Chapter 6 - Tossing Out Blame
Traversing the cave with two witches in tow was far from Stefan's idea of an ideal morning. He couldn't help but wonder why Bonnie and Abby didn't seem to grasp the urgency of their situation, especially after barely escaping a hybrid's clutches. They were lucky that Klaus had underestimated the witch and only sent one hybrid to the house.
Trenching through the damp cave was not how Stefan imagined he would spend his morning. Laying in bed and questioning his existence had been his plan until the shrill ringtone of his phone pulled him out of his self-deprecating thoughts, along with Bonnie's frantic voice travelling through the speaker as she recounted her tale. Part of Stefan was genuinely impressed with the young witch's resourcefulness—stabbing a hybrid in the eye wasn't something everyone could manage. Though he couldn't say he was too surprised, Bonnie had an intelligence and resilience that often went unacknowledged. She was the reason that they still had the locked coffin, she is on the cusp of breaking through with said coffin and who could forget how she brought an Original hybrid to his knees.
However, his admiration of the witch was put on pause as he scurried through the Lockwood caves with a pair of witches stumbling behind him.
"Slow down!" Abby's voice rang out as she clung to the cave walls, struggling to keep up with the vampire's rapid pace.
"Keep up, we don't have much time," Stefan impatiently called out as he continued to lead the way.
"That's not our fault Stefan. You were the one that undaggered Elijah and cost us the rest of the coffins," the young witch pointed out.
"I get it Bonnie!" Stefan shot back, his frustration evident in his tone.
Stefan paused at the entrance of the cave, he could just make out the end of the coffin and heaved a sigh of relief. Though he would never admit it out loud, a part of him was worried that Klaus had somehow gotten hold of the last coffin.
"That's the one that's sealed?" Abby inquired, casting her gaze towards the coffin.
"Yep. Fortunately, it seems to be the one he cares about most," Stefan remarked, grateful that this one coffin had been their saving grace in preventing Klaus from tearing their limbs off.
"Aren't you coming inside," Abby asked, glancing back at the grumpy vampire who stood behind the cave entrance.
"Vampires can't get in. Damon compelled a couple of Lockwood gardeners to bring the coffin in," he explained in a rush.
"This is a bad idea." Abby couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling in her chest as she stared at the coffin. She knew that the only reason she was here, the only reason she was still alive was because she was useful. But what the hell could she really do? She didn't have her magic. She didn't have her mum anymore. She was completely lost and out of her depth. But Bonnie…. Bonnie had been out of her depth for months apparently and she managed to not only survive but thrive under the pressure. The magic she possessed, the confidence she had in her convictions. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that her daughter would stab a hybrid in the eye. Maybe it was a good thing that she left Bonnie. It made her better.
Stefan's stern voice broke her internal monologue. "Look, if you're really the key to opening up that coffin, I think it's a pretty safe bet that you're on Klaus's hit list. So, I suggest you hide out here and figure out a way to open the damn thing."
"I told you I don't have any powers," Abby repeated with a tinge of frustration.
"And I don't believe you," Stefan retorted firmly. "It won't be long until Elijah gets tired of waiting and undaggers the rest of his siblings and comes after us. So, dig deep, Abby Bennett. Scrape out whatever magic you have left." With that, Stefan ventured into the dark, damp cave, leaving Abby behind with his final, resolute words echoing in her ears.
As he walked steadily towards the light at the tunnel's end, a familiar figure came into view, pacing restlessly at the cave's entrance. Stefan, upon recognizing the presence of Elena, instinctively slowed his steps., trying to think of a way to avoid speaking to her. He hadn't gone near her since he threatened to drive her off Wickery Bridge. What exactly could you say to the woman you once - still loved after you made her relive the most traumatic event in her life?
He could try and speed away before she could say anything, but she would still see him as he fled. Staying in the cave would be pointless as she would eventually get tired of waiting and come in, leaving him trapped.
Resigned to his fate, Stefan emerged from the cave and found himself under Elena's watchful gaze. She stood before him, blocking his path. A quiet moment passed, their eyes locking in an unspoken exchange of emotion.
"What are you doing here?" Stefan inquired, the tension in his voice revealing his unease.
"Bonnie told me that you would be here. We need to talk Stefan," Elena declared with an unwavering firmness, moving deliberately to prevent his escape.
Stefan sighed, his reluctance to engage in this conversation evident. "There's nothing to talk about," he stated tersely, hoping for a way out of the impending confrontation.
"You almost killed me!" she exclaimed. "I have spent all week trying to figure out how to talk to you. How to look at you again."
"What's done is done Elena," Stefan replied, attempting to brush the conversation aside.
"No! My parents died going over that bridge. I almost died. You knew that. But that's what you wanted right? You wanted to use my parents dying because of me to convince me. To scare me." Elena could do little to stop the angry tears from falling down her face nor could she prevent the quiver in her voice, but she could make him admit what he did. Make him see the damage that he caused.
"Look, he had to believe that I would do it, alright? Your fear sold it," the vampire shouted. He had to. He had to do it. Why couldn't people understand that? This was the only reason to get Klaus to see that he was serious, that he wouldn't be underestimated. Of course, Stefan never could have anticipated that his sister was on his side helping him.
