A/N: Hey guys! This chapter welcomes back Elijah! YAY!
I do not own The Vampire Diaries. All characters (except for Grace) belong to author L.J. Smith.
Please review respectfully with your thoughts, and please, no flaming.
Enjoy xx
BREAKING FREE
"Dark and difficult times lie ahead.
Soon, we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." ~J.K. Rowling.
~: Mikaelson Mansion :~
I woke up feeling well-rested and content, and after a quick shower and a change of clothes (which I picked up at my apartment after Nik cured Caroline), I headed downstairs to greet the day, and help Nik deal with the aftermath of Stefan attempting to kill me to get him to pull back his hybrids.
Jeremy was expected to arrive at the mansion anytime now, underneath the guise that he was supposed to be heading for Denver, Colorado to escape the madness that was Mystic Falls. Problem was that Jeremy had absolutely no interest in leaving town to appease Elena's conscience and supposedly protect him from the big bad world. She didn't want to lose anymore of her family.
Jeremy on the other hand, wanted to be useful and to be let in on what went on in the supernatural world that his sister was so selfishly and determined that he'd be protected from. The question was, why exactly?
Was he incapable of thinking for himself, and looking after himself? It seemed far more logical to be informed, rather than being completely clueless and vulnerable to attacks. Thankfully, the Mikaelsons and I had lots of things that we could do to help improve Jeremy's knowledge about Mystic Falls, as well as remind Nik to give the teenager pointers for his art pieces, since he was an aspiring artist like he used to be a thousand years ago.
It was decided that Jeremy would go along with his sister's plan, with one minor alteration: His vervain bracelet, that I had returned to him when I found it near the back door of his house, would be his saving grace and allow him to pretend go along with Elena's plan; but then Damon would instead deliver him safely and covertly to the Mikaelson Mansion. Then the real fun for Jeremy would begin.
I would make sure of it.
I reached the bottom of the staircase, glancing around once again at the fantastic main foyer and my eyes locked onto the closed (and probably locked) double doors leading into Nik's study. I couldn't help it. I was curious and just itching to go and have a peek. But I also didn't want to break Nik's trust. So, in the end, I reluctantly turned the corner and headed straight for the dining room, where both Nik and Rebekah were already seated at the table being served by Emma some fresh blood in elegant and expensive looking crystal goblets; the kind you'd expect water or O.J. to be served in during breakfast in wealthy households.
Which essentially, this place was.
I grimaced but pasted a weak smile on my face as I approached the table, already laden with your typical breakfast foods.
"Morning!" I greeted brightly, avoiding watching my vampire family members sipping nonchalantly at their blood. Both Nik and Rebekah immediately brightened and gave me their undivided attention.
"Good morning, darling." Nik greeted me as I made a beeline for him and kissed him hello. "Did you sleep well?"
"How are you feeling?" Rebekah added, looking concerned.
Both Nik and I received a severe tongue-lashing from an anxious Rebekah when we both returned to the mansion last night. The fact that I looked tired and withdrawn, not to mention that both of us had tight grips on each other because of our mutual fears that we were going to lose one another, had put her on high alert.
We eventually explained what went down last night, and it only took Nik sternly threatening to put her back into a box for a couple of decades, for Rebekah to get the message that neither of us were in the right frame of mind, or inclined to dwell on what had happened. But she still gave Nik the stink-eye and me a disapproving scowl afterwards.
"Better." I responded to both questions. "I'm still a little bit, uh, scared-" Both Nik and Rebekah stiffened almost immediately. "But I need to get over it sometime." I was quick to state, feeling awkward as I moved to go take a seat. "Hi, Emma!" I greeted the bubbly hybrid when she came over to pour me some O.J.
"Hey, Grace-" Emma was almost immediately cut off and she flinched when Nik suddenly growled underneath his breath when he heard his hybrid use my name so informally. I sighed with barely concealed impatience.
"Knock it off, Nik." I warned him, eyeing him sharply. "I asked her to call me by my first name." I said, trying to calm an apprehensive Emma who was retreating away from the table, submissively.
"But that's not how I told her to address you." He stated, somewhat forcefully.
"Honestly, Nik. Being called 'mistress' is very uncomfortable for me. This isn't the 12th Century anymore." I pointed out to him, using a calm and reasonable tone. "I know that you and Rebekah had grown accustomed to being called that when you were lord and lady of the manor way back when, but I'm not. Please don't force me to." I urged him. Nik eyed me sternly for several seconds, and I stubbornly stared him down.
He eventually sighed, backing down. "As you wish, love."
Emma relaxed, counting all her blessings that she had been spared her sire's wrath, while I all but did a happy dance in my seat. Rebekah smirked smugly at her brother, as she reached for her glass of blood and took a dainty sip from it.
"Looks like you've been told, Nik." Rebekah stated, earning a scowl from the both of us.
"Don't be rude." I stated, just as there was suddenly a loud thudding on the front door. I immediately pushed my chair back to go answer it when excited footfalls started pounding down the stairs in the distance towards it.
"I got it!" Henrik yelled, brightly.
I relaxed and sat back against my chair, sipping at my O.J. Rebekah pouted at me from across the table.
"Fine. Spoil all my fun why don't you?" She groused, folding her arms across her chest.
"That's what siblings are for, honey." I smirked back and steepled my hands; which earned an amused chuckle from Nik. I took another generous sip from my juice as Emma darted back into the room and came over to me.
"What would you like for breakfast?" The redhead asked, brightly.
"Scrambled eggs on Toast would be lovely, thanks." I replied, warmly. I hadn't had that for breakfast for years.
"Coming right up!" Emma responded, flashing me a smile and blurring away back into the kitchen, just as Henrik walked into the dining room with a gobsmacked Jeremy trailing along behind him, obviously stunned by the size and splendor of the Mikaelsons' newly renovated home.
"Look who I found on our doorstep!" Henrik chirped, thumbing over his shoulder at Jeremy who immediately recovered from his shock and flushed in embarrassment.
"Hey Jeremy, good flight?" I joked, piling a bowl with fruit salad and spearing a piece of juicy cantaloupe into my mouth while I waited for my eggs. Jeremy gave me a sarcastic smile back in response.
"Spectacular." He drawled, pulling his backpack off his back and leaning both the pack and his suitcase up against the wall near the doorway, to be collected later when he chose his new bedroom. "Your home is awesome by the way." He said that last part to Nik, who preened himself like a cat at the compliment.
"Thank you! It was a labour of love." Nik stated, smiling a little at Jeremy and ignoring when both Rebekah and I snorted at his words. He then pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. "Please, make yourself at home. I've got a few errands I need to attend to." Nik encouraged Jeremy, gesturing towards one of the empty chairs surrounding the table, before striding over and kissing me tenderly.
