We spent the next month in a quiet state of bliss, enjoying our new found peace. I spent time with the girls, with the brothers, with Rebekah and Freya, with Sophie and Cami. Everything was good. I didn't see any sign of Lucien so I guessed that he'd finished his business in the city. It was a little disappointing that our friendship was being stopped so soon but then again, it was probably a good thing. I didn't need him stirring up drama between me and the others by sending extravagant gifts to tease me.
I didn't tell the siblings about the rings. I wasn't sure how they'd react to the idea I had forming in my head and I didn't want to break the careful equilibrium that had taken over the house. Things were good and I was worried that if I broached any kind of controversial subject then things would go back to being tense. I knew eventually I'd have to talk to Kol and Elijah about their proposals, and Klaus and Finn for that matter, but for now I was just content with things as they were.
I had discussed my other plans with them. Klaus seemed a little confused by my decision to return to school and graduate. He suggested we just go to Mystic Falls and compel an administrator into giving me my certificate. The idea was tempting, I mean no one likes school, but I wanted to do things properly. No cheating. I was also toying with the idea of going to college but I wasn't set on that. I was fairly sure that one of the siblings would turn me eventually so it wasn't like I had to worry about time.
Despite the return to peace, we stayed on edge for a little while. It was hard to just switch off the anxiety that our children might be taken at any time. I found myself wandering into their room in the middle of the night to check on them, spending half an hour just watching them. Sometimes when I went in there, I found one of the boys doing the same thing. It was almost two weeks after Dahlia's defeat that we finally managed to stop jumping at every noise and let the girls out of our sight for more than five minutes.
A month after we had got rid of Dahlia, Klaus suggested that we all go out for the evening. Everyone agreed and we found a babysitter for the evening, although Freya insisted that she'd be happy to stay behind and do it. That night I felt kind of nervous, although I wasn't sure why. I think it was because I'd never been out properly with all the siblings. I'd gone drinking with Kol and Rebekah before but I'd never been out and had the experience of their conflicting personalities mixed with alcohol and other people. I was slightly worried the evening was going to end in bloodshed despite Finn's reassurances.
I got dressed and met them down in the courtyard. Klaus was in high spirits and seemed excited by the prospect of what was to come.
"So what are we doing tonight?" I asked.
"Well I thought that we'd show you the real city. You've been here for a while and you've not actually done much in the city."
"I was a little distracted by… you know… becoming queen, having kids, protecting my home. A bar crawl wasn't really high on the list of priorities."
"We're not taking you on a bar crawl," said Elijah. "We're going to the theatre and then we're going to get dinner. Very low key."
"I don't know," said Kol. "I want to see drunk Elena again, she's fun."
"Never again," I said, poking him in the ribs. He grinned and wrapped an arm around me. The seven of us headed out into the street and I was surprised by the arrival of Marcel. Rebekah greeted him warmly and gave him a kiss. I glanced over at Klaus. He seemed bemused but appeared to be tolerating their renewed relationship. I was happy for her. She was getting on with her life. It was kind of sad. Over a thousand years old and this was the first time she'd got to actually live.
We went to the theatre and got settled in our box. I couldn't help but marvel at the level of extravagance that the siblings enjoyed. This really was their city, their home and they were living the lives they wanted for once, rather than existing on standby and waiting for Mikael to disrupt their peace. I sat next to Elijah and he spent most of the show holding my hand or with his arm around me. I enjoyed the casual intimacy that had sprung up between us.
The show was good and afterwards we headed to a nearby brewery for dinner and drinks. There was a live band and it filled the atmosphere with a electricity and excitement. The food was pleasant and everyone seemed at ease. I had a little bit to drink and was feeling warm and happy. Everyone was in high spirits. Rebekah and Marcel held hands through pretty much the entire meal. Klaus and Kol were flirting playfully with the waitress, with me, with any woman who came within their radius. Even Finn seemed to be happy, chatting far more than normal. I got the feeling that he'd shut himself off when Freya had been taken and now she was back it was like the missing piece of him had been restored.