"It didn't do shit because your plan failed. You broke me for nothing," Elena retorted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"He has a weakness, Elena!" He pointed back to the cave where he could hear the Bennetts looking through their grimoires looking for a way to break the seal on the coffin, in turn giving him hope. "I know his weakness. I can destroy him," he said passionately.
Elena's tone was one of incredulity and desperation. "After everything, that's what matters to you? Destroying Klaus."
Stefan's gaze bore into her as he responded with a sense of weariness, "Destroying Klaus is all I have left."
"You had me," she reminded him, her voice filled with sorrow.
"I lost you the minute I left town with him. You just haven't let yourself admit that yet," Stefan said, his words tinged with resignation.
"No, you lost me when you drove me over that bridge. But thank you for clearing everything up for me," she stated forcefully.
Stefan nodded his head before turning to leave but Elena blocked his path once more. "Did you kill the medical examiner?" she demanded, her eyes searching his face for a response.
Stefan hesitated for a moment, uncertainty clouding his expression, before finally replying, "Why would you think I did that?"
"You tried to kill me, " Elena reminded him, her anger palpable. "Clearly, I don't know what you're capable of."
Stefan's tone shifted, his defensive posture revealing little. "Well believe what you want."
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Did you ask Damon...if he killed anybody lately?" Stefan asked cautiously. He wasn't oblivious, he had noticed the stolen glances, the pep in Damon's step. How Elena leaned on him. He didn't know exactly what had happened when he was gone but he knew that something had changed between the two.
"No, you don't get to play the victim after what you did to me." Elena said angrily, stepping towards him with an accusing finger, "You know what? It was a mistake to come here. You and Klaus deserve each other, you're both willing to hurt the people you love to get what you want." The accusation hung heavily in the air as Elena vented her frustration.
Elena stormed off leaving a crestfallen Stefan standing on the clearing as he stared down at the floor. Deep down he knew that driving down to that bridge was a mistake, but it was a calculated risk with a high reward. It could-would have worked as well. If Aurora wasn't there.
If he...if he hadn't had taken her.
But she should have never been an option in the first place. He shouldn't be on his side. She should be with them. With her family. You never know how much freewill really matters until it's stripped away from you, his experience only lasted a couple months. Who knows how long Aurora lived with that feeling of hopelessness?
It was times like this, when he was truly alone with his thoughts that Stefan had the most terrifying thought creep into this mind. What if she wasn't being compelled and had chosen Klaus? What if everything he once thought was wrong. What if he was the bad guy?
Back at the boarding house he had a long blistering shower that failed to dampen his agitation, his skin felt too tight, the rooms were too small, and everything was just too bright and burned him. It reminded him of when he first turned back at the quarry. How every sense and emotion overwhelmed him until the release that blood offered cooled his mind. What he wouldn't do for just a drop right now.
Before Stefan could delve further into his inner turmoil, Damon entered the room with two different-coloured shirts, a dark blue one and a black one.
"Get dressed. We're going out," Damon announced, placing the shirts on Stefan's bed.
"Yeah, sorry, not interested," Stefan replied, dismissive of the clothing his brother had offered.
"I didn't ask. Elijah and I have scheduled a very old-fashioned sit down/family get together. I say go with the black. Makes you look all villainy."
Stefan couldn't help but question his brother's motives. "And why are we doing this?"
"We are buying a little time to give our wicked witches a chance to pop the top off the coffin before Aurora's vampires or Klaus' hybrids sniff us out."
"So that's your, uh, plan? Stalling?" Stefan inquired sceptically.
"If you didn't go postal and wake up Elijah and lose all the coffins, then maybe we'd have some options," the dark-haired vampire supplied.
"And you think you can trust Elijah?" The last time they listened to that Original Stefan ended up sacrificing himself to Klaus in order to save his brother who took that time to shack up with his girlfriend. Was that his goal? Did he want him out of the way again so he would have Elena all to himself?
"Are you kidding me? After what Klaus did to him? He's in vengeance mode. It's perfect." Of course, Damon was cautious this time round, he knew to take their temporary alliance with a grain of salt. Elijah is a man of honour unless it comes to his siblings.
"There's nothing smart about trusting Elijah, Damon. He hasn't undaggered his siblings yet. For all we know he could be on team Klaus."
"Yeah, well, the way you've been acting, I trust him about as much as I trust you," Damon quipped, still wary about his brother's mindset.
"And you've always been the trustworthy one right Damon?" Stefan gave his brother a crooked smirk, hoping to catch him out.
Damon shrugged off Stefan's remarks, despite the guilt he felt clawing in his chest. He moved closer to his brother, gripping Stefan's shoulder firmly as he locked eyes with him. "I don't know what's going on with you Stefan, but you have to get it together. I am not losing Aurora again because you can't control yourself."
With those words, Damon turned and headed for the door. Before leaving the room, he called back to Stefan, "Get dressed and meet me downstairs at 20."
After a 20 minute delay thanks to Stefan stubbornly getting dressed as slowly as possible, the Salvatore's arrived at the Mikaelson Mansion, ready to enter the belly of the beast. Elijah, the first to greet them, opening the front door before they could even knock. He welcomed them into the house and directed them to the dining room.
