Buried Secrets 3:
Chapter 10:
Bella opened her eyes and saw that she was back in her room. She sat up and heard a chuckle nearby.
"You are the most stubborn girl in the world, you know that?" Charlie asked.
"Dad," Bella was shocked, "What are you doing here?"
"Thierry brought me," Charlie stood up and walked over, "Looks like you got yourself in a pickle."
"Dad you shouldn't be here." Bella argued.
"No, right here is exactly where I should be." Charlie countered before he grabbed her hand, "What were you thinking leaving like that?"
"I wanted to keep everyone safe." Bella replied.
"Well that's not your job now is it?" Charlie asked. "You can't protect everyone kiddo."
"I couldn't let him hurt you or Damon or anyone else." Bella said, "Tell me you wouldn't have done the same."
"It's different when it's your daughter." Charlie argued, "Bella it's time for you to stop going into fights alone."
"I can't put anyone at risk." Bella replied.
"You aren't. We choose this." Charlie said, "I am not leaving until I know you are safe. I'm in this one kiddo, there's no way around it." Charlie stood up and kissed Bella's forehead. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back after I get a drink, so no going out the window. Besides the grounds are being guarded."
"I can take them," Bella mumbled.
"Can you take Elijah?" Charlie challenged with his eyebrow raised at her.
Bella rolled her eyes and Charlie chuckled as he walked out the door. Charlie's demeanor changed once he was outside. He walked purposefully down the stairs and into the study where everyone was, including Klaus.
Charlie had been warned by Thierry about the Original and he refused to look at Klaus when he had come in. He had immediately gone up the stairs and waited for Bella to wake up. Now that he had seen that Bella was alive, he wanted to talk to Klaus.
"Get out," Charlie commanded once he walked in.
"Uncle Charlie," Davina started.
"No," Charlie said gruffly, "I want to talk to him," Charlie pointed to Klaus, "Alone so all of you get the hell out because this is going to be a private conversation."
One by one they all left the room until it was just Klaus and Charlie.
"Charles," Klaus said.
"Don't," Charlie said, "We got some talking to do, but first." Charlie stalked over and punched Klaus in the jaw. "That's for taking her."
"I deserve that," Klaus said calmly.
"Oh you deserve so much more than that and you'd best believe if I get the chance I will give it to you." Charlie said, "Thierry told me you've been calling her your daughter. Let's get something straight. She is my daughter. I raised her, I watched her take her first steps, I heard her first word, which was dada. I taught her how to ride a bike, I helped her with math, I did everything a father does so don't for one second think you can claim her."
"I thank you for all that you did for her." Klaus started. "I wish I had done those things."
"Oh cry me a river," Charlie spat, "If you think you're getting any sympathy from me, you're wrong. I want to kill you right now. Hell I could, but I won't because killing you means killing the people she loves."
Klaus stood prepared for whatever was coming next.
"Davina tells me you are remorseful, that you care 'bout her." Charlie said skeptically. "If that's true, I want you to know what it was like for me when you took her."
Klaus tensed.
"It was the worst hell imaginable." Charlie spat, "I wondered if she was dead and after almost nine months I started to believe it." Charlie was shaking as he thought back to that time. "I looked everywhere. I called every werewolf, vampire, and witch I knew and I got nothing. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat. I was put on administrative leave. Everyone tells me you were worried…scared when they couldn't find her a few days ago. That is miniscule to the fear, worry, and agony you had put me through, not to mention the hell you put her through." Charlie continued as he took a deep breath, "I had finally given up hope and I was sitting in my living room with my service revolver just sitting there. After I had finished my beer, I was going to end everything." Charlie confessed and Klaus' eyes widened, "That's how much pain you caused me. I thought my daughter, who I had sworn to protect, was dead. And I had failed and I couldn't imagine going on without her around. I picked up my gun and as I started to raise it up to put it in my mouth, the phone rang. It was a woman named Jane-Anne and she had my daughter."
Klaus was stunned.
