A/N: Welcome back, and thanks for tuning in to this new chapter update.
Caution: Long chapter ahead! I do not own The Vampire Diaries. All characters except for Grace belong to author L.J. Smith.
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FAMILY FEUD
"No family is perfect… we argue, we fight. We even stop talking to each other at times, but in the end, family is family … the love will always be there." ~Inspirational Quote.
Mikaelson Mansion
Night
Nik and I looked back at Elijah with shock and horror as the elder Original stood before us both, wiping blood off his hands with his white handkerchief after brutally killing Daniel.
"Elijah." I spoke out loud, drawing his attention. "How? How is this possible?" I asked incredulously, trying to move around Nik so I could greet my brother properly. However, Nik wasn't having a bar of it and stubbornly stood his ground standing in front of me. I narrowed my eyes at him in irritation as Elijah raised an elegant eyebrow; obviously surprised by our reactions.
"I see. This is most interesting." Elijah observed, and both Nik and I looked at him questioningly. "You both look surprised to see me." He then directed his next statement towards Nik, coldly. "So, it wasn't you that removed the dagger from my heart?"
All three of us were understandably confused, until something occurred to me about tonight involving a certain other vampire that had been at the dilapidated house with Nik and me. I swore underneath my breath grabbing both Elijah and Nik's attention. I couldn't believe that this didn't occur to me sooner. It would explain why Damon didn't immediately follow me out when I went after Nik.
Fatal mistake.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." I muttered angrily through clenched teeth.
"I beg your pardon, Grace?" Elijah inquired, as he and Nik frowned at me curiously. "I'm afraid you've lost us both completely. Is there something you wish to bring to our attention?" He asked, mildly concerned.
I grimaced, "Damon."
"What about Mr. Salvatore?" Elijah asked, as Nik suddenly cottoned on to why I had my outburst, and then he too scowled as well. "What does he have to do with who removed the dagger from my chest?"
"Everything." I scoffed in frustration. "He's the one who removed it." I responded, as I turned away and started walking towards the main doors. "I'll kill him. I'm actually going to kill him…" I muttered underneath my breath as I walked, only to be stopped by Nik who blurred into my path and gently grabbed my wrists. He immediately pulled me to his side and tried to calm me down by kissing my temple and muttering calming words into my ears.
"Easy, love." He muttered. Nik's tone indicated to me that he was also less than impressed with Damon's stupid actions. "One problem at a time." I nodded, and then Nik turned and addressed Elijah who watching our interaction curiously but also seemed strangely unsurprised that Damon had been the one to free him from his dormancy. "You look like you could do with a drink." I froze; knowing exactly what Nik meant by 'drink' but relaxed a little when Nik shushed me as he continued to greet Elijah with a falsely polite smile. "And we have a lot to discuss. So, shall we?" He indicated towards the doors I had been heading towards in my determination to cave in Damon's head when he stopped me.
However, Elijah attacks Nik without warning; causing him to roughly push me out of harm's way and I landed hard on the polished floorboards. I watched Elijah send him flying through a window into the immaculately manicured hedges outside.
"Elijah!" I protested angrily, as Nik calmly straightens up and brushes himself down.
"And I just finished renovating too…" He mutters, mildly annoyed as Rebekah, overhearing the commotion, burst into the room. She and Elijah gape at each other in surprise.
"Elijah?" Rebekah gasps.
"Rebekah, you've been awoken as well, I see?" Elijah is bewildered as Nik steps back through the broken window not taking his eyes off Elijah for a second as he addresses Rebekah.
"Yes, sister. Our brother is awake." Nik drawls, unenthusiastically. "A bit premature, mind you. But beggars can't be choosers."
"Why don't you head off home, Grace? Niklaus is right, we have a lot to discuss." Elijah suggested, using firm tones and ever being the protector. I slowly got to my feet, rolling my shoulder gingerly. I had landed awkwardly on it when Nik had shoved me out of danger.
"I am home." I told Elijah, who blinked at me then at Nik with surprise. "I just haven't officially moved all my stuff into the mansion just yet." I stated, crossly.
"I have a lot to catch up on, it seems." Elijah mused. Nik suddenly rushes at him, causing Elijah to crash into a nearby table and turn it into firewood.
"You know, you have every right to be mad at me." Nik admitted. "But I kept my word, I reunited you with our family."
His words only cause Elijah to attack Nik again, forcing Rebekah to pull me out of harm's way and shield me against the battling brothers. It seemed that Nik and Elijah fighting was enough to eradicate any animosity Rebekah might have been harboring towards me this night.
"Stop this! What is wrong with the pair of you!?" I shouted tears building up as I watched two of the strongest men I had ever known during my previous life and this one, squabbling like cat and dog. When did everything get so messed up?
I want my family back.
They ignored me as Nik is eventually knocked back against one of the coffins. In retaliation, he opens the coffin next to the one he had been thrown against and reaches inside. I was unable to see who resided inside the coffin, but I watched as Nik undaggers which ever brother it was and rushes at Elijah. He shoves and holds him against the third unopened coffin by his throat. Rebekah and I squeal in protest; and I cupped my mouth to stifle a cry when Nik holds up the silver dagger threateningly.
"Don't make me do this to you again, Elijah!" Nik threatens.
Elijah bares his fangs defiantly, "Come on. Use it. I dare you!" He eggs on Nik who hesitates. "But then you'll have Kol to deal with."
Kol… I went forward to see my 'twin' for myself, but Rebekah stops me by grabbing my arm.
"Stay where you are, Grace!" Elijah tells me, sternly. "We are aware of everything, even daggered. Kol will not hesitate to bleed you dry if you go too close. It won't matter who you are." He warns me. I stop struggling to break free from Rebekah's iron grip but continue staring at Nik and Elijah.
Nik lowers the dagger.
"Mikael is dead." He says as he releases Elijah who straightens up, surprised at what he's heard.
"What did you say?" He demanded.
"We killed him." I spoke up, causing Elijah to turn his head and look at me. "With his own weapon."
"He's gone Elijah. Forever." Nik told him, firmly.
"You killed Mikael?" Elijah looked at me in disbelief. "Niklaus I can believe. But you? How is that possible?"
I smiled bitterly, "It was not without extreme difficulty, I admit." I stated, drawing in a deep breath as I tried to remember what I had tried to suppress when the deed was officially over and done with. "First he beat me. Then he snapped my leg like it was kindling, before he threatened to slit my throat with my own dagger in front of both Nik and Rebekah." Elijah looked horrified. "And he would've succeeded, if it had not been for Henrik who saved me."
Elijah's eyes widened, "Henrik?"
"Somebody calling me?" Henrik called from out in the hallway.
"Yeah, sweetie. Could you come in here? We've got a surprise for you." I called back. Henrik stepped into the room, frowning a little in curiosity before his face lit up like a candle when he saw Elijah, who was stunned to see his baby brother alive, corporeal and completely unharmed.
"Elijah!" Henrik exclaimed, before running full pelt towards his older brother and flinging his arms around his shoulders. "I've missed you, brother."
Elijah was slow to react, but eventually he raised his arms to wrap them tightly around his brother's waist as he returned the embrace he had long since forgotten in a thousand years, when he was still human and Henrik was still an innocent child.
"How is this possible? I thought he was a ghost?" Elijah demanded, still clutching to Henrik like a lifeline.
"I still am." Henrik confirmed. "I just can touch things now." He explained.
"It was a powerful spell that allowed Henrik to be seen. But a heartfelt wish that allowed him to stay with us, permanently." I confessed. Grateful tears formed in Elijah's eyes, before he steeled himself and returned his attention towards Nik.
