The original vampire sighs as he and Ismene finish burying the last of Klaus's blood lusted victims, his rampage seeming endless as they come to the to the beginning of the second day, the sun just over the horizon as the girl leans against the shovel in the ground, she lets out a deep breath and brushes some dirt from her jeans "I hate digging, it's like camping… dirty and crawling with bugs!"
Elijah lets out a long chuckle and shakes his head, sweeping away the dirt off his suit "you never where the outdoors type."
"No, I love the outdoors, I just hate what's in it!" she corrects him which only makes him laugh more and she shakes her head, still angry at him
His head falls as she passes him, picking up a small rucksack as a howl echoes the woods, he follows her and says "I understand your anger Ismene, but please try to understand mine…"
She stops walking and her face turns to him, their eyes not meeting as she says "I do understand, I really do and it sucks!"
She suddenly turns and waves her arms in defeat "I probably understand better than anyone and I don't want to, I want to hate you, but I can't because I understand what it is to hate someone you love, I'm in the same boat with Katarina! She walked into a child's life a guardian angel, only to turn around and become the devil! I hate her Elijah; sometimes I hate her so much it hurts and want her dead for what she took from me, but… I still love her, I can't help it because at the end of the day she's my mother, just like Klaus is you're brother and the facts are as simple as is… It's hard to pretend you love someone when you don't but it's harder to pretend that you don't love someone when you really do… even if you do want them dead!"
And just like that she's walking away again, her words swimming around the original as he follows her steps and he clenches his eyes in remembrance:
1540~
Elijah is passing through the halls of their latest home after seeing out the guests of the party, it was Klaus's birthday and he'd already retied with two of his female guests, Rebekah having left early with a headache, but he wondered what had happened to Ismene, who had been missing since just before the end of the festivity.
He now stands outside the girls door, but at the sound of whimpers forgets to knock and walks into the room "Ismene?"
What he finds stops him in his tracks, there laying on the floor was the young girl, staring off into the flames of the hearth a scatter of bodies around the room, some guests some servants but all very much dead "Ismene what's happened?"
She doesn't move, doesn't make another sound other than her quite sobs as he climbs over a body and kneels beside her, the scent of ale crowding the small girl, her mouth and dress glittering and flaking with the drying blood, tears steaming as her caramel orbs shine against the flames "I'll clean it up!"
He pulls some hair out of her face and shakes his head "oh Ismene… my dear what caused this?"
She doesn't move, just lays there "she was beautiful wasn't she!"
"Who?" he asks in confusion
She only sobs and clings tighter to herself "my mother… she is so very beautiful. I remember thinking it the first time I saw her I thought 'beautiful girl, why do you cry?'…"
He sighs, his head falling in understanding "yes, she is beautiful… but her kind of allure is only skin deep, she isn't half as beautiful as you!"
For over a minute she doesn't move as he consolingly strokes her hair "she was there on my wedding day and when I had my children… she was always there and then she obliterated it all, abandoned me… why?"
"She was afraid…" he offers this girl but he knows it's no excuse for her mother's crimes and treachery
They sit for a moment in silence, the licks of the fire eating the coal the only sound in the large room "their all gone now… my friends, my family… everything I cared about! I'm all alone… She did that… I hate her Elijah, I hate her with everything I am; so why does it hurt so much… why do I miss her?"
He swallows hard, unsure of what to say "because… because she is still your mother and you're not alone Ismene, you still have me!"
Her head shoots up at that, her caramel orbs swallowing his chocolate swirls as she gives a blood stained smile, her hand reaching his as she shifts, sitting up only to fall onto the original, who held her against him, waiting for the drunken girl to catch her breath. She lies on his chest, nuzzling happily and he can feel the curve of a smile in her tired, fading voice "thank you Lijie… thank you for being my friend…"
A slip of a smile comes to his lips and he rests his chin alongside her honeyed locks, her breathing steady as slumber takes her, he holds her warm body in his arms, gazing into the flames he says "you're very welcome Ismene…"
Present Day ~
They find Klaus laying against the cooling blades of grass and Ismene turns her head in respect for his nakedness and to hide her embarrassment, he wakes and Elijah takes the rucksack from the brunette, throwing it to his brother so he can dress with the clothes inside, he smiles in remembrance for the wreckage he's left in the passing hours.
Izzy turns at hearing the fly of his jeans and smiles "I had to dig!"
We walks over to her, finger under her chin and smiles "I'm sorry sweetheart; I know how you feel about dirt… but look, I'm complete!"
"Almost!" she reminds him with a tilt of her head, causing the hybrid to roll his eyes
Elijah stands defiant and interrupts the two "you've had your fun… now I believe we had a bargain!"
They stand for a moment, the blonde taunting his brother but then Izzy's voice intercept's "Klaus, don't be a tease!"
He smiles back at her with a wink "never, love!"
She shakes her head and smiles to Elijah as Klaus proclaims that all is forgiven; the blonde walking off and Ismene smiles over to her old friend, offering her hand "come on…"
Their eyes lock and she lets out a childish giggle as his hand slides into hers and she pulls him along.
