Claudia Lockwood-Mikaelson

Chapter 38 - Struggle for blood

"She's my mate," Nik roars. They've been going at it for over an hour.

"I don't care," Damon yells back for the hundredth time, still holding Elena tightly by the neck. "Why should you be allowed to save someone you care about? You killed people we cared about. Elena's Aunt Jenna for one. You don't deserve a mate. I think you should watch her die."

Hearing those words upsets me. I know Nik already believes he's a monster and that he doesn't deserve a mate but it's not true at all. He doesn't need another person telling him that, reinforcing that idea in his mind. I see the good in him, I truly do. He deserves all the happiness the world will give to him.

The shouting that echoes through the room, bouncing off the walls, causes Elena to shift in Damon's arms. They've woken her up with their arguing, getting louder and louder each time they talk over one another. Thank God she's okay.

"Damon?" She asks confused. "Stefan? What is going on?"

"Klaus is here. He's broken his end of the deal," Damon spits angrily.

Elena takes in the scene nervously. "Klaus?"

"You'll be a dear and give me some blood won't you?" He grins now Elena has woken up.

"No, don't do it Elena," Damon instructs tightening his hold on her.

"Let go of me," she demands wriggling in his grasp.

"No, he doesn't deserve your blood to save her."

"Damon let her go," Stefan says and he finally does. Elena shifts towards Stefan, not letting Damon out of her eye sight. Smart girl, he's unpredictable and stupid at best.

"Elena, we require your blood. I am aware of the agreement my brother made with you before he left town but the circumstances have changed," Elijah says.

"I won't take no for an answer," Nik says crossly. Elijah shoots him a look, clearly he wants to deal with this and Nik lets him. Elena seems more receptive to Elijah anyway. More trusting of him.

"Why do you need my blood? I thought he didn't care about his family of hybrids anymore since he killed the last lot."

"His mate is in transition. She will die if she doesn't feed from you. Just a drop will be enough," Elijah explains.

Elena's gaze turns to me in sympathy. I hate the look of pity on her face at how I'm mated to him. As if there's something wrong with him. "You're Klaus' mate?" she asks me.

"Yes," I croak.

"Do not even think about it Elena," Damon argues, still set on wanting to infuriate Nik. I worry that now he hasn't got her as leverage, Nik or Elijah or even Rebekah will attack him but they seem more focused on convincing Elena at the moment. Good. Although I dislike him he doesn't deserve to die for trying to protect her. He clearly loves her.

"What's your name?" Elena asks me ignoring Damon completely.

"Claudia. Claudia Lockwood."

Her eyes widen in surprise. "You're related to Tyler?" Stefan wonders.

"We're cousins," I whisper but it's so quiet in the room that everyone can hear me, even Elena with her human hearing.

"You know your mate over there killed Carol. Your aunt," Damon throws the information at me as if I didn't already know.

"Yes I know," I say breezily fighting to keep my eyes open. "But I love him in spite of it."

"How? How can you love him?" Elena says in disgust. "Do you know all the evil things he's done?"