With a devilish grin, Damon quipped, "Where's Klaus?" His eyes darted around the lavish yet strangely empty room, uncertainty coursing through his veins. He would hate to be double crossed by the well-dressed Original a second time. It would give Stefan too much satisfaction.
"He'll be here shortly, along with your sister. Please," the elder Original assured them, gesturing to the fully set dining table.
"So, what exactly is the plan here Damon? We pretend to play nice with the psycho that's kidnapped our sister and hope he gives her back?" Stefan asked, with an inquisitive eyebrow, taking his seat next to his brother.
"Just concentrate on being sane, boring Stefan for now and leave the rest to me. We need to keep a level head if we want to get her back."
Before Stefan could poke any more holes into Damon's ill-conceived plans, they heard the front door open and two sets of footsteps heading towards the dining room. Both brothers tensed when they saw their sister, her long pink coat resting on her right forearm and her right-hand grasping Klaus's as they entered the room.
The pair came to an abrupt stop as they looked with questioning eyes at the Salvatores. "I don't recall inviting you over for lunch," Klaus remarked, his voice carrying a hint of mockery as he surveyed the unexpected visitors in his home. Olive stared silently at the two, happy to let Klaus take control.
"I did, brother." Elijah clarified, stepping up to the pair, the soft glow of optimism attempting to breach the room's emotional fortress. "I thought since we are family now that we should get to know one another. Bury the hatchet as it were."
"I'll bury the hatchet when they bring my coffin back," the hybrid expressed.
"And they shall do so after we come to an arrangement of sorts." Elijah urged, his diplomatic efforts laying a precarious bridge over turbulent waters.
"Well," Olive cleared her throat, her vocal cords seemingly conspiring against her in this tense moment, "You guys can do that. I'm going to go upstairs and put needles in my eyes. You four enjoy yourselves." Olive nodded towards Klaus, ready to make her hasty exit, but her plans were swiftly intercepted by Elijah.
"I'm afraid your presence is required," he gently interjected, adding a layer of delicate diplomacy to the exchange, "Your brothers insisted upon it. Without you here I'm afraid the last coffin will remain in their possession, leaving my siblings daggered."
Elijah wasn't too sure about this Olive woman. In all his years searching for Klaus he had never heard of him taking on a companion. This unexpected woman had her own dynamic with Klaus, and her unconventional role in his life was a new and perplexing development. He had heard whispers of Olive having the help of an Original, with some suggesting that she was sleeping with him - apparently no woman could resist Niklaus(!) - but the idea that Klaus trusted someone enough to actually let them in. To invite them into their family? It was unprecedented. He had hoped for this day for years, longing for a woman that would ease his paranoia. But Olive was not who he envisioned. He thought his brother could do better than a woman who throws temper tantrums at her younger brothers and punishes them for it.
"I wouldn't worry about the coffin," Olive said confidently, Olive said confidently, her words striking a resounding chord. Her gaze subtly drifted back to the dining room where the Salvatores feigned indifference to the ongoing conversation. "They're pretty dumb I doubt it would take me very long to find them."
"Please Olive, it's only one dinner. One dinner and this matter is finally laid to rest amicably. Don't you agree, Niklaus?" Elijah beseeched.
Klaus, the pragmatic yet enigmatic master of ceremonies, responded with a devilish smile. "Personally, I prefer bloodshed and torture, but I suppose in the name of peace I would be willing to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement. But it's up to Olive."
With a lingering gaze at the Salvatores and a weighty decision to make, Olive contemplated her options. She could ignore them and look for the coffin herself and stop them from opening it, but this would take more time and it was more than likely that they have the Bennetts with the coffin, protecting it. Going against them wouldn't be that difficult considering one is without powers and the other has only been practising for a year. However, she shouldn't underestimate them, they could hold their own and any direct attack on the witches would lead to casualties which she wanted to avoid at all costs. Another option would be to bleed them out and Klaus can simply compel the answers out of them but again this would take some time, be too messy and would only give them more incentive to attack in the future.
It seemed a sit down would be the least violent way of getting back the coffin. "I have ground rules." Olive stated with unwavering determination, her words resonating with gravity. "I'm not sitting next to either of them, they are not allowed to say anything about my relationship with Klaus or I leave and a guarantee that we get the coffin unopened."
Elijah, seeking to maintain an air of neutrality, accepted her terms. "I'm sure those terms will be no trouble for your brothers." he responded, casting a brief, pointed glance in the direction of the Salvatores, who wore expressions of reluctant compliance.
"I have one last condition." Olive asserted, her voice growing more forceful. "Stop calling them my brothers." Elijah nodded silently, acknowledging her point, before glancing back towards the disappointed Salvatores.
Klaus, ever the showman, couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "Excellent. So, what are we having for lunch?" he inquired, his hands clapping together with excitement, fully aware that this gathering held the potential for heightened tension and perhaps a burst of violence. The stage was set for a theatrical performance of diplomacy, revenge, and long-buried secrets.