They make their way back to the apartment and Elijah looks to Ismene from the back seat of the car "so I believe you have Katarina in your possession…"
Izzy beams lightly and takes in the sun on her face "yep, she's not as fun as I remember!"
"Well she is being held prisoner sweetheart, which can dampen ones mood!" Klaus smiles happily over to her
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes "whatever… oh, can we stop at Denney's?"
Elijah can't help but laugh at her, the simplest things make her happy, mostly food and he's missed her, even as his brother bites with a chuckle "if you insist!"
He's missed the old days, when they were together, happy… a family!
1563 ~
They are all sat at dinner, Rebekah beside her brothers and Ismene in the center between both "so how was your hunting trip?"
Klaus gives an annoyed sigh "unsuccessful, Katarina is a slippery thing… some things never change!"
The brunettes head falls at her mother's name, but shoots up again at someone touching her foot, her eyes meet the blue of her only female company, who offers an apologetic glance for bringing up the subject, to which the brown eyed girl nods lightly and looks to Klaus "you seem angry… aren't you the one who always says that we'll catch her, whether it be in the next week or the next millennia!"
His blue eyes meet hers and he gracelessly drops his fork on the plate "I'm annoyed! This place is boring… I miss England!"
The other three share a knowing glance, Mikael had almost caught them back in England; Niklaus had lost his favorite horse and wasn't embracing his new surroundings like he usually did. His siblings we're used to this reaction but the new member of the circle was not, she found it unsettling for him to be so miserable … annoyed, angry, happy, arrogant, mischievous, all these she was used to, could handle… but she'd never seen him upset and it put an unwanted weight on her heart. She looked to the mashed potatoes on her plate… something had to be done!
They all gasped in shock as a spoonful of creamy potatoes land on Klaus's cheek! They all look to Ismene, who is frozen in shock by her actions, her eyes meet the angry blue as he turns to her, mash still on his cheek "Ismene, what are you doing?"
His voice seems to shake her free and she smiles with a shrug "trying to lighten you up"
They all sit in silence for a moment until Rebekah bursts into a fit of laughter, Elijah trying to hide his chuckles, then mash hits the laughing blonde in the face, from Klaus and they all start throwing their food at each other, the servants looking on in horror and amusement as the four run around the room in hysterics, throwing their food at each other in glee…
Present Day ~
Katherine is biting her nails in frustration, two days, two fucking days she's been trapped in this place and can't help but wonder what's happened, obviously Klaus isn't dead or she'd be free… but what of Ismene, what of her little girl.
When Stefan arrives she quickly bites "Two days, I've been waiting. I'm supposed to be free of Klaus' compulsion by now. He's supposed to be dead!"
"We ran into some complications" he says in a matter of fact way
She crosses her arms and asks, a slight tremble in her voice "well what happened? Was Ismene there, is she dead?"
He gives her a confused look for a moment, wondering why Katherine would ask such a thing when she suddenly pins him to the wall, Klaus walking in with Elijah on his heels, Katherine giving a sigh of relief at seeing her daughter walk into her prison, a motion that isn't lost on the younger Salvatore
Ismene walks past them as Stefan and Elijah begin to bicker about the importance of family, mother and daughter sharing a sly glance at the subject, but just then, as Elijah turns and Klaus stabs his brother through the heart, she scream's "NO!"
Running to him as Klaus let's him drop to the ground, his skin grays and his brown eyes looking to the horrified girl, holding him in her arms… the last sight he sees are her tears for him, before slipping into a comatose state. She sobs and glares back to her leader "you promised him!"
"And I'm keeping my promise, he is to be reunited with our family…" he says simply
Tears roll down her cheeks for the man she had just a few hours ago been so furious with while cradling Elijah's head and her gaze now rises to Klaus "you said we'd be together, we'd be like before…"
He sighs and kneels down before her "and we will be, but we need to take this one step of a time, you have to be patient Izzy"
She gently lays the originals head down and stands rushing over to Klaus and starts to hit him hard in the chest "I'm tired of waiting… you let him go, give him back to me!"
He quickly grabs her shoulders and pins her to the counter, harshly grabbing her face "choose Ismene… him or me?"
Stefan and Katherine look to the scene with wide eyes as her caramel orbs close and a tear rolls down her cheek "Nicky… please…"
Instantly his grip loosens, his hands no longer harsh and hurtful as he pulls her to him, cradling her head as he looks to her "choose…"
Her eyes open and the blue of his ocean orbs pull her in; she knows who he is and what he's capable of but now as she looks from his crystal shined eyes to the motionless body of Elijah she nods, her hand raising to the one holding her face lovingly "you… it's always you…"
He smiles and leans in kissing the crown of her head "that's my girl…"
The hybrid then turns to his old friend and threatens him, putting his next plan into action, but Ismene doesn't look as her mother speaks up for the boy or Klaus drives a stake just shy of his heart, her eyes fixed on the grayed figure laying on the floor… her Lijie…
Klaus walks to the kitchen and pours two glasses of blood, walking round the island and handing a glass to the silent Izzy as he offers Stefan a very simple deal, turn ripper and save his brother or stay broody and watch him die!
