Chapter 24: The Story of Us
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as soon as Bekah and I stepped out of the car. It was very clear to me that something was wrong. The air felt stiff and the magic that normally surrounded the small town felt off and unbalanced. The strange feeling sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to think of what could be wrong, but nothing made sense or felt right. Whatever was going on in the small town wasn't good.
Bekah walked around the SUV to stand beside me as I stood frozen before the boarding house. "What is it? What's wrong?" She asked with concern lacing her words.
"Something doesn't feel right." I titled my head as I spoke and listened as the wind breezed through the surrounding trees. "I can't tell what's happening, but the balance has been thrown off." My eyes searched around the area, as if whatever was causing this would pop out and reveal itself. But nothing seemed to be out of place and I couldn't pinpoint the origin of the feeling. "I think we should- wait, did you see that?" I did a sudden double take and pointed towards the woods as a flash of white disappeared through the trees.
"See what? I don't see anything, Serena." I frowned at Bekah's words. A vampire should have easily been able to see what I had only just gazed out of the corner of my eye.
"Come on, it went this way." Without even thinking about it I headed for the tree line where I saw the strange flash of white. Bekah followed close behind me and the two of us ventured into the trees. As we left the boarding house behind, I noticed another flash of white and followed after it.
"Why does this seem like a bad idea?" Bekah grumbled from behind me. "If you get us killed, Nik will find a way to bring us back and then kill me himself."
"Nik isn't going to kill you, Bekah. I don't think it's anything dangerous." I reassured her before adding, "Well, at least I think so." Bekah huffed at my words, but continued to allow me to lead the way as I tried to keep an eye on the white figure leading us further into the woods.
The figure in white continued to evade us, until we came across a familiar ring of trees surrounding a small green clearing. My steps faltered as the figure walked through the trees and disappeared. I shared a look with Bekah and knew right away she recognized exactly where the figure had led us. Each of the Mikaelson siblings had visited this clearing and had been invited beyond the border surrounding the large oak tree.
I was not blind to the significance this place held, but why were we led here? I slowly stepped past the tree line and walked up to the oak tree in the center of the clearing. Bekah stayed close to my side as we looked around the clearing for any sign of the figure that led us here.
"I don't see anything." Bekah spoke up from beside me as we stopped just before the large oak tree. She was right, I couldn't find any sign of the figure.
"I don't understand. Why did it lead us here? Where did it go?" I asked aloud as I searched for any hint of the white figure. "Something isn't right, I just don't-," My words died on my tongue as a figure stepped out from the other side of the oak tree. My entire body felt frozen with disbelief as the most unbelievable sight slowly stepped out of the shadow of the oak tree.
Bekah noticed the sudden change in my body and quickly placed herself in front of me as she too took notice of the figure walking towards us. "Who are you?" She questioned with a hiss.
There was a soft, chime-like, laugh that came from the figure. The sound had my heart clenching in my chest as emotion welled up inside of me. "A thousand years could not have broken the bond you two share," The figure said, "You have been like sisters since the day you met, and it warms my heart to see the two of you together again."
I stepped around the now frozen form of Bekah as the figure fully came out of the shadows. I could not begin to explain the feelings I felt as I fully took in the sight of the one person I never thought I would see again. "Mother?" My voice cracked with emotion. The smile she sent me had my heart growing warm and memories filling my thoughts with that same smile from a thousand years ago.
"Lady Niamh. How is this possible?" Bekah trembled beside me as we stared at the image of my dead Mother.
"An opportunity for the dead to visit the world of the living has arisen in this small town." She began to explain as she stepped closer. "I don't have much time and there is much to say." She stood directly in front of us now and I felt my body melt as she reached out and gently cupped the side of my face. "My beautiful daughter. You have grown so strong, my little one, and I could not be more proud of the Fae you have become."
Tears sprang to my eyes as I leapt forward and wrapped my arms around my Mother. "Mama." I couldn't stop the tears that burned at my eyes as my emotions overflowed and I held on to her tightly.
"Shhh, my little one, now is not the time for tears." My Mother pulled back enough for us to look one another in the eyes. She gently took my face in her hands and wiped away my tears. "There now, my little love." She looked between me and Bekah before saying, "I need you both to hear my words and heed my warnings." Both Bekah and I nodded our heads at her words and my Mother smiled at the two of us. "Good, my warnings will not be easy to hear, but you must hear them. The Original Witch is making her move and is set on ending the bloodline of the Originals."
Bekahs gasped from beside me, "My Mother, but how?"
"She is a powerful witch, Rebekah, one who has lived on the other side for a long time, festering in regret for the decisions she made in life. It has caused her to become bitter and resentful." My Mothers words had my mind reeling. Esther had been so desperate to save her children from death, so hearing that she wanted them dead was a shock I hadn't been prepared for. "What Esther dose not understand, is that the night she created the spell that created the vampires, she reset the balance of nature." Her eyes locked onto mine as she spoke her next words, "Fae blood is powerful when used in a witches spell, and the blood of a Fae who is bound to her Fated One becomes even more powerful than most witches will ever understand. The night Esther used your blood, Serena, to create the Original Vampires, the balance was shifted and restructured."
I looked at my Mother in confusion as I asked, "What do you mean, shifted?"
"Esther is unaware of just what she's done to keep her children out of death's grasp. But by using your blood to change your Fated Ones into vampires, she did something that's never been done before." My Mother looked over at Bekah and continued by saying, "When Esther used Serena's blood to bind the spell, she was able to rewrite the balance of nature and created a new species. And because you and your brothers are impervious to death, the bond connecting them to Serena has allowed for her to come back to the world of the living, over and over again in search of them."
"Are you saying that vampires are a part of the balance because of my blood?" My Mother nodded her head at my question.
"Yes, my little one. A bond that powerful can do many things, including rewriting a balance that has been around for a millennium." My thoughts whirled at the implications my Mothers words meant for me. "But Esther wishes to end the bloodlines. If she succeeds in killing an Original vampire, then the blood line dies with them."
"I don't understand, what do you mean that if an Original dies, the bloodline dies?" Bekah spoke up and asked a question I had been thinking as well.
"The vampires you and your brothers have created, and the vampires created by those vampires, are all a part of your bloodlines. If one of you dies, then they all die." I felt my jaw drop at my mothers words. The death of one Original meant the death of all vampires created by their blood. The news made my blood run cold. "You must be cautious, Serena. Esther is set in her ways and wishes nothing but to end all vampires."
