Stefan cast a disdainful gaze around the opulent room, his thoughts laden with resentment for the ignorant masses that flocked to the manion, hoping to get a glimpse of the mysterious new family in town, who would no doubt pay with their lives for welcoming them so quickly.
Leaving Elena in Damon's company, Stefan embarked on his exploratory journey around the mansion. It marked his fourth visit to this grand edifice, but this time, he took a moment to truly absorb his surroundings. It wasn't anything that special. Paint on the walls, lights and plants trickling down from the ceiling, marble floors and other expensive shit.
His gaze fixed on the regal figure of Elijah, positioned on the grand staircase's steps, a commanding presence before the expectant assembly. Members of his family began to gather behind him, including his traitor of a sister. The younger Salvatore spotted what he could only assume was the Original witch descending the steps to join the rest of her homicidal children.
"Uh, if everyone could gather, please," Elijah announced, commanding the room's attention. "Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it is tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance."
"Do you see who I see?" Damon asked, sliding up next to him, examining what he assumed to be the Original witch.
"Oh, yeah," Stefan replied, his eyes fixed on their disloyal sister.
Stefan couldn't help but follow Damon's line of sight as his brother made his way through the crowd to join Elena. A wave of discomfort and envy surged within him as he watched them together, the lines of their relationship becoming ever more entangled.
"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom."
A low growl emerged involuntarily from deep within Stefan as he watched his sister descend the staircase, arm in arm with that hybrid bastard. Not only were they openly flaunting their unnatural relationship, but they even had the audacity to colour coordinate their outfits for tonight. Like a 'real couple'.
Despite his declarations of indifference toward the impostor in front of him, Stefan couldn't help but admire the vision that was his sister. Her floor length multi techno-coloured pastel dress looked astonishing on her. With her pinned back in a low braided bun she truly reminded him of their late mother. She would have been-
Stefan shook his head, forcefully redirecting his gaze toward Elena and his brother, who had escorted her to the dance floor, leaving him behind without a second thought.
…
As Olive descended the grand staircase, her hand securely clasped in Klaus's, she couldn't help but notice Finn moving in the opposite direction, away from the dance floor. She leaned in closer to Nik's ear, whispering that she'd be back momentarily, before hurriedly making her way through the crowd in her heels, attempting to catch up with the eldest Mikaelson.
"Finn!" she called out.
Finn halted his steps and turned around, regarding the persistent woman before him with an air of displeasure. "What do you want?" he inquired, his voice laced with irritation.
"I was hoping that you could do me a favour." Olive said, her hands clasped together in a display of earnestness.
"What is it?" he grumpily questioned, his curiosity piqued despite himself. He didn't expect the favour to be partially pleasant if their morning interaction was anything to go by.
"A dance," she replied, her voice softening with a hint of charm.
"With you?" Finn raised his eyebrows, surprised by her request. He hoped this would not be another Tatia with him in the centre of the nonsense. He barely tolerated the last one, he certainly would not be part of such a farce.
"No, no, Nik would lose his head if that happened." Olive laughed gently at the thought, her eyes glinting with mischief. She recalled a time when a man had tried to ask her out, and Klaus, who was in a foul mood, had compelled the man to count to a million in a grimy bathroom stall.. After an hour of her staring him down, she had managed to convince Nik to release the poor man "My friend, she's here alone and I was hoping you would be a gentleman and dance with her."
"I do not really-" Finn began, perfectly content to just stand on the side much like this Lurch Kol keeps comparing him to.
"Please," Olive interrupted, her voice sincere. "I think you will like her and if you do not, then I will leave you alone." She gave him a warm, beseeching smile, hoping to sway his decision
Finn, despite his reluctance, offered her a tight smile and nodded. "Very well."
"Thank you. She's just over there." Olive gestured to her left, where a cluster of people was searching for dance partners. Finn scanned the crowd, attempting to locate the woman Olive was referring to. Realising he was having difficulty, she offered another clue, saying, "She's the one in the red dress." Finn focused once more, his gaze eventually landing on a woman in a vibrant red dress, only to have his heart stop.
"Be nice to her." Olive instructed, suppressing a gleeful smile at his look of long lost wonder. "She's been a bit down cause she's been waiting for the love of her life to wake up for 900 years."
"She has?" the Original questioned, not taking his eyes off her.
Olive gently urged him, saying, "Go on." She gave him a light shove. "She's missed you."
Tears welled in Finn's eyes as he hurriedly made his way toward the woman in the red dress, offering no apologies to the guests he inadvertently bumped into. He scooped her into his arms, and Sage tucked her face in his neck, clutching him tightly as if he might disappear at any moment. The pair shared matching smiles as they gazed upon each other for the first time in centuries, looking for impossible changes. Finn swoops down and kisses her, forgetting about everyone else and his duties. Finn tenderly bent down and kissed her, his love for her eclipsing everything else in that moment. Oblivious to the world around them, the couple shared their first kiss in centuries. Olive looks at the happy couple smiling.
Olive observed the joyous reunion, her smile reflecting their happiness. She twirled around and headed back to the ballroom with a slight bounce in her step, her eyes meeting Nik's gleeful gaze from across the room.
…
The dance floor pulsed with synchrony as the residents of Mystic Falls waltzed gracefully. Most of Mystic Falls having had dance lessons since they were children, with proper social etiquette drilled into their heads before they learned what nouns were. They clearly had their priorities straight.
Klaus held Olive close, navigating the floor with her in his arms, admiring her smile as they glided amongst the masses. After all this time he still was not sure how he got so lucky. How she had managed to stay with him after all this time and still be as enchanting as the day he met her. He never knew that he could be so fortunate to find someone like her. Someone that truly enjoyed his company. Someone that cared about his family as much as he did.
The Hybrid spotted Finn in the corner of his eye, standing in the crowd of people entranced by Sage updating him about the wonders of the new world. All the things that she couldn't wait to show him. "That was a nice thing you did for my brother," Klaus commented, averting his gaze from the eldest Mikaelson, returning to the wonder in his arms.
"You say that like you had nothing to do with it," she remarked, her eyes narrowing playfully. He was never good at showing people his soft side.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Big bad hybrid helped his brother get the girl," she teased, poking him with the hand on his back playfully. Klaus smiled, remaining silent as they continued to dance around the tense couples.
Behind the happy couple was a reluctant Stefan and an uncomfortable Caroline. He would not have been her first choice for a dance partner, especially after the insanity that he had caused, but Caroline was Miss Mystic Falls. If she didn't dance, then people would obviously talk. She was doing this for them. Besides, who could resist a waltz.
As they twirled, Stefan tried to catch Caroline's eyes, but she was absorbed in scanning the other dancing couples. "I haven't had a chance to tell you I'm sorry about-"
"Don't finish that sentence," she interrupted, her tone sharp, swinging her head back to face him. "Sane, humanity Stefan is my friend, and I will only accept sympathies from him. You, crazy, daggering and undaggering friend killer can just suck it," Caroline sternly asserted, ready to make a scene if he didn't heed her warning.