"You will never know the desperation I felt when I thought I lost her. You can't because you were never there. The only time you showed up is when you took her and you ruined her." Charlie said, "Before you she was this carefree, loving and trusting girl. There was light that seemed to surround her and when I got her back, that light was gone. A cloud surrounded her and she would scream in the middle of the night in fear that she was still in that dungeon of yours. She completely shut down and pushed me away. That hurt me beyond measure." Charlie fought to keep his composure. "When she met Damon, I could hear it in her voice… that the light I thought was gone had come back and once again you took it away."
Klaus was stunned to hear Charlie's confessions.
"Charles, I am truly sorry." Klaus started.
"Save your remorse for Bella. I don't want it." Charlie snapped, "What I want is for her to be safe and happy."
"That's all I want for her as well." Klaus replied.
"It better be," Charlie warned. "And don't think we are going to work together and that I'm going just move aside. I am her father, you got me?"
Klaus nodded and Charlie headed for the door.
"Charles I would like to know how she was as a child. I would like to know some of the stories." Klaus said, hoping that Charlie might give him something.
"No," Charlie snapped, "You don't get to know anything about her life before you. I won't have you tarnish those memories as well."
Charlie swung open the door and walked out.
Elijah walked in and watched as his brother sat down.
"You can't blame him," Elijah said after shutting the door.
"No I can't," Klaus said, "But she is my daughter."
Elijah threw a book across the room.
"I am tired of this. I can no longer be calm nor try to explain such things calmly brother," Elijah said angrily, "This, all of this, is the world that you created Niklaus." Elijah pointed his finger at Klaus.
"Brother," Klaus said, shocked at his outburst.
"All of your scheming, your lies, the enemies you made every single day of your miserable life, an enemy that includes your own daughter, what did you expect? That you could say you're sorry, talk to Charles and everything would be alright?" Elijah asked sarcastically. "Did you think that she would just run to you, calling you daddy?"
Klaus became defensive, "No, that was your hope." He spat.
"NO," Elijah yelled, "My hope was that your child would bring you back from the darkness you say is filling up her soul now. My hope…our family's hope was that, that baby girl would make you see that there are things in this world that are worth loving. That there are things worth more than power, or revenge, or control." Elijah drew in a calming breath, "When I saw you that night, planning on turning Bella's mother into nothing more than a breeding mare, I knew that hope was a lost cause so I set her free. I hoped maybe with time that things would change."
"They have," Klaus said.
"Yes, but it is only because it took Isabella locking you away and harming you as you did her!" Elijah snapped, "You have successfully started the cycle all over again that Mikael created and I truly fear that she cannot be saved. Not by you, or Charles, or Elena, or even Damon. She has closed herself off and it is because of you Niklaus." Elijah walked to the door, "I wanted to believe that things can get better, but I don't think they can."
"Please," Klaus begged, "Do not abandon me."
"I never abandoned you Niklaus…you abandoned us." Elijah softly said before he left the room.
Klaus sunk to his knees and wept. The weight of years of pent up emotions had finally crashed down onto him.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Charlie was headed back towards the stairs when he saw Davina sitting on them.
"Hi," She said meekly.
Charlie sighed, "Why did you do it?"
"I didn't know what else to do." Davina replied. "She was gone Uncle Charlie. Do you think she'll forgive me?"
Charlie gave her a small smile, "She could never stay mad at you. Remember when you broke her music box and you cried and cried. That was her mother's and yet the moment those tears rolled down your cheeks she hugged you and said it was alright." Charlie reminisced as he sat down next to Davina, wrapping his arm around her. "It will take some time, but she can't stay mad at you Davina."
"She's different," Davina said.
Charlie nodded, "Yeah she is." He squeezed her shoulder, "Your father would be so proud to see the young woman you are becoming. You just want to try to help…just like him. I was the cop who took down the bad guys and he was the one trying to help them turn their lives around."
"You used to call him the bleeding heart," Davina said, laughing a little.
Charlie nodded while smiling, "He believed everyone could change that they just needed the chance to do so."
"Klaus has changed," Davina said quietly.
