-Eight-
The next morning I found myself lying in an unfamiliar bed, but Nik reassured my heart I was safe. He stood in front of his window, hands clasped behind his back in strength and power. I stand and pull on his white button down from the ball last night, walking to his side.
"Good morning, little noble."He says emotionlessly, calling me by the Spanish and Italian meaning of my name. He had never down that before. I look at him questioningly, but he turns his head away from my gaze.
"Nikky, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong last night?"I ask, worried his family didn't like me. He scoffs and turns toward me, tears in his eyes.
"No, my dear. You're perfect."He says, forcing a smile as he grips my sides and pulls me into a kiss. A tear slides down his cheek and onto mine, as if saying goodbye. What was wrong?
"Nik..."I start to say once he pulls away until he grips my jaw and forces me to look directly in his eyes.
"No, Adelina. Listen to me very carefully. I am a monster, a freak of nature and you are not safe with me anymore."He says smoothly, voice cracking ever so faintly in pain.
"I want you to get dressed and pack your things. As soon as you step out of this room I want you to forget about me. Every memory, every dream. Nothing will remain of me in your beautiful mind."He goes on, more tears dampening his cheeks.
"You are strong, beautiful and quite compelling."He says with a faint laugh of irony.
"But I am a beast and I must set you free before I hurt you."He says, pressing on the sensitive skin under my ribs. I wince and whimper. He closes his eyes, jarring my need to close my own, and kisses my forehead.
"Go."He whispers before disappearing. I get dressed in the clothes that were laid out on the bed next to me. Bags were sitting at the door. I sigh, feeling slightly lost as I walk toward the door.
"Hey there. Have fun with Nikky last night?"Rebekah laughs, taking my arm as I open the door and leading me out of the house.
"Who?"I ask. The man she referred to drew a blank to me. Maybe I had too much to drink and forgot. I shrug, leaving her with a questioningly glance standing at the door as I climb into my car and drive home. Even though something major felt to be missing in my heart, I made it home safely.
The next few weeks seemed to go on normally, though my sleep schedule was quite a mess. I couldn't sleep most of the time and when I did I felt cold, dead and alone. Nothing showed behind my eyes. No movies, no familiar faces in memories, nothing but darkness. It left me feeling empty until the day I had no choice but to smile. Graduation day.
Everyone had been asking where Nik was, why I wasn't talking to him, why I wasn't drawing him, but I didn't know that name. Nik, Niklaus, Klaus. None of it rang a bell. Though my drawings captured a sense I never knew. A happier time that I could feel in his eyes.
"Adi, you coming?"Caroline calls, hand outstretched for me in her red cap and gown. Her heels clashed with the gown but made me smile. I wore a short white lace dress with a black belt and black heels. I walk toward her, taking her hand and letting her lead me through the motions. Stefan kept his eyes on us, but never moving. He refused to pester me, now of all times. I turned to Damon and clung to him. He held me, rubbing my back as if to warm me up. I wasn't cold. I was dying inside. Something wasn't right.
"Hey there gorgeous."Rebekah laughs, walking toward me and hugging me. I smile and hug her, watching as a man walks away from us. A man who looked familiar but much too hidden and far away for me to recognize.
"I just wanted to offer you on behalf of the Mikaelson family,"She says sweetly, holding my hands. "but mostly Nik and I,"She laughs, whispering the pronouns. Who was this man? "To take our private Jet to and from Barcelona, Spain."She says sweetly. I smile and hug her in thanks, then Zach for letting me go and Damon for talking him into letting me go alone. I pull away and look at her.
"I don't understand something, though."I say, looking at everyone before walking to get my diploma.
"Who's Nik?"I ask, watching as pain, shock and anger cross Rebekah's face. What had I done? Did she know him? Obviously she did, but where from?