"What I don't understand, is why do our family remain in these coffins?" Elijah demanded, angrily. "Finn for 900-years, Kol for over a century." My eyes widened and I turned and gaped at Nik, who stubbornly refused to look at me.
"That would be because of Stefan Salvatore." He explained. "He holds one thing keeping me from freeing them." Rebekah frowned and opened her mouth to reveal what that was, since she had only just recently learned it herself. But a hard glance from Nik stopped her. "There are things that you do not know about our past, Elijah. Or you Rebekah." He glances at his sister with some regret. "Our mother's death. Things I never wanted you to know but I'm ready to tell you now. I only ask that you remember the oath of loyalty you once swore to me."
Nik immediately goes over to a small table nearby that had a small urn resting on top of it. He removed the lid and dipped the dagger inside before walking back over to Kol's coffin. Rebekah and Elijah watched Nik suspiciously, while Henrik and I looked on with confusion.
"What are you doing?" Elijah questions Nik. My boyfriend studies Kol for a few minutes before raising the dagger once again over his heart. My eyes widened in dismay.
"Wait, Nik!" But Nik daggers Kol again, despite my protest. I just hoped Nik had good reasons for not allowing Kol and Finn freedom just yet. Nik turns to address us all with hard eyes.
"Always and forever. I need you to stand by my side. Help me destroy Stefan and I promise you our family will be whole again." He requests of us all, before he closes Kol's coffin lid with an air of finality.
Sighing, feeling tired and completely over this whole day, I immediately turned and headed out of the room to seek refuge in Nik's and my bedroom. Feeling eyes on the back of my head as I went, I slowly walked up the spiraling staircase. Now that three out of the four coffins had been found and relocated to their rightful place, it was (in my opinion) time to sleep. I needed to be well-rested so I could head back to my apartment and start packing. Like I told Elijah before, I was going to be officially moving into the mansion soon enough; I might as well get a head start on my packing.
I must've passed out the second I was ready for bed, because I don't remember anything after my head hit the pillow. I was out like a light and I woke up when something warm started stroking my bare arm. That same warmth was pressed up against my back cradling me protectively. I stirred and looked over my shoulder to see Nik lying behind me on the bed, deep in thought.
"Nik? What's wrong?" I mumbled, before yawning. "Can't you sleep?" I asked him, concerned. Nik smiled down at me affectionately before cuddling me close and kissing my shoulder.
"I'm fine, love. You go back to sleep." He insisted, and I nodded absently and turned away shutting my eyes as I tried to get comfortable again. However, I didn't immediately nod off. Now that Nik and I were alone together without any distractions or nosy siblings to butt in where they weren't welcome, there was something that I needed to ask him. Something that Elijah had said earlier that both intrigued and freaked me out a little.
"Nik?" I whispered.
"Hmmm?" He responded, and I winced. He must've just gotten off to sleep just before I spoke up. But I needed to know.
"Was what Elijah said before true?" I asked tentatively. "Are he and the others still aware of everything that goes on around them while they are still daggered?" Nik was silent for several minutes, and I thought he had drifted off to sleep.
But then, "Honestly sweetheart, I wouldn't have the faintest idea if that would be true or not. Those daggers don't work on me so I couldn't find out." Nik responded. "Why do you ask?"
"The idea sounded intriguing to me, and I was curious enough to want to know if it was possible." I said, before shuffling further backwards into him and making myself comfortable. "Sorry I woke you." I added, before relaxing and trying to fall back to sleep. Nik chuckled, a little confused by my question before he too, drifted off.
I waited until his breathing evened out, indicating that he was in deep slumber, before I cautiously wriggled my way out of his arms and silently headed for the bedroom door, letting it close behind me with a soft click.
I made my way as slowly and as silently down the main staircase as I could, heading towards the large room off from the dining area where Nik had stored the coffins temporarily. I wanted to test a theory to see if Elijah was in fact telling me the truth about being able to hear everything while daggered.
The room itself was dark, save for the moonlight which filtered through the window that illuminated the two coffins and made me feel a sense of foreboding despite the fact that (as far as I knew) neither of the vampires currently daggered would harm me, unless I was particularly reckless. I took a gamble about which coffin held Kol and opened one at random, hitting the jackpot first try.
I recoiled in horror, though, when I saw him for the first time in a thousand years; even though I had already seen both Elijah and Rebekah in this state once before and really had nothing to worry about. It was still confronting, nevertheless seeing my twin in everything but blood lying there grey and veiny with a silver dagger buried in his heart all the way to the hilt.
It was clear that Kol had been daggered by Nik around about the time men were starting to cut their hair shorter and neater, and he was dressed quite dapper in a suit that probably would've looked expensive and immaculate once upon a time, if Nik had not daggered him and allowed time to wither and decay it, like it would any normal corpse buried underground for several decades. I glanced down at Kol's unmoving face for several minutes before sighing once again.
"Hey Kol. It's me, Gráinne. Although, nowadays I prefer being called Grace. Long time no see." I chuckled a little sadly. "I'm still not entirely convinced that Elijah was telling the truth about whether or not you could actually hear me, but I'm still going to talk to you nevertheless." I began, smiling a little. "I just want to apologize to you, Kol. Rebekah told me how badly you had taken my death a thousand years ago, and I never wanted to hurt you like that. I also wanted you to know it was Mikael who had killed me that night. But Nik and I got even." I told him. "I look forward to the day Nik finally releases you from your coffin." I reached out and smoothed back his slightly unruly dark brown hair. "I miss you, brother."
I closed the lid gently, feeling the fatigue threatening to pull me back under and I turned around to head back to bed … only to stifle a shriek when I saw an intrigued Elijah standing behind me in silent observation.
"Good evening, Grace. Shouldn't you be asleep?" Elijah asked, across between amused and disapproving.
"Elijah, I couldn't sleep." I responded, relieved then slightly grumpy. "Also, you scared the hell out of me. I hate it when you do that." I bitched, earning a crooked smile from Elijah.
"My apologies, sister." Elijah said, before walking over to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he escorted me away from the coffins and back out of the door towards the living room where the fireplace was almost completely extinguished for the night. I could still see little orange-yellow and red embers crackling away in the smoldering ashes. I took a seat upon one of the couches, while Elijah took a seat in front of me on the coffee table looking … pensive.
Hmmm…?
"A lot of things went down in my absence. Do you care to elaborate a little?" He asked, and I got the feeling that my brother wouldn't be taking 'no' for an answer. So, I caved and gave him a rundown on what Nik, and I got up to after Nik spontaneously daggered him – much to my horror at the time – in Alaric's apartment all those months ago. There was a tense few minutes after I finished my explanation where Elijah just proceeded to study me before getting up and starting to pace.
"Everything okay, Elijah?" I asked him, concerned that he hadn't said anything just yet about this.
"It seems that Niklaus has been making gradual changes to his overall personality while I've been 'away'." Elijah mused, frowning a little.
I smiled fondly, "Yeah. He's been trying so hard." I reported, pulling my knees to my chest and resting my chin against them. "You'd be so proud of him." I whispered. However, Elijah stubbornly shook his head.
"It's a little difficult for me to take what you've just told me at face value." Elijah told me. I nodded in agreement.
"Yes. There have been times when Nik has slipped up and let his temper control him. But that's normal when you're attempting to turn over a new leaf." I defended Nik's actions.
Elijah raised his eyebrow, "So, you call threatening to re-dagger me making process?" He looked skeptical.
"Like I said before; he's had his moments." I said, evenly. "But I believe that the biggest headaches that Nik's been suffering in your absence has involved Damon. Intentional or not." I admitted, hoping to somehow discover if Elijah had any inkling that Damon had been the one to free him from the influences of the silver dagger. Elijah's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Ah. That might explain why I found this in my pocket when I first awoke." He said, pulling free a piece of scrap paper with Damon's familiar handwriting scribbled hastily on it and handed it to me.