"Ok." Stefan nodded. The two continue to dance together, their unease clearly visible to anyone who bothered to look. As they dance Stefan can't help but wonder exactly what Caroline was doing here. As far as he knew she has had little to no personal interaction with any of the Originals. She had no reason to be at the ball. "Were you even invited?"
"Were you?" she retorted, her voice raising in indignation.
The couples rotated, partners switched, some more displeased with the results than others, and the dances continued.
On the other side of the room Olive was swept in the arms of her stubborn, egotistical brother. "Fuck my life with a knife," she groaned not so subtly, cringing at the weight of his arms.
"Don't sound too happy," Damon responded. Olive refused to look at Damon, choosing instead to watch the other couples dancing. She saw the doppelgänger in the arms of her other brother - so predictable - along with Bonnie and Elijah waltzing across the ballroom floor, quite beautifully. "Come on, it's been years since I've gotten to dance with you. The last time was at-"
"The Miss Mystic falls, yea, I remember," she interrupted, looking down at the marble floor. Olive recalled the hours spent practising , fearful that she would embarrass the family with her terrible dancing. She remembered how Damon and Stefan would take turns dancing with her in the garden, back when she thought they cared. When she looked back at what she thought were fond memories, she realised that they only really cared about impressing Katherine with their seemingly kind heart. Two compassionate brothers, helping their sister dance, how could a lady resist?
"What can I do? What can I do to fix this?"
"Do you even know what you have to fix? You still can't see anything because when you think about the past all you see is fucking Katherine." Olive replied, taking a deep breath to control her anger.
"That's not true," Damon protested. How could she say that? Believe that?
"Isn't it?" Olive questioned with raised eyebrows. "You barely gave me the time of day when we were human but now that I'm a vampire you suddenly care about sibling bonding time?" She knew what this was. This was delayed guilt. He was being forced to confront his past behaviours and he couldn't accept it. So, he had to change the story, so he was still the good guy, a helpless victim to change. How could he ever be the bad guy? Olive looked towards Stefan only to find that he had disappeared, along with the girl. "Your girlfriend's missing."
"What? Where is she?" Damon whipped his head frantically around the room for the troublesome doppelgänger with no success.
"Last I saw her she was dancing with Stefan." The vampire looked up at Damon with an aghast expression across her face. "Maybe they went to an empty room to profess their love. Tis like 1864 all over again, would you not say, dear brother?" she taunted, swinging into the arms of another dancer.
…
Bonnie was never one to dance, especially not the formal dance of the wealthy and pretentious, where one wrong move made you stick out like a tomato stain on a white shirt. Yet here she was, in the arms of an Original, waltzing to a rhythm she'd seldom embraced.
"You're quite the dancer Ms. Bennett," Elijah remarked, guiding the young Bennett witch gracefully across the floor.
"Thanks. I'm sure you've danced this more times than you can count." Bonnie replied, feeling somewhat out of her element.
"Quite right," he chuckled. "Did I see you talking with Olive earlier?"
"I don't know what you saw," Bonnie returned, her gaze locked with the noble Original's.
"Did she have anything of value to say?"
"She did." The witch nodded, looking at the noble Original.
"Care to share?" he probed, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"I do not."
…
After the waltz, Rebekah found herself standing in the corner of the room watching as her supposed date shamelessly flirted with his ex-girlfriend. Why did this always happen to her? She wasn't interested in the human, obviously, but she would appreciate some attention from him. He didn't know that this was all a ruse. God help the next girl that actually expresses interest in him, he'd be too focused on his exes to even look at her.
"Where's your date?" Kol inquired, sauntering up to her side, leaning against the wall with a nonchalant demeanour, next to his mopey sister.
"Flirting with his ex," she responded bitterly, glaring at the couple.
"You've changed, Bekah. You know settling for a mortal is the first sign of weakness," Kol remarked, prodding her with his cheeky smile.
"I'm not settling. I brought him here to kill him," Rebekah stated with a frown, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding . As if she would ever settle for some simpleton like that. She was attracted to interesting, brave men. Not schoolboys. "He's Elena's friend. If he dies, she suffers. Nik said he doesn't care about who I kill but mother would have a fit, so I was hoping you'd help your baby sister out."
"And spit right in the face of mother's rules?" He smiled gleefully. "I'm in."
Rebekah scanned the room, ignoring the happy smiling humans, searching for Klaus. She finally spotted him with his arm draped casually around that girl's waist, conversing with one of the founding families. The sight tugged at her heart in a way she hadn't expected.
"Why did he wake you first?" She questioned quietly, still staring at the smiling couple.
"You really are jealous. Green looks lovely on you," Kol teased, tossing a grape from his pocket into his mouth.
Rebekah grimaces at the sight of Kol warm pocket grapes. "I'm not jealous, just curious. Last time you were awake you were trying to find a way to dagger him," Rebekah reminded her brother. She remembered how determined Kol was to put their brother down. All the witches and warlocks that he consulted and murdered trying to create a dagger that would work against his werewolf side. He might have succeeded as well if she- Either way, it was odd that Kol was the sibling he chose to wake.
"He needed something from me," Kol replied, his tone suggesting there was more to the story.
"What?" Rebekah questioned, intrigued.
"My charming personality of course," he winked at his sister's unamused face.
"Are you still trying to stop him?"
"Not necessary now, is it? He's undaggered all of you and I doubt he'll get a chance to do it again with Olive watching him," Kol explained, hinting at the changes that had transpired during his extended slumber.
Rebekah had surmised that her brother had changed somewhat since the 1920s, but he was still the same as he ever was. A mischievous and controlling bastard. She frowned at the thought that a mere girl had managed to influence Klaus and their family dynamics so profoundly.
Sure, he had given her a bit of surprise by telling her that she could kill the doppelgänger when the time was right, but that was to be expected really. That girl really was more trouble than she was worth. You couldn't ask for anything less with a doppelgänger.
"You think some girl is going to stop Nik from being Nik?" she questioned sceptically.
"I think some girl showed Nik that daggering us would ultimately drive us away." You couldn't expect that the people you constantly push away, and disregard would still show loyalty. That was earned. "Family isn't blood," Kol replied, offering a perspective that Rebekah hadn't fully considered.
The blonde Original looked at her brother questionably. Their family motto for over a thousand years was 'Always and Forever' and she meant it. Most of the time. On the days where she longed for a normal human life, she admittedly regretted the saying, wishing for a life free of her brothers. As if it was a double-edge sword that kept the cycle of family drama going without any resolution. But that was- She - they were family.
Uncomfortable with Kol's insight, she responded, "He's still a twat."
"Yes, unfortunately he is. But a paranoid, angry, possessive, anal, annoying, hot headed, dictator-" Kol abruptly stopped and looked down at the floor, frowning. "I forgot where I was going with this."
Rolling her eyes at her brother's antics, Rebekah concluded, "I think you're giving her too much credit."