The five vampires occupied their seats around the lavish dining table, their heavy silence filled the room. The room seemed to pulse with tension, broken only by the occasional scrape of cutlery against porcelain plates. Olive was positioned between Klaus and Elijah, her gaze initially fixed on the well-prepared feast before her. However, she couldn't escape the persistent glances directed at her by the Salvatores, each scrutinising her with curiosity and a hint of unease. These furtive gazes made Olive shift uncomfortably in her seat, trapped between her former and current families.
Though it wasn't obvious at first, Elijah was able to discern the faint echoes of family resemblance between Olive and the Salvatores. They shared similar greenish-brown eyes, a fair complexion, and dramatic eyebrows. The main difference between them however was their age. He was previously informed that Stefan was 17 when he became a vampire and Damon looked as if he was around 25 when he turned. But Olive looked a bit older than them. She could surely pass for a woman in her early twenties but her mannerisms and demeanour resonated with the wisdom of someone older, perhaps closer to Klaus's age at the time of his vampiric rebirth.
Elijah attempted to dispel the palpable tension in the room, directing his attention towards the fractured family. "Isn't this nice? The five of us dining together?" he ventured, aiming to open a door to communication and some much needed information.
"Nope," Olive responded bluntly, her gaze remaining fixed on her plate, her fork tracing aimless patterns through the mashed potatoes.
"Come now," Elijah persisted with a gentle smile, "I think over time we could even make this a weekly event."
Olive's retort remained as biting as ever. "Are you high?" the vampire questioned, her words laced with sarcasm and a dose of defiance. Her sharp tongue made her position clear - she was not about to play nice for the sake of a farce.
Klaus interjected with a hearty laugh, evidently amused by the banter between Olive and Elijah. "I'm just saying," Elijah continued, trying to maintain an air of diplomacy, "this wouldn't be possible had Stefan not removed that pesky dagger from my chest."
"That's true. Tell me, was this what you had in mind? A forced family meal?" Klaus inquired, directing his inquiry toward Damon, a grin dancing at the corners of his lips.
"I just thought since you brought my sister back then why shouldn't I return the favour?" he supplied, carving into a juicy piece of steak with gusto.
"Speaking of sisters," Stefan prodded, a mischievous glint in his eye, "Where's Rebekah? Last I checked she was still daggered. You were afraid to face her."
Klaus maintained a nonchalant demeanour. "If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah," he stated, turning the attention back to the eldest brother.
"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgement until after we finish eating," Damon reminded.
"Yea, Stef. You killed Father; Damon killed everyone else. Who are you to judge right?" Olive interjected with a tinge of bitterness, her words revealing her troubled history with her brothers bitterly.
"What about you Au-Olive?" Stefan grimaced as he stumbled over her name, "Have you ever killed any of the Salvatores? Might be a family trait."
Olive's simple response lingered in the room like a ghostly whisper, "Not yet."
The sun dipped beneath the horizon in Mystic Falls, casting eerie shadows and a sense of foreboding over the town. The gradually dwindling sounds of traffic were replaced by the nocturnal chorus of crickets The dreary atmosphere seemed fitting after the day the pair had as they walked towards the Gilbert residence. Both knew the pain that came from losing a father and while their experiences were different it didn't make it hurt any less. Knowing that their friend, their innocent, kind heart friend was going to have to go through the same thing made their hearts ache, but it made them think about all that they had lost in such a short time period.
Vicki. Jenna. John. Mum. Dad.
Normality.
It was amazing that they hadn't completely broken down yet.
As they climbed up the house steps, they could immediately tell that something wasn't right. The front door was left ajar. Alaric was always so careful to lock all the doors. He never forgot.
The two teens cautiously entered the house and found that all the lights had mysteriously failed. They could still see without the lights but not as clearly. Elena signed to Matt to follow her into the kitchen where she knew the flashlights were kept. But before she could even reach the kitchen, she could smell the metallic range in the air.
Blood.
Lots of blood.
It seemed like there wasn't a day when this kitchen wasn't covered in blood anymore.
"Oh my god!" Elena gasped, her voice trembling.
"What the hell?" Matt questioned, his eyes locked on the large pool of blood staining the kitchen floor.
Intuitively the pair quickly retrieved a kitchen knife from the drawer, holding the handle tightly in their sweaty palms. They took slow, deliberate steps towards the hallway, avoiding the large pool of blood. Spotting a gruesome trail of crimson droplets, it guided them towards the bannister, a menacing red smear covering the dents and scratches.
Bloody handprints travelled up the stairs, decorating the once clean white the top of the staircase, Elena's eyes widened in horror as she spotted Alaric crumpled against the wall, a knife jutting from his stomach.
"Ric! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Elena cried out, her voice quaking with panic.
Rushing to her wounded guardian's side, Elena was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness. Calling for an ambulance would take it long. They didn't have any vampire blood laying around - though they really should at this point - and they had no way of knowing if the person that attacked Alaric was supernatural or not. If he would come back.
But deep down she knew what to do. She had done it before.
"He's dying Matt! What other choice do we have?" Elena stated, her voice trembling with desperation.
Alaric's life hung in the balance, and Elena began to remove the knife from his gut, tears welling up in her eyes as she prepared to plunge it through his heart.
