CHAPTER 21 – THE MURDER OF ONE
"Morning," Rhiannon muttered drowsily walking into the kitchen not really paying attention to her surroundings just yet. It was a little after six a.m. and her and Elijah were leaving for Switzerland that day. She didn't expect anybody else to be up this early in the morning, but once she poured herself a cup of steaming hot coffee; she realized that all three Mikaelson siblings were sitting around the kitchen island with a grave expression on their faces. "Oh god, what's going on?"
"We have a problem," Rebekah muttered picking at her breakfast.
"Yea, I seriously can't remember the day I haven't heard that phrase coming from somebody's mouth," Rhiannon mumbled into her coffee cup. "So what is it now?"
"So you remember when I told you about our family history, how we became vampires and how the only thing that could truly kill us was the wood from the white oak tree, so we burned it down?" Rebekah elaborated.
"Yea, that kind of story's hard to forget," Rhiannon retorted.
"Well yesterday I learned that there was, possibly still is, another tree," Rebekah said making Rhiannon choke on her coffee.
"What?!" she cried out. "Where?! Does anybody else know?!"
"We don't for sure," Klaus chimed in. "Which is why we need to get this unlinking spell over with as soon as possible. If somebody else finds out, or if this gets to our mother, we're all doomed."
"Well what the hell are we going to do about it?" Rhiannon asked looking at Elijah who was suspiciously quiet that morning. She knew he didn't sleep last night. She didn't either.
"Well it's quite simple really," Klaus started pouring himself some more coffee. "You and Elijah will go retrieve the grimoar while Rebekah will put her talents to work in efforts learn anything about the whereabouts of the bloody tree. I will provide witch and other ingredients necessary for the unlinking spell and Kol is already on his way to Denver to provide a perfect leverage that would ensure Bonnie's full cooperation."
"You're dragging Bonnie into this?" Rhiannon asked with disdain. "Okay, granted, she's already in the middle of this all but don't you have another witch at your disposal?"
"Not on such short notice, no," Klaus retorted in a manner that made it clear this affair wasn't open for discussion.
"Fine," Rhiannon sighed. "But please let me talk to her first before you threaten the crap out of her will you?"
"Alright," Klaus muttered. "But remember little wolf, clock's ticking."
"Yes, first class is fine," Rhiannon said into her phone, sitting next to Elijah who was driving to the airport. She was currently trying to rebook their round-trip flight tickets to an earlier date. Originally they were supposed to stay all week, but since learning about the white oak, everybody in the house was just itching to be unlinked. "Great thank you. Bye."
"So I have good news," Rhiannon said. "They were able to put us on an earlier flight."
"That's good," Elijah muttered absent-mindedly.
"I know it's kinda stupid question, especially given everything that's going on, but are you okay? I know you didn't sleep at all last night," Rhiannon started.
"I'm fine Rhiannon," Elijah said a little sternly. He realized he may have been harsher than he intended to so sighing, he shot her a small smile. "It's just that never in a thousand years I'd think I'd see our mother trying to make us extinct. She's always been so loving and protective. It's so unlike the woman I used to know."
"I know, and I'm so sorry this is happening," Rhiannon started reaching over and stroking the back of his neck lightly. "I guess a thousand years of suffering on the other side would do that to a person. And I'm not saying it's your fault she's been suffering for so long. She did that to herself by turning you into vampires. But clearly, she isn't the woman she used to be. She'd gone mad. And if some misguided idea of repentance is more important to her than preserving what's left of her family, then I'm sorry to say that but there's nothing else we can do but stop her. At all costs. You once said to me that you wouldn't let anybody hurt me if you could prevent it. Well it goes both ways. I love you and I won't let anybody take you away from me, even if that means I'd have to rip the heart out of your mother's chest myself!" she was almost yelling at this point because the idea of him not existing was just too much to handle. She was shaken out of her speech by Elijah abruptly pulling over at the side of the road, then attacking her with his lips so fiercely that for a moment she thought he would smother her.
Five hours later they were sitting on the plane, somewhere over the Atlantic when Rhiannon woke up from her nap.
"Hey," she muttered sleepily, still huddled up under Elijah's arm.