I stared down at the note, confused. "But why? Why would he go to so much trouble to wake you up? Not that I'm not pleased that you have woken up, of course. But it just doesn't add up." I observed.
"I plan on following the note's instructions and meeting up with Mr. Salvatore to demand an explanation. Do you wish to come?" Elijah asked, calmly.
"Absolutely." I agreed. "And he'd better have a good explanation for going behind Nik's back like that, and it better not have anything to do with jealousy and getting even." I stated, before letting out a large yawn for my troubles. Elijah chuckled.
"Better not fight it any longer, dearest." He suggested. I nodded and stood up from the couch nearly falling forward into Elijah's arms at the same time. He reached out and steadied me as he also stood up. "Pleasant dreams, Grace." He bid me goodnight.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his middle, smiling dreamily. "And to you, brother." I said. "I missed you too, you know." I added, pulling away a little to look him in the eye. "I know you heard me saying so to Kol." I said, knowingly.
Elijah smiled warmly. "Yes, I did. I missed you too." He returned my warm hug before pulling away and gently nudging me towards the entrance to the living room. "Off to bed now." I shuffled wearily up the staircase and cautiously back into Nik's bedroom.
"Where did you disappear off to?" I immediately heard Nik question me the second I stepped into the room and shut the door behind me.
"I had a nightmare. Went for a walk to get my mind off the dream." I offered Nik a white lie, before getting back into the bed and cuddling up to him. He frowned, obviously not entirely believing my story; but allowed me to cuddle up.
"Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, concerned. I shook my head, touched but not worried.
"Nah. I just really want to go back to sleep right now." I stated, before leaning up and kissing his stubble cheek. "Goodnight, Nik." I mumbled before relaxing my head on his chest.
"Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
A meadow somewhere in Mystic Falls
Day
Elijah was surprisingly serious about his offer to let me tag along with him when he met up with Damon, as per the hastily scrawled note he had left in Elijah's breast pocket. And didn't appear to mind the little white lie I fed Nik when he questioned what I was up to.
What I told him was partially true. I had intended to head back to my apartment today to pack up my belongings and bring them over to the mansion, so I didn't have a lot to do when my lease was up. But it was also a cover up so that Elijah and I could go and confront Damon without Nik becoming too suspicious. Even though we (or at least I) was doing this for Nik's benefit, Elijah still wasn't completely convinced that Nik was trying to be a better man.
Turns out he and Rebekah were two peas in a pod as far as Nik was concerned: if they didn't have complete evidence, Nik was guilty until proven innocent. Nik was a little suspicious and a bit overprotective when I mentioned that Elijah was coming along to help me pack, as well as using that opportunity to spend some time and catch up with me. But in the end, he let it go because I really did require some muscle.
Which was how I found myself hiking alongside Elijah – dressed as usual in one of his immaculate silk suits, only minus a tie and looking very much like a model on the cover of a GQ magazine – through the woods towards the meadow Damon had asked Elijah to meet him at once he had fully recovered. I had chosen to dress trendy as well: black skinny jeans, grey skivvy top, a pair of tan swede knee-length boots that zipped up and one of Nik's black leather jackets he had loaned me, but I hadn't returned yet.
I turned towards Elijah, curious. "What do you suppose Damon wants to talk to you about?" I asked my brother, who appeared completely blank.
"I suspect we are about to find out. He is right up ahead, talking to that history teacher Niklaus possessed when he had first arrived here." Elijah clarified, and I glanced around in the distance looking for a glimpse of what Elijah was describing to me. Sure enough, we stepped out into a huge, rolling green meadow and immediately spotted a tense looking Damon talking on his phone which was clamped to his ear.
"Do you know what they're saying?" I asked, and Elijah nodded.
"Nothing of significance. Mr. Saltzman was just inquiring where Damon is." Elijah responded, dismissively. We paused just a bit behind Damon, who ended his phone call and spun around having already sensed Elijah standing there. But he was surprised to see me there as well, standing and looking at him with obvious anger and demanding an explanation for his actions.
"Elijah. My favorite Original, back from the dead." Damon deliberately ignored my presence for a moment, focusing on Elijah who narrowed his eyes at the obvious snub. "You clean up nice." Damon complimented my brother.
"You left something in my jacket pocket." Elijah withdrew the note from his pocket and showed it to Damon who looked sheepish for a split second before adopting a slightly cheeky manner.
"Oh, yeah. "Dear Elijah, let's get together, plot the destruction of your brother. XOXO."" Damon smirked.
"Damon!" I hissed and took a step towards him, but Elijah placed a calming, but restraining hand on my shoulder as he too looked at the younger vampire with an unamused frown.
"I'd tread lightly, Mr. Salvatore. My sister is none too happy with you right this minute, and I'd must admit I would like you to get to the point as well." Elijah warned Damon, whose smirk dropped, and he eyed me with slight guilt. I wasn't about to let this slide and wanted a damn good explanation yesterday.
"If that's the case, was I right to undagger you or are we gonna have a problem?" Damon questioned Elijah, cautiously. Elijah's eyes narrowed even further.
"That all depends on what you want to know." Elijah responded, still not removing his hand from my shoulder but this time pulling me backwards to stand beside him. "I've heard stories that Niklaus has been undergoing some changes in my absence." Damon glanced at me when Elijah said this, "And while what I've heard has been intriguing to say the least, it doesn't hurt to get other explanations before I make my decision." Elijah said, ignoring the accusing look I threw at him while Damon looked triumphant. "So, let's talk."
Damon nodded, "Fine. Let's start with an easy question. Any idea what kind of Klaus-killing weapon could be magically sealed in a mystery coffin?" I froze, drawing both Elijah and Damon's attention towards me. "Of course, you'd know. I'm sure Klaus would've told you. But I'm wondering if Elijah knows?" Damon mused thoughtfully.
"Actually, Nik didn't tell me anything. I took a wild guess that paid off. Nik was just as surprised that I knew who was in that bloody coffin, and I can guarantee neither Stefan nor Bonnie have any idea what they will unleash if they manage to get it open." I said.
"Who is it, Sister?" Elijah asked, curious and concerned. But I shook my head.
"I'm sorry. But you're going to have to let Nik tell you like he promised he would." I reiterated. Elijah looked frustrated with my answer.
"Is this related to the things that Niklaus is yet to divulge to us about our past?" I nodded. "So, you're telling me that I have to endure yet another secret that my brother has kept from us all these years without any explanation as to why?" Elijah was angry and I flinched.
"He has a very good reason why." I insisted, calmly.
"But you won't tell me." Elijah realized, and I stared down at my feet.
"Because the truth will hurt you, brother. Nik has kept this from you all because he loves all of us." I insisted, while Damon scoffed.
"He has a funny way of showing it, if he's willing to keep things from you." He observed. Both Elijah and I looked at him with hard eyes. I was extremely disappointed in him and getting tired of putting him back into his place. So, I decided to let a master do it instead.
"Well, thankfully; none of us are interested in your opinion. So, I'd advise that you keep it to yourself unless you'd rather enjoy a missing body part." Elijah hinted acidly before looking at me sternly. "I suppose I have no choice in the matter. If I must wait to get the answers I require to make sense of it all, then so be it." Elijah told me, and I bit my bottom lip; wishing that I could tell him what was going on. Damon cleared his throat, drawing the attention back towards himself.
"Right then. What now?" He asked, impatiently.
"How about learn some patience?" I bitched back, mellowing only when Elijah placed his hand once again on my shoulder and gave me a disapproving glare. Damon looked hurt for about a split second before recovering and waiting for Elijah to speak.