"How do we stop her?" The question slipped from my lips. Hearing my Mother's words reminded me of the night I saw Vicki in the back of Alaric's car before it was blown up. "Wait, can Esther use magic on the other side?"
My stomach twisted as my Mother confirmed my theory by nodding her head. "She's had an opening due to the Bennett witch bringing your brother, Jeremy, back from the dead. That door is the reason I was able to return and warn you."
"What do we do?" Worry coated my voice. Esther was a powerful witch, one who had enough power to use magic from the otherside.
"Trust in your Fated Ones, Serena." Her words struck me and I was suddenly reminded that Nik had left and Kol, Finn, and Elijah were all probably daggered. "Don't worry, your Father is currently speaking to Niklaus about his actions." She sent me a secretive smile and I felt my stomach flip.
"Papa? He's here?" I felt excitement well up inside of me at the prospects of seeing my Father again.
"Yes, but I sent him to speak with Niklaus. He had words to share with your Fated One, and I believe it won't be long till the Original hybrid returns to your side." There was a sudden shift in the air that had my Mother looking up at the sky. The sun was just starting to set as the sky turned from blue to orange. "Our time is running out, my little one." She spoke to the sky before looking back at Bekah and I.
"Rebekah," My Mother looked at Bekah with a smile before saying, "You have faced many tragedies in your long lifetime, but I cannot be more proud of you for being so strong, my dear. And while you will no doubt continue to face hardship, just know you will not face them alone." I glanced at Bekah and watched her as she tried to hold back the tears building in her eyes. "You are a beautiful woman, Bekah, and one day you will find a love so strong that it will make up for all the heartbreak you have faced."
Bekah could only nod her head as she wiped away the tears that escaped from her eyes. My Mother then turned her attention back to me and said, "My little one." I couldn't stop the feeling of dread that built up inside of me knowing that these would be the last words I'd be hearing from her. "I can not be more proud of you. You still have much to learn about being a Fae and as much as I wish I could teach you everything my Mother taught me, I can only offer you these wise words," I closed my eyes as my Mother stepped closer and placed her forehead against my own. "Trust in the Fates, my little one. Trust in your Fated Ones, and always trust in yourself." I could feel her slowly beginning to fade away as the air became lighter and lighter as whatever magic that had allowed her to come back slowly faded away. "I love you so much, Serena."
"Don't go." I sobbed out as I clutched at her fading form.
"I will always be with you, my little one. Always." Then she was gone.
There was a moment of pure silence as whatever spell that had been casted, was now broken. The air became lighter and the balance of nature was returned to its original state. I felt like a tidal wave of emotion had washed over me as I processed what had just taken place. While it had only been for a moment, my Mother had stood right in front me and I got to see her outside of my memories. I was able to hold her in my arms and feel her skin against mine. Seeing her again was something I had thought to be impossible, but I was beginning to understand that the most impossible of things were not as untouchable as I once believed them to be.
Bekah and I were silent as we stood beside one another. I knew seeing my Mother had brought back memories for Bekah, not to mention the message my Mother had left us with was also shocking in itself. The two of us said nothing as we quietly made our way back to the boarding house. I was grateful when we saw the large house and sensed that no one was home. After tonight, I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone, especially a Salvatore brother. I collapsed onto the couch as soon as I reached it and allowed my body to sag into its cushions.
Bekah was pacing the floor in front of the fireplace and I watched her walk back and forth before breaking the silence by saying, "We need to call Nik." She paused for a second at my words before starting to pace again. "We need to tell him about Esther." I saw Bekah flinch at her mothers name and I felt sorry for her. Bekah had loved her mother, but Esther hadn't always been what Bekah needed. I could remember a young Bekah trying so hard to earn her mothers love and acceptance. I could only imagine how she felt learning that Esther wanted all vampires, including her and her brothers, dead.
"Bekah?" I spoke and the Original Vampire stopped pacing and looked over at me.
"Call him," Bekah squared her shoulders as she tried to stand tall and pull herself together. I nodded, understanding that she was trying to reign in her emotions.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and hesitated at the sight of Niks number as I tried to think of the best way to tell him about Esther. I knew from the past that Esther was going to be a sore subject for Nik. But I couldn't blame him; Esther wasn't a good mother, especially to Nik.
I took a deep breath and dialed his number and held my phone to my ear as I waited for him to answer. "Hello, love." His voice sent an involuntary shiver down my spine and I was reminded about how much I missed him. I had a thousand years of missing him.
"Nik," My words felt trapped on my tongue as I forced myself not to beg him to come back to Mystic Falls. Back to me. But I swallowed the words back and quickly said, "Something happened tonight." I looked up at Bekah as the vampire stood across from me. "My mother appeared. A spell was casted that weakened the barrier between the living and the dead. She came to Bekah and I to warn us that Esther is trying to get through from the other side. Nik, she wants to kill your family."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. I began to worry my bottom lip between my teeth as I waited for Nik to say something. "Esther won't be making an appearance in the living world any time soon, love. In fact, I doubt she'll ever be able to get through from the other side." I wanted to trust what Nik was telling me, but doubt itched at the back of my mind. "Your Father paid me a visit last night and warned me of my Mothers plans. Don't worry, love. I'll keep our family safe."
Bekah scoffed and I looked up and understood that she had heard everything Nik had said. A look of frustration crossed her face before she was suddenly snatching my phone out of my hand and said, "That's all well and good, brother. But your words don't give me a lot of confidence. Our mother wants to end us, all of us." Bekah hissed into the phone as she continued with, "She was a powerful witch when she was alive and I have little doubt that she's still powerful. So I suggest finishing up whatever business you're up to and getting back to this drab little town. That or un-dagger Elijah and send him here to keep an extra eye on Serena."
I stared at Bekah with wide eyes as she shouted at her brother. It would have been amusing, if she hadn't reminded me that Elijah was daggered. I had my assumptions that Nik had daggered Elijah, but hearing it still made it all too real for me. It also implied that I was in for a not so peaceful family reunion when Elijah, Kol, and Finn were finally un-daggered.
I could faintly hear a growl coming from the other end of the phone and watched as Bekah rolled her eyes at whatever it was Nik had said to her. "Fine, be like that. But hurry up and finish creating your little army and get back here. We shouldn't take Lady Niamh's warning lightly." Bekah said before pausing to listen to her brother speak. "Yes, yes. I won't leave her side. Here," Bekah pulled the phone away from her ear and handed it back to me.