"You could always use my blood," a voice suddenly echoed from downstairs.
Startled, Elena froze, her wide eyes locked on the top of the staircase. A woman stood below, her legs encased in high-heeled shoes, her enigmatic presence immediately suspicious. Elena's fingers gripped the knife handle, her heart pounding as she assessed the stranger.
Elena instructed Matt to stay with Alaric and to apply pressure on the wound. Matt does so quickly, focusing on helping his favourite teacher rather than the warm blood embracing his fingers
Descending the staircase cautiously, Elena could see the stranger was impeccably dressed in a black and white maxi dress. The woman smiled cryptically, neither entering the house nor offering her name. Instead, she extended a vial of blood, casually placing it on the floor and rolling it toward Elena.
"It's right here, free of charge," she offered.
The young girl quickly grabs the vial and inspects it. her gaze locked on the enigmatic stranger and noticed that she had a strange accent that she couldn't place. She didn't look like she came from around here either. Her bronze skin left her wondering if she was from South America.
"Who sent you?"
"Olive. She wanted to make sure nothing happened to the teacher," the woman replied casually.
"Why?"
The stranger shrugged nonchalantly. "She doesn't want him to die yet. Have a nice night. And maybe lock your doors."
With that, the woman vanished into the night. Elena was sure she was gone, and she rushed back upstairs, feeding Alaric the blood that could save his life. She instructed Matt to call an ambulance, just in case.
"Stefan. Where is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah inquired, admiration glistening in his eyes. He had seen first-hand how much she cared for her loved ones and was truly impressed by her strength of character.
"I don't know. Ask Damon," Stefan responded with a wry smile, igniting a flicker of amusement in Olive, who snickered into her napkin as Klaus unsuccessfully tried to suppress his laugh with his hand. The tension simmered beneath the surface, growing steadily.
Klaus leaned forward, his eyes dancing with mirth, and added a touch of sly humour to the conversation. "I'm sorry, you've missed so much. Ah, trouble in paradise," the hybrid teased, fanning the flames of unease.
"Stefan has a thing for threatening his exes. Very problematic that one," Olive whispered dramatically
Damon chimed in, attempting to steer the conversation away from the delicate topic. "I think it's best to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile."
But Olive, the enigmatic wildcard at the table, had her own intentions, joyously poking the hornet's nest. "Oh, so you don't want to talk about how Damon kissed Elena after he found out you saved his life," Olive sarcastically prodded, her eyes darting between the Salvatore brothers with theatrical wide-eyed innocence.
Caught off guard and unable to control his already growing anger and frustration, Stefan's grip on the glass tightened. The resounding crash of the glass echoed in the room as the shattered glass and its ruby contents spilled onto the vampire's jeans and hardwood floor.
"You kissed Elena?" he repeated lowly. He knew. He knew something had happened between the two. He knew that Damon just had to swoop in when he was trying to make things right. How long has this been going on? All summer? Have they done anything else? Were they both having the time of their lives while he was in hell following the devil like a little bitch?
Damon, nervous and trying to avoid Stefan's accusing gaze, argued for a more private setting to address the issue. "This feels like a discussion that should be had in private, not something you just blurt out," he defended, his discomfort palpable.
Klaus couldn't resist adding a dash of his unique humour to the situation, echoing Olive's sentiments. "It was an honest mistake, I just assumed you would have told him. It would have been the right thing to do, don't you think?" Klaus asked, his question hanging in the air.
"I would assume so," Olive added with a smirk, "I guess that famous Salvatore bond is crumbling," Olive smirked.
Taking a deep breath Stefan shoved down all the anger and betrayal he was feeling away. He had to keep a level head or else he could lose everything. He could deal with Damon later. He could sort through his feelings later. He just had to get through this and give Bonnie enough time so that they could finally kill Klaus for good. "One more word about Elena and this dinner is over," he calmly stated looking over at his sister, to which she made a key lock gesture causing Klaus to snicker.
Elijah wisely sought to change the subject, guiding the conversation away from the treacherous waters it had ventured into. "I see, well perhaps we should discuss less intrusive matters," he suggested, his eyes shifting between the Salvatores, hoping to restore a semblance of peace to the dinner table.
"Aurora-" Damon started.
"-Olive," she interrupted with a sharp glare, correcting his intentional misstep.
"How did you and Nik get together then? From the stories I've heard, you're the complete opposite of him. Or is that just bullshit like you being dead for 200 years," Damon snarked, unable to help himself.
He came into this believing without a doubt that Aurora was being compelled. That the Original hybrid prick was taking advantage of their sister and it was their duty to save her from him. But he was starting to lose his convictions. The more he watched the pair the more he began to fear the worst. The way they made each other laugh, the casual arm behind her chair that would occasionally rub her shoulders. The smiles. The happy in love smiles.
It made him sick.
With a matter-of-fact tone, Olive delivered a response that left no room for interpretation. "I like his butt. I'm willing to overlook mass murder for a cute butt. And big dick," she said, causing Klaus to sport a mischievous grin.
Damon grimaced and dramatically shuddered, his discomfort apparent. "Uh, why?" Damon asked.
