Chapter Thirty Seven
If I had any control over any part of my body, I would have been screaming at the excruciating pain echoing from my chest, the ripples cascading to attack every inch of my being. I considered myself to have a high pain threshold, but the blade that was currently embedded within Nik's chest was unbearable; it was as if my heart was being burned, scorched, slowly enough to allow it to heal before the process was repeated again, the fire from the burning travelling though my veins as well as centrally in my chest. It didn't help that I was taking Nik's pain as well; I wondered if the pain would be more bearable if I was just dealing with my own deriving from the mate bond, but I wasn't willing to find out. Instead I was stuck, my eyes unseeing as I was staring at the withered ceiling of the building that two red headed witches had carried us both to with magic.
'Rebekah is still unconscious. Are you able to do this on your own?' I heard Celeste say to the witch with long red hair.
'Absolutely. I have been waiting for this for almost a century. I plan to enjoy implementing my revenge.' The red head answered, the excitement pouring from her, I could feel her eyes on me as she continued, 'though I am unsure of how she will come into play.'
'Ahh, yes… the big bad Original Hybrid found himself a mate. Turning her against Rebekah as well as Klaus will work in your favour. If you fail to do so then I assure you that Kimberly Mikaelson will be the only one with a chance to quell his rage.' Celeste replied, standing over me and smiling maliciously; if I were able to move I would have smacked that grin off her face, she seemed to sense my annoyance and laughed, aware I was incapacitated.
'I will do as I wish with her, Celeste. You assured me that I could implement my revenge however I saw fit and my methods do not involve her.' The redhead replied, her voice seemingly cool and collected, though I could sense her jealousy from here and it made my own possessive instincts flare up, but of course there was nothing I could do about it in that moment.
'Very well, Genevieve. I'll leave you to your work.' I heard the floorboards creek as she moved away, but she paused, probably glancing back to the red head in the room before she continued, 'I wouldn't leave her unbounded if I were you. She's more powerful than she looks.' With that she left, Genevieve didn't make a sound until the door below us creaked shut, easily heard even to human ears with how deserted the house appeared to be.
She seemed to ignore Celeste's warnings, which would be her own fault when she removed the dagger from Nik, who I could sense mere feet away from me, though I could not see him. I heard his soft breath as he gasped through the incapacitation; though I was able to take his pain from the dagger imbedded in his heart, there was something rather… terrifying about being paralysed and yet aware of the world around you. Genevieve's heels clicked on the floor as she made her way over to him, the desire she felt for my mate was cascading from her, adding to my hatred for the witch by the second.
'Aw, you poor thing. Let me help you out with that.' She whispered, I wondered what she was going to do when I felt my chest opening up as she sliced open his clavicle with a blade, before plunging her hand into the would and retrieving Tunde's weapon. I felt my back arch as the weight that had been on my chest suddenly lifted, allowing me to fill my lungs with oxygen. Once I had I immediately shot up, wiping the sweat from my forehead, cringing at the dizziness that overloaded me due to my sudden movements.
'Careful, sweetheart. From what I understand you're twice as weak as Klaus due to your selfless nature.' Genevieve said, her cold eyes surveying me with disdain.
'What that bloody hell are you up to exactly?' I asked her, not bothering to try and attack her despite my lack of restraints; she was right about my weakened state and any attempt to overpower her would be a waste of the strength I needed to gather.
'Actually, I have a story for the both of you, one that you're both going to want to hear.' Genevieve looked in between the both of us as she spoke and I had no doubt in my mind that whatever she wanted to reveal about Rebekah was going to be damaging.
I rolled my eyes at her attempt to lure my interest, Nik however was interested, though a little apprehensive; whatever she had to say would need to be good for his loyalty to his sister wouldn't diminish easily. My issue was that I could feel that whatever it was would lead to just that; the separation of our family. I was going to do everything I could to prevent that from happening.
'Go on then, tell us the story that will turn us against our sister.' Nik smirked, if his hands had been free I was sure they would have been extended in a challenging manner, 'though I should warn you, many before us have tried and failed to turn us against each other the past thousand years, so odds are your plan won't work.'
I wasn't so sure that he was right, and Genevieve didn't look the slightest bit affected by his poorly concealed threat.
'Drink this, it will help your wounds heal and return some of your strength.' Genevieve said, offering me a small circular bowl carved from stone before she held an identical one to Nik's lips, as his hands were bound. I could sense that she wasn't lying and I knew that whatever was in the bowl had other means in her plan, but I was just so weak and hungry that I couldn't resist the bloody mixture, and neither could Nik as we both took a sip at the same time. Though we both immediately regretted it as our mouths burned from the venom that was laced within; she clamped her hand over Nik's mouth, and clamped mine shut with magic, a hand directed to me as she forced us to swallow the concoction.
'Your sister had an unfortunate run in with some werewolves last night, I imagine that is the venom encircling her bloodstream that you are currently tasting.' She explained, releasing her hold on both of us once we stopped struggling as the blood worked its way down our throats.
I could feel my strength returning, and I focused my senses, managing to pinpoint where Rebekah was in the house quickly. I knew it wouldn't be long before I could seek her out and get her away from here; she was my priority at that moment as it was her future that bought a sense of foreboding over me, not Nik's.
'Let's start at the beginning, shall we?' She stood in-between two of the restrictive chairs Nik and I were on, holding a hand over each of our heads as she cast us to a different time.
The first thing I registered was the music; it was loud, lively and vibrant; I recognised the compound, dressed up in banners welcoming home a soldier of war. Present Nik and I were stood by the gates, taking in the whole scene.
'This is 1919, the first time we came to New Orleans and made ourselves a home here.' Nik murmured, his hand enlaced within mine, I could feel his unease as to what Rebekah could have done and I moved my thumb back and forth over the back of his hand as a gesture of comfort, which seemed to help him relax a little.
