A/N: Let's get the show on the road!
I do not own The Vampire Diaries. All characters (except for Grace) belong to author L.J. Smith.
The lyrics to 'Love Story' belongs to Taylor Swift, and the lyrics to 'When The Darkness Comes' belongs to Colbie Caillat. None of these brilliant songs belong to me; I'm just borrowing them.
Please review respectfully with your thoughts, and please, no flaming.
Enjoy xx
WHEN THE DARKNESS COMES
"Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand.
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head."
~William Shakespeare.
~: En-route to and at the Mikaelson Mansion :~
I had just made it out of the woods and half way up the main road, when Damon unexpectedly caught up with me in his car. He honked his car horn, causing me to nearly jump into oncoming traffic. I took two steps back away from the road, and attempted to calm down my racing heart as I glared over at him.
"You goin' my way?" He joked, obviously unfazed by my annoyance. I rolled my eyes and strode over to the window that he wound down so he could talk with me.
"You offering?" I asked, mildly. Then winced when I realised I had uttered an unintentional double entendre.
"Anytime, babe. Just say the word." Damon responded, winking licentiously. I aimed a devilish smirk back at him.
"You wouldn't be able to handle me, sweet cheeks." Walking away, I paused when Damon suddenly got out of the car and called out to me.
"No, in all seriousness; I'll give you a lift back into town." He insisted and I turned to look at him. "Or wherever..." He added, trailing off and looking uncomfortable. I smiled and shook my head as I walked over to the passenger side and hopped into the car.
"A lift to Nik's house would be widely appreciated." I requested, as Damon, surprisingly enough, merely nodded and drove off. "What about you? What are you up to for the rest of the day?" I asked him.
Damon frowned, thoughtfully. "Dunno, probably try and find a way to prevent Stefan from pissing off your boyfriend any further than he already has. You?"
"Going with Nik to a fundraiser held at the Founders' Hall." I replied, promptly.
"The fundraiser for the Wickery Bridge Restoration thing? Didn't think that would be something Klaus'd be interested in." Damon raised an eyebrow.
"He's not. Nik's got another motive for going tonight." I responded. "Something to do with Mrs. Lockwood."
"Carol? Oh, shit. That can't be good." Damon pointed out, and I grinned. "Looks like I'm going to the fundraiser also."
"Be careful, Damon. Don't fuck up Nik's plans; he's only resorting to Carol Lockwood to get Stefan to back off and return his property to him." I defended my boyfriend's actions.
"Yeah, like that's gonna intimidate him." Damon scoffed.
"My sentiments exactly. But, you should know Nik by now. He can be as stubborn as a mule." I said.
"Can be?"
"Watch it, Damon." I warned him.
He chuckled lightheartedly before pulling up at the elegant black metal electric gates for the address I had rattled off to him in a hurry. Damon had to look twice at the newly refurbished mansion he had once rescued me from once-upon-a-time.
"Hang on, isn't this...?"
"Yes, it is." I confirmed, smiling pleasantly.
Damon snorted, "Nothing like flashin' the cash, huh?"
"You can talk. You've got overly priced aged bourbon back at your place. Don't be a hypocrite." I scolded him, as I unbuckled my seat belt and got out of the car.
"Well, at least I know where to drop off Jeremy tomorrow morning." Damon realised, ignoring the 'hypocrite' label while eyeing the beautifully landscaped mansion with mistrust.
"So I guess I'll see you tonight then?" I said.
"Somebody's gotta keep my brother from losing his head and to hold his tongue." Damon shrugged, before giving me a mock salute and taking off down the road, presumably back to the Boarding House.
I chuckled and turned towards the pedestrian entrance to the Mikaelson Mansion and pushed the call box buzzer on the door to gain entry.
"May I help you?" Mindy's voice responded over the intercom. I pressed the speak button to respond.
"Mindy, hi! Could you let me in, please?" I answered, brightly.
"Certainly. One moment." Mindy replied formally, before there was a loud buzzing noise and the door unlocked itself to allow me to push through, and close the gate behind me. I walked calmly up the expansive driveway to the double doors and was just about to raise my hand to rap on the wood, when Henrik answered.
"What's up?" I asked, as I took in Henrik's slightly apprehensive and panicked expression. He beckoned me in and I moved without hesitation.
"Stefan's here." Henrik whispered, as he closed the front doors. I groaned, and raised a hand to my face. "He looked like he meant business too. What the hell happened down at the old witch house?" He wanted to know, still whispering.
"He was trying to gain access into the fourth coffin. It's been sealed shut by Nik for a reason, but both Damon and Stefan are still curious about what's inside it." I replied, also whispering.
"Why do they want to open the coffin?" Henrik was confused.
"It's mostly Stefan who wants a peek inside. Damon's curious, but not suicidal. Meaning that if the coffin had somehow been opened, he'd be interested to see what was being kept hidden, but otherwise, he'd rather steer clear of the drama." I explained.
"Smart man." Henrik muttered.
"I believe the term is careful." I corrected. "Where are they?" I asked him, and Henrik shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Nik's study." He replied.
Damn! The one place I wasn't allowed in just yet. Still, didn't mean that I couldn't attempt to eavesdrop on whatever conversation they were having.
"How long ago did Stefan arrive?" I asked him, as I headed in the direction of Nik's study.
"About five minutes before you did." Henrik said.
"Thanks." I took off in that direction.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Henrik looked alarmed. I turned and glanced back at him, walking backwards as I went.
"To eavesdrop. Gotta find out what Stefan's up to somehow, right?" I said, winking at him reassuringly.