Olive, refusing to back down, replied, "You asked. I answered," with a nonchalant shrug.
He taunted, "You know that being rude to make people uncomfortable isn't going to work. I practically invented that."
"That's not what I was doing," she stated. "If I was doing that, I would tell you that Nik and I had sex in that chair this morning."
Damon's reaction was immediate and exaggerated, catapulting out of his chair, sending it crashing to the floor with a thunderous clamour.
"Or I'm lying, and that chair is perfectly fine." Olive finished, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Stefan, switch with me," Damon demanded, his voice tinged with exasperation.
Stefan, however, was steadfast. "That's not happening."
With a sly grin, Klaus chimed in, "Gentlemen, please, there's nothing amiss with the furniture."
Damon cautiously picked up his chair from the floor, looking at it suspiciously, before carefully sitting down.
"Were you alone?" Stefan's curiosity suddenly pierced the air, drawing all attention. He lifted his gaze from his plate, his eyes locked onto Olive. "When you turned, were you alone?"
"Yes," she replied simply.
"Was it an accident?" Stefan continued his probing, clearly wrestling with a whirlwind of emotions.
"I was injured," Olive began, her tone measured and somewhat evasive. "a vampire decided to be merciful and healed me, made me forget. Then I died and came back," she explained vaguely.
"I'm sure it was quite a shock not knowing what was happening to you," Elijah sympathised, remembering his own sudden and horrific transformation.
"It was not too much of a shock. I still had my father's journals," she admitted. "and they explained a lot."
Stefan, however, couldn't let go of his pent-up frustrations. "Did you know we were alive?" he questioned further.
Olive hesitated, her thoughts drifting into the past "Not until the 40s."
"Why didn't you find us? We could have helped you," Stefan pressed, his anger slowly coming back.
"Help me with what?" Olive responded, her tone growing more defensive. "I was dealing with being a vampire perfectly fine and I really didn't need others knowing that I was related to the Ripper of Monterey," she explained, if people knew no one would have trusted her. She could hardly blame them either.
"But you're fine with people knowing that you're whoring yourself out to this asshole?" Stefan burst out, unable to control himself any longer. Damon yelled his name in frustration, disappointed with his brother's new found lack of self control.
Before anyone could react to the escalating tension, Klaus took matters into his own hands, his hand snatching the gleaming steak knife from the table. With a sudden and alarming force, he sent the blade hurtling through the air like a deadly missile, burying itself deep within Stefan's heart. Only the tip of the handle remained visible, while the rest was buried within Stefan's chest, a deadly reminder of Klaus's swift and ruthless nature. Had they chosen wooden cutlery, Stefan might not have survived. A guttural groan of agony spilled from Stefan's lips, his face contorted in pain as he grappled with the searing torment, his bones and heart aching. Blood oozed from the wound, saturating his clothes, rendering him momentarily incapacitated.
Klaus, in that heartbeat, radiated an almost palpable fury, his very demeanour teetering on the precipice of violence. His fingers twitched with restrained rage, his eyes flashing with an unsettling intensity that sent shivers down the spines of all present. In the midst of the tension, it was Olive who turned her gaze toward Klaus. Her eyes, filled with a flicker of regret, locked onto him, her unspoken apology echoing loudly in the silence.
"Bite your tongue," Klaus growlled, his voice laced with a dark and deadly promise.
Olive gave Stefan a bittersweet smile, the room silent as the poignant moment unfolded. She calmly folded her napkin and placed it neatly on the table next to her untouched dish. With grace, she turned in her seat and cupped Klaus's face in her hands, forcing his eyes back to her. Gently caressing his cheek with her thumb, she bestowed upon him a loving smile. No words were exchanged, yet the intimacy of the moment was palpable, and the others averted their gazes. Klaus allowed himself to briefly close his eyes, relaxing under her touch, and only opened them again when he felt the lightest brush of her lips on his cheek.
As Olive left the room with her head held high, Damon called out to her, his voice filled with longing. "Aurora, please come back." Dejected, he sank back into his seat and cast a disapproving glance at his brother. "Great job, Stefan."
Klaus leaned forward, his hands resting firmly on the table as he fixed a steely gaze on the Salvatores. "Let me be perfectly clear," he stated, his calm demeanour barely concealing a seething rage, "You do not talk to Olive that way, ever. If either of you ever disrespect her again, I will tear out every organ from your body except your heart, fill your body with rats and have your precious doppelgänger watch as they eat you from the inside," his words held a chilling finality.
"Understood?" Klaus demanded, ensuring there was no room for ambiguity.
Barely able to suppress a shiver, Damon managed to croak out, "Crystal," It was a stark reminder of the true depth of Klaus's menacing nature, and for the first time in a long while, the Salvatore brothers remembered just how perilous their adversary could be.
Deep within the dimly lit cave, the Bennett witches toiled relentlessly, their desperation mounting with each passing moment. Both witches knew that time was not on their side, it was slipping through their fingers like grains of sand in an hourglass but no matter how hard they tried, it still wasn't enough. They had pushed themselves and their magic to new depths trying to open this coffin.
Or at least one of them was.