'It's beautiful.' I told him, and I meant it; the twenty first century couldn't compare to the liveliness in the room … this was something else all together.
Before Nik could reply, the music grew louder before it cut off all together, 1919 Klaus walking forward to the soldier dressed in army green, his arms spread wide as he embraced him, a huge grin on his face.
'Marcellus, our war hero, welcome home!' Nik shouted, delighted; the crowd cheered and rose a glass in the pairs direction before the music continued once more and everyone returned to dancing.
'You sure know how to throw a party.' Marcel commented, seeming genuinely happy to be home.
'Only the best for you, my son.' Nik's smiled, grabbing two glasses filled with an amber liquid from the passing waitress as he walked to the bar, Marcel following behind him.
'Now that you're back perhaps you can help us settle an argument,' Nik said, noticing Elijah was already stood at the bar, 'there's this witch, he waltzed right in here and started throwing around demands that we needed to settle a truce with him and the witches of New Orleans. Elijah thinks negotiations are in order. I think we should tear off his head.'
'Marcellus has seen first hand the atrocities that can derive from war, and the fatalities that negotiations can prevent. Surly, Marcellus would agree with me.' Elijah murmured, his voice calm and collected as he sipped from his drink.
'What's the guy's name?' Marcel asked, avoiding siding with either of them for the time being.
'Papa Tunde.' Nik answered, 'he's a philanthropist.'
Elijah straightened from the bar, his gaze interested in whoever had just walked through the gates, when I turned I saw Tunde walking in, two twin teenagers following behind him, each with an asterisk mark carved in their foreheads.
'It looks like Marcellus will have the opportunity to decide for himself.' Elijah commented, making his way to the gates.
'You invited him here?' Marcel sounded surprised, but I understood the reasoning immediately; he wanted to make him comfortable enough to allow him to learn his weaknesses.
'Of course.' Nik smirked, following closely behind Elijah, overtaking him and holding his arms out in a welcoming gesture towards Tunde, 'welcome to our home, while you are here, I hope you'll accept whatever we can offer to you as our form of hospitality.'
Nik gestured for a waitress to come over as he spoke, taking a glass from her and handing it to Tunde, a tantalising smirk on his face. Everyone seemed to hold their breath for a moment as they eyed Tunde, cautious of what his next move would be; he took the black top hat from his head and then his coat, handing the hat to one twin and the coat to the other. He took the drink from Nik and grinned, everyone seeming to exhale in relief simultaneously.
'Party before business then, eh?' Tunde mused, his grin growing when Nik patted him good-naturedly on the back.
'What motives do you have for reminding us of Papa Tunde?' Nik asked as we were pulled from the memory.
'Rebekah is remembering what happened, and it all started with him coming to New Orleans. Don't worry the best is yet to come.' Genevieve assured him, not casting me a glance; her infatuation with him was clear and it was making me nervous. She paused for a moment, seeming to deliberate something before she left the room without a word, I assumed to check on Rebekah, as soon as she was gone I stood and stumbled over to Nik.
'You're still weak, love,' he murmured, his tone laced with concern, I tried to wave him off but he tilted his head to the side, inviting me to feed from him.
'You're weak too Nik,' I protested, trying and failing to free him from the restraints.
'She's probably spelled them so that only she can remove them, love. And I am no where near as weak as you, now drink and get Rebekah out of here.' He told me, his tone leaving no room for argument and with a sigh I complied, moving my face to his neck and allowing my quadbrid face to come forward before I gently bit into his neck. He tasted exquisite, just as he always did; my hand came to caress the side of his face as I drank. I had to force myself to pull away after a few gulps, reminding myself that he was weak as well. Once I removed my face from his neck I bit into my wrist and offered him my blood; he refused to drink more than a mouthful.
'I'll be back.' I promised him, placing a kiss to his forehead; I knew that she wasn't going to hurt him otherwise I wouldn't have left until I'd ripped her head off, but I knew that him remaining behind and keeping her distracted was my best shot at getting Bekah out of here.
'I know love, now go,' he urged me.
With one last glance at him, I flashed away stopping in an empty room further down the hall, focusing my hearing. I could hear Genevieve and Bekah talking somewhere on the floor below.
'Please, Genevieve, I'm begging you, don't do this to me.' Bekah pleaded, I wanted to flash to her but I knew that I needed to wait until she was alone.
'It's too late, you have done this to yourself, and I suffered for your mistake. Now it's time you paid.' Genevieve's voice was harsh and void of any sympathy; I heard a crash and I sensed Rebekah's temporary death, before I heard the clicking of Genevieve's heels as she made her way back to the room that she had been keeping Nik and I in.
'Where is she?' She asked Nik, her voice harsh.
'Where's who? I wasn't aware there was anyone else in the room, sweetheart.' I could practically hear his taunting smirk.
'No matter, she'll fall into the hallucinations as you do, Nik, I can assure you she won't get very far.' Genevieve taunted and I flashed down stairs, managing to find the room where Bekah was laying desiccated on what looked like an old operating theatre; this place must have been an old hospital. When I say old I mean old; the walls and floors were grey, peeling and falling apart. The windows seemed to be intact for the most part but other than that all that remained was old equipment; operating tables, beds, and chairs fitted with straps to restrain patients. It was all very eerie and I found myself fighting back a shiver as I made my way over to Bekah. Before I could do anything, however, I was once again being thrown into another hallucination.
The compound was quiet compared to the liveliness that had been present before; though it was clear that this was the end of another of Nik's parties. There were banners, ribbons and glitter strewn on the floor, and a few people still littered around, some were cleaners and others were guests who apparently weren't ready to leave just yet. Bekah's familiar figure caught my eye, the white beads sewn on her dress flapping gently from side to side as she walked to the bar, but stopped short upon seeing Marcel sat on a table by the gates, looking glum. She hesitated for a moment, deliberating, before she made her way to the empty seat across from him.