"Ugh! I didn't need to see that..." Jeremy squirmed as he pulled out a chair next to Rebekah, and I giggled as Nik rolled his eyes at the sixteen-year old's comment before leaving the room. I quickly hopped up from my chair and jogged after Nik.
"Nik, hold up!" I called when we were out of the room. He turned and looked at me with surprise. "Do you need any help carrying out these errands?" I asked him, worried that he was really going out to stir up trouble because of the actions Stefan had provoked out of him last night. While I also wanted Stefan to be punished for putting my life at risk unnecessarily, retaliating was probably not the wisest move right now.
Nik sighed heavily, before striding back over to me and smoothing my hair behind my ears.
"I've got everything under control, sweetheart. Hopefully by tonight, I'll have the coffins back in my possession." Nik reassured me as he cradled me tightly to his chest and kissed the crown of my head.
"How can you be so confident about that?" I said, doubtfully. "Those bloody witches aren't going to give up the coffins easily." I pointed out.
"It's very important that I get ALL the coffins back. Under no circumstances can they gain access into the fourth coffin." Nik insisted. "Times up! No more negotiating." He declared, firmly.
"Esther's in the fourth coffin, isn't she?" I guessed, causing Nik to pull back and look at me with shock.
"How do you know that?" He demanded, not unkindly.
"An extremely lucky guess." I offered him a crooked smile. "My question is: why did you keep your mother's body in the first place? Didn't you bury it back in the Village?" I asked, feeling confused.
"Esther's body is an extremely powerful source of magic, alive or dead. I secreted it away to avoid the wrong people taking it to use her magic for the wrong reasons." Nik explained, looking pained.
"And the Bennett Witches fall under that category. I get it." I sighed. "I apologise for being nosy. It's your business, not mine." I acknowledged, surprised that Nik hadn't flown off the deep end like he had with other people who had questioned his motives. Even I couldn't escape that possibility, if he was backed enough into a corner with no other alternative but to fight his way free with a few well-chosen words.
"Apology accepted." Nik nodded, pulling away and heading for the front doors.
"But I'm coming with when you eventually head down to the Old Witch House." I declared, confidently.
"No! Absolutely not! I forbid it." Nik was quick to respond, as he spun round and strode back over to me looking angry.
I raised an eyebrow, "You forbid it? Need I remind you that I've managed to convince those old biddies to get off their high horses twice." I pointed out, hotly.
"I have my own way of getting what I want, Grace. You forget your place." Nik stubbornly told me.
"Yeah, and it's right by your side." That made him pause and look at me with a hard, calculating look. "Please, Nik. They're my family too, and I'll be damned if I can't lend a hand to bring them back here where they belong … even if they still have unresolved issues with you." I pleaded with him. Nik still looked very much against the idea; but I could be just as stubborn as he could be.
"Everything okay out here?" Our attention turned towards a cautious and frowning Jeremy who had obviously heard the raised voices and came out to investigate. He seriously had the worst timing ever.
"Yeah, Jer. Everything's cool." I hastily reassured him and turned towards him with a probably unconvincing smile pasted on my face as I attempted to prevent Nik from bellowing at the poor teen for sticking his nose into our business. "Why don't you head back in and help yourself to some breakfast, you look a bit peaky." I suggested, urgently.
"Right..." Jeremy looked a bit unconvinced and raised a curious eyebrow at Nik, before turning and reluctantly heading back into the other room. I sighed and turned back towards Nik, who was looking at me impatiently.
"What say you, Nik?" I put my cards on the table waiting for him to do the same. His eyes narrowed and his jaw locked into a stubborn snarl; but at the same time I could tell that my previous experiences with that motley group of arrogant Bennett witches had registered with him, and I grinned with triumph when he eventually caved.
"Goddamn it..." He muttered angrily underneath his breath. "This is not a good idea. I'll be back here at twilight to pick you up on my way to the Old Witch Place." He instructed, sternly. "Be ready to leave as soon as I honk that horn."
I nodded, closing the distance between us. "I will. Thank you, Nik." I said sincerely, kissing him gratefully. Nik's hard face softened slightly as he automatically kissed me back, then gave me a very small smile and a shake of his head before he turned and headed for the front doors; clicking his fingers. Two hybrids appeared as though summoned before all three of them disappeared out of the door.
I headed back into the dining room and was almost immediately pounced on by Jeremy, who was chomping at the bit to learn what Nik and I were talking about.
"What's going on with him? I expected him to yell at me for that." He questioned, as he helped himself to some coffee.
Rebekah eyed him with mistrust. It was obvious she disapproved of the fact that Jeremy had gone poking his nose where it wasn't wanted. My question was: why didn't she stop him?
"Nik is more determined than ever to get my brothers back." She explained, also giving me dagger eyes as well. Yep, she had overheard our conversation outside those double doors. Like Nik, was completely against me going with him to retrieve Elijah, Finn, Kol and Esther.
But was she just peeved at me for volunteering my services in liberating the coffins? Or she was she pissed about the fact that though her eavesdropping on our conversation; she had learned that Nik had their mother's body stashed in the fourth coffin after all these years?
"It seemed that Stefan not only threatened to dispose of them last night, but he also made an attempt on Grace's life." Rebekah explained, causing Jeremy's eyes to widen with concern and mine to narrow suspiciously at her. Rebekah deliberately avoided eye contact. "Nik didn't take that very well." She added, wiping her mouth with her napkin to remove traces of blood from around her lips.
"Understatement of the year." Henrik declared, frowning as he took a seat beside Nik's chair and bookmarked his place in his book. Jeremy's eyes narrowed in outrage.
"What did Stefan do?" He demanded, and I raised an eyebrow at the protective tone in his voice that he usually reserved for when he was defending Elena.
Since when did I get promoted to 'Elena' status?
"The idiot threatened Nik by declaring that he was going to plunge his car off Wickery Bridge, with me in it with him." I responded, still sore about the subject as I sat sipping my O.J. uncomfortably.
"What!?" Jeremy shouted.
"Hey, calm down." I said, smiling at him. "I'm still in one piece, mate." I reassured him. Then frowned when something occurred to me, and mentally slapped myself for not thinking of it sooner. "Where's Damon? I thought he was supposed to escort you here?" I asked Jeremy, who scowled.
"He did. But the second I got my last bag out of the car; he took off down the road before I could thank him for the ride." Jeremy looked a little ticked off about that.
"That's rude, even by Damon's standards." Rebekah commented, looking surprised.
"I think he, like Nik, is having a hard time dealing with the fact that Stefan almost managed to kill me last night. This is probably one of his coping mechanisms." I guessed, feeling worried.
"You mean you don't know? You, his best friend, has no clue?" Rebekah sounded both shocked and smug about that.
