𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𓆩𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧𓆪

𝟭𝟯.

A GROAN OF PAIN ESCAPES CORAS lips, her eyes slowly opening and she felt pain shoot through her. She looks down to see an two sharp open wounds on her neck with blood oozing down showing someone fed from her, she opens her eyes wide, backing away in fear.

She didn't know where she was. She allows her eyes to travel around but there was nothing but a wooden a chair. She begins to think of anything before rushing towards the chair until suddenly, someone grabs her and throws her against the wall and a scream of pain leaves her lips.

She looks up at the man and suddenly recognizes him. Rebekah had shown a blurry picture of him but now, she knew for sure this was in and she invited him in her house. Rebekah told her everything and didn't leave out a detail. "You're Mikael...Rebekah, Elijah and Niklaus' father, right?"

Mikael bends down, resting his arms on his knees as he sharpens a white oak stake. "Niklaus is not my son." He grits through his teeth and she frowns.

"I almost forgot about your hatred for him..."

Mikael stares down at her, his chin scattered with her blood. "I didn't always hate him. When Klaus was born, I was overjoyed. I thought, "this one—this one has the eyes of a warrior. He will be worthy" but, my hope was short-lived. And, when I found out that he wasn't really my son, my relief was glorious. But, that passed with the knowledge that he was begat of a beast."

"That wasn't his fault." Cora whispers, trying to stop the blood. "He needed you when it was his first time shifting and you were only making it worse! It's your fault, not his!!"

"Everything that followed was because of Niklaus' obsession with the wolves! He ventured out to watch them turn under the full moon, and he took my youngest son, Henrik. He was but a child, and he was torn apart." Mikaels voice cracked and Cora swallows the lump in her throat.

"You think he'd intentionally kill his youngest brother? It was an accident."

Mikaels blood boiled at how she kept making excuses. "An accident? An accident?!! He murdered my wife! His own mother! Who sought to cleanse him of his beast-like nature! He betrayed me. He turned my entire family against me! And yet, you defend him?"

"I'm not defending anybody. I'm merely stating facts." Cora closes her eyes, breathing heavily. "You and your wife did this. You created what they are. This isn't Niks fault or anybody's. You couldn't just leave the bloody village and move on?! We all lose loved ones, join the party but we don't all go out for murder, some of us have to deal with the pain and not start an entire supernatural creature!"

Mikaels jaw clenches. "You don't know a thing."

"Because I'm a silly little human, yes, I've heard." Cora opens her eyes weakly. "You don't hate Niklaus, you hate yourself, you hate that you couldn't have protected Henrik so you go out, look for someone to blame and choose the black sheep of the family. You would've gotten along with my father." Her voice cracks as she spoke.

Mikael laughs. "You are pathetic, I now see why you and Niklaus get along so well."

Coras eyes close, clutching her wound. "What do you want with me?"

"Well, it seems as if Klaus has a soft spot for you. You're leverage. I'll lure if in here then kill you while he watches, then I'll finally kill that abomination."

Cora frowns. "Do not call him that! Your wife no longer loved you and so she had an affair."

Mikael growls at her. "Are you not listening to me?! He killed his mother and brother! He is a disgrace."

"He's your son! Maybe not by blood but he is!!"

"Not after everything he has caused. He is not my son!! He's a scourge, nothing but a walking symbol of weakness, he has ruined this family and torn them all away from me!! He ruined everything!!"

"And you ruined him!" Cora screamed and it fell silent. "All the bloodshed, his trust issues, your trust issues, the tears and the losses, after all this time, a thousand bloody years and do you not see how all this violence has turned out to be nothing but pointless!!" She breathes heavily and feels something sting her cheek.

He slapped her.

Her body already being weak, fell completely to the floor and she cries out. "Hes just as weak as you are." He kicks her side.

Mikael walks out of the room and Cora watches him before weakly standing to her feet, stumbling slightly and she make it to the chair, she grabs it, smashing it against the wall.

The wooden piece falls to the ground and she quickly picks it up, turning to see Mikael in front of her with his face vamped out. Her eyes widen and she quickly raises her hand, piercing the stake through his heart and he screams, stumbling as his face turns Gray. She knew he was temporarily dead.

Cora runs out of the abandoned building and that's when she remembers the bracelet. Wow, I really am a stupid human she thought to heels then she taps two times on the way and takes deep breaths.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Klaus appears in front of her, his eyebrows furrow. "Mikael...he's back." She whispers and falls into his arms.

-

"He has the white oak stake." Cora spoke quietly, wearing a knitted blanket around her body with a mug of tea. The originals were pacing in front of her. Klaus had fed her his blood to heal her and after her warm bath, they demanded for answers on what happened. She noticed how they all tensed.

Elijah grabs Klaus' arm to stop his pacing. "All three of us, we will be stronger than him. If we manage to get the stake, we could kill him and end this all." He said and Klaus is considering it.

"He knows of Cora and she invited him in. Shes in danger." Klaus began pacing again and Cora sighs. "Yes, we will kill him all together then I can reunite our family at once." He whispers and Rebekah smiles widely as Klaus turns to Cora who held Rebekahs hand.

"You do not leave my side under any circumstances." Klaus puts a hand under his chin. "I will send over maids to get your belongings and that horse of yours. Just do not step out of this mansion."

Cora frowns, standing up, setting her tea down and untangling her hand from Rebekahs. "I will not be a prisoner in this house."

Klaus looks at his siblings. "Leave us alone." He told them and the two shared looks before walking out making him turn back to Cora.

"I was not asking you. You are staying here whether you like it or not. Leaving this house would be suicide." Klaus steps closer to her, both of them holding stubborn faces.

"I was close to dying, I'm not saying here—"

"Which proves my point!" Klaus swallows the lump in his throat. "That is exactly my point. You almost died. The moment we are rid of Mikael, I will let you go, I'll even give you all the money you need for Harvard but I need you by my side for the time being."

Cora looks at him in disbelief. "How am I supposed to stay by your side when you don't trust me or anyone?!" She questions.

"I do trust you." Klaus admits and her eyes snap over to his. "More than you know." He whispers and she sighs, running a hand through her hair. "My father spoke to you..what did he say?"

He is not my son!

He's a scourge!

He's nothing but a walking symbol of weakness!

He has ruined this family!

He is a disgrace!

Klaus immediately knew it was bad and she smiles lightly, tilting her head to the side. "All I heard was lies leaving his mouth." She smiles and he blushes lightly, smiling as well.

Slowly, he leans in, nose brushing against hers and they stay like that, enjoying how close they were, he tilts his head and presses his lips softly against hers.

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   Authors note: I added a small Klayley scene because they're cute but I ship Halijah more.
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