"Buried Secrets 3"
Chapter 17
Bella stood at the fireplace as the door to the study opened. Marcel, Diego, Thierry, and Alaric walked in with a bag each.
"Gifts from some of the humans," Marcel said placing his bag down. "Now I have a question why do we need arrows when they don't work against an immortal?"
"Normal arrows won't," Bella said walking over, "But give them a little zest and they'll slow Silas down a bit. Hope you all are a good shot."
"What are we talking about?" Alaric asked.
Bella pointed to several picked flowers laying on the table.
"We are going to convince him to make peace not war?" Diego asked sarcastically.
Bella laughed, "Beautiful they maybe, but they're deadly." She said, "We're going to boil them and then soak tips of the arrows afterwards. All these flowers are highly toxic. Silas is immortal, but he can be slowed down just like we can with a broken neck."
"What do you have?" Thierry asked.
"Nightshade, White Oleander, Wolfsbane, Bloodroot, witch's weed, hemlock…..I have quite the assortment." Bella said smiling.
"Should I get you a cauldron?" Marcel asked laughing.
"Pots will work," Bella said and looked to Alaric, "Mind handling this area? You are a weapons expert with supernatural beings."
"Sure," Alaric said and took the flowers.
"Boil each of them in separate pots," Bella said as he walked out.
Marcel looked at Thierry who nodded. Marcel and Diego exited the room.
"Bella," Thierry started.
"Don't," Bella said avoiding his gaze, "Not now."
"Yes now," Thierry said and placed a hand on her shoulder, "It's me."
A single treacherous tear managed to spill and then the flood gates opened. She had kept it at bay, but with Thierry she couldn't hold it back. He had been there for her like Charlie since the beginning and she knew he felt the loss as much as she did.
Her knees buckled and she fell to the floor. Thierry quickly bent down and wrapped her in a hug. No words were exchanged and soon Thierry's own tears gave way. They stayed that way hugging one another drowning in their grief. They knew it would be brief because a battle would soon begin, but they took advantage of the few moments they had and let what had been boiling inside out.
For Thierry Charlie was his last blood connection to the world. He had been there through everything with Charlie. He was there at every birthday, at graduations, the wedding to Renee, and the day Bella came into the world he was there with Charlie. He held Charlie as he grieved for Bella's birth mother. He held both Charlie and this tiny little baby in his arms. He helped burn her mother, he helped hide the evidence of Bella's birth.
As with Charlie he was there for everything with Bella. He was the first person she fed on. He helped her learn how to control her emotions, he watched her grow into this bright, fun, and carefree child. Then he returned when she had been taken. He searched all over for her, but found nothing then Charlie called and said she was in New Orleans. He had snuck into the hospital to see her even given her some of his blood. Had Marcel known Thierry would have been placed in the garden, but in his mind it was worth it if she survived. She did, but she wasn't the same girl he had remembered. She had become a shell of herself and he despised Klaus for that.
Now he sat there holding Bella and her holding him.
Bella knew the bond Charlie and Thierry had. When she was little she asked him why he wasn't like some of the monsters and he said because of Charlie. Charlie was his connection to his once human life. He never wanted his family to see him as a monster.
Bella hugged Thierry tighter. Both of their hearts were broken and guilt flooded her system. She knew that Thierry would soon be grieving for her as well and she wanted to tell him what he meant to her, but in doing so the entire house would hear so she just said;
"He'll be avenged," she whispered, "He won't die in vain."
Thierry nodded, "No he won't."
*.*.*.*.*
Thierry walked out several minutes later.
"Charlie was your nephew." Marcel said.
Thierry steeled himself, "Yes."
"So you knew about her," Marcel said.
"Yes I did." Thierry said, "I told you when you turned me my family always came first."
"I thought that meant me." Marcel said.
"It does, but it also meant her and Charlie," Thierry replied. "I know that this can be seen as a betrayal and I know that I will be placed in the garden. I only ask that you wait until after we kill Silas."
Marcel shook his head, "I'm not putting you in the garden."
Thierry looked at him shocked, "But I lied to you."
"Did you?" Marcel asked, "You were honest with me Thierry. Family always comes first and I respect that. She's my family too."
Thierry smiled and nodded, "Thank you."