"We all have our little quirks, Bekah." I reminded her. "But just to be on the safe side, I'm gonna give him a call to find out what's going on with him." I stated, pulling out my (brand new) phone and speed dialed his number.
Damon picked up on the first ring; like he had been anticipating that I would be calling the second Jeremy was admitted entry into the Mansion.
"Now is really not the time to chat, Grace." He stated, firmly.
"Well too bad." I responded, frowning. "I really must say that I'm hurt that you couldn't be bothered to at least come with Jeremy up to the front door and say 'hi'." I chastised him and heard him let out a frustrated groan.
"Look, I'm sorry that your feelings are hurt, but right now I'm just not sure I can face you, Grace. I feel somewhat responsible for Stefan's actions, and the fact that I couldn't protect you." Damon confessed, sounding bitter. Rebekah scoffed from the opposite end of the table drawing a confused look from Jeremy as a result, because he is unable to listen in on the conversation like she could.
"I don't know why you would be feeling guilty about this. Damon, you're not responsible for Stefan's actions. He is his own man for God's sake." I said, flatly.
"I bloody well blame him." Rebekah stated, flipping through a magazine that she had produced from nowhere. I scowled at her in annoyance as Damon let out a derisive laugh.
"Well, I DO blame myself." Damon insisted, backing up Rebekah much to my sister's surprise. "And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make it up to you."
I sighed, wearily. "If that's what's gonna help you sleep at night, fine." I stated. "Look, Damon. When you next get the chance, and when you've stopped feeling sorry for yourself; please, come visit." I requested, ringing off.
I put a fake smile on my face as I turned towards Jeremy, who was looking at me with deep concern on his face. "Hope you've prepared yourself, kid. Because like it or not, you're now going to be living temporarily with the world's most dysfunctional family. God have mercy on you." I muttered as Emma returned from the kitchen with a large plate of scrambled eggs, and I studiously ignored the irritated scowl coming from Rebekah's direction while I salted my eggs.
I could only pick at the plate as I had lost my appetite.
A few hours later, I was feeling restless and needing to blow off some steam. So, I decided to get a bit of exercise. I changed into a pair of loose smoky grey three-quarter length gym pants, a black jogging bra and my ratty over-sized purple T-shirt that I specifically used to work out in.
After pulling on my sneakers, tying my hair back into a sloppy ponytail and grabbing my iPod; I headed out of our bedroom with the intention of heading downstairs and outside to spar on the Mikaelsons' private meadow, but thudded into Jeremy who was also walking towards the staircase.
"Woah!" Jeremy hollered, grabbing my arms to steady me so I didn't topple over. "Where's the fire?" He joked, and I chuckled out of embarrassment.
"Sorry, Jer. My mind was elsewhere." I apologised. "How'd you like your room?" I asked him politely, as he fell into step beside me towards the staircase. The second breakfast was over this morning, Henrik and I had given Jeremy the grand tour of the house he was going to be hiding out in until further notice. Jeremy had grinned like a Cheshire cat when he saw the inside of his new bedroom.
"It's insane. I could fit Elena's jeep in there!" He said, looking a lot more relaxed. Probably because he wasn't being left out of everything anymore. I couldn't help but pat myself on the back for giving him this opportunity to live a little. "What are you doing now?" He asked, curiously. It was obvious that he was bored too; and unfortunately, he really couldn't set foot outside the mansion if he didn't want to be sprung by either Elena or Bonnie.
"I'm getting some exercise out back." I said, as we reached the top of the staircase.
"Can I come too?" He asked, without hesitation. I stopped halfway down the stairs and looked back at him incredulously. "What?"
"You really must be bored." I teased, earning a sheepish grin.
"Oh, I really am." Jeremy agreed, looking awkward.
"Don't you have anything else you'd rather be doing than hanging out with me?" I asked him, limbering up my muscles.
Jeremy looked a bit defensive, "Actually, no." He sighed, before walking down towards where I was standing, and started checking out the beautiful pieces of artwork mounted on the walls as he resumed talking. "I can't believe that I'm actually saying this, but I'm not in the mood for video games at the moment."
I blinked at him, having not expecting that sort of answer from a teenage boy. "You're right. That's probably the last thing I expected you to say. What happened to hanging out with Henrik?" I questioned him. He and Jeremy were getting along like a house on fire.
"He's apparently making up for lost time with Rebekah. Were they really close a thousand years ago?" Jeremy asked, curiously.
"Very much so." I nodded, "They were both the babies of the family, and when she wasn't hanging out with Nik and/or myself, you'd usually find them together." I stated, then sagged a little when I remembered Henrik's final hours. "The day that Henrik was killed, I had never seen her look so shredded. It was also the day that everyone in our family became a little too overprotective of her, because she was now the youngest. It also didn't help that she was female as well." I said, wincing a bit at the memory.
"Yeah, I'll bet." Jeremy scoffed, probably remembering our little trip through my memories and how Rebekah and I had been treated by the men back then. A couple of minutes passed before Jeremy broke the silence. "Wow, that got depressing fast." Jeremy said and I chuckled.
"Yeah, kind of." Then I looked at him contemplatively, before getting an idea that would prevent him from becoming bored but would also keep him alert and able to defend himself long enough for help to arrive to aid him. "Tell you what; if you're coming with, go get changed into something you don't mind getting dirty in." I instructed. Jeremy left so quickly and so eagerly that he left an after image of himself. "Meet me outside in the meadow out back!" I shouted down the corridor at him, before shoving my earphones into my ears and hurrying down the rest of the staircase.
Once outside, I paused to take in the fresh air deep into my lungs and to soak in the warm sunshine onto my skin before I ventured deeper into the meadow. It really reminded me of my life back in the Middle Ages when the Mikaelsons and I used the meadow as a retreat from both Mikael and our responsibilities for a few hours. It made me wonder if that was one of the reasons why Nik had purchased this block of land. Not for the mansion itself but for the private meadow and the surrounding trees, for that little bit of happy nostalgia.
When I determined that I had enough room for my workout, I immediately sat down in the grass and started stretching out my legs.
"Miss me?" I glanced up and saw Jeremy jogging up to me and looking a little cocky.
"Desperately." I deadpanned, before getting to my feet and making a brief observation of him. Jeremy was wearing basketball shorts, a sleeveless baggy red muscle singlet top, and a pair of black and white Nike trainers.
Not bad, really must be taking this seriously.
"So, now what?" He asked, unnaturally eager.
"Now, we're gonna work on our cardio." I explained, and Jeremy's face fell a little. "But first we're gonna stretch out our muscles."
"What? Are you serious?" Jeremy complained. "Geez, I should've stayed in my room." He grumbled.
