SWEET KISSES FROM RUSSIA
Fan Fiction – Alternate Universe
Caroline & Klaus
Elijah & Katherine
From: Lovely Vero
Disclaimer: This story is, and will always be, a fiction story, that is coming from the imagination of the author. It is not a bibliography of the author or any of the readers, neither a story that is exploring your own experience in life. It is not meant to be informative or to represent the perception or opinion of the author about the subject at hands in her own private life; it is not an encyclopedia, or a medical reference. It is only a fiction, the characters are fictional, and the story should be taken as such and not be mistaken with the private life of the readers, or any of their personal experiences. Thank you.
Important writer's note:
This present second part chapter is tackling the abuse of power subject; and unfortunate incident/accident that could trigger strong mixed emotions and sadness to readers.
Previously on Sweet Kisses from Russia …
"Mister Elijah, as much as a part of me would like for you to strangle him once in for all; please let him go?" They all heard the female voice requesting the Original, before turning their heads toward the intruder; all standing speechless and immobile under the unexpected arrival.
"Mother, is it you?" Elijah exclaimed, in shock.
"Maria?" Rebekah, Katerina and Carolina called, simultaneously, the maid's name.
"You're back?" Elijah added; still motionless.
"Yes, I'm back." Maria nodded, with her hands crossed over her chest; a smile spreading on her lips.
"When death is calling"
Chapter 22
~ Part 2 ~
Italy – Milan, Mikaelson's estate …
"Boss; are you ok?" Elijah's right arm man, George, asked; while storming through an adjacent door inside the parlor room, with a few guards on his heels.
"I'm fine, George; everything is under control." Elijah promptly informed, with a hand gesture.
"I see; in that case we'll let you and … Mrs. Maria … You're back?" George exclaimed, in shock; while turning his sight toward the woman placed underneath the arch door.
"Good day; George." Maria nodded; respectfully; before lowering her sight and flushed cheeks.
"I'm happy to have you back… I mean we all are, of course." George stammered through his sentence, before lowering his own sight to the floor.
"Oh for God sake, can we skip the romantic exchange between your bodyguard and my ex-wife?" Mikael winced, in disdain.
Elijah narrowed his sight on his father, before releasing the pressure of his forearm placed over his throat; while taking a few steps back.
"Secure all entrances on this estate, would you?" The Original gave the order to George; while passing his right hand over his face.
"Understood" George nodded, respectfully; before retracing his steps out of the parlor room, with the two gorilla men on his heels.
"Stefan, let my … I mean would you let Mister Klaus go?" Maria gently ordered the young vampire.
The hybrid was released from his friend's grip a second later under his mother's order.
"Try to calm your rage; would you?" Stefan advised his friend; while releasing him and mouthing the words; to which Klaus nodded in agreement.
"Maria?" Carolina exclaimed; before throwing herself in the woman's arms.
"Mrs. Carolina, my dear child, I'm so glad you're safe." Maria exclaimed, emotional; while closing her eyes and hugging the young woman near her heart; before softly pushing the young woman at arm length. "You visited the city of Milan? You have redness of fresh air on your cheeks; it's suiting your carnation, beautifully." She commented; while cupping Carolina's face. "Mrs. Katerina?" She suddenly turned toward the brunette; who smiled timidly to the maid.
"I'm so happy that you're back, Maria; I've worried sick about you." Katerina confessed; happy tears filling her eyes.
"And you have new shoes?" Maria winked at the young Russian; mockingly. "Your husband threated you well as I can see?" She added; before turning her sight toward a petite brunette that was standing near Kol's standing position.
"Hi, I'm Bonnie Bennett; I've heard a lot about you, all good I can assure you." The young woman greeted Maria, politely, while shaking her hand. "I was kind of mixed up in this in a weird way that would probably take a long time to explain… And I believe it's not the right time to chat about it, now."
"Aren't we all mixed up in this?" Maria replied, fatalistic. "It's nice to meet you Miss Bennett." She added, before turning her glance toward her two remaining children. "Miss Rebekah; Mister Kol … It's nice to see you both." She nodded; politely.
Rebekah took a step back; while rubbing her hands nervously together… What was she supposed to do? Jump into the arms of a woman who should have been a mother to her all these past years, but who had not filled those shoes for so long? It's very unexpectedly that Kol interlaced his fingers with the ones of his sister to give her courage.
"Do you remember, Maria? I mean who you are?" Rebekah questioned; uncomfortably.
"I have no memories coming back at me at the moment, but I do know what my place used to be in this family." She nodded, redness reaching her cheeks; head kept down. "It's kind of awkward for me too; if it's any consolation for the both of you." Maria commented; a timid smile spreading on her lips.
Kol nodded to her say, but they both preferred to stay silent after her say. Slow steps would be necessary to make a deeper connection with their mother.
"Ok…" Mikael sighed loudly and in desperation; while stroking his eyelids. "Though this family reunion is highly touching, and probably worthy of me crying in my handkerchief; can we move on from all the drama touchy feelings, it's making me nauseous."
"You know, that is actually funny, Mikael; considering that it's your presence that is making me nauseous." Stefan winced; while pointing in the patriarch direction.
"You impertinent, disrespectful fool; do you know to whom you're addressing yourself to?" Mikael took a step in Stefan's direction; before being hold immobile by Elijah with a firm grip on his right upper arm.
"This is my home, my guests, my way; father!" Elijah mumbled, angrily, between his teeth; his sight narrowed on his father. "You're behaving accordingly or it will be my pleasure to throw you out, am I clear?"
"Crystal clear, son…" Mikael replied; wincing.
"Someone care to explain what all of this sudden change of heart of our dearest father entitled?" Kol asked, while narrowing his sight on the said one.
"Of course, I'm sorry; I should have explained everything the moment I'd walked-in and saw that you were all present." Maria presented her apologies, humbly. "Mikael Mikaelson, your father." She started explaining, with a dry tone of voice; while taking a deep breath into her lungs. "He found me on the side of the route in Moscow; the day I'd managed to escape, Ludgiv Petrov's manor." She informed them all.
