Note: Sorry for the long wait guys. This is the last chapter before the epilogue. And then the story will all continue from Chap 5 of The Monster's Daughter which is in the works. Hah. This chapter is quite confusing as it comes piping hot right from the oven of my too deranged mind. Yes it's true. Like Elly, I'm a little nuts. No more writer's block for now. Just crazyland talk. I hope you guys like this strange twist. Just think of it like an episode of Lost or Twilight Zone or even Inception meets TVD. Sighsz I do so miss Jack & Kate...
Chapter Seventeen. Alternate Surreality
Isobel Fleming came to the mansion in March that year. Klaus would use her in his plans to get the doppelganger. Isobel was the doppelganger's birth mother and a descendant of Katerina, therefore also a descendant of my sister and she was my distant great, great great niece. Isobel was beautiful with raven hair, fair porcelain complexion and sad blue eyes. The entire time Isobel was in the mansion she was under Klaus' compulsion. And it was from Isobel that Klaus learned all he could about the doppelganger. He kept everything under wraps though, afraid that his plan for the ritual would be compromised. Klaus could ill afford any risks. Who knew when the next doppelganger would appear?
Of course Klaus could always go the other way if he wanted to. He could rip my heart out during the ritual. No need for a doppelganger or the moonstone. It would be much easier. I could finally rest in peace. Klaus would break his damned curse and he and Greta could live happily ever after without the heavy albatross of his crazy wife hung around his neck. My husband was just too sentimental sometimes whereas I had long resigned to free myself from any romantic notions about our marriage. I had gone cynical. I didn't think it was possible to fix our broken marriage. Oh…how I wished I could leave this world, maybe even be reunited with my sister, with my parents, with Lexie.
Then I looked at my son, seeing his handsome face. Alexander's wavy wheat blonde hair and blue eyes. The dimples at the side of his boyish grin. He looked so much like his father. Alexander would still need me. Even though he was almost an adult. What would Alexander know of the treacherous path being an Original vampire's son would bring? I had sheltered him away from the raw savagery of the Originals' world. My son had no knowledge of what I had done, killing Lord Lucas and destroying the rest of the Originals. It was weird though, almost as if I had such a foresight even then. Getting rid of the Originals would now benefit Alexander.
I grew paranoid lately, afraid that Greta would find herself with child and that could put Alexander's heritage at risk. Klaus had bragged to me many times, his plans of a New World Order. He would challenge Kael to a mortal combat and be the Lycanthrope's new Alpha and in that way, rule the world. The Lycanthropes had a vast empire, hidden from the world of man but whose grip on mankind was just as powerful as any social and political institution. Klaus had said that Alexander would be his heir and I wouldn't want any other children to come between that. My son was meant to rule someday.
Alexander told me that Klaus had managed to coax Greta to come back to him. She had almost left the state after the sex tape debacle but Klaus used his charm, his sweet dimpled smile and that Oh...so sexy British accent which had probably made Greta melt like a puddle in his arms. I was indifferent to all of it. If Klaus wanted to be with Greta, he can go be with her. As long as Alexander stayed with me, I would be alright.
"We should have more children," Klaus told me one afternoon. I was sitting in my large apartment that was in the west wing of the huge palatial residence. He kept me prisoner there. Klaus said that it was for my safety. Although I doubt that. He probably did not want me to upset his precious witch.
I stared at him in disbelief. Children? No. I had one child and that was enough. Klaus smiled at me before he continued. "Once the curse is broken, we need to expand the family Elly."
Klaus put his newspaper away and stood up from the armchair he was sitting. Klaus walked to me and pulled me up from the sofa where I was sitting, his arms around my waist as he embraced me. Klaus gently caressed my cheeks and bent to kiss my lips softly. The kiss grew deep and I felt his tongue slipping into my mouth. Klaus' hands roamed my back and he cupped my buttocks. I knew what he wanted I could feel his hard desire. It had been quite a while since we were intimate, since we had sex. Ever since Greta moved in, I had refused Klaus every single time he made his advances. He didn't need me, he had his beautiful sex bomb witch to keep his bed warm.
"No…" I muttered and pushed him away. Klaus didn't budge. He held me tightly against him. "You can't deny me Darling…"
Klaus sighed as he stroked my cheek with his knuckle. "You're my wife Eleanna. I've been patient with you and I've waited a long time."
"I said No Niklaus…" I told him harshly, staring right at him. "I don't want you anymore."
I saw the flash of anger in his eyes. Klaus was furious. He took his wrist and gnashed it before pushing it onto my mouth, his blood filled me immediately, flowing from his veins. I could feel it in my mouth going down my throat. Like fine wine. I found myself suckling on Klaus' wrist gently and it grew more hurried and desperate. I needed more. His blood. It was my drug. Klaus took his arm from my mouth and I stared at him. Our eyes locked in lust. I breathed heavily, his blood was taking its effect, making me a little high, delirious and euphoric even. All I saw was him. All I wanted was him.
Klaus pulled me towards him and kissed me again and I welcomed it, kissing him with as much passion and maybe more. He lifted me off the floor, and my legs wrapped around his waist. We started taking off our clothes. Everything was a whirlwind of kisses and nibbles and caresses. He brought me to the large bed and we made love hurriedly. I smiled to myself in the aftermath of it all. It wasn't that bad. Maybe Klaus and I could just be fuck buddies or something. I didn't need to be so emotionally invested in him. It would be like having a lover except he was my husband and one I was otherwise having a rather estranged relationship outside the bedroom. I could even seek my revenge on Greta and get even with the witch. As long as I didn't conceive of course.
