Chapter 3

Family matters

Kansas 2006

Three blind mice, three blind mice, see how they run, see how they run, they all ran after the farmer's wife, who cut off their tails with a carving knife, did you ever see such a thing in your life, as three blind mice… Ready or not, here I come…

"Look out!" Nathan shouted.

A car honked angrily and went around her. Zora was standing in the middle of road. Nathan ran to her and dragged her back to their car. It was parked in front of a gas station.

"What the hell?" Nathan asked angrily. "I was inside maybe five minutes and you decided to take a little walk in the middle of road?"

"I… I don't know what happened. I was in the car and I closed my eyes for a second… I had this dream…"

"One of those dreams? Nathan asked.

"Yes."

"A nursery rhyme?"

"Yes, three blind mice. I remember when Lucilla used to read it to me."

Nathan seemed tense.

"That sick bastard is just trying to mess with you. He doesn't know where you are."

Zora nodded.

"I know, but I hate it."

"I know. Let's just go. I bought you a chocolate bar."

Zora smiled.

"Thanks."

They were both quiet for a while. Nathan turned a radio on.

Psycho killer. Qu'est que c'est. Fa-fa-far better. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, away. Oh, psycho killer…

Zora looked at Nathan and started to laugh. She couldn't help it. Nathan turned the radio off and bit his lip. He was laughing too. Zora couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard.

"Ok", Nathan said. "No radio then."

"I've never liked that song either", Zora said smiling.

They had been talking about Elijah before stopping for gas. He had told the truth about Klaus' associates but Nathan didn't trust him at all. Zora didn't really trust him either but he could have taken her to Klaus if he would have wanted. Zora wondered had Elijah really knew her father.

"You knew my parents, right?" she said.

"I met them, yes", Nathan replied.

"Did my father ever mention Elijah?"

"No, but I really didn't know him that well. We only met couple of times."

Zora hesitated before her next question.

"What was he like?"

Nathan seemed uncomfortable.

"Well… You have his eyes."

"Really? I would like to know what my parents looked like. I've never seen any pictures of them."

"I'm sorry but I can't help you there. I don't think there are any pictures."

"Could you… tell me something about them? Please."

Nathan was quiet for a while.

"I suppose your father was ok, being… what he was. He didn't speak much but he was very polite and I believe he truly loved your mother. They had very… complicated relationship, as you know."

"Romeo and Juliet", Zora mumbled.

"That's pretty good comparison. You can definitely call that forbidden love."

"End was the same too", Zora said quietly.

"It was their decision. They both loved you as much as any parents."

"They died because of me."

"No, as I said it was their decision. And they chose you."

Zora didn't say anything. There was no point talking about it.

"So, are you nervous seeing your sister again?" she asked.

"Stepsister", Nathan corrected. "And no, I'm not nervous. We have never been very close but she's a witch and I'm a warlock so there's some kind of loyalty between us. She might not be happy to see me but she'll help me."

"She lives by herself?"

"Yes, Meggie is not really a social type. And she can be rude sometimes so just ignore that."

"Don't worry, insults aren't a new thing for me", Zora said.

"We won't stay for long; I just need to have a word with her. One night tops."

"Sure, take your time", Zora replied.

She really didn't care what Nathans sister would say to her. She had probably heard worse things in school. Nathan hadn't asked her to go to school after New Mexico. He had been home schooling her. That had been interesting. Zora looked at huge cornfields. The sun was setting.

"Does she have a farm?" Zora asked.

"Yes, but she's not actually farming anything. She just likes to have a lot of space."

Zora was curious to meet her. Nathan turned to a smaller road. Finally they reached a nice looking red house. A dog was barking in a corral.

"Stop it Sid", a woman's voice said.

Zora saw a woman who was maybe in her early forties. She was definitely older than Nathan and they really didn't have any similar features. Nathan was tall and he had a dark hair and eyes. His sister on the other hand was quite tiny and her hair was very blond, almost white. Her eyes were pale blue. She was wearing jeans, boots and white top. It made her look even paler than she actually was. Her eyes seemed cold.

"Hello Meg", Nathan said when he got out of the car.

"Nathan", she replied coldly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Can I have a word with you?"

"Sure brother dear, come in."

Meg turned and headed to the house. Zora wasn't sure did she mean her as well.

"Come on", Nathan said.

Zora followed him insecurely. The house was decorated very composedly, there weren't many colors and everything matched perfectly. It wasn't very warm or cosy house.

"Can she wait in the living room?" Nathan asked.

"What ever", Meg said.

She didn't look at Zora.

"Watch TV, ok?" Nathan said. "This won't take long."

He followed Meg to a kitchen and closed a door behind him.

"Could you help me get some information about this vampire…"

"What the hell were you thinking bringing her here?" Meg interrupted him angrily. "She's abomination! She shouldn't exist!"

Nathan scowled her.

"Don't you speak about her like that."

"Why not? It's the truth. Her entire existence is a crime against nature."

Nathan tried to stay calm.

"A child can't choose her parents. She didn't ask for this."

Meg smiled coldly.

"You should be merciful then and end her suffering once and for all."

"How can you say that? She's innocent."

"Innocent? Really? She won't be for long when he finds her."

"I'm not going to let that happen", Nathan said tensely.

"He will kill you if you stand in his way."

"So be it then."

Meg looked at him disbelievingly.

"You would actually sacrifice your life for that thing? You choose her over your own family?"

"She is my family. And we're leaving now, this was obviously a mistake."

Nathan turned to the door but before he reached it Meg took a pan and hit him with it so hard that he fell to the floor and lost consciousness.

"Sorry, brother dear, but this ends now", Meg mumbled and took a sharp carving knife.

She hided it behind her back and smiled when she entered the living room. Zora was sitting on a couch watching TV. She stood up when she saw Meg.

"We haven't officially met", Meg said sweetly. "I'm Meg."

Zora took a step closer to her.

"Nice to meet you, I'm…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Meg stabbed her. Zora felt sudden pain in her stomach. Meg pulled the knife out and stabbed her again. This time the knife hit her lung. Zora fell to the floor gasping for air.

"Damn it", Meg said. "You are bleeding to my new carper."

Zora was going to a shock.

"We better finish this then. You should have never been born."

She raised the knife and aimed to her heart. Then there was a loud bang. Meg fell down and lied still on the floor. Nathan was standing behind her holding a gun.

"Zora!" he said and kneeled next to her. "Hey, hey, look at me. Shit! I'm so sorry."

Zora knew that she was dying. She already felt the coldness.

"Nathan…" she managed to say.

Tears were falling down her cheeks.

"Ok, ok, I'm going to fix this", Nathan said and lifted her up.

Nathan ran outside carrying Zora in his arms. He headed to a cornfield and ran as fast as he could. He didn't have time to estimate was there anyone near them.

"Zora, listen to me, you must heal yourself."

Zora was barely conscious.

"I can't… It could kill you."

"Not if I'm not near you."

Zora nodded.

"Ok, go, run!"

Nathan didn't need to be told twice. He ran. He didn't stop when corn started to die around him. Nathan ran all the way back to the house. He had killed his own sister. Nathan couldn't even think about that. He had to clean up this damn mess. Zora appeared from the black field. It looked like it would have been burned down. She seemed to be fine.

"What can I do?" she asked sounding surprisingly calm.

"We have to get rid of the body and get out of here", Nathan replied just as calmly.

"Ok. I'll get a shovel."