I faced back the way I was going and walked as silently as I could – knowing that my footsteps could probably be heard by all the vampires in this place – and approached the double doors that I knew led into Nik's study and art studio.
The doors were open ajar, and I paused in front of them reaching up to knock and let Nik know that I was here, and would be hanging out with Henrik until he was available again.
"I'm surprised you're still in town." I jumped when Nik suddenly spoke, very clearly and close by. I seriously thought I was busted. But then... "I gave you your freedom, you could have gone anywhere."
Mindy suddenly emerges from the study, eyes widening when she saw me. I immediately narrowed my eyes and raised a finger to my lips so she wouldn't give me away. Mindy shrugged and wondered off.
"I live here, Klaus." Stefan replied, with a hard voice.
Nik let out an amused chuckle. "Well, if we're playing this game, then … I was here first." Nik whispered that last part with a warning tone. I walked over to the wall beside the double doors and leaned against it, waiting impatiently for them to continue their conversation.
"You know, I don't like your hybrid friends." Stefan stated, and I just barely stopped myself from snorting at this.
Tell us something we don't already know...
"They're everywhere, kind of like fleas. I want them gone."
"Yeah, well I kind of like having them around." Nik answered, dismissively. "You know, I'm hurt. I hoped that when I freed you, we'd pick up where we left off. But here you are, guzzling vervain like the rest of them, I'm sure." He sighed, heavily. "So much for friendship."
"Friends don't strip friends of their free will." Stefan pointed out, mulishly. I imagined Nik thinking that statement over before shrugging,
"Okay, granted, yeah, that was a little extreme; but I get moody." He confessed, and I rolled my eyes. "Just ask my siblings." He set something down with a small clatter that sounded like the wooden handle of a paintbrush. "Speaking of whom, isn't it time you handed them over?" He asked, serious.
"Klaus, get your hybrids out of Mystic Falls or I will remove them myself." Stefan demanded, and I winced.
Bad move. Nobody tells Nik what to do. EVER! Stefan was very close to becoming a condemned man. But I was pretty sure, that would not faze him at all.
Nik's voice was as smooth as silk, "Hmmm. You see, if you continue to threaten me, I'm gonna be forced to retaliate. Kill people. And it will get messy again."
"Do whatever you want, I don't really care." Stefan replied, icily. "Or you know what? Maybe I do. Maybe I care so much, that I'll drop Elijah in the Arctic." He continued threatening. Footsteps approached the doors, and my eyes widened in alarm as I quickly backpedalled out of the way so that I didn't immediately appear, at first glance, that I had been eavesdropping on their conversation. It was very clear that Stefan wasn't going to be backing down this time or taking prisoners.
Somebody was going to get hurt; whether it be physically or emotionally.
"Well, maybe I'll be willing to lose one brother if it meant killing yours." Nik retorted. Stefan's fingers curl around the door, in his aim to pull it open and leave.
Thankfully, he paused to answer Nik.
"Try me, let's find out." The door swung open and Stefan stepped out … only to freeze when he saw me standing there, attempting to look like I had only just arrived and not looking like I had been eavesdropping all along. His green eyes narrowed almost immediately. "What are you doing here?" Stefan demanded, taking a step towards me and I took a step back, not replying. "How much did you hear?" When I still didn't respond Stefan blurred over to me, grabbing my arms in a bruising hold and I flinched; yelling out in pain. "I asked you a question!"
"Let her go!" I winced in pain as I glanced over Stefan's shoulder at Nik who had appeared in the doorway, looking fierce. Stefan glanced over at Nik with a defiant glare, as though challenging him to make him release me. "I invited Grace here." Nik continued talking, then in a blink of an eye I found myself staring at his back and heard Stefan grunting in pain as a bone snapped. "Manhandle her like that again, and you won't need to worry about my hybrids being in town, because you will be dead!" He snarled, threateningly. I peered over Nik's shoulder and saw that Stefan's wrist was at a weird angle. "Our business here is concluded. I'm sure you have some place you need to be."
Stefan stoically grabs his broken wrist and jerks it back into place, just as Mindy rushes into the room; looking concerned.
"Is everything okay?" She asks, politely.
Nik doesn't bother looking at her, "Everything is fine, Mindy. Stefan was just leaving after failing to make his point, and attempting to harm Grace."
Stefan, realising that he had overstayed his welcome, turns to leave with Nik still standing protectively in front of me; watching him go. He passes by a work table that still hadn't been collected from after the renovations on this mansion had been finished, and pauses reaching for something. I frowned when he picked up a saw from the work table, then vamp-speeds without warning over to a caught off guard Mindy, and cuts her head off with one clean swing.
I gasped in horror and immediately turned to hide my face into Nik's back, gripping his shirt tightly in my hand and trembled with fright. I felt him reach back and grab my hand in his, rubbing it soothingly with his thumb in an attempt to comfort me. Even though I was used to bloodshed and violence by now; seeing somebody's head being lobbed off from their body was still not something you'd wish to witness.
"Well, one down. You may want to, ah, send the rest of them away before it gets messy, again." Stefan comments casually, before throwing the bloodied saw back on the work table and leaving the mansion, slamming the doors behind him.
The minute Stefan left, Nik immediately turns and pulls me into a comforting embrace; turning us both so that my back was to the grisly display in the event that should I pull away from his arms, I was not likely to cop an eyeful of the corpse. This occurred seconds before Rebekah rushed into the room with Henrik on her heels, having heard the commotion from another part of the mansion.
