The Good Daughter

Twenty two

The sun was set by the time I found Nik, he was dragging Elena Gilbert by the arm toward a clearing. "I only needed one thing to go well today. Your friends continue to aggravate me. I had no choice but to retaliate."

She wasn't fighting him.

"Morgan, I know you're there." Nik threw her to the ground, and a ring of fire immediately erupted around her. "Come here."

I swallowed nervously but stepped out of my hiding place. "You're angry-"

"I'm well beyond that, sweetheart." He turned to his witch, nodding at her.

"You didn't even finish the memory!"

"Did the lengths of your betrayal extend further than what I saw?" Nik spun around with a snarl.

"I- it was my fault, okay." If he had finished it, he would've seen Rebekah and Marcel. Maybe it was that I wanted someone else to help shoulder the blame. "I was pissed off about being daggered over something so little."

"So you thought to destroy everything we built. Your home."

The image of Marcel on that stage danced in front of my eyes almost mockingly. He'd been so close to death. "What are you going to do?"

"I needed three things for my sacrifice. A wolf, a doppelgänger, and a vampire. At first I was going to turn Elena's aunt, provide some symmetry, then I decided on a much more painful punishment for you."

A chill went down my spine. "Nik..."

"He should be waking soon."

I glanced at the prone figure laying in the grass. I couldn't see who is was yet.

"Morgan?"

I spun around, to find Damon, who looked torn between betrayal and shock. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'm here to save Stefan, I don't like to revel in my siblings' deaths." He replied darkly.

No. No, no, no, no. "Stefan?!" I turned to face Nik, intentionally stepping between him and Damon.

Nik ignored me in favor of the witch.

Stefan sat up, his expression dazed. A ring of fire began to enclose him. In a move that was probably incredibly stupid, I used my speed, throwing him out of the circle before it could finish.

"What do you think you're doing?" Nik's brow rose.

Good. I'd managed to surprise him.

I spread my arms out wide. "Your vampire." 

"Absolutely not."

"Why? I'm the one who summoned... him, I should be the one to die. Not Stefan. Not Damon."

Damon crept to the side, intent on running to Stefan's aid, but a rather upset Nik stood between him and our brother.

Nik approached the fire, and as if it was afraid, it died down the second he got near, he crossed into the circle, and I tried backing up, but the fire flared up when I reached the edge, well and truly trapping me.

"Angry as I may be, your death would not be punishment enough." He grasped my arm, and dragged me from the circle.

"Please. Nik. Don't take him away. I'm sorry!" Tears blurred my vision and I stumbled in his grip.

"And whom would take his place?" He stopped, swinging me around to stand in front of him.

"Kathrine! She's in the tomb. I can take you to her! Wouldn't that be more poetic?!" I clutched at his shirt, begging him to listen.

"I know where Katarina is." Nik paused, as if considering it.

"Please, anyone but them."

"And what lesson would that teach you? If I were to do as you wished. I can't have my family betraying me."

"I'll take the dagger. Put me in a coffin and set it next to Finn." My hands shook. He would do it too, if he took my offer. I was more likely to spend eternity in a box than see daylight again.

His eyes narrowed.

"Would that not be punishment enough?"

"Morgan, no." Stefan pushed himself up. I wished he wouldn't.

"Do we have a deal, Klaus?"

Something flickered in his eyes. Maybe regret or hurt. "Go wait in the car."

"Not until you promise me that Stefan and Damon survive the night."

"Need I repeat myself?" Nik challenged, and I knew I'd pushed my luck too far.

"No."

"I expect to see you there once this is over, little one. Run, and your brothers will have much more to worry about than a quick death."