Having an affair with one's husband proved to be quite tiresome, especially when the said husband was a thousand five hundred year old Original vampire with Lycanthrope blood running through his veins. We made love, had torrid, mind numbing, crazy sex, fucked like march hares during mating season and all of the above at an alarming frequency. I was pretty exhausted but Klaus fed me his blood and it helped somewhat. Kind of like Gatorade for sex marathon runners.
"I'm sore…" I groaned as I lied splayed out on Klaus' chest wearing only a thin silk La Perla robe.
It was two in the afternoon and we hadn't left the room in days. Greta was in Atlanta with Maddox and Isobel. Klaus decided to stay in Washington for a while longer.
"There's always a cure for that," He chirped and gave that cheeky seductive, smile. I smiled back at Klaus and shook my head.
"You are trying to get me addicted to you…" I said and gave a soft gasp, knowing he would just give me his blood. Klaus pulled me up and my mouth hovered just above his. I stared hazily at him and he moved to kiss my lips, nibbling them softly. I moaned in pleasure, it felt good being in his arms.
Klaus pulled his lips away and sighed. His fingers running through strands of my hair. "It should always be like this Elly. You and me. No arguing and crazy fights…"
I laughed softly and rest my head on his chest, snuggling close. "Oh Niklaus…it would be soo boring after a while…"
I looked up and smiled at him. "What would we ever do with all this peace?"
Klaus smiled sneakily and nodded. "Well you do have a point my Love…what would we do without all the drama?"
I heard something vibrating and I turned and saw his HTC smartphone that was on the side table. Klaus leaned and stretched his arm, grabbing it.
"Yeah…" He answered. Klaus then moved up, leaning against the headboard, while I lied, resting my head on his boxerclad lap.
"Really?" I heard his chuckle Klaus then looked at me. "No Darling, I'm alone…"
I scowled hearing that. It was Greta. That Stupid Bitch… A naughty idea got into me. I touched the waistband of his boxers and pulled it down. I looked up at Klaus and he just stared at me while he continued his conversations. I gripped his manhood and started to move my hand up and down causing Klaus to squirm slightly. I bit my bottom lip debating if I should take to the next level and finally did. I moved my head down and covered his throbbing member with my mouth.
Klaus groaned and I smiled to myself as I continued pleasuring him as best I could. After a while I moved up and straddled his lap, filling myself up with him. I whimpered and bit my lip as I moved up and down his length.
"God…" Klaus whispered harshly.
I smiled and moved to kiss his lips. I then took the phone from his hand and spoke, trying my best to breathe.
"Sorry Greta…Klaus is busy at the moment, fucking his wife. Ciao…" I said evilly. I pressed the screen and tossed the phone away.
Klaus glared at me but he only pulled me closer as I sat on top of him. He gripped my hips and increased the speed of his thrusts as I rocked myself against him and nuzzled my breasts, suckling each nipple. Klaus planted wet kisses all around and his lips found the sensitive spot on my neck. He kissed and nibbled and I felt his fangs biting in, he lapped his tongue sensually on my neck which made me moaned more. I could feel my orgasm coming.
"Oh…oh…" I whispered. "More Klaus…give me more…" I said and nipped his earlobe.
"You've been a bad girl Elly…" Klaus snickered as he continued pummeling inside me. "I kinda like it."
"Only for you Darling…" I told him and kissed his lips. I bucked my hips against him and heard a loud guttural growl coming from Klaus' throat before he released himself. Klaus rested his forehead against mine as he breathed. He kissed my lips gently and I leaned against him.
"I love you." I whispered softly not knowing why I suddenly said it. I hadn't said it to Klaus in quite a long while. I felt sleepy and snuggled close to Klaus as he fell back on the bed cradling me in his arms.
Surreality…
I had a nightmare or was it a flashback? I wasn't quite sure. It was surreal and strange. I was at some place that was very windy, a clearing of some sort and there was rocky hill next to it. I saw my sister being sacrificed except she was wearing jeans and a brown top not the long medieval gown she had worn. Klaus held her in his arms and drank her blood. No! I was screaming at the top of my voice. No Klaus! Let her go! Let my sister go!
Karina closed her eyes and fell to the ground dead. I looked up and saw the full moon and suddenly Klaus started to transform. It wasn't automatic however like how Lycanthropes could just shapeshift their forms easily from human to wolf. Klaus was screaming in pain and I grew worried.
I walked towards him and called his name. "Niklaus!"
"Elly!" Klaus screamed back as he writhed on the ground. I saw the circles of fire and the three women who laid dead. My sister, a she wolf and a vampire. I went to Klaus and held his hand as he lay on the ground.
"What is happening?" I asked him in a panic.
"I don't know Elly…" Klaus winced. He then looked at me. "This is a dream isn't it?" He looked around lost and breathed heavily. "Why do I hurt so bad?"
"We'll get through this…" I whispered and held him close, letting Klaus rest in my arms, his head on my lap. I kissed his head and tried to move him away from the fire.
"Aargh!" Klaus screamed in pain. "Elly it hurts! I never felt such pain before!"
"Just wake up Niklaus. Wake up!" I cried, fumbling around in a panic. He needed to wake up and so did I.
I clenched my eyes shut and kept mumbling but when I opened them I was still in the fields, Klaus in my arms. He started to howl and he suddenly rolled away from me. I watched in horror as his limbs contorted and twisted in such a horrifying way. I moved back as Klaus screamed even more in pain. I grew worried and moved towards him.
"No Elly! Stay away! I might hurt you!" Klaus screamed.