"Niklaus promised that he would reveal all to us; so, I suggest that we negotiate a sit-down discussion over dinner and hear him out to see if what he has to reveal to us merits action or reveals exactly what we require." Elijah suggested.
"Because Grace won't reveal that right here and now." Damon scowled at me.
"And she shouldn't have to." Elijah argued. "I agree with her. It is not her place; it is Niklaus's secret to share, not Grace's. The sit-down is the only way we will get what we require from my brother." Elijah defended my actions.
"Is Stefan required for this 'sit down'?" Damon raised an eyebrow.
"He is the whole reason for the sit down. This animosity between him and Niklaus has gone on long enough. I believe it is time for a truce and some peace … whether they want it or not." Elijah confirmed, and both Damon and I couldn't help but sigh with relief. It was hard being the hams in the sandwich within this conflict between them.
"Great!" Damon exclaimed. "Well, Stefan and I will see you both tonight. Be seeing you." He started to walk off, but Elijah suddenly blurred into his path, causing Damon to nearly walk right into him.
"Not so fast." Elijah stated. "You are not going anywhere until this conflict between you and Grace is resolved. There's going to be enough tension in the room tonight without the both of you at each other's throats." Elijah then turned on his heel and headed back in the direction he and I had come from in order to get to this meadow. "Remember, I will be watching the both of you very closely. So, don't think that either of you will be able to escape." Then he blurred away, leaving Damon and I standing in an awkward silence in the middle of the lush green meadow.
Neither one of us spoke for several minutes, both stubbornly avoiding looking at each other. But I was curious about why Damon seemed to mess up every plan that Nik and I (or just Nik solo) came up with to make our conflict with Stefan that much bearable. Finally, I gave in and let out a frustrated sigh.
"This is ridiculous." I turned and gestured somewhat aggressively at Damon, who was looking back at me like he had when he first met me; like an enigma he was trying to solve. "What's been with you lately? Whose side are you freaking on?" I demanded.
"Side? Yours obviously. What sort of question is that?" Damon blurted out, looking shocked.
"Then why are you messing up Nik's plans?" I asked, exasperated. "Is there some kind of point you're trying to make that both of us are missing?" I questioned.
"No, should there be?" Damon was stubborn.
I snarled in frustration. "Oh, Christ. Forget it! I can't get through to you. I don't understand why you have such an issue with Nik, okay? And apparently, you're not going to fess up; so, I'm not going to waste any more of my time on you that I could be using to pack up my things so I can move permanently into Nik's mansion." I turned and headed in the direction of Elijah.
"Wait, Grace!" I stopped when Damon's hand clamped down on my shoulder, and I turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow and my arms crossed over my chest; waiting for the explanation. "Truth is, I'm jealous okay? Don't make me repeat myself." Damon confessed and I gawked openly. "Stop being such a pain in the ass." He muttered, irritated.
"Jealous, seriously? Damon, what the hell?" I exclaimed, crossly. I can't believe that I was spot on about what Damon's problem with Nik was. "What do you have to be jealous about?"
"Klaus, okay!?" Damon shouted, causing me to take a step back from him out of shock and pure instinct. "I'm jealous of Klaus! Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?" He looked humiliated by the forced confession, whereas I was totally astounded by the confession.
"What the hell are you jealous about?" I asked, trying to use a calm soothing voice. "What has Nik got that you haven't got?" I wanted to know.
"You, dammit! He's got you, and what's worse about it is that I never stood a chance." Damon stated, and I scowled at him.
"So, you deliberately pissed him off and sabotaged his plans; all because you're sick of being the second choice?" Damon stubbornly remained silent. But it spoke volumes.
I scoffed incredulously, "Do you have any idea how incredibly selfish that is?" I demanded but plowed on before he could respond. "Not only are you wrong on two accounts about this but you're also behaving immaturely and rather stupidly." Damon looked offended by that. But I couldn't bring myself to really care.
It was about time somebody set him straight about all this, and unfortunately it came down to me. Oh, joy…
"First of all, Damon. You've always had me, okay? Just not in the way you want me to be. And you won't ever lose me. However, keep this up and you will lose me. Because I will have gotten fed up with all your bullshit, or Nik or one of my other brothers will have put you out of your misery because you pissed THEM off." I pointed out. "And secondly, the reason why you never stood a chance against Nik for my heart, was partly because I had already given it to him a long time ago and never got it back—"
"Great. Thanks for letting me know. I'm gonna go drown myself in bourbon now." Damon sulked and went to walk away, but I snatched his wrist and pulled him back.
"I wasn't finished!" I said, sternly. "And because, somebody else wants your heart, but is afraid of pursuing it." I explained, causing Damon's fierce glare to fade almost immediately to be replaced with a look of hope?
"Who?" He asked, then looked horrified. "Don't tell me it's Elena. Oh, God please." He begged. "Because if it is just kill me now. Because I would rather die." Damon pleaded, rather melodramatically.
I rolled my eyes, "No, you idiot. I wouldn't inflict that kind of torture on anyone." I promised, and Damon instantly relaxed. "Besides, she's still hooked on Stefan."
"Then who then?" Damon asked.
"Rebekah." I responded, succinctly. I could've sworn I heard a disbelieving gasp coming from where Elijah was still observing us.
"Barbie Klaus?!" Damon looked shocked. I grimaced at Damon's unfortunate habit of giving unflattering nicknames.
"I would strongly suggest that you don't address my sister like that." Elijah warned Damon, stepping from the tree line. "She gets her ferocious temper from our father."
"And you do not want to be the object of her fury." I added, as Damon paled. Probably remembering back to when he last saw Mikael during our showdown at the Lockwood Mansion during the homecoming dance.
"So, why hasn't she declared her feelings to me now?" He asked, out of confusion. Elijah looked uneasy.
"I suspect she is trying to protect both herself and you from Niklaus's wrath." Elijah explained. "He tended to be somewhat brutal and overprotective against any potential suitor of Rebekah's who dared to share an interest towards our sister." Elijah reminisced. "Nobody was ever good enough for Rebekah."
Damon raised an eyebrow, "What is he, her father?" He scoffed, then regretted it when he saw the dark look in Elijah's eyes.
"Her last love interest ended up having his head delivered to Rebekah as a gift." Elijah told him casually. "Am I clear?" He hinted, glaringly.
"Transparently." Damon looked sickened, while I felt extremely sympathetic to my poor sister. Here's hoping Damon wouldn't suffer a similar fate.
Grace's Apartment
Day
Elijah followed me back to my apartment to help me pack up my meagre belongings so I can move officially into the mansion. It was mostly so we could keep up the excuse that we had given to Nik to avoid him learning what we had really been doing. But it turned out that my brother would've come along to help me, even if we didn't have an ulterior motive.
I guess I really shouldn't have been surprised. Elijah would give a down-on-his-luck person the shirt off his own back. He was that type of person back then, and it apparently hadn't changed since he became an extremely powerful, thousand-year old vampire. I fronted up to my apartment door and attempted to shift the packing boxes I had purchased with Elijah on my way here underneath my armpit, as I fumbled with my keys.
I heard Elijah sigh, "Must you make things even more complicated for yourself?" I asked me rhetorically as he gently removed the boxes from my grasp and held onto them as I finally managed to get the door open.
"Home sweet home." I muttered, stepping aside to give Elijah access. "Or at least it is for a few more days." I amended, as Elijah sets down the boxes and packing tape and heads over to the window to look out onto the main road at the passersby. I paused just looking at his back, before summoning my courage to ask him a question that had been nagging at me since we organized the sit-down that would be occurring tonight.
