Chapter 41

Devotio mori

Zora was sitting on a bed looking at Kol cautiously. She wasn't sure at all could she trust him. She was very nervous being in a same hotel room with him. Kol was sitting on an armchair watching TV. He noticed her looking at him and grinned.

"Relax sweetheart, I'm not going to bite you."

She didn't know what to say. Maybe she should just leave… Zora froze when she heard a knock from the door. She looked at Kol who didn't seem surprised at all.

"It's ok", he said when he went to the door.

Zora saw Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, Finn and Nathan. She jumped up and tried to back away. Kol had betrayed her.

"Zora", Klaus said when he approached her cautiously.

There was no way out. She was trapped. Zora started to panic.

"Please, I didn't mean to do it, I swear, please don't kill me", she pleaded desperately.

They all looked stunned.

"What…" Klaus started.

"Apparently the men who took her tried to rape her so she killed them", Kol said casually.

Klaus' face went blank. Everyone else seemed shocked. Zora was looking at them one by one. She was panicking.

"I didn't mean to do it, I swear I didn't. Please…"

"It's ok Zora", Elijah said calmly. "No one is going to hurt you."

Zora looked at him disbelievingly.

"But Esther said…" she started before she realized what she was doing. She covered her mouth with her hand.

There was a moment of silence.

"I told you", Kol said looking very pleased with himself.

Zora couldn't understand what was going on. Elijah and Finn looked troubled and Rebekah angry. Klaus' face was still emotionless and Nathan seemed very pale. Zora looked at him.

"Are you alright Nathan?" she asked.

He didn't look at her.

"Sure", he murmured.

"So what did you tell mommy and daddy?" Kol asked.

"That we are going to look for Zora", Elijah replied. "What a damn mess…"

"I can't believe mother would do something like this", Finn said. "Why would she want to harm that girl?"

"Excuse me", Nathan said tensely. "Klaus, could I have a word with you outside?"

"Not now", Klaus replied without looking at him. He was still looking at Zora.

"Yes now!" Nathan yelled.

Everyone turned to look at him. Zora took a step closer to him.

"Are you alright…"

"No! Stay away from me!" he yelled.

Zora was hurt and confused. She couldn't understand why he was acting like this. He had always been nice to her, as far as she could remember.

"Klaus, now!" he said and stormed out.

Klaus seemed to finally understand that this was serious so he followed Nathan outside.

"What the hell…" he started.

"You must kill me", Nathan interrupted him.

Klaus was stunned.

"What are you talking about?"

"You must do it now or Zora will die", he said tensely.

Klaus grabbed Nathan's throat and pushed him against the wall.

"I'm definitely not in a good mood so start talking now."

Nathan looked at him calmly.

"We cursed her. And if she would ever use her abilities to hurt someone, I would be forced to execute the curse. I don't have a choice, I made a blood oath."

Klaus stared at him furiously.

"What kind of curse?"

"Devotio mori", Nathan replied emotionlessly.

"A death curse? You placed a death curse on her?"

Nathan nodded.

"Yes, there's no time to explain, I can barely control myself. You must kill me, right now."

Klaus looked at him coldly.

"No problem."

...

"Where the hell are they?" Mikael asked.

Esther was sitting calmly in front of the fireplace.

"They are out looking for that girl who you were supposed to handle my husband", she replied.

Mikael gave her annoyed look.

"I am telling you, I looked everywhere. Somehow she managed to just disappear."

"It won't matter; I always have a backup plan." Esther sighed. "I was just hoping that I would never have to use it."

"What plan?" Mikael asked.

"Well, it turned out that dear Nathaniel managed to do something right. He placed a death curse on her. It will only have to be activated."

Mikael stared at her disbelievingly.

"You could just kill her? Why the hell hadn't you done it already?"

Esther looked at him calmly.

"Because she is connected to my son so activating the curse would kill them both."

Mikael's eyes widened.

"That's perfect! It would make an end of this once and for all!"

"He is still my son, Mikael and I will not kill him unless it is absolutely necessary."

They both turned to the door when they heard someone clapping.

"Bravo, that truly makes you the mother of the year", Klaus said.

Esther stood up.

"Niklaus… I know what you must think…"

"Oh, I seriously doubt that."

Elijah appeared next to him. He was holding Zora's hand. She was looking at Esther emotionlessly.

"Elijah…" Esther started.

He was looking at her coldly. In a next second Finn, Kol and Rebekah were standing by their side.

"My children…"

"Save it mommy", Kol said. "We know everything."

Mikael moved next to Esther. She was looking at her children.

"Fine, in that case I ask you whose side are you on, your own mother or abomination that should have never been born."

"I believe I will choose the abomination", Elijah said coldly.

"Me too", Rebekah said.

"And me", Kol added.

Esther looked at Finn.

"My son, tell me that you are on my side."

Finn looked at her calmly.

"I can not do that mother since I don't approve what you have done."

Mikael laughed.

"You are all weak and pathetic. And you will all pay for it!"

Black veins were appearing under his eyes. Everyone else followed his example. Klaus' eyes were turning yellow.

"Let's settle this then."