"You're not trying." Bonnie cried out in frustration, her voice tinged with exasperation as she tore her hands away from Abby's. "We've been at this for over an hour!"
Abby's voice quivered as she tried to reason, "The spirits are angry with me. For leaving you. Maybe they didn't want me to have my powers again." She didn't deserve to have her powers back after what she did.
Bonnie's patience was wearing thin, and her emotions were laid bare. "I had all those dreams for a reason. The spirits wanted me to find you because you're my mum. It's not them, it's you. You won't open yourself up to it." The young witch paused, looking thoughtfully at Abby.
Years of pain, of unanswered questions, of sleepless nights by the window swirled in her mind. All the times she wished to have a mother, and all she could talk about was how leaving affected her. How traumatic it was for her magic to be stripped from her fingers after abandoning her.
"You know dad never talked about you? And neither did Grams. I had no memories of you. So, you know what I use to pretend? That you were dead. It was easier to do that than wondering why you never came back for me," Bonnie stated with an eerie calmness, despite the painful memories that arose. She was stronger than her mother would ever be. She would not let her stop her from protecting her friends.
Bonnie took a deep, steadying breath and locked her gaze onto her mother's. "So, I don't care about any guilt you feel or your excuses. The spirits are not mad at you so stop using them as an excuse and just do something for me for once. You cost me my childhood; you will not cost me my friends. You owe me this much," Bonnie demanded, her voice unwavering, her eyes filled with determination.
Overwhelmed by the guilt that had weighed on her for so long, Abby couldn't prevent the tears from streaming down her cheeks. Her voice was barely more than a croak as she whispered, "I'm so sorry for everything that I did. I wish that I could make things up to you."
"Prove it. Try." Bonnie urged, not allowing herself to be swept up by a potential emotional reconnection with her estranged mother.
Abby's gaze locked onto her daughter, and she managed a fragile smile through her tears. "You've grown into such a strong woman."
"I had no choice," she proclaimed, a stark reminder of the sacrifices she had been forced to make.
With newfound determination, Abby reached out and placed her hands on the ancient coffin. They both closed their eyes, their voices rising in a powerful chant that echoed through the cave. The energy surged between them, and for a brief moment, mother and daughter were united by a common purpose.
Suddenly, the candles lining the cave's walls flared up, their flames dancing wildly, and the very walls themselves seemed to tremble as a deep rumbling overtook the cave. The ancient chamber was alive with magic
After what seemed like an eternity, the candles abruptly returned to their normal, subdued state, and the cave fell eerily silent once more. Bonnie opened her eyes and reached for the coffin once more, her heart filled with hope and anticipation. Pulling on the handle, it rattled but remained intact.
"It almost worked. I have to text Damon, tell him that we're getting closer. I'll be right back." Bonnie said as she made her way out of the cave, the anticipation of their impending victory coursing through her veins.
"Ok," Abby nodded. Left alone with her thoughts and her guilt, could barely contain the rush of emotions surging within her. It had been years since she had felt a rush of magic so intense, and it was a bittersweet reminder of her true identity.
The young witch retrieved her phone from her bag and stepped out of the cave in search of better cell reception. She managed to send a quick message to Damon, notifying him of their progress.
However, just as she was about to make her way back into the cave, a sudden, ominous thud reverberated from within. The sound echoed through the cavern, sending shivers down Bonnie's spine.
Intrigued and somewhat alarmed, Bonnie re-entered the cave, her steps tentative. But before she could reach her destination, all the candles lining the cave's walls flared to life with an intensity that bordered on the supernatural, bathing the chamber in an otherworldly light. The ancient coffin, wrought with the secrets of ages past, suddenly burst open with a deafening crash, its lid slamming against the rocky floor.
But as Bonnie attempted to make a hasty exit, she found her strength waning. The brilliant light and raw magic had taken its toll, and she crumbled to the ground just outside the cave, her vision dimming as darkness closed in around her.
After Olive's departure and Stefan's near-death experience, the atmosphere in the room had grown increasingly tense. Klaus, a master of concealing his seething fury beneath a mask of composure, knew that unbridled rage often led others to misunderstand his intentions; viewing him as a brute rather than a calculating. Centuries of practice in the art of self-control had taught him that much. Meanwhile, Olive's voice could be heard outside, engaging in a seemingly calm conversation with the hybrids.
In an attempt to salvage what was left of the evening, Elijah diplomatically suggested, "Perhaps it would be best to move this along and discuss the terms of the proposal."
Damon discreetly checked the text he had received from Bonnie and replied, "It's very simple, Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and all the Originals leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, Elena, and Aurora live happily ever after. No grudges."
"Olive is not part of any deal," Klaus stated firmly, "As for the doppelgänger, her blood ensures I will always have more hybrids. I won't leave her behind, certainly not with incompetent fools like yourselves."
Stefan, breaking his silence since Olive's departure, interjected defiantly, "You're not taking Elena,"
"There are alternatives of course. The first being that Elena promises to donate blood once a week for the rest of her short life. Or the doppelgänger donates a few of her eggs which are placed in a surrogate so that the Petrova line can continue under our protection," Klaus stated factually.
"Are you insane? That's crazy," Damon protests, frowning at the absurd suggestion.