"God, quit your complaining. It's good for you." I bitched back. "Besides, I'm also gonna give you some self-defense lessons for when you eventually 'return' to normal life and shock the pants off your annoying sister." I added, seriously.
"Self-defense? You're gonna teach me self-defense?" Jeremy looked skeptical, and I noted that he hadn't objected to me calling Elena 'annoying'.
"Laugh it up, mate. You're looking at an expert." I told him, feeling a little taken aback by his attitude.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously." I parroted. "Now stop flapping your gums and get over here. I need your help." I requested, acerbically. Jeremy begrudgingly stomped his way over to where I was standing and looked at me for an explanation.
"What do you need help with?" He asked. In response, I slid easily into a sideways split like Rebekah did during her first day at cheer-leading practice. This caused Jeremy to wince in pain. "Oh, damn! Doesn't that hurt?" He questioned, looking horrified.
"Not any more." I said, leaning forward onto my elbows and stretching the muscles in my thighs. "I mean the first time's the worst because you're stretching muscles you never thought you had, but then after a while you get used to it." I said, before finger crooking at him. "Now. Do me a favour: sit cross-legged on my back; I need the extra weight to stretch out the muscles in my legs."
"You're kidding." Jeremy's mouth fell open.
"I wouldn't have asked you to if I was." I said, getting impatient with him.
Hesitantly, Jeremy clambered up onto my back and sat reluctantly with his legs crossed. I winced a little when the bones in my spine popped in places.
"Doesn't this hurt? I've gotta be way too heavy for ya." Jeremy fretted, nervously.
"Mate, I'm used to it. This was standard for the warm-up routines I first started doing for self-defense." I told him, not unkindly. "Believe when I first learned that I'd be stretching while doing the splits, I also complained a lot." I reassured him, trying to break the ice a little. This helped Jeremy relax a little during the next twenty minutes he was helping me stretch like this, before I eventually indicated for him to hop off, and I slowly got to my feet and curled my legs behind me one after the other, to encourage the blood flow in my legs. "Okay, we're gonna start off easy with fifty laps around this meadow." I said, all business.
"Fifty!?"
"Be thankful I didn't say one-hundred." I said, smirking at him. "Okay? Ready, set, GO!" I took off, followed closely by a reluctant Jeremy.
We started the laps off easily enough; just a gentle jog around the massive meadow until we found our stride. Then we gradually sped up, much to Jeremy's horror. On the 25th lap, I stopped – jogging on the spot as I waited for Jeremy – before I turned and reversed course to run the last twenty-five laps in the opposite direction. Jeremy was just barely keeping up the pace but was also looking very red in the face and like he was about ready to spew up a lung.
"Okay! Let's take five." I suggested when we both completed our 50th lap, and Jeremy promptly collapsed on the grass; chest heaving and sucking in the oxygen like it was going out of style. "You okay there, mate?" I asked, look both concerned and slightly amused.
"My...lungs...are...burning!" Jeremy gasped, before sitting up and licking his slightly chapped lips. I handed him what was left of my drink bottle, which he promptly drank down. "How'd the hell did you manage to do all that and also somehow manage to not look like you've broken a sweat?!" He demanded resentfully when he could breathe properly.
"Because I'm used to it." I shrugged, stretching my arm across my chest and repeating with the other arm. "You're just out of practice, Jeremy. Once you've done it a bit more; it'll get easier for you." I promised him. On cue, Rebekah blurred in carrying an entire stack of disposable water bottles underneath both arms; smiling at me knowingly.
"You read my mind." I greeted her, taking a water bottle and twisting off the cap.
"Not really." She shrugged, dumping the stacks of disposable water bottles onto the grass; whereupon Jeremy immediately pounced upon one of them and grabbed a bottle. "How is your little working out session?" Rebekah asked casually, as Jeremy ripped off the blue plastic cap and downed half the water in one breath.
"Not bad. But he needs a lot of work." I determined, before frowning with concern when Jeremy seemed to gag a little on the water he was chugging down. "Steady on, Jeremy. You'll choke." I warned him. The teen paid me little attention and had managed to consume at least four bottles of water before he finally drew his arm across his mouth to dry it and scowled at me in annoyance. Rebekah wondered over to a nearby bench situated underneath one of the trees in the Mikaelsons' meadow.
"I'll be here if you need me." My sister waved a lazy hand as she began reading a book. I nodded and returned my attention back to Jeremy.
"I really hate you." He bitched and I grinned back.
"No, you don't. You're grateful that I'm actually giving a shit about your welfare." I corrected him, with a shrug. Jeremy made no other comment, choosing instead to continue chugging down his water and frowning as he looked over at Rebekah with confusion.
"Where's Henrik?" He asked, before taking another drink. I was about to ask Rebekah the same question, when I remembered that Henrik sometimes tended to leave randomly without explanation.
"Not sure. But he'll be back; sometimes he disappears without warning. There's no harm in it." After a few minutes, I glanced down at my student and extended a hand towards him to take.
"What?" He questioned, suspiciously.
"Break time's over. I'm gonna teach you some self-defense now." I told him, pulling him to his feet. "Now, do you know how to punch properly?" I asked him, and Jeremy looked at me oddly.
"Of course, I know how to punch."
"No. I asked if you knew how to punch properly?" I corrected him, rolling my eyes. Jeremy frowned at my statement.
"What do you mean properly? Is there a wrong way to punch someone?" He asked, curiously.
"Yeah, believe it or not, there is." I confirmed to a surprised looking Jeremy. "Show me how you punch." I encouraged him, taking a step out of the firing zone and folding my arms across my chest as I studied his technique. Bewildered, Jeremy immediately curled his hand up into a fist, drew it back and let fly. I smirked when I instantly spotted his mistake.
"It's not rocket science." Jeremy insisted, before scowling when I shook my head. "Okay then, show me how to 'punch' properly." He said, defensively. I wondered over to him and gently and calmly grabbed his hand pulling it up to face level.
"First of all: the way you've been holding your fist is going to break your thumb." I stated, curling his fingers into the correct position for a punch. "When you punch, your thumb needs to be on the outside of your fist, between your first and second knuckles on your index and middle finger." I explained, pointing towards Jeremy's first and second knuckles.
"Are there different types of punches?" I was pleased that he seemed to be taking what I was saying seriously.
"Yeah, there are. The few that I do know off hand are the 'Jab', 'cross', 'uppercut', the 'hay maker' and 'sucker punch'." I listed with my fingers.
Jeremy smirked, "What about the 'knuckle sandwich'?" He joked.
"That's just a slang term for being punched in the mouth." I said, dismissively. "The type of punch you deliver depends on which discipline you're practicing. Whether it be self-defense or boxing." I stated, feeling strangely like a walking encyclopedia.
"Which did you study?" Jeremy asked, curiously.
