Chapter Nine
Isabella's POV
After that intimate moment, Klaus didn't expect anything in return. I knew that I would return the favor in the future when I was ready. In the meantime, he took me hiking. When we got to the top of the mountain, there was a beautiful waterfall. It was tall, the height of the very large hill and for some reason the sound of the water traveling along the hillside before being deposited with a crash on the bottom reminded me of the beach and the sound of the waves rolling and meeting the shore in a burst of passion.
"What are you thinking about, love?" Klaus asked. Ever since he ate me out, he's been holding my hand. It makes the situation just a little less awkward. Maybe I let him go to fast. Jesus Christ I haven't even kissed a boy yet! He gave me an orgasm before we even kissed. Not like I'm complaining but still...
"I'm thinking about the beach," I said, "I've only been a few times, but I miss it."
"Don't worry. I'll take you there one day," Klaus said.
"Elijah said that you want to leave soon to protect me. Protect me from what?" I asked.
With a solemn tone and serious over the top dramatic look on his face he answered my question with, "Over the years, my family and I have made more enemies than friends. They know that they can't kills us without eliminating an entire bloodline so they would most likely seek you out and harm you or worse just to get to us."
"But I cannot leave and go only God knows where with a bunch of strangers!" I fumed. "Aunt Jenna won't allow it! Neither will Alaric, Elena, Jeremy, or Stefan!"
"I can allows compel them," Klaus smirked running a cupped hand gently along my jawline. It was comforting even the sparks.
"You can't do that!" I protested pulling my hand out of his own and taking a step back.
"And why not?" he challenged crossing his arms over his chest.
"Its not right to manipulate the minds of your family and friends," I reasoned with him, "the others may not be acquainted with you, but you and Stefan use to be close."
I try not to think about what Elena told me about Stefan and another one of his ripper stages in life. He use to hang out with Klaus and his sister, Rebekah. They did awful cruel things, far worse than draining a human of its blood.
Even now, almost a century later, there's a connection a sense of comradery that they can not shake.
"Sure, Stefan and I are close, but do remember that once upon a time I compelled him too," Klaus said.
"Then you won't compel them because you can't compel me. Its wrong," I said. He looked away not meeting my eyes. Wait a second- a thousand thoughts went through my mind causing my brain to freeze up momentarily like when your computer gets stuck. Still, it didn't take me long to put together the pieces.
"You compelled me," I stated my tone a reflection of everything I felt shock and anger.
"No I-well I-" He began before I cut him off. His stuttering was proof of what I already knew.
"What did you say? What did you make me do?" I demanded to know. I was panicking. I didn't like feeling weak like I couldn't trust the other half of my soul, but I couldn't.
"Nothing, its not a big deal. Why are you getting so worked up about it?" he tried to brighten the mood, but surprisingly (note my sarcasm) it wasn't working.
"Whatever is lurking in the dark will soon be brought to the light no matter what so you better start talking Klaus," I said threateningly.
"Or what? What will you do?" he said before continuing, "If I wanted to I could compel you again, make you forget all of this. I could tell you that I am king of the world and you would believe me."
"You wouldn't because you are not a coward," I said somehow in the midst of this drama, calm. "The way Elijah spoke I thought that you guys like what we have, but do you? Do you really? What do you expect to get out of this deceitful relationship?"
"You are mine," he growled.
"I am not a possession, Klaus," I stood up for myself. Even as I did I felt guilty and found myself unable to thing of a single horrendous thought about Klaus.
"I know," he said walking towards me until there was only the smallest inch of space keeping us apart. He gazed deep into my eyes until he found my soul. I wondered if he liked what he saw. "Over the centuries, I have been more alone than not. Sometimes because of my own making."
"I'm sure daggering your siblings would do it," I teased him.
"Well, yes," he said then something softened in his face as he continued talking, "It would be nice to have a partner, somebody I could share my experiences with. I may not know much about you except that you are beautiful, pure, and innocent. I'll do anything to keep you that way. I'll do anything to protect you."
"I understand, but I can't leave my family. We've already lost our parents," I said, "I've always been sort of lost. Elena has her writing hobby and she has good grades, good enough to become a doctor. Jeremy likes to protect the town from evil vampires, but I don't know who I am. I've always had them. I've always been the sweetheart in town, everybody's friend, everybody's sister."
"What will you be without them?" he finished my thought with a horrified look on his face. "You believe that your only purpose is being part of a family, how wrong you are. As my soulmate...and my brother's, you will be worshipped, feared, loved, envied. You are amazing and young. Over time, you will become confident and that is when you will realize who you are, who you were always meant to be. Great."
I was shocked over his words. Did he really think that high of me?
"Don't worry. You can still spend as much time with your family as you need before we leave. We will always come back to visit and I have assigned bodyguards to protect you," he said.
"Really? Bodyguards?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Yes, I was serious about your safety, but don't worry you will hardly notice them," he said making me snort.
"Now, before we leave how about I take care of that compulsion?" he asked. He looked into my eyes and said, "You can think whatever you want to about me. I can only hope that its positive."
What?