I didn't know what was happening. I stood there staring at Klaus, seeing the pain that seemed to rip through him. I felt helpless and confused. This is a dream isn't it? It just has to be. There isn't any other explanation. His body had undergone a most painful transformation and then there was a silvery white wolf in Klaus' place. It was his wolf. It looked at me and snarled.
"Niklaus!" I cried out.
The wolf howled and lunged towards me. I was shocked when it pushed me down to the ground with such force that it knocked the wind out of me. I stared up, trembling in fear as the wolf snarled and stared at me. I saw its powerful razor sharp teeth and then its icy blue eyes.
"Klaus…it's me." I said softly, hoping to calm the wolf down.
"Grrrr!" I heard its fearsome angry snarl.
I wondered if the wolf even knew who I was. It was terrifying the feral way it looked at me. The wolf barked loudly, ready to attack. I shut my eyes as I breathed and prayed. I did not want the wolf to tear me to shreds. Why couldn't I wake up from this strange dream or nightmare? The wolf leapt away and I breathed in a sigh of relief. I pulled myself up from the ground.
"Klaus…" I called the wolf. He stood several feet away. The wolf turned and glared at me before walking away.
"Klaus! Where are you going?" I asked him.
The wolf didn't reply of course. He just walked on. I sighed tiredly and decided to follow him as he brought me deeper into the forest. It was dark and foggy. The full moon was the only available source of light. I frowned to myself. What a terrible dream…Why couldn't I dream of days by the beach, sipping pina coladas? I was truly cursed. I followed Klaus' wolf and he led me down a path. I was shocked to find the Original's old castle looming on the steep hill above.
"No…" I uttered. Not again…What am I even doing here? I stood there and sighed. The wolf turned and looked at me giving a soft bark.
"I'm not going back there." I told him vehemently and shook my head. "No way Niklaus!"
The wolf didn't care. He walked back to me and pushed me using his snout. He stood up on his hind legs and pushed me from behind when I refused to budge. I was irritated. Of course Klaus would be persistently stubborn. Neither he nor his wolf would take no as an answer. So I trudged on climbing up the steep incline and soon enough I found myself standing in front of the long drawbridge of the gothic Original castle. Its dark stoned spires and towering turrets never failed to give me the jitters.
It had been a long while since I had even been there. My son had told me that the castle was left in ruins when he visited it the previous summer. Klaus had bought it from the Romanian government in the early nineties after Ceausescu and the Communists' fall. Klaus had wanted to restore the old decrepit castle back to its former glory days but had been too preoccupied with breaking the curse to see through the restoration project. So it was put on hold. But seeing the castle in this surreal reality slash dream slash mystical plane, whatever the hell it was. It looked rather well restored.
I crossed the draw bridge, looking down seeing the thick fog that hid the true depth of the ravine below. A hundred foot drop, maybe more. I never really knew. The wolf stood in front of the large three storey castle door. It was thick, impenetrable, made of solid oak that had iron reinforcements. The door was slightly ajar and I pushed it before walking in, Klaus' wolf behind me. I found myself in the front yard of the castle and I was shocked to see a figure in black standing there.
"Eleanna…" The masculine voice called me. He sounded so familiar. I stared at the cloak figure. The wolf growled and snarled, its paws scratching the ground, ready to strike. The wolf leapt but the cloaked figure had used some invisible force and struck the wolf down.
"No!" I screamed seeing the wolf lying on the ground. "Niklaus!" I ran towards him and pulled the wolf's head on my lap.
"He'll be fine Elly."
The voice sounded familiar and I looked up. The figure in the black cloak pulled his hood away and I was surprised, no shocked beyond belief to see Wesley Arthur's face.
"What the…"
"It's been a while Elly," Wesley said and gave a smile, that just sent shivers down my spine.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. My voice trembled but I tried my best not to sound so afraid and put up a brave front. "No. What am I doing here? And Klaus?"
Wesley sighed and shook his handsome face. "It's the only way that I could get to both of you. I had to invade your dreams."
"But why would you do such a thing?" I was flabbergasted. Why would Wesley come crashing into this strange dream of mine? It didn't make sense. Then again, my entire almost thousand year existence didn't make sense.
"I'm giving you a choice Elly," Wesley breathed and looked at me. "You have a chance to go back and change your fate."
"What do you mean?" I only stared at Wesley. Still confused by all that was happening.
"Things can be different Elly..." Wesley smiled. "One last chance given by the Powers that be, before things get ugly. You have no idea how terrible the future will be…"
"How do you know about the future?" I asked Wesley, eyeing him with suspicion. I hated how cryptic he sounded.
"I told you I have certain powers…" Wesley said and gave a cocky shrug that only made me annoyed. "The choice is yours."
"What choice?" I asked Wesley.
"Choose between peace and war…" Wesley spoke. "You have a chance Elly, to undo things, make it right, change your fate…"
Wesley didn't explain of course. Everything just went dark. The last thing I remembered was lying down on the ground, Klaus' wolf form next to me and I felt the cold and snow falling down on us. I had snuggled closer so that the wolf's warm furry body would keep me warm.
An alternate life… Anthony & Eleanna.
Transylvania October 1038 AD.
It was a beautiful morning when Elly woke up. She was surprised to find herself in a large poster bed. She sat up on the bed and looked around. She was in one of the rooms in the castle, Elly did not know whose. She didn't even know how she got there. It was all a big blur to her. Lord Lucas had imprisoned her in the dungeon the night before after she had threatened to bring her sister away from the castle and back to their farm in Northern Bulgaria. She was tossing and turning in the dungeon's cot, dreaming strange dreams that she could not recall. And that was what she remembered.