"Both. Although in your case we're going to be focusing on boxing." I explained to him, going over what I knew in my head.
Jeremy and I spent the rest of the time learning the basics of boxing and doing it safely, until it was time to wrap things up so I could go and get ready for tonight's rescue mission.
"Hey, um. Thanks for the extra tips." Jeremy stooped down and picked up the remaining water bottles still lying on the grass and tucked them underneath his armpit, while looking sheepish and very much like the awkward teenager he was.
"You're welcome." I responded, messing up his sweaty hair with my free hand and regretting the action completely. "It's better to learn now, than on the spot when you're in some serious strife against a rogue vampire, werewolf or even a hybrid." I told him, seriously as we walked, unhurried, back to the mansion. "Or at least hold them off until help arrives to back you up. You still need loads more practice, but if we set aside a few hours together I can get you trained up. Perhaps we can even persuade some assistance from the Mikaelsons, if they're not too busy." I suggested, hoping that he'd take up the offer.
"Sounds great!" Jeremy agreed, then glanced over to where Rebekah had been sitting on the bench underneath the tree, presumably to make sure that that was alright with her, before he jerked in surprise. "Hey, where'd Rebekah go?"
I glanced over at the bench and noticed that she was missing, and shrugged. "Not sure. She must've gotten bored and left to do something else. It happens." I explained, remembering back to the times when she, Nik and I would be lazing about when our chores were done, and Rebekah got bored very quickly and would often just leave. "So, what's next on your agenda?" I asked, half-interested and half-desperate to seek the sanctuary of the shower so I could prepare myself to head back down to the Old Witch House, and lend a hand to finally bring back Elijah, Finn, Kol and apparently Esther home. Or at least, watch a very intense tug-of-war session between Nik and those bloody witches to see who would give in first. I was pretty sure, it would not be Nik caving this time. But those witches could potentially give him a run for his money.
"I dunno. I'm beat." Jeremy responded, sounding a bit sluggish. I winced; I think I probably over did it a little, particularly because this is Jeremy's first real survival work out. "I might play on my X-box after all, then crash before dinner." He shrugged, a bit carelessly.
"Good plan. Ask Henrik to join ya." I suggested, causing Jeremy to shrug then let out an almighty yawn that nearly sent him sprawling face first onto the ground.
"Why not? I gotta get used to this family sometime." Jeremy pointed out and I rolled my eyes. "Relax." He nudged me playfully in the ribs. "I'm just messing with you. But I won't lie and say that it won't be easy getting to know them; considering that Klaus killed Aunt Jenna and Elena, and the rest of them have been terrorizing the world for the last few centuries. But if you say that they're not as bad as the others are making them out to be, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt." Jeremy promised.
I grinned, triumphantly. "There is a God!" I teased, earning a playful scowl from the teenager before we broke off from each other and disappeared into our respective rooms.
"That's yet to be proven." Jeremy retorted, this time without any hint of humour on his face as he stomped down the corridor and disappeared into his room, slamming the door behind him.
I sighed, before opening the bedroom door and shuffling in and locking the door behind me. I grabbed my backpack, which I had stuffed with a couple of outfits the night before and simultaneously peeled off my sweaty purple tee, stuffing it inside a grocery bag I had stashed in my bag so I could launder it and the rest of my working out gear when I went back to my apartment. I was just in the process of walking towards the shower when there was an insistent knock at the bedroom door.
"We're closed." I quipped in my normal voice as I toed off my sneakers, knowing that the visitor behind the door was a vampire.
"Very funny." It was Rebekah; and she sounded annoyed. She hammered on the door again. "I would like a word with you, Grace." She insisted.
"Yes, I've become aware of this, Bekah." I retorted, stomping over to the door and unlocking it. "Please come in. I'm just about to have a shower." I told her, as I immediately turned away from her and hopped around removing my socks. Rebekah breezed on in, shutting the door behind her but made no move to walk deeper into the room. "So, what seems to be the problem du jour?" I asked casually, with my back to my obviously vexed sister.
"You speak French?" Rebekah sounded a little surprised.
"Very poorly. Don't change the subject." I said, steering the conversation back on point so that my sister could say her piece then leave, and I could bathe in peace. "What's up with you?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did I or did I not hear both you and my brother talking about my mother being in one of those coffins that he had misplaced?" Rebekah demanded, and I froze mid-step; cursing vampires and their handy and yet irritating enhanced hearing ability.
"Thought that eavesdropping was rude." I responded pointedly. Rebekah scowled at me before blurring over, spinning me around and shoving me against the wall.
"Don't toy with me, Grace!" She snapped, and I looked at her with surprise. "I love you, you're my dearest sister. But I am not above hurting you to get what I want, you know. I have done it before." Rebekah felt the need to tell me, and I returned the annoyed scowl.
"Jesus! Yes, Rebekah; you did hear Nik confirming that Esther was hidden in that fourth coffin. Believe me I was just as shocked as you are." I confirmed. Rebekah's eyes widened, and I used her shock as an opportunity to break away from her to massage my wrists. "Why did it take you this long to confront me about it?" I asked, curiously.
Rebekah sniffed, haughtily. "I make it a point not to discuss family business with strangers outside of the family." She indicated in the direction of Jeremy's room.
I nodded.
"Fair point." I conceded. "So, what's your next move now that you know?" I asked, as Rebekah wondered over and helped herself to Nik's private wet bar.
"For that, I require my other brothers to assist me." Rebekah responded cryptically and I frowned, not liking that response.
"What do you mean? What are you going to do to him?" I asked, worriedly. Rebekah perched on the armrest of one of Nik's couches. "Rebekah, talk to me. What are you planning?" I begged, trying to stop myself from panicking.
"Answer her question, Sister." Another voice insisted from the doorway and both Rebekah and I snapped our heads in the direction of the bedroom door. Henrik stood there with a straight face, looking directly at Rebekah as she continued to stubbornly ignore my question. "She's not the only one who would like to know." He stated, seriously.
"Be reasonable, Henrik. Our brother has kept our mother's body hidden away in a coffin after all these years; carting it around along with him wherever he went, instead of allowing her to have the peace she deserves." Rebekah attempted to get her brother on side, but he shook his head and folded his arms across his chest. "He deserves to be punished for what he has done!"
"Or maybe you should get all your facts first, instead of falling back on what you've always done when Niklaus has done something that you disapprove of or disagree with." Henrik retorted, and I wanted to groan in frustration. I didn't have all night to discuss Rebekah's obvious displeasure with Nik or referee this siblings' tiff.
"You were not there when Nik was at his worst, Henrik! You wouldn't understand what he has put our brothers and me through all these years! All in the name of our so-called survival." Rebekah snapped at him, angrily.