"Well, you haven't seen them together for the last 15 years. Take a good long look at them, sister. You might be surprised with what you find." Seeing his sister's reluctance Kol questioned, "Or would it be too hard seeing that you're not the most important woman in Nick's life anymore?" Kol pushes himself off the wall with his foot and heads back to the main room. "Let me know what your plan is about the human."
Kol pushed himself off the wall and sauntered away, leaving Rebekah in contemplation. She continued to watch Klaus and Olive, her emotions in turmoil. She watched as Olive played with fingers wrapped around her waist. She watched as her hand travelled from behind his back towards his neck and adjusts his collar. Rebekah couldn't help but feel there was more to this Olive girl than they thought. Her family had faced too many secrets and betrayals to let their guard down easily.
The questions nagged at Rebekah's mind. How could she just condemn her family, her brothers? How could she go so long without ever contacting them? How could Nik stay with a woman like this? For thirty years. She wasn't overly beautiful, smart, or funny. She was…normal. They were the Original family, normal doesn't get to join in.
Then, in a moment that stole her breath, Rebekah's gaze fell on a new tattoo adorning Klaus's hand. A detail that had eluded her all this time, concealed by the veil of familiarity and routine. Why would she really? How often did we inspect the hands of our loved ones?
How could Klaus do such a thing?
How could he get married without her?
…
The downside of these extravagant parties, Olive thought as she sat at the bar, was that people always wanted to chat with the hosts. . They wanted to make an impression, poke around for an invitation for the next event. It was all so tedious. She sat alone on a barstool, idly sipping her soda water and lime, blankly staring out into the vast sea of people.
Klaus had been ensnared in conversation with one of the Fells, and Olive could not find it in herself to smile politely at the monotony that was polite conversation. She excused herself under false pretences and headed straight to the bar, fully embracing the rare moment of solitude as a welcome respite.
Amid the throng of guests, a determined blonde party crasher seemed to be heading straight for Olive.
"You! You're that son of a bitch, Olive. Where is Tyler?!" Caroline raged, her gaze fixed on the woman who had possibly taken her boyfriend.. She was lucky that Olive had stood by Klaus during Elijah's announcements otherwise she would have had a hard time spotting the wretched woman. Olive remained silent, her eyes fixed on Caroline, devoid of any immediate reaction.
Undeterred by Olive's silence, Caroline continued her tirade. "I know you did something to him. You had no right. I don't know what kind of sick game you and Klaus are playing but it ends now." Her accusations flowed like a torrent, fueled by anger and grief. "You think just because you're with Klaus you get to do anything you want without any fight back. Well newsflash, that's not gonna happen here. You're just some desperate floozy willing to sell her soul to be with someone like Klaus, undermining our whole gender in the process."
Olive's response was delivered in her usual, nonchalant tone. "Are you done?" She regarded Caroline with an arched eyebrow. Silence hung in the air, the accusing glare still emanating from Caroline. " "Ok, Harper? Can you please escort her off the premises please?"
Caroline's indignation flared. "What? You can't do that!" Her outburst drew more unwanted attention onto herself.
"You came to my home uninvited, accosted and insulted me to my face. Of course, I'm throwing you out." Olive responded with a calculated calmness. "If you thought your night would go any other way then I would recommend a reality check"
With a casual flick of the wrist, Olive signalled her hybrid guards to take action, dragging a reluctant Caroline off the premises. She was completely humiliated. She was Miss Mystic Falls; she couldn't be escorted from a party. It wasn't supposed to go like this. She should have gotten Tyler back from that bitch. Admittedly in her haste to get Tyler she may have forgotten who exactly she was dealing with, but she never backed down from a fight. Olive was going to learn that Caroline Forbes was not someone you could ignore.
…
As the extravagant party continued downstairs, Elena managed to slip into the drawing room where Esther had been burning the sage to ensure their conversation remained private. It was a bit jarring to see the mother of the Original family, the woman who created these monsters but out of love and a natural desire to protect her children. It wasn't even that long ago that Elena told Rebekah that her mother had been murdered by her beloved brother. Now she was sitting across from her.
"I understand that Rebekah shared the story of my family," Esther began. "How I upset the balance of nature by turning my children into vampires." Normally she would be displeased with her daughter for divulging such personal information to a stranger but in this instance the doppelgänger's bleeding heart would work in her favour.
Elena acknowledged, "She said you did it to protect them from the werewolves."
"It's true. But in no time at all, they began to feed on human blood. They ravaged the town with no remorse. Eventually, Niklaus turned against me," Esther recounted with a sense of calm.
"How are you going to kill him? He's immortal," Elena wondered. During her dark days she spent many nights wondering how to kill Klaus. Burning him, stabbing him, even freezing him to death. She knew it was all pointless. She didn't have any special skills that could help bring the devil down. All she was simply a sacrificial lamb created to break a curse on a man drunk with power.
"It will take time, magic, and your assistance," Esther replied.
"What do I have to do with it?" Elena asked, taken aback.
"My children believe I'm holding this ball to celebrate our reunion. But in truth I've gathered them together to perform a ritual. The first step requires blood from the doppelgänger." Esther explained. She gracefully made her way to the window where her grimoires were resting. "Only a drop. Its essence will be in the champagne toast later this evening. Will you do it, or shall I?" She received a long thin knife from the side table, causing Elena to involuntarily shrink back as the light catches on the blade.
After a moment of hesitation, the doppelgänger got up off the couch and made quick work to remove her black satin gloves, crumpling it up in her hand as she extended her index finger to the witch. The Original Witch pricks the young girl with the tip of the blade and squeezes her finger, letting the blood drop into the glass chalice on the table.
"Elijah is more suspicious than the others, so he may need more persuasion. But they must all drink at the toast in order to be linked as one," Esther informed Elena, setting the blade down next to the chalice.
"What do you mean 'linked as one'?" Elena inquired, hurriedly putting her glove back on.
"You said it yourself, Klaus can't be killed. But tonight's spell links all my children together, so that if one goes, they all go," she declared.
"What?" she whispered, shocked by this revelation.
"I love my family, Elena, but they are an abomination. I betrayed nature when I created them. It's my duty to kill them," Ester explained, steady in her conviction.
Elena stood there, stunned and conflicted. She wanted Klaus dead, of course, but to kill an entire family? Could she really live with that on her conscience? Could she really help a mother kill all her children? She never thought that her meeting with Esther would end up like this. How could she go down there and look Elijah in the eye knowing that she has signed his death sentence? And what about the other two brothers? They hadn't done anything to her, or anyone else as far as she knew. Perhaps they were different to Klaus and Rebekah, maybe they were like Elijah and deserved to live. Could she really let them die just because Klaus-No.
She owed Jenna and John this. Her birth mother. Bonnie. Caroline. Everyone he has hurt for the last 1000 years. This was the right thing to do. She just had to be careful.
