"Buried Secrets 3: Enter The Shadows"
Chapter 3
Bella walked the streets of Budapest and took in the scenery. It was breathtaking, especially at night. Bella hadn't been able to breathe for a month now…she had spent two weeks in Hunedoara castle and now she had been in Budapest for two weeks. She hadn't felt Elena looking for her which told Bella she understood. She had seen through Elena's mind that Damon was far from happy and now he was drinking and not feeding in the hopes that Bella would return to him.
Bella shook her head from those thoughts and headed for the bar. Tonight she had to meet her contact in Budapest, the one that was her only way back into the states undetected.
Bella walked in and handed her jacket to the coat keeper. She walked to the bar, sat down, ordered her bourbon and waited.
"What took you so long?" the man next to her asked.
Bella smiled as she took a drink, "Got side-tracked, I've never been to the city before."
"It is dangerous being here," he replied, "So out in the open with them looking for you."
"I can handle my own," Bella replied, "Sounds like you're more worried about the heat coming back on you.
"Of course I am," the man replied with a growl. "I have been hiding from your family for eight hundred years." The man turned to face her, "How did you find me?"
The man was in his late twenties…at least that's what every human thought. He had dark blonde hair, green eyes, a muscular build, and he was about 6 foot 4.
Bella smirked, "I've done my research," Bella replied, "I want your help."
"Pfff," The man said before he spoke in Hungarian, "Segítség egy halálos ítélet."
[Helping you is a death sentence].
Bella nodded, "Yes no doubt it is a death sentence, but if you don't help me…" Bella said and leaned close to him, "Majd szeretném a halálra ." She said and narrowed her eyes.
[But there are worse things than death].
"You do not scare me little one," the man replied.
"Oh but I should," Bella replied deviously. "I don't have time for games Alexander." She said and the man leaned away, "Surprised I know your name. I told you I've done my research. You help me and I'll make sure you disappear from my family's radar."
"What can you do?" Alexander asked skeptically.
"I can compel my family to forget you," Bella said, "I'm not like them, you know that." Bella straightened up. "Do we have a partnership?"
Alexander narrowed his eyes, "Perhaps," he said, "I need time to think…how can I find you?"
"I'll find you," Bella replied and stood up after finishing up her drink. "Oh and Alexander, if you're thinking about double crossing me, like Katerina, put that thought far from your mind."
Bella reached out and grabbed the back of Alexander's neck and squeezed.
"I am more vengeful than anyone in my family Alexander." Bella hissed, "You know of what I did to Kol and Elijah?" Bella asked.
Alexander nodded.
Bella laughed, "That was just child's play compared to what I will do to you if you betray me." Bella leaned down next to his ear, "Érted Alexander?"
[Do you understand Alexander?]
Alexander nodded, "Igen."
[Yes]
"Good," Bella said and released him, "See you soon."
Bella walked out, disappearing into the crowd. She arrived back at the apartment and shrugged off her jacket. She laid down on the bed, closed her eyes and started to focus.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Bella?" Elena asked.
Bella turned around and smiled, "Hey," Bella said, "How are you?"
"I'm alright," Elena said and looked around, "Where are we?"
Bella sat down on the bench, "A park in Budapest."
"Is that where you are?" Elena asked before sitting down next to her.
Bella nodded.
"I thought you weren't going to come back," Elena admitted quietly.
"I've been watching," Bella said.
"Why can't I feel you like you can feel me when I've been in your head?" Elena asked, "This bond thing still really throws me off."
"I don't know," Bella said while shrugging, "Things take practice. I guess one of my gifts is getting into people's heads I don't know how I do it, I just do."
"So you've seen Damon?" Elena said sadly.
Bella nodded solemnly, "He needs to feed."
"We've tried," Elena said, "Everyone's mad at me…they think I'm being ridiculous. Bonnie, Angela, Damon, and even Stefan…they won't talk to me. Caroline, well I think she understands, but no one else does."
"I never should have put you in the middle of this," Bella sighed.