"Yes. I was." Henrik responded, calmly. "You just couldn't see me." Both Rebekah and I looked at him incredulously.
"You were?" I blurted out. "Why didn't you say so before?"
"Because at the time, you had only just learned about the supernatural. I didn't want to bombard you with too much information before you were ready." Henrik said, still not raising his voice.
"So, you approve of what he has done? To all of us?" Rebekah accused, and Henrik scowled at her.
"Of course not. I didn't understand at first why he did what he did with mother. Now I do, and while I don't approve of his methods, it could potentially stop a lot of bad things from happening as a result. Even if we don't truly appreciate it at times." Henrik insisted. "Besides, in this case I agree that we need to prevent mother from being released from that coffin at all costs."
"Why?" Rebekah demanded, tearfully.
"I don't trust her. Not anymore. And neither should you." Henrik stated, before holding out a hand towards his distraught sister. "Now, come along. Give Grace some privacy to prepare for tonight so she can help our brother bring back the rest of our family." He requested, firmly. Rebekah threw both of us resentful looks before storming from the room in a huff.
This wouldn't be the last that we'd hear about this. Nik was unfortunately in for a rude awakening I fear from the rest of his family.
"Thanks, Henrik." I thanked him, sincerely. But was taken aback by the scowl that he was now directing towards me.
"I didn't do it for you. What Nik did was wrong, but I also can't stand by and watch him get punished over something as serious as our mother's fate." He stated, before heading for the door. "I'll leave you to it." The door closed behind him with a soft click and I couldn't help but stare broodingly at the closed door for several minutes afterwards. But one glance at Nik's wall clock had me moving faster than the speed of light to get ready.
About ten minutes later, I re-emerged from the shower; my hair still damp and tied back into a severe ponytail, and Nik's silver wolf's tooth necklace was strung around my neck, as usual.
I decided on a pair of tight blue skinny jeans with a black leather belt, a simple black V-necked blouse with lace long sleeves and a simple pair of black converse sneakers. After double knotting the laces on my shoes, I snatched up my purse; making sure that my phone, keys and other essentials were inside before dashing quickly downstairs and straight for the front double doors.
"Grace! Wait up a sec." I turned and saw a freshly clean and dressed Jeremy descending the staircase two steps at a time to get to me before I could disappear out the door.
I cursed my luck.
"Sorry, Jer. I can't chat right now. There's something we've got to deal with right now." I stated, hastily.
"Yeah, I figured from all the yelling I heard earlier." He stated, dryly. I winced, biting my bottom lip.
"You heard that, huh?" I guessed, feeling sheepish.
"I think the whole of Mystic Falls heard you … or at least heard Rebekah." Jeremy drawled, raising an eyebrow at me for my skittish behavior. "Everything alright?"
"Not really. But it's nothing that can't be resolved later, and hopefully with minimal bloodshed." I responded, mentally crossing my fingers. A car horn sounded from outside, I knew that Nik had finally arrived to take me with him to the Old Witch Place as promised. "That's my ride. Uh, best stay out of Rebekah's way for the rest of the night. She's not in the best of moods right now." I suggested hastily.
"Got it. Be careful, huh?" Jeremy warned and I raised an eyebrow at him, curiously.
"Always am. Emma!" I called out, and the perky redheaded hybrid appeared as though by magic. "Take care of Jeremy while Nik and I are out. Whatever he needs, give it to him." I instructed her, then scowled when I noticed the lustful eye sweep Jeremy was giving the slightly uncomfortable redhead.
"Not a problem." Emma smiled at me.
"Definitely not a problem." Jeremy agreed and I swotted him over the head. "OW! Hey!?" He frowned at me.
"There are limits to what Emma can give to you, buster. Don't abuse the privilege." I warned him. The car horn sounded again, and I rolled my eyes at Nik's impatience. "Gotta go. Behave!"
"Yes, mom." Jeremy sassed me back, and I frowned at him before wrenching open the front door and darting out.
Old Witch Place
Twilight
I hurried over towards a fancy looking black Mercedes idling in the driveway behind the large Gothic-style electric fence, and watched as one of Nik's hybrids suddenly stepped from the car to open the backseat for me. I immediately slid into the car beside a slightly annoyed but otherwise pleasant looking Nik.
"The Old Witch Burial Ground." Nik curtly instructed the hybrid who was driving the minute the backdoor closed behind me. I turned towards Nik and he smiled lightly. "Good evening, sweetheart. Did you have a productive day?" Nik greeted me casually, as he drummed his fingers against the black leather armrest, seemingly relaxed.
"Well, I did; up until Rebekah and I had words late this afternoon." I responded, somewhat apprehensive. "Or at least until Henrik stepped in when Rebekah wouldn't let me explain the situation without getting worked up." I added. Nik frowned, and I immediately launched into an explanation as to how his day was before he could comment. "Did you get what you needed done?" I asked, trying to change the subject and hoping that Nik took the bait.
No such luck.
"What do you mean 'had words'?" Nik narrowed his eyes, ignoring my question. I sighed, not really wanting to throw Rebekah underneath the metaphorical bus and have her even angrier at me. But I knew that it would be worse for her if Nik found out by himself. So, I fessed up.
"Rebekah overheard our conversation this morning about Esther and didn't take the information very well. She confronted me about it and things kinda escalated from there." I confessed, reluctantly.
"I see." Nik sighed, in irritation. "I suppose she refused to listen to reason then?" He asked me, and I nodded.
"She became very upset when I confirmed what she had overheard us talking about." I said, turning my head to look out the window at the darkening landscape outside the tinted car window. "Let's just say; you're in for a very hostile and uncomfortable conversation with your sister when we eventually see her next." I said, regretfully.
"Rebekah's always been that way when it came to our mother. She needs evidence before she will believe you. Until then she will remain in denial and not be reasoned with." Nik stated, very matter of fact.
"But this is a situation we have to deal with later." I stated firmly, gaining a look of surprise from Nik. "Right now, our main priority should be retrieving the coffins out from underneath Stefan's nose."
"Agreed." Nik responded, still looking shocked about my frank attitude.
"So, what did you do today; assuming that the so called 'errands' you were taking care of this morning had anything to do with the coffins." I asked, calm and collected.
Nik immediately recovered from the shock, "I paid a visit to Stefan this morning. Or rather, I let myself into the Boarding House, helped myself to a drink and waited until he made an appearance." My eyes must've widened in alarm, as Nik smiled at me reassuringly and placed his hand on mine. "Relax, sweetheart. I didn't retaliate, despite the obvious temptation when he eventually did show up." He said, squeezing a little.
I relaxed, "What happened?" I asked, angling myself in his direction and making myself comfortable.
"Same old, same old. He questioned why I was at the house, and I requested an explanation about what he wanted from me so I could get the coffins back." Nik responded, casually.
