Chapter Thirty-Eight: Nothing More Than A Storm

A/N: Hey guys! I just wanna take a second and give a major shout out to everyone who's taken the time to leave a message or review. I honestly never know if I should reply back in a PM or author's note. Honestly, don't feel obligated or pressured to leave anything but ya'll are seriously so appreciated when you do! Especially everyone who's taken a shot in the dark and guessed what may or may not happen. Ngl, some of you are pretty accurate. And it's always fun to see what you guys think!

So a big thank you to call. me. random, missycole23, ys722 and to all the Guest reviews! You guys rock!

Anywhoo, happy reading!

Perspective: Katherine

-x-x-x-

"[Is] life nothing more than a storm that constantly [washes] away what had been there a moment before, and [then leaves] behind something barren and unrecognizable?"

- Arthur Golden

Oh?

You stare over Freya's shoulder as she opens an email, taking in the pictures that came attached.

"Kol. He's in Morocco right now."

"Morocco? As in where we're heading?" Caroline questions, pointing to herself and Rebekah.

"He knew where we were going." The other blonde surmises, "He must've gone there on purpose."

You almost laugh at Kol's intention, 'Yes. He must've.' But if it's to prove himself innocent of Finn's shooting, only he can tell you that. It wouldn't be too much to assume that he and Sophia stopped there just to send a message. And honestly, his intention would depend on whatever your cousin has over him.

Again, you wonder what that might be, and you're not the only one.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are we still going there?" Caroline validly asks.

Without the knowledge that Kol absolutely did not shoot his brother, your friends are cautious. Heading to the same place can easily result in some trap, even if making contact is not part of the itinerary. Sophia is up to something and Kol is supposedly rogue.

You watch the others, but you don't utter a word.

To out Elijah now as the actual perpetrator wouldn't work for you, even if you could help clear up some misinformation. You have a deal with the snake of a man, and as a long as Kol doesn't do anything drastic, you're convinced he can maneuver his way out of being framed.

-x-x-x-

It's here.

The day you've been dreading.

An event you'd much rather skip ever since you'd been told the news.

"Amelia is dead, Katherine."

You'd cried. Thrown a damn fit. Even Graciela couldn't calm you down as you hurled a bowl of hot soup into a painting, tearing it in half.

You remember being told of the funeral.

The anger you felt.

The sadness.

The deep, foreboding pit of loneliness.

Your mother had left you and you were all alone.

In the future, Rebekah will tell you of the empty look you'd carried around in your eyes after the news. The way she had to coax you out of your stupor. And how after she cried with you about Amelia, she knew that she never wanted to see you like that ever again.

And she never did.

-x-x-x-

"I thought you said we couldn't leave."

"We can't," you toss a look over your shoulder. "But it's not far, and we are going back."

"So… Mikael is good with this?"

"I wouldn't say that."

Elena is quiet as she follows you. Your destination is a good five minute drive, but you aren't driving. As if you could steal a car now that everything is back to normal at the compound.

"You know you didn't have to come."

"If you keep saying that, I'm really going to hurt you."

You chuckle. "I'd like to see you try."

"You're not going anywhere without me anymore. I don't care what you say."

The last time you'd gone off without her was when you'd looked for Robero. You may say the opposite but inside you're far from complaining.

You only nod at that as you get to the address Damon had given you. The neighbourhood isn't empty, there's people and cars passing by but the house is. Empty. There's a sign in the front, it's for sale, brand new.

You lead Elena through the fence on the side, and walk up the porch to the back door.

The place is bare; white walls and dusty concrete floors of an open concept home.

You try not to run the other way, freezing at the doorway when you open it.

"What?" Elena questions, peering over your shoulder.

You breathe, closing your eyes to shake off the image of that empty kitchen. Your chest feels like it's going to burst open.

"Hey," Elena tentatively holds your shoulder, turning you from the door. "I'm right here, you're okay."

Her words actually comfort you, but you want to cringe at having to be consoled. "If there's a fucking walk-in freezer, we're getting out of here."

