Poison & Wine - Chapter XXX
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"You're kidding me, right?" I asked, holding up the bag Klaus had just handed me that he said was my Homecoming attire. Currently, we were on a plane back to Mystic Falls and evidently we were going to a Homecoming party. Couldn't I have just stayed in Portland one more day so I could miss this? "I mean, you're a hybrid, don't you have better things to do than go to a high school party?"
"Oh, it's more of a wake," Klaus said as he sat down.
"A wake? A wake for who?" I asked.
"We'll be landing in an hour, so you might want to go get ready because we'll be going straight to the party," He dodged the question.
"Once again with the being open, Nikki. Do you want to get in another fight?" I asked before I went to the bathroom to get ready. Once I made sure that the bathroom was locked, I pulled out the dress and a sigh immediately escaped my lips.
The dress was… Well, it was cream-colored and strapless; the bottom of the dress would stop at my knees. The dress had a corset top; while it was plain on the front, the back had a rich gold flowers that descended down to the bottom of the dress. After the corset ended, the skirt cascaded down beautifully. As I said, the entire front was plain except for the top if the corset and the bottom of the skirt being laced in gold. The stilettos were gold as well, and when I reached into the bag one more time, I found a white rose, the tips were laced with gold.
How much did this cost? I pushed that out of head and started getting ready.
"Andy?" Klaus called from the other side of the door. "Andy, love, we're about to land. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said, staring at myself in the mirror. "Promise you won't laugh?"
"I would never." I sighed before opening the door. Instantly, Klaus's face lit up at seeing me. "Andy, you're… you look…"
"Just spit it out," I folded my arms.
"You look breathtaking," He breathed out. "The dress suits you just like I knew it would."
"Did I just take Niklaus Mikaelson's breath away?" I couldn't help but say aloud then I noticed he was already dressed up, too, and he had a gold handkerchief that matched my dress in his suit pocket. "You don't look bad yourself, Klaus, you clean up nice. So what bimbo is your date?"
"I've not asked her just yet and this one isn't a bimbo."
"Well, get to it, then."
"Andrea Gilbert," Klaus grinned. "Will you do me the honor of going with me to Homecoming?"
I tapped my chin, acting like I was debating it before I smiled at him. "Why not? I let a vampire escort me last time to a party, why not a hybrid this time? Just don't expect to get lucky, or you'll be going dateless. And this is purely platonic."
"Why don't we go take a seat?" Klaus took a step back and gestured to the seats.
"Right," I nodded, walking past him to my seat. "You just looked at my ass, didn't you?"
"That wouldn't be very gentlemanly, would it?" I could tell he was smirking from the sound of his voice.
"Not at all," I smoothed out the dress and stared out the plane window as we descended. My stomach started churning at the realization that this was real; I was going home and I would see Elena and Jeremy. I didn't even realize how much I missed them until right now or how little I had given them thought while I was in Portland. That was quite bittersweet to think about.
"What are you thinking about?"
I looked over at Klaus. "Elena and Jeremy."
"Ah," He said knowingly, looking ahead and away from me. "Do you think of them often?"
"Of course, they're my brother and sister, we're blood," I looked at him with curiosity. "Don't you think of your siblings often?"
"All the time," It was barely audible, and I wouldn't able to hear it if not for sitting right beside of him.
"Kol… He's your brother, isn't he?"
"Precisely."
"He's–He's quite arrogant, is he not?"
"You don't know the half of it," Klaus said and I laughed to which he joined in.
"Your family, of what I've experienced in my dreams, is very lovely," I said in an attempt to get him to open up. "Your father, though, is harsh. Mikael and Esther scared me most, but I think because the way they treated you poorly." Klaus kept his gaze away from me. "Klaus, look at me. Look at me," I demanded until he finally looked over at me. "I wouldn't wish the way you were treated on my worst enemy, because I know how it feels to not be number one just not as much as you; I know what it feels like to feel alone, to be alone."
He had tears glistening in his eyes, and was searching my eyes. Frankly, I was surprised that came out of me; I mean, shouldn't Klaus be my worst enemy considering what he's done? Suddenly the plane door opened, indicating that we had landed it was time for us to leave.
"Come on," Klaus stood up. "Time for our party."
I stood up and followed him; since when was it our party?
Klaus and I entered the Lockwood mansion, our arms linked. "You've got to be kidding me," I said as I caught a glimpse of the band outside. People were drinking and dancing around. "How did you set this up in less than a day?"