I took the phone back and placed it against my ear. "Nik, how much longer are you going to be gone for?" I asked softly and heard him sigh on the other end. "Come back, please." I didn't want to beg, and while a part of me understood that Nik had left for a reason, I hated being apart from him.
"Shhh now, love." His voice was soothing and had my chest tightening with emotion. "Just a couple more days and I'll be back in Mystic Falls before you know it."
"Promise?" I wanted his word. Even though I knew he was telling me the truth, I wanted to hear him promise me that he would be back soon. I knew he left to keep me safe from whatever it was that caused him to go off and create as many hybrids as he could, I still didn't understand why. Why couldn't he keep me safe right here in Mystic Falls? What had the Original Hybrid scared enough to leave me behind?
"I promise you, Serena. I will return and I won't leave your side once this is all over." While I didn't understand what he meant by once this was all over, I still took comfort in his promise. The two of us had a lot of catching up to do and I wanted that to happen sooner rather than later. I wanted my family whole again.
"I trust you, Nik." Our conversation ended there and I pulled the phone away from my ear before hanging up. I took in a shaky breath and did my best to hold back my tears. Bekah took a seat beside me and placed a comforting hand against my back as I reeled in my emotions. A part of me wanted to push Nik and have him reunite our family now, but another part of me was willing to wait until whatever danger Nik was worried about passed. I didn't love the idea of un-daggering my Fated Ones only to expose them to a powerful threat.
Whatever it was Nik was doing, I believed he was doing it to keep not just me safe, but his entire family. I was going to have to be patient and trust that Nik will take care of the danger.
After speaking to Nik, Bekah and I decided to end the day and the two of us went to bed in the guest room Bekah had comendreed as her room while staying at the boarding house. The next day the two of us got ready and headed off to school. Stefan was conveniently missing when we arrived at the school and I had a feeling he was being forced into a blood detox somewhere. Something I was happy to support because asshole Stefan was hard to be around.
Going to school and walking among the other students felt almost silly to me. The normal teenagers of Mystic Falls were all focused on school work and their social life. All of them were completely oblivious to the supernatural drama going on around them. Bekah was quite happy to blend in with the human treenagers and I knew she was glad to be able to live out a somewhat normal human teenage life. Granted, the actual school part of high school was boring to her considering how long she's walked the earth. Still, I couldn't help but enjoy the enjoyment she felt navigating high school life. I enjoyed humoring Bekah's need to be popular, and while reluctantly, I still chose to follow her as she made her way to cheer practice.
The cheer squad was holding their practice on the grass in front of the school today. I found an empty table where I could watch the practice and stay in sight of Bekah. I pulled out my homework and focused on the assignments I had to complete for next week. But while I tried to focus on the papers in front of me, I found my mind wandering to more pressing matters. Last night while I slept, all I could hear was my mothers voice whispering her warnings about Esther. Her words were all I could think about as I tried to get my homework done. I felt like I couldn't focus on one problem without another one suddenly popping up.
The reason Nik left was because of something Damon had said, yet he didn't tell Bekah or myself what that reason was. Now there was Esther, and while the woman I knew a thousand years ago was willing to do everything to save her children, time had drastically changed her opinion. Now she was set on killing her children and ending all vampires as a whole.
The fact that Esther could reach out from the other sider scared me. I knew she was powerful, and while Nik was confident that his mother wouldn't be coming back to life, I had doubts about that. I knew the magic that started the fire the other night felt familiar. It was Esther reaching out, but why try and kill Elena and I? Granted, if she wanted to hurt her children, my death would certainly do that.
I found myself so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn't notice Elena walking up to me until she was standing directly in front of me, blocking my view of the cheer squad. I blinked a few times before focusing on my sister and wondering what it was she wanted with me. Silence stretched out between us and I titled my head in curiosity as Elena stood there. She looked conflicted and worried about something. There was a moment in my mind where everything that happened in the last few months never took place. That betrayal I felt when I looked at her never happened and our relationship had never been damaged. A deep longing inside of me wanted that. I wanted us to go back to the way things were before vampires ever came into our lives.
But I knew things could never go back to the way they once were. There was too much hurt between us for things to just be pushed under the rug. Elena and I needed time to heal and a moment to talk and understand each other. But I had a feeling that talk was going to have to wait.
Before either one of us could say anything, Bekah approached and placed herself beside me. I could see the tension beginning to form between Elena and Bekah as they starred each other down. I stood up from the bench and placed a calming hand on Bekah's shoulder. Silently asking her to play nice. Bekah wasn't a fan of Elena after I told her I had been born as her twin sister and what had happened between us when Elijah showed up.
"What do you want?" Bekah sneered out and I couldn't help but sigh in defeat. So much for playing nice, but I should have expected as much. Her attitude was something I had grown used to growing up with her. Bekah had always been standoffish with those she deemed unworthy of my time. She had acted the same way when I spent time with Tatia.
Elena frowned at the Original before glancing over at me. "I was hoping we could talk."
"About what?" Bekah scoffed.
"Easy, Bekah," I muttered before looking over at my sister, "What is it that you want to talk about?"
Elena nodded her head and pulled something out of her bag, "I wanted to talk about this." She held up a photo. It took me a moment to figure out what I was looking at, but as my mind translated the ruins engraved in stone, a memory shot through me.
It was the first full moon after the death of my parents. The villagers spent their full moon nights in the caves not far from where they had settled the land they called home. I was nervous about spending time in the caves, but I was reassured by my Fated Ones that I would be safe, and they would not be far from my side. So as the villagers began to file into the caves, Bekah and I found ourselves distracted. The younger girl had found a knife among the supplies brought into the caves and two of us decided to carve our names into the stone walls.
"I remember this." I spoke softly as I reached out and took the photo out of Elena's hand. More names had been added to the list after Bekah and I had carved our names. Finn, Elijah, Niklaus and Kol were there. Henrik was also there and I felt my heart clench at his name. His death still stung, even a thousand years later. "Where did you find this?" I asked because I was curious as to where the caves we took shelter in every full moon were now a thousand years later.
"The Lockwood caverns lead to the cave where we found these at." Elena answered. "How much do you remember?"
"She remembers enough," Bekah snapped before I could answer Elenas question. "Why are you showing this to us?"