The doppelgänger slowly closed her mouth and swallowed the lump in her throat, the enormity of her decision sinking in. "What-what about Olive?" she asked with a choked voice, "She's with Klaus and she has-"
Ester interrupted, "She will die with them. You will be safe."
Elena nodded, her decision made, but a heavy stone now rested on her shoulders, eclipsing the bright shiny lights.
…
Downstairs, Elijah's attempt to gather information about Olive from the party guests was proving more challenging than he had expected. Most of the guests had never met her in person and had only dealt with her through a third party, others knew her only by reputation. The small number of guests that did seem well acquainted with her provided no useful information or remained tight lipped. Their stubborn refusal to engage left Elijah contemplating whether to compel them or not, but refrained to avoid disrupting mother's party.
One particularly stubborn guest, he has had the pleasure of conversing with tonight, a vampire named Raelynn, had continuingly ignored his questions and for some reason kept talking about insects and their disturbing habits.
"-the most interesting thing about silverfish is that they don't have to drink water, they just absorb moisture in the air through their rectum," she informs Elijah.
"Interesting," the Original hummed, unconsciously frowning at this unnecessary information. "This interest in silverfish, is it something you and Olive both share?"
"You know who loves silverfish? Centipedes. They-"
"Raymond!" a voice called out. Kol approached the pair, with his arms stretched out, holding a full glass of vodka in his hand.
"Kolly!" Kol leaned down and kissed Raelynn's cheeks in greeting. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to say hello," Raelynn responded warmly. It had been a while since she had seen Kol, the both of them were always travelling they were constantly missing each other.
"And deprive you of my wonderful face? I would never," Kol returned playfully and pointed to his stoic brother with his drink. "I see you've met my other, less attractive brother."
"Yes, we were just discussing silver fish."
Smirking, Kol leaned down and whispered, "You're just a little devil, aren't you?"
Raelynn smiled coyly back at the Original when she noticed a waitress holding a tray full of food behind Kol's head. "Oh, you two will have to excuse me," she said, tapping his chest affectionately, "I see a waitress with risotto balls. Olive always gets the best food." Before either Original can say anything else the vampire follows the waitress back into the ballroom.
Kol seized the opportunity to question his brother. "So, tell me brother, how is the interrogation going?" Kol moves to stand next to his brother, "Uncover any deep dark secrets about Olive?"
"Instead of mocking me you could simply help me. You seem to have a relationship with this girl but refuse to tell me anything about her," Elijah pointed out. Between trying to figure out mother's plans with Elena and looking into Olive he has not had a moment to relax. The perils of always looking out for your family.
"I've always loved watching you suffer, you know that," Kol chuckled, taking a large gulp of his drink. "Olive is just a nice girl that loves our brother. It's as simple as that."
"There must be more to this." Elijah turns to face his brother fully, his questions coming out rushed, "How did they meet? How has she managed to stay with him for so long? Where-"
"For someone who has been a strong advocate for Klaus regaining his humanity again," Kol interrupted. "You do seem in denial of it."
"I am not in denial. I am simply being cautious. We don't know anything about this woman and yet we are supposed to welcome her. If this was the other way around, I am certain Klaus would have a few choice words. I want Klaus to be happy, but I also want to make sure we are protected."
Kol was quick to point out Elijah's actions, "Is this what wanting your brother to be happy looks like? Harassing our guests?"
"It's not harassment," Elijah objected, "I am simply trying to engage with them. With little success for some reason." Elijah took a sip from his gin and tonic, somewhat flustered that he was unable to gather any useful information from the guests.
"Not long ago you were trying to find a way to kill Klaus, you almost succeeded. Are you really surprised that his friends don't want to talk to you?"
"Klaus does not have friends," Elijah asserted.
"True," Kol conceded, "They are mostly Olive's friends. But they like her, and she likes Klaus. So, they hate you by extension."
"That is ridiculous."
"What's ridiculous is you pestering everyone about the poor girl rather than just talking to her."
Elijah glanced at Klaus, who was engaged in laughter with a guest, and sighed. It was possible that Olive genuinely cared about his brother but after everything that he has done to this family it was hard to believe. He truly loves his brother, that's why he had to do this. He couldn't see him get hurt again.
"Tell me, what is your completely honest opinion of her?" Elijah asked.
Kol responded sincerely, "Honestly. I like her. She's fun." Kol smiled, thinking back to the 90s where the three of them stayed out all night laughing until they couldn't stand. Watching as people panicked about the new millennium, meeting Elvis in his secret underground club. "She makes our brother more tolerable. I admit when I met her, I had my reservations as well, but she is who she says she is. And she loves him. It is sickening how much they love each other, but I've built a tolerance to it thankfully." Kol clapped his brother's shoulder, shaking him slightly, "Try and have fun brother. Get drunk, cause a scene, sing cabaret. See where the night takes you." The Original left his older brother behind, whistling a happy tune.
It was time to kill a footballer.
…
This had undoubtedly been one of Stefan's more enjoyable evenings in weeks. A gift from the universe itself, handed to him on a silver platter - a chance to help Elena by incapacitating his infuriating brother.. How often did a gift like that in your lap? One could argue that he was still holding on to some anger towards his brother for kissing his girl and having to hear about it in front of Klaus. But breaking his brother's back was for the greater good. It had nothing to do with wanting to even the score.
Contentment washed over him as he watched his brother gradually mend his broken bones. Stefan lounged in a chair, passively flipping through a magazine, his thoughts meandering toward the anticipated confrontation between Klaus and the witch. The image that formed in his mind was a vivid one, filled with the promise of bloodshed and searing agony.
Damon's awakening interrupted his reverie, a faint groan escaping his elder brother as his eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden brightness of the room. Stefan's grin, a mix of satisfaction and teasing, barely concealed his amusement.
"Easy, buddy. Don't want you doing anything stupid," Stefan remarked, rising from the chair to stand near his fallen brother.
With deliberate ease, Damon hauled himself to a sitting position, his gaze flitting around the room, trying to remember exactly what happened before he was killed. Someone called him here. Elena called him here. She wanted to-
The older vampire lunged toward his brother, pinning him against the wall. "Where's Elena?"his voice was laced with a growing concern and hints of anger.
Stefan held his ground, a wicked glint in his eye. "Exactly where she belongs, talking with Esther."
Damon's grip tightened, veins protruding. "What did you do?"
A mocking smirk crept across Stefan's face as he shoved his brother away. "Ah, don't blame me. This was all her, right down to the broken neck, well she said neck." Stefan couldn't help but enjoy the discomfort he was causing his older brother, his repressed delight simmering beneath the surface, sneering, "You know, maybe you should stop being such a controlling dick, Damon."
"Wait, hang on. I'm the problem here?" Damon asked beguiled.
"You're a liability brother," Stefan declared, a venomous edge in his tone, his lip twitching in barely repressed glee.
"Am I a liability? Why don't you look in the mirror, Stefan? You called our sister a whore last night," Damon retorted, a hint of incredulity.