She nods in agreement.

Walking into the empty space, Elena leads the way, pulling herself up onto the kitchen island and dangling her legs over the side. The two of you wait by the island. It may be open but from where you stand, you're hidden out of view from anyone looking in through the front curtain-less windows.

"Do you know what he's giving you?"

You shake your head. No.

"And you came all the way? What if it's not important?"

"It's always important." Damon hasn't failed you yet. Not with information anyway.

Elena frowns as If she's contemplating something. "At Port Hill, he lied about who he was. But then he saved your life. Does that balance that out now? You trust him?"

'Yes.' "Kind of."

Elena gazes at you, eyes scanning as if she can see the information she needs like words to paper. "He's not just helping us because of that video, is he?"

You don't answer her, raising your brows.

You'd met the man before Viktor's murder, found out his true intentions, and then never saw him again until he appeared in your Port Hill interrogation room, pretending to be an FBI agent.

After everything, he owed you, but you know that saving your life hadn't just been transactional.

"Kind of," you repeat and this time she mirrors your expression.

"Katherine."

The backdoor slides open as Damon steps through. He's halfway to greeting your sister when his smile falls as he gets closer. His eyes narrow, a deep frown settling on his lips.

"What happened?" Damon's fingers pull your head up, thumb hovering over your cheek. "You didn't have these when I left you."

His expressive eyes convey all of his concern.

You shift.

"Well," you almost shrug as your tongue runs over the cut on your upper lip. "You know what they say about walking into a lion's den."

Damon sighs but you can see the anger boiling beneath his expression. The fact that you still evoke this kind of reaction from him shouldn't make you want to grin so much.

"Who did this to you?"

You laugh a little, moving his hand away, "What? Are you going to beat him up?"

"I won't hurt him too much," he declares confidently.

You raise a brow, meeting Elena's eye.

Curiously, you wonder who would win such a fight. Despite his usually uptight demeanour, you've heard of Elijah taking down someone a good foot taller and bulkier than him. But Damon is a constant bag of tricks, and Kol did say they'd met in the Navy. You doubt you have a real idea of what he's capable of.

Shaking off your thoughts, you tell him about Elijah before turning to your counterpart.

"This is Elena," you introduce, and the younger girl holds up a hand, smiling somewhat awkwardly in greeting.

"Hey."

Damon nods back, doing that thing everyone does and looking between you two comparatively.

"So, what was so important you couldn't just tell me over the phone?"

The Salvatore purses his lips. "Zach is doing his best to track me down. I couldn't take the chance my phone calls are being intercepted. He's a really good P.I."

You gaze out the back window to the fenced-in backyard. "So, what is it?"

"It's Enzo. He found out what your family is doing."

"And?"

"Tobias is setting up Poviar Pharmaceuticals to go dirty. From what I hear, Viktor never trafficked drugs illegally."

"He made legitimate money legally, no use screwing that up."

Despite some rivalry, there has always been a clear line between the businesses that Virginia's old money families were part of. Everyone knows that, on this side of the states, the Mikaelsons are the unrivalled kingpins of the drug trade.

Viktor didn't cross that line, and in return, Mikael never crossed his.

"Tobias needs capital. That's why he's so hellbent on Viktor's estate going to him."

All this for drug money? Tobias wasn't lying, this isn't about you. You knew it had to be something bigger but for the man to directly place himself into Mikael's business is ludicrous. He's setting up a war, and for what? More money? Power?

You don't care about any of this. You really don't. But this information… "This is useful."

Damon nods, his signature smirk forming.

"Proof," he hands you a small flash-drive. "This is useful information that's important for a select few. Know anyone like that?"

-x-x-x-

"You're quiet."

"Trafficking? Dirty money? A drug war? You know, sometimes I think I've found my footing in this crazy mess but then I realize I don't. How the hell is this not crazy for you?"

A whole damn Pierce family conspiracy. Tobias may have claimed to not kill Viktor but how else could he have gotten his inheritance?

