shift in the bed beside me. Damon was there also extending his hand to her. She smiled, "Shut your eyes". As I did the world shifted around me and I was looking at another time, another place.
"My lords, my ladies, please rise as we welcome the guests of honour, Lady Rebekah and Lord Niklaus and Lady Alanna and Lord Elijah". From under a grand archway stepped Alanna, being escorted by Elijah. He hand was draped on his as he slowly led her through the room. She was wearing a blue dress with golden embroidery and large ruffles. It flowed beautifully as she moved. Her hair was curled dramatically; half of its incredible length was up, while the remaining was draped over her right shoulder. A small golden crown rested in her hair matching the golden necklace that lay around her neck. She looked like a queen or a princess, straight out of a period piece, they all did. From behind them came Rebekah, looking equally as stunning in her English attire. A smile radiated off her as Klaus escorted her through the ballroom. As they walked past, people bowed and dipped their heads respectfully. They lined up, ladies on one side, gentlemen on the other. They danced and twirled elegantly around the room, a picture of perfection, a perfect family. Alanna and Rebekah smiled and giggled as they danced circles around the boys, who in turn twirled them repeatedly. I had never seen Klaus, or Rebekah even, smile so honestly. Sadistic smiles, yes. But these smiles held no malice or ill will nor were they fake. They were simply happy. Even Elijah's mask was broken as he was lost in the effortless dancing and happiness of his partner. When the music finally stopped, they bowed and laughed and the room erupted in cheers and claps. They didn't seem like vampires, in this moment they were all too human.
The vision of the ball faded and I was looking at Elijah. He was speaking with… Trevor! I recognized him from the night he kidnapped me. The night he died. From behind Trevor stepped…me. Well not me, but Katherine. She looked so innocent. She smiled brightly and bowed. She was beautiful and human. "When will I get to meet the Lord Nicklaus?" She stared intently at Elijah who didn't answer. He only continued to stare at her. "My lord?"
"Forgive me," he replied. "You remind me of someone." She smiled. He took her arm and guided her through the room. Klaus was approaching and as his eyes found her they reminded me of a mountain lion who had finally cornered its prey. I flinched at the intensity of the look he gave her and she just smiled in return. She took his arm without hesitation. I wanted to scream for her to stop, to run but I knew it would never be heard. Elijah turned away, his face in torn, as Alanna came up to him. "Our peace is broken isn't it?" She asked looking at him lovingly.
"He has what he wants, Alanna, as always," He returned.
"And what happens when you give a tyrant brat what he wants? Does he not through tirades? He will be at the zenith of his power; he couldn't be questioned nor stopped. He could do anything, kill anyone. That is what you'll unleash. The beast within him won't be sated, it'll grow." She closed the distance between them and reached out her hand. Her hair had fallen out and now loosely shaped her face.
"You don't know that and even if it's true. There is no stopping him now." He shook his head disparagingly as her hand came to rest on his arm.
"Isn't there? Isn't there a way to stop this? Will we really aid in releasing a monster we will be unable to survive?"
"Alanna, we can't do anything, and if we try you know what will happen. He may treat us lovingly, but should we disappoint him or betray him, that will all fade as though it never existed."
"I know." She looked at him seriously. Her ice blue eyes were fierce as they held his gaze. They continued to stare at each other unmoving, without a word.
It was Elijah who broke the silence "Take my sister and leave this place" he urged. Shifting his body, causing her hand to fall from his arm.
She looked taken aback and confused. She shook her head "Leave. Why? Your all here and Klaus won't approve of me taking his sister and running off. He may trust me in some fashion but it ends at pleasantries and entertaining him."
"Because if something goes wrong, or if he turns. No one is safe. Especially not you," She didn't back down so he continued, his eyes pleading with her to understand. "You aren't family, your expendable to him and you know it. You know too much and he knows you resist his ways. He knows you hold onto humanity and learn of magic. I don't trust that you will be safe. If he can dagger members of his own family, no amount of time living with us will guarantee your safety"
She stared at him sadly and then nodded, her strength disappearing and her expression revealing her concern. "Ok." She said. "But this isn't about just me. I know you better than you think. If you're going to try something do it wisely, don't be rash. Leave that to your bother." He took her hand and kissed it. "Don't let the girl cloud your vision either. I know what she reminds you of; save her. But do so smartly. Don't make this a fight between brothers once more. You have time, use it wisely."
He nodded, placed a hand to her cheek and then kissed her forehead. "I know... Your right, you're always right. I won't forget" He smiled lightly. As she turned from him, his face changed. The emotion left it entirely and what was left was a blank, unreadable expression.
The vision began to fade and blur. Instead of such intense reality, the images became flashes and only fragmented voices could be heard, just pieces. I heard Klaus's anger, screams and fighting. Elijah and Klaus arguing, Katherine running, Rose's pleading with Alanna to help her and then Alanna's terror as she was separated from Rebekah and forced to run.
I pried my eyes open as it faded completely, to find myself looking directly at Alanna. I was still overwhelmed that all I had seen had been a simple vision. The sadness I found in her eyes stabbed me like a knife. She had shared just a small vision, likely because that was all she could handle.