"I'm a very powerful person, Andy, you should know that by now," Klaus led me out to the backyard where a huge crowd was gathered around the band performing. I noticed they were playing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and looked over to Klaus.
"Are you kidding me?!" I asked with a grin.
"I pulled a few strings," He winked, directing his dimples at me. "I happen to know the guy throwing the party."
"Oh, you do? Maybe you should tell him he is not getting lucky tonight despite all the things he's done to seduce me."
"He said he's willing to wait as long as it takes."
"Well, it'll be quite some time!"
"Dance with me!"
"Is that a demand or a request?"
"Both!" He grabbed my hand and spun me around in a circle before pulling me close. "Ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
I laughed, throwing my head back. "So you're a Batman fan?"
"I've seen the films a few times," He said as we slowly danced with one another despite it being at the height of the song.
"You do realize your cool meter just went up a notch for quoting that?" I questioned. "But you're still not cool."
"I'll take it," He whispered in my ear before spinning me again.
We danced in silence, just staring at one another. His eyes were really beautiful now that I was looking into them; they were much more beautiful than they were in my dreams. I felt myself slowly getting lost in them as he twirled me around. I think we continued dancing like that for another song or two before Klaus stopped it.
"I need to go take care of something," He said, kissing my knuckles. "Save me another dance, my lady?"
I rolled my eyes at him, but I was shaken up from that dance. "Run along now." He smirked at me before disappearing and I finally took a breath. What was going on?
"So you're back."
I turned toward the voice, a smile breaking across my face. "Ty!"
"Good to have you back, but… What's going on with Klaus and you?" He gestured to where Klaus had disappeared.
"Nothing, he just kidnapped me," I answered almost too quickly. I cleared my throat. "So where is everyone?"
"Somewhere. I saw Stefan walk in not too long ago," He glanced around.
"Aren't those heavy?" I gestured to the beer crates he held.
"For you, probably, but for me? Nah."
"That's right," I exhaled. "Klaus mentioned you're a hybrid now."
"And proud of it, though I was werewolf before so it would not have been heavy then."
"You're back," Stefan said as he walked up to us
"Hey, Stefan! Yeah, I had fun being kidnapped by Klaus, but what's up with you?" I asked drly, remembering our phone conversation from the other day.
"Calm down, Andy," Stefan looked over at Tyler. "Nice party you've got going on, Tyler."
"Thanks, but I'm not the one throwing it. I'm just doing what Klaus wants," Tyler explained.
"What do you mean?"
"It's not a party, Stefan. It's a wake," I said in a flat tone.
Klaus walked out on the stage and the crowd cheered. "Good evening everyone! I wanna thank you for being here with me to celebrate! It's been a long time coming!" He said into the mic.
"See you guys around," I muttered before going toward the house, bumping straight into Caroline.
"Andy!" She squealed.
"Oh, hey," I greeted lamely.
"That's all you say after you were kidnapped? 'Oh, hey?' Everyone was sick with worry!" She tried to hug me but I took a step back.
"Really? Then why wasn't there a rescue mission?" I questioned. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. "That's what I thought. Let me guess; was it all about protecting dear old Elena once again?"
I stormed away and walked into the manor when I saw that there was drinks. One couldn't hurt, could it? I went over and grabbed a cup and poured myself a drink. I sipped on it as I started walking back out, the old familiar taste settling on my tongue and tasting bitter at first.
"Andy?"
I looked to see Elena standing there but she had curly hair instead of her usual straight hair. "Hello, sister."
"Are you here with Klaus?" She asked as she stepped off the stairs. "I saw you two dancing earlier."
Something wasn't right. Elena would've knocked the cup out of my hand and sent me home, or at least she would've tried to.
"Yes, he decided he'd bring me back after a week being away. How was it, by the way? Did you just love not having me around?" I downed the rest of my drink. "I need another drink." I went back to the keg and poured another drink, and when she didn't stop me, I knew this wasn't my sister, this was Katherine. Something was up.
I immediately went to look for Klaus – don't ask me why that was my first instinct. I saw Stefan and him talking and started to go to him when I caught their conversation. "So, what now? Stop running?" Stefan asked.
"Hm – now I reunite my family," Klaus responded. That stopped me dead in my tracks. Elijah.
"Your family. You mean the people you cart around in caskets?"