"It is crazy, but what this all boils down to is two warring families," you lay it out flat, refraining from shrugging. "And family rivalries weren't exactly rare growing up."

-x-x-x-

Your fingers graze over the bandages across your torso absentmindedly.

It's not everyday you find yourself unable to sleep. Not unless you're deadly exhausted.

You gaze at Elena's dark figure, knowing this is exactly how she feels when she doesn't sleep well. Which is, consequently, most of the time.

You sigh, thinking of Jackson's uncanny ability to be a jackass. More so, now that he thinks you're Elena when you speak to him. He hasn't said a word, other than to confirm what you'd suspected about Trevor, the traitor. His smug look, even as you slapped him was infuriating to say the least. You've refrained from throttling the guy, but you doubt it would be out of character for Elena to do such a thing. He did kill Jeremy, after all.

You blink at that, refusing to bring to mind the imagery of that night.

All that blood. Jeremy innocently defending you from Jackson. That idiot.

You've played it over and over in your head enough. And the thought that you could've deescalated that confrontation has already crossed your mind multiple times.

If Jeremy hadn't died, you would've had no reservations on using that diner's surveillance picture to prove you'd been far from Viktor's mansion. Hell, Jeremy would be able to testify to that fact. A living alibi.

You turn your head to Elena once more.

'At least she's fast asleep.'

When she suddenly twitches to the side, you know you spoke way too soon.

You don't even get to reach out because Elena's eyes shoot open, scared and vulnerable, even in the dark moonlight.

She shoots up from under the blankets and makes a beeline for the bathroom.

You find yourself steadying her beside the toilet, caressing her sweat-soaked hair back. She doesn't throw up anything but her body definitely wants to get rid of something.

"It's the drug," Kai tells you after you've gotten Elena to the infirmary. "She's having withdrawals. Or it's some side effect."

"You're not sure?"

The doctor only shakes his head.

From that flash-drive, you'd taken the time to check out what it was but you're no rocket scientist. That fucking drug.

Whatever it is, it's Tobias' ticket to get into the trade. And he had the gal to start his experiment with your sister.

Despite closed eyes, Elena moves restlessly. Like she's still fighting off a nightmare.

What else are you going to let that man get away with, Katherine?

-x-x-x-

You finally take a moment alone to think of your mother.

Your real mother. The one who raised you.

The one who died and yet, isn't dead.

You've already questioned her motives.

An asylum? Or an escape from all responsibilities—from you? Whichever is true, you now know why Viktor's will had never gotten rid of her name. For a second there, after his death, you'd thought that heartless man had somehow—deep down—given it all to you for some unknown reason you'd never ever know. But of course, that had never been the case.

As much as you carry the name, you're not a Pierce, and Viktor had always made that distinction perfectly clear.

Now you just sit on a stool, in front of a vanity, staring at your reflection like you'll find all your answers there.

You remember your mother being gentle, but firm. Charismatic, yet quiet. A sense of regal that most people would attribute to royalty, and yet she was never frigid.

How could she kill Viktor? Her own father?

How could she leave you, her only child, to think that for over half a decade that she was dead?

"She's gone now, and I know they were never close, but I hope no one ever glares at me like Rebekah does to Hayley."

In the mirror, you meet Elena's eyes as she walks into your room.

She throws one last look over her shoulder like she's recently witnessed what she's talking about.

"Who told you that?"

"Huh?"

"That they were never close?" you tilt your head, welcoming the distraction as your chair swivels around.

"Hayley… back at Port Hill."

"Interesting."

"What is?"

You contemplate not bothering to explain before mercifully doing so. "Rebekah and Hayley. They were friends before I even met either of them."

"Friends? Longer than you?"

You nod. "Since diapers apparently. They were best friends when I met them."

She makes a face at her surprise, "And what? You stole Rebekah away or something?"

"I never liked Rebekah actually," you laugh. "The Marshalls moved away to New Zealand when we were five. Actually, Rebekah and I became friends but we were never that close until we met Caroline."

"And the rest is history."

