"You said I killed you-haunt me then. The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe-I know that ghosts have wandered the earth. Be with me always-take any form-drive me mad. Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!" Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte.

Chapter Nine: Cambrian Hall

I was placed in a prison again. Klaus had locked me up and this time it was in the cellar, not the attic. There was no window for me to look out from. He was really furious with me. No luxuries except for a hard bed and there was nothing to even keep me warm so I would shiver terribly in the cold. I was treated like a common prisoner and not the wife of an extremely rich and powerful Duke. Klaus ordered the servants to feed me only twice a day. The most basic of food. Hard bread that was almost moldy. Watery gruel and plain cold water. It was horrible really but he wanted to make an example out of me.

I had nothing to do. No books for me to read, no one to talk to. I did not know what was happening outside in the world. Alone and isolated, it was so easy for me to sink into such abysmal depression and madness. I hummed that song that Klaus would hum and then my sister appeared to me. Still dressed in the white wedding dress of hers. Beautiful and serene, almost ethereal. Karina gave me a sad sympathetic smile.

"Back in a prison again…" Karina sighed. I only kept quiet.

"I don't blame you, you know…" Karina spoke. "Your liaisons with Lord Byron and the handsome General is justified…Although I would prefer it if you had just run away with either Anthony or Kael. At least none of them are married.."

"What are you doing here Sister?" I asked Karina. I was irritated by her presence. She smiled back sweetly at me.

"I'm keeping you company Elly. I want you to know that I will always be there for you."

"Go away Karina!" I shouted at her. "You're dead! Just leave me alone!"

"You need me Elly. No one is here… not even Klaus." She said softly.

"No!" I screamed angrily. "I don't need you!"

"He doesn't care anymore Elly. You've betrayed him with another man and that changes everything. Klaus does not love you anymore."

I was so enraged that I threw the bowl of the gruel right at my sister, except of course it fell through thin air and smashed into pieces on the floor. Karina was gone. I was left alone in that prison of mine. Dark, dank and cold. I didn't even know how long I had been down there. Just too exhausted to count the days. I had no notion of time. Of the minutes and the hours. I would just lie down on my cot one that had bed bugs, biting my skin causing a rash. Sometimes I'd see rats scurrying about. I'd even share my food with them. They were my only companions other than my sister's spectre, haunting me. Karina would sit and shook her head, sometimes humming that haunting lullaby, the one my husband would hum while I tried my best to ignore her.

A slip of paper went through the slid underneath the door and I scrambled to take it. It was a letter from Wesley. He was worried as he hadn't heard from me for a long while. He said that he didn't see me at any social events just the Duke and his three courtesans. He heard that I was not at Lexie's wedding to Matthew Branson. I was sad hearing it, Lexie had gotten married but I wasn't there to it. Apparently Klaus had told everyone that I was very ill, and recovering in the countryside. Wesley was worried, thinking that I had his child or something. He said he would not rest until he hears from me. Of course he could not. I had no paper or ink to write back to him.

One evening, I heard the sound of the lock. I turned and there was Klaus staring at me. He looked so regal and handsome, smartly dressed in his suit. The breeches, vest, jacket and cravat. I saw that he had a dress with him and he had the servants come in, carrying buckets of water. I struggled as the maidservants pulled me from my bed.

"No!" I screamed. "Do not touch me! Let me go!"

My husband sighed and sat on the chair. Klaus watched as I was stripped and bathed and scrubbed right in front of him. I never felt so humiliated. Klaus had that cold look of indifference like he did not even care. Soon I was dressed in a dress. It was new and beautiful made of silk and deep red, Klaus' favorite color. I sat down as the maids started combing my hair and styling it. I stared at Klaus as a grand feast was served at the table. The servants left and it was just my husband and I having a romantic candlelit dinner.

I was hungry and seeing the spread before me made my mouth water. It was all my favorite dishes, lobster and roast goose, slices of beef and gravy. Pudding, a platter of fresh fruits and fine wine. But I barely touched my plate. Klaus kept quiet and cut his meat. He drank the wine and breathed. "Lexie has gone to America…"

I immediately looked up hearing the news, surprised by it. America? What would she be doing there and why?