I was still trembling out of fear, and I had my eyes shut tight; trying to avoid looking at the headless corpse. This was almost as worse as seeing Jeremy hacking off Tony's head with a butcher's cleaver, and I nearly missed Rebekah's outburst the second I heard her heels clacking as she came into the room.
"Bloody hell..." Henrik muttered, sounding just as horrified as I did, and I saw it first hand.
"What the hell happened in here?" Rebekah exclaimed, her footsteps coming closer to us. I didn't need to look up at them to know that Rebekah's blue eyes were wide in shock, and Henrik was studiously avoiding looking in the headless Mindy's direction like I was. "Was there an attempt on Grace's life?" She added, obviously assuming that I was involved somehow because I was being comforted by a still very angry Nik.
"No. This was the handiwork of Stefan; an attempt to unsuccessfully prove a point." He responded, pulling one of his arms away from me to dig around in one of his pockets. I glanced down and noticed him pulling free his phone. "Do me a favour; call somebody to clear away the mess, will you?" Nik requested; although, it sounded more like an order. He threw his phone in Rebekah's general direction, and she must've caught it because I immediately heard her footsteps retreating away.
The next thing I knew, the world was blurring all around me as Nik relocated to a different room, and I realised that we were in the living room, because I could feel the couch cushion underneath me as I was pushed down onto it, and the warmth of the fireplace down my right side. Nik sat in front of me on the coffee table, still attempting to comfort.
"What can I do to help?" Henrik requested, from my left side.
"Could you give us some privacy, brother. Grace needs me for the moment. However, you can call Tyler Lockwood and request that he comes here." Nik replied. "I have a favour I need to ask of him."
"Sure thing." Henrik replied, before running from the room. There was silence for several seconds, broken only by the fire crackling and spitting in the hearth and the sound of Nik's sluggish heartbeat underneath my ear.
"Are you alright?" Nik murmurs to me, and I slowly pull away and look him in his concerned blue-green eyes. I nodded slowly, and Nik reached up to wipe underneath my eyes with his thumbs.
Oh, great. I was crying.
Wonderful, now I feel really stupid.
"You know it's rude to eavesdrop, don't you?" Nik gently admonished me, and I immediately felt sheepish. Should've known that he could sense that I was there. I just wonder why Stefan hadn't picked up on it? "If you wanted to know what was discussed between Stefan and myself, you need only to ask me." He stated, and I grimaced.
"How do I know that I would be guaranteed a response?" I asked him, and felt him hook a finger underneath my chin to raise it up so he could look me in the eye. He was looking at me rather sternly.
"Because I know that I can trust you, darling." Nik replied, gently.
"Oh." I said, rather lamely.
"Do you have anything to share with me about your trip to the old witches' burial site?" Nik asked me. It was obvious that his temper had not simmered down just yet, and that he was holding it at bay.
"Sorry?" I blinked at him with surprise.
"That is why you returned, isn't it?" Nik asked me, and I frowned at him.
"No, it was not the only reason, Niklaus." I responded, a little hurt, and I ignored the taken aback expression on his face when I used his whole name. "I came back because I wasn't ready to be separated from you just yet." I explained.
A pleased smile appeared on Nik's face. "I see..."
"I only went back to my apartment to freshen up. And if it wasn't for the fact that Damon had asked me to come along with him to the old witch house as back up against Stefan, I would've come back here by now." I stated, flatly.
"You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that, my love." Nik said, still smiling happily.
"Well, I'm not so sure I'm going to stay after all." I said, getting to my feet. "If all you want from me is information..." I made an attempt to leave … only to be instantaneously pulled towards Nik, who perched me on his lap so that I was facing him.
"Oh no, my love. Believe me, I want so much more from you than just information." His voice was like warm honey; just oozing lust as he wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled me extremely close. I chuckled and blushed when I realised what he was implying. "Now, what was it that you needed to tell me?" Nik requested, patiently.
I swallowed, trying to lubricate my suddenly dry mouth before replying. "Uh, only that Stefan has recruited Bonnie into making an attempt to spell open one of the coffins. The one that has been sealed shut." I responded, dully.
Nik blinked, before frowning. "Thank you for letting me know, Grace." He muttered, pulling me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, resting my forehead against his as I attempted to continue trying to calm him down.
A hybrid, whom I recalled Nik telling me was named Daniel, barged into the room carrying a garbage bag. Nik immediately turned on him.
"You better have a very good reason for intruding on a private moment with my girl." He demanded, using a dangerous tone, just as Rebekah and Henrik entered the room as well. Rebekah was glowering at Daniel for his lack of tact.
"Apologies, Nik. He should've knocked before coming in." She explained, glowering at the cowed hybrid.
"Well, it's too late now. What do you want?" Nik drawled, impatiently at Daniel.
"Sorry, sir. But what do you want me to do with her head?" Daniel asked, raising the bag into the air. I immediately shuddered when I realised what Daniel was talking about, causing Nik to squeeze me comfortingly and kiss my temple, before responding dismissively to his hybrid.
"Just get rid of it. Burn it. I honestly don't care, Daniel." Nik said before getting to his feet, and pulling me to mine as Daniel left the room with Mindy's head. Tyler walks in passing by Daniel; eyeing Nik, Rebekah, Henrik and myself with suspicion.
"You called? I'm here. What happened?" Tyler gets straight to the point. Nik raises my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles before directing me to go and take a seat on the couch with Henrik. He then directs his attention back to Tyler.
"What happened, is Stefan had two paths in front of him and he chose the one that made me angry. I need you to help me do something about that." He explained, in a hard voice.