Elijah's POV
"Rebekah, may I ask why you are calling?" I said sitting in my black SUV that was still parked in front of Isabella's house. I didn't know what to do with my day. I thought that I would be spending it with her.
"I made a terrible mistake, Elijah," Rebekah said from the other end sounding worried.
"Rebekah, what did you do?"
"That little Bennett witch and Damon broke into the house and took the white oak stake. I only wished to confront them, but Damon didn't see me, so he drove off the road," she ranted.
I paled. "Is everybody alright?" I asked.
"I tried to heal them with my blood, but its not working," Rebekah fussed, "I think that the witch and Elena are dead."
"How-how did it happen? You need to leave before Klaus finds you. You know how he gets when he's mad," I said, "Rebekah, how could you be so reckless?"
Even though I was angry with her, I didn't wish for Klaus to eliminate her from this earth.
"I'm sorry, Elijah. I only wanted to talk, maybe kill the witch and Damon, but not Elena. Klaus is going to be so angry when he realizes that he can't make anymore hybrids," Rebekah rambled.
"Are you sure they're dead?" I said concerned, knowing that Isabella will be devastated.
"Elena almost died on impact when she hit her head against her seat. Damon tried to go back to save the little witch, but he was too late. She had already drowned. Thankfully, Stefan saved Elena's brother," Rebekah clarified.
"Isabella is going to be so upset," I was worried.
"Who is Isabella?" Rebekah was confused.
"Elena's younger sister. I guess was Elena's sister. She's very important to us. I'll explain it to you later," I said even though I didn't know when I would see her again.
Isabella's POV
After hiking, Klaus took me to a fancy restaurant that I would never be able to afford to go to on my own. It was a beautiful dinner. After our disagreement, we talked and laughed.
There were pretty pink flowers and white wine. I'm underage, but it seems like when you have enough money, nobody cares. There was old, classical music and dancing. I felt like I had stepped into the wrong era when courtships were still popular along with Victorian dresses and chivalry.
I didn't want it to end and was in no way prepared to what I was coming home to. Elijah's face...he looked so worried. He kept saying that it would be okay, it would be okay, its going to be okay.
I screamed when he told me the news. I was angry at his sister, but not at Klaus and Elijah, they are two different people. I wanted to runaway. I wanted to be left alone, but they clung to me and I found comfort in their strong embrace, but I was still drowning, drowning, drowning.
Klaus wanted to go off to find his sister and punish her for what she had done, but Elijah convinced him to stay for me.
It was like everything around me had slowed down and all I could hear were my ears ringing. All I could feel was the tears making their way down my way and the sobs in my throat, but I was numb when it came to my heart breaking. But it was breaking.
Jeremy was in no better shape, but he too managed to hug me. How could he stand affection right now at a time like this? I wanted to throw up.
In all of my short seventeen years, I have gone through pain, but nothing like this not even when my parents died. It was an unsaid thing, but I knew or thought that I would have my siblings, both of my siblings by my side no matter what especially during throughout times like this.
I was wrong.
The next week, I skipped school and slept in my bed or lied down on the couch. After everything that we've been through and survived and this was how Elena dies? Off the same bridge that took out my parents?
"Please, talk to me. Eat something," Elijah begged. I hadn't spoken a single word since Elijah told me what had had happened, and I've eaten very little. I couldn't. I was in a constant state of shock, trying to grasp my breath much less make a sound.
I felt like this was a reminder, a sick, painful reminder that I was not living in a fairytale with my two princes. This is reality. It sucks. I. Don't. Like. It.
Jeremy, Aunt Jenna, Stefan, and Alaric weren't doing much better. Aunt Jenna and Alaric had already started fighting. Stefan the last I heard had run off and was currently leaving bloody foot prints behind as he makes his way through North Carolina. The ripper is back people. I'm pretty sure that Jeremy stays out late to drink and smoke pot with his friends. I would try to snap him out of it, if I could even snap myself out of whatever funk I'm in.
Nobody has heard from Damon or Rebekah. I miss Damon. He was my friend, one of those friends that only exist when your sister and your best friend are alive.
This was the first time I've ever seen Klaus look afraid. Given I haven't known him very long, but still. He looks like a bomb that is ready to go off. He had circles under his crazed eyes and a frown on his face. I wish that I could do something about it, but I can't because I'm drowning.
The last thing we needed was a visit from a certain, distinct doppelgänger. Thank God Alaric and Aunt Jenna had had gone on a date and wouldn't be back for a long time. But sure enough there was a knock on the door one evening. I hadn't bothered getting up from the couch to go to bed because its not like I'm going to sleep that long anyway and when I do which is rare, I have bad nightmares.
"Hello to my sister from another doppelgänger," Katherine came prancing into the living room dressed like a prostitute wearing all black leather and of course looking like my deceased sister who rests in peace. "Does that even make sense?"
"Katerina, what are you doing here?" Klaus said zipping across the room lightening speed. He grabbed her around the neck and pushed her against the wall. "Do you have a death wish?"
"Well considering I'm already dead then no," Katherine said with an evil smirk. "I heard from Jeremy who so graciously let me in that Elena passed away. I'm so sorry, Bella...is it? Is that your name?"