"Her husband's dead and she's now a rich widow. Lady Alexia Branson. I thought a name change would be good, I asked her to go there, expand my company's trade links with America and the West Indies." Klaus continued and then he smiled. Why do I feel like Klaus had something to do with Lexie's husband death...

"Also Katerina is somewhere in New York or Boston some of my sources say. Maybe Lexie will succeed where Elijah failed and find the bitch." Klaus said. "She's a fine vampire our Lexie. Beautiful but a little soft hearted, still strong though."

I did not know what else to say and just kept quiet and ate my food. Klaus looked at me and sighed.

"Elly…I just don't know what to do with you." He looked away for a while and an evil smile just formed on his face.

"How does one punish one's wife for an eternity?" Klaus pondered aloud.

"Kill me and be done with it." I told him sharply, my eyes piercing his.

"And show you mercy?" He asked, eyes glaring at mine for a short while. "No…" Klaus shook his head. "No. My Love, you will feel the same pain as I did."

"Pain?" I asked him in an infuriated tone. "What pain do you feel Niklaus? I had felt all the pain these centuries spent with you! The worst of pain!"

"And you will feel more pain Elly. I promise you…" Klaus spoke angrily. He got up and took something out from his jacket. It was a small box with a bow.

"Happy Birthday Darling." Klaus told me as he place the box right in front of me.

Klaus moved to me and bent to kiss the top of my head. I closed my eyes, wishing I was somewhere else, somewhere far away from there, far away from Klaus. When I opened my eyes he had left the room. I opened the box and it was a brooch. A beautiful one made of sapphires and diamonds but I hated it as much as I hated Klaus.

I managed to bribe one of the servant girls with the brooch and I finally got a set of paper, ink and metal nib pen. I began writing letters to Wesley. I told him to forget about me and to take care of himself as he was sent on various Military expansions as the Empire wanted him. He wrote back saying he was worried for me. He wanted me to leave Klaus and be under his protection. Oh how silly and ironic it all was. I was trying to protect dear Wesley from Klaus.

A strange thing happened one afternoon, someone opened the door and I was surprised to see Arthur Wellesley walking in. I just stared at him shocked that he was there. What was going on?

"Elly…" He said my name and came rushing to me pulling me in his arms.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Wesley when I pulled away. "You have to leave Wes. My husband will kill you! He will have your head and I mean it. He will literally have your head! You need to go…" I told him.

"It's alright Elly…" Wesley spoke and held me closer. "I've killed them. I've staked them all."

"What?" I stared at him in disbelief. "The vampires Elly. Your husband's concubines."

No…Not the three mistresses. I thought of Alonna, Letitia and Mariah. They were almost like family to me. Friends and sisters they had become to me. Wesley brought me out of the cell and we walked towards the crypt. I saw their bodies lying there, a stake right through their hearts. They were really dead and I was saddened by it.

"No…" I uttered and tears streamed down my cheek. They looked so beautiful even in death. I turned and lunged at Wesley beating his chest with my fists.

"What is wrong with you?" He yelled at me and took both my wrists.

"Why did you kill them?" I asked him. "Why did you?"

"They are vampires Elly. Monsters the lot of them…" Wesley spoke in a cold tone. I stepped back and stared at him. He only gave a smirk.

"Don't look so shocked my Dear. I know of their existence." Wesley said and I just watched as Wesley paced about. "And I also know who your husband really is. The Duke Nicholas Smith or should I call him by his real name Klaus…"

"What is it that you want?" I asked him. I didn't know why but looking at Wesley. I felt this strange unexplained feeling that crept up my spine. As if he could not be trusted.

Wesley sighed and touched my cheek gently. "I'm here to stop him Elly. He has gotten very ambitious and Michael doesn't want that."