"You're awake…"
Elly heard the soft masculine voice and she looked up seeing Anthony smiling tenderly down at her.
"What am I doing here?" She asked him. Her deep blue eyes penetrating his forest green ones. Anthony walked up to her and sat on the bed.
"I've talked to my father Elly," Anthony smiled tenderly and gently caressed her cheek. "He agreed that keeping you in the dungeon was a bit too much...So you can stay here till the wedding."
"Wedding?" Elly was surprised to hear that. "What wedding?"
"Our wedding…" Anthony told her and Elly just stared at him incredulously. Anthony sighed and took her hands. "When you asked me of my feelings yesterday morning in the rose garden. I didn't tell you the whole truth Elly."
"But you said you loved me, just as friends…" Elly spoke and pulled her hands away from Anthony's grasp. She recalled how hurt she was. Elly felt like Anthony was just playing with her feelings. That he didn't want her. "That's what you said Anthony."
"I lied Elly." Anthony gulped and looked deeply in her eyes. "I love you more than that. I want you to be my wife…"
"But…" Elly spoke almost stammering. She started to think of another man. A man who had never hesitated and told her that they belonged together. "What about Niklaus?" She asked Anthony. Elly saw the hurt look in his face when she mentioned his brother's name.
"Do you love him Elly?" Anthony asked her.
"I…I don't know," She hesitated. Anthony breathed and gently kissed her lips. "Do you love me?" He asked her as he leaned his forehead on hers. Elly looked at him before answering.
"I do…" She spoke, in a soft tone. She did love him, as friends maybe more.
"You'll be happier with me Elly," Anthony vowed. "You don't know Niklaus. He will only hurt you. He is incapable of love."
He pulled her closer into his arms and Elly rested her head on his chest as they sat on the bed. She could not deny that she felt safe and loved in Anthony's arms. Sweet, gentle, handsome Anthony who was kind and loving.
"I'll make you happy Elly," Anthony told her under his breath. "I promise you."
Happiness, such an odd fleeting thing but could it really last? Elly had doubts about the whole thing, about being wed to Anthony. She couldn't explain why she was feeling that way. Anthony was wonderful, he was handsome almost beautiful with his chiseled features, straight nose, high cheek bones, thick black hair and green eyes. He was kind, gentle and patient. An honorable man, even Agnes one of the older human servants would vouch for Anthony's character.
"Lord Anthony is the most honorable man I have ever known Milady..." Agnes had told Elly while her hair was being braided.
"He is not cruel like his father or his brother, Lord Klaus. He is different. Lord Anthony is kind and gentle. You are a very lucky girl to be his wife." Agnes smiled at Elly through the mirror. Elly had smiled back. She was lucky she supposed. Anthony loved her and so did she.
She loved him dearly, Elly knew she did but something or more accurately someone else had made her feelings for Anthony muddled as the days went by. A certain tall, golden haired Original with his angelic smile, glacial pale blue eyes. A vampire who was the exact opposite of Anthony. One who was arrogant, aggressive and promiscuous. Yet she was intrigued by Klaus. Maybe it was the way he looked at her and how they always seemed to clash. Klaus was away. He hadn't been back for days.
The three sisters had told her that Lord Lucas had sent him on a mission. Darius had said that Klaus was probably off being drunk and stirring up trouble elsewhere. He would do that. He'd travel for days to let out some steam. Mostly massacring innocents and hunting game.
Elly stood next to Anthony as they were wed, in front of the Originals and her sister in the castle's chapel. Elly wondered where Klaus was. She hadn't seen him in days. Since that morning when he was in her bedroom. Klaus drank her blood dry but she came back. Back to life, shocked that he would take her blood.
"You know we belong together Eleanna," Klaus had whispered to her before she left. "You could never be truly happy with anyone else. Not even Anthony..."
No more thoughts of that… Elly told herself. She had made her choice. A safe choice with the gentler, kinder, younger brother. A wise choice as everyone would agree. She would only be miserable with Klaus. That was what Amelia had said to her the night before the wedding. Klaus was a warrior and a ladies' man. He was not suited to be anyone's husband. Amelia would not wish her worst enemies to ever be intertwined with Klaus. A fate worse than death. She had said to Elly.
Anthony smiled at her and kissed her lips softly after the Orthodox marriage ritual had been performed. They were man and wife now. Bound forever. Anthony and Eleanna. It just seemed so strange and even wrong to her.
"I love you Eleanna..." Anthony whispered.
Elly didn't know why but she felt like crying. Her soul was screaming. What the hell is going on? She could not say the words back to Anthony, almost as if she was deemed speechless.
Elly was quiet during the wedding banquet. She stared at her sister, so lovingly in Elijah's arms. Karina still under compulsion. At least one Petrova sister seemed happy. Elly couldn't understand why she felt so lost on what was supposed to be the happiest day in her life. She was the wife of Lord Anthony, one of the Originals. Anthony who was the noblest and fairest of them all. Prince Charming himself. And she did love Anthony. Anthony and his poetic heart, his sweet gentle voice.
"Are you alright Darling wife?" Anthony whispered to her. Elly looked at her husband and gave a soft smile. Husband. Anthony was her husband. Even that seemed odd to her.
"I'm just happy…" She told him and squeezed his hand. Elly knew she was lying but she just let it be. If she believed it long enough, it could be true. She would learn to be happy. Anthony smiled at her and kissed her again.