Charlie tensed, "It doesn't change anything from the past Davina."
"I remember my favorite uncle telling me holding a grudge makes your life span shorter." Davina replied.
"Some grudges are worth holding," Charlie defended before he kissed Davina's temple, "We'll talk more tomorrow."
Charlie walked up the stairs and saw Damon waiting outside Bella's door.
"I was just listening, making sure she didn't up and run," Damon explained.
"You and I haven't gotten to talk any," Charlie said, "You do know it's customary to meet the father of the girl you're dating right? I mean you were raised in the 1800s."
"Yes sir." Damon replied.
"Look I'm too tired tonight to bust your chops or talk about how to treat my daughter so why don't we pick this up in the morning." Charlie said.
"Yes sir," Damon said and Charlie walked into the room.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella woke up a few hours later and saw Charlie sleeping in the chair. She quickly dressed and quietly went out the window. When she hit the ground, Marcel stepped out of the bushes.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
"Shit," Bella muttered before she turned around, "I would have figured one of your lower goons would be on patrols after Elijah."
"Well that was the plan until it got me thinking about it." Marcel started, "And I realized if you left once before then you were probably going to do it again, so I took Diego's shift."
Bella rolled her eyes, "You gonna stop me?"
"I get the feeling that never goes well so instead I just figured I would tag along." Marcel finished with a shrug.
"I can't lose you can I?" Bella asked.
"While you've had a lot of blood, including Klaus'," Marcel saw Bella tense up, "You're still weak."
"I'm not weak," Bella said angrily.
"Okay, you're still recouping," Marcel corrected, "Come on. We can be like the dynamic duo…brother and sister."
"We aren't brother and sister," Bella snapped. "Don't get in my way."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Marcel bowed, "After you."
Bella and Marcel blurred through the city until they reached Sophie's apartment. Bella jumped up the window and walked in. Marcel followed shortly after.
"How the hell?" Bella asked.
"Sophie and I had a thing once." Marcel explained, "Before the whole sacrifice."
Bella rolled her eyes, "Sophie was always wild."
"Where's Melinda?" Marcel asked.
"As if I would tell you," Bella said, "When I got her out you were rising to power and you wanted her as leverage. In my eyes that puts you right up there with Klaus and Jane-Anne."
"What about you?" Marcel asked, "You double-crossed Klaus, you kept him in that box, and instead of dumping him in the ocean or desert or somewhere no one could find him, you kept him close by." Bella tensed, "You may not admit it to anyone else, but I know that like Klaus, you enjoy watching people that have wronged you suffer."
Bella clenched her fists several times and reigned in her anger before she turned to face Marcel.
"If you think I'm so much like Klaus, do you think it would be wise for you to piss me off?" Bella asked.
Bella moved away and headed into the bedroom and shook Sophie awake.
"Bella," Sophie said, "Oh my god, you're okay."
"What did you find out?" Bella asked.
"Not much, the elders have ordered us out of this one." Sophie said, "They say it's your fight and once you're gone…"
"They get Davina," Bella finished with a growl.
"Not happening," Marcel interrupted as he joined them.
"No it's not." Bella said in agreement, "Tell the elders that once I'm done with Silas, I'm coming after them."
"Davina won't last long with all that power coursing through her body," Sophie said, "We can release her and bring her back."
"Not happening," Bella repeated, "Do yourself a favor Sophie. Listen to the elders and stay out of this."
Bella moved and jumped out the window before she started making her way down the street Marcel quickly caught up to her.
"What's the next move?" Marcel asked.
"Don't know." Bella said and looked up to the sky, "The sun is about up, we need to get back."
.*.*.*.*.*.
The two of them arrived back at the house and Elijah was waiting outside.
"Marcel will you excuse us?" Elijah asked, "My niece and I have much to discuss."
Marcel went inside and Elijah motioned to the backyard. They sat down across from one another and Bella waited.
"What were you thinking?" Elijah asked.
"I wanted answers." Bella replied.
"And going in at it alone, do you think that was a good idea?" Elijah asked.