Stefan pointed an accusatory finger toward the door, his frustration reaching a boiling point. "That thing is not our sister." Stefan points to the door seething. "Our sister would never debase herself by even touching Klaus. Especially after everything he's done to us."
"Us? Or you?" Damon probed. "Face it, brother, you're just having a tantrum about things not going your way." Sure, Klaus was an immortal dick that killed people, but what vampire hasn't? This was completely personal, and Stefan was letting his emotions get in the way. As always.
"Says the guy that was forcibly removed from the plan because he couldn't stop his emotions from getting in the way," Stefan retorted, each word loaded with frustration.
Damon's patience had worn thin. He delivered a stinging parting shot, his voice thick with annoyance. "You keep doing what you're doing, and you'll find yourself alone. I won't be there to fix it." With that, he stormed out of the room, fueled by a desperate need to ensure Elena's safety. What kind of irresponsible idiot lets someone see the woman that has tried to kill her three times meet alone. After coming back from the dead. He was completely surrounded by morons and it was making him murderous.
…
The glamorous Mystic Falls gathering proved to be a spectacle of its own. Klaus had the pleasure of witnessing at least seven women stumble over their extravagant gowns, along with about ten men who took full advantage of the term 'open bar' until they were completely trashed on the dance floor. Three couples found themselves ensnared in heated arguments, their disputes stemming from wandering eyes and misdirected intentions. Mystic Falls, despite its quaint size, never seemed to lack any drama.
Despite the captivating entertainment, the Hybrid grew weary of the revelry and ventured outside, certain Olive had found refuge there. He strolled through the enchanting garden with his hands clasped behind his back, where the trees shimmered under a canopy of string lights. It was a wonder that more people had not ventured outside.
Turning into the stables where he could hear the crunching of vegetables Klaus is unaware of the smile adorning his face. There she was, standing barefoot in a stunning dress, gently feeding their horse and whispering sweet words of affirmations.
"Olly, how did I know that I would find you here?" He approached her, his hand gently resting on her waist, the connection between them as natural as breathing.
Olive turned to face Klaus, her smile brightening as their eyes met. "I had to let Goliath out and saw that little JoJo was hungry," she explained, her voice filled with affection as she brushed JoJo's mane tenderly.
"Couldn't have that could we," Klaus remarked with a playful glint in his eye.
Carefully setting down a basket filled with carrots and apples, Olive made sure it was out of the horse's reach. "How are you doing? With everything?"
Klaus, ever the protector, considered her well-being. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he countered, gesturing with a nod toward the mansion.
"My mum didn't come back from the dead yesterday." Olive responded with gentle understanding, playing with his lapel and smoothing out invisible creases. "We haven't really had a moment to ourselves, and I just wanted to check in."
Klaus held Olive's wandering hand in his, guiding it to rest against his chest. "I'm alright, love."
"You are?" Olive's voice held a tinge of surprise.
"I always thought that when I saw my mother again, I would be filled with shame, anger, fear, guilt or anything in between. Instead, I find myself…" Klaus confessed, the depths of his gaze lost in the distant shimmering lights.
Those twinkling lights triggered memories of another time, a time when he shared quiet moments with his mother, enveloped in the warm glow of a crackling winter fire. He remembered the fond smiles that would grace her face as she watched Rebekah and Kol bicker, and the gentle lectures she delivered when he and Hendrick had attempted to cook dinner without proper supervision. Those memories were etched with the tenderness of maternal love.
But then, the painful recollections resurfaced. The cold, lifeless look in his mother's eyes as he was bound to a post and cursed, feeling his very being ripped away from him, stored away deep inside, calwing to be released ever since. The searing pain he felt when she rejected him, refusing to aid him when he needed her most. She wouldn't even meet his gaze in the days that followed, as though she were truly seeing him for the first time, perceiving him as a living embodiment of longing and regret. To her, he was an unwelcome evidence of the past, a living embodiment of her betrayal and infidelity, a reminder that needed to be discarded. But her own morals prevented her from killing him, so instead, she chose to punish him for the simple act of existing.
"My mother died when Hendrick died. Esther is back but not my mother," Klaus concluded, the pain of those memories still etched in the contours of his immortal heart.
"I'm sorry," Olive said, her voice filled with empathy. She used her free hand to caress the Hybrid's cheek, hoping to offer some comfort.
"It's alright. Things have changed, for us all."
Klaus's smile held fondness as he looked down at Olive and kissed her softly. Their foreheads met in an intimate connection, and Olive's hand moved up to his neck, her fingers gently pulling at the hairs there.
"You're my favourite,"Olive whispered
"Always." Olive released his neck as Klaus pulled away, tenderly kissing her hairline. "Are you ready to come back inside?" he asked.
"Soon. I just have to put this away." She gestured to the basket of food on the floor. The last time she had left the food out all night she had found that squirrels had come and stolen the food. Adorable, but annoying.
"We do have people hired to do that," he reminded her.
Olive playfully nudged him. "I know that million-dollar man, but I'm here and I have arms." Despite growing up working hard on farm lands, Klaus had no problem embracing the finer things in life, especially the part where staff would wait on you hand and foot. Before he met Olive, he had not made his own bed in centuries. The vampire gave him a light shove on the shoulder. "Go, I'll join you in a bit."
"Alright, love." Klaus made his way back inside with his hands in his pockets. He couldn't help but glance back at Olive before she disappeared into the stables. She shook her head, a knowing smile on her lips, and Klaus couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture. With one last look, he returned to the world of the party, yearning for the next moment he could steal away with his beloved Olive
…
Olive had just finished putting the food away in the cupboards of the stables when the sound of the main doors opening, followed by heavy footsteps, caught her attention. She swiftly slipped on her heels and ventured outside, curious about the source of the commotion. Her steps were graceful as she moved through the garden, the warm evening air fragrant with the scents of nature. The delicate string lights that adorned the trees transforming the garden into an enchanting wonderland.
It didn't take long for her to spot Damon, his frantic gaze darting around the garden as if searching for a hidden danger.
Unfortunately for her, Damon's search led him to her.
Desperate to find the danger magnet he has chosen to love, Damon asked, "Have you seen Elena?"
"Still looking for her, are we?" Olive rolled her eyes, exacerbate by this incestuous love triangle. It seemed like nothing changed. "No, I haven't seen her."
As Olive turned to head back inside, Damon's voice suddenly erupted in a fervent exclamation.
"What can I do!"
This was quite possibly the worst week of Damon's entire existence. Finding out his sister was alive but wanted nothing to do with him. That she had chosen to be with a murderous hybrid dick for who knows how long. The woman he had devoted himself to handed him on a silver platter to his brother, who hates him again, to have his neck snapped so she could place herself in danger. Everything had just gone to shit. And he was sick of it. He was sick of trying to keep it together. Of trying to be the only adult in this situation.