Elena frowned and glared at the vampire beside me, "I'm just curious as to why you and Klaus have spent a thousand years running from your father, that's all." Elena's words had my entire body snapping rigidly.
"What?" My voice choked out the question as I frantically looked over at Bekah. "He's been hunting you?"
Bekah refused to meet my gaze as I watched fear flash through her eyes. "You don't know what you're talking about." She spat as she glared at Elena with heat in her eyes.
"Well then, maybe I'll ask Mikael when we wake him." Elena shot back and I felt my world tilting. I should have known better than to assume that Mikael was long dead. He was a Viking warrior who had crossed unknown seas to relocate his family somewhere no one had ever been before. It was stupid of me to believe he was dead after a thousand years.
"You're bluffing!" Bekah gasped. "You don't know where he is. No one does."
"So, then who's rotting in that old cemetery in Charlotte?" Elena snapped back.
Bekah went stiff and suddenly I was no longer standing beside her as she placed herself between me and the table, blocking my view of Elena. My mind was trying to push the painful memories out of my head as I tried to regain my sense of being. Hearing that Mikael was still alive was not something I had been prepared for. Without thinking, I reached out and gripped Bekah's shirt in my fist. I needed to ground myself before panic truly set in.
"If you wake Mikael, we are all doomed." She hissed out. "You have no idea what he's done to my family. The terror he's caused."
"So then tell me." Elena shot back.
Bekah shook her head. "Why do you want to know? Why do you want anything to do with that monster? If you knew anything of what he's done, you wouldn't be asking me this."
Elena opened her mouth with a quick retort, but I spoke up before the words could leave her lips. "Stop." Elena's eyes snapped away from Bekah as she looked at me. "I can't do this right now, please just stop." I should have said more. I should have explained to her just how dangerous Mikael was. But my tongue felt like lead in my mouth and the words were trapped in my throat.
"Serena?" Elena looked concerned as I tried to hold myself together. This was not something I had been prepared for, and I felt weak knowing that that man still existed outside of my memories.
Bekah realized that I was overwhelmed and moved into action. She was quick in gathering my things from the table I had been sitting at just moments ago. She retook my hand and sent Elena a strong glare. "Listen well to my warning, doppelgänger, do not wake that monster."
Elena had no time to say anything more before Bekah was pulling me away from her. She quickly grabbed her own things as we left the school and headed for the parking lot. My stomach was in a twist as we loaded up into the SUV and drove away.
I managed to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat and looked over at Bekah as she drove. "How long?" I choked out. "How long has he been hunting you?"
"Since the beginning." The words were spoken softly, yet the weight they held threatened to drag me down. "He saw Nik as his greatest mistake and the rest of us as traitors because we chose Nik over him."
I turned away from Bekah and stared at the road ahead of us as we drove back to the boarding house. The vampire's words made my throat dry and my stomach swirl. I was devastated knowing that Mikael had survived all these years, and worse yet, he was actively hunting his own children. I was well aware that Mikael was a cruel man, but knowing that his cruelty had festered into something so ugly, made my skin crawl with fear.
"Bekah, where are your brothers? Kol and Finn, where are they?" My gut told me the two were daggered like Elijah, but I wanted to hear it from her. I wanted a small bit of hope that they were somewhere safe where if Mikael was awakened, he wouldn't find them.
Bekah was silent for a moment before saying, "None of us took your death well. My brothers were distraught and did not handle their grief well. Kol went on a killing spree, well we all did really, but he was by far the messy one. After a hundred years we all began to control our bloodlust, somewhat. Nik and Kol let their grief fester into bloodlust and anger. Elijah tried to heal and did his best to reign in Kol and Nik, but those two were impossible most of the time. Finn fell into a depression and let his grief overwhelm him so Nik daggered him and carted our brother around in a coffin." Bekah's words made my heart ache as I listened to her retelling of what her and her brothers went through after my death. "I wont get into the details because that is something for my brothers to discuss with you, but Nik daggered Kol about three hundred years ago after Kol tried to betray him. Their relationship between those two has been less than perfect. Now Nik carts around my daggered brothers in coffins that he hides all around the country."
I didn't know what to say to all that. I was disappointed that Nik would treat his brothers like that. Being daggered and placed inside of a coffin sounded macabre and grim. I wanted to apologize, but being sorry for my own death won't solve anything. Mikael had killed me and now he was a threat again. Him and his wife were both threats. But I was sorry, sorry that I had given my blood to Esther for the spell, sorry that I had tried to stop Mikael on my own, and that my lack of strength was what got me killed by the man. I was sorry that we didn't get the chance to spend our lives together.
"They won't be daggered for much longer." I announced tenderly. "When Nik returns, we'll find your brothers and we'll undagger them, together." Bekah glanced at me and I sent her a soft smile. She nodded her head and I could see the hope my words sparked in her eyes. I was happy to offer her that small amount of hope, but my stomach was still twisted in knots knowing my Fated Ones were daggered in coffins somewhere in the world. I had a feeling that my earlier assumption was correct that a not so peaceful family reunion was going to be taking place when the daggers came out.
This family was going to have a long road of healing to get back to what it once was. But I was determined to help them heal. I wanted to see them happy again. I wanted us all to be happy together, even if it took another thousand years, I was willing to try for them, and for me.
When Bekah and I arrived back at the boarding house, the air between us was lighter. Granted, knowing that Mikael was out there somewhere was still hanging over our heads, but for now he was asleep and would hopefully stay that way.
"Well, at least we know why Nik was so adamant on leaving and creating hybrids." Bekah commented as the two of us walked into the living room. "Now we just need to find out what Elena and the Salvatore brothers know."
I let out a sigh and pulled out my phone. "It might be easier to talk to Elena. I have a feeling that both Damon and Stefan are indisposed of at the moment." I sent a text to Elena telling her to meet us at the boarding house and that we would talk about Mikael.
"Perfect," Bekah said as she clapped her hands together. "Now, while we wait, how about a little fashion show."
I couldn't help but cringe at Bekah's words and sent her a look. "Fashion show? We spent all day shopping yesterday. How much more of a fashion show do we need?"
Bekah shrugged her shoulders and simply tossed her hair over her shoulder before saying, "That dance, the homecoming, is coming up and you and I are going to be the best dressed, even if I have to force the fabric on you." Bekah matched my look with a look of her own as she headed for the stairs. "Now come on, Serena, we have clothing to try on."