*.*.*.*.*
Bella sat up on the roof just watching the sun go down. This was the last night she had and to her there were so many things left unsaid to so many of the people in the house, but the time had ran out.
"Bella," Elena said quietly.
"Come up," Bella said.
Elena jumped up and stood awkwardly. Bella patted the place next to her and Elena sat down.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Bella asked.
Elena nodded, "Bella….."
"Shhh," Bella said, "Just sit here with me for a little bit in silence."
Elena nodded.
Several minutes passed and the sun set. Bella laid back and watched as the stars began to appear.
"What are you thinking about?" Elena asked quietly.
"A song," Bella said smiling. "A song my mom used to sing to me. Dad would always try to sing it, but he was way off pitch." She said laughing. "She sang it the night I was born as she stared up into the night sky. She knew she was going to die. I would climb up on my roof at night and I would lay down and sing it. I sang it while I was captive and then when I got home I stopped. Dad tried to get me to sing it, but I gave up….because I didn't believe in it anymore."
"What was the song?" Elena asked.
Bella took a deep breath,
"Suddenly before my eyes
Hues of indigo arise
With them how my spirit sighs
Paint the sky with stars
Only night will ever know
Why the heavens never show
All the dreams there are to know
Paint the sky with stars
Who has placed the midnight sky
So a spirit has to fly?
As the heavens seem so far now,
Who will paint the midnight star?
Night has brought to those who sleep
Only dreams they cannot keep
I have legends in the deep
Paint the sky with stars
Who has placed the midnight sky
So a spirit has to fly?
As the heavens seem so far now,
Who will paint the midnight star?
Place a name upon the night
One to set your heart alight
And to make the darkness bright
Paint the sky with stars."
Elena had teared up, "It's beautiful."
"It's a song of questioning and of hope," Bella said, "Look up there."
Elena did and saw the night sky sparkled.
"Dad said my mom would say those stars are the windows and at night we could leave our bodies we would soar through the night. Each star was a door we could get through to see the ones we loved." Bella said, "We do this when our souls are so weighed down and consumed by a darkness. It's our one reassurance that there is hope and we need to cling to it."
"Do you believe it?" Elena asked.
"When I was younger yes then I stopped believing." Bella said.
"And now?" Elena pressed.
"Now I have to believe. I need something to hold onto." Bella said.
*.*.*.*.*
Klaus listened from inside as Bella sang. He remembered that song he remembered Bella's mother singing it as she would rub her ever growing stomach. His mother had never sang to them that they could remember. Watching her, listening to her do this every night it made him question himself that was until she escaped. He thought she had tricked him caused him to become relaxed. When he caught Bella she sang the song at first too and it made him resent her. He remembered the day she stopped singing. He had waited outside the cell as the night fell, but she never opened her mouth. That night a storm rolled in and the clouds hid the night sky. For the remainder of her captivity the clouds and the storm stayed. Even after she left it remained cloudy at night.
As Klaus looked up he noticed that this was the first time in a long time that he had seen the sky fully. Stars filled the sky and something in him clicked as Bella finished her song. The sky was a reflection of Bella's own inner turmoil. The weather a reflection of her emotions. Now the sky was clear giving a sign that that hope Bella had lost long ago at his hands was returning. That maybe she could be the girl she used to be.
*.*.*.*.*
Damon stood looking out his window as he heard a knock.
"Come in," Damon said.
Bella walked in with two glasses and a bottle of bourbon.
"Isn't it a bad idea to drink before a big battle?" Damon said.
"For most people yeah," Bella said sitting the glasses down and opening the bottle, "But not us."
"So there's an us," Damon said turning to face her.
Bella didn't respond she placed a drink across from her and sat down.
Damon shook his head, "You still can't admit it can you." He said quietly.
"I always thought you weren't a guy who needed verbal validation." Bella replied.
"Sometimes it's nice to get it," Damon said and sat down across from her grabbing the glass. "Helps you understand where you stand with someone. Why won't you admit it?"
"Because I don't see us spending eternity together." Bella said. "I've never seen a future."