"I admit the visions I choose to show were a bit devious," she said as she looked at me intently, her eyes never wavering from mine.
"Devious?" I questioned, a little confused. What was devious about what she showed us?
"Yes. I wanted you to see them; all of them in a more human light. Even Klaus. You hold the power to kill them, but not only them, all the vampires who derive from them. That kind of power no one should wield. Regardless of the Originals themselves you will be killing countless vampires who don't deserve death. You will be playing god. And yes you have reasons, to protect yourselves and others. But should you really be protecting only yourselves? Have your really tried all other options?" It was hard not to flinch under her gaze.
"What are you saying?" I asked angrily. Complicating this issue anymore wouldn't solve our problems.
"I'm saying Elena. Before you choose beheading shouldn't you first try understanding and perhaps truce? You hold the weapon, you hold the cards, play them all before you deal the death blow."
Damon spoke up beside me. "Yes let's bust our asses to save a momma killing monster that would kill all of us without hesitation and likely killed hundreds of others. Good plan." He rolled his eyes dramatically and huffed.
"Yes he has. But vampires aren't monsters, they choose to be at times, but there is more to us than the monster, more in Klaus then a monster. You know that, or you wouldn't be sitting beside a vampire. There not unreachable. And if you kill him, you may in fact only open up more bloodshed." I wanted to be angry with her for going there. For pleading Klaus's case. But it was hard to hold onto my anger when she looked at me so honestly and no doubt spoke with wisdom she had learned the hard way.
"How? Getting rid of Klaus would save all those he threatens, not bring more suffering? I don't understand what you're saying; Klaus isn't some kind of savour."
"There are forces in this world that fear Klaus and the army he can build and command. If he isn't here what is to deter them? And think Elena, revenge, like the kind Stefan wanted only spreads more pain. You kill an Original, or Klaus and those of them remaining will want to kill you in vengeance. Should you die what is to stop the brothers from going after them and when they die who else will follow? So what I'm telling you Elena is to try another way and should it fail, defend yourself, but don't go looking for death." She looked to Damon who was bristling beside me. "I'm not telling you what to do; I'm simply expanding your arsenal and filling your handbook with more options."
Damon scoffed. "Every time we trust the Originals someone ends up dead. Regardless of the fact that Klaus isn't exactly a huge fan of mine and will likely kill me the first chance he gets. He wants to make Elena an eternal blood bag. To enslave her to his twisted will forever and make a nice little hybrid family to manipulate the world with. Does that sound like a person who's ass we should be kissing or bending over backwards to save?" His voice was raised, showing his anger at her suggestion."
She raised her hands defensively. "Like I said the choice is yours but think before you make it. I spent almost millennia allowing this to continue; I didn't stop him nor did I try to change him. I like the cycle continue over and over. And until someone finds another way, it will continue to be the same. She sighed and looked at her hands. "But enough of my preaching, I apologize. It seems I have done no more than complicate a touchy issue. Elena, you may ask something else if you wish"
The tension in the room had grown. Damon had been unusually silent during most of this; he'd barely said a word. I felt dizzy. We'd been talking in circles making me more lost than I'd ever been.
It was Damon who spoke up. "Tell us about Momma witch. Her first plan failed, what other witchy ju-ju will she throw at us?"
"That I don't know. She is a witch who spent 1000 years watching vampires, and her children, kill people and manipulate the world. She believes she unleashed the ultimate evil and betrayed nature. She is alive today because nature is pushing her to right that wrong. I don't know how far she is willing to take this or what other plans she has. But she is 1000 years old and spent 1000 years learning from the mistakes of others and is fuelled by countless witches who will have their own plans to snub out the problem. But she does have a weakness; she is a mother. This started because she was a mother and as long as her children are capable of something more, capable of choice, there is hope she will not have the courage to destroy us." She stopped and frowned. "It's a fool's hope, but hope nonetheless"
"So we're screwed then? Damned if we kill them, damned if we don't. And added to this lovely soup of doom and gloom is a witch whose powers are limitless who wants to destroy an entire species. And are weapons are... a few vampires, fools hope and a young vampire hatin' witch who just might help them? Great... just great." Damon's frustration emanated off his body. His face was turned from me and his body tense. It was a miracle he was still in the room. Well physically. Who knew where he was mentally right now. Damon wasn't the silent type nor was he one for these kinds personal sharing, yet he was still here, albeit reluctantly and rather pissy.
"Damon…" I reached my hand out to touch his arm. He didn't pull away but he didn't really acknowledge me either. "Don't…don't go there. You're my optimist, remember?" I tried to smile but it had no effect.
Alanna looked between us and sighed. "You deserve the answer to your first question as an apology for my preaching. You wanted to know who turned me, correct."
I nodded. Damon threw up his hands "Here I thought we were just getting a history lesson, a vampire version of The Tudors. There's actually some purpose to the day?"
She laughed. "That depends on if you like my answer. The Original who started our bloodline, the Original who can't die isn't Klaus… its Rebekah."