"None of that matters anymore. Mikael is gone. Bygones will be bygones," Klaus watched the Homecoming Queen walking by. I kinda blocked out the next bit because they talked about Rebekah and my head was hurting and everything was becoming more and more unclear. I tuned back in when I heard mention of Klaus's father.
"I said I have no idea. How would you like me to take you to your father?" Stefan asked.
"Well, it wouldn't be a party without the guest of honor, would it? Bring him to me." Klaus responded.
"All right. Perhaps there's something in it for me…? My freedom from your compulsion?"
Wait, let me think this out before I lose all judgement. Katherine is here, Klaus's father is dead, and Stefan is negotiating his freedom? Something wasn't right… Or maybe it was me in my buzzed state connecting pieces that didn't fit.
"Oh, you want your freedom. Well, once he is dead and his weapon destroyed, you'll have your freedom. It'll be my pleasure to give it back," Klaus seemed to notice me at this point. "Andy! How nice of you to join us!"
"Something's not right." I stated, as I clenched the cup slightly in my hand.
Klaus's smile dropped immediately at the sight of the plastic cup in my hand. "Have you been drinking?"
"Klaus, listen… to me," I put a hand on my forehead as I got a headache. "I need to tell you something―"
"Andy, give me that," Klaus took my cup and threw it. "Are you not a recovering alcoholic?"
"Klaus―"
"Just come here," Klaus slipped my arm over my shoulders and looked at Stefan. "I'm sending her home for now. I'll be inside waiting." I tried to get Klaus to listen as he hauled me away but he wouldn't. We bumped into Tyler on our way.
"My mom would seriously freak if she saw all these people here," Tyler instantly said, they spoke some more but I blocked it out because my head was aching. We started moving again and Klaus sat me down on a bench.
"Andy, look at me," He grabbed my chin. "You will not drink any alcoholic beverage for the reminder of the night. Am I understood?" I nodded, laying my head back. "I'm going to get someone to bring you home. Wait here." As soon as he left, I headed for the front. In my state of mind right then, I decided I wasn't going to let a strange hybrid take me home.
As soon as I stepped out of the house, I was grabbed at the neck. I tried getting out of the gray, but whoever this was stronger than anything I'd fight. After a moment of a failed struggle, the person turned me around to face him.
"M-Mikael," I choked out, my eyes widening. He was even more frightening in real life than in dreams.
"You know me, fantastic," He lowered his head. "You will not run, you will stay by my side."
"I will not run. I will stay by your side."
I don't know how long I'd been standing there, but it felt like forever. I actually saw Katherine standing on the opposite side of Mikael, hidden like I was from view of whoever stood in the doorway. This whole thing made me sober up pretty quickly, though.
I became more vexed Mikael said to someone to send for Niklaus. Seconds later, Mikael perked up. "Hello, Niklaus," He greeted.
"Hello, Mikael," Klaus said and I perked up. Maybe I would be okay with Klaus here. "Why don't you come in? Oh, that's right. I forgot you can't."
"Or you can come outside if you want," Mikael suggested.
"Or I could watch my hybrids tear you limb from limb."
"They can't kill me."
"True. But it'll make a hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together and they'll pounce."
"The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me," Mikael explained as a female hybrid – I'm just going to go out on a limb here and assume everyone outside here is a hybrid – pushed Katherine to Mikael. "Come out and face me, Nikaus. Or she dies."
"Go ahead. Kill her."
"No, Klaus. He'll do it," Katherine said and it was now clear she was just doubling for Elena.
"If she dies, this lot will be last of your abominations," Mikael pointed out.
"I don't need them. I just need to be rid of you," Klaus spat.
"To what end, Niklaus? So you can live forever, with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you anymore, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one. No one," Mikael spat right back.
"No," I suddenly moved from my spot but Mikael instantly grabbed me. I saw tears falling from Klaus' eyes and he almost moved to grab me. "Remember our conversation, Klaus? Remember? You're not alone. You're not alone."
"Come out, Niklaus, or I'll kill her."
"I'm calling your bluff, father. Kill them both," Klaus looked away from me – though he before would not look me in the eye for some reason – and to his father. I had mixed feelings right now; on one hand, I didn't want to die, but another smaller part didn't want Klaus to, either. But, honestly, if it came down to Klaus's life or my own, I'd choose mine.
"Come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to," Mikael said.