'Why are you so depressed? Nik killed the witch I thought you'd be celebrating.' Bekah said, genuinely hating to see him so upset.
'I'm the one who bought Tunde to town.' Marcel replied bluntly.
'What?' Rebekah gasped.
'I thought if he came to town he could force your brother to leave so that we could finally be together.' He admitted, seeming a little nervous over her reaction but it was clear that he didn't regret his actions.
'You would risk the wrath of my brother by trying to tear our family apart just to receive a hint of affection from me?' Bekah said, she sounded affronted but I knew that his admission meant a lot to her, and she continued when he nodded in answer to her question, 'my brother has killed a thousand Tunde's and has not once been remotely afraid. There has only ever been one man that has truly scared my brother and that man is our father. If you want to get him to leave, find Mikael.'
The hallucination faded from one to another almost immediately.
The setting was of another party, but this one wasn't at the compound but at a bar. People were tightly piled in, but they didn't seem to mind, the live band was playing what sounded like jazz music; people were split between talking amongst their groups, listening to the music and attempting to get the attention of the barman who looked severely stressed.
Bekah was walking forward, once again wearing a white beaded dress, and a laced headband holding back her short blonde hair. She had a drink that she was holding in front of her as she led two other girls to an empty table against the wall near the entrance to the bar. I recognised one of them as Genevieve; she looked exactly the same as she did now, except her hair was contorted into the same hairstyle as Bekah's. As soon as I looked at the other woman with them I just knew that it was Celeste; I wondered how many bodies she had actually inhabited as she left the two girls at the table, heading to the bar.
'So are there any special guys in your life?' Bekah asked, her eyebrows raising suggestively, making Genevieve blush.
'No, not at the moment.' She answered, taking a sip of her drink as she avoided Rebekah's gaze.
'You know, I think you'd be good for my brother, Elijah. He's very noble and incredibly handsome just like all of the Mikaelson's.' Bekah winked.
'Elijah certainly is handsome, but if I had to choose one Mikaelson, it wouldn't be him.' Genevieve admitted, her eyes lingering somewhere over my shoulder and when I turned I came face to face with 1919 Klaus, laughing with Elijah at the far side of the room.
'Klaus?' Bekah seemed shocked, 'well if you're into bad boys then you'd love my brother Kol.'
'Kol? I didn't know you had any other brothers.' Genevieve seemed surprised.
'It's complicated, they've been away for some time now.' Bekah paused, hesitating before she pushed herself to continue, 'I've actually been meaning to get in touch with someone that we've fallen out of contact with over the years. I was wondering if you could help me?'
'Of course, do you want me to find your brother Kol?' She asked after she had taken a sip of her drink.
'No, actually I was hoping you could help me find my father, Mikael. It would have to be just between the two of us, of course, my brothers mustn't know, I want it to be a surprise.' Bekah said, the creases by her eyes giving away her hesitancy over asking Genevieve to do this, but the witch didn't seem to notice.
'Of course, I'd be happy to help.' Genevieve held up her glass, clinking it against Bekah's before they both drained the remaining liquid.
My eyes snapped open and I stood up from the floor, having no idea how I had got there. I didn't need to focus my hearing to hear Nik's shouts of rage from the floor above.
'Me and my sister have had our quarrels over the centuries but she would have never summoned my father!'
'Your loyalty towards her is admirable, really. But when I'm finished there will be no doubt in your mind.' Genevieve assured him.
I bit into my wrist and held it to Bekah's lips, urging her to continue when she started to come around, 'drink up, you need your strength.'
She drank a few gulps and sat up, the werewolf bites on her body healing much to my surprise.
'You're Nik's mate, your blood mirrors his. It makes sense that you can also cure a werewolf bite.' Bekah murmured, sitting up on the table, her legs dangling from the side.
'Whatever, that's not important- Genevieve is up there right now showing Nik your memories of 1919, she wants to convince him that you were the one that summoned Mikael.' I already knew the truth, but I wanted to give her a chance to prove me wrong; I desperately wanted to be wrong.
'Kimmie-,' She stopped when I held up my hand not needing to hear any more.
'Mikael, really Bekah? Nik was terrified of that monster, why would you do this to him?' I asked, trying to control my own rage.
'He wouldn't let me be happy. I know that you love him; Kimmie and you accept him for who he is but that's easy for you to do because he is the one who makes you happy. He wouldn't let me find love, he constantly killed those who I even glanced at, all I wanted was to be in love and he wouldn't let me. So I summoned Mikael, I just wanted him to run and not look back, but of course that wasn't how it worked out.' Bekah explained, her voice began pleading but by the end her tone was one of misery.
'Now that you're healed from the venom that should stop the hallucinations but your mind is still linked to mine and Nik's so whatever you do, try not to remember what happened any more than you already have.' I muttered taking her hand and leading her from the room. I had almost reached the front door when Bekah pulled me to a stop, I looked over to her my eyebrow rose in question.
'I already tried to get away once. There's a boundary spell around the hospital. It won't fall until she's through with us.' Bekah explained.
I rolled my eyes, the information only adding to my frustration, 'alright then, you wait here, I'm going to go and rip off her head.' I released her hand and went to flash upstairs but she yanked me to a stop.
'I wouldn't. She will be able to take you down easily with the ancestors behind her.' Bekah said.
'Well then what do you propose we do?' I snapped, throwing my hands up in frustration.
'I need to remember-,' Bekah started but I cut her off.
'No, Bekah, Nik thinks she's lying if he sees anymore then he'll know the truth and he'll want you dead.' I told her, gripping her upper arms as I tried to get her to understand.
'I know, Kimmie, but it's the only way; Nik's too weak to over power her and she'll be on her guard with you free as well as me and will easily take us down. Once I've remembered, the boundary spell will drop and I can get out of here before she unleashes him.'
