Secret Bloodline

Nemesis

"No... No!" Camila whispers. She rushes into the main room, screaming for the others. "Everyone! Wake up! Niklaus is here. We have to go," Camila screams.

Niall jerks to attention on the stool where he was drinking. "What? He's here?" Niall scowls.

At the sound of Camila's creaming, the others rush in, weapons in hand.

"Damn it... So soon," Lauren growls.

"Not soon enough," Shawn says.

"I thought he might still be roadkill on the tarmac," Dinah says.

"Not him. He heals much too quickly for that," Zayn says.

"We have to stop him. This is our chance before he hurts someone else," Camila says.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but our track record of stopping him is not great," Dinah says.

"There's no plane to throw him out of. No stake from the Tree of Eternal Life," Zayn says.

"And I'm not letting anyone die. Not again," Lauren says.

Shawn curses and unsheathes his sword. "The hell with this. We stand together, we fight together, we c-"

But he gets cut off by the front door banging open, flying off its hinges.

Niklaus strolls casually in, wearing a self-satisfied smile.

Lauren steps in front of Camila, shielding her from Niklaus's line of sight.

"Now then. Let's try this again, shall we?" Niklaus says.

They all back up but before anyone can strike, Niall rises, standing between Niklaus and the five friends.

Camila didn't see or hear him draw it, but a sword now rests in his hand, gleaming threatening as Niall points it at Niklaus.

"Back off, Niklaus. These vampires are under my protection," Niall growls.

At the sight of Niall, something in Niklaus changes as he softens, just a little.

"Niall. It's been too long," Niklaus says.

"That it has," Niall says.

Niklaus's hand moves to the sword belt tied around his waist as he unsheathes a sword, a razor-sharp Roman gladius.

"Stand down, old friend. This doesn't involve you. You don't have to be a part of this," Niklaus frowns.

"They're under my roof as my guests. And the boy... He's mine. So you'd better believe I'm a part of this," Niall says.

"Niall! Get away from him. He's dangerous," Shawn says.

"So am I," Niall says.

Niklaus takes another step into the penthouse as Niall bars him from going any further.

"I'm serious. I bear you no ill will, Niklaus. But I will not let you hurt them," Niall says.

"Do you truly think you can stop me? I made you," Niklaus's face hardens.

Niall's hands tighten around his sword hilt, his knuckles white.

"And every day I wish you hadn't," Niall says.

"You've changed," Niklaus says.

"You haven't," Niall says.

Niklaus hesitates, almost searching for words, even as he takes one step closer.

The two of them stare one another down, neither of them moving so much as a muscle.

Until they finally launch themselves at one another, blades clanging.