"My whole life you've underestimated me. If you kill them you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on. Kill her. Come on, old man. Kill her. Kill her!" Klaus screamed, more and more tears falling. I realized I had a strong chance of dying right then and utter fear took over me. My hands and knees started shaking; I didn't want to die, not like this. I deserved better, didn't I? Klaus was just going to let me die like this?
Mikael laughed, which made me more uneasy. "Your impulse, Niklaus. It has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from truly being great."
Klaus finally looked me in the eye, and I saw the fear in his eyes. Suddenly a sharp pain stabbed through my lower back and I gasped out in pain, falling to the ground right beside of Katherine. "No!" I distinctly heard Klaus screamed.
I moved my head to see Damon stabbing Klaus with a dagger into his stomach. Pain radiated through me and I felt myself fading. "Katherine…" I heard Mikael said then heard two explosions, but I was staring at Damon.
"Damon, no!" I tried calling out. I was dying here, and they were busy trying to kill Klaus. Plus, not only was I hurting from my own wounds, I could feel my connection to Klaus on override. This was it… I was a goner.
Damon was about to stake Klaus and I screamed as loud as I could to him, trying to get him to stop and help me when Stefan knocked him off of Klaus and held him down. Klaus took the stake and jumped at Mikael, driving it straight through his heart; he bursts into flames and died in front of my eyes.
"What the hell did you do?" I heard Damon all and that's when I started slipping; Klaus and everyone else was safe while I was biting the dust. That was okay. Let them not do anything, it was in their conscience, not mine. But I wanted to live, I didn't want to die. I didn't have a chance as I slipped away, the light flickered out and the voices faded.
Darkness was all I could see. Coldness was all I could feel. Death was all I could smell.
What was that line from Gladiator? "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back." I just couldn't bring myself to smile because I just wasn't ready, but is anyone? Surely not, or we'd be overpopulated. Maybe it was my time.
I could hear my parents voices - all four of them. Past conversations I'd had with them, of course. I remembered every fight I had with Elena and Jeremy and every time I said I hated them. Man, I wish I could take that back. I remembered every memory I had with Elijah then every memory I had with Klaus. It pained me I would never know where either of those relationships would go, though I didn't expect much from Klaus.
I thought of all the experiences I'd be missing out on. College. Career. Marriage. Possibly kids as well as grandkids. Retirement. Well, there was one experience I wasn't missing out on: death.
I could feel the darkness around but it was as if it was fading. Light was coming in, breath was coming in. I felt a movement in my chest and my heart beating echoing in my ears. What was happening? I started to feel warm and I could feel something wrapped around me like a blanket. I was getting feeling back in my face and limbs. I could feel myself coming back to life.
My eyes popped open and I sat up, flinching at the pain in my torso. I looked around to see I was in my room, and my room had others in it. Elena, Damon, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Alaric stood around.
"Andy!" Elena cried out, running over to me and hugging me tightly. "Are you okay?" I couldn't answer because my throat was so dry and my tongue felt numb.
"She just came back from the dead, Elena, chill out," Damon said.
Wait… Was I a…? No, no! "V-Vam-" I couldn't get another syllable out so Bonnie handed me a glass of water with which I quickly drank. Once I finished, I questioned them, "Am I a vampire?"
"Oh, God, no," Damon said and I exhaled in relief. "Bonnie used her witchy powers and brought you back, though she claims that something on The Other Side was helping her. Evidently, death favors you."
"We were so scared, Andy," Elena said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Well, you weren't the one stuck with Klaus. Oh, wait, you're referring to the fact of me bleeding to death while Damon focused on killing Klaus," I folded my arms and pulled away from her. "Are we just going to ignore what happened with Klaus kidnapping me?" Elena sat there speechless. "You didn't even care?"
"Of course I cared! Stefan would not let us—"
"Then where were you?! Obviously not trying to save me!" I started to raise my voice. The pain in my torso was really getting to me now. "And then you—" I looked at Damon. "—I was bleeding out, dying right in front of your eyes, and you just continue on with your plan."
Jeremy stepped forward. "Andy, I'm―"
"Don't!" I snapped at Jeremy. "Don't you dare apologize to me―Oh, God, I can't even… Oh, my God." I was gasping for breath, I felt like the walls were collapsing on me. "I need to be alone ― I need to be outside!" I jumped up from the bed and, with much difficulty, ran down the stairs and burst out on the front porch.
I fell to my knees and caught my breath again. I wrapped my arms around myself, hoping I wouldn't break. Despite the events at Homecoming, I wanted Klaus here with me.
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The End of Chapter XXX