I was starting to worry over just how easily I gave into Bekah's demands as I watched her lay out dress after dress onto the bed in the room we had comendred. Most of the dresses were ones I couldn't even remember her purchasing yesterday.
"Now, you pick one to try on first and I'll go down stairs to find some actual good music. Come down after getting dressed." Bekah left after giving out her orders and I sighed at the idea of having to try on even more clothing. She had always been a demanding one, but it appears that a thousand years as a vampire had made it so much worse.
I could hear music coming from downstairs as I slipped into one of the dresses. It was a light blue number that ended just past my knees. It had a plethora of sequins sprinkled about the bust while the skirt flowed in silk ripples. I already wasn't a fan of the dress choice but decided to head downstairs and get Bekah's opinion anyway. She also agreed that it wasn't the dress for me, granted she used the word horrendous, but still it was mutual. I tried on two more dresses that we both once again decided weren't great and was pulling on another dress as I looked myself over in the full length mirror. The dress was a pale gray color made with a silk like fabric. The neckline wasn't deep but still showed a decent amount of skin as well as the skirt ending just at the knees. It was a pretty dress and I definitely liked it more than the others.
"Bekah, I think this one is-" My words cut off as I made my way downstairs to show the dress off to the vampire. The air in the boarding house had shifted and I could feel someone in the living room with Bekah. When I entered the living room I wasn't shocked to see my sister and Bekah having a stare down. "Elena." As soon as I said her name, Elena looked away from Bekah and turned her attention towards me.
She was quiet as she looked me up and down, no doubt she was amazed to see me dressed up. Dressing up and trying on dresses was never something I found interest in. I would never willingly subject myself to a makeshift fashion show, but this felt different. The bond between Elena and I was different from the bond I shared with Bekah. The bond I shared with Bekah ran deep, a thousand years deep. Bekah was my sister in all but blood, and I would always see her that way. But I had a feeling that wasn't something Elena would ever be able to understand.
"Now that one looks better. Do a twirl." Bekah's comment had me rolling my eyes and I shook my head at her.
"I'm not twirling." I muttered before stepping further into the living room. I stood before Elena and searched for the right words to say. "I know we have a lot to talk about, but let's start with what you know so far, about the Originals."
"Elijah told me that Mikael was a landowner in Europe? But he never said how you guys showed up here." Elena looked over at Bekah when she said the last few words.
Bekah shrugged and crossed her arms before speaking up, "My parents had just started a family when a plague struck their homeland. They lost a child to it." As Bekah spoke, a memory of Finn telling me about an older sister came to my mind. "They wanted to escape and protect their future family from the same fate."
I could see the look of confusion cross Elena's face, so I added, "The world was still very large and uncharted back then, but new land was being discovered every day, even if those who discovered it aren't in our history books."
"Serenas correct." Bekah added. "My mother knew a witch named Ayana, who heard from the spirits of a mystical land where everyone was healthy, and blessed by the gifts of speed and strength. That led my family here, where we lived amongst those people."
"You mean, the werewolves?" Elena asked as she looked over at me and I nodded. "What about you?"
I shook my head. "My family was already settled here by the time Bekah and her family came to these shores. In fact, my Father was a werewolf and had settled as part of the pack long before I was even born."
"Your father was a werewolf?" Elena looked at me in shock as I nodded my head.
"Yes, the werewolf gene wasn't passed down to me when I was born because of my Fae blood." I paused for a moment and thought about what I wanted to tell my sister next. "There's a lot to unpack and I do want to tell you everything that I can remember, but I'm not sure if either of us is ready for that. You can't deny that our relationship is fragile right now, and I know you don't understand why I'm spending so much time with Bekah."
Elena frowned at me and I could see an argument being formed in her thoughts, but I shook my head and started to speak. "I grew up with Bekah and her brothers. We were together almost all of the time. Any time my family traveled to their village to trade, I would seek them out. When my parents died, it was them who took me in." I looked over at Bekah and sent her a small, knowing, smile, "They were my family." I looked back over at Elena and thought back to my past. "But while we lived in peace for a long time, it wasn't meant to last. Henrik was their younger brother and it was his death that made their Mother create a spell that would create the Original vampires."
"Their mother made them vampires? How?" Elena looked baffled by the idea that Esther could do such a thing. But it was true.
"Well, my parents tried to get the witch Ayana to create a spell that would keep us all safe, but she refused." Bekah stated. "But my mother was also a witch, the Original witch, and took it upon herself to create the spell she desired."
"If your mother was a witch, then wouldn't you be one too?" Elena asked her.
"No, I'm not a witch," Bekah started to explain, "A witch is nature's servant, and a vampire is an abomination of nature. You can either be one or the other, never both. My mother did this for us. She did not turn."
I couldn't help but frown at Bekah's use of the word 'abomination', but let it go. "The spell was created using their mothers magic, but to be sure the spell worked and was full proof, she needed a very powerful ingredient." I said as Elena turned her attention back to me. "Fae blood is the most powerful ingredient a witch can use in a spell. So she begged me to help her keep her children safe, and because I loved them dearly as my own family, I gave her my blood willingly. With my blood used in the spell, I became directly connected to the creation of vampires." I couldn't help but smile sadly at Bekah as memories washed through my mind. "It made them stronger, faster, and far more powerful than anyone could have imagined. But the consequences were great. The bloodlust they all suffered through was strong and the fact that they burned in the sunlight was another factor they had to work through."
I was skimming over a lot of the story, but I knew Elena didn't need to hear all of it right now. For now, all she needed was the important parts to help her understand just who the Originals were. The memories from that night were burned into my mind and I wasn't ready to tell her how I had to watch each of my Fated Ones die right in front of my eyes as I was helpless to do anything to save them. After waking up from the literal nightmare, I had to watch as each of them drank blood and became something far from human.
Becoming vampires had heightened everything about them, including the bond that I shared between them. As humans it was a gentle tugging that kept them always looking in my direction. The bond was the Fates way of guiding them to me, but as vampires, that bond was so much stronger than what it had been. They became over protective and obsessed with keeping me near them. The emotions they had as humans became overwhelming as vampires, but I stayed with them through it all. I would never stop loving them, even as they became something as monstrous as blood drinkers.
"Your blood was used to create vampires?" Elena looked at me with wide eyes and I could only nod in confirmation before she shook her head and smartly decided to change the subject by asking, "Why did Mikael start hunting Klaus?"