"Marcel was with me." Bella replied calmly.
"Thankfully he was waiting for you to make a stupid move like that." Elijah countered, "You could have been taken again."
"I can handle it," Bella narrowed her eyes. "I mean once you've been at the mercy of Klaus you can handle anything."
"That is very true," Elijah said.
Bella looked at him taken aback, "I'm sorry, what?"
"I was merely agreeing with you," Elijah stated.
"What happened to defending Klaus?" Bella asked guarded.
"Perhaps I have reached my breaking point," Elijah replied, "Perhaps I have finally realized that even though he has been saved, the lives of many others have already been too damaged to be repaired."
"You mean me," Bella laughed, dryly.
"I didn't say you," Elijah replied, "Seems you put yourself in that category."
"You implied it," Bella said defensively.
"No I didn't," Elijah said, "Seems you have a chip on your shoulder."
"Elijah I don't have the patience for this crap," Bella slammed her hand onto the table and stood up, "If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise stay out of my way."
Bella turned to leave and Elijah spoke, "You're turning into him."
Bella stopped.
"The blatant disregard for how others feel, the sole focus on revenge or exacting your anger, not trusting anyone, pushing people away, the coldness to your entire demeanor," Elijah continued, "You are turning into Nikalus. You won't admit it to anyone but you know it."
"Whatever Elijah," Bella said and headed up the stairs to her room.
Elijah shook his head as he watched Bella go up the stairs.
"You're wrong." Klaus said as he came out of the shadows.
"What am I wrong about?" Elijah asked annoyed.
"She has admitted that she is like me." Klaus sat down across from Elijah, "She admitted it to me."
"Good for you," Elijah replied.
"Don't be so flippant Elijah," Klaus replied, "It's a terrible look on you."
"I agree with him, Elijah," Rebekah said as she joined them, "It always did look better on you Nik."
"Thank you," Klaus replied.
"It wasn't a compliment. What are we scheming about today?" Rebekah asked.
"Nothing," Elijah said, "I'm tired of schemes."
"We are discussing Bella," Klaus said.
"Ahhhh," Rebekah said, "What now?"
"She's becoming like me," Klaus said.
Rebekah shook her head, "Congratulations Nik. You've ruined another good person."
"What do you want from us brother?" Kol asked as he sauntered in, "I mean you must want something if you're sitting here talking all about feelings and such." He sat down with his siblings.
"I know what he wants." Rebekah said. "He wants our help to bring her back from the shadows."
"Good luck with that," Kol laughed, "She's very far from the light."
"But there is a light," Klaus said.
"Charlie?" Kol asked.
Klaus shook his head, "Damon."
"I already told you, I highly doubt he can bring her back." Elijah said.
"He can," Klaus said with certainty. "I've seen it. She wants to push him away, but a part of her still resists."
"What do you get from this Klaus?" Rebekah asked, "What is your reward?"
"Seeing her happy and free." Klaus replied, "I had a lot of time to think in that box. I saw things…when you're trapped and alone in darkness you have nothing else to do, but think, reflect, come to realizations. Then when you do get interaction and you can't do anything, but listen and you tend to see and think more. Isabella is slipping away much like I did."
"Are you saying you are changed?" Rebekah scoffed.
"I can't say I have changed, but I do know that whatever is happening to Isabella, I don't want it to…I don't want that life for her." Klaus replied.
"Niklaus putting someone above himself," Kol mused, "That's something I never thought I would ever witness."
Rebekah narrowed her eyes, "I don't believe you."
"I don't care what you believe." Klaus said angrily, "I only care about what is best for Isabella."
"Well then," Elijah stood up, "Perhaps you should speak with Damon on all of this. I mean if you really want to help her you need to tell him everything you know Niklaus and you need to make him believe it because if he doesn't, then she is lost…to everyone."
Elijah left to go to his room.
"The eldest brother has spoken," Kol said and slapped Klaus on the shoulder as he stood up, "Good luck mate."
Rebekah and Klaus stayed seated across from one another.