Elena shrugged, "I was involved in this long before you were born." Elena said, "Why do our family's past sins come to haunt the present?"
"That is a question every person has been asking since the dawn of humanity." Bella replied.
"I'm tired," Elena said quietly, "I'm so tired of fighting with them," she turned and looked at Bella, "How do you do it? How do you not just give in even after so long?"
Bella sighed, "I know the consequences of giving in. I know what would happen and I refuse to do that. This is much bigger than me…than what I want." Bella looked at Elena, "I get tired too…there are some days more frequently now, that I just think about giving up…just stop and let go. Dump Klaus in the deepest part of the ocean than just stop eating and live in seclusion until there was nothing left of me and then light the house on fire."
"But you don't." Elena pointed.
"If I do that than I lose hope." Bella said and looked up.
"What hope?" Elena asked.
"The hope that lives with you and Damon and the others," Bella answered, "I may not get to live, but by doing this you all do. My hope, my reason to go on, is in all of you." She looked at her watch, "It's time for me to go."
"Will I see you again?" Elena asked.
"I don't know," Bella said before she snapped her fingers.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Elena sat up and looked around her room to find it empty. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"Elena," Jeremy knocked on her door before opening it, "I heard you talking." He came and sat down on her bed, "Was it Bella?"
Elena nodded.
"Is she okay?" Jeremy asked.
"She seems to be," Elena answered.
"You know where she is, don't you?" Jeremy continued.
Elena nodded, "I can't say though Jeremy…I don't like her not being here and every fiber in my body says I should be near her, but I know why she's doing it."
Jeremy nodded, "I get it…I really do, but it's taking a toll on you Elena." Jeremy said, "Stefan, and especially Damon, is breathing down your neck. I just don't want you hurt."
"If I give them Bella, I will be…all of us will." Elena said and sighed, "I can handle this Jeremy…I can deal with them. Bella's doing the hard part, all she needs from me is to live."
Jeremy chuckled, "And keep her secret." He added. "She really does care doesn't she?"
"You have no idea what kind of sacrifice she is making," Elena replied and looked at the clock, "It's late, we have school tomorrow."
"Good night Elena," Jeremy said and walked out the door.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"This is getting old," Rebekah growled, "I'm tired of waiting, we should go in and just kill them all."
"We do that Isabella will make Klaus disappear." Elijah said, "Besides the others don't know anything and it's obvious she won't come back."
"She will if we kill them," Rebekah retorted.
"Tell me Rebekah were you tortured by our dear niece?" Kol asked, "Hmmm did she torture you, make you wish for death?"
"No," Rebekah said.
"Alright then, we have been on the end of her vengeance and let me tell you it is not pretty…inventive, harsh, and I admit I envy her talent for torture, but I do not want to be on the receiving end of it again." Kol snapped at his sister.
"Two, thousand year old vampires afraid of one little girl," Rebekah scoffed, "Pathetic."
"And you're stupid." Elijah said bluntly, "Do not underestimate our niece little sister, that will get you killed."
"To hell with both of you. I'll find Nik on my own." Rebekah said before she stomped out of the room.
"Let her go," Kol said as Elijah started after her.
"She's our sister," Elijah replied, "But perhaps she needs to learn on her own. Isabella won't kill her, but she will send Rebekah back to us as a message."
"You're forgetting one thing brother," Elijah looked to Kol (who's normally mischievous eyes were now serious), silently asking for him to continue with his statement, "Rebekah killed Elena…do you really think that our niece will forgive her for that, seeing as how Elena reminds Bella of her younger self?"
Elijah dropped the glass he was holding. His blood ran cold as Kol's reminder fully registered to him.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Alexander walked through the night as he looked around. It had been three day since he had met Isabella in that bar and he was ready to give her his answer, but the problem was that he had no idea how to find her.
"Looking for a good time?" a female's voice said from the shadows.
Alexander stilled as Bella came out smiling.
"Or were you looking for me?" she continued.
"I've made my decision," Alexander said.
"And…" Bella trailed.