I didn't like it, but I also didn't see a better plan, so with a sigh I nodded for her to go ahead. I walked backwards, my back meeting the wall as I slid down, my knees to my chest and my head resting against the wall and closed my eyes, prepared to be shot back into the past.
The setting this time was New Orleans's cemetery, which I didn't like; the last time I had been here Nik had turned on me and Davina had been killed, but I forced those memories down as I turned my attention to Marcel and Bekah; they were stood just behind Genevieve who was on her knees, stroking a flame with a blade, chanting. I noticed present Nik standing with Genevieve opposite me on the other side of them and I heard their conversation as they spoke.
'What do you see?' Genevieve asked.
'My father's blade. It went missing centuries ago; he beat me for hours thinking that I had stolen it. Bekah was so nice to me the weeks after; I should have known she was the perpetrator. She always did hate women being forbidden to wield a blade.' Nik said, his tone carefully controlled though I could sense his fury; he was starting to believe.
Past Genevieve placed the blade on the raised part of stone that sat in front of the grave and turned around, holding out her hand for something. I noticed that it was a newspaper clipping, I picture of Bekah stood in between Nik and Elijah, an arm linked with each of theirs, all of them smiling at whatever they were watching. It looked as if they were in an opera house and that was confirmed when I saw the headline: Hundreds show up to the New Orleans's Opera House Opening. Genevieve crumpled up the paper and held it over the flame, allowing it to catch fire before she set it on top of the blade, chanting quietly. The paper suddenly disappeared in a small gust of wind, once it had Genevieve opened her eyes and smiled, turning to face Bekah and Marcel.
'It is done.' She said.
I was thrown from one memory to another.
'Take it back are you mad?' Genevieve exclaimed. She was stood in what must have been the same hospital we were currently trapped in, except this hospital was much more up kept; Bekah and Genevieve were in a room that held dead bodies, an incarcerator just behind the red head as she stood facing Bekah.
'Please, I summoned Mikael for my own selfish gains. Nik will never forgive me if he finds out, he's finally happy, we are finally happy, please don't make it so I am the one to ruin it.' Bekah pleaded, sounding close to tears.
'You used me.' Genevieve realised, 'you used me to bring someone here that your brother is terrified of. When he finds out he will kill me.'
'You and me both. So please, undo it for both of our sakes.' Bekah pleaded.
'That cannot be done, it is too late. The only option is to go to your brother, tell him what we have done and hope he forgives us.' Genevieve said, sounding as if she would not be persuaded to another path.
'No! No! If you do that I will end up in a box for another century.' Bekah sounded panicked as she glanced around, she noticed a bloody handkerchief in the front pocket of Genevieve's pale blue uniform and took it, holding it in front of her mouth, forcing her to inhale the deadly germs, 'I'm sorry, love. But if Nik finds out, you're dead either way.'
The door suddenly opened and Celeste's 1919 body walked through the door, looking concerned.
'What is going on here?' She asked, noticing the blood that was now coating Genevieve's lips, her eyes were sheened over as she realised what this meant for her. Before Celeste could do anything more, Rebekah flashed forward and applied the same treatment, forcing them into an empty room and compelling two doctors to keep them in the room until they died.
I gasped as my eyes snapped open, but before I could utter a word, Bekah and I froze in fear from what we heard above us.
'REBEKAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH' Nik bellowed, and I flinched when I felt how furious he was.
'You need to leave. Now.' I told her, grabbing her wrist and throwing her towards the door, she opened it and went to leave but the boundary spell was still up, and we didn't have the time to wait for it to come down; Nik was coming and he was coming fast.
I held my index finger up to my lips, indicating for her to be quiet as I pulled her along the corridor, having no idea where I was going; I was focused on where Nik was and purposely going in the opposite direction.
'You can't keep her away from me forever, love. You forget I can sense you as well, all I have to do is follow you.' Nik shouted, closing the distance between us, I pointed ahead of me, silently telling Rebekah that she needed to move on her own, fear shone in her eyes but she did as I asked.
'I don't know what you mean, Nik. I haven't been able to find her.' I shouted back, focusing on Bekah and Nik, purposely leading him away from her, glad when he seemed to follow.
'Love, if you continue to keep her from me, I will hold you to the same level of betrayal.' Nik promised, and I knew he meant it.
'Just calm down for a minute for Christ sakes. You're over reacting.' I shouted, knowing that would piss him off; I was hoping to make his anger for me greater than his current anger for Bekah.
'Overreacting? I will punish you accordingly for that, love.' Nik said, his voice laced with venom.
'When you calm down, you're going to regret whatever you do out of anger.' I said, my tone pleading; he was getting closer to me, his rage adding to his strength.
'Love, let me assure you, I won't regret a thing.' His voice came from behind me; I turned, holding back a wince when I saw the fury on his face. I noticed he was holding Tunde's blade and when he saw I wasn't with Bekah his glare intensified before he flashed away, in the direction that Bekah was actually in; I assumed he was following her scent now.
'Bekah, you can run, sister but you cannot hide.' He shouted, his pace seeming to have slowed to a walk now; he was enjoying the chase.
Once I located Bekah I flashed to her, finding her in the basement, the creaky steps giving us away, when she noticed me I saw the complete defeat on her face and I moved to her side, my hand squeezing hers in a gesture of comfort. We stood united waiting to face the angry hybrid on our trail.
We weren't kept waiting long, Nik's heavy foot steps coming to the doorway, pausing for a moment before he traipsed down the steps, a smirk on his face.
'Given up on running have you?' Nik smirked, twirling Tunde's blade tauntingly around in his hands.
'Well I know how much you enjoy the chase.' Rebekah said, her tone snarky, but I could feel just how terrified she was.
'Well, you may have taken away that enjoyment but I can assure you, sister, I will much enjoy inserting this blade into your heart.' Nik murmured, a dangerous smile on his face.