I didn't reply. I could tell that she wasn't sorry. I didn't care.
"Stop it and tell me what you are doing here before I rip your bloody throat out!" Klaus roared momentarily startling me before I descended back into my perpetual fog.
"You wouldn't dare. Not in front of your precious true love. Word gets around," she said.
"But we could take this outside and kill you out there..." Elijah spoke up.
"Or," Katherine pulls away from Klaus' grasp and walks away towards the other side of the room, "I could spill some news that you'll be interested in."
"I highly doubt it," Klaus exclaimed.
"Let her talk so that she can leave A-S-A-P," Jeremy said standing tall and stoic like a soldier who had just been through war and back. I couldn't look at him without thinking about Elena, so I didn't look at him.
"Listen to the Gilbert boy. Let me talk," Katherine said.
"I'm not doing this for you, Katherine. You are a monster," Jeremy addressed her.
"Anyway, as I was saying I've heard from several different sources something that's going to be hard for you to believe. Betrayal. Heartbreak," Katherine began sounding like she was auditioning for a role on Broadway.
"We already have enough of that, thanks," Jeremy interrupted.
"This is different," Katherine said, "Once during your long life Klaus you experienced what its like to have an apprentice, a son. Are you catching on yet?"
"Just spit it out, Katherine," Klaus snapped.
"I just wanted to say that Elijah it is really good to see you. I hope that this will change your mind about me," Katherine winked at him.
"Definitely not," Elijah quipped.
"Sure, whatever you say. But I'll always be here if you need a break from your life. I know that it has to be hard to be Klaus' brother," Katherine said.
"After this, I hope to never see you again, Katherine," Elijah countered. If I wasn't struck by grief, I'd be pissed for her trying to take my man, but I don't have it in me.
"So as I was saying, Marcel Gerard is alive," Katherine informed us. Who is Marcel? Why have I never heard of his name before?
Elijah and Klaus were both shocked.
Klaus was the first one to break the silence. Why does he always have to raise his voice? Talk about some serious anger issues.
"It can't be! He burned down with the city after my father came to town!" he yelled. Thank God vampires cannot have kids. That can't be good in a child's life. I don't remember my father or mother, both who shall rest in peace, ever raising their voices in front of me.
That's when I realized something. I can never have kids. Huh. The old me wouldn't have liked this, but this me, the grieving side of myself, doesn't know what to think. I don't want anything anymore.
And what are they saying about Marcel? Who is he and what fire are they referring to? What happened?
"My brother isn't lying. Katerina is this just another one of your tricks? Are you trying to manipulate us? What do you get out of this?" Elijah demanded. I could tell that he still wasn't over her. He's still heartbroken over my sister's other shadow. Ugh.
"Well, if you don't believe me why don't you guys take a little road trip and check it out yourself? See if I'm lying," Katherine eyed me, "it looks like your girlfriend could use a change of scenery."
Klaus didn't like the way she was speaking to me. He took a taunting step in her direction. "Yes, I could go pay New Orleans a visit and since you have provided me with this startling news, I could kill you now. You are of no more use to me," Klaus threatened her.
As much as I didn't like Katherine (I didn't know if it was because of all of the terrible things she had done or the fact that she was a reminder of my sister), I don't think that I could deal with death paying us another visit.
Elijah could sense that. Even though they hardly knew me because of the bond they could read me so well. "Klaus don't," he said, "let her go."
So he did. Katherine ran out of the house, and I prayed that I would never see her again.
Later on that evening while I was pretending to be asleep so that Klaus and Elijah would leave me alone and stop asking me if I'm hungry, how I'm feeling, and to please say something, I overheard them talking.
"Klaus, we can't move her now!" Elijah said. "Look at her! She's not ready. She needs to be around family, her brother and her aunt."
"We are her family now and Marcel was once family. I need to know if Katerina was right," Klaus growled.
"What's more important? Marcel who if he is alive, hasn't bothered to pay a visit in the past one hundred years, and led us to believe that he did die or our Isabelle?" Elijah questioned him.
"What are you suggesting? That I would choose anybody over her? I would never dare. Especially not-not now when she needs us most," Klaus was offended.
"Elena's and Bonnie's funeral is in a few days," Elijah reminded him. I squeezed my eyes shut and silently sang in my head la la la la la la la! I didn't want to hear the same thing over and over again. My older, compassionate, warm, loving sister is dead.
"She could use a change of pace," Klaus countered.
"Now you are sounding like Katherine. If you are so hell bent on this, then we will convince Isabella to take a trip with us to New Orleans after the funeral," Elijah compromised.
"Oh, alright," Klaus agreed.
Whoever this Marcel Gerard is, he meant a lot to Klaus and maybe even Elijah. I would soon find out that he would start to mean a lot to me.
Do I want to go to New Orleans? Do I even have a choice? What is keeping me here in Mystic Falls?
A/N- So what do you guys think? How do you guys feel about Elena's and Bonnie's death? I know that I'm sad. Why did I do that?
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Thanks for reading!