"What?" Olive furrowed her brow in confusion, her gaze locked on Damon
"I have tried talking to you and all you do is shut me out." Damon began with frustration etched on his features. "I'm trying here Aurora-Olive whatever you're calling yourself. I want to be here for you, I want to be a part of your life." He moved closer to her, his eyes shimmering with tears.
As Damon spoke, his voice quivered with the raw intensity of his emotions, no longer holding back the deep well of longing, remorse, and love.
"When I saw you that night, when I realised it was you, I was so happy," he confessed, his voice cracking as he smiled at her. Olive, her own eyes shimmering with unshed tears, remained locked in his gaze. "I had missed you so much for so long and I just wanted my sister back. I spent months after I left just wondering how you are. If you were happy, safe, loved. When I heard you died, I felt my heart rip out of my chest. I was so sorry I wasn't there for you. To help you. I have carried that regret with me every day for the last 150 years. I should have been there to hold your hand, to see you grow. I loved you, I still do."
"Stop it," she whispered, unable to break eye contact.
"No, you can try as hard as you can, but you can't erase me or Stefan from your life. We're family. We're all we have at the end of the day."
"You're right. We were." Olive nodded, her tears now flowing freely as she wiped them away. "And you weren't there." She took a step closer and cried, "I needed you and you weren't there!"
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Damon shook his head in regret.
"I was always there for you. Whenever father beat you, I was the one that took care of you. I was the one that got him to stop. And you abandoned me!"
"I'm here now," Damon pleaded, his eyes filled with anguish, hating himself for causing his sister so much pain.
"What's the point, Damon? You're too late. I learned how to live without you," she spat, her fingers clenching in barely restrained rage.
"I just wanted to keep you safe," he pleads, looking imploringly at her.
"Bullshit! You saw a way out and left without a word. You couldn't wait to leave me behind."
"I couldn't take you with me. You deserved more than this life. You deserved to grow old, create your own family with the man you loved-"
"Did you ever bother asking me what I wanted?" she interrupted, her tears coming down more steadily now, "If I wanted the life father had planned out for me?"
"I-I," the vampire faltered, realising the truth in her words. As much as he loved his sister, they never really discussed what they wanted for the future. At least she never told him. She was always too quiet and willing to do what others asked of her. Happy to lend a helpful hand to those around her. He never thought to think about what she wanted.
"Of course, you didn't. Some pretty girl in a dress caught your eye and suddenly I had no one. You and Stefan did this. You don't get to be mad when you don't like the results of your choices. Both of you had plenty of chances to come back, but did you? You do not get to come into my life again bitching about how hurt you are and how I betrayed you." The young vampire sniffled, wiping away the rest of her tears. She would not cry over them. They did not deserve her time or energy; she had given them enough.
"I spent my entire human life being faithful and loyal to our family and all it brought me was pain and suffering. It is my turn to leave you behind," Olive asserted, her voice strong, defiant
Olive turned to head back into the house, her head held high, determined to put this conversation behind her. But Damon wasn't ready to let her go, taking long quick strides to close the gap between them.
"Aurora. Aurora!" He reached out to grab her arm, spinning her around.
Olive immediately tore her arm out of his grasp, frantically screaming, "Don't touch me!"
"Aurora," he begged, reaching out for her.
"Stop, just stop," Olive commanded, her emotions roiling, her chest rising rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath. The pair stared at one another, a chasm of unspoken words and painful history lying between them. Finally, she stepped back and headed back inside the mansion, ducking her head down.
Left outside in the garden, Damon stood alone, the weight of his regrets and the consequences of his actions pressing down on him. As the door closed, he closed his eyes. No matter what he did he just seemed to screw it up. What did he have to do? When would he just know what was right and wrong? It's been a hundred fucking fifty years and he was still making the same mistakes. What the fuck was the point in even trying if the outcome was always going to be the same. With a surge of frustration, he grasped a nearby ceramic pot and hurled it against the stable wall, the shattering sound echoing through the night and startling the animals inside.
…
After the intense conversation with Damon, Olive calmly retreated back inside the mansion, trying not to draw any attention to herself.. In the corner of her eye, she spotted Harper standing dutifully in the corner, watching her. Upon seeing her Harper shifted ready to follow her if needed, but she waved him off. Nothing she couldn't handle.
With her head down, she slipped into an empty downstairs bathroom. That was nothing less of a miracle for an event of this size. She stood before the mirror, studying her reflection. She did not look as bad as she thought she did. Her hair had begun to unravel from its braid, her mascara was slightly smudged, but her light blue eyeshadow remained remarkably intact. The only glaring sign of her emotional turmoil was the redness in her eyes, a telltale sign of recent tears.
Olive turned on the tap, wetting a hand towel, and then shut off the water. She squeezed out the excess water and began to wipe off the black smudges around her cheeks.
As she cleaned her face, Olive's thoughts simmered with resentment. Who did Damon think he was? Trying to be a 'family' again. After all those fucking years of doing shit. You couldn't undo a century worth of pain with a few pretty words. The only reason he was doing this was because he felt like he had to. She knew he saw her as the ultimate victim and he couldn't help himself from getting on his horse, ready to save the helpless damsel. Well fuck that.
And where was he to get off acting all high and mighty? Acting like Klaus was the only one that has ever killed anyone. She knew every terrible thing Damon had ever done and he certainly had no right to judge Klaus.
Having managed to clear her face of mascara smudges, she turned her attention to her hair. After a few frustrating minutes of attempting to pin down the loose strands, she huffed in exasperation and began removing the bobby pins and elastic bands. Her hair tumbled down in dramatic curls, bouncing above her shoulders. She gathered up all the hair accessories and placed them in the cabinet next to the sink.
Olive stared at her reflection, her hair a wild cascade of curls. She rolled her eyes at herself and began to tame the curls with her fingers, not wanting to look like a lion. As she worked to regain control over her hair, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Elena.
As Elena opened the door to the bathroom, the sight of Olive was enough to make her heart race uncontrollably in her chest. She felt her palms grow sweaty, and her skin prickled with tension, the hairs on her neck standing upright and rigid. The mere presence of the vampire had a disconcerting effect on her. If Olive knew what she had done, what she had helped do? She didn't know what she should do.
As Elena stepped inside, her anxiousness was palpable, even though Olive hadn't acknowledged her yet. It infuriated Elena that this vampire had such power over her emotions, even without direct interaction.
How could one woman have such an effect on her?
Unable to contain her own turmoil, Elena blurted out, "Did you attack Alaric?"
Olive blinked in bewilderment. "What? Why would I do that?" Olive said exacerbated, making eye contact with the doppelgänger in the mirror.
"You had that vampire staking out my house and she just happened to have a vial of blood to heal him. It's just a bit too convenient," Elena argued, crossing her arms in a bid to appear more intimidating.
"No, I did not attack him. I had no reason to." Olive replied dryly, tossing the wet towel into a hamper on the floor.
"What about Tyler?"
"What about him?" Olive turned to face Elena directly.