Elly was nervous for the wedding night. She would finally be with her husband, with Anthony. Elly remembered the night in the cave with Niklaus. It was vividly imprinted in her mind. The way Klaus had touched her. The urgency and the passion she had felt that was coupled with madness. She wanted more of that. Of Klaus and his heady, dizzy kisses. It was futile of course to think of Klaus. Elly had already married his brother. Elly walked towards the marriage bed where Anthony was. She was dressed in a long white silk nightgown.
Anthony looked at her and smiled that gentle smile again. He rose from the bed, dressed in his long white tunic and walked towards her. Anthony pulled Elly in his arms and caressed her cheek gently.
"You look beautiful…" He whispered and bent to kiss her cheek. "Absolutely beautiful…" Anthony murmured again and kissed her other cheek. Elly smiled and blushed brightly. Anthony sighed and kissed her lips softly.
"I've never been this happy before." Anthony told her.
"I'm happy too." Elly spoke as she looked in his soft green eyes.
She would never want to hurt Anthony. Maybe she could really be happy with him. If she tried hard enough, she would forget about Klaus. And then maybe she could start a life with Anthony. A life where they would be happy and in love. An ideal, perfect fairy tale ending for the farmer's daughter and her beautiful vampire prince. Somehow Elly wasn't so convinced. It would be like living a lie. She kept seeing Klaus' face in her mind. His pale blue eyes and how intensely they would look at her.
"Let's make a babe tonight," Anthony whispered and kissed her again.
"Will it hurt?" Elly looked up and asked him. Karina had told her that it would hurt. And Elly wasn't so sure if she was ready to be a mother so soon.
"I will be very gentle with you...I would never hurt you Elly," Anthony told her.
Elly believed him of course. She heard a commotion and loud noises coming from outside. Both Anthony and her turned and looked. The bedroom door opened with a loud bang, almost as if someone had kicked it open. Someone strong. Someone not human.
"No Lord Klaus!" Elly heard the servants. "You cannot go in there…"
"Get out of my way!"
There was pushing and shoving and someone being thrown away. Anthony and Elly stared in horror as Klaus burst into their chamber on their wedding night. Klaus stared at the couple, his face growing red in anger. That feral look in his eyes seeing Anthony embracing Elly.
"Get your hands off her Anthony! I'll rip your heart out if you touch her!"
"No Klaus!" Anthony spoke. He stood in front of Elly as though shielding her away from Klaus.
"Eleanna is my wife Brother! We were wed this morning!" Anthony explained urgently.
"Why was I not told?" Klaus demanded as he paced about in the room. "You're lying to me."
His eyes flashed with anger and rage. Jealousy washed over him, seeing how protective Anthony was with Elly. Anthony was still holding her close in his arms.
"Klaus!"
Elly looked up and saw that Elijah and Darius had marched into the room, Lord Lucas right behind them.
"What do you think you're doing Niklaus?" Lord Lucas warned.
"I came back from Hungary to find my brother and my betrothed wed." Klaus spoke bitingly. "Tell me it's not true Father. Eleanna is mine!"
"She is now Anthony's wife as it is our wish." Lord Lucas responded coldly and glared at him. "You will accept that Klaus."
"NO!" Klaus roared. "Eleanna is mine! She has always been mine."
"It is settled Niklaus," Elijah spoke plainly and looked at the newlyweds. "They have been wed, in the eyes of God. Elly belongs to him now. Let it go."
"Never!" Klaus shook his head vehemently. "Heaven be damned! But she will never be his!"
Klaus stared at Elly who had looked away, still in Anthony's arms. She wouldn't even look at him and that made Klaus grew even more enraged. She would not even say a word. Compliant in this scheme that would rip her away from him. Klaus would not have it.
Anthony pulled her closer and Elly buried her head in Anthony's chest. She didn't think she could bear to look at Klaus. Couldn't he just let it be? She was Anthony's now. It was done. They were wed. Whatever feelings she had for Klaus did not matter anymore. She was Anthony's wife.
Klaus had lost all train of thought. His possessive nature could not take the sight of what was essentially his, in the arms of another man, more specifically, his own brother. He used his vampiric speed and strength, being the strongest of the Originals. Klaus pushed his brothers away and yanked Elly out of Anthony's arms. Klaus stared into her eyes and kissed her lips fiercely.
"I'd rather see you die than belong to another my Love…" Klaus whispered. She looked up and saw the tears in his eyes. Elly only wondered what he meant and then she felt it, the raw, all consuming pain that ripped through her chest.
"No Niklaus!" Anthony screamed. He watched in horror as Klaus' hand punched into Elly's ribcage. "Please…" Anthony begged.
Elly choked in pain as she stared at Klaus. She could feel it, his hand was right inside her chest, holding her heart, grasping it. She could not struggle. Elly felt so weak and she knew that she would die soon.
"Forever Eleanna. Body and soul forever…" Klaus said and pressed his lips on hers as she gasped in pain. "Your heart is mine forever..."
Elly closed her eyes as she breathed her last breath. Klaus had ripped her heart out and the newly wedded bride lied bloodied and dead in his arms.
"No!" Anthony screamed as tears raged down. "No!"
Darius held Anthony back as Klaus carried Elly in his arms. He turned to look at his family. "She is my wife. I don't care what all of you say or what the church says. Eleanna is my wife."
"What have you done Niklaus?" Elijah asked, staring at his brother. It was the most horrifying thing to have ever occurred in the Original's castle. That Klaus would murder his brother's own wife on the newlyweds' wedding night, in their bedchamber in front of everyone.
"What is going on?" Karina cried as she walked into the room. Karina had heard the loud commotion and screams coming from the newlyweds' bedchamber. She stared in horror watching as Klaus carried her younger sister in his arms.