"Mikael Mikaelson? Really, so now you're calling me with my full name, my dear? No more little pet names like you used to murmur softly into my ears." Mikael mocked; while his walking steps lead him toward the bar.
"Ewwww…" They all exclaimed, disdainfully; with sour expressions.
"You must have been seriously drunk the day you've dreamed that scenario, Mister Mikaelson." Maria mumbled, angrily; between her teeth.
"Where's my father now…" Klaus took a few steps to face his mother. "… Maria?"
"The day I was abducted from our house … What I mean is of course from your manor in London, he brought me to Russia; in the city of Moscow. He's living in a huge manor there, with an army of guards at his disposal." She explained.
"Could it be where you've met him in the past?" Elijah asked, while turning his sight toward his wife.
"It could be." Katerina shrugged. "I couldn't say, I was blindfolded when I was brought to the event that he was hosting, but I remember the house was prestigious."
"How did you manage to escape from his claws?" Klaus wondered; while drowning his sight in his mother's.
"Well; it was a strange meeting and a follow up of stranger circumstances." Maria explained; while nervously rubbing her hands together.
"Salvatore! If I was you I would take some notes; this is about to become highly informative and interesting for you." Mikael smirked; while pouring to himself a glass of scotch.
"What is he talking about?" Stefan asked Maria.
"Well, your brother, Damon Salvatore was the one who helped me escape." Maria informed the young vampire.
"Damon? What is he doing in Russia?" Rebekah exclaimed, dumbfounded.
"Is he mixed-up with Petrov?" Kol shook his head; in disbelief.
"I couldn't say, really; and I wouldn't want to put the blame on a man without knowing the justification of his presence there; what I know for sure is that he was present in the manor at the same moment that I was abducted." Maria replied.
"Why would you brother be in Russia?" Klaus wondered, why turning his sight toward Stefan.
"I have no idea; we barely spoke to each other the past few months." Stefan shrugged; apologetically.
"Start talking!" Elijah approached Mikael's position; while drowning his sight in his father's.
"Oh now, you want me to talk, how delightful." Mikael grinned; before gulping the content of his glass. "You know what is hilarious? How gullible you all are. You're here with your warrior mode, without even understanding a thing of what has been going on behind your backs and underneath your noses for so long." He added; while leaning his back on a console table; his arms crossed over his chest. "Damon has been the informer of Petrov for a few months now."
"You're lying, son of bitch!" Stefan exploded; while storming toward the patriarch; closed fists raised in front of his chest.
"Calm down!" Klaus intercepted his friend; while grabbing his right upper arm.
"Let me go!" Stefan exclaimed; soon equally retained in his force of actions by Kol's grip on his left arm.
"Come on man, he doesn't deserve it; believe me I know it firsthand." Kol whispered, near Stefan's ear.
"So, if I get your say correctly, father; Damon Salvatore was one of the informers of Ludvig Petrov?" Elijah questioned; while pacing back and forth in front of his father.
"Not like I'm expecting you to believe me, but it's the truth and nothing but the truth." Mikael mocked; with an opened arms gesture.
"Maria?" Elijah turned his glance toward his mother.
"I'm so sorry, I couldn't say, really I couldn't." Maria shook her head, apolitically. "One minute I had passed away and was transported in my suite; the next your brother was standing by my side promising to help me escape." She informed Stefan.
"He always hated your connection to me." Klaus commented to his friend. "Maybe it was his way to get some sort of revenge?" He added, while releasing the grip on Stefan's arm.
"I don't believe it, I can't believe it." Stefan mumbled, between his teeth; before nervously passing a hand through his tangled hair.
"Mio Dio e tutto il santo vaticano!" Isabella exclaimed, in shock; while entering the parlor room; a hand raised over her chest. "Signora Maria, you've been found?"
"Oh Maria, it's been so many years." Maria responded, all smile; while reaching the Italian maid position; before hugging her.
"I'll thank Dio every night for this miracle; you're safe." Isabella replied, while cupping Maria's face in her hands; before suddenly turning her sight toward Mikael. "What is this spazzatura (trash) doing here?"
"Oh really, now I'm trash?" Mikael commented; while rolling his eyes.
"Not just now, you've always been!" Stefan added, perniciously.
"Can we get rid of him; he can only bring more trouble than he's worth?" Rebekah commented.
"Well I love you too, darling daughter." Mikael replied, sourly. "Funny how you quickly forget how, in the goodness of my heart, I brought back your mother to you."
"I wish that I could forget that part myself." Maria commented; while closing her eyes and sighing loudly.
"Oh please brother, kick him out of the house for God sake?" Kol begged.
"Actually, I prefer to keep an eye on him and on his future actions." Elijah commented; while raising his chin; his sight narrowed on the patriarch. "But, I won't force him to stay in our company."
"In that case, I did not prepare dinner for nothing; bring your culo on the dining room table, lasagna is waiting for you… Go, go!" Isabelle ordered; while gesturing with both of her hands. "You two skinny girls also… move!" She pushed Katerina, Carolina and Bonnie out of the room.
Katerina descended the stairs in one of the hacienda tour; halfway suddenly holding her pace while coming face to face with Mikael Mikaelson, her father in law.
"I thought you had left? Let me pass, please?" She asked, politely; her sight fixating the Italian tiles covering the stairs.
"I'm on my way soon, my dear; but before I leave I think we should have a little chat." Mikael responded to the brunette; while forcefully grabbing her left forearm.
"It's the middle of the night; I'm tired and I want to go back my husband." She mumbled, angrily, between her teeth; while raising her chin and pulling her arm away from his grip of steel; her legs continuing the descent. "It's not because my husband accepted your presence in here that I need to have any contact with you."
"You must mean your "vampire" husband?" Mikael added; perniciously. "I've come to the realization that you know his true nature as of now, or am I mistaking?"
Katerina closed her eyes and abruptly stopped her momentum; closed fists place on each side of her tensed body; before retracing her steps up on a few stairs to drown her sight in Mikael's.