'Well maybe if you knew how much pain that blade actually inflicted you would reconsider.' I muttered, placing my body in front of Rebekah's my hands holding onto her arms to keep her in place.
'That is true, while I have never felt the torment the blade inflicts first hand, I am assured that it will be tremendously horrific.' Nik grinned, avoiding my eye.
'Put down the blade, Nik, or I will take it from you.' I warned him, my voice low and threatening.
'Careful, love, you wouldn't want to challenge me now, would you?' He stepped forward, trying to intimidate me I assumed, but I refused to appear so.
'I will challenge you because I love you Nik, and trust me when I say that acting on your anger right now is something that you will regret.' My tone was pleading.
His eyes stared intently into mine, and for a glorious moment I saw his vulnerability, his desire to do as I asked, but it was gone as quick as it appeared, his jaw clenching and his expression hardening as his rage came over him once again. I wanted to take it from him, but I knew that would only make matters worse; he knew when I was messing with his emotions and I didn't want to risk his rage growing more than it already had. He stepped forward, now no more than an inch from me, I heard Bekah hold her breath, not knowing what he was going to do, but I had a pretty good idea. He placed his blade free hand gently on my shoulder, forcing his expression to soften into a defeated mask, but I wasn't fooled. I placed my hand on top of his, offering him a small, disappointed smile as I twisted his hand until I heard the bone of his wrist snap in half, using the leverage on his hand to push him away with enough force that a Nik shaped hole was created in the cement wall he landed through behind him.
'Remind me to never mess with you.' Rebekah muttered, sounding vaguely impressed from her position just behind me.
'Tell me that after I get the blade from him.' I replied, shifting myself into fighting stance as I waited for him to get up; he didn't keep me waiting long, he appeared in the hole, his body covered in debris while his expression was one of thunder, except this time his anger was directed at me.
'Come on, Nik. Take your best shot.' I smirked, gesturing for him to make the next move, but he didn't, when I focused on his feelings, I knew why.
'I do not wish to hurt you, love. Despite your best efforts to intercept my ire from Rebekah, my quarrel is with her. Not you.' He said, his words sincere and his expression apprehensive.
'I'm not letting you hurt her, Nik. Can you not just trust me when I tell you that you will regret it instantly? All you are doing is playing into the witch's hands! Why can't you see that? She wants to divide this family and quite frankly she deserves to get her head ripped off.' I said, exasperated that he couldn't see what I could see as clear as day; Celeste wanted revenge on Elijah and dividing the family he had worked for a thousand years to keep together would be the way to do just that, while Genevieve wanted revenge on Rebekah because she took her life.
'Perhaps you are right, love but I just can't bear this. She has done what no other has managed to do in a thousand years.' He said, his expression suddenly one of sadness, a lone tear trailing down his cheek as his gaze moved to Bekah's over my shoulder, 'she ripped my heart out.'
'Nik, please. I did what I did because I wanted to be happy and you kept taking it away from me, any flicker of happiness I found you snuffed it out. You wouldn't let me find love, so yes I took matters into my own hands and called our father, but I regretted it instantly and I tried to reverse it. But I couldn't. I never wanted it to end the way it did-,' Bekah said, and I didn't need to turn around to know that tears were trailing down her cheeks.
'No, you wanted me dead.' Nik insisted, interrupting Bekah's explanation.
'No I didn't, Nik I swear it. I would never wish that.' Bekah said, and I believed her.
'Liar! Admit it! Admit it!' He had stepped so far forward that my back was pressed against Bekah's chest and Nik's chest was pressed against mine, my body being the only thing separating them.
'No I will not admit it, because it is not true!' Bekah shouted back.
Nik laughed, it was a manic sound that made me grip Bekah's arms tighter as I prepared for what was to come; it was only then that I noticed that he wasn't holding Tunde's blade anymore, but what he pulled out from his inside coat pocket was much worse.
'Why the hell do you have that?' I demanded, taking a step back and inevitably forcing Bekah to do the same.
'Well, when the witches started popping up out of their graves I thought it best to not leave it lying around, insurance and all.' He smirked, walking casually forward as if he wasn't holding the indestructible white oak stake that his mother had crafted when she turned Alaric Saltzman into an indestructible vampire hunter.
'Have you lost your mind? You mean to kill me?' Bekah asked, astounded but I could feel her fear; she didn't know how far her brother was willing to go in that moment.
'I can't think of a more suitable punishment if I'm honest sister.' Nik murmured casually, twirling the stake around as if he were inspecting an ornament before purchase.
'Please, Nik. Put. It. Down.' I begged, not knowing how far he was going to go either; his emotions seemed to be all over the place; one moment it was as if I was getting through to him and then the next his rage took over again.
'I don't think I will, love.' He smiled.
'The blade was one thing but now you mean to murder your sister? Do not become Mikael, Nik. You are better than him and you know that. I know that.' I murmured, resisting the urge to touch him, knowing it wouldn't end well.
'I am nothing like Mikael. He hunted us, tortured us for years. You see, I will not hunt Rebekah, I will end it fast- just a sharp pain in the chest and then it'll be lights out.' He smiled, his tone casual as if he was discussing the weather forecast.
'Okay then, never mind the crippling, blinding regret that will overcome you the moment that stake pierces your sisters heart. How about the eternity of being alone that will follow?' I said, my words seemed to break through to him as a glimmer of fear shone in his eyes, and it encouraged me to continue forward, 'because I can assure you, if you kill Rebekah I will not stand beside you for killing my sister, and I am positive that none of your other siblings will either.'
'Those who go against me must be punished.' He said, but his tone lacked conviction that was audible to my ears.
