The air rushed into my lungs as I sat up quickly, gasping for breath. My hand flew to my now healed chest wound, my shirt crusted over with old blood. I frowned at the stained hole in the expensive cream material. This shirt was bound for the trash bin.
I swung my legs off of the huge bed, slipping silently onto the hardwood floor. My heels were set neatly beside the door and I opted to leave them behind while I went to find Nik. They would only make my presence obviously known and I did not want Nik to know I was alive again before I had a chance to take revenge on him for stabbing me.
I slipped silently down the stairs listening for signs of Nik's presence. I heard a rustling of a page turning in the sitting room, so I silently picked up a chair before creeping inside. Nik sat on the couch, his back to me as he stared deeply into the pages of a book. Stepping silently, I crept up behind him before swinging the chair as hard as I could, smirking when it splintered over his head. He groaned in pain before swiveling in his seat to glare at me.
"You deserved that and much more," I deadpanned before making my way to the couch that sat opposite him. "Since I'm such a lovely person, though, I'll let you get by with just that for now. Expect more pain in the coming future."
Nik rolled his eyes as he set the book down to brushed the splinters off of his shoulders. "I admit, stabbing you may not have been the smartest course of action, but you do not hold my trust at the moment, my dear wife. After all, you did kidnap the mother of my child."
"Yes, the woman who you conceived a child with even though you are still married. That's another reason you will be tasting my wrath at some other point."
"So you kidnapped her because you hate her? How petty of you."
"On the contrary, Niklaus. I feel no ill will towards Hayley. You are the sole bearer of the brunt of my anger. Lucky you."
"Oh come on, Lisette. I am sure that you haven't stayed celibate in the ten centuries that we've been apart. And if I remember correctly, you were the one who did the leaving."
"Yes, after you slept with one of my closest friends to spite me because I had to pretend to be interested in her brother. And of course I've slept with other men. I have always worn my wedding ring however, something which you seem to have lost somewhere in the past hundreds of years."
"I still have it, I just choose not to wear it," Nik retorted.
"Am I interrupting something?" A familiar voice cut in.
"Of course not, dear sister," I replied, turning to look at the beautiful blonde whom I hadn't seen for about two hundred years. We'd kept in touch with each other, even if I had been avoiding Nik. Elijah and I had seen each other occasionally as well, although I hadn't seen him for about five centuries prior to yesterday.
"Good to see you again, Lisette," Bekah said with a smile, walking over and pulling me into a tight hug which I returned with equal enthusiasm. I could feel Nik's glare burning into the both of us. "What's wrong Nik? Jealous that Lisette doesn't like you enough anymore to even touch you?" Rebekah asked him over my shoulder.
"Of course not, sister," he replied as Bekah and I separated. "I am sure that Lisette will give into my charms soon enough and will be warming my bed again by the end of the month."
I smirked before looking at Rebekah. "Well, he just ensured himself a cold bed for the rest of the year," I said before walking over to the table where breakfast was being laid out by a compelled servant.
Rebekah joined me a few moments later, picking up a cup and mixing herself cup of tea which she sat sipping delicately while I ate a few strawberries.
"Oh, don't be angry, Love," Nik teased, walking over to stand behind me so he could play with my hair. I reached back and grabbed his wrist, snapping it. He grunted in pain before stepping over to the other side of the table as his wrist healed itself. With a wave of his now healed hand, the server made her way over and held out her wrist with a blank expression on her face. Flashing his fangs, he made a quick incision in her arm and let the blood trickle slowly into the glass which Nik held. Once that one was full, he filled a second one before sending the girl back to stand by the wall.
"Here, dear wife. Have a drink," he said, holding the second glass out to me.
"No thank you," I replied, ignoring his entreating gaze. "I am perfectly content with what I have. After all, this strawberry is so sweet," I teased, holding direct eye contact with him as I took a bite of the berry. His jaw stiffened as he watched me, before a growl left his throat and he turned to his sister. I smirked, glad that I could taunt him by showing him what he wanted but not giving it to him.