"So this is what it took?" Rebekah asked, "Your own daughter locking you away, deteriorating in front of you. Why now Nik? Hmmm? Why not before when you had her chained up in that dungeon…whipping her?"
"I was closed off," Klaus replied solemnly, "I was so consumed with the possibility of new power that I was blind to everything else. I wanted what I wanted and I didn't care."
"And now all that has changed because you spent a few months in a coffin," Rebekah scoffed.
"What can I do to make you all see that's the truth?" Klaus asked after banging his fist onto the table top.
"Just that Nik, do." Rebekah said, "Talk is cheap. Show us that you mean what you say, you have to prove yourself Nik." Rebekah stood up, "Until then no one will trust you. No one will believe you and even if you get all of us, including Charles and Damon, on your side it doesn't matter. You have to prove it to her, but don't expect her to ever believe you. She may tolerate it, but I doubt you will ever have what you want with her Nik."
Rebekah started to walk away, but stopped.
"While I doubt it I do hope for it Nik because she is such an amazing girl. She loves deeply and cares enough to sacrifice everything for those she loves. It's extremely humbling to be loved that much and it's incredibly rare. Those that get that are the luckiest people in the world because not many people are capable of that kind of love. We never have, perhaps if you can reach her there is hope for us." Rebekah said her final piece before she disappeared, leaving Klaus to sit there and ponder on his next move.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella showered and dressed once she got upstairs. She walked out as Charlie was stirring from his sleep.
"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked gruffly.
"There's work to do and I'm feeling better," Bella said without looking at him as she toweled her hair dry.
"You need rest." Charlie argued as he stood up and stretched.
"No, I need to find this Silas guy and kick his ass." Bella tossed the towel and grabbed her jacket.
"Now hold on a minute," Charlie said and grabbed her wrist, "Where are you going?"
"Out," Bella looked at him, "Sitting around isn't going to get me anywhere."
"And going in blind is going to get you caught or killed," Charlie countered.
"I'm not going in blind," Bella replied.
"You don't know anything about this guy." Charlie argued.
"I know he's got people everywhere and one of them is downstairs chained up. I'm going to talk to him so don't try to stop me." Bella said and yanked her wrist from Charlie's grip.
Bella made her way downstairs to where Cami was drinking coffee.
"Everyone is still out," Cami said as soon as she saw Bella.
"Where is the guest of honor?" Bella asked.
"Basement," Cami said, "Diego's on watch along with Thierry."
"Thanks," Bella said and headed for the basement.
.*.*.*.*.*.
When Bella got down there, Diego stopped her.
"No one in or out," Diego said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Get your hand off me before you lose it," Bella growled. "And get out of my way."
"Marcel's orders," Diego growled, "You know, before you we didn't have these problems."
"Does it look like I care what you think?" Bella said and pushed Diego back, "You two can beat it and let me get in there with him. I can get him talking, then I can deal with Silas, then I can leave this town and all your problems will leave too."
"Marcel said…" Diego started.
Bella grabbed Diego by the neck and started compelling him.
"You're gonna go upstairs and stay out of my way. Got it?" Bella asked.
"Got it," Diego said robotically and walked off.
Bella looked at Thierry, "Do I need to compel you too?"
Thierry shook his head and walked up the stairs.
Bella opened the door to the room and closed it behind her. She dragged a chair with her and sat it in front of the man who was tied up.
"You look a little roughed up." Bella greeted the Hunter.
"You still don't look too good," the man said after looking her over.
His left eye was swollen shut. Dried blood covered his face, shirt, and pretty much everywhere else. The cut above his right eye was still bleeding and his lip was busted open as well.
"Marcel worked you over pretty good." Bella commented.
"I can take it." The man said.
"What's your name?" Bella asked.
"Bite me," the man spat.
"Tempting, but I'm full right now." Bella said, "Come on, what's your name."
"Go to hell." He replied.
"You really want to make me do this?" Bella asked.
"Like I said, I can take it." The man said.
"Oh, I'm not going to beat on you." Bella said with a laugh before she leaned forward. She immediately caught his gaze and began to compel him, "Tell me your name."