'Believe me when I say Rebekah has been punishing herself over this for the past century. She does love you and she was telling the truth when she said she didn't wish you harm. Don't let your paranoia break this family Nik, trust me, please.' I pleaded, hesitantly stepping forward, my hand going to the stake and gently prying it from his hand. His eyes shone with regret, tears fell from his cheeks as his mouth hung open as if he was trying to form a sentence but couldn't quite find the words.
'It appears my presence is not needed.' Elijah's voice suddenly called out from the top of the staircase, observing the whole scene, surprise written on his face, but he managed to catch the stake I threw to him, his eyes widening slightly as he realised how far Nik was going to go.
'I'd suggest hiding that in the same place you're keeping the daggers.' I said, gesturing for Elijah and Bekah to leave and they did, traipsing up the creaky staircase, Bekah's arm linking through Elijah's. I turned to Nik when they were gone, one arm wrapping around his shoulders while the other went around his neck, holding him tightly to me. He didn't respond for a moment, seemingly surprised by my actions, but after a while a long sigh escaped him, and with it went the rest of his anger as he wound his arms around my waist, holding me tightly to him.
'How can you even stand to be near me right now?' He whispered, his voice laced with shame.
'Nik, how many times do I have to tell you,' I said, pulling back, both of my hands going to either side of his face, gently forcing him to meet my gaze, 'I love you and I accept you for who you are. I always will. As for Rebekah, I understood where your anger was coming from and while it was completely justified, your actions weren't. You have to trust me to reign you in when you go too far.' My thumbs moved back and forth comfortingly over his cheeks, his stubble scraping me gently.
His hands came to rest on my wrists as he stared at me, his gaze more vulnerable than I had ever seen it; I could tell that he wanted to trust me, and once again his mouth was struggling to find the words, but after a deep breath he seemed to get there.
'I do trust you, love.' He murmured, and I knew that he meant it.
'I believe you.' I smiled, leaning forward and connecting my lips to his, our lips moving together gently; his mouth on mine was like the most pleasant electric shock I had ever experienced. The sparks travelled through me, as if awakening my body; it was if he bought me to life and it baffled me that this was the way it felt every single time. I was about to deepen the kiss when I heard Elijah and Rebekah talking upstairs.
'What do you mean we're trapped here?' Rebekah cried.
'Celeste placed a boundary spell around the premises. Originals can get in but they cannot leave.' Elijah explained, sounding and feeling calm.
Nik and I shared a look before we flashed upstairs, finding Elijah and Rebekah each sat on one of the old, surprisingly still pristine white, hospital beds.
'So we have a boundary spell courtesy of Celeste? She shouldn't have.' I muttered sarcastically, my arm around Nik's waist, his arm reciprocating the gesture. Nik chuckled, considerably more relaxed than he had been not five minutes before; I felt Elijah and Bekah's surprise and apprehension. They had never seen Nik calm down this fast before and I knew they were worried it was a trick, which was fair, but I knew there was nothing to worry about, which I told them by sending a wave of calm towards them both. This seemed to snap them out of their trance as Elijah answered and Bekah lay back on the bed, thoroughly exhausted.
'Yes, I assume she was planning on Niklaus' rage being great and she wanted to make sure Rebekah had no escape from his ire.' Elijah explained, straightening his tie as he leaned back on the bed.
'Wonderful. I assume our disappearance isn't the only thing that has happened the past twenty four hours?' Nik guessed, pulling me down onto one of the beds; our backs leaned against the headboard, my legs settled over his as I curled into his chest; his hands rested on my waist keeping me in place.
'Quite right, brother. Celeste was nothing if not thorough.' Elijah murmured, picking at an invisible piece of lint on his right thigh as he continued, 'I was told that I could only save one, you and Kimberly, Rebekah or Hayley. She managed to distract Finn and Kol as well as disrupt Hayley from changing into a werewolf so that Hayley was completely and utterly vulnerable when the plantation caught on fire.'
'Bitch.' Bekah and I muttered at the same time.
'I never liked her.' Bekah commented, not bothering to open her eyes as she spoke.
'Well, I assure you as of now she is completely dead. I had Monique cast a spell to guarantee that when she tried to body jump again she would instead come back and be stuck in her true form. At which point I tore her heart from her chest.' Elijah's voice was calm as usual, but I could feel the small amount of sadness he felt over what he had done.
'I'm sorry. You loved her once, that can't have been easy.' I murmured, sending a wave of comfort in his direction.
He didn't answer, but he didn't need to.
'So how long are we going to be bloody stuck here for anyway?' Bekah sighed.
'Until the sun rises tomorrow morning, so at least nine hours.' Elijah answered, seeming unfazed by this information.
'For fuck's sake.' I sighed; the small amount of blood that I had taken from Nik earlier had been enough to sustain me for a little while but now my hunger was back stronger than ever, and I knew Bekah and Nik were feeling the same way.
'I already called Hayley to bring supplies, while you two were still in the basement.' Elijah assured us and we all released collective sighs of relief.
'Fabulous.' I felt my eyes drooping, exhaustion setting in, but before I could slip into unconsciousness my vision suddenly disappeared and I felt myself stiffen; I hadn't had a vision for a while so I was a little unfamiliar with the process.
'Love?' Nik asked, concerned when he felt my stiffening posture, I just grabbed on of his hands on my waist and bought it to the side of my face, allowing him into my mind.
Genevieve was stood in the same shop that Sabine used to run, before her body was taken over by Celeste. It was a voodoo shop and if the inch thick layer of dust on every flat surface was anything to go by, it hadn't been opened since Sabine died. The red head had tears streaming down her cheeks as she stood behind the counter; Nik and I were stood by the front door, observing her closely. I jumped when she suddenly threw everything that was lying on the counter; glass jars, pens, knickknacks and what looked like salt to the floor where it landed with a thud.
'What's wrong with her?' I wondered, moving closer to the spell book she had produced from beneath the counter; she was flipping ferociously through the pages until she suddenly stopped on a spell. I looked at the page, but it was written in a language I couldn't understand, but thankfully Nik seemed to as he read it over my shoulder, while Genevieve began to chant.