"Have you spoken to our good friend Marcel today," He asked his sister, trying to ignore me.
"No. Should I have?"
"He's been mysteriously silent, avoiding me, you might say. I thought, perhaps, he might have whispered reasons into your ear along with all of those sweet nothings."
"Ooh, Bekah, getting it on with the enemy?" I asked. "Good for you, dear sister. Someone has to help me torment Niklaus, after all." Rebekah sent me a grateful smile.
"If I see him, I'll be sure to ask if he's still sore at you," she said to Nik snippily.
Nik looked up at her, not believing her words one bit. "Let me give a voice to that look in your eyes. My saintly, noble brother lies writhing in agony in the bayou, victim of my bastard brother's bite, when just one or two drops of his blood would ease his pain."
Rebekah smiled at him. "On the contrary, Nik. I am just simply enjoying my breaky with my sister whom I haven't seen in two hundred years, waiting for Elijah's healthy return."
Nik scoffed. "Come on, Rebekah. You've been giving me the devil's eye all morning. Out with it."
"Perhaps I am concerned that if I voice my opinion about what you did to Elijah, I will end up on the wrong side of your toxic hybrid teeth," she bit out.
"Ooh, burn," I muttered.
Nik hit the table before pointing at her. "Poppycock. I would never bite you."
"Yes, but you would dagger her countless times throughout the centuries and kill all of her lovers. You have such a great track record with your temper, don't you, Nik?" I asked, glaring at him.
"Be quiet, Lisette, this does not concern you." He turned back to Rebekah. "Elijah made some very offensive accusations about my intentions towards my child. He deserves a day or two of discomfort. Besides, you know - as Lisette has so charmingly pointed out - that my preferred method for your indiscretions is the dagger."
"Hmm." Rebekah smiled softly, placing her teacup onto its saucer forcefully before standing up, a serious expression on her face. "There is something fundamentally wrong with you," she quietly said as she leaned forward over the table, before striding confidently out of the house.
Nik stared blankly at the spot where she had sat, his jaw working as he processed her words.
"Well, that went well," I quipped cheerfully, before standing as well. "You know what, I think I'll take that drink now." I reached across Nik, grabbing the glass of blood and downing it quickly before walking towards the front door. My hand was just about to connect with the door handle when it it encountered a sturdy pair of abs instead. Looking up, my eyes met Nik's own frosty blue ones.
"Where do you think you're going, Love?" He questioned softly.
I smiled patronizingly, playing my fingertips across his strong abdomen. "Niklaus, if you don't move out of my way, I will punch a hole through your pretty little torso so I can get to that door knob," I said sweetly.
He gasped mockingly. "Why, Lisette, that's so rude. I'm just trying to play the part of the doting husband and here you are, threatening me. For shame!"
I rolled my eyes. "I need to go get a few things from my car," I said. "If you hadn't noticed, I am a bit bloody, thanks to you. I'd like to change into something that doesn't make it look that I was stabbed twice by my psychotic husband, and all of my spare clothing is in my car which is parked at my hotel. I assume you're not going to let me out of your sight, so you could at least let me go get a few things before you hold me captive."
Nik sighed, before grabbing my wrist and pulling me closer so our eyes met. I tilted my head to the side, staring at him challengingly. "I will let you go, but I am coming with you and you had better not try to escape or Rebekah's coffin will find itself with a guest occupant until I can procure one for your own use."
I ripped my wrist out of his grip while staring at him in irritation. "I wasn't planning on running away. After all, how am I supposed to irritate the ever living daylights out of you for the next few centuries if I'm not around you, hmm? Now, let's go."
"Lisette, love, you've forgotten something important." He whispered, still not stepping away from the door.
"And what is that, my dear Niklaus?" I asked.
