The Balance

Part 11

I'm in a garden, it's full of beautiful yellow and purple flowers. The sounds of the birds chirping in the background, and the sun is peeking through the trees. I can hear horses as they walk down the gravel drive. Father must be home from his meeting down at city hall. I run back to the house, father doesn't like when I'm in the garden while I'm wearing my nice dress. We are headed to the Miss. Mystic Falls pageant here shortly. He told me that ladies don't wear their formal wear in the garden, so I don't want to upset him. His anger is insane and short tempered  ever since our brothers died.

When the carriage stops at the front of the house, I wait for my father to open the door but it's not my father, it a tall, blonde man, who is wearing a peculiar outfit. A leather jacket with a dark gray shirt underneath and pants that look to be rough, definitely not black slacks that my father always wears.

I look down at my outfit, I'm wearing a blue billowing skirt, with a white corseted top. It's what my mother wore when she was in the Miss. Mystic Falls pageant.

"Love," the strangers voice flows through the air, His beautiful eyes piercing into me, he is extending his hand towards me.

I give him a confused look, "Do I know you?"

He seems offended but he doesn't let it last, "It's me, Niklaus."

I run through my head, trying to remember if my father ever introduced me to a man called Niklaus. "I apologize sir, but I fear I don't remember you."

He stiffens as he closes the carriage door, with one step he is standing in front of me. His hand rest on my cheek, as he looks into my eyes. A strange feeling flows through but I can't figure out what it is."Allison, you need to come home."

His statement confuses me. "I am home?"

He shakes his head, agony spreads across his face, "no Allison you're not you've been asleep for over a week." He waves his hand around, "this is all a dream, this isn't home, but I'm real."

Niklaus seems angry, and it scares me. I spin and run back to the porch, to safety. But in a blur he is in front of me, cupping my face into his hand, "Allison, please" he pleads, "I need you to come back to me."

I try to pull away from him but his grip is strong. "Please let me go," I cry out, "my father will be home soon and he doesn't like when strangers come over without him here. Especially strangers touching his only daughter."

"Your father isn't coming home," he snaps.

My heart skips a beat, I let out a gasp, "how do you know that.."

"Because.." he sighs, "this is your subconscious this isn't real. It was one day, a long time ago. In fact this was the happiest day of my life, it was full of laughter, good food and of course," he pauses, "you."

I digest his words and slowly my mind starts to reset. I've been wearing the same dress for what feels like weeks. The staff haven't been around but I don't seem to notice. The house is clean, there is food on the table every morning and my bath is always drawn.

Slowly I look at Niklaus, "how are you here?"

A small grin slowly starts to spread across his face, "I am a hybrid love, I can't be stopped."

This isn't the Mystic Falls I know, well not the current one I'm living in. This Mystic Falls is where I grew up, I turn to look at the white house that holds so many memories, like when my mother would brush my hair on the porch, or when Damon and Stefan would sneak into my room when mom and dad fought they would distract me with books and funny stories.

"Niklaus," I say breathlessly, I'm confused, this still feels real but I know it's not. "Why are we here?"

He looks around, "technically love, you're here this is your subconscious," he smiles at me, "glad to see this is where you feel safe?"