'It's a spell to test for pregnancy.' Nik murmured, his voice sounding confused as he continued, 'she's modified it so that no form of magic can interfere with the diagnosis.'
'What does that mean?' I asked, not understanding.
'If a witch were to cloak her baby to prevent others from finding out, this spell would render that magic void.' He explained.
'What witch would she care about being pregnant?' I wondered, before Nik could make a suggestion Genevieve suddenly stopped chanting, gasping.
Seeming more composed, she calmly wiped away the tears that had stained her cheeks and lit a candle with a long match that she pulled from underneath the counter.
'P-please don't make me do this. It's just a tiny baby, a tiny innocent baby. Don't make me a murderer.' She whimpered, tears streaming down her face and I felt my blood run cold as I saw her tears turn into blood, which she noticed fairly quickly, 'no-no-no! I'll do it, I promise, just don't kill me. I will kill the baby of Kimberly and Klaus Mikaelson, you have my word.' With that the blood stopped pouring from her eyes and she stood, and we saw her clearing away her supplies before we were yanked back to the present.
'What the bloody hell was that?' I cried, jumping from the bed feeling panicked. Pregnant? No, there was no way! Was there?
'I think it was abundantly clear, love.' Nik muttered sarcastically, coming to stand in front of me, his strides cautious and slow; I assumed he could sense how much I was freaking out.
'Nah, she must have been on about a different Kimberly and Klaus Mikaelson, that's the only explanation.' I said, struggling to get air into my lungs with how much I was hyperventilating.
'What the bloody hell is wrong with her?' Bekah asked, her and Elijah observing me with worried glances from behind Nik.
'She had a vision-,' Nik started, placing his hands on my upper arms and rubbing up and down soothingly.
'We gathered that much, Niklaus. What did she see?' Elijah asked.
'We saw Genevieve casting a spell to reveal Kimberly's pregnancy before she promised the ancestors that she was going to come after our child.' Nik explained, completely calm and I found myself wondering why I was the one freaking out.
'Pregnancy?' Bekah exclaimed, her jaw dropping open in disbelief, she turned to Elijah who looked calm but I could feel his shock.
'It's not true. I can't be pregnant- that book said it was supposed to be rare we haven't been together for a year yet. I'm telling you! Lies.' I muttered, my voice borderline hysterical.
'Kimberly, you need to calm down-,' Elijah started placing a hand on my shoulder but before he could finish his sentence Bekah cut him off.
'Shush, all of you!' she shouted and we all looked to her, confused, 'listen.'
I heard everyone, including myself, collectively hold our breath as we listened out, wondering what Bekah had heard. I was about to ask her outright when I realised what she was talking about. A heartbeat. One that wasn't Nik's or mine; this one was fainter, softer, and it was coming from my stomach. I felt my doubt trickle away with the sound but at the same time I couldn't believe it. I was going to be a mother. Nik was going to be a father. I felt the tears that had formed in my eyes spill over; falling silently down my cheeks as my hand involuntarily went to my stomach.
'I'm pregnant.' I said, not completely comprehending what that meant, but as my doubt started to fade away, Nik's seemed to grow.
'No, this has to be some kind of trick. The ancestors have to be behind this. Those witches have been nothing more than a pain in the neck since we consecrated Ester here.' He shouted, pacing back and forth, running his hands through his curls.
'I'm pregnant.' I said again lamely.
'This definitely isn't happening! I am not ready to be a father! The only father figure I know is Mikael and we all know how parental he was!' Nik shouted his voice starting to sound hysterical.
'They're both freaking out.' Bekah said sounding worried.
'Pregnant. There is a child inside my stomach.' I said, my breathing becoming sporadic.
'What if I'm just as bad as he was? I probably will be, parenting is learned behaviour.' Nik stated, waving his hands around manically, as he continued to pace while I remained glued to the spot.
'Excellent observation sister.' Elijah stated dryly.
'What do we do?' Bekah asked, her brow furrowing in concern as she glanced in between Nik and me, 'they need to snap out of it.'
'Yes. Well you take Kimberly and I will take Niklaus.' Elijah said, sending his sister an encouraging nod, but otherwise he didn't give her time to respond before he stepped in front of Klaus, halting his pacing.
'Kimmie?' Bekah's soft voice snapped me out of my thoughtful gaze and drew my attention from the crashes animating from behind her where Nik and Elijah were fighting.
'Yes, Bekah?' I said, trying to calm myself down but I knew it was pointless. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of me being a mother; my own mother, Miranda Gilbert had been incredible. She was kind, considerate, empathetic and supportive but I wasn't her. What if I screwed up? What if the baby grew up to resent me? To hate me? What if-.
'Okay you need to stop overthinking this!' Bekah shouted after she slapped me across the face, my head snapping to the side and my cheek stinging from the sensation. My gaze moved back to hers, shocked, confused but most of all pissed.
'What was that for?' I demanded.
'You were having a panic attack; the pain snapped you out of it. Consider yourself welcome.' Bekah sassed, crossing her arms over her chest and raising an amused brow.
'Lay another hand on her sister, and we may have to revisit that white oak stake.' Nik threatened as he appeared beside me, but he too looked much more calm. I could still sense his panic, as I was sure he could sense mine, but for now we both had it under control.
'Now, back to this vision you had… when do you think it's going to happen?' Bekah asked, trying to change the subject.
My hand entwined with Nik's as she spoke and I frowned, trying to recall some- any- information that would give us a good time frame.
'What if it wasn't the future at all? What if it was happening as we saw it?' Nik said, I could practically see the cogs turning in his head as he thought it over.
'In the vision she was doing a spell to render protection magic void and when we came out of it we could hear the baby's heartbeat.' I realised; Klaus was right.