"Hey there," he smiled at her, tearing his gaze away from the window, stroking her shoulder lightly.
"So um… what's gotten into you back there in the car? I mean, I'm certainly not complaining," she trailed off, looking out the window, replaying the hot sex they had in the car on the way to the airport. Just thinking about it made her hot and bothered all over again.
"Well I just…," he started, then looked out the window again, trying to find right words to express just how much her words back then meant to him. "I've never had anybody fight for me so hard is all. I mean, obviously I have my siblings, but it's usually the other way around. And you saying things you said and just being there for me… it's…it means the world to me."
"Of course I'm here for you," she whispered, smiling lightly. "Even if it means I have to put up with Klaus," she added making him chuckle heartily.
They were at the baggage claim when Rhiannon's phone rang. She looked at the number and moved a little bit further away from all the noise. That didn't stop Elijah from eavesdropping on the conversation
"Hey Rebekah," she said with an edge to her voice. "I was about to call you. We just landed. Any news on the white oak?"
"Actually yes," he heard his baby sister say into the phone smugly. "The white oak was on the Salvatore property. They used to own all the town's lumbermills back in the days. That particular tree was cut down to build the Wickery Bridge."
"Oh my god," Rhiannon muttered.
"Don't worry your pretty head love," Rebekah continued. "I already took care of the problem."
"Well how did you find all this out in less than sixteen hours?" Rhiannon asked.
"With a little help of a nine-hundred-years-old riff-raff that decided to make an appearance," Rebekah retorted cryptically. "I'll fill you in on the details once you get back."
"Okay," Rhiannon said pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, we're about to go to the bank to pick up the grimoar. I'll call you when we get to our hotel room so we can send you the copy of the spell."
"Alright," Rebekah said. "Say hi to Elijah for me will you?"
"Will do."
Switzerland was truly incredible, Rhiannon decided as they drove through a gorgeous historical centre to their hotel.
"We have to get back here one day," she muttered under her breath looking out of the window.
"Enjoying the view I take it?" Elijah joked stroking her thigh lightly.
"Very much so," she retorted with a wide grin plastered on her face. She'd never been more gorgeous, Elijah thought to himself as he watched her admire the view. Her face was lit up with utter amazement and he felt his heart swell a little at the thought of taking her places she'd never been before. He just hoped there actually will be time for that because he had great plans for them. The fear of dying and losing her still lingered somewhere in the back of his mind.
Rhiannon dropped her bag in the middle of their hotel room with a huff. "I need shower."
"Go ahead," Elijah muttered. "I'm going to send this spell to Niklaus so he can get Bonnie to unlink us. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
"I couldn't agree more," Rhiannon muttered standing behind Elijah and snaking her arms around his waist. She rested her head against his back as he stroked her arms lightly. Then placed chaste kiss on his shoulder blade, freeing her hands, muttering: "I'm going to the shower. You know, if you decide you can't wait until I'm done, you can always join me after you send the spell to Klaus."
She started walking towards the bathroom, taking off her sweater along with her T-shirt, shooting him an innocent look that wouldn't fool anybody making his blood boil with desire. He couldn't help but smirk at how comfortable and bold she became around him.
The photocopy of Esther's spell was sent to Klaus within minutes and Elijah was following the trail made of Rhiannon's clothes discarding his as he went. He reached the bathroom butt naked and climbed into the shower, closing his eyes sighing contently as the first scorching hot droplets of water hit him. Soon he felt Rhiannon's hands on his face directing his head downwards so she could kiss him. She was a pretty tall girl but still had to stand on her toes in order to be level with him. He let her kiss him lightly, snaking his arms around her body, caressing the wet soapy skin of her back. Soon she deepened the kiss and it was becoming significantly harder for Elijah to restrain himself.
He picked her up, making her cross her legs around his waist and slammed her against the wall, kissing her neck hungrily, making her moan so loud, he was sure everybody on their floor could hear them. He didn't care. She started to grind against him making his head drop back as he grunted, letting her name pass his lips. She licked and nibbled at his exposed throat, letting her eyes turn that gorgeous golden-amber color. He couldn't take it any longer and with a steaming kiss he thrust inside of her making her yelp with pleasure. She rested her forehead against his as they moved in a mutual rhythm that sent them over the edge, collapsing to the shower ground minutes later. After they recovered enough to stand up again, they washed each other, kissing and caressing their bodies.