Izzy sips at her glass as Klaus calls Katherine over, but as he bites her Izzy storms over, grabbing her mother's arm "what have you done!"
He looks to her with a pensive expression as he rips into his wrists, forcing the infected vampire to drink and the wound heals, showing Stefan his wanton cure, while he and Katarina look to the Izzy, one in hope, the other in deliberation…
"Izzy… why don't you take Elijah, fulfill my promise!" he offers to his vampire who simply nods and watches as she walks over to his brother, carefully picking him up and walking out of the apartment, ready to get back their old friend Stefan
Izzy walks into the warehouse where the original family is being kept "I have a body in the car that needs a coffin! Go!"
The compelled men move quickly to get to work, Izzy walking into the compartment where the coffins are and stands beside a familiar coffin, opening the lid with a coy smile "Hey Bex… so Klaus is a full-fledged hybrid now, he seems happy… remember I told you we found Elijah, well Klaus daggered him, he'll be in here soon, it sucks but… it looks like we're getting Stefan back so, yeah, Klaus says we'll be together again… but you know Niklaus, the man with a plan!"
As the men bring in the new coffin she looks over, wondering where it could have come from so quickly, then instantly knowing Klaus was prepared from the moment she revealed Elijah's presents, a bitter laugh bubbles in her throat as she watches them put the body in gently and then looks to her blonde friend "yeah… Klaus thinks of everything! Night Bex…"
She smiles down Rebekah and closes the casket, she makes her way over to the new addition, shooing away the workmen and sighing at the image before her, she kneels beside the coffin and gently traces one of the graying lines on his face:
1552~
Ismene is wondering around the house after a midnight snack, but as the breeze of the terrace doors and walks outside, finding Elijah sitting on the steps leading into the garden "you're up late…"
He turns to her with a smile and answers "so it would seem… would you care to join me?"
She smiles and takes a seat beside him, fixing her nightdress as they stare out to the magnificent garden and the moonlit sky, the stars glittering above them "it's so beautiful…"
"Yes… you are!" his voice smiles and she turns to him with a coy smile
They sit there for along moment and two brown eyes meet and each lean in, his lips grazing hers as they give a sweet long kiss, when they pull apart she smiles and her wraps his arm around her "do you think we'll be together forever…"
He smiles and shakes his head "I don't know Ismene, but we're together now, we're happy and no matter what… you and I shall always be friends!"
She nods and leans in giving him a deep kiss and then nuzzling into his warmth under the stars, he kiss the top of her head with a knowing smile, pulling her close, they won't last because she isn't his, never will be and one day she'll realize that her heart lays with another, one she swore her loyalty to and unwittingly gave her heart…
Present Day ~
A tear rolls down her cheek at the memory of what was, she loved Elijah, still does, but when push came to shove she chose Klaus, she'd chosen him long before Elijah and she had their first stolen kiss, when he'd left it had hurt, like so much of her life… but there has only ever one time she's been heart broken and that was by no man.
She leans over him, placing a tender kiss against her lovers lips "always Lijie…"
She feels a presence and sighs deeply "what are you doing here? I thought Klaus would be longer breaking little Stefan!"
She then turns to find her mother at the end of the cargo hold "I just came to say goodbye…"
Izzy looks at her in confusion then nods "oh right, the Vervain… well, bye then!"
She watches as Katherine walks closer to her until their toe to toe "I know how much you must hate me Ismene…"
The girl stands strong and defiant against her mother "I let you down and I'm sorry, I'm so sorry… I know I'm not a good person, I know I'm selfish and self-righteous…"
Her hand comes to cup her daughter's cheek "but you're my daughter and the one thing I ever did right… I know that somewhere in there is my little girl, who was scared of talking to boys and played in any weather! I know you hate me, but I'll always love you… my little Meanie…" Katherine sobs slightly, caressing the necklace around her daughter's neck
Their eyes meet and Ismene is torn between ripping her mother's tongue out and flying into her arms, the thing was she missed her mother, missed her friend … "I'm not a little girl anymore… I don't need you!"
She nods and gives a sad smile "I know… I just hope one day you can forgive me and try to understand… I only did what I thought was best!"
"For you … you should have just let me go!" Izzy says matter-of-factly, watching as her mother gives a nod and backs away, leaving her again
Once she's out of sight the brunette crumbles, her hand catching the side of Elijah's coffin with tears pouring down her cheeks, she hated Katarina, she hated Klaus… she knew why he'd let Katherine go, could see it in his eyes after her reaction to him having bitten her mother, she wasn't ready!
So yes, she hated him just as she hated Katherine, because she found it amazing how they both repeatedly broke her heart and she still loved them both with all the little pieces!