"You're shoes," he said, looking down at my unshod feet. I rolled my eyes before flashing upstairs and back down, my heels back on now.
"Can we go?" I asked testily. Everything had been running so smoothly and then he'd tripped me up by pointing out my lack of shoes. He was an irritating man.
"Of course, Love," he smirked. "After you." He held open the door dramatically, beckoning me outside with a sassy wave. I huffed before making my way outside and to his large black Range Rover. I grudgingly gave him the address to my hotel and sat back in the passenger's seat, staring out at the city as we drove through it. New Orleans really was a beautiful city. I could see why my family liked it so much.
*Timeskip*
"Come on, Nik, I thought you were supernaturally strong," I mocked watching as Nik struggled to carry all of my things to my dark cherry colored Acura MDX.
"I do but you also have a supernatural amount of clothing. How does all of this even fit in your car?" He huffed angrily before tossing the bags into the trunk.
"Be careful with those! They wrinkle!" I protested, rushing over to hang the clothing bags from the built in hanging rack in the back. Nik rolled his eyes before heading back inside to get the last four suitcases, stacking those on top of the other five when he returned.
"Grab those two and bring them to the middle," I ordered, leaving Nik to groan in protest before picking them up again.
"I should at least earn some forgiveness points for all of this work I'm doing," he complained.
"I'll think about it," I said before directing him to strap those two cases into the middle seats like small children. The cases contained all of my expensive shoes and I treated them like my babies. "Well, that's all of it," I said, smiling at a rumpled looking Nik. Apparently he hasn't had to do any hard labor in a while. "Let's go back to your house now."
After Nik carried all of my things up to a guest bedroom, complaining the whole time about how I should share a bed with him, I decided to change. After semi unpacking and putting on the tank top, leggings, and accessories I had picked out, I made my way downstairs when someone knocked on the door.
I walked over to answer it, opening the door to find a pretty blonde woman staring back at me. "Hi, how can I help you?" I asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Hey, I'm Camille O'Connell, but please, call me Cami," she said, holding out her hand to me, which I shook.
"Lisette," I responded.
"Oh, Klaus' wife, Lisette?" She asked, her brows furrowing.
"Yes, how did you know?" I asked, feeling confused and a little on edge.
"I'm Klaus' therapist. Well, more of his stenographer at the moment. He compelled me write his biography down while he narrates his life story to me. The therapist part sort of just gets thrown in on the end. I'm studying psychology and he's the perfect candidate for practise."
"Oh, well Lord only knows he needs a therapist. Please, come in."
"Thanks," she said, stepping inside.
"Ah, Camille," Nik said, coming down the stairs. "I see you've met my beautiful wife, Lisette."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Nik," I said. I turned back to Cami. "Can I get you anything? Something to eat? A drink maybe? A stake to shove into Niklaus when he starts to irritate you too much?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll be fine," she said with a smile.
"Alright, well just holler if you need anything," I said, returning her gesture.
"Yes, yes, you're the perfect hostess. Now run along, Lisette. Cami and I have my biography to write."
"You know, most people write their own diaries. It's a sign of narcissism to have someone else do it for you."
"Just go," Nik growled, pointing towards the stairs.
"Okay, Mr. Grouchy," I laughed, before making my way upstairs to sort through the rest of my clothing. I stayed up there for about forty-five minutes, tuning my hearing away from Nik and Cami to give Nik a bit of privacy. I started to get hungry after a while though, so I decided to go downstairs for a quick snack. I grabbed a blood bag from the fridge, not wanting to drain one of the compelled girls in our house anymore than they already were.
"Type, please!" I heard Nik's voice echoing from the study.
"What's the point?" Cami asked in exasperation. "You just repeat the same thing over and over again. Rebekah's out to get you! Elijah's out to get you! Lisette is planning to come after you! Is there anyone who isn't plotting your downfall? I doubt you trust your own reflection."