Tyler groaned unhappily, "Can't you just leave me out of it?"
"What would be the point in that?" Nik asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Seriously man, can't you just get one of your other hybrids to do your bidding?" Tyler complained. "I lost my friends, my girlfriend..."
"Right, your, uh, your girlfriend." I eyed Nik questioningly, wondering where he was going with this knowledge. What did Tyler having a girlfriend have to do with anything? I soon got my answer. "Um, about her … I need you to bite her."
"Nik!" I blurted out, horrified. He aimed a warning glance at me, and I frowned at him.
"What?" Tyler looked stunned.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"A hybrid bite will kill a vampire." Tyler reminded Nik, who who became very flippant.
Nik, what are you doing...? I thought, knowing better than to verbalise my objections out loud when Nik was in this unpredictable mood.
"Yeah. Yeah, I know exactly what it will do." Nik stated, sounding falsely apologetic. "Uh, Stefan pushed me too far, so I'm pushing back."
Tyler frowned, "I'm not biting Caroline."
My eyes widened in dismay as Nik glared back at Tyler for his repeated defiance, but surprisingly enough, managed to relax at the last minute. That could not be considered a good thing. Henrik and I exchanged worried looks with each other. But a quick glance at a stoic Rebekah proved to us that even she wouldn't go up against her raging brother either.
"Tyler, I've been supernaturally blessed with the good fortune of a sire bond to you. So, one could consider this me putting your undying loyalty to the test." Nik pointed out.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I'm not hurting Caroline!" Tyler yelled, angrily.
Nik rolled his eyes at Tyler's raised voice, and put up his hands. "Alright. Alright." He said, indicating to Tyler to calm the hell down. "I'm disappointed, but you know, it's your choice, free will and all that." Nik told him. Tyler looked surprised then suspicious at Nik's sudden change of heart. "I'll find another way to strike at Stefan. You can go now."
That seemed almost too easy.
The three of us – Rebekah, Henrik and I – watched as Tyler immediately left, before I threw a mystified look at my boyfriend.
"What the hell are you playing at?" I demanded.
"I think I need a little more information than that, love." Nik responded, pleasantly.
"That wasn't like you to let Tyler get away with back chatting you like that. What gives?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest as I waited for an explanation. Nik sighed patiently, before striding over to explain.
"Do you know how the sire bond works, sweetheart?"
"Not really, no." I replied. "I didn't even know it existed."
"Simply put. When a human is first turned into a vampire; if they have had strong feelings for the vampire who turned them beforehand, – doesn't matter if the feelings are romantic or out of respect – sometimes they trigger what is known as a sire bond with them." Nik lectured me.
"And?"
"And, a vampire who is 'sired' to another vampire will unconsciously do exactly what their 'sire' tells them to do. Whether or not they want to or not." Nik tells me, with a smug little smile that I didn't like seeing on his face. It only spelt trouble.
"So what you're telling me; is that Tyler, sooner or later tonight or when he next sees Caroline is going to bite her even if he doesn't want to?" I guessed.
"Precisely."
I looked at him with horror, "That's horrible!" I shifted my arms a little and hissed when pain throbbed where Stefan had grabbed them in a tight grip.
"What is it?" Rebekah asked, coming over to me. I didn't reply to her question, in favour of shrugging out of my army jacket and inspecting my arms for damages. Sure enough, there were perfect black and blue handprints of Stefan's hands on my arms. "Those bruises look painful, love." My sister commented, looking angry and drawing Nik's attention. I swore underneath my breath as I angrily snatched up my jacket from the couch and pulled it back on. "Do you want some blood to clear that up?"
I shook my head, "I'll live. I can't be constantly asking you for blood every time I get hurt." I said, sullenly. "Besides, it should only be consumed for serious injuries." But when I moved again, twinging the bruises; I realised that it was probably worse than it looked. I heard an audible crunch of fangs tearing through flesh, and glanced up to see that Nik had torn through his wrist.
"Drink up, darling." He insisted, holding out his wrist to me. I hesitated; grimacing at his blood coating his lips, before I sighed and stepped over to him, taking his wrist in my hands. As I lowered my mouth to his wound, he spoke up again. "For the record, Grace. Nobody in this family will allow you to be hurt. Not again. We would rather you consume our blood, die and come back to us in transition, than watch you die again without any hope of return." Nik informed me.
I glanced over at Rebekah, who was nodded vehemently; agreeing wholeheartedly with what her brother said. I sighed and pulled away, nodding, but still uncomfortable. "Thanks, Nik."
"Always." Nik smiles at me, pulling away once the wound closed up, and headed back out of the door. Rebekah observes him, curiously, as all three of us follow him out of the living room and across the foyer towards his office. The blood that had been smeared and sprayed on the ground when Stefan killed Mindy, had been cleared away and bleached.
It was like nothing gruesome had happened there in the first place. Rebekah pauses in front of the office door where Nik had disappeared into.
"What are you up to now, Nik?" She asks. He re-emerges shrugging on his black leather jacket as he strides across the foyer towards the double doors. "I'm starting to get bored."
"That's not really my problem, now is it?" Nik replied, checking to see if he had his keys and phone as he muttered something to one of his hybrids who appeared out of nowhere, as though summoned. "As to what I'm 'up' to? Well, I'm carrying out a few 'errands' before Grace and I attend the fundraiser tonight." He stated briefly.
"Grace is going with you to that fundraiser?" Rebekah was surprised.
"You're more than welcome to attend as well, Bekah. But I'm not sure that it's going to be all that interesting." Nik smirked, knowing full well that Rebekah was going to decline the offer.