"I bet that went down like a lead balloon." I grimaced.
"Precisely. He even tried to threaten to drop them in the ocean if I didn't pack up and leave town." Nik added and I made a face.
"Sounds like he's getting desperate if he's trying that on with you." I observed.
"More likely that he thinks that I am a complete fool and have the wool pulled over my eyes. He's stalling, and I think I have a theory about why he is." He insisted, and I couldn't help but feel nervous about what that theory could potentially be.
"What do you suspect he's up to?" I asked, worriedly.
"Smart money would be that he's trying to open the coffin that contains my mother." Nik said, looking concerned. I was alarmed at first, but then realised something important.
"But that's impossible, no one can get into it." I stated, going by what Nik had explained before about the powerful seal that had been placed upon Esther's coffin.
"No one, except for the witch who placed the protective seal upon the coffin in the first place." Nik pointed out. My eyes widened when I realised where he was going with this.
"Oh, don't tell me that Bonnie can open that damn coffin." I groaned in both fear and frustration.
"Alright I won't." He said, straight-faced; and I just gave him a flat look. "But she alone won't be able to break that spell. Bonnie'll need assistance." Nik reassured me.
"From whom?"
"Another Bennett witch." He said, darkly. "Specifically, her estranged mother. Which was why I sent Daniel to get to the woman first." I was impressed; Nik really was one step ahead of them all.
"What did Daniel do?" I asked, interested. Nik shrugged, casually.
"It turned out that Ms. Abby Bennett Wilson, lives in Monroe, North Carolina with an adopted son. Jamie, I believe his name is." He smirked. "So, I instructed Daniel to compel both Abby and Jaime to subdue Bonnie and anybody who comes along with her to turn them away in any way they can." Nik revealed.
"Which considering who we're dealing with, would be Stefan and most likely Elena. Sneaky." I complimented him.
"Why thank you, darling." Nik smiled at me affectionately.
I rolled my eyes but smiled back. "So did Daniel pull it off?"
"We'll just have to wait and find out, now won't we?" Nik stated, as we pulled up to the path through the trees that lead towards the Old Witch House. We both get out of the car, followed automatically by his two hybrids. However, he instantly stops them in their tracks. "Stay here. When I locate the coffins be ready to come down and collect." He instructed the two hybrids, who nodded once and hung back to lean against the Mercedes like they were members of the secret service. Nik reaches over and takes my hand in his. "Shall we?" He asks, rhetorically.
Nik and I made our way up the trail towards the house; both of us hoping that this would be the very last time we would be making a trip here. This whole exercise was becoming excessively repetitive. I was instantly hit with an icy shiver down my spine the minute I stepped past the threshold and I paused mid-step, shutting my eyes automatically.
"What's wrong?" Nik questioned me, placing a hand on my shoulder to help me anchor myself to the here and now. I slowly opened my eyes and nearly jerked backwards with shock when I noticed that the both of us were surrounded by the hundreds of dead witches inhabiting this place.
I groaned with irritation.
"Everything's fine, Nik. The witches have been summoned." I explained and continued walking deeper into the house, with a frowning Nik following at my heels. "I really wish they wouldn't do that."
"Do what?" Nik asked, curiously.
"Just randomly appear out of thin air." I sighed. "I think they get some sort of kick out of scaring the hell out of me for their own amusement." I groused.
"Well, hopefully we won't have to deal with their presence for very much longer. Assuming they co-operate and willingly hand over what is mine." Nik reassured me. I nodded, choosing not to comment. This situation could go in any multiple directions. "Now, love. You've been here before. Where are the coffins being contained?" He asked me, smiling cheerfully. I led Nik down to the basement, which was just as seemingly bare and vacant of the four coffins as the last time Damon and I had been here with Stefan.
But of course, I knew better.
"The coffins are stashed down here." I confirmed, glancing about the dusty, unkempt basement and wrinkling my nose at the squalor. Nik stood at the bottom of the staircase and glanced about in confusion before he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Where love?" He asked. I glanced over at the witches who had followed us down here, watching us suspiciously and cautiously.
"The witches have hidden them from us." I replied, scowling at the witches who were helping Stefan with this ridiculous vendetta and earning malicious smirks back. "They don't trust us."
Nik shrugged looking unconcerned, "No matter. I will get what I came here for eventually." He walked about the room, gathering up discarded candles presumably left behind from when Bonnie had been stashed away here to prepare to take down Nik during the Hybrid Ritual.
"What are you doing, Nik?" I asked.
"I'm bringing a little bit of light into this room. It's getting a bit dark in here." Nik stated flippantly as he set up the candles around the room and began lighting each of them up.
"Whatever for? You can see in the dark, Nik." I reminded him, confused.
"Yeah. But you can't." He reminded me. I let a small smile spread across my face, touched by the gesture.
"That's not necessary, Nik. But thanks." I said, graciously. A floorboard squeaked overhead, and both of us froze glancing up at the upper level above us. "Are you expecting someone?" I asked him, cautiously.
"Yes, as a matter of fact. But I think it's best if we hide until I confirm that it is the right person." Nik requested and I rolled my eyes as we blended into the shadows. I couldn't deny that I was curious about who we were waiting on; and my curiosity was confirmed when Damon suddenly walked into the room, looking a tad bit stressed. Nik kissed my cheek before stepping back out of the shadows. "What took you so long?" Damon immediately bristled upon seeing my boyfriend. "I don't like to be kept waiting. And in squalor, no less." Nik stated.
The candles all around the room suddenly burn brighter and the flames shoot into the air. At the same moment, Nik suddenly falls to his knees and clutches at his head, screaming in pain.
Damon smirked, "Insulting a bunch of dead witches … not smart. I made the exact same mistake first time I came in here." I immediately rushed out from the shadows and went over to Nik's side cradling him in my arms as I glared up at the witches angrily.
"Grace? What are you doing here?" Damon asked, sounding genuinely confused. I ignored him.
"Let him go!" I ordered. Emily Bennett steps forward, a cold expression on her face as she stared at Nik and me.
"I suggest you stand down, if you know what's good for you." Emily suggested, and I stood up and walked towards her ignoring the obviously confused looks on both Damon and Nik's faces.
"Or what? It goes against your nature to harm an innocent." I reminded them, trying to stop myself from being smug. Emily shrugged, unconcerned.
"Rules can be changed if necessary." The Bennett matriarch retorted, and my eyes widened comically before I scoffed.
"Did you just threaten me?" I asked before looking back at Damon. "These bitches just threatened me." He glowered in outrage. "I don't believe it." I laughed out of sheer disbelief. "Now I've heard everything. I can't wait to see what happens next." I stated unsympathetically as I walked back over to Nik's side. I was now beyond helping them anymore, if they were willing to put me in harm's way to prevent Nik from getting his family back on the whim of a pathetic individual like Stefan. My boyfriend was eventually able to glance up and spoke out in a forced, strained voice.
