𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 ━━ KLAUS MIKAELSON

76

"ALL WE NEED IS TO take that stake away from him," Elijah spoke as he faced Elena, Stefan and Matt while Emery sat on the table next to his chair. "Once he's been disarmed, the weapon's in my possession, my family will scatter to the ends of the Earth and Alaric will follow us."

"And you'll just run?" Stefan questioned as he sat down next to the doppelgänger.

Elijah spared him a look, nodding, "we've done it before. Klaus and Rebekah spent the better part of a thousand years evading my father. What's another half century—" he glanced at Emery then back at the doppelgänger, "while Elena is able to live out the rest of her natural life?"

"We've finally stopped him, Elijah," Elena cut in, "after everything that he's done to us, I can't just let you bring him back."

Emery parted her lips, about to say things Elijah knew were not, in any way, kind which propped him to shoot her a look and give her a slight shake of his head, wordlessly telling her to let him deal with this. The witch rolled her eyes but pursed her lips anyway, letting the original vampire do his thing.

"I give you my word, Elena," he said, "I will not revive Klaus within yours nor even within your children's lifetimes. Perhaps that will finally teach him some manners."

Emery gaped at him. She couldn't tell whether he was being serious or not. Either way, she hoped he didn't mean it.

"Why should she trust you?" Matt spoke, interrupting Emery's line of thoughts, "all you've done is screw her over."

"And for that," Elijah looked at Elena, "I am deeply ashamed. But know this, she could have been dead the instant I walked through that door tonight, so Elena, I leave it to you to make the decision whether to trust me or not."

"Not!" Damon suddenly spoke from the other line of the call. They had called him earlier so he could be part of the conversation as well. "Hello? Did that concussion give you brain damage? His lunatic siblings will kill you the first chance they get!"

"Rebekah and Kol will honor the terms," Elijah assured, "if you return Klaus' body to us, Elena will come to no harm." Elena flickered her eyes to Emery making Elijah add, "she will not do anything to you either."

"No promises." Emery muttered earning a sigh from Elena as she glanced at Stefan.

Elijah raised his brows at the two, "do we have a deal?"

"No!" Damon was quick to say, "no, no, no, no! Did I mention no?"

"You shut up, backstabbing motherfucker." Emery's words made the older Salvatore sigh loudly. "I'm sorry, Em. You have to understand why I did it."

"Elena," Stefan turned to her while Emery ignored Damon's words. "It's up to you."

Damon decided to stay quiet this time. Elena bit her lip, "why do you want Klaus' body?"

"Fuck this," Emery stood up, "return him to us or I'm killing Matt."

"Finally," Damon murmured from the other side, "please, do."

"What?" Elena blinked at the witch. Elijah stayed quiet, pursing his lips as he watched the scene unfold. He could tell that Klaus had rubbed off on Emery, he wasn't sure whether it was in a good way or in a bad way. Either way, it was entertaining.

"We are not going to sit here and answer your stupid questions. We're on a bit of a tight schedule here," Emery pushed herself off the table, "you have one minute to make up your mind. Klaus' body or Matt's, hmm?"

"You wouldn't—" Elena was cut off by Elijah. "She would."

"Why Matt though?" Damon's question earned him several eye rolls, not that he could see them.