"No one has seen him and his not answering any of his messages-"
"I guess it's just inconceivable to you to imagine that he needed a break from you and your merry men," the vampire retorted, turning to leave.
Elena, however, was undeterred, stepping in front of the vampire, her furry and adrenaline clouding her judgement as she continued to question Olive, accusingly. "I know you have him."
"And if I do, what are you going to do about it? You're a doppelgänger, that's it. Pick your battles," she advised, stepping around the shaking girl.
"You know I thought you were somewhat of a decent person after you helped me on the bridge, but I can see I was wrong. I should have known better than to trust someone that would align themselves with a monster like Klaus," Elena sneered, her words dripping with scorn.
"Excuse me?" Olive's tone turned icy as she faced Elena's unfounded accusations.
"You heard me. He's a monster and standing by him is going to get you killed. Not that you wouldn't deserve it."
Olive tilted her head slightly, listening to the erratic thudding of Elena's heart. She gave the doppelgänger a sardonic smile. "I'm sorry, is the girl who fell in love with her stalker and her best friend's rapist really trying to give me life advice?"
Elena was left wide-eyed, her hands dropping to her sides, her mouth gaping like a fish out of water. "Wha-I-"
"You do anything against Klaus, and I will rain this town with blood and drown you in it," Olive warned with a chilling resolve. She gave Elena one last look before leaving the bathroom, stepping back into the event.
Elena remained motionless in the bathroom, her hands trembling with the rush of emotions.
How could- Why did she-
She needed, she needed to leave. She needed to not be here anymore.
…
The night had devolved into a fucking shit show. Did she have a sign that said 'Please unload your crap on me'? Fuckity, fuck fuck.
Amidst the throng of partygoers, Olive wove her way through the crowd, determined to find Klaus. Slipping gracefully between waiters carrying trays of rose-coloured champagne flutes, she eventually spotted him standing on the periphery, his keen eyes scanning the chaotic crowd. As their gazes locked, a concerned frown etched on his features, as he took in her dishevelled hair and tense tried to convey that she was fine with a subtle shake of her head. Nevertheless, Klaus decisively pushed his way through the sea of guests, meeting her halfway.
Once they were side by side, Klaus enveloped her in the warmth of his arm, allowing her to rest her head against his chest. Olive briefly closed her eyes, seeking solace in his reassuring presence. When the sound of clinking glasses echoed from the main room, she straightened herself. With Klaus holding her hand, they moved together into the main room where his mother, Esther, stood on the bottom of the grand staircase, addressing their guests.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Waiters are coming around with champagne." Olive and Klaus both accepted flutes from a nearby waitress. "I invite you all to join in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. Along with our newest member. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening." Esther raised her glass with a well practised smile.. "Cheers!"
In response to the toast, the couple raised their champagne flutes, Klaus taking a sip while Olive let hers dangle loosely between her fingers.
Across the room, Finn stood alongside Sage, his gaze fixed on her with a bittersweet smile. He gently tucked a loose curl behind her ear as she looked at him with affectionate eyes before casting her gaze out into the crowd.
Turning his attention back to his mother, Finn found her already watching him. He took a deep breath, and downed a large gulp of champagne under his mother's watchful eyes. Esther nodded and smiled proudly at her son before descending the stairs, placing her flute on the side table.
With Esther's departure, Finn pulled Sage closer into his protective embrace, his voice a soft murmur in her ear as he whispered that he loved her with closed eyes.
…
As the last of the guests departed from the Mikaelson estate, Finn led Sage into his bedroom, assuring her that he would return shortly. With Sage safely tucked away, Finn proceeded down the hallway to his mother's study. Along the way, he spotted Elijah exiting the study and chose to linger in the shadows, avoiding any possibility of catching his brother's attention. He waited until Elijah ascended the staircase before slipping into the study himself.
Inside the study, the subtle scent of burning sage still hung in the air. Finn closed the door gently behind him and approached his mother, who was focused on writing her children's names in their proper script with a feathered quill.
"Are we all right to speak freely?" Finn inquired as he entered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Yes, the sage still burns," Esther replied without turning around, finishing the delicate script before setting the feather quill back into its inkwell. she shifted her attention to her most loyal child. "Has that girl changed your mind or are you still with me?"
A moment of hesitation gripped Finn like a vice, the recent reconnection with Sage still fresh in his mind. But his loyalty would always lie with his mother. He knew what they were planning was just, that it was time for him to rest. He would not let the shock of reunioning with Sage cloud his judgement and stray from his responsibilities. His fleeting moment of happiness was not worth betraying his mother. He nodded firmly and spoke with resolution, "My loyalty lies with you, as it always has."
"Then it's time to complete the link."
Esther picked up the same ceremonial knife as before and extended her hand expectantly. Finn complied, placing his hand on his mother;s open palm, and watched in silence as she cut his hand. The blood flowed freely from the wound, spilling into the centre of the large parchment scroll. As Esther began to recite the spell, the blood branched out, connecting all the names on the scroll like the branches of a tree.
"The link is complete. You are one,"Esther proclaimed, her smile radiant with anticipation.
…
The night had drawn to a close, and the end of the evening brought a sense of relief and calmness that always welcomed their tired bones. When all the strangers that somehow made their way inside, touching everything you own and trying to sneak into private rooms, finally left and you could relax.
Klaus stepped out of the bathroom, having already showered and prepared for bed. He watched Olive as she returned after overseeing the final guests' departure and instructioning the hybrids of their duties tomorrow. He stood in the doorway holding his shirt, watching as she carefully removed her jewellery, her movements deliberate and graceful.
Concerned, Klaus inquired gently, "Are you going to tell me what happened tonight?" He put on his nightshirt and continued to watch Olive closely.
Olive turned to face the Original, still focused on removing her top piercing. "It was just Damon," she replied, rolling her eyes. "He was just being his usual pig-headed self. I handled it," She deposited the piercing stud into her jewellery box. "He's just really starting to get on my nerves."
"Do you want me to bite him?" he suggested with a smirk, pushing off the doorway to stand in front of her. "I don't think it will be pleasant for either of us, but I supposed I could just down a bottle of hot sauce to get the taste out of my mouth."
Olive snorted and covered her nose with her hand. Klaus' playful banter had succeeded in eliciting a smile from her. Klaus extended his hand, inviting her to join him on the bed, and took a seat on the plush sheets, pulling her between his legs.
She met his gaze and then planted a quick peck on his lips.
"I knew I could get a smile out of you," Klaus stated, his voice filled with affection.
Olive reflected on her encounter with Damon, the desperation in his words and the agonising look on his face. It twisted her stomach into knots, her mind fighting against old habits of wanting to comfort him. She might have done so as well, if she hadn't made herself remember. Pain had a terrible way of scaring you for decades, sinking deep into your bones and branding you. It was probably healthier for her to let go, to just become indifferent. And in a way she was, for decades after learning that they were alive she forced herself to forget, move on like they did. Her indifference became a shield that protected her from her tiring anger. But standing before both of them, listening to them plead and cry, to their outrage, it was hard to ignore. It would take time for that wonderful indifference to embrace her once again.