And sure enough... "As tempting as that sounds, I think I will pass." Rebekah stated, predictably, giving Nik a sarcastic smile before she turns on her heel and disappears off somewhere in the mansion.
Nik turns and looked at me with an apologetic smile on his face. "I know you had your heart set on spending some more time with me, but-"
"I know, Nik. Getting Elijah, Finn and Kol back takes first priority. I agree." I finished his explanation, before shrugging. "I guess, I'll go curl up somewhere and read my book, or do some sketching, or watch a movie with Henrik." I listed the possibilities. "I'll think of something to amuse myself until tonight." I reassured him with a smile.
"That's my girl." Nik complimented me, kissing my forehead. "By the way, I have a present waiting for you in the ballroom." He said, mysteriously.
I blinked, "A present?"
"Yeah. I'm positive that you will love it." He stated confidently, before giving me one last kiss and disappearing out of the double front doors with two of his hybrids trailing after him. "Stay safe, and keep out of trouble." Nik called back.
I closed the door and turned to look at Henrik, curiously.
"Do you know about this … surprise Nik has gotten for me?" I asked, suspiciously. Henrik looked like he was trying and failing to hide a smirk.
"Oh, yeah. I was there when he got it." He confirmed.
"It's not embarrassing, is it?" I asked, with a minimal amount of dread.
"No, of course not." Henrik frowned at me. "Why would my brother do that to you?"
"But you definitely believe that I'll like it, whatever it is?" I persisted. Henrik nodded, not saying another word. I studied him for a moment longer before walking towards the ballroom to discover what the surprise was. I questioned why Nik had specifically chosen the ballroom as the hiding spot for my surprise. There was nothing really in there, except for Elijah's piano.
"Are you lost, Grace?" I turned and saw Rebekah walking out of a nearby room, with a mildly curious expression on her face. I offered her a crooked smile, showing my amusement.
"Not at all. Just headed for the ballroom." I responded. My sister came over to me, now extremely interested in my business.
"What pray tell are you going to be doing in there?" She asked and I laughed, earning a slightly offended frown from her in response.
"You really are bored, aren't you?" I observed, ignoring her question about what I was going to be doing; because even I was in the dark about what I was about to discover, much to my annoyance.
"Like you wouldn't believe."
I shook my head in disagreement, "No, I think I have a fairly solid idea." We paused near the ballroom doors, then looked at each other with curiosity.
"What is it?" Rebekah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you have any knowledge of a surprise Nik has for me in here?" I asked, slyly.
"Surprise? First I've heard of it." Rebekah responded. I pushed open the doors and wondered into the sun-washed ballroom, glancing about for something that seemed obvious. That was when I spotted it: a beautiful acoustic guitar perched on its stand with a red ribbon tied around the neck of the instrument, beside Elijah's piano.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I walked towards it and picked up the instrument, plucking at the strings idly as I appraised it with eager eyes.
"Is that it then?" Rebekah spoke up, and I looked up at her.
I pulled the strap over my head and onto my opposite shoulder as I played a few chords to see if the guitar needed tuning.
"I guess so." I replied, pleasantly surprised; and I normally disliked surprises.
"Do you like it?" Henrik asked, causing me to jump a little, having not expected him to sneak up on me like that. But I was too surprised by my new gift to be pissy with him at that moment.
"Very much."
"I didn't know you played the guitar." Rebekah noted, smiling.
I grinned back, "Neither did Nik until I told him last night that I had to pawn off my old guitar just so I could survive." I immediately started to play a few notes, just to get my skills again; having not played for quite awhile. After a few minutes though, I decided that I really wanted to be alone. "I'll see you two later." I said, walking back towards the entrance. Henrik's face immediately fell.
"Hang on, I thought we were going to be watching a movie?" He protested, looking a little hurt.
"I'm feeling a little sleepy, so I'm going to hang out in Nik's room for awhile, maybe take a nap. When I wake up; we'll break out the popcorn and watch as many movies as we can until Nik and I have to go to the fundraiser." I reassured him, before looking at Rebekah. "You're welcome to join us." I said, referring to the movie.
"That would be lovely. I might take you up on that offer." Rebekah smiled graciously. "I'll let you get some rest." She looped her arm around Henrik's shoulders. "C'mon, Henrik. Let's go take a walk."
"I don't want to take a walk." Henrik complained, earning an eye roll from Rebekah who 'forcibly' escorted her brother from the ballroom.
"You haven't changed one bit..." Rebekah muttered, laughing fondly.
The minute they were gone, I returned my attention back to my new guitar. It was the nicest, most sweetest thing that Nik had ever done for me … and he had only just learned that I played this instrument for only a day.
Smiling, I took a seat on Elijah's piano stool and began plucking away at the strings to songs that I listened to and learned. The music reverberated off the walls all around me and I closed my eyes, letting the memories of playing my guitar wash over me.
"What beautiful music!" An unfamiliar voice rings out, and I stopped abruptly and turned towards the entrance. A female hybrid was standing there looking shyly at me.
"Um, thanks?" I said.
"Was that 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' by Bach?" The unfamiliar hybrid prattled on. I didn't reply, instead I stood up and carefully replaced my new guitar onto its stand. The hybrid's eyes widened in dismay. "No, please. Don't stop on my account!"
I eyed her cautiously. She was obviously one of Nik's hybrids; although, I had never seen or met her before; and it was a little weird that she had chosen now of all times to approach and introduce herself. The girl was tall (maybe slightly taller than me), statuesque, dressed casually, with natural ginger hair and brown eyes, and a pale complexion.