"I'll help you as long as you swear to me you'll make your family forget." Alexander answered.
"Done," Bella said.
"What do you need from me?" Alexander asked.
"A bit of your blood and for you to get into contact with Rebekah," Bella said simply.
"The point is for me to stay hidden, not for me to out myself," Alexander hissed.
"Calm down," Bella rolled her eyes, "You're blood is needed for the potion and I need Rebekah here to guarantee me safe passage back to the U.S. as well as to hold up my bargain with you."
"I can get you back undetected," Alexander argued.
"I leave nothing to chance." Bella replied seriously, "I want Rebekah here plus it's the only way to make them forget."
"How?" Alexander hissed.
Bella pulled out a bottle from her pocket, "A few drops of your blood in this is your ticket to freedom," Bella said, "You need all three…Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah here."
"What of Klaus?" Alexander challenged.
"I can compel him on my own, but it's far too risky for me to stay here waiting for the others," Bella said reasonably. "I don't go back on my deals."
"Fine," Alexander said, "How do I get her here?"
Bella tossed him a ring, "That's Klaus'. Send it to her…tell her to come alone, you'll know what to do afterwards."
"Lead her to you," Alexander said knowingly.
Bella nodded and as suddenly as she had appeared, she disappeared.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Elena," Caroline called out as she ran up to catch her, "Hey have you thought about the movie this weekend?"
"I don't think so," Elena said and looked over to Matt, Tyler, Bonnie, and Angela, "I don't think they want me around."
"Screw them," Caroline said, "They can get over it."
"Elena," Stefan interrupted while catching her arm, "Can we talk?"
"Are you going to be an ass to her?" Caroline asked.
"It's alright Caroline," Elena said and walked off with Stefan, "What do you want?'
"You aren't going to tell us where she is are you," Stefan said quietly.
"I can't," Elena said, "I made a promise." Elena stopped walking, "I know you don't understand it, but you have to trust her."
"My brother is intentionally not feeding because he thinks she can see him," Stefan said angrily.
"I told you she isn't looking," Elena lied, "She said she was going to stop."
"Elena please," Stefan begged, "Can you just…."
"No," Elena said forcefully, "Stop asking me because my answer won't change."
Elena stalked off to her car where Jeremy was waiting.
"They still giving you hell?" Jeremy asked as they both got in.
Elena slammed her door and started the car. She glared out the window at Bonnie, Stefan, Tyler, Matt, and Angela.
"They can get over it," Elena said through clenched teeth, "I'm not telling them anything."
Elena and Jeremy pulled up to the house and saw Damon sitting on the porch swing.
"Looks like his fasting protest didn't last long," Jeremy said.
Elena nodded in agreement. Damon's skin had more color to it and his face wasn't as sunken in as it had been. Nor did he have the dark circles under his eyes or the cracked lips that accompanied starvation.
Elena and Jeremy got out of the car and Damon stood up.
"Don't start it with my sister," Jeremy warned.
"Jeremy it's okay, I can handle him," Elena said.
Jeremy glared at Damon as he walked up the stairs, "I'll be just inside."
Jeremy walked inside and shut the door, leaving Elena and Damon alone.
"You know I really should have killed him long ago," Damon mumbled.
"Don't even think about it," Elena warned, "What do you want Damon? I know this isn't a social call."
"I need to know where she is," Damon said, not wasting any time.
"You already know the answer to that," Elena said and headed for the door, but Damon caught her arm, "Let me go Damon."
"Not until you tell me where she is," Damon growled, "I'm tired of playing this game with you Elena," He yanked her close to him, "This is not a negotiation. You will tell me where she is."
Elena grabbed the hand that held her and pulled his thumb back, snapping it effectively which had him releasing his grip on her. Elena turned as the front door opened and saw Jeremy with one of Alaric's crossbows.
"Get out of here Damon," Jeremy said with his finger steady on the trigger.
"Cute," Damon snarled, "Little boy thinks he's a hunter."
"You heard my brother Damon, now go," Elena said before blurring next to Jeremy, "I told you my answer and it's not going to change."