The front of Elly's night gown was bloodied. Karina gasped seeing Elly's lifeless body. "Elly!"
Elijah went to his wife and pulled her in his arms. "Elly!" Karina screamed. She struggled but Elijah held her close.
"No Darling…" Elijah whispered. "She's gone Karina…"
"No…" Karina wept in Elijah's arms.
Klaus' alternate life…
Mystic Falls. May 2011
He had ripped her heart out all those centuries ago. She was dead. His beloved Eleanna was dead and Klaus was all alone in the world. Elijah had left him. He had hunted the rest of his siblings down. Klaus had lost everything. He couldn't even transform into a wolf. Anthony had sought help from the witches to have him cursed and sadly Karina was sacrificed in the ritual. That had caused the Original family to split into two warring factions. Anthony and Darius on one side with the three sisters, and Klaus and Elijah on the other side.
Klaus stared out the window and whistled the haunting tune. He had procured witches through the centuries. All promising a way out, a cure to his affliction. But he also wanted the witch to bring his Elly back. There must be a way to anchor her spirit to this physical world. Klaus would do anything for that. All he had of her were dreams. Strange dreams of some other life, where she had never left him. Where they were together for almost a thousand years.
It would have been perfect. They would have been perfect. He had always believed so. Klaus smiled to himself. With Eleanna by his side, he would have been unstoppable. A force to be reckoned with. They would have been great together. He heard the door being opened and Klaus turned to look. It was Maddox. The male witch looked rather somber.
"It's time." Maddox told him. Klaus only gave a nod. He walked towards Maddox and both men left the room.
"Are you sure about this?" Maddox asked him. Klaus could hear the uncertainty in the male witch's tone.
"You know I don't take things like these lightly Maddox."
"This is different Klaus. It's dangerous…" Maddox spoke and sighed. "You're putting yourself at risk and I'm not a hundred percent certain this will work."
"So long as the Bennet witch cooperates…If she fails…we'll just have to kill her friends and family one by one till it works," Klaus spoke with an easy shrug.
Maddox wasn't so sure, even with the power Bonnie Bennet claimed to possess, it still wasn't a 100% guarantee. But Klaus was a stubborn man, Original vampire who was also half Lycanthrope. The Bennet witch had been coerced to help on condition that Klaus will leave Mystic Falls once it was done. They drove to the old abandoned Plantation house. The very same place where hundreds of witches were murdered in the 19th century. Bonnie could harness the mystical energy left by the dead witches and perform the spell.
Klaus and Maddox walked into the old house and walked down to the cellar. Bonnie was there, sitting Indian style in the middle of a circle of candles. Klaus saw the pentagram and symbols drawn on the old wooden floor. Bonnie was busy chanting and for a moment Maddox was hesitant, he held Klaus' arm cautiously. The male witch listened in to the soft Latin murmurings and finally sighed, relieved that Bonnie wasn't trying to perform a hex on them.
"It's safe…" Maddox whispered and Klaus stalked confidently in.
"No tricks this time Witch…" Klaus spoke and gave Bonnie his signature wide dimpled grin. The smile always worked with the ladies. Well almost all… Bonnie only frowned back. She wasn't one to be easily charmed.
"I gave you my word Vampire…" She replied. It almost sounded like a rasp. It was obvious to both men present that Bonnie didn't want to do the spell. But she had no choice.
Klaus walked into the circle of candles with Maddox standing outside promising to provide back up magic help should anything arises.
"Did you bring it?" Bonnie asked him. Klaus gave a nod. He took the old gold ring that was tied on a string of leather. Klaus had worn it around his neck the past nine and a half centuries. It was Elly's wedding ring. The one Anthony had given. It had belonged to her and it would bind the spell. Give the witch something to connect the spell with.
Klaus pulled the leather string off and dangled it in front of Bonnie. Bonnie moved to catch it but Klaus pulled back.
"Be very careful with it. It means the world to me."
Bonnie only gave a bitter chuckle. "Never figured you as the sentimental type."
Klaus gave a small grin and shrugged. He never thought himself as such as well. Funny what a thousand years of loneliness does to a once powerful Original vampire. Klaus pushed the ring into Bonnie's palm. She held it with both hands and started chanting. Maddox listened close. It wasn't Latin. It sounded Sumerian. A very old and dead language. The male witch was impressed at the teenager's mastery of such an ancient tongue. It took Maddox years and decades of practice to do that.
Bonnie stopped her chants and a rush of wind was felt in the enclosed basement of the old plantation house. Klaus looked around. He wasn't one to be easily spooked. He stared at Bonnie seeing the look in her eyes. One of bewilderment and surprise.
"What is it?" He asked.
"She's not dead…" Bonnie said incredulously. Klaus looked at Maddox and both men exchanged strange confused looks.
"Of course she is." Klaus gritted and stared at Bonnie. "I killed her myself. I ripped her heart out."
Bonnie looked at him, almost studying his pale blue eyes and gave a strange smile. "She's not dead Klaus. She's just stuck in some other plane…In fact…" Bonnie looked around and started laughing softly. "We all are…"
"What?" Klaus grew annoyed and his brows knitted in a daze. He turned to look at Maddox. "What is this Chit trying to say?"
"It's not permanent." Bonnie said and looked at Klaus. She shook her head. "You'll get her back."
"Stop playing games with me!" Klaus snapped. He was getting ticked off with all the cryptic nonsense.
Bonnie only sighed and chuckled. "I don't know what she sees in you Klaus but she'll choose you…She'll always choose you."