"It makes no difference to me; you son is my husband and I … I respect him and see the man that he is trying to become as my companion." She busted to the patriarch face.
"How poetic and yet so romantic at the same time, dear Katerina." Mikael replied to the young woman, sight narrowed on his prey, with his arms crossed over his chest. "Though your speech is so inspiring, where does it leave you as a human with my vampire son?"
"I don't understand what you mean?" Katerina replied; while blushing and swallowing a lump in her throat.
"Yes, you do; but you're just refusing to see the harsh reality in front of your nose; quite surprising coming from a woman who had to witness the cruel world of prostitution, and the not so poetic side of men; would you say?" Mikael raised both his eyebrows in a confrontational gesture. "And I thought that your social status would actually be the main problem in your association with my son, how wrong I was, obviously." He added; a smirk raising both sides of his lips.
"Go to hell, Mikael!" Katerina lashed out. "You have no right to … To judge me from your so high pedestal; when all that you've ever done for your own family is spitting into their faces, while causing them nothing but grief and pain." She added; while pointing a finger toward his chest. "You're a pitiful man; the only gift you granted them was to erase Maria's memory from her mind, at least she doesn't have to remember you as her husband."
"Well, well… Look at you now, Katerina Petrova! Aren't you a wild, talkative little thing?" Mikael mumbled, angrily; between his teeth; before pushing the young woman on the wall behind her back; both hands placed on each side of her shivering body.
"Please let me go?" She begged of him; while raising her chin and sight.
"How could you even consider staying by my son side while remaining human, my dear? Mm, can you answer this to me?" Mikael inquired; while grabbing Katerina's wrists. "You think he'll keep looking at your beauty when you'll be old and grey?"
"That is not of your business, Mikael!" The young Russian lashed out; with a trembling tone of voice. "How we decide to live our married life shouldn't concern you."
"You're a fool if you think that he'll keep you by his side as such!" Mikael replied; harshly. "Sooner or later; the beast in him will take over his purest intention toward you; and he'll turn you, mark my words; young foolish woman!"
"Let me go now!" Katerina lashed out in a louder tone of voice; while squirming to regain her freedom.
"Oh stop fussing so much; if I wanted to hurt you I would have done it a long time ago; and trust me my dear; you wouldn't be alive now to discuss it with me!" Mikael busted; while trying to keep his equilibrium on the stair.
"I've never hated someone as much as I hate you!" Katerina exclaimed, in rage; while squirming to free her wrists.
"Stop moving or you'll fall, stupid woman!" Mikael warned; dryly.
Katerina managed to free her hands, while pushing her aggressor at arm length; unfortunately unaware of her precarious standing position on the far edge of the stair. She lost her balance; and fell backward while rolling several times on herself; her back hitting an iron bar, with her head hitting the ceramic floor at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh dear God…" Mikael exclaimed, in shock, while passing a hand over his face; before storming in his vampire speed at the young woman's side. "Katerina, answer me? Are you alright?" He questioned, while kneeling by the brunette side; his right hand pushing long strands of her hair on the left side; before noticing the blood on his skin. "Oh dear God; you're bleeding!" He exclaimed; while raising his hand in front of his sight. "I can't stay here." He shook his head; fearful. "You'll …. You'll be ok, someone will find you soon, and you'll be ok." He stammered to himself; before rising on his legs and promptly vamping outside the Italian Estate.
"Dio! Mister Mikaelson … Mister Mikaelson!" Isabella yelled from the top of her lungs; while kneeling at Katerina's side. "Come, quickly! La signora Katerina, she fell!"
"What do you mean she fell?" Elijah exclaimed, in shock; while rushing by the maid's side. "What happened?"
"I don't know? Maybe, like I've said she is not nourishing herself in a healthy way? The poor woman only has skin and bones!" Isabella waved her hands to the heaven.
Elijah grabbed one of Katerina's shoes that had fallen on one of the above stairs; before turning his tormented sight toward the unconscious body of his wife. "No, it's not the reason; she really fell in the stairs." He suddenly realized; while kneeling urgently by Katerina's side.
"Oh my God, what happened?" Maria exclaimed, in shock; while reaching the commotion, only to kneel at the opposite side.
"I don't know; Isabella found Katerina unconscious at the bottom of the stairs, I think she fell from the staircase." Elijah replied, frantically; while pointing his left hand toward the upstairs.
"Ok, ok … Calm down, and don't move Katerina, don't move her, Elijah!" Maria ordered, repeatedly; while grabbing her son's hands at the moment he thought of raising the brunette in his arms.
"Why?" He asked, while passing a nervous hand through his hair.
"Her back… I mean, I think she felled on the bar, there could be damage to her spine." Maria explained, while attracting her son's attention to the obvious.
"What can I do to help?" Isabella, who stood silently by their sides, asked; while nervously rubbing her hands together.
"You need to call an ambulance now." Maria signed the maid.
"No!" Elijah forbad her. "If Katerina is taking in charge in a regular hospital, there will be records of her presence in Milan; we can't risk that." He shook his head.
"What about the doctor… Oh, what was his name? Doctor Giovanni, yes! He's aware of our vampirism; isn't he?" Maria asked her son; while grabbing his left forearm.
"Yes, he is aware of it. Isabella, contact him; quickly!" Elijah ordered the Italian man.
"Sì, Mister Mikaelson, I'll do it right now." She nodded; before turning on her heels only to bump into Klaus and Carolina.
"Katerina, oh my God, what happened?" Carolina exclaimed, in shock; while arriving at the scene of the accident; before kneeling near her sister unconscious body.
"She had an accident." Maria responded, calmly; to not alert the young woman.
"What? No… No, it's not possible." Carolina shook her head, in disbelief.
"No, don't touch her, Carolina! You can't move her body in any way!" Elijah gently pushed the young woman aside. "Maybe she broke something, and we can't risk it."
"What are you talking about? What happened? Why is she lying on the floor this way, unconscious?" Carolina asked, frantically; while holding the legs of her sister.