"Something on your mind, Grace?" Elijah jumped in before I could open my mouth to even speak. I narrowed my eyes at him as he turned and offered a slight smirk; obviously aware but not sorry that he had correctly guessed that I wanted to speak to him.
"You're not going to do anything sneaky tonight, are you Elijah?" I asked, cautiously. The smirk on Elijah's face faded and was replaced with a sober one.
"There are many things about our family that you have been allowed to know about, Grace, because you will become our sister soon enough. However, what will be transpiring tonight must remain a secret. Even from you." Elijah told me; his tone regretful but his face cold. I frowned at him.
"What do you mean?" I demanded. "What are you going to do to him?" I immediately walked over, but Elijah seemed to shut down. It was obvious that he did not wish to discuss this subject further.
"What must be done. This has been long since overdue for a tremendously long time." He declared. I opened my mouth to object further, but Elijah turned on me angrily. "Do not question our decision, Grace! We won't kill him, because we cannot without the White Oak Stake." I paled with dread at the very thought of watching Nik burning to death like Mikael had when Nik and I finally did him in. "But that won't stop us from punishing him severely." He stated. Elijah's face then softened a little, when he saw my distress. "Please, for your own safety, do not get involved. I do not want to compel you, but I will if I have to." I felt completely trapped; knowing that this was a family matter, one that I wasn't officially part of just yet.
I instead, decided to ask for an ultimatum.
"I won't interfere, if you grant me something." I spoke up.
Elijah was a man of his word and would always honor any bargain struck, provided it was possible. As proven many times when Elena attempted to weasel her way out of trouble, twice, back when Nik was trying to find her to use her in the Hybrid Curse. However, you needed to word what you requested carefully. With every bargain there would always be a loophole and if you weren't careful, Elijah could exploit it to his own advantage.
"I'm listening…" Elijah replied, reluctantly. I drew in a deep breath, before looking him in his dark brown eyes. There was no guarantee that I would get my wish.
"You must swear to me, that neither you nor any of your siblings will abandon him." I pleaded, causing Elijah's eyes to widen in surprise. "I know that Nik has to be taught a lesson for the hurt that he has inflicted upon you all, these thousand years. But I think that because of Mikael and Esther's actions, he's suffered enough. You all have." I added, my voice breaking and tears welling up in my eyes as I fought for fairness. "What he did, he did out of his fear of abandonment."
To my utter frustration, Elijah still looked a little unconvinced.
"How would you know this?" He demanded.
"Your childhood was my childhood as well, Elijah." I chuckled bitter-sweetly. "A memory is a curious thing, sweetie. If they were good ones, they never fade. No matter what, whenever Nik was beaten down by Mikael physically, mentally or verbally; we, as his siblings and in my case his friend, we were always there to pick up the pieces and help him smile again or laugh." I reminded him. "He might've taken the worst route when it comes down to it, but he has protected you all these years. And in my mind, that is his way of thanking you for being there when he needed us the most. So, don't lower yourselves to Mikael's level, and don't spoil the memories." I urged.
I immediately turned and picked up my backpack, the cardboard boxes and packing tape, and headed straight for the tiny laundry to do a load; leaving Elijah to ponder what I had just told him. It wasn't until I had boxed the last of my belongings, and (with some assistance from Elijah) called the local storage locker to house my larger belongings indefinitely, that Elijah finally responded. We were about to get into my car to return to the mansion, when Elijah stopped me by placing his hand upon my shoulder. I turned and looked at my brother, questioningly.
"You have my word." Elijah told me, solemnly. "I'll make sure that Rebekah, Kol and Finn understand this as well." He promised. I gave him a brilliant smile, before flinging my arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a grateful bear hug, which he returned with a warm smile.
Nik was my whole world; and I would do what it takes to help him.
If he deserved it.
Mikaelson Mansion
Afternoon
I drove us back to the mansion with all my boxes, and I nearly stumbled through the front door underneath the weight of most of the boxes I had picked up from the backseat of my car, much to Elijah's dismay and amusement.
"You should've let me take a few more boxes, Grace." Elijah scolded me as he reached out with his free hand to stop me from tripping over.
"You've already done plenty for me today, Elijah. Stop fussing." I complained, setting down one of the boxes on a nearby table in the foyer.
"I can't help but fuss. You're just as accident-prone as you were when you were a child." I noticed Elijah smirking at me, and I stuck out my tongue at him childishly. "Charming. Please act your age." He scolded me as he set down his own load. I straightened up and nearly jumped out of my skin when arms suddenly circled around my waist and crushed me against a hard chest.
"Nik!" I yelled in annoyance and rolled my eyes when he chuckled and pecked my cheek affectionately. I couldn't help but glance over to see Elijah's reaction to Nik's playfulness, and wasn't disappointed when I saw a look of astonishment upon his face. Followed by a warning scowl when I threw him a knowing look.
"Is this everything then?" Nik asked, gesturing to all my boxes, a few suitcases and my weapons duffel bag.
"With the exception of a few larger items like my bed, chest of drawers, wardrobe and the like – which I'm sending to a storage locker for safe keeping – this is pretty much it." I confirmed.
"Excellent. Welcome home, sweetheart." Nik chirped, kissing me once again. "Emma. Samuel." Emma and another hybrid of Nik's appeared, standing at attention. "Please help Grace carry her belongings upstairs into our room." He ordered, and without another word Emma and Samuel each picked up several boxes between them, leaving only a couple for me and blurred upstairs and out of sight.
"Woah…" I muttered.
Elijah stepped forward to address Nik, and almost immediately there was a tense air between the brothers that was almost stifling.
"We're having guests tonight, Niklaus, to negotiate an agreement with our current dilemma." Elijah said to Nik, who raised an eyebrow.
"Are we really, brother? Can't wait to hear this. Who are we entertaining tonight?" Nik asked, pleasantly.
"Damon and Stefan Salvatore." Elijah responded, promptly. I could feel Nik's arm immediately tense up around my waist the second both Salvatore brothers were mentioned. I instantly reached over and took his hand, rubbing it with my thumb in what I hoped was a soothing gesture. It seemed to work, because Nik relaxed a smidgen but didn't look any happier that two current pains in his ass were going to be arriving tonight for dinner.
"Great. Shall we go and take care of the preparations then?" Nik soldiered on, leaning over once more to plant another kiss on my lips and followed Elijah towards his office. "I'll see you tonight, darling." He smiled sincerely at me before closing the door behind him.
"It'll be a night to remember, that's for sure." I muttered sarcastically, before deliberating how I was going to carry two heavy boxes upstairs by myself. My solution came thundering downstairs, texting away on his phone. As though sensing that I was looking at him, Jeremy glanced up and brightened.
"Hey, Grace. How's it going?" He asked, putting his phone back into his pocket then frowned when he noticed that I was struggling. "Here, let me help." He offered and took one of the boxes off my hands.
"Cheers, mate." I said, gratefully. "I'm taking them upstairs." I instructed, and Jeremy nodded and turned to head back the way he came from.
"So, what are you doing now?" Jeremy asked.
"Bored?" I asked, amused.
"Not really. I just paused a game upstairs and came down to grab a snack." Jeremy shrugged. I brightened; this could kill two birds with one stone.
"Not a bad idea. I'm feeling a bit peckish myself." I admitted truthfully. "Plus, I got a favor I gotta ask of you." I added, earning a curious look from the teenager.
"What is it?" Jeremy asked. I shifted the box's weight in my arms before responding.
"Help me take these upstairs and we'll head down to the kitchen. I'll tell you there." I compromised. Jeremy grimaced underneath the weight of the box he was carrying.
"Geez, what are you carrying in here anyway? Bricks?" He complained.