"You're getting on my nerves..." Klaus breathed. He was ready to snap the witch's neck right there and then. Bonnie saw that and started to wriggle her nose. It was very Bewitched but it worked. Klaus felt this sudden burning pain and stepped back, away from her.
"We're not finished." The Original said sharply and glared at her. It was a warning but Bonnie wasn't threatened of course. Bring it on...
"Oh…I think we are…"Bonnie said and gave a sly smile. "In another life Vampire…It'd be an honor to bring you down."
Klaus shook his head and left the basement with Maddox next to him.
"I don't get what she said…" Klaus said to Maddox after a while. They were in the car heading to Mystic Grill, ready to down some drinks. It was a Friday night after all.
"She's being cryptic." Maddox spoke casually. "It's a witch thing."
"What did she mean that Elly's not dead…" Klaus asked, still confused by it all. Maddox sighed. "Listen...I'll try to get the coven to figure this out. Mean while, we have to lie low and not stir any trouble…"
"Fine…" Klaus said. Maddox looked at him closely.
"Why did you kill her then if you loved her so much?" Maddox asked. He was just curious. Klaus had been obssessed to find a way to connect to his departed Love for centuries.
"I just couldn't bear the thought of her being with Anthony forever." Klaus replied in a somber tone. "I'd rather suffer in loneliness than to see her happy with my brother. She belonged to me, she always has."
"You're a selfish prick." Maddox said with a laugh and shook his head. Klaus laughed and gave a nod. It was true. He was a selfish prick. They walked into Mystic Grill and Klaus went straight to the bar while Maddox went to the gents. He saw Damon Salvatore sitting there drinking shots of whiskey, one after another. He was probably drowning his sorrows.
"Why so glum?" Klaus asked with a slight chuckle. Damon groaned hearing Klaus' lilting, cheerful English voice.
"God…" Damon grumbled. "Can't you just leave already? You broke the curse. You're a freaking hybrid. Stefan left town with Katherine. Elena now thinks she's Elijah's wife. Move on already…You Originals are nothing but a plague."
"You need to lighten up Damon…Night's still young to be so bitter." Klaus grinned and tapped Damon's shoulder as he took a seat next to the dark haired vampire.
"One bourbon please…" Klaus told the bartender who immediately poured him a glass. Damon gulped down the last of his whiskey and looked around. He smiled seeing a brunette walking into the Grill. She looked a little lost but beautiful. Damon was pleased. He had found his girl.
"Right…I'm done." Damon said and stood up. He took out a fifty and left it on the bar. He then grinned tipsily at Klaus. "You have a good day now..."
Klaus shook his head and muttered a curse under his breath. Stupid wanker... Klaus drank his bourbon and smiled. What a weird evening it had been. He glanced around and looked on as Damon was talking a little flirtatiously to a brunette. She smiled and laughed at one of his jokes. There was something about her and then for a split second, she looked around and Klaus saw her face. No...No way... It just couldn't be. The uncanny resemblance.
Klaus stood up and used his vampiric speed. He didn't care if anyone saw. He heard gasps and he found himself standing in front of the woman. Her deep blue eyes studied Klaus. Damon was pissed as hell and stared at him.
"What now?" Damon rolled his eyes. Klaus only pushed Damon away and took the brunette's hand.
"You're here…" Klaus said softly and smiled at her, oblivious to everything else. It was just the two of them. She stared at him and a smile formed on her face as well. "I think you're having a weird dream Niklaus…"
She laughed softly and he reveled hearing it. It was such a beautiful laughter. He had missed it for so long. Klaus pulled her in his arms and kissed her lips softly.
"I missed you so much." Klaus whispered as he nuzzled her neck. "If this is a dream Elly. I don't want to wake up and find you gone. I miss you Sweetheart. I really missed you."
She smiled and held him close. "I know…I 'm sorry…" Elly sighed. She started humming that song again, the same old haunting lullaby Klaus would hum.
"You know we had a son in another life…" She smiled. Klaus looked at her gently and caressed her face."I bet he's beautiful," He said with a smile and Elly nodded.
"They said we'd have a daughter too…someday…" She mused.
"Don't go Elly…" Klaus pleaded softly and embraced her again. "I can't be without you." He whispered. He just wanted to hold her close. Before she was gone.
"I know Darling…" Elly smiled and kissed his lips softly. "Wake up Niklaus. Everything will be fine Sweetheart. I choose you. I will always choose you…"
Back to the present...
April 2011
I gasped as I woke up, breathing heavily. Beads of perspiration trickling on my skin. What a dream/nightmare, whatever it was. It felt so real and vivid to me. I was just so relieved that it was over. I looked around and I was in my room.
"Sweetheart…Eleanna…"
I heard Klaus calling my name. I looked up and stared at my husband. Klaus looked so worried. He pulled me into his arms and held me tight like he wouldn't let go and I didn't want him to let go too. It was this desperate need to have him close to me. Weird, that a dream could do that.
"I had a strange dream…" I whispered. Klaus cooed softly and ran his fingers through my hair. "I had one too…" He breathed in my neck. I pulled away and looked at him, I wondered if it was the same dream.
"I dreamt I had married Anthony instead but you came bursting into the bedroom door on the wedding night Niklaus…" I drifted away and I clutched my chest. I could feel my heart beating thunderously.
"You killed me Klaus. You ripped my heart out…" I said and stared starkly at him.
"I'd rather see you die Elly than belong to another…" Klaus spoke and that made me looked at him. He had said the exact same words.
"I was miserable without you Elly…" Klaus breathed and planted kisses all over my face. "I never felt so alone and sad but you came back…You told me you'd always choose me."