You laugh a little, nodding.

When you look to her, a sad frown rests on her face before disappearing altogether. Other than that boy, Matt, you've never heard of Elena speak of any other close friends. Of anyone else for that matter, other than Miranda, Greyson, Jenna, or uncle John.

You blink a little, turning the tablet on the table towards her. You been looking into some things, and the picture on the screen is one from that email Freya showed you two.

It's Ilia. The zoomed shot of her from head to toe, face partially shrouded by her hat and shadow as she walks around the corner of her house.

"Hey, at least we finally have a picture of her," you say.

"Yeah, she looks so much like Isobel from this angle though."

They're siblings. You knew that going into this but the thought of calling someone that looks like that manipulative woman your mother is disconcerting.

You scoff a little, "Who knew?"

"Did I tell you?" Elena questions as she hands the tablet back, "When I spoke to Jenna, she told me she remembered the Flemmings. Apparently, Ilia was worse than Isobel."

"Worse? Define worse?"

"Ah, I don't know. Her character maybe? Jenna didn't speak very fondly of her. Said that she preferred Isobel over her older sister."

"Isobel?" you raise your brows. See, that really is interesting to know. It kind of makes you want to laugh. "I can only imagine what our dear old grams and gramps were like."

Elena purses her lips and you can tell she probably already thought the same. "It's great, just one more thing to add to the pile."

"You'd think at least one thing we find would lead to something good," you comment.

Elena doesn't respond, steeling her posture at something in her head. A thought that escapes even your deductive prowess.

You tell Elena what you've found out about Ilia. You'd agreed you wouldn't approach the woman, not be blind to who she is. According to public records, anyway. The fact that she's only been at that Gilbert property for the last five years is something to note.

Elena listens to you, but something about her demeanour is stiff.

You know she's mad—about everything. Hell, you are too—but you don't grasp the magnitude of just how much until it's almost too late. Almost.

-x-x-x-

"Come by. I got something else for you."

Damon texts this like you aren't being held hostage by a tyrannical patriarch who's not shy about getting his own hands dirty.

The threat of violence deters you, but that's only really a concern if you get caught. And as if you don't know your way in and out of the compound.

Be that as it may, it's definitely easier said than done.

At least, Elena isn't coming with you. The first time sneaking out was hard enough.

As you walk towards the house, a hand grabs your wrist, pulling you into the nearby alley. One wrist in his hand, you have a fist pulled back before getting a clear view of your attacker. Damon holds up a hand, placing a finger to his lips.

"What the fuck?" you hiss, smacking him.

"I saw Zach's car down the road," he whispers, rubbing his shoulder, "Ow, I forgot how hard you hit."

"There's more if you do that again," you warn, pulling away from him.

Damon only chuckles and your tempted to do it again, "Come on."

He drags you down the alley, entering another back entrance building. You pull your wrist, grabbing his hand instead.

Damon glances back as he leads you through to a parking garage.

"Where are we going?" you question.

Damon nods to the car he stops by, scanning his surroundings, "That house was supposed to be my brother's. It's been 5 years, we've never sold it. Zach must've figured I'd use it."

"That doesn't answer my question."

He prompts you to lean on the side of the car as he reaches under the door and retrieves a key. "Well, I'm sure Zach stopped by the house but he's definitely going to prowl the area before he leaves."

You shake your head as he unlocks the door, and gestures for you to get in. "I'm not leaving. Elena—"

"We're not leaving, we just gotta get around my uncle. I'll tell you what I have for you on the way."

You bite your lip. Elena is still at the compound. You're not leaving without her and, in fact, you can't be gone for too long.

"Come on, I'll drop you off." Damon sees your face, and he rolls his eyes, amending, "Nearby. I'll drop you within shooting distance of that Mikaelson factory."

"Factory," you almost laugh at the accuracy, getting in to the passenger seat as he makes his way to the driver's side.

"It's definitely big enough to be."

"You've been there before?"

"Not exactly. I just know my way around my father's things."

"So what? The FBI has blueprints or something?"