"For us." Damon said,
"For me," Bella clarified, "I used to when I was little I thought about the future and I thought about how my life would be. I tried to hold onto that belief in that dungeon, but eventually I gave up on it Damon." Bella poured herself another drink, "I gave up on ever having a future. It's hard to try and hold on to something that will never exist. Every day I wake up and I think today could be the day I die. Today I may lose the fight. I've thought like that for the last 11 years and in thinking like that I never felt like I lost what I never had. I never felt like I was robbed of some unrealistic future."
"Then what has kept you going," Damon asked. "What is it?"
"That maybe I've saved just one person's future. That maybe someone could have the future I once wanted." Bella replied.
Damon put his glass down and blurred over kneeling in front of her.
"You could still have that," Damon said taking her hand, "It's not too late."
"Tomorrow there's no guarantee," Bella said choking up.
"We are going to be fine," Damon said and took her glass from her. "You and me we're gonna make it and so is everyone else. We are gonna survive it and then we'll go anywhere you want."
"So now you're trying to be prince Charming?" Bella asked laughing. "Newsflash Damon I never wanted Prince Charming."
Damon smirked, "I know that." He cupped her face, "I'm just telling you exactly what I see in my future and that's you. It's been you for a while."
"Don't," Bella said shaking her head.
"I don't say things I don't mean Bella," Damon said seriously, "My future is with you and that's it. Wherever we go, whatever we do I don't care because all that matters is I'm with you."
Tears sprang forward and Bella continued to shake her head, "Don't please Damon stop."
"No," Damon said and pulled her up with him, "I'm not gonna stop. I haven't stopped since I met you. You disappeared and I searched for you. You compelled me and I still came for you. You up and ran away with Klaus and here I am. You want to know what a verbal validation feels like here it is; I love you Bella." Damon forced her to look at him, "I love you. Now tell me Bella….."
"Fine," Bella said and pushed away, "I love you. I want to be with you and I want to have that future with you."
Damon blurred and his lips crashed down onto hers.
*.*.*.*.*
Hours later Bella laid in bed with Damon who was sleeping. His arms held her tight and she listened to his slow steady heartbeat. She had broken the promise she had made to herself. She swore wouldn't tell him what they both wanted because she knew it wouldn't happen. Tomorrow night this battle would Silas would end like Damon said and they were going to survive….except her. She knew deep in her soul the only way to stop him was to be bound to him and then have Mason stake her. Guilt flooded through her. She had just given Damon false hope. She had just broken her promise to herself. She had swore she wouldn't tell Damon the truth about how she felt. That was just too cruel she thought, but somehow at the time it felt right. Now though she felt like the most horrible person in the world because in some way she had lied to him.
Bella untangled herself from Damon and she put on her clothes. She quietly slipped out of the room and headed down to Mason's. She went inside and woke him up;
"Bella," Mason said groggily.
"Shhh," Bella said and started to compel him, "We are scraping are plan for earlier," she said, "I need you to give me the stake."
Mason obeyed and retrieved the stake.
"I can't do this to you Mason." Bella said, "Go back to sleep forget I was here."
Mason nodded and went back to sleep.
*.*.*.*.*
Bella went out through the window and up to the roof. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
"You're back," a familiar voice said.
Bella opened her eyes and she was in the cemetery.
"I need to know something," Bella said walking over to the blonde girl. "When the bonding process starts how long do I have?"
"A few minutes five at most," the girl replied.
"Once it's started it can't be stopped right," Bella said.
"Yes," The girl said tilting her head, "No matter what the bond will run its course. IF you're worried about the afterlife once you're both dead the bond is severed."
"It's not that," Bella said, "If I were to stake myself before I lost control would it kill him?"
The girl's eyes widened. She could not speak she merely nodded.
"Okay." Bella said nodding.
"I thought you had a plan," the girl said.
"I can't have Mason do that," Bella said looking out at the cemetery, "I can't let that be on his conscience."
*.*.*.*.*
Bella opened her eyes and saw she was up on the roof and the sun was beginning to rise.
She let out a breathe and stood up;
"One more fight Bella," she whispered to herself, "It's just one more fight."
Bella walked inside and everyone was assembled downstairs;
"You ready?" she asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Let's do this," Bella said and started to compel everyone. "You're leaving….I can't be saved you're going to give up, but you're going to have one last night out in the city then tomorrow you leave. When Silas takes over you all will be fine with it."