"You crazy monster…" I smiled and pulled him back into my arms, embracing him tightly. He really was crazy. Crazy, beautiful and all mine. My beautiful monster. My Original vampire husband. My golden haired dark prince.
Klaus pulled himself away and held my face with both hands. "I have loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you Elly. Do you think I would let a thing such as marriage to another even in some alternate reality change that? You belong to me Darling…"
"Body and soul forever…" I sighed.
Klaus smiled and bent to kiss my lips. I enveloped him close in my arms and we kissed sweet, gentle, tender kisses that gave in to urgent, passionate ones as we began to make love. I loved him so much. I always would. And I hated Klaus too and maybe the hatred would never leave me. But the one constant thing was, that I would always need Klaus just like he needed me. Maybe even more than needing the air to breathe. It was a huge mistake to ever need someone that much. Too be so emotionally dependant on a person that he becomes one half of you. To love him more than anything. Well almost…
I always wondered if Klaus and I were truly soulmates. Alexander had told me he never believed in such a thing. My son had always been rather cynical. I wondered where he got that from. Couldn't be from me? But seeing both his parents, Alexander would make an exception. Our love was not perfect. Definitely not your typical romantic fairy tale. I didn't even have the dream wedding that every girl craved. It was never meant to be perfect. It was destructive, unhealthy, broken beyond repair and crazy, so very crazy. But it was the only form of love that Klaus and I had ever known. Yes…we really are that twisted.
Sometimes I seek comfort in that knowledge. That whatever happens, we had each other. Me and Klaus, Klaus and I. We were the lucky ones. The two of us, inseparable throughout the centuries. We went through so much together, witnessing history as the world and time itself turned. I thought of Elijah and my sister. Sure, what they had was sweet and deep. Tragic starcrossed lovers who were separated for so long. How they must have suffered not to be together. I never wanted to go through that. To live a life without Klaus, I'd rather die.
"Elly…"
I was sitting on my swing that was in the middle of my large room when Klaus walked in. He was leaving soon. Going to Mystic Falls and meeting up with Maddox, Greta and Isobel. Klaus was going to use Isobel to get to the doppelganger. He was standing in the room wearing a black suit, with a white shirt underneath. Klaus didn't wear a tie though. He looked really good. If I wasn't so upset by his impending departure, I would have swooned.
"Do you really have to go?" I asked him. My voice was devoid of emotions. I felt so exhausted lately ever since the night I had awakened from that strange dream.
"You know I don't have a choice Darling. We've already located the doppelganger. A chance like this only comes once…"
"Every five hundred years…" I continued morosely and looked at Klaus. I wished he didn't have to go.
"Elijah is there…" Klaus spoke and gave a smile. It looked rather sinister to me. "So is Katerina and some werewolves…"
I was surprised by the revelation. Elijah…It had been a while since we had heard any news of The Original. Elijah, my sister's noble, long suffering husband. I always thought it graceful how he held himself after all that had happened. My sister's death, the fallout after the curse was placed on Klaus and the breaking up of the Original family. It was brave of him. Brave and so strong the way Elijah had carried on, despite losing his beloved wife and child. If it were me, I'd probably break down in pieces. Which I did, by the way, after Karina's death. Losing my sister took me right into the depth of madness and despair. I'd probably killed myself if not for Klaus, intervening every single time, feeding me his blood or getting his witches to save my life.
My husband walked towards me, slow, fluid and graceful like a lean panther stalking towards its prey. Klaus took my hand and pulled me up from the swing, his arms wrapped around my waist. He bent and pressed his head against mine, forehead on forehead, our noses touched. Klaus moved and captured my lips with his. I stood there and let him kiss me. I knew I wouldn't see him in months. He would be gone again, away from me. And this time Klaus was sure that he would succeed. He would break the curse and all will be well. We would finally be happy. That was what he had said, what he had promised. I wasn't so sure though. Wesley's words kept ringing in my head.
"You have a chance Elly, to undo things, make it right, change your fate…"
Of course I didn't take the chance that was offered. How could I? Everything would be different. Everything would change. But most importantly, I could never envision a world without Klaus in it. It would rip me apart. Despite everything. Our estranged marriage, his countless infidelities, the crazy fights we would get ourselves into. Klaus would not want that either, to live a life where I wasn't his. He'd rather rip my heart out than see me married to his brother. It was sweet in a way, if one could see through the fucked up, twisted, fatal romance of it all.
"I love you so much Elly…" Klaus whispered as he held me so close to him.
Klaus swayed gently with me with in his arms. It was like we were dancing except there was no music. We didn't need it. He started humming that haunting lullaby. It was our song, words that I never knew from an Old World tongue that wasn't mine.
"Whatever happens…promise me you won't leave… Wait till I return." Klaus spoke and looked at me. His pale blue eyes probed mine. I saw the fear there. He did not want to lose me.
"I'll be here when you come back Niklaus." I said and gave him a sweet smile.
Klaus nodded and kissed me again. He carried me to bed and I lied in his arms, my head resting on his chest as he stroked my hair gently. I wondered what he had dreamed of. Klaus wouldn't say much but the dream affected him I supposed. He was so clingy with me since that night the both of us had woken up from our strange dreams. So reluctant to be away from me until tonight. Klaus had to leave soon and break his curse and be all that he could. I snuggled closer in my husband's arms. I love you Niklaus…So very much… Maybe it would change, my love for him but at that moment, lying in Klaus' arms, there was nowhere else I'd rather be. I laughed inwardly as I closed my eyes. I had gotten too sentimental in my old age. What would Karina say?