"When Nik made his first human kill, it triggered his werewolf gene." Bekah began to explain. "With that, he became my fathers greatest shame."
"Elijah told me this part. Your mother had an affair with one of the werewolf villagers." Elena explained what she knew. "So Klaus wasn't Mikaels son."
Bekah nodded and uncrossed her arms, "Mother tried to make it right. She put the hybrid curse on Nik to suppress his werewolf side, and then she turned her back on him."
I couldn't help but cringe at Bekah's words before speaking up, "Nik was unaware that he wasn't Mikaels son, so it was a shock to everyone when he shifted. The curse his mother put on him was just an emission of the guilt she felt." I couldn't help but shake my head at the actions taken in the past. "It was wrong of her to do what she did. She used what was left over of my blood from the first spell, as well as blood from the doppelgänger, to place the curse on Nik."
I could see my words set in and Elena had at least some decent to look ashamed. She was well aware that doppelgänger blood had been used in the curse considering her part in breaking it. But now she was getting confirmation that my blood has also been used in creating the curse, and could have also been used to break it.
"Mikael went on a rampage and killed half the village after the curse was placed on Nik." Bekah continued on. "Then he came home and killed my mother."
I couldn't help but flinch at Bekah's words and stare at the ground with wide eyes. "Mikael killed your mother?" Elenas question had my heart thundering in my chest.
"He said she broke his heart so he would break hers. He tore it from her chest." I felt put off and confused at Bekah's words and realized she clearly didn't know the truth.
The truth being that Mikael didn't kill Esther. It was Nik. He had killed her out of pure rage. She had turned her back on him time and time again. She allowed her husband to hurt him and when she had the chance to make things right, she placed a curse on him that forced a part of himself to become locked away. But I wasn't about to let that stand. I remember finding out about the curse and confronting Esther. I wasn't going to let Nik live with the curse and told her I would find a way to break it. Fae blood was powerful, and my blood was used in creating the curse, so I knew it could be used in breaking it. But Esther feared that outcome, and her threats against my life set Nik off, cutting the last of his self control and he ripped her heart from her chest.
He did to protect me, I knew this, but he had been so broken. I remember holding him as he cried out in anguish at the actions he had taken against his own mother. I felt terrible being a part of the reason he killed her, but I felt almost relieved to have Esther dead. She had caused my Fated Ones so much pain with her actions, especially Nik. So I could never feel disgusted at his actions, but the fact that he had lied to Bekah gave me something to think about.
"Afterwards, my father set his sights on us." Bekah glanced over at me and Elena followed her line of sight. "He hunted us down, and we scattered, but as we split apart, Nik and I stayed behind to say goodbye to my mother. Serena was supposed to be with Elijah, but the two had come back to help with her burial."
I closed my eyes as I felt myself drowning in the memory. "Mikael found us." I spoke softly. "We split up again, in hopes of losing him, but he managed to catch up to Elijah and I. I became separated from Elijah, and Mikael found me. He was willing to spare my life if I told him where Nik was heading, but I refused." I felt my skin grow cold and tried to gather warmth by wrapping my arms around myself as I forced the words from my lips. "I begged him to let me go, I wasn't a fighter. I was weak against him. He told me my death would be a warning to his family. One they wouldn't be able to ignore." I closed my eyes and blacked out the light, "He killed me, and as I laid there dying, he told me how he would kill each of his children for choosing Nik over him."
"We had a vow," Bekah's voice broke me out of my memory and I let out a shaky breath before opening my eyes to look at her. "We had vowed to be together. Always and forever, but we failed."
I glanced over at Bekah and felt my heart ache at her words. Elijah, Nik, Bekah, and I had made that vow to one another over Esther's grave. I remember Elijah telling me that once we caught up to Kol and Finn we would remake the vow, but that never happened.
"Mikael killed you?" Elena was shocked. I could see the despair in her eyes as she took in everything I had just said. No matter how broken our relationship was, Elena was still my sister and it was clear in that moment just how much she still cared. But while I knew she loved me dearly, her love for me was something that caused her to make decisions for me thinking she was keeping me safe.
Elena was still frowning when she looked over at Bekah and asked, "You said 'always and forever' but Klaus locked you in a coffin for ninety years?"
Bekah glared at Elena, "We're vampires. Our emotions are heightened. I'm stubborn, Elijah's moral, and Nik," Bekah paused and glanced over at me before saying, "Nik has no tolerance for those who disappoint him. Over a thousand years as a family we've all made that mistake at least once. I've made it several times."
I couldn't help but frown at Bekah's words. It was irrational of me to feel this amount of guilt for Niks actions, but I couldn't help it. I was bound to Nik in a way no one would ever understand, and if I hadn't been killed by Mikael, I would like to believe that Nik wouldn't have become the way he is today. That Finn, Elijah, and Kol wouldn't be daggered.
"But you still love him?" Elena asked Bekah.
"He's my brother." Bekah stated. Elena could only nod at Bekah's answer. "Well now, you've heard what we've had to say, now leave."
"Serena's my sister," Elena glared at Bekah, "I won't leave unless she tells me to."
The two glared at each other with venom in their eyes. "Bekah, be nice." I sent the vampire a look before turning my gaze to Elena, "I know it's hard for you to understand, but I trust Bekah with my life, she's just looking out for me." I began to explain. "I'm asking you to trust me, Elena. Don't wake Mikael. Please."
There was so much conflict in my sister's eyes and I felt my heart drop knowing just how much I was asking of her. I wanted so badly for things to go back to the way they once were between us, but that wasn't possible. So this was my olive branch and while I had a feeling she wasn't going to keep any promises she was about to make me, I was hoping I was wrong.
"Okay." She caved. "We'll leave Mikael alone, but we still need to do something about Klaus." I frowned at her words, but before I could try and reassure her that Nik wasn't an issue, her phone began to ring. Elena answered, "Hello? Damon, where are you?" There was a pause. "Yes, I'm fine, so is Serena." Another pause as Damon spoke on the other end. "Is that Stefan? Damon! How could you let him out?" There was silence as Elena abruptly hung up the phone. "I need to go."
She glanced between Bekah and I. "It's alright, go help them." I figured they had Stefan locked up and were trying to detox him from human blood. I was used to the action since his first binge stint almost a year ago. Elena left and Bekah and I were left alone.