"Who are you?" I asked. The hybrid seemed to realise that she had intruded on my private time, and immediately started to grovel.
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry! I'm Emma! It's lovely to meet you." She babbled, brightly.
"Grace." I responded, awkwardly.
"Oh, I know who you are. You're the boss's girlfriend."
I raised an eyebrow, "And yet Nik never bothered to explain who you are?"
"Yeah, I know." There was an uncomfortable pause. "This is really weird, isn't it?" She commented, and I smiled a little.
"A bit, yeah." I confirmed, raking my hand through my hair. Grabbing both the guitar and its stand, I walked towards the door that Emma was currently blocking.
She rushed forward, "Here, let me help." She offered, taking the guitar stand from me and smiling, obviously trying to start over and make an attempt at a good impression.
"Still don't quite understand what you're doing here?" I said, as Emma fell into step beside me while I made my way to the staircase that led to the upper level and to the bedrooms.
"Oh, of course!" Emma chuckled, clapping a hand to her forehead and managing to look stranger. "Klaus sent me here to keep you company, while he was out." She explained.
"Not again, Nik..." I groaned in annoyance, taking aback Emma.
"Sorry?"
"Is this a bodyguard task? Because if it is, Nik is in so much trouble … and not the good kind either." I stated. Emma looked confused as we both turned a corner and walked down the hallway of bedrooms.
"Not that I'm aware of. Why?" She asked, curiously.
"No particular reason. Just that I've been in a 'bodyguard situation' before and it really shit me up the wall." I eyed her critically. "Although, I dare say that out of the bodyguards I've had since Nik returned to my life, I think you trump Stefan big time." I commented.
Emma frowned a little, "I'm not here to protect you. Klaus already told me that you were more than capable of taking care of yourself." She told me. "My purpose here to keep you company, since he wasn't able to do himself."
I blinked, not entirely believing what she was saying. "He was feeling that guilty, that he asked you to fill in for him until he got back from whatever the hell he was doing?"
"Yeah, pretty much." She acknowledged. "Well that, and I'm also taking over where Mindy left off when she was … uh, killed." Emma added, before she eyed me with interest. "Stefan Salvatore was your bodyguard at one time?"
"Unfortunately." I confirmed. A small smile spread across my face, touched that Nik had the thoughtfulness to make up for his absence in such a nice way; but I also annoyed that he was basically ordering another person to babysit me.
His paranoia was going to drive me to drink someday.
"What was he like?" Emma asked, interested in Stefan for some unknown reason.
"Considering that he had his emotions turned off at the time, he was highly dangerous and not really giving a shit." I replied, dryly. We eventually made it to Nik's bedroom (I was still finding it a little difficult calling it 'our' bedroom) and opened it. I turned and faced Emma, who was still giving me a very sunny smile. "Well, thanks Emma. I'm gonna head in." I explained.
"No problem." She responded, handing me the guitar stand. "I'll leave you to it. Just yell my name if you need anything, I'll be able to hear you."
"You bet." I gave a weak smile as Emma immediately turned and headed back down the corridor; attending to whatever Mindy had been preoccupied with before Stefan had guillotined her head from her shoulders. I watched her go, before retreating into the bedroom and closing the door behind me.
I scanned the room, looking for a good place to put my guitar, since technically, this room was mine also. In the end, I decided to put my guitar next to the window seat before shuffling over to the large king sized bed, kicking off my shoes and removing my jacket and purse. I reached inside my purse to pull out my novel before crawling onto the bed and making myself comfortable as I resumed reading where I had left off.
It wasn't long before I felt myself drifting off into a dreamless sleep.
What I had thought was going to be a couple of hours, turned out to be far more sleep than I had first planned. But then again, I hadn't really been sleeping well for a while. At least, not until I got used to falling asleep in Nik's arms, both last night and the night he and I had once and for all killed Mikael.
What with all the different types of dangers lurking in the shadows ready to take out not only myself, but other innocent (and maybe not so innocent) people in its path; it was not exactly what dreams were made of. Ironically, the man who is deemed by every supernatural creature in the world, to be the worst of the worst and generally feared by all as a heartless monster; was the one who was able to guarantee me a good night's sleep, safe and secure in his hotter than normal arms (courtesy of his werewolf side).
I stirred from my LONG nap and sat up still clutching my novel against my chest where it had fallen when I nodded off, blinking the last traces of sleep from my eyes before yawning and taking in the stillness of Nik's – our! - bedroom, searching for any hidden dangers. I replaced my bookmark back into the spine of my book, before flipping my legs over the side of the bed and shuffling towards the door.
"Emma!" I spoke in a normal voice, knowing that the hybrid would be able to hear me from wherever she was in the mansion. "Could you come here, please?" I added. Within a split second, the perky redhead appeared, all smiles.
"How can I help, mistress?" Emma asked, politely.
I winced, "Don't call me that, please." I begged, feeling mortified. "You may call me Grace."
"Of course … Grace." Emma immediately replied, looking uncomfortable. I sighed, hoping that Nik hadn't reinforced some sort of rule with her that she had to address me like she would address him. That would be extremely uncomfortable, and I don't care if Nik, Rebekah or Elijah were used to this … I was not.
So not.
"May I have some hot tea, please?" I requested, smiling politely at the hybrid to reassure her that she wasn't in trouble for calling me 'mistress'. However, it seemed that Emma didn't look at all fazed and she simply nodded.
"Right away." She responded, before blurring away. I sighed again and retreated back into the bedroom and wondered over to the window seat.