"Nope. Art supplies." I responded, eyeing the words 'ART SUPPLIES' written in black felt tip on the side of the box, obviously unseen by Jeremy when he first took the box from me. "Feel free to borrow some if you're low but ask first." I offered, and Jeremy brightened.
"Thanks! What art medium do you use mostly?" He asked, as we came closer to my bedroom.
"Charcoal and graphite pencils mostly. Why?" I asked him.
"I'm experimenting with different mediums to see which one I like best." Jeremy explained, rubbernecking at the Mikaelson's collection (or rather Nik's collection) of priceless art pieces decorating the walls, clearly in seventh heaven.
I smiled, "I see. Tell me what you've experimented with already." I asked, as I pushed down the handle on my shared bedroom and tried to hip-check the door open. I did, successfully and both Jeremy and I walked in. Piled on the two couches and on the window-seat were the other boxes. "Just put your box on the coffee table." I requested, and Jeremy nodded and carefully placed down the box as he started listing the materials he's ever used. I set down my box on the bench in front of the bed and came over to open the art supplies box.
"Uh. Crayons, colored pencils, poster paint, pastels…" He listed.
"Dry or Oil?" I immediately jumped in, smiling at him with approval.
"There's different kinds?" Jeremy blinked at me.
"Yeah." I reached into the art supplies box and pulled out a small shiny black cardboard box with a viewing window of rainbow-colored sticks and showed it to Jeremy, who took the box curiously. "That's oil. Feels kind of gritty on the fingers, and a bitch to get out of your clothing if you accidentally sit on some." I reminisced and frowned at the embarrassing memory of when I first used oil pastels in Year 2 back in the UK.
"Was that you?" Jeremy smirked. I cleared my throat before thrusting a slightly thicker yellow cardboard box into his hand.
"And these are oil pastels. Very messy, and smudges easily. Good quality ones can stain your fingers for a few days after use. But worth it if you don't mind having multicolored fingers for a few days." I explained, earning a chuckle from Jeremy. "There's also these really cool colored pencils that I discovered." I chirped, pulling free what looked like a standard box of ordinary colored pencils.
"What's so great about them? They just look like the same colored pencils we used to have in Pre-K and Kindergarten." Jeremy frowned at me in confusion. Instead of telling him, I simply grabbed a scrap piece of paper and grabbed a random pencil scribbling a little on it. Then picked up a special pencil case and selected a slender paintbrush before heading for the ensuite and dampening the brush. I gently glided the wet brush over the colored scribble on the scrap of paper and immediately the color bled together. "Woah! That's so cool. What are they?" Jeremy exclaimed as he picked up the packet of colored pencils.
"Watercolor pencils." I responded, putting both the dry and oil pastels, and the watercolor pencils back into the box along with the paintbrush; to be put away in an appropriate place later with Nik's assistance. "Come on. Let's get something to eat." I said, straightening up from my perch on the couch and stretched. "I still need to tell you something." I reminded him.
Jeremy shrugged, "Okay. Should I be worried?"
"Up to you. But it's not really a big deal." I reassured him, while trying to reassure myself since apart from Elijah, I was the only other person who knew what was going to go down tonight.
"So, what would like to eat?" I asked Jeremy, as we breezed on into the kitchen. Rebekah was already in there, drinking down a blood bag like a juice box, and barely paused when she saw us. Jeremy immediately turned green.
"Actually, I think I've lost my appetite." He mumbled, turning to head back out.
"I'll try not to take that personally." Rebekah piped up, taking a seat at the counter and ignoring us as she continued with her meal. I smiled at my sister and shook my head, earning a smile back before I turned to Jeremy.
"Not even for Ice-cream sundaes?" I suggested enticingly, causing Jeremy to stop mid-step. This also caught Rebekah's interest. "That's a downright shame, that is." I let a little of my cockney accent seep through as I wondered slowly over to the cupboards to retrieve three glass serving plates and tall spoons.
"May I have one?" Rebekah asked, instantly looking at me with child-like wonder. I grinned, holding up the third plate.
"I already anticipated that you'd be interested." I arranged the plates on the island bench before heading for the freezer to retrieve the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice-cream cartons. The fridge for the whipped cream can, and the pantry for the chocolate syrup and jar of maraschino cherries. The fact that I hadn't even heard Jeremy continue to decline the offer of the classic frozen treat, told me that he was eagerly sitting at the counter probably waiting impatiently for me to fork over the dessert.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Jeremy reminded me, as I scooped three large generous balls of ice-cream onto the slightly curved serving plate before drizzling the chocolate syrup and attacking it with the whipped cream.
"Oh, right. Uh, I think that it would be advisable that you stay in your room for tonight. Elijah, Nik, Rebekah and I are having two guests over for dinner." I said uneasily, as I fished out a maraschino cherry and popped it on top. I slid the plate towards him with one of the tall spoons.
"You are?" Jeremy blurted out, scooping up a bit of his ice-cream.
"We are?" Rebekah emphasized, narrowing her eyes at me as I got to work on her plate.
"Yep, we are. And one of them doesn't know that you're here, Jeremy." I continued. "And we should probably keep it that way." I stressed.
"And they are?" Rebekah prodded.
"Damon and Stefan." I responded, licking off a bit of the chocolate syrup that had dripped onto my hand. Jeremy's eyes immediately widened when Stefan was mentioned, while Rebekah looked peeved.
"Got it! Say no more." Jeremy agreed, and went back to massacring his sundae. However, Rebekah had loads more to say on the subject.
"What the bloody hell for?!" She shrieked, as I passed her the sundae which she momentarily ignored in her pursuit for an answer.
"Elijah's going to give you a more thorough rundown on what's going to occur tonight, but what I do know is that it is supposed to be some sort of truce; whereupon we might hopefully get Esther back." I explained.
Rebekah stabbed at the sundae, "Why can't you tell me?"
"Because I know as much as you do on the subject. Elijah and Nik are currently discussing this as we speak in Nik's study. I was just given the task to inform Jeremy to stay temporarily in his room tonight." I responded, lying a little in some parts. Predictably, Rebekah blurred away; presumably to go and confront her brothers and abandoning her sundae to Jeremy's mercy.
Amused, I watched as Jeremy eyed his nearly finished plate and Rebekah's barely touched plate and slyly edged his hand towards it.
"Do not TOUCH that plate." Jeremy jumped about ten feet into the air and spun round to see a playfully stern Rebekah standing in the kitchen doorway, eyeing him off warningly. She then turned and blurred off again, while I struggled unsuccessfully to stop myself from laughing at the deer-caught-in-headlights expression on poor Jeremy's face.
Mikaelson Mansion
Evening
It was decided between Jeremy and me that we would order him in a pizza and load him down with snacks, so that he could hole up in his room during this likely to be dicey 'sit-down' between two equally stubborn pairs of brothers, with a bored sister and a nervous girlfriend/sister/friend in attendance.
Henrik, also not wishing to be caught up in the drama either, decided to help distract Jeremy by challenging him to some video games. A suggestion that the boy eagerly accepted. I had just started walking upstairs to switch my shoes for my UGG boot slippers, when the buzzer at the pedestrian entrance at the main gate blared loudly through the house. I quickly answered it to stop the irritating noise from reverberating further in my ears.
"May I help you?" I greeted the unknown caller.
"Yeah, I have a pizza delivery for a Grace Williams?" A bored sounding teen's voice droned over the speaker system. I made a face at the voice, and once again jumped when somebody came up from behind me and spoke.
"Sounds very enthusiastic about his job, doesn't he?" I turned and saw Rebekah, dressed in smart casual with her honey blonde hair freshly curled, looking unimpressed.
"Be nice." I giggled, before I turned back to the speaker box.