"My sweet Carolina, please just calm down, we think she fell from the staircase and we've called a doctor; we'll know soon enough; in the meantime, we can't move her." Maria tried to appease Carolina's worries. "There could be an injury and it would be wise to simply wait."
"No, I don't understand, she was fine an hour ago? Katerina, talk to me?" Carolina called her sister's name, tears falling on her cheeks. She shook her sister's body in hope that the young woman would awake.
"Klaus?" Elijah called for assistance. "For her own good; get her out of here, please?" He added; while raising his teary eyes in his brother's.
The hybrid nodded compassionate of his brother's turmoil; before grabbing both of his wife shoulders to raise the young woman back on her legs.
"Come, Love." He murmured; while pulling the young woman near him.
"No, no … You don't understand; I can't leave her… She's going to wake up and she'll ask for me, and then I won't be here." She tried to explain; while pushing his hands away.
"You can't do anything to help your sister at the moment." Klaus added, calmly and softly; while firmly encircling her waist to carry Carolina away from the hallway.
"No, let me go, Klaus; I want to be by her side, she's my sister, and she's going to be fine because she's strong, let me go!" She yelled from the top of her lungs; her voice echoing in the corridor while being carried away.
"Oh dear; may God be with your wife to keep her safe and sound." Maria prayed heaven and the saints for Katerina's protection; while closing her eyes and grabbing Elijah's cold left hand in hers.
"No, no, please let me go, Klaus! I want to see my sister!" Carolina begged, while hitting Klaus's chest of her closed fists.
He gently pushed the young woman inside the living room area; before closing the doors behind his back. Carolina turned on herself several times, her tears rolling freely on her cheeks; hands suddenly grabbing each side of her head. She reached a nearby table, before grabbing a crystal vase in her hands; only to throw it on the floor a second later, in an acute sound of broking glass.
"I swear; I will break every piece of furniture in this house if you're not letting me see my sister!" She warned the hybrid; hysterically. "I have Russian blood in my vein; I know how to fight, even against you!"
"I'm sure you will give it all you got; but it won't change the fact that you need to calm down, Love." Klaus tried to approach his wife's standing position. "Carolina, you need to get a grip on yourself; sweetheart?"
"I swear you're taking one additional step toward me and I'll hurt you!" She grabbed a pickaxe placed near the fire mantle; to point it in his direction.
"Not to get technical at the present moment, but you won't succeed at hurting me much, immortal and all?" He raised both hands in front of her sight to calm the young woman down. "Put that down, or you risk to hurt yourself."
"Then let me see my sister, Klaus?" She begged once more; her chest rising up and down under a range of heavy breaths.
"You can't see her while acting so irrational, Carolina." He tried to make her understand. "You wouldn't be able to help her at the moment."
"Then I'll hurt you!" Carolina warned her husband; before raising the pickaxe at him.
In a prompt hand gesture; he grabbed the pointed object from her hands, before throwing it at the farthest opposite side of the room, while placing himself behind his wife's back; both arms sliding around her waist to easily grab both of her wrists in a firm grip.
"Shush… You need to calm down!" Klaus whispered near her right ear; holding his wife prisoner of his arms; his lips softly kissing her forehead; while caressing her hair.
"Let go of me, please; I need to see her, don't you understand?" She pleaded her case; while squirming to free herself from his strong imprisonment.
"I do understand, Love. But, you need to let Elijah and Maria handle Katerina safety for the time being." He slowly rocked her in his arms. "I wouldn't keep you at arm length otherwise; I know how much you love her."
"My sister, Klaus … It's my sister…" Carolina mumbled, between her sobbing. "I can't lose her; I can't lose her this way… I simply can't…" She let herself fall on the floor. "I can't breathe, I can't breathe!" She panicked, while not being able to catch air into her lungs.
"Look at me, sweetheart!" The hybrid kneeled by his wife side; before cupping Carolina's face with both hands. "You're having a panic attack; you need to look into my eyes and breathe calmly." He guided her; while hearing the rapid pace of Carolina's beating heart in his ears.
"I can't…" She shook her head.
"Yes you can, Carolina. You're the strongest woman I've ever met in all my long and lonely life. Breathe, Love; breathe and look into my eyes; just know how much I can't even grasp the idea of not having you by my side, how much you're this breath of fresh air into my lungs and life." He confessed; humbly. "I want to be yours; I want to give you strength."
She raised her teary eyes in the hybrid's; while slowly taking a few slow breaths into her lungs; before regularising her breathing a few seconds later, her head finally leaning on her husband chest to recuperate from her nervous breakdown.
"You'll be fine, I got you now." Klaus let out a sigh of relief, while pulling Carolina in his arms; before closing his eyes; his chin resting in top of her head.
"Is there any news?" Maria inquired; while approaching her eldest son, in the upstairs bedrooms corridor.
"No." He responded, while pacing back in forth on the carpet placed in front of the bedroom door. "Doctor Giovanni is still with her." He stopped, before raising his right hand to strike his eyelids.
"Well, we can only hope for the best then. Can we?" Maria tried to comfort him at the best of her capacity.
The creak of the bedroom door was suddenly heard by the both of them. They simultaneously turned their heads to face doctor Giovanni; who nodded respectfully to his hosts.
"How is she?" Elijah asked; in his worried state of mind.
"I'm sorry, but it's not good news." The doctor replied, while shaking his head. "I would need confirmation of my personal diagnostic, but I fear that your wife is paralyzed from the neck down."
"Oh my God, it can't be true!" Maria exclaimed, while raising her right hand to her mouth.
"I'm afraid it is." Doctor Giovanni commented; compassionate of their feelings. "When your wife fell; she hit her back and spine very badly. There is no sensation perceived in her lower members, underneath her neck." He explained. "This said, I could confirm my present diagnostic in my private clinic tomorrow, under the complete assurance that your wife presence would be kept quiet in my establishment."
"Is… Is she awake?" Elijah stammered, while keeping his sight in the emptiness of the corridor.
"Yes. She is." The doctor replied.
"Is she aware of her condition?" The Original asked.