"What are you talking about?" I was lost and confused and could only stare at Wesley. Who was Michael? Did he meant Kael?

"I answer to a higher power even greater than that of the King Elly. We have been watching the situation closely and it just would not do. With the curse and Klaus trying to break it so he could transform back. He's so close. He has figured out a way to break it without the need for a doppelganger…"

"How did you know all this?" It was all too much for me to take in and the fact the Wesley knew all the intimate details.

"I have my sources…" Wesley replied wryly and gave a smile.

"So you used me didn't you?" I asked him and stepped back.

"Oh don't be like that Sweetheart…" Wesley spoke and touched my cheek gently. I stepped back and snapped at him. "Don't call me that! Only my husband calls me that."

I felt like screaming. How could I be so foolish? Wesley had used me to get to Klaus. He was probably a spy sent by the King or some military figure.

Wesley breathed and looked at me. "Let's make a deal Elly. I can give you freedom and at the same time stop Klaus from breaking the curse. It's a win win deal."

"What do you mean?" I asked him.

"I have powers Elly. Far beyond that of any man. I can fake your death. It would be so easy and simple. Klaus will find you dead and he would be a broken man, vampire, monster, whatever he is. He'd be too depressed to care about the curse. And you in turn will have your freedom…" Wesley then took out a small blue bottle. It looked like a potion somewhat.

"Drink this and your heart will stop beating. For two whole weeks, everyone will think you have died but you're not. Your body will start to rot. Your soul will still be trapped inside of course. Except you can't move or speak or breathe but you will hear everything. Once Klaus has buried you. We will dig you up and guarantee your freedom and let you drink another potion where you'll be whole and alive again"

"Klaus would never believe it." I told Wesley. "And what if he cremates me instead?"

"You have nothing to fear. I will not let that happen." Wesley said in a firm tone.

"Who are you really?" I asked him. He smiled at me. "I'm just the Viscount Wellesley, of His Majesty's armed forces. And I will be watching over you."

I sat on my cot and stared at the bottle in my hand. I would be dead, or appear dead and I would have freedom. Finally to do as I wish whatever I wanted, away from Klaus. I looked at my sister. She was there just staring at me, that look in her brown eyes, doubtful and unsure. Are you really going to do this Elly? Karina seemed to say but she did not speak. I gave a shrug as I opened the cork. I had nothing to lose. I drank the entire bottle down. It was so bitter and my throat hurt and then I fell down on the cot, my eyes staring at the ceiling and I died or it felt like death. I was paralyzed. I could not move my limbs and even my eyes..

The servants came later. Trying to wake me up but my eyes stared up lifeless and then I heard my husband storming into the room. Klaus was screaming at me as he cradled me close. He fed me his blood but of course nothing worked. Klaus held me in his arms, trying to listen to my heartbeat and feel my intake of breath from my nostrils. There was nothing. I was truly dead to the world. He screamed and kicked the chair. Klaus started to destroy everything he could get his hands on. His shock at my sudden death erupted into anger and the grief took him.

Klaus lied there next to me. Right next to my cold dead body. It was strange I could hear everything. My eyes were closed but Klaus held me.

"Why did you leave me Darling?" He asked sadly. "I would never let you leave me Elly. I would never let you go…"

Klaus would not have me in a coffin insisting that I was still alive. He brought his witches but they too saw that I was dead. They smelled me and shook their heads.

"She's gone. Her body is starting to rot Your Grace…" One of them spoke

"No!" Klaus screamed in denial and gripped the witch by her throat. "It is impossible! I would know if she died. I would feel it in my soul! My wife is still in there…Fix this!"

But of course they couldn't. The potion was too strong. Klaus was in denial. Then again he had always been such a stubborn man. He moved my body to his chamber and had me dressed in the most beautiful gown, red, his favorite color. Flowers surrounding me. Blood red, long stemmed roses. Stalks and stalks of them. I wondered how long it had been. Two weeks. That was what Wesley had said. Two weeks and I would gain all my movement and motor skills.