"The basics. I bet Mikael's smart enough to renovate constantly though."

He's not wrong. If Mikael keeps going, the world will officially have a second Winchester Mystery House.

"Anyway. Zach is definitely around here somewhere. I'm sure he told my father about you, so he probably isn't alone."

"Are they going to the compound?" You ask, squinting in the sunlight as he drives out of the garage and down the street.

"Not sure, but you and your sis should get out of there ASAP."

"Not possible." It may feel like you've been there forever, but you'd just started to settle. Not to mention you'd wanted to use that place to recover and lay low for a while longer.

"Make it possible. Tell me where, and I'll pick you up."

"I'll take you up on that," you say, liking the idea of another contingency. "Don't be late."

He smirks, "For you? Never."

"So, this thing."

"Surveillance. When we were getting out of Richmond, Enzo's dashcam got something."

Damon pauses, surveying his surroundings as he turns a corner.

"And that something is?"

"Patience, oh impatient one. We were driving by them, but a few men were caught making their way out of a car with weapons. Jackson was one of them. Pretty damning for that parade shooting in the city."

"You have this video."

"Yup," he answers proudly, circling the block and parking. "Enzo's got it, but I promise you, it's Jackson."

Your brows raise.

"I'm sure you can use it for Elena. She was at that parade wasn't she?"

You hadn't told him explicitly but he must've put it together after that call with Freya. His timing is perfect.

Damon side glances at you like he's doing you a favour. Which he is. A big one. You want to wipe that fucking smirk off his face. 'Or kiss it.'

You shake your head, reaching for the car door to leave.

"Hey, wait," he grabs your arm to get your attention. Reaching into his leather jacket, he pulls out a small tube of cream. He gestures to your face. "Allantoin. It'll help with the healing."

"Thanks." You reach for it but he twists his wrist, placing the tube in your hand and grasping his own over yours.

He squeezes it, sincere, "Be careful, okay?"

You nod slow, watching his face.

"Alright," you agree, but then tear your hand away.

You're usually much smoother than that.

When you get out and he drives off, it's still a two minute walk to the compound.

-x-x-x-

You almost sigh in relief before you hear his voice.

"And I suppose you brought back some milk while you were out there."

You tense so hard you might as well have stopped breathing.

"Mikael," you address, managing to refrain from shuddering as you turn to the man.

Like when you'd left with Rebekah and Caroline, you'd taken one of the secret tunnels in the North of the compound to sneak off. You thought you'd gotten back inside scot-free, but as you step out of one of the Northern basement doors, it seems the master of the house had been waiting.

For you.

"I—" you trail off, licking your lips as you try to think of an excuse.

"Oh please, my dear. Keep going. I'd love to see what you come up with."

For once, you're drawing a blank.

Mikael pushes off from the wall, standing tall, "My, it seems that silver tongue of yours is no more. Unfortunate."

"Actually," you straighten, fighting off the urge to run. "I wasn't too fond of your accusation about Finn."

The man raises his brows, surprised but overall more amused than anything.

"You, your sons, everyone has been asking me about my family despite knowing nothing."

He steps forward.

You almost step back.

"Which is why I went out and got some information."

"Simple as that?"

"Simple as that," you reply, sounding arrogant.

You wait for him to ask for it. Or from whom.

He doesn't.

Just steps closer.

You swallow the lump in your throat, giving in first. "Tobias is gunning for your seat."

"That is hardly new information."

"Yes. But what you don't know is that he's already developed a new drug to rival anything you're selling right now. And the recipe? I have it right here."

You hold up the flash-drive.

"Consider it the benefit for saving my life."

Mikael steps into your space, taking the drive as callous azure eyes drift over you, up and down. You're so tense; jaw clenched and fists held tightly at your sides you almost feel like stone.

"My son did a number on you."

Your glare meets his.

Mikael smirks. "I hadn't explicitly told you not to leave the first time."

When you turn your gaze, he makes you look at him. Calloused fingers on your face. Rough.

"Don't do it again."