My eyes widened in shock when I realised that it was twilight outside; I could see that the sky was slowly darkening outside the window. The midnight blue sky had streaks of oranges, yellows and pinks across the horizon, and the first of the stars had begun to appear randomly in the sky just twinkling away. I took a seat on the cushion and tucked my legs up against my chest, and rested my chin on my knees. A cool breeze came into the slightly overheated room, and I closed my eyes for a moment just enjoying the temperature.
A polite knock broke the silence.
"Come in." I called out.
The bedroom door opened and in stepped Emma, carrying a silver tray with a white porcelain teapot and matching sugar and creamer, and cup and saucer. Emma had also added a small plate with a couple of sugar cookies on it.
"Your tea, Grace." Emma beamed at me.
I smiled graciously back. "Thanks, Emma. Just put it on the table, please." Emma trotted over to the coffee table and placed down the tray.
"Are you okay, Grace?" Emma suddenly asked, and I glanced at her with surprise.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I responded, unfolding myself to lean back on my hands and let my feet dangle. Emma shrugged, as she straightened up.
"No reason. You just look a little distant?"
"Not intentionally. I actually crashed while reading my book and overslept a bit. Have Rebekah and Henrik returned from their walk?" I asked, slightly worried that I had been unknowingly neglecting my siblings. Emma shook her head, and I sagged with relief.
"Not as yet. But we're expecting them anytime now." She responded, helpfully.
"Nik?"
Again Emma shook her head, "Do you want me to let you know when they return?" I smiled and shook my head.
"Nah. It's all good." I said, brightly. I reached for the pot and started to pour myself some of the amber liquid.
"Is there anything else you need?" Emma asked politely. I shook my head as I added some cream to my tea.
"I'm all good. Just needed a drink. But thanks!" I replied, as Emma nodded then quickly left the room leaving me to my own devices.
I raised the cup to my lips and took a sip as I wondered back over to the window seat and stared out of the window, taking in the view outside. The bedroom had a view of the private meadow I had admired the first time I had visited this property, and part of me wanted to gulp down the tea, race down outside and run barefoot through the soft looking grass.
But the other more logical side of me knew that that would be stupid, because it was getting dark and any matter of dangerous supernatural entities could be lurking outside ready to pick off any idiot who was walking around here unaccompanied or without any protection. I also doubted that I'd be popular with Nik or Rebekah if I did that too. I eyed my guitar and smiled, setting down my cup and reaching for it.
After adjusting the strings a little, I started to strum … and because nobody was around, I decided to sing:
"We were both young when I first saw you. I close my eyes, and the flashback starts, I'm standing there, on a balcony in summer air." I sang, walking over to the window seat and taking a seat upon it, resting my guitar on my crossed legs. "See the lights, see the party, the ballgowns. See you make your way through the crowd to say 'hello'. Little did I know." I shut my eyes, smiling to myself. I was so into the song, that I didn't hear the bedroom door open and somebody stepping inside... "That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles. And my daddy said 'stay away from Juliet!' And I was crying on the staircase, begging you 'please don't go!'" I continued playing, oblivious to my small audience standing at the door and listening in to the song. "And I said: 'Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run. You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess. It's a love story, baby just say 'yes'."
"Let me guess?" Startled, I abruptly stopped playing and snapped open my eyes, looking for the intruder. "This song is about you and Niklaus, right?" It was Rebekah, looking both amused and slightly nauseated. "Because if it is, that story is entirely inaccurate." She pointed out, causing Henrik who was standing beside her to groan and clap a hand to his forehead in his embarrassment.
I snorted, setting aside my guitar and getting to my feet to walk over and drink some more tea … while also wishing that I had gotten Emma to provide something to 'Irish up' the tea.
"Hardly. It's just a song." I replied, smiling at them both. "How was your walk?" I asked them while gesturing for them to come further in and take a seat on the couch and armchair with me. Rebekah came in and took a seat beside me, while Henrik took up the armchair, still looking embarrassed by his older sister's impudent comment.
"It was lovely thank you!" Rebekah responded.
Henrik snorted, "Speak for yourself."
"Oh, hush! It's good for you!" Rebekah chided him, haughtily. This earned her a scowl from Henrik who got up from his perch on the armchair and over to where I had set aside my guitar to examine it for himself.
"Yeah, you always say that. Even if it's not true." He muttered, and I choked on my mouthful of tea nearly spraying it across the room and earning an affronted glare from Rebekah for my troubles. I pretended not to notice. "It sounded as good as the original." Henrik commented, picking up the guitar and walking back over to me with it in hand.
"Yeah, it does." I agreed, setting down my teacup once again and taking the guitar from him, fingering the strings expertly before playing a few riffs. Rebekah eyed my guitar playing with mild interest. Nik hadn't been kidding when he told me that Rebekah had little to no interest in learning a musical instrument.
Which made me wonder what she was thinking...
"Do you know any other songs?" She asked, and I couldn't help but blink at her in astonishment. Mostly because of her earlier sassy comment, I assumed was because she wasn't a fan of modern '21st Century' songs.
"Yeah, of course." I said, thinking for a moment of a song that Rebekah couldn't possibly object to … before settling on one that not only she'd like, but also had some reference to both Nik and myself.
I began a slightly fast tempo, as Rebekah and Henrik made themselves comfortable and gave me their full attention.
"Underneath the echoes, buried in the shadows. There you were." I sang, smiling at them both before continuing to sing as I strummed away at the guitar strings. "Drawn into your mystery, I was just beginning to see your ghost. But you must know." The bedroom door opened, drawing our attention towards it. A slightly confused, but intrigued looking Nik stepped in; looking between his brother and sister sitting on his couch and armchair, and at me playing the song … in our bedroom of all places.