"Be right out." I said and opened the front door to dash out to retrieve the pie. I opened the security door and saw a bored looking teenager with skin problems, standing there with a red delivery bag and holding a slab of Dr. Pepper. A beat-up looking car was idling in the driveway behind him. "Hi!" I greeted him.
"Hey. I've got a large Pepperoni pizza and a slab of Dr. Pepper. That'll be $10.50." The teen droned at me, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash that Nik had handed to me without blinking and peeled off a $20.
"Keep the change." I said, smiling politely as I took the pizza and Dr. Pepper from him. The teen instantly brightened at the cash I had given him.
"Thanks, babe." I immediately shut the gate and turned to head back to the mansion, mouthing 'babe' underneath my breath with disgust and scowled at the teasing smirk on Rebekah's face when I stepped back inside.
"Not a word." I warned my sister, who bit her bottom lip and shrugged nonchalantly as she sauntered away towards the dining room and I hurried upstairs, making a beeline for Jeremy's room. "Pie's up!" I announced, after knocking on the door and stepping into the room.
"Thanks, Grace!" Jeremy thanked me without looking away from the TV screen. "Have Damon and Stefan arrived yet?" He asked then groaned when Henrik 'killed' him. I rolled my eyes and placed the pizza box and Dr. Pepper on a table behind the boys.
"Not yet. Have fun you two." I was about to close the door behind me when something crucial occurred to me. "Uh, if you hear any loud noises downstairs, don't come down." I made them promise. Jeremy opened his mouth to protest, but Henrik answered first.
"No problem." He said.
Both Jeremy and I looked at him suspiciously, before I decided not to dwell on it and finally withdrew. But I knew that Henrik was in for a grilling from Jeremy the second I was gone. I quickly jogged to Nik and my room and swapped my shoes for my UGGs. By the time I reached the top of the stairs, the doorbell had rung, and I drew in a deep breath to calm myself down.
'Here we go…' I thought to myself as I descended the staircase. Elijah approaches the front door and opens it revealing Stefan and Damon standing outside on the doorstep. To my surprise, Damon looked just as nervous as I felt, and he offered me a barely noticeable smile when he caught my eye.
"Niklaus, our guests have arrived." Elijah calls out to Nik, who saunters casually into the main foyer smiling unassumingly at the brothers.
"Damon. Stefan. Elijah tells me, you seek an audience. Very bold." A devilish smirk spreads across his handsome face, and I winced at the disapproving scowl on Elijah's face, and the look of hatred on Stefan's. "Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?" Nik gestures in the direction of the dining room, and both Damon and Stefan follow Elijah. Nik moves to follow them when he finally spots me standing halfway down the staircase, looking worried. "Grace? Darling, you alright?"
I refocused and smiled warmly at Nik, "Yeah. Sorry, lost in thought." I explained and walked the rest of the way down the staircase and took Nik's outstretched hand, allowing him to escort me into the dining room.
When Nik and I walked into the dining room, the first thing I noticed was that the long, oval-shaped table had been set and food had already been served. The second thing I noticed was the obvious metaphorical line that had been drawn down the center of the room; with Elijah and an equally nervous Rebekah on one side of the table, and Stefan and Damon on the other side, not talking just sort of … glaring at each other. I immediately broke away from Nik, who scowled a little at that but easily recovered as he walked to the head of the table and sat down, and I headed for Damon.
"Hey, Damon. Thanks for coming." I whispered, and Damon accepted me into his arms and immediately relaxed.
"Boy, this is fun." He quipped and I lightly slapped his arm.
"Don't start, Damon." I scolded him not in the mood for him to be joking around, as I glanced over at a stony-faced Stefan. "Stefan." I greeted him politely and received a very small nod in return.
"Please, take a seat everyone." Nik 'requested' us all, and I headed over to sit on my designated chair between Nik and Rebekah. Nobody else moved.
Elijah sighed, "It's better to indulge him." He suggested.
"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus." Stefan stated, getting straight to the point as two female servants walked into the room carrying elegant wine decanters that held what I sincerely hoped was red wine sloshing around in the glass. "Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told I had to because you would hear us out." Stefan complained, earning an eye roll from his brother and Rebekah.
Nik shrugged, before sitting back in his chair and steepling his fingers while eyeing off Stefan and Damon. Elijah came to stand beside his chair. "Well, we can sit and eat. Or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides." I made a face at the mental image Nik's words had painted in my head. "The choice is yours."
Damon and Stefan reluctantly grabbed their seats; with Damon sitting across from a very uncomfortable Rebekah. Then everyone starts to eat and drink, except for a very stubborn Stefan who refuses. One of the servant girls approaches Damon to pour what turned out to be wine into his glass. He smiled graciously at her.
"Thank you, love." He said, and I loudly cleared my throat drawing Damon's attention when he looked at me with concern. I scowled at him and indicated subtly at Rebekah, who was glaring daggers at the girl, with my head as Nik also turned to look at me with mild worry.
"Everything alright, love?" Nik asked, placing his hand over mine.
I nodded, taking a sip from my wine. "I'm fine. I just choked on air." I lied. Nik smiled before directing his attention towards Stefan and raised an eyebrow.
"You lost your appetite?" He asked him, disapprovingly.
"Eat. I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home." Damon scowled at Stefan, who begrudgingly picked up his fork and stabbed at the food on his plate. Nik smiled a little condescendingly at them.
"That's the spirit." He chirped. "Isn't it nice? The six of us dining together? Such a treat." Nik then turned his attention on Damon, and his eyes flashed a little. "Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother?" He asked.
"Well, I know how he felt about you, so I figured the more, the merrier." Damon gave a cocky response before winking at an unamused Elijah. I felt like bashing my forehead against the table.
"Well, Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the century. But we always make it through." Nik said, matter of fact. Suddenly, Stefan smirked.
"Kind of like you and Rebekah, right?" He said, causing Rebekah to jerk in surprise, having obviously not expected to be brought into the conversation so suddenly. Nik's pleasant smile faded a little and was replaced with annoyance, indicated by the subtle tightening of his blue-green eyes.
"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." Nik stated, causing Rebekah to look over at her other older brother questioningly. Elijah nodded, narrowing his eyes at Stefan for being so low.
Damon glared, "Hey, Stef, remember when you killed Dad?" We all watched as Stefan winced at the memory. "Might want to dial down the judgement until dessert." He suggested.
Stefan shrugged, uncaring.
"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses." He retorted.
"Fine. I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us. Pace yourself." Damon suggested. I groaned and downed the rest of my wine, indicating to one of the servant girls for a top up.
This was going to be a long night…
Eventually, it was time to get down to business.
"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah suggested, now getting serious. It was also the part of the 'sit-down' that I was dreading the most. Stefan immediately took charge of the conversation.
"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back, in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever." I watched as both Rebekah and Damon seemed to object completely to this idea; if the widening of their eyes and the look of horror on their faces gave any indication. Nik's eyes narrowed. "Then me, Damon and Elena can live happily ever after. No grudges."
Damon scowled at his brother; angry that he had included him in his terms, while Rebekah looked upset that she might be forced to leave town before she could get the chance to experience life or see if she could develop her gradual interest in Damon into a potential romance.
Elijah turned towards his brother, "The deal sounds fair, brother." He stated, firmly. I got up from my seat and went over to comfort Rebekah, who looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"No, it bloody well doesn't!" I stated, wrapping my arms around Rebekah's shoulders. I ignored the warning look Elijah aimed at me as I glanced over at Nik who was eyeing his sister with concern as well, and then at Elijah with frustration.