Klaus, leaning forward with his chin resting on his hands, maintained his unwavering composure. "It's your best option. Let's be realistic for a moment gentlemen. If I were to leave her here under your protection, how long until one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, dies caught between your idiotic feuding. You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is...the two of you."
"I'm gonna get some air," Unnerved by Klaus's words, Damon cleared his throat and made his exit from the room, offering Stefan a weak smile as he left. It was clear that Klaus's calculated words had struck a nerve with him.
With Damon's departure, Elijah turned to his brother and suggested, "Let me deal with this." He rose from the table and followed Damon out of the room, where they remained hidden from his brother's eyes.
Back at the table, Klaus remained with a self-assured smirk, watching the paranoid Stefan with an almost predatory interest. "And then there were two," he mused, relishing in the discomfort his presence caused.
Time was of the essence, and Damon and Elijah couldn't afford to be away from the dinner table for too long, or Klaus would undoubtedly grow suspicious. With a sense of urgency, Elijah led Damon up the grand stairs to the door at the very end of the hall, where the coffins were hidden. The door was guarded by Olive's loyal vampires, who had been given strict orders to never leave their posts. In a flash of deadly efficiency, Elijah swiftly tore their still beating hearts from their chests . Damon quickly caught their lifeless bodies and gently deposited them onto the floor, preventing any sudden noises that might have revealed their intentions
Bonnie had managed to remove the barrier spell, allowing Elijah to enter the room freely. The chamber held all three coffins, and the relief that washed over him was palpable.
He was getting his siblings back
All of them.
Damon moved toward the closet coffin, where Rebekah lay in her slumber, still clad in her unused prom dress. With gentle hands, he removed the dagger that had kept her dormant and placed the weapon on the side table.
Elijah gazed upon his brother for the first time in years before removing the dagger that had kept him in a deep slumber. With joyful anticipation, he headed toward the final coffin. However, his elation quickly turned to shock and disbelief when he saw what lay inside.
"No, no," Elijah whispered, his voice trembling.
"What?" Damon asked as he comes around to the final coffin
"Did you do this? Did you switch them out?" Elijah accused, his eyes locked on the figure in the coffin
Damon, taken aback, vehemently denied it, "What? No. Are you saying this isn't your brother?"
Elijah looked towards the door, his suspicions growing, and muttered, "Niklaus,"under his breath before he sped off in a hurry, leaving Damon alone with the two remaining sleeping Originals.
Taking advantage of the moment, Damon took one of the daggers from the coffin, silently preparing for whatever might come next, and then followed Elijah, at a more leisurely pace.
"So, how long have you been compelling my sister, Klaus?" Stefan's voice was laden with a dangerous undercurrent.
Klaus, lounging at the dinner table, couldn't be bothered to hide his exasperation. He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Still on that are we? Does it ever bother you, being wrong all the time?"
Stefan leaned forward in his seat, his grip on the table's edge tightening like a vise. "I know you. I know how you think. There is no way that my sister would ever be with someone like you," he growled.
With infuriating nonchalance, the hybrid slouched deeper into his chair, maintaining that maddening air of casual indifference. "She hasn't been your sister for a long time, mate."
"I don't care what I have to do, but I'm getting her back."
"Back to what exactly?" Klaus questioned, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "The human version that you remember. If that's what you're looking for then you'll be disappointed Ripper, that girl is long gone. Thanks to you," he added, nodding in Stefan's direction.
"You won't get away with this Klaus. When we get the compulsion off, I'll have a front row seat to her fans ripping you to shreds when they find out you've been using her."
"I'm curious." Klaus mused, a glint in his eyes. "Are you more upset that your sister has sided with me or that your girlfriend fell for your brother when you left to save him," Stefan's clenched jaw was a clear tell that the hybrid had hit a nerve. "That has to hurt. Giving up your life to save him only to find he has slowly been replacing you. The long-lost sister coming back from the dead, and wanting nothing to do with you," he remarked gleefully.
"Is that your move Klaus? Trying to turn me against my family?" Stefan sneered.
Klaus chuckled darkly. "Oh, you're doing a splendid job of that on your own. Won't be long and you'll only have yourself to blame. And I get to have a front row seat."
Before Stefan could respond, Klaus was sent flying from his seat as Elijah tackled him to the floor, causing the young vampire to leap from his seat in surprise.
Before Stefan could counter, the room erupted as Klaus was catapulted from his chair, crashing to the floor beneath Elijah's ferocious tackle. Stefan, taken aback, sprang from his seat.
"Where is he?" Elijah roared, his fist connecting with his younger brother's face like a battering ram.
"What the bloody hell are you on about?" Klaus screamed, pinned under Elijah's might as he was shoved off and into the wall next to the door, where a confused Damon entered the room.
"He's not with the others," Elijah ranted, attacking his brother again, "Where did you put him?" In his fury he managed to put Klaus in a suffocating chokehold from behind.
"Elijah," Klaus choked out, bewildered by his brother's sudden aggression. He was about to retaliate by biting Elijah when a man appeared in the doorway, holding various shopping bags.
"Hello, brother!" The man greeted them, casting a sly smile as he entered the room.