Jeremy and Elena both backed into the house and shut the door.
"I know she can see everything Elena," Damon yelled, "I'm going to starve myself again and this time I won't break and feed."
Elena's back hit the wall and she slid down to the floor.
"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked after putting down the crossbow next to the door.
"I just wish he understood," Elena said while letting her head lean back against the wall, "If he could just see…"
"Elena, Damon's in love," Jeremy said while sitting next to her, "We guys do stupid things and Damon's no exception." He sighed, "Besides you can't show him without showing him where she is."
"I do that Rebekah, Elijah, and Kol will follow him and then we will all have hell to pay." Elena said while rubbing her temples.
Jeremy put his arm around his sister and hugged her, "I wish she was here too," Jeremy admitted.
Elena leaned her head on Jeremy's shoulder, "I swear Jeremy there's a good reason for what she's doing."
"I know," Jeremy said sadly, "Doesn't mean it makes it any easier."
.*.*.*.*.*.
In New York, Rebekah was lounging around her hotel as she looked at a map when the phone rang. She quickly answered.
"Hello," she asked annoyed.
"Rebekah," a man's thick Hungarian accent said.
"Alexander," Rebekah said while smirking, "I must say this is quite a surprise. Do you have a death wish?"
"I have something you want," Alexander said, "Something I can buy my freedom with."
"Bargaining with me like your cousin Katerina," Rebekah taunted, "You should know I don't bargain with traitors."
"Not even if said traitor has the location of your brother and your niece," Alexander said.
Rebekah tensed, "Where?" she growled out.
"No I will tell you until I have proof of my immunity," Alexander said, "I am in Budapest why don't you and your brothers join me."
"It will be just me," Rebekah said calmly.
"OH and why is that?" Alexander questioned.
"Because they do not wish to kill the little girl and I do," Rebekah hissed, "I will be there tomorrow and Alexander if you are lying I will make you wish for death," she said and quickly hung up.
She grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Stupid girl," Damon said as he slammed the front door to the boarding house.
"She didn't give you want you wanted," Angela said while flipping through a spell book.
"Yet again," Damon poured himself a drink, "Brother do me a favor and talk to your girlfriend."
"You think I haven't," Stefan growled, "I want to find Bella as much as you do."
"Why pray tell is that?" Damon asked, "Wanting my girl are you?"
"No," Stefan snapped, "I'm sick and tired of seeing you like this. I want her back here for you and that's all."
Stefan left the room while mumbling something about hunting before they heard the door slam behind him.
"Have you found anything little witch?" Damon asked.
"Yes, but every time I try to track her I keep getting blocked," Angela replied.
"So Lucy is helping her," Damon deduced.
"Plus some," Angela said, "Lucy isn't strong enough to do this on her own. With this much power and interference, it's got to be a coven…but I don't know any coven that Bella knows."
"I wouldn't think a coven would be too keen on helping Klaus' daughter." Damon said.
"I didn't even know Klaus was her father," Angela said, "I doubt many others knew either."
"She told me he was her father before you and I barely knew her," Damon said.
"Then maybe none of us really know Bella," Angela said in a frustrated tone. "She's always kept everyone at arms-length. We need Elena's help."
"That's not gonna happen," Damon said before downing his drink.
"Well we better figure out a way to do it soon. Rebekah's gone off to hunt Bella on her own. She finds her, Bella's dead or worse." Angela warned.
Damon let out a harsh laugh, "You're underestimating her. Rebekah may find her, but it will be Rebekah who will get dead or worse."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"I hate this bloody city," Rebekah mumbled as she walked the streets of Budapest.
She reached the house Alexander had given her and went in.
"Alexander," Rebekah said.
"Rebekah," Alexander said, "So happy you came."
"I don't have time for bullshit, where are they?" Rebekah hissed.
"I'm right here Auntie," Bella said, appearing behind Rebekah.
Rebekah whirled around, but Bella moved quickly and blurred. She pinned Rebekah against the wall.