"Your wife seems to be an intelligent young woman." The doctor commented; while nodding his head. "Sadly, I believe she knows that her present condition is permanent."
Elijah took a few steps to reach the bedroom door. He slowly turned the handle, his eyes kept close for a few seconds, before finally entering the room.
"Will you be ok?" Doctor Giovanni asked Maria.
"There's been so many heartaches and sufferance in this family; sometimes, I don't even know how we handle everything?" She wondered out loud; tears filling her eyes.
Elijah closed the door on its arch; before dragging his feet to reach Katerina's laying position on the bed.
"Your marriage to me never brought you much luck, don't you think so?" Katerina whispered to her husband, her head placed on a pillow, with her teary sight fixating the ceiling; a single tear rolling on left cheek. "I guess you never expected to be stuck with a paralyzed wife?"
"Don't say that, Katerina; please don't…" Elijah shook his head; tears rolling down his cheeks and neck. "I can fix this, and you know it." He suggested. "Tell me what happened? Did you fell?"
"What does it change now?" She replied; fatalistic. "I've told you that I would never want to be turned as a vampire; and you promised me, Elijah… You promised! You need to keep this promise made to me." Katerina added, in a shallow whisper.
"But, it is a different circumstance; Katerina." Elijah started to pace back and forth on the length of the bed; while nervously passing his right hand through his tangled hair.
"No…It's not!" She whispered more; before closing her eyes and swallowing a lump in her throat. "And I need an additional favor from you." She managed to let the request out of her mouth.
"Whatever you need, my love; I'll take care of you." Elijah promised, while taking a sitting position on the bed; before grabbing her right hand.
"I can't even feel my hand in yours?" She commented; tears sliding down on her eyelashes from her closed eyelids.
"It's ok; I'll feel those things for the both of us." He nodded, compassionate; while kissing the back of Katerina's hand. "We'll keep you comfortable in all times; Maria is back now and she'll take care of you when I can't." He added, while trying to bring her hope that this wouldn't change anything between the two of them.
"You're an honorable man, Elijah Mikaelson; but I wouldn't want to be a burden on your shoulders. I want you to promise me that you will take care of Carolina; I want you to assure yourself that Klaus will always make her happy, can you do this for me?" Katerina asked; while reopening her eyes, only to glance by their corners to her husband.
'You'll do it yourself, ok?" Elijah reassured her. "I'll ask her to come and see you now."
"No, I don't want her to see me like this! You'll do it for me, and I … I want you to kill me, Elijah; I can't live this way… Please, promise me that you will kill me?" Katerina begged of him.
"Don't ask me that." Elijah shook his head; while rising on his two legs. "Don't ever ask me that again!"
"I beg of you, please grant me this wish?" She added, tears rolling down her cheeks and throat."
"No!" He responded once more, firmly; before directing his steps toward the bedroom door. "I'll ask Maria to come to your bedside."
"Elijah… Please…" Katerina called in the mix of her sobbing and sufferance, before hearing the door being slam on its arch.
"What do you mean she fell?" Rebekah frantically asked her brother Kol; while standing speechless and motionless, in front of his sight on the opened terrace; with a silent and petrified Bonnie and Stefan in the background.
"They think Katerina had missed a step on the staircase; and …" Kol raised his right hand to strike his eyelids. "And she fell on the bottom of the stairs, while hitting her spine, causing …" He stopped once more, while closing his eyes. "And it caused her to be paralyzed from the neck down."
"No, no, no …" Rebekah shook her head; tears starting to fill her eyes. "Elijah will fix her; we are vampires for God sake; at least we can heal people when it's necessary."
"She doesn't want to be fixed, Bekah." Kol replied, while swallowing a lump in this throat.
"What do you mean she doesn't want to be fixed?" Rebekah asked, nervously; while gesturing with her arms. "Well, we don't care what she wants or not, we'll do as we please!"
"Rebekah, just … Just try to calm down, would you?" Stefan whispered; while grabbing both of her upper arms.
"Calm down, I can't calm down; we're talking about my sister-in-law in here." She busted.
"Bekah… Katerina doesn't want to be turned. Elijah promised her that he would never do it." Kol explained, trace of sadness filling his tone of voice. "She wants … Oh dear God! She wants Elijah to kill her."
"What… No… No!" She lashed out, tears rolling on her cheeks. "She can't die!" She added, in the middle of her sobbing. "I mean, I'm a bitch most of the times … But, I was previously joking with her on the terrace; I didn't mean what I've said … I like Katerina, and I like Carolina, I don't want this, Kol… Make it go away… Make it go away!" She yelled, while leaning her upper body forward; left under an indescribable amount of pain.
"Come here!" Stefan turned her over, before wrapping his arms around the sobbing blonde. "I'll take care of her." He mouthed the words to Kol; while caressing Rebekah's hair and rocking the young woman in his arms.
Kol shaken; turned on his heels before storming in his vampire speed out of the terrace.
"I'll … I'll try to find him, and … Just be there for Rebekah in the meantime..." Bonnie stammered through her own say; before rushing inside the house to find Kol.
"It's unfair; she can't die!" Rebekah murmured through her sobbing, her head tucked on Stefan's right shoulder; arms firmly crossed around his neck; with her tears wetting his man shirt.
"Yes, it's totally unfair, Rebekah, I know; Katerina is a sweet woman; and she is certainly not deserving of this twisted dark turn of events." He whispered; while softly caressing her long hair by passing his fingers thought her golden strands.
"You know I've treated her badly; earlier on the terrace." Rebekah tried to explain. "But, I never wanted to hurt her, and now she is … And…" She couldn't finish her sentence.
"Oh yah, I know; you've acted like your usual bitch." Stefan nodded; a grin spreading on his lips.
"What?" She startled, before raising her head to drown her sight in his. "You think I'm a bitch, don't you? You're right I'm an awful person… I'm not even able to be a sister-in-law to the both of them."