"I don't trust her." Bekah spoke up.
I knew she was right to be distrustful, but a part of me was hoping that Elena would take my words to heart and not betray my trust, again.
"I believe we could both use a drink," Bekah declared, "Where do they keep the vintage stuff?"
I didn't bother answering her as she went off in search of something for us to drink. As she went searching I went back up stairs and changed back into my jeans and long sleeve t-shirt I had been wearing earlier in the day. While the day had been harsh and full of digging up unwanted memories, I still somehow felt lighter as I made my way down stairs and found Bekah breaking open an old bottle of wine. Bekah poured the wine and I took a seat beside her on the couch. The two of us sat in silence as the moment washed over us.
My thoughts were flooded with memories of the past and I couldn't help but smile softly at the ones that made my stomach flutter with emotion. "Do you think Nik has a plan to kill Mikael?" I didn't dare speak too loudly as I voiced my question.
I glanced over at Bekah and watched as she swirled her wine around before taking a slow sip. "Yes," She answered after taking the glass away from her lips. "I'm sure my brother has something planned now that the curse has been broken."
"What should we do now?" I asked quietly. I gazed into the fire as the question rattled around in my head. "Can Mikael even be killed?" I knew that the Original vampires couldn't be killed by normal means.
"My father is in possession of the one thing that can kill us," Bekah began to explain. "He has a white oak stake."
I couldn't help but shake my head at her words, "But the tree was burned down." I remember the burning of that tree when it was discovered that it was the one thing that could kill them.
"My father managed to save a small part of it and has tried to use it to kill Nik many times throughout the years." Bekah took another drink before continuing with, "Because while the daggers work on us Original vampires, they could never work on Nik. The only thing that could kill him is the white oak stake."
I looked down at my own glass of wine and sighed. The creation of the daggers was a question I wasn't ready to have answered, because if I knew one thing, it's that there's a lot to unpack when it comes to the Mikaelsons.
"Bekah, I," My words fell flat off my tongue as I thought about what I wanted to tell her. She deserved to know the truth about her mother's death, but I wasn't sure if I was the right person to tell her. Nik should have done this a long time ago, but I was also at fault for her mothers death. "I'm going to go find something stronger." My chest felt heavy as I stood up from the couch. I felt like I was running away as I headed into the kitchen and slumped against the counter. The words just wouldn't come when I tried to think of how I was going to tell her the truth.
Bekah deserved to know what really happened to Esther. But the thought of her hating Nik, or me, hurt. I knew Bekah loved her mother, even after everything she had done to her family. Esther was still her mother. All Bekah ever wanted was to be loved by her family. I know very well that I loved her, that her brothers loved her, but she always longed for the love of her mother and father. But growing up with Mikael as a father wasn't easy, and Esther was a woman who bent to the will of her husband.
Still, even though I felt that Esther's death was well deserved for what she did to her children, Bekah deserved the truth.
I stood up from my slumped position and squared my shoulders. I didn't give myself time to over think what I was about to do, and headed for the door leading back out into the living room. But as I reached the door, I felt something in the air. I recognized the shift in the air as Elena and felt confusion as I opened the door and looked out into the living room.
"Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing to you!" Bekah's shout had my heart stopping my chest and blood running cold. I hurried to where I saw Elena and her standing near the fireplace.
"Klaus killed your mother. He has a hold on you, on me, on everyone. He has for a thousand years. We have to make it stop." Elena's words made my stomach roll with anger as I watched as Bekah fell to her knees in despair.
"Enough!" I shouted as I rushed to Bekah's side and took her into my arms. "Stop it, Elena. You've done enough."
"She deserves to know the truth, Serena. Klaus killed her mother." Elena argued back. I sent my sister a glare.
"It wasn't your place to tell her, Elena." I spat. "She isn't someone you can try to bend to your will by turning her against her brother." Bekah gripped my arms as she sobbed and I felt my heart break for her. I was mad that Elena could be so callous when telling Bekah such a hurtful truth.
"You knew, didn't you?" Elena stated with a whisper. "You knew that Klaus had killed her mother."
I sent her another glare before reluctantly nodding my head. "Yes, I knew. I was there when he killed her." Bekah pulled away slightly and I turned my head to look at her. Her eyes were red with tears and I felt her sorrow leaking into my bones.
"You were there." She looked at me with such a heart broken look that I felt my throat being too close up with emotion.
"Yes, Bekah. I was there." I spoke softly as I gently loosened my arms from around her. "I was going to tell you the truth, I just didn't know how."
The look of hurt that crossed Bekah's face made my heart break. The look of betrayal that shimmered in her eyes as her tears continued to fall made my chest grow tight as I tried to find the words to help ease her pain.
"Klaus has caused nothing but pain to everyone around him. He needs to be stopped." My head snapped up at the sound of my sister's voice. I sent her a heat filled glare as I held Bekah in my arms.
"Shut up, Elena." I hissed out. "Not another word. You have no idea what you're talking about." I had never been so mad and disappointed in my sister as I was at that moment. Not even her sending me away could match how hurt I felt at her actions. She was using Bekah's sorrows to help create a case against Nik, Bekah's own brother. "If you have any sense of empathy, you'll stop talking and leave."
"Serena," Elena looked hurt at my words, but I didn't back down as I continued to glare at her. She had crossed a line today, and I wasn't willing to hear her excuses for her actions.
"Leave, Elena." My sister said nothing and she turned and left. With Elena gone, I turned my full attention to Bekah. "I'm sorry, Bekah. I really am."
"How could he? How could he kill her? She was our mother." Bekah's words were filled with anguish and heart ache. I could understand Nik's reasoning for not telling Bekah the truth, he didn't want her to turn her back on him for what he's done. But guilt ate at me knowing I was also a part of the reason he never told her the truth.
"It's my fault," I choked out. I sat back and removed my arms from around Bekah. I couldn't look at her, so I stared down at my hands as I thought back to that day so long ago. "I had confronted Esther about the curse. Nik walked in on us arguing and Esther threatened to hurt me and it set Nik off. He was already on the edge of lashing out after what happened, he acted without thinking." I hated having to explain this all to Bekah. "I don't want you to hate Niklaus for what he's done. He loves you, he always has. I know he's done things over the last thousand years that makes it hard for you to forgive him, and I'm the last person who should be asking you to do such a thing. But please, don't hate him."