'She removed the baby's protection, though I wouldn't mind knowing how it got there in the first place, or how she knew it would be there.' Nik muttered, his hands drawing around my waist as he pulled my back to his chest.
'It most likely has something to do with Kimberly's other abilities.' Elijah said, noting our confused stares before he elaborated, 'I started to do some research into empaths and prophets before the harvest ritual happened and distracted us all. It occurred to me that we had done plentiful research into what you being mates means, but we didn't consider the extent of Kimberly's gifts.'
'What did you find out?' I asked, curious.
'Both empaths and prophets do not gather their gifts from bloodlines; they are chosen those who possessed the gifts before them. Upon their deathbed, they are to decide whom they will give their power to. Which means that both a prophet and an empath chose to give their gifts to you.' Elijah started.
'Well that's incredibly interesting, did you find out anything about supernatural pregnancies?' Bekah asked, sounding impatient.
'Actually, yes. When either of the species is with child, it is not uncommon for them to go the full term without them knowing they are even pregnant, for their powers cloak the baby without the mother's consent from conception.' Elijah said, and we all stood silent for a moment just taking that information in.
'But now-,' I started but was cut off by Nik.
'Genevieve has broken that protection with that spell, not only leaving the baby vulnerable, but confirming the pregnancy. Now the ancestors go and from the looks of that vision they want our baby dead.' Nik stated, sounding furious.
'We need to figure out a plan.' I said, my voice determined as I felt my protective instincts flare up inside of me, I may not have fully accepted it yet, but none was going to hurt our baby.
'Excellent idea sister.' Elijah commended me, glancing around at everyone after he spoke, noting we all wore calculating expressions.
'We need to think about this logically. Ester is behind this and we can assume that going after the baby won't be her only motivation, seeing as any other time she pops up she wants us all dead.' I muttered, annoyed.
'What are you saying?' Nik asked, his hands tightening slightly around my waist as he sensed my dread.
'We're going to have to split up.' I said sadly.
'What? Why?' Bekah demanded.
'It will be harder for her to eliminate you all if you aren't all in the same place and now is the perfect opportunity; Genevieve was sure that Nik was going to kill you, Bekah. So convincing her that Nik banished you wont be hard to do, just like it wont be suspicious to explain Kol and Finn leaving because they were tired of their brother's temper. The three of you will have to scatter in completely different directions though, get cloaking spells and-,' I was cut off by Elijah, who didn't seem to like the sound of what I was saying.
'To what end?' He asked quietly.
'Until Ester is removed from the ancestors and isn't a threat to all of you, or the baby, anymore.' I answered, my eyes spilling over with tears, 'I don't like this anymore than you do, Elijah. But it's the best way. The last time you were all together she linked you as one and tried to sacrifice you. If three of the five are in different continents it will make it a little harder for her to do, especially if you're all cloaked.'
'She's right, Elijah, as much as it pains me to say it.' Bekah said, tears flowing freely down her cheeks now.
'If we are to make this believable we can't tell the others.' Elijah said, smiling sadly, 'their anger and betrayal needs to be genuine. They will flee just as they need to, Kol will take Elena and Finn will probably take Elizabeth and go somewhere far away from here.'
'What if they don't forgive us for this?' I wondered aloud, though I knew that deep down, they would.
'Once we have New Orleans safe once again, love, we'll tell them everything and they will forgive us once they know our motivations for doing what we did.' Nik said, and I understood the double meaning to his words.
'We can't tell them about the baby, can we?' My eyes glazed over as a sad smile took over my lips; Nik kissed my temple and that helped squelch the shuddering pain in my gut a little.
'If they know about the baby then they will stay regardless of me banishing Bekah.' Nik answered, and I knew he was right, they would stay and I could feel how unsafe that was for them all.
'What if they hear the heartbeat just as we did?' Bekah asked, sniffling.
'We only heard it because we were listening for it. They won't be.' Elijah stated.
'Well, our performance is going to have to be pretty damn convincing.' I muttered, turning in Nik's arms, my hands going around his waist as my face rested in the crook of his neck as I inhaled his scent.
'We can do this, love.' Nik assured me.
We were going to have to think this out pretty damn carefully down to every last detail. Hayley arrived ten minutes later and as soon as we heard her approaching Elijah flashed to the front door to stop her from coming in while Bekah and Nik started throwing furniture around and half heartedly shouting at each other, convincing Hayley that they were at each other's throats. I chipped in every so often, telling Nik to calm down or telling Bekah to duck. Elijah ushered her away fairly quickly after assuring him that he could protect himself and that he wouldn't let Nik get too out of control. Once she was out of hearing distance, Nik and Bekah stopped immediately, their now calm behaviour contrasting heavily with their fake rage that had been present moments before. Elijah returned to the room with a duffel bag which a sight which caused me to immediately leap to my feet, holding my hand out for a blood bag or ten. Once I had a few I went to the closest bed sitting at the bottom of the bed with my legs crossed, drinking happily. Nik, Bekah and Elijah helped themselves to the blood supply as well; after our hunger was sedated we all managed to squeeze onto one bed. Nik and I were now laying horizontally at the bottom, me practically on top of Nik, my face resting in the crook of his neck, while Elijah and Bekah were lying vertically side by side at the top of the bed, thankfully the bed was long enough that their feet weren't in mine and Nik's faces. We all lay there in comfortable silence until we drifted off to sleep, relishing in the calm before the storm that was sure to come heavy and hard tomorrow.
There's chapter thirty seven! I know a lot happens in this one, but I was aware that I was unable to put up a chapter last week so I decided to combine two this week to make it up to you! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think!
A huge thank you to: WheeljacksGirl, indy's girl, moonkey2790, Nermeeennn, Mep101 for choosing to either follow or favorite my story! It means a lot :)
guadadominguez4: GOOD FIC :) Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!