Forever and Always // Aemond Targaryen // Daemon Targaryen

23. First Bite

Many years ago

''Rebekah let me have at it!" Klaus demanded

''Quiet, Niklaus. I have to have my concentration if I'm not to slice off a finger.'' Beka countered

''Father will not like you handling the blade." Klaus retorted and Beka shot him a glare.

''If I want to wield a blade, I shall wield a blade. Father need not know."

''He will find out. He always does,' Klaus reminded her and Beka scoffed.

''That is because you always tell him."

''I cannot help it. He frightens me.'' Klaus whimpered

''He frightens us all. That is why we stick together as one, always and forever. Right, traitor?'' Beka teased

''Right," Klaus agreed as she handed out the knife

''Here. You finish. I'm to help mother with the meal.' Beka told him as she got up.

''Yes. Go tend to dinner. Leave the blades to the men, little sister." Klaus agreed. She gave him the knife on the blade's side, cutting his hand, Klaus pulled his hand back with a groan.

"Beka!" Klaus hissed looking at the blood.

''It's just a little blood. Be a man about it." Beka teased walking off.

"You going to tell them you married that Targaryen yet?" Klaus called after her.

"Im waiting for the right moment!" Beka hissed. "Dont say a fucking thing!" Klaus chuckled. "Nik im serious I really like him."

+

"Come on, Henrik. Our brothers are fighting again." They ran to rejoin Klaus and Elijah, who were fighting with swords, practicing.

"Oh, look. Sister's arrived to watch my fast-approaching victory!" Elijah declared.

''On the contrary, Elijah-" Klaus said lunging at him. He broke Elijahs belt and Klaus cheered victoriously. Their parents Mikael and Esther were watching from their little house. Esther had a smile on her face but Mikaels face was pinched as his children trained.

''Relax, Mikael. Niklaus means well.' Ester assured

''That is precisely my problem.'' Mikael countered as he headed outside to join Klaus and Elijah and took Elijah's sword from him facing off against Klaus.

''So... Why don't you teach me that trick, young warrior?' Mikael offered stiffly as he swung his blade in his hand.

''Father, we were just having fun." Klaus offered nervously. For all his trying to be the perfect son, Mikael never liked him.

''We fight for our survival. And you find time for fun?! I want to have fun! Teach me. Come on!'' Mikael demanded advancing on Klaus.

''Father, it was nothing-" Klaus began but Mikael attacked at him and Klaus tried to fight him off but Mikael easily removed Klaus's sword before shoving him to the ground. Everyone watched silently as Klaus stared up at their father in fear. Mikael held his blade to Klaus's nervous face. Klaus had never felt fear like that before.

"You are foolish and impulsive, my boy." Mikael spat down to him. ''What? No more laughter?''

''You've made your point, Mikael." Esther declared. Mikael glanced back at her before stabbing the sword down next to Klaus's head.

"Some days, it's a miracle you're still alive... Boy." Mikael hissed heading off.

+

Rebekah looked at necklaces hanging on the window. She touched one, a woman watched her and Rebekah's hand burned at the contact with the necklace, she pulled her hand back quickly and spun around.

''Ayana, you burned me!" Beka declared

''That is not yours to touch." Ayana spat back. Beka's face pinched but screams from outside drew their attention to the window.

''Mother!' Klaus shouted.

''Is that Niklaus?" Beka asked ''Something is wrong..." but then she was Klaus arriving with Henrik in his arms. She ran outside to them.

'Henrik!" Beka shouted, panic flooded her.

'' Mother!'' Klaus begged.

One full moon, Klaus and their youngest brother Henrik snuck out to watch the men turn into beasts. That was forbidden. Henrik paid the price and they tore him apart.

Elijah and the Mikaelson's mother, Esther rushed over to them seeing the blood and hearing the screams.

''Henrik, no. No. What happened?" Esther declared.

'' The wolves. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,'' Klaus cried out.

'' We must save him." Esther declared as she looked to Ayana. "Please, there must be a way."

''The spirits will not give us a way, Esther. Your boy is gone." Ayana told her unsympathetically.

''No, no!" Esther sobbed out.

''Please, Ayana, I implore you. You must call upon the spirits before the next full moon." Mikael begged

''I will not. It is a crime against nature." she retorted

''Ayana, we have already lost too much. We cannot lose any more. The spirits can help us find a way to protect our children." Esther agreed.

vampirism was a form of protection. But Beka thought it a curse at the time.

Her parents only saw a way of keeping their children alive. Her father didn't want to run anymore. He wanted to fight and be superior to the wolves. Where they could bite, the Mikaelson's had to bite harder. Where they had speed, the Mikaelsons had to be faster. Agility, strength, senses.

'' Everything could be heightened. Our family could live forever." Mikael told Ayana.

''At what cost? This magic you speak of breed's consequence. This is the makings of a plague, Esther. The spirits will turn on you." Ayana informed them.

''Please, Ayana." Esther agreed

''I will have no part in it!" Ayana hissed storming out.

''If she will not protect our family... Then it is in your hands alone, my love." Mikael countered.

Ester was a witch herself, the original witch and she called upon the sun for life and the ancient white oak tree, one of nature's eternal objects, for immortality. That night, Mikael offered his children wine laced with blood. And then he drove his sword through their hearts.

And he wasn't delicate about it either.

When Rebekah woke up, she had a big blood stain on her shirt. Klaus woke up too, a haze surrounded them as he looked to his sister.

''Rebekah..." Klaus said softly but she was focused on the blood stain.

'blood... What happened?" Beka asked as Klaus got closer to her.

''It'll be all right. We will be all right-'' Klaus began when the door swung open and Mikael entered with a girl, a tight grip on her.

'' What are you doing?" Klaus asked confused.

''We must finish what we started. You have to drink if you want to live." mikael informed them as he brought the girl closer and cut her arm, they focused on the blood oozing from her.

They had to drink more blood to complete the ritual. It completes the transition.

'Drink!' Mikael demanded. Klaus didnt want to he didnt understand but Mikael pushed him closer. ''Drink!'' He took Beka's head and made her drink. Klaus looked to her, seeing her devouring the blood.

It was euphoric. The feeling of power was indescribable. But the witch Ayana was right about the consequences. The spirits turned on them, and nature fought back. For every strength, there would be a weakness.

But at first that feeling... it was bliss and madness at once. That first bite. She never wanted to stop.