The silence was thick between us. I squeezed my eyes shut as I held back my own tears. I hated the wounds that have been left behind in the family I loved as my own. I hated the doubt that grew inside of me as the weight of how much pain they all must be holding onto after all these years. I doubted myself because I wasn't sure I could heal them.
"You're right," Bekah's voice broke me out of my own uncertain thoughts. "I can't hate him, not ever after this." She let out a humorless laugh and I looked up at her. "He's vengeful and trusts no one, but he's still my brother, and with you here, I know he'll change for you." Our eyes met and I felt my blood rush through my ears as her eyes filled with hope. "With you here, means I'll finally have my brothers back and we can be a family again."
Tears sprung to my eyes and I didn't bother fighting them as I threw my arms around Bekah. Her words made my chest grow warm with hope. I wanted nothing more than to have them all back in my life. I know things wouldn't be the same as they were a thousand years ago, but in time, we could have something new. As Bekah and I held each other, I imagined us all together again. Things would be hard, but I knew it would all be worth it, and as soon as Mikael was taken care of, I would hold Nik to his promise.
"I'm sorry for the way you had to find out." I pulled back from Bekah and brushed away my tears with my hands. "Elena had no right in springing this on you like that."
"Yes, well, your sister is a real piece of work." Bekah whipped away at her own tears as she spoke, adding a bit of venom on the word 'sister'.
"I have no doubt that her plan was to turn you against Nik and help them with Mikael." I admitted. I stood up and helped Bekah off the ground.
"Maybe," Bekah looked at the ground with a thoughtful look before her eyes looked up at me, "What if it worked? Mikael can't know you're alive. If I agree to work with Elena and Salvatore brothers in bringing Nik down, then I can keep a better eye on what they tell Mikael."
"I don't know Bekah. I don't trust Mikael not to hurt you to get to Nik." I said with unease. "I'm also not sure I trust my sister and Damon at the moment. And while I don't particularly like Stefan being compelled, it does help us not have to worry so much about him betraying Nik."
"I don't trust any of them, but if Mikael is awake, he can't know about you." Bekah stressed the importance of her words. "I'll be sure to feed Nik everything I know and he can plan around their moves."
I could only nod my head at Bekah's plan. She was right, Mikael couldn't find out that I was in Mystic Falls, or that I was even alive. I couldn't let him use me against Nik. I was a weakness, and without knowing how to defend myself against a vampire as old as Mikael, I needed to stay out of this. So Bekah and I thought it best if I went back home for the night. If Mikael was awake, then the boarding house was no longer safe for me. Bekah promised to check in and I headed back home.
~Break~
The stress from the day's events weighed heavily on Elenas shoulders as she got ready for bed. Surprisingly enough, Serena had shown up at the house, but she completely ignored Elena before retreating to her room. Elena was aware that she deserved the silent treatment, but was unwilling to feel bad about what she did. If her actions led to Klaus being dealt with and the hold he had on all of them was released, then she wouldn't back down. Even if her sister hated her for it, she was going to do everything to keep her family safe.
Elena stepped out of the bathroom and made her way into her room when she suddenly spotted someone laying in her bed, "Damon! Seriously?" The vampire smirked at the startled teenager.
"We got Mikael." Damon stated triumphantly.
"What? How?" Elena approached her bed and stared down at the smirking vampire.
"No idea. I guess Katherine came through." Damon began to explain. "Plans in motion. See, I told you I had it. So go ahead, kick, yell, scream. I'm sure you've been planning your rant all day."
Elena crosses her arms and shakes her head. "I'm not going to yell at you." She admitted.
"Why not?" Damon questioned with a frown. "I went behind your back and freed Stefan. And you know what? It backfired. He's an even bigger dick than ever," Damon paused, "Now he's just a dick that's on our side."
"I'm not mad. I'm tired." Elena was telling him the truth. Elena was exhausted after the day she had. "I just want to go to bed."
Damon ignored Elena as she began to pull at the covers. "You know, I think Mikaels weapon is a stake, cause he mentioned something about it," Damon mentioned.
"That's interesting," Elena muttered as she gave up on trying to get the vampire to move and just crawled into bed.
"So I was right. After all that, the wall lead us to Mikael." Damon summarized with another smirk as Elena laid down beside him.
Elena let out a tired sigh and thought back to her confrontation with Bekah earlier. "Lead us to more than just that. I think I got Rebekah on our side."
"Really?" Damon asked with a raised brow, "What did you learn from her?"
"I learned that she's just a girl who lost her mom too young." Elena began to explain. "And that she loves blindly and recklessly, even if it consumes her." She paused and stared at the vampire laying next to her. "And when it's all said and done, there's nothing more important than the bond of family."
Damon shifted so he could look Elena in the eyes. "Well, you should tell that to my brother."
"I'm not mad at you for letting him out, Damon." Elena let out another sigh. "I think that you're gonna be the one to save him from himself. It won't be because he loves me, it'll be because he loves you."
Damon felt uncomfortable about the statement. He did believe that his brother loved him, but was it enough to bring him back? "What about Serena?" The question felt heavy on his tongue, but it had to be said.
"I don't know." Elena admitted softly. "I know she's holding back and hasn't told me everything. I mean, I didn't even know her memoirs were back. She's hiding things from me, and I hate it."
Damon frowned. Serena wasn't one to hide things from her family. He could always get her to tell him things when they were siblings. But he noticed the change in her after Klaus came back to Mystic Falls with Rebekah. Serena was keeping her distance from everyone, not just him and Elena.
"She's hiding something." He stated matter-of-factly.
"I know." Elena added. "We need to keep Mikael from finding out about her. He's the one who killed her in her first life. He can't find out about her."
Damon's face screwed up in distress with the knowledge that Mikael had killed Serena. Working with man felt even more distasteful now, but if Mikael ment ending Klaus, then he would do it.
"Let's finish this tomorrow." Elena settled herself and got comfortable.
"Sure." Damon answered as he watched the girl slowly begin to fall asleep.
A/N: I've been using all of my free time to work on the next few chapters, because I am so excited to get to posting. So thank you to everyone who reads this story for your patience. I'm doing all of the edits and grammar checks on my on, which I don't mind, it just take me longer to post some weeks. To AO3 readers, I'm still working on posting over there, so keep an eye out.
Thank you to everyone who had favorited and followed this story, and a thank you to all new and old readers. I hope you guys are excited for the next few chapters to come.
Stay safe.