Rebekah's eyes blazed with fury, "You're dead Alexander."
"No he's not," Bella smirked, "Night-night."
Bella quickly snapped Rebekah's neck and she crumbled to the ground.
"Now what?" Alexander asked.
"Now you go get my plane ready and I deal with her." Bella said before picking up Rebekah.
Alexander left and Bella quickly tied Rebekah up with vervain ropes and waited patiently for her to wake up.
It didn't take long.
"Ahh," Rebekah screamed as she felt the ropes burn her as she struggled.
"Scream all you want. No one can hear you," Bella said as she sat across from Rebekah.
"You little bitch," Rebekah said, "I'm going to make you pay."
"No you aren't," Bella said with a laugh, "I told you, you wouldn't find me unless I wanted you to."
"Where's Nik?" Rebekah asked through clenched teeth.
"Somewhere," Bella said.
"I'm going to kill you," Rebekah growled.
"You won't even remember tonight," Bella said, "I heard what you did to Elena."
Rebekah froze.
"I warned you what would happen if you hurt them," Bella continued as she stood up, "The question is…what do I do to you Rebekah? You don't care about physical pain and those wounds will heal so what hurts you?"
"Screw you," Rebekah spat.
"Tell me why do you want Klaus? He's abandoned you multiple times, he's staked you and he's betrayed you." Bella said.
"He's my blood." Rebekah replied tensely. "He's family."
"Blood doesn't make you family," Bella said, "Blood doesn't do anything but tie you together by genetics."
"What do you know of family?" Rebekah challenged.
"More than you do," Bella said and sighed, "I can't punish you."
"What?" Rebekah asked.
"You're already punishing yourself more than I ever could." Bella walked over and started untying the ropes, "You are loyal to someone who doesn't give a damn about you. He only wants you when you're obedient. Klaus doesn't care about what you want. I know you fell in love once, I know that you were willing to give up immortality for him, but Klaus betrayed you."
"You don't know that," Rebekah said while trying not to cry.
"I've tasted his blood," Bella said, "I saw his memories…he told Alexander what you were. He toyed with Alexander and lied and said that you had killed children…babies even. He let Alexander stake him and then you were staked. Alexander loved you and he would have led you to cure."
Rebekah eyes snapped to Bella's, "You know about it."
"Yes," Bella said, "You've ran for so long…you've punished yourself for things that were out of your control."
Rebekah began to cry.
"You've kept it all in for so long…why?" Bella asked.
"Because no one wants me," Rebekah cried, "My brothers never wanted me, my mother and father turned me into this thing and then tried to kill me. No one cares about me."
"Because you don't let anyone get close enough to care about you." Bella said, "Elena daggered you because I told her to, she didn't want to, she was so sick with guilt she threw up."
Rebekah looked at Bella in disbelief.
"You and Elena have so much in common and yet you treat her as you did Katherine. You did the exact same thing to her that your family did to you." Bella continued before she turned her back.
"Why are you letting me go?" Rebekah asked.
Bella sighed, "Because there's nothing I can do to you that you haven't already done to yourself."
"Aren't you afraid that I'll come after you," Rebekah challenged, "That I'll kill you. That I'll tell my brothers where you are."
"Do you want to kill me Rebekah?" Bella asked as she turned around and opened her arms out wide, "Here's your chance…your one shot. I suggest you take it."
Rebekah didn't move and Bella let her arms fall to her side.
"We don't get along Rebekah, that's true. In fact a part of me wants to torture you for taking away Elena's life. For forcing her into this hell of eternity, something she never wanted." Bella said angrily. She clenched and unclenched her fists and took deep breaths to calm herself down, "But I won't because there is nothing I can ever do to you, no pain physical, emotional, or mental that I could cause you that would even come close to the hell, torture, and pain you put yourself through every time you try to save Klaus. Every single time you run to his rescue and then he discards you like trash."
"Klaus loves me," Rebekah said through her sniffles.