He waits for you to nod against his hand.

"As for your cousin, whatever Elijah may have promised you, know that what ultimately happens to Jackson is my call. Don't test me, girl."

When Mikael rounds the corner, your breath leaves your chest.

You're shaking.

-x-x-x-

"Elena!"

She's long gone as Kai rushes in, checking on Jackson and giving direction.

"Fuck," you mutter when you get a closer look.

Jackson is still awake, eyes wide in pain. Elena shot him in the leg, and in the stomach.

"Fuck!" you repeat.

Over Kai's shoulder, Jackson sees you and he reaches out like he's trying to grasp you. The shock on his bloody face as he sees you.

"You—" he sputters out.

Kai tells him to shut up, shooting him up with something for the pain.

You stalk off.

Mikael isn't going to like this.

You need to find Elena.

-x-x-x-

"Hey."

You find your sister in her room, head in her hands as she sits on the base of her unused bed.

You have half the mind to barge in there, guns blazing, but you approach her tentatively instead.

She was right. She didn't grow up with all this chaos, but that doesn't mean you're immune to it. In fact, all "this shit" taught you is how to navigate the politics of these abusive adults. All the more reason why you know that you should be weary—that Elena should be weary.

Mikael didn't have to warn you to know. But he did.

Part of you is pissed off at the younger girl but this looks like it's more than that.

It hurts your side but you kneel down placing a hand on top of her head.

"Hey," you say softer.

When Elena looks up, her eyes are glistening.

"I'm sorry. I didn't—" she bites her quivering lip. Her face twists, eyes tearful as she chokes a sob. "I didn't mean what I said… to you, I'm sorry. I was just—so angry. I've never… I don't know what's wrong with me."

You blink a little at how intense her gaze is.

"Nothing is wrong with you. You're right, Jackson deserves that and worse—"

"—but I never should've shot him. I found your gun and I'm—I'm sorry."

Your sigh is deep, your hands squeezing her forearms. One second she's biting your head off, the next she's apologizing, crying so hard she can barely talk.

You glance over your shoulder.

"Listen, Elena. It's okay, I swear," you assure her when she shakes her head, "but we need to get out of here."

"What?"

You lean forward, whispering, "I gotta take care of a few things, but we're getting out of here the second I'm done."

There's confusion in her eyes, but she hesitantly nods.

"You're okay," you reassure. "Stay here, okay? I'll be right back."

Damon was right, you need to get out of here.

Preferably before Mikael reacts to Jackson suddenly having two bullet holes in him.

-x-x-x-

"He's stable right now but we haven't gotten him to surgery. One of those bullets is in his gut."

"But he'll survive?"

"More likely than not."

"Let me talk to him."

"What makes you think I'll let you do that?"

"Because it'd be hard for me to talk to him while he's on the table."

Kai chuckles. "No."

"We'll be even."

The man stops, midway cleaning up his supplies. "You know, I saved your life, right?"

"Debatable. And besides, it wouldn't count. You have an oath to uphold."

"Debatable," he shrugs, thinking for a moment. "Hmm, so just this? You sure you won't regret that?"

You nod. "You said he'd live, didn't you?"

"Yeah." Kai frowns for a moment, considering before conceding. "Alright. Try not to kill him yourself. I'm really not in the mood to be threatened by the boss man."

You feel the same. But the doctor must be a damn psychopath if he's so flippant about it.

-x-x-x-

"Jackson."

The man is still awake. He grimaces in pain as he twists to see you.

He barely hisses it, but he calls your name, "Katherine."

"It is."

"You're alive."

"I am."

His eyes narrow as you get closer, and he gets a clearer view of your face.

"It was you," he gasps out, "—interrogating me."

"It was."

"You're alive," he repeats. He looks like he's going to cry but you'd rather think it's because he's in so much pain right now.

"And I'm here to ask you, once more. Tell the truth about that night. Confess to Jeremy Gilbert's murder."

Jackson basically laughs, rugged and gasping. "Kiss me all better and maybe I will."