Everyone repeated what she said. Bella blurred out of the house, but returned a moment later.
"Okay now for the real compulsion," Bella said, "When the sun goes down all that crap I just made you think will disappear you'll remember what our real plan is and you'll meet me at the old factory outside of town."
The group repeated what she said and Bella walked out of the house.
*.*.*.*.*
Bella wondered through the quarter for a while before heading outside of town to the swamp. She stood at the end of a dock and waited.
"Are they in the quarter?" Bella asked after a few minutes.
"No," Klaus said appearing next to her, "They are staying close to the mill."
Bella nodded, "Are the weapons in place?"
"Yes," Klaus replied, "Isabella I….."
"Remember our deal," Bella said interrupting him, "We aren't talking until after this is over."
Bella started to walk away.
"What if I die," Klaus said.
Bella stopped, "I won't let that happen." She said and turned around, "For two reasons one you die all those I care about die which would make this whole fighting Silas thing pointless and two I want those answers."
"I'll give them to you now." Klaus said.
"I don't want them now." Bella replied and turned her back.
"You don't think you're going to make it," Klaus said and tensed, "I've gone into many fights Isabella I recognize someone who thinks they are going to die."
"If it's my time," Bella replied.
"You haven't lived," Klaus said, "It can't be your time."
"I've lived." Bella replied.
"No you've survived," Klaus replied. "Look at me."
Bella turned to face him;
"I made a promise to Char…..your father," Klaus said, "I told him I would protect you."
"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." Bella replied.
"I've always been a man of my word and this is one promise I will see kept." Klaus replied.
Bella just shook her head.
"You seem to have forgiven me." Klaus stated.
"I haven't," Bella said, "I've made peace with my past….there's a difference."
"Why?" Klaus asked.
"Because I can't go in there with all the anger and rage I had built up inside of me." Bella said and kicked a rock.
"You know you have a couple hours before…." Klaus trailed. "I would like to talk with you."
"What do you want to talk about?" Bella asked sitting down.
"How about why you haven't tried to compel me," Klaus said, "You know you probably could."
"Why should you get off that easily?" Bella asked.
"True," Klaus said.
"Besides you can't ever get rid of the memories….there are remnants that are still there….emotions eventually it all bubbles up to the surface," Bella said. "Now I have a question for you."
"Go on," Klaus said.
"You had ample opportunity to kill Damon," Bella said and Klaus stilled, "I know I couldn't be everywhere at once so why didn't you?"
"Because it would cut you deeper then anything else, just like I would never have killed your father." Klaus said.
"No you would have had Kol do that," Bella growled.
"NO," Klaus said and Bella's eyes shot to his, "Kol was under strict instructions to make sure Charles did not die."
"Why?" Bella asked.
"On some level Isabella I could never do something that would cut you that deep." Klaus said. "I tried I did there were times I had the opportunity the means to kill Charles and Damon, but I just couldn't."
"But you could hurt me." Bella said.
"Physical pain is different," Klaus said, "You can survive physical pain, those scars heal, but the mental and emotional ones…..they stay with you. Mentally and emotionally I pushed you to the edge, but I could never push you over it. I could never take away the two men that had all your love. Make no mistake I despised them that they had that love from you, but my time in the coffin showed me that ultimately I put myself there." Klaus said, "My actions placed me there and I came to realize that I deserved to be there….I still deserve to be there. In fact I somewhat want you to put me back there."
"I'm not going to," Bella said.
"Why not?" Klaus asked.
"Because nothing gets resolved." Bella replied, "In the coffin you don't have to deal with what's happened you just lay there."
"I lay there with my thoughts," Klaus said.
"What good is that?" Bella asked and stood up, "In that coffin you just think you don't have to put those thoughts into actions. That's the hard part Klaus thinking is easy it's the changing that isn't." Bella looked to the sun slowly setting, "Not much time left. I'll see you soon."
"Bella," Klaus called, but Bella was already gone.