Moments later they were resting on the king size bed, smothered by fluffy bathrobes, going through the menu trying to decide what to order for dinner. Originally they planned to go eat outside, but they were both pleasantly exhausted and eventually decided against it. Elijah was on the phone with a room service when Rhiannon's phone rang again. She looked at the number and sighed. If he was calling, there was definitely something going on.
"I'm listening," she said picking up the phone.
"Is this a good time to speak?" Matt Donovan asked. She got him off the vervain couple of days ago, and then compelled him to report everything the gang had been up to. He was her friend and she hated to do this to him, but she didn't have any other choice. With people so sly like Damon standing against them, they needed to be one step ahead. It appeared that Klaus' fearful reputation failed to intimidate the supernatural residence of Mystic Falls enough to leave the Originals well alone.
"As good as any," Rhiannon muttered with an edge to her voice. "So what do you have for me?"
"There's more white oak Rebekah doesn't know about," Matt said making Rhiannon jump up on the bed. "The Wickery Bridge sign that mister Saltzman was supposed to restore. It's made from the same wood. Salvatores have it and. They made about a dozen stakes out of it."
"Oh my god," Rhiannon muttered, sitting back on the bed. "Anything else?"
"Yea, they're looking for an opportunity to kill," Matt elaborated further.
"Yea, I figured as much," Rhiannon said. "Forget we ever had this conversation. Call me if there's any news."
As soon as Matt hung up, she was dialing Rebekah. Elijah was looking at her with what could only be described as a mixture of rage and terror. The look on his face caused her almost physical pain but she couldn't tear her eyes away in fear that he'd disappear if she did.
"C'mon Bekah!" Rhiannon growled into her phone. That didn't help though as it went to the voicemail. She tried dialing Klaus this time.
"Well little wolf," Klaus' voice answered. "How's Switzerland treating you?"
"Klaus tell me that the unlinking spell worked," Rhiannon said with panic in her voice.
"Yes, it did," Klaus retorted, satisfied yet worried because of her tone. "As a matter of fact, I'm showing Bonnie out as we speak."
"Thank god," Rhiannon said, relieved fractionally. "We have another problem though. I compelled Matt Donovan to spy on Salvatores and he just called me that they are in possession of twelve white oak stakes made from the Wickery Bridge sign. It's not over Klaus."
"Bloody hell," Klaus growled into his phone and hung up.
They were waiting for some news. Any news, really. Rhiannon was pacing through the bedroom nervously, biting her nails to shreds while Elijah sat on the sofa with his hands propped on his thighs massaging his temples lightly. Not two hours ago he was having amazing shower sex with his girlfriend and now he was sitting here, waiting to find out if they had to move to the other side of the planet. He hated the idea of running. He and his siblings had done it for almost thousand years. He really didn't feel like doing it again, especially if the reason for them to run was a group of scrawny baby vamps. His pride shuddered at the idea of being chased off by the likes of Salvatore brothers and their merry little gang, but it was better than dying, or letting them hurt Rhiannon.
When the phone rang half hour later, the both jumped up in anticipation. Elijah, being faster, answered the phone.
"Rebekah," he breathed out. "Did you get the stakes?"
"Yes and no," she retorted solemnly. "There are still two missing. Stefan went to retrieve them so we should be in the clear soon."
"That's good news," Elijah muttered, relief washing over him in intense waves.
"Elijah," Rebekah said. "Finn's dead."
"What?" Elijah cried out looking at Rhiannon who stood dead in her tracks couple of feet from him. "How?"
"Stefan killed him before we found out about stakes," Rebekah elaborated. "There's something else. After that, Sage went to find Stefan and kill him and she died. Out of the blue. And the guy she turned died as well. Just dropped dead."
"What does that mean?" Elijah asked although he was pretty sure he could guess the answer.
"It means that if you kill an Original, his entire bloodline will die with him."