𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟. 𝐈𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
Humans reveled in the idea of immortality, but those who possessed it were...
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Summer 1001 – Vinland
"You can not be serious," Astra's words nearly echoed in the quiet forest. He had pulled her away from the village so they could speak in confidence. He needed someone that wouldn't hold back and he knew his friend would always be honest with him. "You can not seriously be debating selling out the entire pack?"
"If I don't, Mikael is prepared to send Niklaus out on the front lines of battle." Elijah eye's were wide with fear. "You know he will not survive. No matter how hard he trains, he is not strong enough."
"Then you'll need to protect him," Astra nearly snarled. It was no secret where her loyalties lied between the villagers and the pack. Between the men who had caused her harm on more accounts then she could name or the man who practically raised her. "Ansel trusted you. He convinced the pack to stand down for you. You can not betray him. You will not."
"I can not allow my brother to die," Elijah's voice was cold as ice. She seldom heard it that way. She never liked it. He sounded too much like his father.
"What does Tatia think of this?" Astra tried another approach. When Elijah had set his heels in, there was no moving him. Especially when it came to his siblings. But by the way he diverted his eyes, she knew Tatia was blissfully unaware of the dilemma. "Then take them and run. Take Niklaus, Tatia, Hale and leave here."
"You would have me abandon my family?" This brought Elijah up short. It wasn't the first time Astra had asked him to run. But it was the first time she had made no mention of coming with him.
"If it was between that or killing mine, then, yes I would."
There eyes locked in an intense battle, neither one of them willing to back down where their families were concerned.
"If you do this, I won't ever forgive you," the words were out before she could truly contemplate their meaning. But it was too late. She saw the pain flicker in his eyes and then it was gone. His eyes were emotionless as he turned away from her.
June 2014 – Manosque, France
The jazz music wafted through the tiny bar. It had become a much more familiar genre in the last few months as it reminded Elijah of home. His newly made friends had even bought their own scores and would join him in his favorite songs. Those were his favorite nights. He never thought he would enjoy playing with others, but he had become friends and even attended some of their music nights.
It had been a long time since Elijah had connected with humans. He often tried not to as their life spans were so short and he would inevitably have to watch them wither away with old age. But, here in the small town, he began to realize that was what made the relationships so special. They were finite. Though they would not last forever, they would still leave an imprint on him and that wasn't nothing. It's why Astra had wanted him to surround himself with humans. He needed to remember why humans mattered in order to find his humanity again.