"I'm joking." The young vampire smiled; while passing the back of his right hand on her wet cheek. "You're putting your defense walls, when you're starting to have feelings for someone. And; that is why you were teasing Katerina so much…It's a weird way to welcome her into the family… It's the only way I've ever seen the Mikaelsons granting anyone of their appreciation and love… You're a weird bunch, you know?" He teased.
"And now, she won't have the chance to know that I truly like her." Rebekah reprised her crying; while lowering her head back on his chest.
"Shush … You need to calm down now; I'm sure your brother will think of something." Stefan commented.
"Elijah will never turn Katerina as a vampire; he's too moralistic to go back on the solemn promise he gave to her." She responded; while sniffling loudly.
"You never know, a man like him could actually move mountains for the woman that he fell in love with." Stefan defended the eldest, while grabbing Rebekah's chin in his hand, to raise her sight in his.
"You think that he would betray his promise made to his wife?" She asked, hopeful.
"I don't know, maybe it's her who will change her mind? Who could say?" Stefan shrugged, while addressing a smile to the blonde Original. "Try to be optimistic for a change, would you?"
"There's nothing even remotely optimistic about this family." She confessed, while slowly pushing herself at arm length of his embrace. "For centuries; we've been struggling as supernatural entities, battling war after war; when it was not in our own family, it was with our enemies."
"Maybe it's time to simply reconnect? Your mother came back to you; and even if Maria is missing parts of her past memory, she knows her rightful place in the family now." Stefan commented.
"Why are you so nice to me?" She sniffled loudly; while keeping her sight lost in his dark glance.
"Well, firstly; I'm stock with you." Stefan mocked her, openly; to which as a response, Rebekah hit him on his upper left arm with her closed fist. "Hey! Watch out would you? And secondly; it's my sensitive poodle day today, don't you remember?" He winked, teaser. "Thirdly, just know that I will always be there for you, anytime, anywhere… It doesn't matter if you need me, I'll be by your side."
"Thank you." Rebekah nodded; a timid smile blessing.
"You're welcome, Rebekah." Stefan responded, while returning a smile to her.
Maria closed the door behind her back; before turning on her heels to slowly raise her sight on her eldest son that was standing in the penumbra of the study room, in front of a bay window; with a glass of Scotch in his hand.
"I've informed your brother of the present situation; he'll …" She paused, while closing her eyes and swallowing a lump in her throat. "He'll inform Carolina of her sister's medical status as of now." She continued, before adding. "Katerina is sleeping; the doctor gave her a sedative drug."
"Thank you." Elijah replied, toneless; before raising her trembling right hand and glass to his lips to gulp the alcohol. "You can leave now, Maria; you should take time to rest; you've endure so much in the past few days."
"I'm fine, thank you for your concerns, but … Maybe I could be of more help, if you let me?" Maria suggested; while taking a few additional steps to reach his son's standing position. "What you've just endure, no man should."
"You've done more than enough, Maria; I could never repay you for all your help." He added; before grabbing the bottle of Scotch; his shaking hands pouring more alcohol in his empty glass.
"How are you holding up?" She whispered; tears filling her eyes. "I'm worrying so much about you."
"How do you think I'm holding up?" Elijah questioned, dryly; before closing his eyes; under his heavy and loud sounds of breathing. "Fuck!" He lashed out, unexpectedly, while startling his mother; before throwing the glass on the brick walls surrounding the fireplace, pieces of broken glass spreading on the floor. "Fuck! Fuck!" He continued to swear, before hitting of his closed fists, the row of bottles placed on a service table; the alcohol splashing on the walls, with the acute sound of broken glass resonating on the room. "Fuck this! Fuck everything!" He busted; closed fists placed on each side of his tensed body; before collapsing on the floor, curled up on himself, with his legs brought near his chest.
"Oh; my sweet boy, you're broken in thousands of pieces, aren't you?" Maria whispered, while bringing her right hand over her mouth; before kneeling by her son's side.
"Don't… Go! I don't want you to see me this way." Elijah mumbled, almost incoherently, between his teeth; while gesturing with his right hand for his mother to leave.
"You're my eldest; the first baby I held you in my arms, I'm not about to leave you alone in this kind of pain." Maria commented, before wrapping her arms around his son's shivering body. "Let it out, my son; you owe to yourself to let your … You mother help you pass through this." She whispered softly to her first born; while rocking the sobbing man in her arms.
"I'm a man; I'm in no need to be held like a baby." He tried to regain his self-esteem.
"Rubbish! You've always been such a rock for this family; for once, you need to be the one that we'll take care of." She caressed his hair, tears now rolling on her cheeks.
"I don't know what to do; mother… I don't want to lose her?" Elijah replied, while raising his teary eyes in hers. "I've promised that I would not turn her, I've promised… And for me it's a code of honor."
"Yes, it is a code of honor; and I've seen you over the years act so honorable all the time. But, what is your heart telling you, Elijah? What seems right to you, now? Put aside what your wife wish; just listen to your intuition about this." Maria cupped her son face in her hands; while drowning her sight in his. "That are the real questions that you need to ask yourself. Whatever the responses will be; it will be lead you toward the right choice."
Elijah nodded his head; thankful that his mother had reached out to him in this moment of need.
"Thank you." He managed to let the words out of his mouth; under his profound sobbing.
"I pray God to be with you in this hard decision, my dear son." Maria blessed him of a kiss on his forehead.
The sound of the bedroom door closing on its arch woke up Carolina in a start. She raised her upper body in a sitting position; her sight scattering the penumbra of the room.
"Is there any news of Katerina?" She jumped away from the bed; while reaching her husband's standing position near its foot.
Klaus closed his eyes, while biting into his bottom lip; closed fists placed on each side of his tensed body. He hated this! He hated seeing this pain in Carolina's eyes. Earlier, he had carried the young woman in his arms from the living room to their bedroom, before gently laying her shivering body on the bed. She had fallen asleep the minute her head had touched the pillow, exhausted by the recent events of the past days.
"You need to … You need to be strong, Love." He raised his sight in hers; while swallowing a lump in his throat.