"Galen Vaughn," the man replied robotically.
"Galen, that's interesting," Bella said, "You work for Silas."
"Yes," he answered.
"Is he here in New Orleans?" Bella asked.
"No, he will be soon though. A few days at most." Galen replied.
"He wants me, Connor said that. He also said it has something to do with my blood." Bella said, "Tell me what you know."
"Your blood contains the four factions; human, witch, vampire, and werewolf. You are the first and only one with the blood to exist. Silas needs you for the ritual to rid us all of the supernatural and for he himself to become human." Galen explained.
"You're forgetting something," Bella said, "I'm not a witch."
"You are descended from Esther and she was a powerful witch so yes, you are." Galen said, "It makes no difference that you can't do spells."
"How long do I have before this sacrifice?" Bella asked.
"I don't know that part." Galen said.
"What were your orders?" Bella questioned.
"To detain you. We paid some of Marcel's nightwalkers to inject you after Silas had gotten inside your mind. When Silas arrived we would take the IV out and allow you to recover. Your blood has to be as clean as possible as well as at its most powerful. We were going to starve you to the point of delirium and then feed you your friends." Galen answered.
Bella stood up angrily and kicked the chair back.
"Where is Silas supposed to be at?" Bella yelled.
"Connor knows, I don't," Galen said.
Bella went to go snap his neck, but someone grabbed her and pulled her back.
"No," Klaus shouted as he held her back.
"Get off of me." Bella growled, her fangs extending in the process.
"If you kill him it will drive you into madness." Klaus argued as he dragged her out of the room.
"Let me go!" Bella roared.
"No," Klaus said as she struggled against his hold, "I won't watch you go through that."
"Get your hands off of her." Damon growled and pushed Klaus away from Bella.
Bella headed for the door to the cell.
"Don't let her kill him," Klaus yelled, "She will go mad."
Damon turned and grabbed Bella.
"What's wrong with her?" Damon asked.
"He angered her," Klaus said, "She's still not in control of her emotions due to the fact that she's still recovering."
Damon wasn't as strong as usual as Bella struggled to get to the man behind the cell door.
"Let me help," Klaus said before he grabbed one of Bella's arms.
Damon begrudgingly allowed him to help as they hauled her up the stairs.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"What's going on?" Elena asked as she stood with Charlie and Theirry.
"She's unable to stay in control right now." Damon said.
"How do we stop her?" Elena asked.
Charlie looked at Thierry and nodded. Thierry blurred and snapped Bella's neck.
"What the hell?" Damon snapped.
"It was the only way," Charlie said, coming to stand beside Thierry.
"Damon you might want to try to get into her mind," Klaus suggested as he released Bella to him, "Take her thoughts off what he said."
"What did he say?" Elena asked.
"He told her that he was going to starve her until she was delirious with hunger and then feed you all to her." Klaus replied.
"She flashed back," Rebekah interrupted as she came to join them and Klaus nodded. "You all should thank Klaus from stopping her from killing him."
"Why is that?" Elena asked.
"Because there is something called the Hunter's curse." Rebekah replied, "Any vampire, werewolf, or witch that kills a Hunter will be driven to the point of madness until they can no longer bare it and kill themselves. Hallucinations cause the person to go mad. It's not a pretty sight." She said and looked at Klaus.
"It happened to you?" Elena asked.
Klaus nodded, "Yes and it didn't stop until another Hunter took his place." He turned to Damon, "Get into her mind and calm her down. Try to make her see reason."
Klaus left the room as Damon picked Bella up and took her to the study and closed the door.
A/N: Hey guys long time no post I know. Been crazy busy with school so I apologize.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Just to give you fair warning we are about to start going dark in the story so prepare yourselves.
Some people have wondered if this is the final installment of this series and just to clear it up it is. I won't be leaving any unanswered questions everything will be wrapped up.
Thank you to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all that she does. Thank you to you my readers an dreviewers I love hearing what you think good or bad.
Review please I love to hear your thoughts!