Dying and yet, disgusting as ever. "Over my dead body."

"Fuck, I guess I'll be waiting long then. Apparently you have nine lives, Kat."

"And you only have this one. Confess, Jackson. It's your only option."

"Or what?" He challenges, weak, but malicious.

'This asshole.'

"You'll shoot me too?"

"No." You admit, sitting on the corner of his bed.'" But I will inform the Richmond Police Department that you incited the parade shooting. That you are the one responsible for the deaths of those people."

His smirk falls away. "You're lying."

"Why would I lie about the truth?"

"You have no proof…"

"Oh?" You don't need to show him your hand. This threat works whether he believes you or not. "I have surveillance video of you shooting into a helpless crowd."

"I don't believe you."

"Doesn't matter, does it? If you don't finally own up to Jeremy's death, you'll be front page news tomorrow. Kids died there. They might even have a bigger manhunt for you than they did for me."

Jackson is silent.

"What'll it be, cuz? I'm sure a jury will be more willing to lay out the death penalty when you're charged with five murders as oppose to one."

A deep growl-like sound builds in his throat. He's seething but there's nothing he can do.

You've got him.

-x-x-x-

The basics have been agree upon.

You know that the Mikaelsons won't kill Jackson—even he knows they won't. He's their leverage, and that works entirely for you because he'll survive this. And as soon as he's set free, he'll confess. Or else he'll go down for an even bigger crime than killing one Jeremy Gilbert.

Your insurance is your threat. To be honest, you'd pictured even breaking him out of here to drop him off at a police station but that's impossible now. Having Jackson walk into a station and turn himself in may be the best option, but that's not exactly possible right now.

It isn't even remotely over, but you feel a relief that Elena will eventually get some justice. As if you had finally let go of something you'd been keeping in all this time. Which is kind of accurate, actually.

You're already hurrying back to Elena's room when you hear it.

A cry… or a shout.

You don't need to put it together, you already know where this is coming from.

Running down the hall, you're stopped when two pairs of hands grab both your arms as soon as you get through the threshold.

Mikael is crouching over Elena, obscuring your view but you can see that she's hunched over as he deliberates lowly, "A stray. With the stones to maim my own prisoner? I've broken legs for far less."

"Stop!"

You tug but the two men holding onto you are firm.

"Mikael, please," you implore. "Don't."

The man stands from his spot at your voice, suggesting, "Are you volunteering in her place? Actions have consequences, after all."

Despite acting with rage, Mikael's normally calm, cold eyes are widened to match his demeanour.

No. Volunteering isn't what you had in mind.

"To impetrate on her behalf. You must really care for her. Tell me, girl, what do you suggest I do here?"

"Don't hurt her."

"A little too late for that now, don't you think?"

He steps away from Elena who has yet to look up at you. She's shaking, staring a hole into the carpet.

"And I doubt Amelia would notice a few broken bones. It isn't as if they don't heal."

You hate that he moves closer to you, but you're surprised when he doesn't so much as lift a hand.

To the side, Thierry comes in and whispers something to the elder man.

For a moment, Mikael looks disappointed.

Without another word, the Mikaelson walks by you, instructing his men to bring you and Elena out of the room.

"No, wait. Where are you taking us?"

For a moment, your heart drops, fearing the worse. That he's taking you to that dreaded basement.

But when Theirry and the other men, pull you towards the courtyard, you're almost confused.

Elena is dropped onto the ground beside you as Mikael steps back.

You reach out to her, seeing the tears in her eyes and the blood gushing down her previously bruised cheek.

"Here!" Mikael calls out, pointing fervently. He isn't shouting at you. "Don't you fucking ever say, I never did you a favour. Now fuck off of my property! All you!"

Mikael doesn't even wait for a response. You've barely looked to the direction he's talking to when he leaves, taking his men with him.

At the entrance, in front of where you'd been left, stands a figure.

You recognize it before you can even blink away the bright sunlight from behind her.

Amelia Pierce steps forward.

"Mother," you breathe.