"What … What do you mean? What is happening? Where is my sister, Klaus?" Carolina asked; before storming toward the bedroom door, soon stopped by a firm grip of his left hand on her upper arm. "You can't keep me here against my will; I need to see my sister now!"
"She doesn't want to see you." He replied, his sight drown in her.
"What? No, it's not possible; of course she wants to see me. Stop doing this to me! You're cruel; crueller that you've ever been before!" She busted; with the intention to hurt her husband, as much as her heart was breaking in thousands of pieces at the moment.
"I'm not being cruel to you; Carolina; if I could I would gladly swallow this pain for you, never doubt that for a second." Klaus replied; while grabbing both of her shoulders in a firm grip. "We… I mean Elijah called a doctor, and he came to the villa; we needed to keep a low profile in the city; we … we can't disclose our whereabouts, Love." Klaus started to explain to her.
"Ok, and? What did he say about Katerina's condition?" She begged him to tell more.
Klaus raised his head and his sight to fix the ceiling; while sighing loudly.
"What are you hiding from me? Don't do this, please don't do this!" The young Russian woman shook her head; tears starting to roll back on her cheeks.
"He thinks…" He started, before closing his eyes. "In his medical opinion and knowledge; he thinks your sister is paralyzed from the neck down."
"No, no, no!" She pulled her arms away from his grip. "You're lying, I don't know why you're doing this, but you're lying!"
"Caroline, Love…" Klaus raised his right hand to reach her. "Please, I'm not a monster, I would never use something this wicked and vain against you." He added; while shaking his head.
"Where is she now? Where's my sister?" She lashed out more.
"She's under strong sedative drugs, she's sleeping; in Elijah's bedroom." Klaus explained. "She doesn't want you to see her like this. She specifically asked her husband to grant her that wish." He added, with his voice broking under his own explanation.
"Her husband, really, how ironic, you must mean the man who paid for my sister's services in his bed?" Carolina pointed a finger toward the hybrid's chest, rage coming out of her lips.
"Carolina; I know you're hurt and breaking inside, I've been in this kind of pain more times that you could even imagine during my life; and each time I lashed out my anger on others; but please just have this certainty in your heart; my brother is deeply in love with your sister; he would die for her." Klaus gave his solemn words.
"Then … Then … He could turn her, no?" She begged of him, while approaching Klaus's standing position; her hands grabbing the fabric of his t-shirt, her sight rose in his.
Klaus frowned, while grabbing both of her hands to bring them to his lips, before softly kissing her skin.
"I'm so sorry, Love." He offered his apologies, tears filling his eyes, pain filling his heart and soul.
"He wouldn't do this for my sister?" Carolina exclaimed; in shock. "He would let her be paralyzed in a bed?"
"No, you have it backward; Katerina made him promise that he would never turn her as a vampire." Klaus confirmed. "She wants …" He added, before taking a deep breath. "She wants to die peacefully."
"Who cares what she wants, he needs to turn her!" She busted more. "If he truly loves her, he needs to do this for her, for me!"
"My brother is an honorable and moral man; if he… If he gave his words to her, I highly doubt that he could ever come back and retract his promise." Klaus replied, while pacing back and forth, both hands placed on each side of his waist.
"Would you?" Carolina asked.
"Would I what, Carolina?" Klaus stopped his pacing to drown his sight in hers.
"Would you turn me if the role would be reverse?" She inquired once more.
"It's complicated." He shook his head; before nervously passing a hand through his tangled hair.
"How can this be complicated? I would be lying in a bed, paralyzed and you would leave me like in that condition?" She lashed out to his face; while pointing the bed.
"No I wouldn't! I would turn you in a heartbeat, but I would hate myself afterward!" He yelled back at his wife. "You have no idea what being a vampire means; the suffering and pain behind it!"
"And what do you think my sister is feeling now?" She replied to him.
Carolina shook her head in disbelief, while taking a few steps away from her husband; before rushing toward the bedroom door, grabbing the handle, only to saw the panel being closed on its arch in front of her sight.
"I can't let you leave this bedroom now; it wouldn't change anything to this point in time." Klaus tried to make her understand. "Your sister is sleeping; let them both handle this questioning by themselves, you'll see her in the morning."
"So to forbid me to leave this bedroom, what are you going to do? Force yourself on me once more, while assuring yourself that I won't pass the threshold?" She asked him; dryly and perniciously.
Klaus startled at her say, before pushing himself at a few feet of distance from Carolina's standing position; only to become as white as a ghost under her imply.
"Oh my god, Klaus; that is not what I meant… I'm …" Carolina turned on herself to face him; before raising her shaking right hand in front of her mouth. "I didn't mean a single word of it; I'm so sorry, please forgive me?"
"No, you did mean it; and I deserved it." He nodded, while keeping his sight away from his wife. "I'll go check with Maria if you can see your sister for a few minutes, I … I just wanted to protect you, Carolina; nothing more." He added, before grabbing the handle and rushing outside the bedroom.
Carolina let herself fall on the floor, curled up on herself; her arms encircling her knees; her head buried between her legs; while letting her pain emerge from the deepness of her soul.
"Kol?" Bonnie called softly; while closing the door behind her back and taking her first steps inside his bedroom.
The room was empty of his presence; but a nice breeze was entering inside by the two French doors opened on the small balcony. She took a few additional steps to reach it; before noticing the dark silhouette placed in front of the guard rail.
"What are you doing here, Bonnie?" Kol inquired, while keeping his sight in the panoramic view of the city of Milan.
"I wanted to check how you were doing in all of this turn of event?" She shrugged her shoulders; while leaning her back on one of the opened door.
"I'm fine, it's late; you should get some rest." Kol replied, dryly; while grabbing the guard rail with both hands, both of his knuckles whitening under his stress level.
"Sure you're fine, aren't we all fine after wall?" Bonnie commented; sarcastically.
"Is this sarcasm I hear in your voice, Bonnie?" He asked; a rictus raising the left side of his lips.
"Could be? I use sarcasm a lot to keep people at arm length. Does this tactic make you think of someone in particular aside from me?" She questioned.