"So beautiful Darling…." Klaus spoke as he lied next to my lifeless body and caressed my hair. "It's a beautiful night Sweetheart." He sighed.

"I've lost everything Elly. My concubines are dead, someone had staked their hearts and my wife has drunk a powerful lethal poison…I have nothing left now." He sounded so sad. Klaus was talking to me but anyone would think he was talking to himself. Too grief stricken that he did not care if someone would think him mad.

"I'm all alone now…" Klaus continued with his rather tragic monologue. He started to laugh. It got rather hysterical.

"I feel like I'm in some Shakespearian play Darling. Remember we'd go to see them at the old theatre so long ago when Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet first came out. You cried didn't you Elly? When Romeo held Juliet's dead body…"

"I had laughed. It was just too silly for my taste and now look at the irony…" Klaus said and kissed my cold lips.

"I can't bury you Darling. I will stay here right beside you until you're reduced to bones and then I will bring you with me wherever I go. You will never leave me Eleanna. Even in Death you will not leave me."

No… I thought to myself. I wanted to scream hearing that. Why Niklaus why? Just bury me already and get on with your life! It was all for naught. In a few days time I would wake up in this rotting body and be some zombie I suppose. The day came. I finally breathed for the first time, gasping for air and immediately shot up sitting in that bed that had red roses all around.

"Elly!" Klaus shouted, rushing to hug me. I wanted to cry. It did not work. All that Wesley said. I was alive and still stuck with Klaus. He sounded so relieved and just held me. He stroked my hair and clumps of it fell. I couldn't stand the stench of my rotting body and pushed him weakly away.

"Get away from me. I'm rotting."

"No…" Klaus shook his head. "You're my wife Elly. I will not leave your side…"

Klaus did find a cure for me and soon I was back to my own normal self. My hair was shorter though. Clumps of hair were falling and I thought it best to snip the rest away. I look like a pageboy but Klaus still thought I looked beautiful. He didn't put me in the cellar but back in my own chamber where he would sleep with me in his arms every single night. Klaus was smothering me. Never leaving my side. It was so suffocating that I wanted him to go find a new mistress.

I would feel nauseous every time Klaus hugged me, kissed me or make love to me. I was reluctant and would turn my head away from him while he did his deed. He was tender and sweet and just so very needy. And I wanted to be away from him. That period in my life where even having him in the same room was just so overbearing. I grew to loathe Klaus even more. I was disgusted with him and that drowned away any feelings of tenderness that I had for my husband. When he was away one afternoon. I told the servants to leave but before that, to pour kerosene all around the house. I would burn Cambrian Hall to the ground and I did just that.

I stood by the large oak tree and watched as the once grand mansion lapped in flames. So beautiful was the fire, destroying everything, the priceless paintings and furniture, all my lovely silk dresses. The curtains, tapestries everything gone, reduced to ash. Those were just material things. The flames could not destroy the pain inside of me. The memories that were in that house. Of Lexie growing up. How she loved to run around the halls and her sweet childlike laughter. Of Amanda playing the pianoforte, the three concubines laughing softly while we sat in the drawing room gossiping. I waited for Klaus under the tree and fell to sleep.

I heard footsteps on the grass and I opened my eyes. Klaus held up his hand and I took it. He held his arm around my waist, holding me close as we walked to the carriage. And when the horses rode out of the estate grounds, he let me rest in his arms. My husband kissed the top of my head as I snuggled closer to him.

"Maybe it's time to leave the Old World behind Elly…" Klaus sighed, stroking my short brown locks . "Maybe we should go to America where Lexie is. Where we can start fresh and anew."

I only kept quiet and closed my eyes. Klaus chuckled softly and pulled me close to him. He then started to hum that haunting lullaby. I opened my eyes for a while and I saw my sister in the carriage sitting right in front of me. Karina looked at me and smiled gently, dressed in that old wedding dress of hers. I guess my sister would never leave my side as she had promised. She would follow me to America too or wherever I would go. We were each other's half after all