"You know, if the daggers weren't missing, I would put one in each of my siblings hearts. Rid myself of the burden of my family for a couple of centuries."
"Look at you! Repeating the same destructive cycles over and over and over again! You are the architect of your own unhappiness."
"I don't remember asking for your advice," Nik said darkly.
"Oh really," Cami asked, sitting back in her chair. "So of all the people in New Orleans, you choose someone with a masters in psychology to record your life story? You're over a thousand years old. I'm pretty sure you know how to type." She leaned forward. "The truth is, you compel me to come here because you have no one else to talk to and you want to be understood. Then you compel me to forget everything as soon as I leave your presence because you're too scared to trust."
"I am scared of nothing," he protested angrily, pointing at Cami. I decided it was a good point to intervene.
"Of course you're scared of something, Nik. Cami is right. You're scared of being alone. You're a paranoid bundle of nerves half the time. And contrary to what you believe, Rebekah and Elijah are not out to get you. They are just as damaged as you are, and you've hurt them so many times that they are constantly on their guard to avoid more injury from you. They love you Nik, as do I, but you cannot continue to treat them like they are expendable, because someday, you may lose one of them and then you truly will be alone."
"I do not need your input, Lisette," Nik spat angrily.
"Cami, I think it might be best if you left now," I said, looking at the blonde. She nodded in thanks before gathering up her things and leaving the room.
"I'm not finished with her services yet!" Nik growled at me.
"Oh yes, you are," I replied coldly. "When you treat people that I like poorly, I will protect them from you. It was obvious that Cami was feeling threatened by you, and I felt the need to intervene. Now, this conversation is over. If you need me, I will be in my room." I turned on my heels, walking up the stairs, not even flinching at the sound of a glass shattering against the wall as Nik threw his bourbon.
I collapsed onto my bed when I entered my room. I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to flow. He had changed so much from the sweet man that I had married one thousand years ago. It was tragic and it hurt my heart to see him like this. Sighing tiredly, I let my eyes droop shut, preferring the dreamless arms of sleep to my current reality.
*Timeskip*
A savage burning in my veins is what woke me. I tried to sit up, clutching at my arm weakly where the needle filled with vervain had entered me. I looked up to see Rebekah and a dark skinned man staring down at me as I writhed in pain.
"I'm so sorry about this, Lissi," Bekah said, before she wrapped vervain soaked ropes around my limbs, encasing me tightly in their caustic coils before stuffing a gag doused in vervain into my mouth so I would continue to ingest to substance that was sapping my strength. I moaned in pain, hating the feeling of the burning. I had never really bothered with building up a tolerance for vervain, always trusting my strength as an Original to help myself. I never even considered that another Original, my sister-in-law, would use the horrid stuff on me.
The man picked up my limp body and sped me downstairs and out to an SUV. He tossed me unceremoniously into the trunk which Rebekah slammed shut after she covered me with a blanket, leaving me trapped in darkness. I breathed heavily through the pain, feeling my skin begin to blister where the ropes and gags were touching me. I began to regret my choice to wear a tank top today. I was now cursing the warm New Orleans weather, wishing I had a bit more fabric to protect my skin from the vervain.
We finally arrived at wherever the heck it was that Rebekah and that guy had brought me. My disorientation had worn off at this point and when Rebekah flipped the blanket off of me so that her boyfriend could carry me inside, I fixed her with the coldest glare I could muster. She met my eyes, looking ashamed, before breaking eye contact.
The guy carried me inside what I recognized to be the old Mikaelson family compound that Marcel Gerard had taken over when the Originals had fled New Orleans. The man carried me upstairs, Rebekah trailing behind, still dodging my fierce gaze. We reached a bedroom and I was plopped onto a chair unceremoniously before being swiftly untied and rebound so my limbs were held to the arms and legs of the chair.
"We need to soak the rag in vervain again," the guy said, sounding unapologetic about my coming pain.