"You know, the funny thing about witches is, that living or dead, they care about their own. A hundred dead witches have a thousand living descendants…" Nik shouts out in pain once again, and I steadied him when he nearly toppled over.
"Nik!" I panicked before glaring up at the arrogant pests surrounding us. I was getting extremely tired of these old crones believing that they were all powerful because they had dominion over nature. "Stop this!" I hissed at the witches. Nik clutched at my hand reassuringly. He raises his voice, addressing the witches despite not being able to see them.
"And I have no problem, killing every last one of them, if I don't get my coffins back!" He roars. "As we speak, my hybrid friend is prepared to end the Bennett line!" There was no lie in Nik's eyes, and we could see that clearly. Immediately the witches release Nik from their torture, allowing him to get to his feet. "Now… please… show me the coffins." Nik demanded.
Emily looked at him resentfully before waving her hand.
Almost immediately, the coffins materialized in the room.
"Here we are. Was that so hard?" Nik couldn't resist taunting them. Unfortunately, there was a glaringly obvious problem staring us right in the face.
"Damon, what have you done?" I demanded, anxiously. When Nik overheard what I said, he took another look at the room and the triumphant smile on his face faded.
"Where's the fourth?" He muttered before shouting at the witches in the room. "Show me!"
"Well, here's the thing." Damon began, looking pissed. "They can't. It's not here." He confessed, reluctantly.
Nik looked incensed, "What did you do?"
"Believe it or not, nothing. Stefan appears to be shiftier than we both thought. I think he relocated the coffin none of us seemed to be able to open." Damon guessed.
I groaned, "Stefan really is taking this revenge scheme way too far…" I reacted when Nik suddenly seizes Damon by the lapels of his leather jacket and shoves him hard against the wall, obviously failing to hold back his fearsome temper.
"I will tear you, limb from limb. And only then, when you're a riving mass of blood and flesh, I will rip your heart from your chest!" Nik promised, and Damon managed to look bored with the threat thankfully.
"Hey! This is not his fault!" I defended Damon, as I attempted to calm Nik down somewhat unsuccessfully. "We will get the coffin back. Just calm down!" I stated, firmly.
"Listen. I'm sorry for what Stefan has done, and I know you want your family back. But something tells me Stefan knows you want what's in that coffin a lot more." Damon stated.
"You don't say." My voice dripped with sarcasm. "We better hope and pray that Bonnie doesn't manage to get that damn coffin open before we get it back." Nik reluctantly lowers Damon back to the ground and immediately storms back up the stairs.
"Where's he going?" Damon questioned, straightening his jacket.
"He's summoning the hybrids he brought along in anticipation of bringing the coffins back to the mansion. We're taking these ones back with us." I said, hurrying up the staircase after Nik and leaving Damon behind with the coffins.
~: Salvatore Boarding House :~
(No P.O.V)
After Damon reluctantly helped Klaus, Grace and two of Klaus' hybrids remove the three remaining coffins from the Old Witch House and restore them to the Mikaelson Mansion, Damon headed back to the Boarding House. He was thoroughly over the entire day, what with being blood-jacked by Alaric's crazy doctor girlfriend, helping an ungrateful Petrova doppelgänger bitch and her even worse witchy friend locate Sabrina the Teenage Bitch's mom for a reason he had no idea about (until he discovered the reason only hours before), and discovered and was blamed unfairly for a missing coffin belonging to a desperate and highly volatile Original Hybrid.
He was more than ready to just crawl into bed and pass out for the night. But there was just one more thing he felt he needed to deal with before he could commit to eight or more hours of uninterrupted sleep. So, he fixed himself a drink and positioned himself in front of the roaring fireplace; waiting for his insane brother to finally return.
"Oh, you're still alive." Speak of the devil. Damon turned to face Stefan, and calmly raised his glass to his lips as Stefan made a beeline for the bourbon as well. "I assume, that means that Klaus didn't get his coffins?" Stefan inquired, earning a dark scowl from Damon.
"Oh, no. He got them alright. All three of them, to be exact." Stefan froze for a split second before recovering and continuing as though Damon hadn't said anything. "Almost had my heart removed by Klaus for my troubles as well. Where the hell do you get off making off with the locked coffin?" Damon wanted to know.
"It was the better choice out of the four. It'll give us time to figure out how to gain access into it." Stefan responded, unconcerned.
"Yeah, well if you're banking on Bonnie's momma to open it, you're screwed. I heard it on the grapevine that she hadn't got any powers." Damon pointed out.
"Doesn't surprise me. It's been one of those nights." Stefan admitted.
Damon smirked, "And I'm about to make it even better." He holds up a silver dagger, and Stefan glances at it in horror. "So, why don't we talk about this, huh?"
"What did you do?" Stefan demanded.
"I set Elijah free." Damon stated. "Now the fun begins."
~: Mikaelson Mansion :~
(Grace P.O.V)
This whole day has been one unpleasant surprise after the other, and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed with Nik and not resurface until the next morning. Then we could deal with the next set of problems that would revolve around getting back Esther's coffin from Stefan, Elena and Bonnie.
I followed Nik, Daniel and Nik's two hybrids as they shoved all three coffins into a large unoccupied room in the mansion. I stood in the doorway, just observing.
"You've got your family back. Finally." Daniel observed, and Nik nodded absently; extending a hand towards me. I automatically took it and allowed Nik to pull me towards him, seeking a bit of comfort. It was obvious that Nik was feeling a bit anxious at the thought that his mother's coffin was still at large, and in the wrong hands. "You gonna open them?" Daniel asked, curiously.
Nik shook his head, "Not quite yet. I still have some unfinished business to take care of." He stated, and I frowned at him.
"What business, Nik?" I asked. Nik was about to respond to my question, when both of us see Daniel squirm and suddenly fall to the floor, dead. Shocked, we both glanced up and my mouth fell open when I saw Elijah standing there with Daniel's heart clenched in his hand. "Oh, my God…" I muttered, as Elijah calmly looks at Nik; ignoring me momentarily.
"So, Niklaus…" Elijah began, his voice as smooth as silk, causing me to squirm unpleasantly. He was pissed.
"Elijah!" Nik exclaimed, immediately shoving me behind him for my own protection. An action that caused Elijah to narrow his eyes almost immediately.
"What did I miss?" Elijah wanted to know.
A/N: Finally! I've finished this bloody chapter. It took me forever to figure out where I was going with this. I hope it makes sense and that you enjoyed it. The next chapter hopefully won't take as long to come out.
TTFN xx