I smiled at him, "I'll be here waiting. Hoping, praying that this light will guide you home. When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love, hidden in the sun. For when the darkness comes." I paused, locking eyes with Nik who smiled back, and leaned casually against the door; patiently waiting for me to finish.
"Now the door is open. The world I knew is broken. There's no return. Now my heart is not scared, just knowing that you're out there. Watching me." Rebekah and Henrik glanced between the both of us, realising that I had momentarily forgotten all about them and was now singing this song to my boyfriend. "So believe I'll be here waiting. Hoping, praying that this light will guide you home. When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love. Hidden in the sun, for when the darkness comes."
I broke eye contact with Nik, and shut my eyes; wishing to finish the song without being distracted by the tender expression on his face in the process. "Be here waiting. Hoping, praying that this light will guide you home. When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love. Hidden in the sun, for when the darkness comes. Hidden in the sun, for when the darkness comes."
I drew my arm down on the final chord, and both Nik and Henrik started clapping in appreciation, while Rebekah cracked the smallest smile at me.
"I like it." Was all she said, and I laughed softly as I carefully removed the strap back over my shoulder and leaned my guitar against the side of the couch.
"Thanks, Bekah. I'm pleased that you do." I told her, before looking over at Nik. "Is it time to go to the fundraiser yet?" Nik pushed off from the door and started walking over to the walk-in closet.
"In about ten minutes, darling. I'm just freshening up." He told me, as he shrugged out of his leather jacket and tossed it onto the bed.
"Well, I know when we're not wanted." Rebekah piped up, 'sounding' annoyed. But the knowing smirk that touched her lips told me that she wasn't as pissed as she made herself to be. "Come on, Henrik." She requested, and surprisingly; Henrik put up no protest and obediently follows Rebekah out of the room, giving me a thumbs up as he left. I turned back towards the closet to see that Nik had already disappeared into it. His Henley had been taken off and also tossed onto the bed.
I sighed and turned to pick up my guitar and put back where it belonged so it didn't get damaged.
"That was some beautiful guitar playing, love." I froze when Nik's voice speak up from the closet and I calmly walked back over to the couch and fixed myself a refill of my tea. "Did you write that song?" He enquired curiously.
I scoffed, lightly. "No, I didn't."
"Why did you choose it then?" Nik wondered, striding back out of the closet now wearing a black silk button-up that had been left undone … probably on purpose. I found myself staring unconsciously at his damp, slightly muscular chest; toned from years and many hours of hard labour from back when we were in the Middle Ages and living in harsh conditions.
"Uh, I liked the message it gave." I responded, cryptically as I cleared my throat and turned away.
Dammit, Nik...
"I see." Nik said, a hint of amusement in his voice. I picked up my tea and headed back over to the window and continued watching the sun disappearing into the west. I relaxed and leaned into him when Nik came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "What did you get up to while I was out?" He asked, kissing my neck; causing my heart to skip a beat.
"Nothing special. I just read a little, then drifted off to sleep." I replied, nonchalantly. "But I haven't been sleeping very well." I added, feeling uneasy.
"Are you okay?" Nik immediately asked.
"I'm fine, just tired." I replied. "We better get going if you want to talk to Carol Lockwood about Stefan." I reminded him, draining my cup and gently breaking away from Nik's embrace. I walked over to where I had toed off my hi-tops, when Nik's hand wrapped gently around my upper arm, stopping me in my tracks.
"No. Something is definitely wrong, sweetheart." Nik stated, his face completely devoid of humour. "You know you can tell me anything. So tell me what's bothering you?" He said, his blue-green eyes were filled with concern. I frowned and bit my bottom lip.
"That's the thing, Nik." I began, gaining his undivided attention. "I think that something bad is gonna happen tonight. I just have no idea what it could be." I said.
"Does it have anything to do with you?" Nik demanded, suddenly getting protective.
"It's just an inkling that I have, whether or not it involves me hasn't been made clear." I replied, before swearing underneath my breath. "Oh, God. Sometimes, I wish that I didn't have a sixth sense." I muttered, shuddering and feeling creeped out. Nik obviously didn't like that answer, or the fact that I was so uncomfortable, as his eyes suddenly hardened and he began to pace. I continued putting on my shoes before shrugging into my jacket and picking up my purse. "Let's go." I suggested, trying to shove aside the uncomfortable feelings. However, the very second I placed my hand on the doorknob; Nik was by my side, pinning my back to the door.
He was shaking in fear and rage, and I really needed to calm him down so he could start thinking rationally.
"Nothing bad is going to happen to you again. I promise you this." He growled, and I swallowed hard at the determined look in his eyes.
"You can't make promises like that, Nik. That's not how it works." I told him, calmly.
"I'm not going to lose you again! Do you hear me?" He insisted, stubbornly.
"Yes, I hear you. But we don't even know if I am the target for whatever is going to happen tonight." I pointed out to him.
"I don't want to take any chances." Nik stated, curtly. My eyes widened.
"I'm not staying behind, Nik." I jumped in, believing that that was what Nik was up to. He blinked at me in confusion, before a very small smile spread across his face and he relaxed very slightly.
"I wouldn't dream of it, love. I'm just not letting you out of my sight, until this blasted fundraiser is over with and I've said what I need to say to both Carol and Stefan." Nik stated.
That didn't make me feel any better.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter update. Looking forward to your reviews. The next update should be out soon! TTFN xx