"Marcel, is that really necessary?" Rebekah asked him. "I already feel bad enough. We just captured my sister-in-law and are now holding her here with light torture. To top it all off, we're planning on daggering her and planting her like a daisy next to Nik for the next few centuries while you and I live our happily ever after. I just don't feel like it's very fair to hurt Lisette even more than we already have when she hasn't done anything to deserve this."
"Bekah, if we want to be together, we need to get rid of Klaus, even if there is a little bit of collateral damage. I don't really want to hurt her, but if she doesn't keep consuming vervain, she could break free and I guarantee that she isn't on our side. Plus, think of all the times that Klaus has killed the guys you loved in the past. We can cause him some of that pain to by sticking a dagger in the heart of the girl he loves and leaving her cold, lifeless body next to him as he slowly desiccates."
"Alright, if we have to do this to be together, then we should get on with it quickly."
Marcel grabbed the gag from my mouth, relieving some of the burning temporarily. As he went to go dip it in the bowl of vervain on the desk, I turned to Rebekah angrily.
"Rebekah, what on earth are you doing? Do you really think this stupid little plan of yours will work? Nik is a hybrid! He will tear the vampires who stand against him apart and shove a dagger into you before leaving you to rot for eternity! Let me talk to him instead and see if we can work something out for you and Marcel to be together."
"That won't work," Marcel said with a patronizing tone. "Elijah and Bekah have both tried to talk some sense into Klaus about Bekah's and my relationship. The guy just won't listen. Sometimes you just need to take matters into your own hands."
"He's also going to use the baby's blood to make more hybrids," Rebekah added. "I do not want my niece subjected to that, so we're eliminating the threat."
"No, you're just making things worse, just like you did in 1919." I saw Rebekah stiffen.
"How do you know about that?" She asked fearfully.
"I've had spies everywhere for the past few centuries. The Original family didn't sneeze without me knowing about it seconds later. I may not have been around our family, Rebekah, but I was never far. I even protected you when I knew Mikael was coming, sending a compelled villager with a messenger to Elijah most times so you could all escape safely. Is this how you plan to repay me then, dear sister? By poisoning me slowly before driving one of those accursed daggers into my heart. Maybe you are not that different from the monster you believe your brother to be after all."
"Silence her," Rebekah said, angry about my last jab towards her. I screamed into the gag as my skin began to smoulder again, glaring at Rebekah and Marcel. Rebekah placed a basket full of vervain flowers under my chair while Marcel stepped outside the room, coming back with a woman in tow.
"Sabine, I'd like you to do me a favor and put a silencing spell around her. We don't want her messing up my plans. I grant you permission to perform this one spell and this one spell only."
Sabine nodded before going through her witchy chanting rituals and slicing my hand so blood dripped onto the floor next to me, magically spreading in a circle around the chair and sealing the spell.
"The silencing spell will be broken when the circle is broken," Sabine explained quickly before Marcel nodded and escorted her out of the room.
"Well, dear Lisette, I will see you in an hour or two when we capture Nik. I can't wait to see the look on his face as I drive the dagger into your heart and you slowly die. It will be marvelous. Well, for one of us at least."
I stared after her as she stalked out of the room, slowly letting myself slump forward as the effects of the vervain began to pummel my system, my body a bundle of agony. This would be a very long two hours.
Hello, dear readers! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and if so, please let me know with a review or follow! I love hearing what you guys think! Also, can we just take a second to remember the majesty that was the season 4 premier? I just love Klaus so much, sitting there like a smug little bastard despite all the crap he's been through since the end of season 3. I don't want to give too much away in case you guys haven't seen it, but i just had to mention it. Anyways, next chapter will be up in two weeks, and after that I'm out of pre-written chapters, so we'll see how that goes *fingers crossed that I don't fall behind* Have a wonderful day/night and I will see you all in two weeks with a new chapter!