"Klaus loves you when it's convenient for him, when he needs you." Bella snapped, "Can't you see that? All Klaus wants is blind loyalty. His definition of family is one that he controls, that he has power over. That's not love Rebekah… it's the furthest thing from it. A tyrant doesn't love. He rules and that's what Klaus is…a tyrant."
"He wasn't always that way," Rebekah said weakly.
"I know that too," Bella said, "But the Klaus you knew as a human…the brother you loved is gone. You have an eternity Rebekah; tell me do you want to spend every minute of it kneeling before Klaus? Listening to him berate you, degrade you, make you feel worthless, stupid, and naïve? Do you want to live your eternity like that because if so I won't stand in your way, but I also won't let you free Klaus. Or would you rather start living your own life, by your own rules, free of any judgments?"
"I…I…" Rebekah stammered.
"I know you're tired," Bella walked over to her, "I see it in your eyes."
"I am," Rebekah admitted.
"Then do yourself a favor," Bella took Rebekah's hands into hers, "Consider this the key to your freedom. I'm unshackling you from Klaus…you don't belong to him anymore. You belong to yourself."
"What about you?" Rebekah asked.
"I had my freedom," Bella said, "And I still do. This is my choice, I choose to live like this. I choose to be his keeper."
"But it's not fair," Rebekah blubbered.
"No it's not," Bella said, "But at least it's my choice. At least I had the opportunity to make it without anyone else forcing me."
"I don't even know where to start…" Rebekah trailed, "I don't know where to go. The only person I ever cared for was Matt and he hates me as do the others."
"Then start there," Bella said.
"What?" Rebekah said shocked.
"Go back to Mystic Falls and start fixing the bridges you burned." Bella explained.
"But they hate me," Rebekah argued, "You hate me."
"I don't hate you…I feel sorry for you and so do they, but their sorrow, guilt, and anger clouds their vision." Bella said, "Go back and if you really want a new start…start there. Rise from the ashes of the bridge you burned and become someone new."
"You should kill me," Rebekah said.
"Death would be too easy for you Rebekah," Bella said, "It's something you don't deserve…not yet anyways."
"I don't understand what that means?" Rebekah replied while crying.
"You will," Bella said as she slipped her hand into her pocket. She pulled out a vial and handed it to Rebekah, "Drink this and you'll be able to see everything in a new light."
"Is it poison?" Rebekah asked while backing away.
Bella smiled, "I told you death is something you don't deserve." Bella handed the vial to her. She looked deep into Rebekah's eyes and compelled her, "Drink the vial Rebekah."
Rebekah did as she was told.
"You will lay down on the couch and when you wake I'll be gone. You will not remember Alexander and you will go home and give Kol and Elijah each a vial of what I just gave you. I will place them on the table. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Rebekah said robotically.
"You will not tell them you saw me until after they have drank it." Bella ordered, "At that point you will make a decision on whether you want to keep following Klaus or live your life. I want you to pick the one that you truly want. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Rebekah replied.
"Go lie down," Bella said and she watched Rebekah lie down, "Goodbye Rebekah."
"Goodbye Isabella," Rebekah said before she passed out.
Bella placed the vials on the table and left the house. She drove to the airport where Alexander was waiting.
"Is it done?" Alexander asked as soon as he saw her.
"Yes," Bella said calmly. "Rebekah will wake up in a few hours and go back to her brothers. She'll give them the potion and then they'll forget like her."
"He's waiting for you," Alexander said, "Everything is also ready for your arrival."
"Thank you Alexander for your help." Bella said before she headed for the plane.
"Isabella," Alexander said, "Remélem, hogy nem találkozunk."
[I hope we do not meet again].
"Don't worry," Bella said and blurred to him, "We won't be meeting again…in fact." Bella said and started to compel him, "You will forget you ever met me…you will forget I ever came here."
"I will forget," Alexander said hypnotized.
"Búcsút Alexander és a köszönöm." Bella said sincerely and boarded the plane.
[Thank you Alexander and goodbye]
She sat down in her seat and closed her eyes.
The Big Easy, the Crescent City…New Orleans, that's where she would be calling home next.