"It doesn't matter anyway," she remarked. "He wants quiet, obedient Aurora. But that girl's long gone."
Klaus agreed wholeheartedly, his sincerity evident. "I know," he responded. "You couldn't be her again if you tried," he assured her, his arms tightening around her waist. The corners of his mouth curled into a devilish smile as he continued, "You're too loud, disruptive, wild and extremely bothersome."
"Very true," Olive acknowledged, embracing the description with a sense of pride.
"Ridiculously so," Klaus continued, still amused. "It's honestly a miracle that I can sleep at night with you constantly moving about. Kicking the blankets off the bed, borrowing into the pillows."
"I'm like a squirrel,"she said with a slight bounce.
"I was thinking weasel." He squinted up at her, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"I like weasels," she responded, nodding as the pads of her fingers started to tingle. "There fucking crazy. They look adorable but then…" She made a strange hissing noise, which seemed to baffle Klaus. "And you see their fucking teeth and they're like furry snakes," she paused, her mind starting to drift into a cotton candy-colored haze. "With legs." Klaus couldn't help but burst into laughter at her unexpected analogy. "I'm not wrong."
"Of course not." Klaus playfully tapped her bottom, pushed himself off the bed, and stood in front of her. "Come on. Time to get you out of that dress."
Olive turned her back to Klaus, silently asking him to unzip her dress, and he obliged. "Did you remember to Golith back in?"
"Yes, now go change," he urged her, pushing her reluctant form towards the bathroom while her dress gracefully slid off her body.
"What about the hybrids? You need to up their training so they know what to be prepared for." As she stepped out of her dress, Klaus retrieved it from the floor and hung it on the back of a chair. . "And you should call one of your contacts in Belgium and see what we can do about that new vampire virgin group."
"I think you mean incel," Klaus corrected, guiding her towards the bathroom door.
With a dismissive wave, she said, "I don't care about them enough to remember their name. You should also-"
"Olive," he interupts
"Fine, fine, I'll change but call them," she agreed, spinning around to remove the rest of her undergarments and replace them with her pyjamas.
"You have far too much energy for someone who was practically dead on her feet five minutes ago," Klaus observed as he placed her old clothes in the bathroom hamper.
"I had a brownie from the kitchen," Olive giggled, her words tumbling out quickly as she attempted to catch her dancing toothbrush. ". "I think Kol put something in them."
"Not again." Klaus shook his head with a smile, exasperated, and headed toward the door. He opened it and strode down the hall with purpose, his voice carrying, "Kol! I've told you to stop putting drugs in our food without telling us!"
…
"So, uh, Esther wants to kill her whole family. How is that for mother of the year?" Stefan remarked, attempting to break the tense silence that had lingered since they left the mansion. Elena had been unusually quiet, her troubled expression tattooed throughout the drive back. At first, he thought seeing Damon fight with that Original and leaving the party in a dramatic huff had left a sour taste in her mouth. But it didn't seem like that was the cause. Elena looked…troubled. Thrown off balance. Though he supposed most people would find it troubling to help a mother murder her children, regardless of the reasons. That horrible burden of knowledge was a lot to carry for a young woman, especially one that was thrust into the supernatural world so abruptly only a year ago.
"Yea. And I got to look Elijah right in the eye and lie to him about it," Elena sighed, her voice heavy with the weight of the secrecy she was forced to carry. It was a wonder that she didn't blurt it out after her conversation with Olive. It was better that she would die with them. She wouldn't feel safe ever again if she knew Olive was still out there.
Stefan shrugged dismissively, his stance resolute. "Well, good. I can't say I'll be sorry to see any of them go," he remarked, harbouring no sympathy for the Mikaelson family. He was personally planning on marking that day on a calendar, celebrating the demise of the Mikaelson family each year. Hell, he might even try and get it declared a national holiday.
"I just signed their death sentences, Stefan," Elena whispered, her voice tinged with remorse and anxiety, hoping to find some understanding from the vampire.
"No, you signed Klaus's death sentence, Elena. Everyone else is just collateral damage."
Elena stared at him, her eyes filled with turmoil. "It's not that simple." It was times like this she missed the Stefan she fell in love with. The Stefan that didn't believe in collateral damage. The Stefan that wanted to help everyone. That wanted to help her.
"Their family had brought you nothing but darkness, Elena. It is that simple." Stefan declared, his words leaving no room for debate. He tucked his hands into his pockets and looked down at the floor, briefly lost in thought. "So, uh... where's Damon? I would think that he'd want to make sure you get home safely."
"I'll call him and let him know," Elena replied, reaching for her keys as she prepared to leave.
"What was with him going after Kol?" Stefan inquired, trying to make sense of Damon's earlier actions. He knew he pissed his brother off, but it certainly wasn't enough to make him pick a fight with an Original.
"Damon being self-destructive. I said something I didn't mean," Elena explained, her frown deepening as she played with the keys in her hands. It was never her intention to hurt Damon, she lo- Was grateful for all that he had done for her. Especially this summer. But he had to loosen the reins. She wasn't going to let him control her.
"So did I. Bad night for Damon, I guess. Anyway, uh, good night." Stefan turned to leave but halted when Elena called out, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
"Wait! I-I need to ask you something. Or tell you I guess," she stammered, struggling to articulate her thoughts.
"Is this about you kissing Damon because I already know," Stefan revealed, trying his best to seemed unbothered.
"What?" she asks wide eyed. "D-Did Damon tell you?"
"Olive, last night. I'm not really surprised," he shrugged, borrowing his clenched fists deep in his pockets.
"I'm sorry you found out that way but that's not what I wanted to ask you."
"What is it then?"
"Olive, she said something to me tonight and it's got me all messed up and-"
Stefan interjected firmly, "She's lying."
"You don't even know what she said."
"I don't have to. She's a liar, manipulator and you should stay away from her," Stefan warned, his conviction unwavering.
Elena was growing frustrated with their evasiveness. They were still keeping things from her. Things that she had a right to know. They wouldn't be this worked up if they knew her briefly when they were human. Maybe she was a friend or neighbour or something, but it didn't matter. This was her life and she deserved to know who this woman was to them.
Elena huffed heavily, "Who is she to you? You and Damon won't tell me anything."
"All you need to know is that everything that comes out of her mouth is a lie," Stefan declared, his voice unwavering.
"Stefan-"
"No!" Stefan's sudden outburst startled Elena, and he appeared disappointed in himself for scaring her. He lowered his gaze and muttered, "I need to leave."
"Stefan, wait! Stefan," the doppelgänger called out pointlessly, her ex-boyfriend disappearing into the night. She closed her eyes in regret before turning around and heading inside.
Maybe she should listen to him. Olive had to be lying. She was just trying to get in her head. If there was any truth to what she said, then Caroline would have come to her. It was fine.
Everything is fine.