If only | Damon Salvatore

030. WHEN IT COMES TO BAD PLANS, THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE

Chapter thirty

"When it comes to bad plans, this one takes the cake."

Beatrix finished getting dressed for the day and grabbed her backpack, intending to head out to school. But just as she reached the entryway, the sharp sound of a porcelain plate being set heavily onto the wooden dining table caught her attention.

She turned around to find her grandmother standing at the head of the table. "No school today," Winnifred announced firmly. "It's time for a history lesson."

Beatrix let out a breath, dropped her bag by the front door, and walked over to the dining room. As she took her seat, she looked down at the massive plate of eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast that had been placed in front of her.

"So?" Beatrix asked, looking between the two older women.

Her mother and grandmother sat down on either side of her. Winnifred leaned forward, her expression incredibly serious. "What I tell you right now absolutely cannot leave this table. Understood?"

Beatrix and her mother both gave solemn nods.

Winnifred took a slow, measured breath. "You two remember those friends I mentioned back when I suggested we could all just pack up, move to New Orleans, and run away?"

"Yeah," Beatrix and her mother answered in unison.

"Well, those old friends of mine happen to be the Original family," Winnifred shared flatly.

Beatrix's eyes went wide, her fork freezing halfway to her mouth. "What? So... you actually know Elijah?"

"Mm-hmm. And you recall how Damon was raving last night about him being dead when they dropped you off?" Winnifred asked.

"Yeah. He shoved a makeshift stake into his heart and he desiccated right against the door," Beatrix recalled, shuddering slightly.

Winnifred shrugged carelessly. "Well, he's not dead. So if you end up seeing him sometime in the near future knocking on our very door, do not be surprised. Although, I do hope you were a lot nicer to him than the Salvatore boys were?"

Beatrix let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over her face. "Well, both before and after he found out it was me and not actually Elena, I tried to negotiate a deal with him. But Stefan and Damon just had to show up and play heroes. Even after they jumped him, I tried to get Elijah to spare Stefan. But then Stefan shot him with stakes and tackled him down the stairs, and Damon pinned him to the wall. So, yeah... I don't really know how that's going to look on our coven's end if he comes knocking."

Beatrix stuck her fork into a piece of sausage, her brows furrowing thoughtfully. "But after Rose and Trevor told me about the sacrifice, I remembered that night you told me the bedtime story, Grandma. The one about the king cursed by a witch so he couldn't turn into a beast. I was wondering... is that king Elijah?"

Her grandmother shook her head. "No, not Elijah. Although, don't get me wrong, he is terrifying. He actually taught me a lot about how to negotiate, how to decide who to trust, and how to kill them if they break that trust—just like we did to Mason. But no, the story is about his brother, Klaus. I already knew that someday he would come after Elena. Knowing how much Klaus hated Katerina only made my own hatred for her grow. That is exactly why she is locked in that tomb, spelled in, and she will only be let out when the time is right."

Beatrix's mother raised her brows. "You mean when Elijah or Klaus lets you know?"

Her grandmother nodded matter-of-factly. "Precisely." She took a crisp bite of her toast.