Niklaus held the knife tight, blood dripping down his hand. "You want to save your brother? How about a decade long bender. You know I have big plans for you, when we leave this town."
"I'm not like this anymore." Stefan stated never taking his eyes off the blood red vial.
"Well that's to bad. You would have made a hell of a wingman." Niklaus leaned over the kitchen counter and started pouring the blood into the sink.
"Wait." Stefan whispered.
"Now that's more like it." Klaus grinned and sat the vial back down on the counter. He grabbed a blood bag and slid it across the counter towards Stefan. "I want you to join me for a drink."
Stefan ripped open the blood bag. His eyes turned red and dark red veins appeared beneath them as he took a sip. Rosalie shuddered at the sight.
"Finish it. All of it." Niklaus demanded. Defeated Stefan brought the blood bag back up to his lips once more. "You do everything I say and I'll save your brother, that's the deal."
"And you'll let Rosalie go unharmed." Stefan said and Rosalie bit her lip excitedly. Holding her breath waiting for Niklaus' reaction.
"Well, I can't let you have it all, now can I? You can only save one. Your dying brother or sweet little Rosalie. It's your choice." Klaus spoke playing with the glass in his hand. Rosalie sunk down back in her seat. She had gotten her hopes up, but there was no way he would choose her over his dying brother.
"Fine, you will save my brother." Stefan sucked on the blood bag and Rosalie felt nauseous. Stefan was sipping human blood like it was a capri sun. When he had finished, Niklaus simply pushed another blood bag towards Stefan. Rosalie couldn't watch as it went for a couple of rounds.
"Very cooperative." Klaus grinned standing over Stefan who was crouching on the ground. Around him dozens of blood bags. All empty. Rosalie mostly tried to block her surroundings out, but she felt her stomach turn at the metallic smell of blood. "It's almost as if you're enjoying it."
"No more." Stefan said, his face was stained with blood. "Not until you give me the cure."
"Not until we make a deal. It's your choice, Stefan. You can either remain here, living your life in Mystic Falls or you could embrace what you truly are and leave town with me and save your brother's life." Niklaus crouched down in front of Stefan and handed him another blood bag. Stefan pulled it open with his teeth and sucked the content with a tortured expression on his face. "That's the spirit."
Niklaus stood up and turned towards the sofa, where Katerina and Rosalie were watching. "Sweetheart," he called and pulled Katherine up by the throat, "Take this over to Damon and come right back."
"You want me to leave?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes and if I were you I'd hurry." Katherine was out the door before he could even finish his sentence. Niklaus plumped himself on the sofa right next to Rosalie.
"No." Stefan exclaimed. "She'll never take it to him."
Rosalie didn't understand the defeat in Stefan's face. From what the blonde girl had heard, Katherine was selfish, but she seemed to like Damon. And she wouldn't just let him die, or would she?
"What about me, Niklaus? Can I go home now?" Rosalie closest to her. He had his feet up and his arms spread out along the back of the sofa, one of them over Rosalie's shoulders. "Please, I miss my mom and my friends. I won't tell anyone."
Niklaus groaned annoyed. "Do you ever stop talking?"
"You said I was leverage to ensure nobody would mess up your big plan. But now that your big plan has succeeded, I should be free to go, right?" Rosalie argued. She had a point, but Niklaus didn't want to admit it. The hybrid got up and went to pour himself a drink. He was frustrated that he still didn't figure her out and he wasn't going to let her leave willingly. But could he really take her with him on the road? She was human and she would definitely slow them down.
"You're not free to go. But you may return home until further notice." Niklaus gave in. "You are not to leave Mystic Falls or tell anyone about what happened here. When I come to collect you, and I will eventually, you will come willingly. Understand?"
Rosalie's eyes went big, as the hybrid lifted the glass to his lips. She exclaimed "Really?"
"Yes, really." Niklaus rolled his eyes, confused he looked down as two thin arms embraced him tightly.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you." Niklaus looked in surprise at the girl. He had held her captive for days and she was simply thankful for being let go. Most people would have stormed out cursing his name. But she thanked him.
"Alright, off you go, love." freeing himself from her embrace. "Stefan, start packing up here. I'll bring Rosalie home."
Even though it had only been a few days, Rosalie was in awe with the outside world. She jumped into the car and had been glued to the window the whole drive.
"So you mentioned leaving, where are you headed?" The excited girl asked, taking her eyes off the outside world and watching the man next to her.
"Why do you need to know?" Niklaus asked suspiciously.
"Relax, I'm just making small talk." Rosalie answered. "Like I had plans to go to New York City with my mom during the summer holidays, but I guess that won't work now you've compelled me not to leave town."
Niklaus glanced at the girl, who let out a disappointed sigh. "You talk a lot about your mother. Are you close?"
"Well, yeah. She had me at 16 and it has always only been us two. She made a lot of sacrifices for me growing up." The girl smiled thinking about her mother, which she would soon be reunited with, but her face turned into a frown. "But ask me again after I managed to find an excuse why I have been missing for the last couple of days. She is probably going to behead me."
"Probably Florida." Klaus said and the girl looked at him confused. "You asked where I was going. I'm probably headed to Florida. I need to find wolf packs and my informant has spotted one there."
"You could even visit Disney World." Rosalie grinned at the thought of the moody hybrid on a roller coaster. Even Niklaus smirked.
"You'll have to invite me in." Niklaus stated as the two got out of the car.
"Why?" Rosalie asked confused. The hybrid wasn't the type of person who needed to be invited in, he seemed more like the type of person who took whatever he wanted, not waiting for permission.
"Trust me, love." He said.
Rosalie unlocked the door. "Alright, then come in."
Niklaus walked past her over the threshold. Looking around the simple living room.
"Rosie?" They heard her mother's voice. She appeared in the hallways, pale skin and dark bags under her eyes. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick, you couldn't just call?"
"Mom, I'm sorry. I was-" Rosalie tried to explain, but what could she say. Not the truth. Niklaus laid a hand on her shoulder, not harshly like before, but gentle. She looked up to him as he took a step towards her mother.
"Lovely to meet you. I'm Niklaus. Your daughter was safe the last days, you just forgot that she was going on a trip with a friend. You didn't worry and you're happy to have her back. You are not angry at her." Rosalie watched as her mother nodded.
"How was your trip, sweetie?" Her mother asked and Rosalie looked bewildered at the hybrid.
"What did you do, Niklaus?"
"I compelled her. She's alright, don't worry." Niklaus explained turning to the door.
"Thank you." Rosalie called behind him. Although she didn't want to manipulate her mother, it was best for everyone.
"I'll see you in the fall, love. Be safe." He didn't turn around and just like that Niklaus Mikaelson was out of her life. For now.