When we finished and paid, with Klaus tipping heavily, we headed back home. Klaus and Kol were comparing the amount of numbers they'd managed to get, clearly enjoying their game. Elijah had his arm wrapped around me. Rebekah and Marcel were laughing, Freya was happy. It was a perfect evening.
We got back home and Rebekah said goodbye to Marcel. The babysitter came out to the courtyard to greet us.
"Thanks for tonight," I said, handing over her pay. "Where they any trouble?"
"No, they were little angels. I fed them about an hour ago and then put them to bed. They've been quiet since then." She smiled and headed off. I shrugged off my jacket, spinning around a little, relishing the lingering buzz of the evening.
"Did you have a good night?" Klaus asked.
"I did. It was amazing."
"I'm glad." He kissed my cheek. "Are you staying up for a bit?"
"Yeah. I just want to go check on the girls and then I'll be right back." I headed up the stairs, humming a tune from the band. I let myself into the nursery and went to their cots.
My eyes widened in horror and fear. The cots were empty. I pulled back the covers as if they might somehow be hiding underneath. Nothing.
"KLAUS! KOL! ELIJAH!" I ran out into the hall and they were already there, having heard my shout.
"What is it?" Klaus demanded.
"The girls are gone!" Klaus pushed past me and into their room, perhaps thinking that I might somehow have missed them. My breathing spiked in panic and I felt tears in my eyes. This couldn't be happening. No… no… no…
Kol wrapped his arms around me, holding me close and escorted me back to the courtyard. I complied. A strange numbness had settled over me and all I could do was stare vacantly as tears poured down my cheek.
"She's right, there's no sign of them," said Klaus, returning to the yard.
"Call the police…" I said.
"Humans won't be able to help us," said Elijah. "If someone's done this, then they're part of our society. Someone call Marcel and get his vampires looking. Freya, get a locator spell started."
"Now, there's no need for that," came a familiar British voice. I looked up sharply and saw Lucien leaning against the front gate. Klaus did a double take.
"Lucien?"
"Evening Nik." He said with a smile. "Now, there's no need to go running all across the city looking for your little girls."
"You better not have had something to do with this," snarled Elijah.
"Oh Elijah, you wound me. I had everything to do with this. Now… before you try and skin me, I should warn you that I don't know where your girls are. I didn't actually take them. What I did do was get two of my associates to take them and hide them at different locations. If I don't come to collect them, my associates will end their own lives and your little girls will die." He was looking directly at me as he spoke. "And by the time you get a locator spell working that will breaking the cloaking spells that are on them, they'll be dead."
"What do you want?" I whispered, my voice hoarse from tears.
"You, Elena. I want you to come with me. Now, I'm not going to force you. What I'm going to do is make you an offer. Come with me now, willingly, and you'll be reunited with your daughters. Or you can stay here and they'll die."
"Or we can skin you alive and tear the city apart until we find them?" Kol suggested.
"You could… but it won't work. I can guarantee that you won't find them both. You might find one but… you'll never find both." He smirked. "So Elena, what do you say?"
Elijah made to lunge for Lucien but I put my hand out.
"I'll go with you."
"Excellent." He checked his watch. "You have five minutes. Pack a bag. Only essentials mind you, we've got a long journey ahead of us."
I nodded and made for the stairs, Finn grabbed my wrist.
"Elena, don't do this… we can sort this out."
"I'm not going to risk my children, Finn." I pulled my arm free and went upstairs. I grabbed a few things and, after a moment's hesitation, I tucked the bag with the rings and the spell away under the mattress of my bed. I returned downstairs and went over to Lucien. Everyone was staring, in a sort of shock. Lucien wrapped a possessive arm around me.
"Come along love." I looked back at the family, my family. I tried to communicate with my eyes, telling them that this wasn't goodbye, that I would see them again.
Lucien led me out to his car and I got into the back. We drove away from my home. I prayed that I would see my girls again, that they were unharmed.
"Cheer up love," said Lucien with a devilish smirk. "It's not the end of the world."
A/N: From a four year story to a month long story. I have posted the sequel, but obviously it takes a little while to pop up on my profile. It'll be under the title 'Blood and Wine'.