"I agree." He glares at Stefan and Damon, thoroughly unamused. "I don't think either of you understand. Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind." Nik gets up and starts to pace. "Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection, what then?" Nik demanded, angrily. "How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding?" That gave both Damon and Stefan pause; although Damon looked less worried than Stefan did.
Nik gave a nasty smirk.
"Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you." Nik concluded, triumphantly.
Suddenly, Rebekah breaks away from my comforting embrace and leaves the room; to my dismay, heading straight for the next room where Kol and Finn's coffins were standing by.
"Bekah, wait!" I yelled after her and followed, but Elijah immediately steps into my path, shaking his head gently.
"She'll be okay, Grace. This is all part of the plan." He whispers into my ear, before glancing up at Damon who nodded in understanding.
"I'm gonna get some air." Damon suddenly announced to Stefan, before getting to his feet and heading for the exit.
"Let me deal with this." Elijah suggested to Nik, who merely shrugged as Elijah and Damon left the room, leaving me alone with both Nik and Stefan. There was silence for several minutes, before Nik's triumphant voice pierced the silence.
"All this talk has made me thirsty." He declared and I turned towards them both and noticed Nik glancing over at one of the servant girls, who walks over to him after he indicated to her. "What do you say, Stefan? Can I interest you in a little after-dinner drink?" He asked before biting into the girl's neck and drinking deeply. I gasped in horror and turned away, not wishing to relive the memory of watching Nik, Rebekah and Stefan feasting upon three innocent girls they had liberated back in Chicago.
It wasn't the greatest of memories.
"Excuse me." I mumbled. I quickly got up from my chair and walked from the room, heading towards the room where the coffins were kept.
It was obvious that Nik was in a dangerous mood. Because he only started draining innocent victims when he was feeling particularly angry. It happened many times over the summer when he was getting frustrated that he wasn't getting anywhere fast trying to figure out why he couldn't make any hybrids. In the other room; Elijah, Damon and Rebekah were crowded around Kol's coffin and I watched as Elijah removed the dagger from his brother's chest.
"Now what?" Damon wanted to know, sounding impatient as Elijah walked over to Finn's coffin and removed the dagger from his heart too.
"Patience is a virtue." Elijah stated sternly before he pulled his sister aside and began talking to her in low tones. Judging by the outraged expression on her face, Elijah must've been telling her about the deal I had made with him that he promised he would also tell to both Kol and Finn when they eventually woke up as well.
She obviously wasn't happy about it.
A loud thud caught my attention and I walked back over to the dining room and saw the girl Nik had been feasting on lying dead on the floor, while he had a bit of her blood trickling down the side of his mouth. Stefan was just standing there, looking unimpressed.
"Delicious." Nik commented, referring to the dead girl. "Aged to perfection." He used his thumb to wipe away the blood as I decided that it was safe to re-enter the room and walked over to my seat, retaking it. "Everything okay, love?" I paused, looking over at him in surprise and seeing concern and vulnerability on his face. So, he had noticed me leaving the room after all. But before I could respond, Stefan interrupted.
"Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening, Klaus, is to drive a wedge between me and my brother." Stefan mused, as Nik glared at him for interrupting.
"No, I think you've done that yourself." I answered for Nik, much to both his and Stefan's surprise. "One day you're gonna lose your own brother and you'll only have yourself to blame." I stated coldly, before looking away. I could feel Stefan glaring at me, before all three of us looked up when Damon and Elijah re-entered the room.
Both looked very tense.
"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon stated.
"Fine." Nik said. I deflated a little, realizing that Nik had put his mask back on and had returned to his sarcastic personality. "I offer Elena's future happiness. What she needs right now is to be rid of you lot, fall in love with a human—"
"—And continue the Petrova bloodline." Stefan realized where Nik was going with this. "Every few hundred years, and you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never run out of hybrids. Is that right, Klaus?"
"Why ask the question, if you know that's exactly what Nik's plans are?" I asked him. Nik gets up and walks over to Stefan before the younger Salvatore could get the bright idea to attack me for my insolence.
"So, what do you say Stefan? Do we have a deal?" He asks as Stefan pauses for a moment, before getting up also and walking towards him. When he is face to face with him, Nik holds out his hand to Stefan, who takes it.
"Nice try, Klaus. But no deal." Stefan responds, then grunts in pain when Nik suddenly breaks his arm, before kicking at his leg and breaking it too. The room suddenly blurs before my eyes, and when it re-focuses, I realized that Elijah had relocated me to a safer place in the room.
"Elijah, what did you…?" I blurted out, but he immediately places a finger against my lips.
"Not now, Grace. Just stay here where you're safe." Elijah said, firmly. I nodded and watched as Nik angrily pushes Stefan's hand into the fireplace, and my nose wrinkles when I could smell burning flesh. Damon rushes over to aid Stefan, but Elijah intercepts him and holds him against the wall.
"What the hell are you doing?" Damon demanded, angrily. Nik ignores Damon's question, still holding Stefan's badly burnt arm in the fire. "Stop!" Nik finally takes notice of him.
"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn your bloody brother alive!" He snarls. Damon nods without hesitation.
"I'll get it." He promises.
Nik glances at Elijah with cold fury in his eyes. "Go with him, brother. You'll keep him honest. When you return, I'll make good on my promise and I'll hand over our family." Elijah nods and quickly leaves, taking Damon with him. I cautiously approached Nik and Stefan, worried about Nik. "Stay where you are, Grace!" Nik yells at me without taking his eyes off Stefan. I immediately stopped walking forwards, just as Stefan just barely stopped himself from screaming out in pain.
"Go ahead and kill me. I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin." Stefan taunts Nik, who immediately pulls Stefan out of the fireplace and looks at him with disgust and the tiniest shred of pity.
"You really have given up, haven't you? Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?" He demanded, before he shoves Stefan who shoves back. Suddenly, Elijah and Damon re-enter the room with the other servant girl that had been serving us all evening. She was carrying a silver tray with a cloche. Nik eyes them with suspicion, while I eyed them with trepidation. "Elijah? Why haven't you left yet?" Nik demanded.
Elijah merely looked back at his brother with a deadpan expression.
"Where are your manners, brother? We forgot dessert." Elijah reaches for the cloche and yanks it off the tray. Nik's eyes widen in horror when he sees two silver daggers lying on the tray.
"What have you done?!" Nik yells at Elijah, who looks back at him coldly.
"What have you done? You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now." He declared. Just then Kol walks into the room, and my eyes widen in shock as does Nik.
"Kol." Nik breathed, as Kol glowers at his brother with a dark expression.
"Long time, brother." He greets him as Nik backs away in my direction, obviously aiming to escape and take me with him. But he was blocked by Finn who suddenly appeared and grabs a dagger from the tray, stabbing Nik through the hand with it.
I gasped, covering my mouth with both my hands.
"Finn, don't!" Nik begs as he tries once again to run away but runs into Rebekah.
"This is for our mother." Rebekah whispers into his ear, before stabbing him viciously with the second dagger. I screamed in horror, drawing attention to myself. Both Kol and Finn stare at me with complete shock as Rebekah looks at me with regret before roughly pulling the dagger out, causing Nik to grunt in pain and fall back into Kol's arms. Kol recovers from his shock and immediately restrains him but continues staring at me with utter confusion.
"Nik!" I shouted and ran for him. But Elijah rushes forward, immediately restraining me. "Let go of me!" I hissed, struggling to free myself from my brother's arms as he turns to look at a shocked Damon and Stefan.
"You're free to go. This is family business." He tells them. Damon and Stefan nodded without question. Stefan immediately blurred away, but Damon paused looking at me with concern before he too leaves.
A/N: I think we'll stop here. I hope that you've enjoyed the return of Kol and Finn. Please review and stay tuned for the next exciting chapter!
TTFN xx