*.*.*.*.*.*
Bella arrived at the garden and compelled the vampires to sleep. Bella walked towards the back and opened the secret door. Inside Charlie's body laid on a table covered by a sheet. Bella pulled the sheet back. Marcel had obviously cleaned Charlie up and changed his clothes. Bella took Charlie's hand and kissed it;
"I'm so sorry," Bella said and tears began to fall, "I never meant for this to happen… any of this. My time's up Dad….I'm going down for the final count, but I'm gonna take that son of a bitch down with me." Bella promised, "I won't do it quickly either. I'll have a few minutes before I have to do what needs to be done." She wiped a few tears away, "I know after I came back I wasn't the same. I know I put you through hell more times you ever deserved and I can't take those back. I hurt you and I never meant too, but that's the kicker isn't it….we always hurt those we love the most." Bella kissed Charlie's hand again, "I won't be going where you went dad….I've done too many bad things for that, but I want you to know that I love you and that I'm sorry. If I could go back and change some things I would. I would change what I've said to you especially recently." Bella leaned over and kissed Charlie's head then breathed in deep smelling traces of his cologne and shampoo. "I love you daddy and I'm going to give Silas and Connor what they deserve."
Bella pulled the sheet back over Charlie and walked out of the room. She uncompelled the vampires and disappeared. Bella walked down the street and suddenly several men including Connor surrounded her.
"It's time," Connor said.
"I know," Bella growled.
"Still sore about your Dad?" Connor asked smirking and patting his gun.
Bella stepped towards him and everyone tensed;
"After Silas has me what use will he have for you?" Bella said whispering in Connor's ear, "He'll need me not you….I might be bound to him by loyalty, but I won't forget what you did to my father."
"Silas wouldn't let you hurt me," Connor said his voice shaking.
"You sure about that?" Bella challenged and smiled wickedly at him before pushing past him.
Connor gulped and shook a bit. He signaled for the others to follow and they walked down the street to waiting cars. Bella turned around and took one more look down the quarter. She smiled and then got into the car.
They arrived at the mill and Bella saw Silas waiting.
"Isabella," Silas said smiling.
"I want something," Bella said ignoring pleasantries. "Something that I know I won't get to fully enjoy once I'm bound to you," Bella said.
"What's that?" Silas asked.
"You know what," Bella said glaring at him.
Silas nodded his head, "You are entitled to that consider it my gift to you for your sacrifice tonight. There is a room in the storage building equipped for such a thing."
Bella nodded and blurred grabbing Connor and raising him off the ground.
"Silas," Connor choked out. "You promised,"
"I promised to rid the world of monsters and I need her to do it." Silas said shrugging, "You are hers to do with as she pleases."
Bella let out a predatory smile, "I told you so." Bella said and blurred away.
*.*.*.*.*.*
Two hours later Bella stood in a shower and was letting the blood rinse off her body. She had taken her time with Connor…skinned him and then when she heard his heart slowing down she gutted him like a fish then watched the life drain from his eyes. She looked up and smiled;
"I hope you saw that Dad," Bella said, "Klaus' memories were very useful."
Bella washed up and got out. She put on the clothes Silas had left out for her, dried her hair and walked out of the room.
Silas was waiting and he smiled when he saw her.
"You look wonderful," Silas said and stretched out his hand, "I figured we could have dinner we still have a couple hours until midnight."
"Last meal for a dying girl," Bella said laughing.
"Don't look at it as death Bella," Silas said, "Look at it as a new beginning one that the rest of your family will be safe and happy in."
Bella smiled and chuckled, "Oh they will be." Bella said and walked past Silas and down the hall.
A/N: Hey everyone! So sorry for the long wait, but I have good reason. About the time I finished the last chapter I had just graduated, but I also found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Well between not having an easy pregnancy (I was extremely sick), pregnancy brain (a big factor as well), and buying a bigger house for our growing family my attention and focus was somewhere else. August last year my daughter was born and I have been so busy between her and her brother that finding the time and the energy to write was impossible.
I finally got this chapter out which makes me happy and I hope it makes all of you happy. I have started working on the next chapter, but life is still hectic here so normally the only time I have to write is at midnight and normally I only have about 30mins left in me to write before I am completely wiped out and ready for bed. That being said I hope you'll be patient with me as I slowly get the chapter together. It may take a bit, but there will be another chapter.
Thank you for being patient and understanding and I hope you enjoy the chapter. Leave a review if you're feeling generous!