"We're not alike, darling." He sighed; loudly.
"We're more alike than you think, Kol. You're the one in the family that is always standing aside from the other ones; while either keeping silent or joking around to create a diversion; but in the meantime you're suffering like the other ones." She commented; while crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"You're here to give me a psychology 101 course, Bonnie?" Kol replied, dryly.
"No, I'm here because I thought you could use a friend by your side." She replied, while shaking her head. "But, like me you're probably too proud to admit it."
"No offence, Bonnie; but I doubt you could help me now." He replied; finally turning his head to drown his sight in hers.
"I'm stressed about what just happened, as much as you are, you know?" She nervously swallowed a lump in her throat. "I did not know Katerina much, or for a long time, but … I'm friend with Carolina, and … This is simply awful."
"Our family has been cursed for centuries now; it's like all the people who are near to us will be hurt somehow in the future." Kol turned on his heels to face the young woman. "I'm sorry to have dragged you into all of this."
"Well, you couldn't know what was about to happen with Klaus's biological father, and you couldn't predict or even prevent Katerina's accident." She shrugged, compassionate.
"Perhaps, but both of my brothers should have known better than married two foreign human girls." Kol busted. "Look at the huge mess we've created in their life." He added; while nervously passing his hand in his tangled hair.
"You can't change who you are, Kol." Bonnie commented.
"You can't change who you are either, Bonnie, and what you are is a witch, who is forbidding herself to use her gift of magic." Kol replied to her.
"It's not the same." She shook her head.
"It's entirely the same." Kol lashed out, while gesturing with his arms.
"Nothing is forcing me to use magic, I can live without it. In reverse, you're forced to embrace you're vampirism or you'll die." Bonnie commented more.
"You're cutting the hair in two!" He replied, dryly; both hands placed on each side of his waist.
"I'm calling it as I see it! And … Please, don't talk about me or my witch power, it makes me uncomfortable and nervous, and when I am nervous … I … There's only one thing that is calming me down." She stammered through her sentence, while rubbing her hands nervously.
"Oh yah, one thing is relaxing you, darling? What is it, being a stubborn woman while debating all night with me?" Kol rolled his eyes to the night sky.
"No, it's actually having sex! You want to have some with me?" She replied, tit for tat; while turning on her heels, before raising her tank top over her head to undress herself.
"What did you just say?" Kol stood speechless, over the threshold of the French door; his jaw dropped on the floor.
"The only thing that will relax me to this point is for me to have sex, so you're here, I'm here, we both here, so if you're in the mood?" She shrugged; while throwing her tank top on the floor. "No strings attached though, I don't want any smoochy stuff." She winced; disdainfully; while pushing her pants on her legs.
"Don't even try to be romantic on my account!" Kol exclaimed, in shock.
"Romantic? Me? Nah, it's not in my genes." She replied; while throwing her pants on the floor, before unhooking her lace bra; that fell down by itself on the pile. "What? You don't want this? It's ok; I can dress back into my clothes?" She faced him; topless.
"Oh shit!" Kol swore, his sight sliding on the delicious curves of her breasts. "I mean, no, no, stay as you are … I'm coming!" He rushed out of his clothes; while Bonnie entered underneath the bed sheet. "Just let me placed my clothes on a chair; and pick up yours in the meantime." He added; while bending his upper body to pick up her lace underwear, and remaining clothes she had thrown on the floor a minute ago. "There, now I'm all yours, darling." He exclaimed, while walking toward the bed; before realizing that Bonnie had fallen asleep. "You got to be kidding me? No, no, you did not feel asleep, wake up!" He gently shook her left shoulder; before rolling his eyes to the ceiling, completely discouraged. "It's only to me that this kind of shit happens!" He added, while stroking his eyelids.
Kol sighed loudly, before sliding himself underneath the sheet. Bonnie let a soft moan of satisfaction out of her lips, before rolling her body on Kol's, her arms encircling his waist.
"Well, this is not so bad after all." He smirked; while enjoying the sensual touch of her naked body on his. "I like it very much actually." He added; sliding his right arm around her shoulders; before letting himself fall asleep in this warm and romantic embrace.
The eldest of the Originals walked quickly in direction of the bedroom; while keeping his empty sight straight ahead in the penumbra of the corridor. He opened the door; before slamming the panel on its arch; wakening the young woman who lay on the bed in the same process.
"What is happening?" Katerina whispered in her semi-state of consciousness under the strong medication given to her; before slowly raising her heavy eyelids to glance at the dark silhouette reaching her side of the bed. "Elijah? What are you doing? It's the middle of the night; is it my time for me to die?"
The vampire raised his wrist to his mouth, before tearing the skin from his arm; blood spreading from the opened wound.
"What? No, no… You promised to me, no…" She exclaimed, while realizing his twisted intention.
He pushed his opened wound on Katerina's lips, while forcing her to drink his blood; under her loud cries of protestation. She coughed several times, while trying to reject the red elixir that spread into her throat. When she had drunk enough; he snapped her neck; before lowering her lifeless head on her pillow. Now, the only thing to do was to wait for her awakening …
"Forgive me, Katerina, forgive me; Please." He knelled on the floor, while lowering his head over his crossed arms placed over the bed, near her lifeless body. "I couldn't lose you, my love; not this way, not now, not ever…"
Thank you, as always, for reading the "When death is calling – Part 2" chapter, guys!
What a chapter filled with unexpected events. Katerina fell down the stairs. Elijah was left with the biggest decision of his vampire life, which he finally took with the help of his mother, who reached out to help him. Carolina took the news of her sister health conditions badly; and her rage came strongly on Klaus's shoulders. Bonnie and Kol almost did the deed. I hope you've appreciated the twists and turns, and had a blast reading the update? Let just say that the next chapters will bring more surprises along the way. This said, like I've mentioned previously, it could take a longer time for me to update; being stuck in a lot of responsibilities in my private life, but be certain that I will write the continuity of this story, when I'll be able to find time.
Much love as always my dear readers,
Lovely Vero
Thank you for all the anonymous reviews received, guys!
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