The Good Daughter

Twenty seven

The compound was eerily silent when I entered. "Marcel?"

There was a charactistic sound of vampire speed and then Elijah stood in front of me. My breath caught in my chest and everything I had was screaming to run.

"Calm yourself, I can hear your heart racing."

"You lied to me."

"And how would I have managed that?"

"You told me they were dead."

"I take it you've been hiding in Mystic Falls."

I swallowed. Calm down. "I came here for one person and one person only. Where is Marcel?"

"He's a touch busy." Nik appeared as well, his hands held behind his back. "Answering for what he's done."

"What'd you do to him?!" A pit was growing in my stomach. I fucking knew this was a bad idea. "I thought Hope was in danger."

"Hope is fine. We needed something to lure you back. There was only one person you trusted enough to let your guard down. Otherwise you would have seen our game."

It was a trap. I'd walked right into it. And I'd just revealed I knew my brothers were alive. God. I'm such an idiot.

A witch that could make the Originals nervous... that'd be insane. It was so obvious now.

"Your plan worked." I crossed my arms. "Can I have my powers back now?"

Elijah's head tilted. "The headaches will cease... but I think until you've earned some trust that your powers will remain hidden."

"Trust?! You can't be serious. I'm not the one who lied!"

He held out his hand. "Your phone."

"Absolutely not. I won't entertain this." I spun on my heel, heading for the exit, only to find I'd been spelled inside.

It wasn't a boundary spell.

Something different.

A tether.

How had I not noticed it?

"What'd you do to me?!"

"I believe modern parents call it a grounding."

I turned. "You're grounding me?!" As if I were a rebellious teenager. "Are you fucking serious?"

"Deadly." Nik was all too chipper. "Freya has readily bound you to this place. None but one with our blood can release you from it. And it must be of a willing participant."

"This is ridiculous and the entire point of why I left! The two of you refuse to see me as anything more than a child."

It was more irritating that the only thing I got in return was stoic staring. They truly had nothing to say?!

"The phone." Elijah's hand was still waiting.

I'd lost.

Why did I think any of the elder Mikaelsons would agree to the deal Marcel was referring to?! A truce? Really? "No."

Elijah's nostrils flared but his expression stayed otherwise neutral.

It felt as if the very air had become stifling. "You stole my vampirism from me. Made me human. Then have the gall to try and play disappointed dad?! This isn't because I snuck out past curfew."

"We are aware you contacted someone. Likely a witch to get you past Freya's boundary spell at the house. Contact will cease. If it is a member from that group in Mystic Falls-"

"It's not!" My heart leapt into my throat. "Leave them alone."

"Then it is a choice." Nik frowned. "Which do you care more for? Protecting that ragtag group of idealists or the contacts in your phone?"

"This is cruel." How could they ask that of me?

"Yet it is happening all the same. You said you'd like more choice, did you not?"

"Not like this!"

"Choose."

My jaw clenched as I dug my phone out of my pocket. It was happening again. Stefan and Damon at near constant threat in order to get me to behave. Except this time, I might not be able to save them. "What are you going to do once you have my contacts?"

Elijah stepped forward, enough that I could deposit it in his palm. "Dismantle your network."

I'd be giving up people that had protected me for nearly a century. The same who stayed loyal despite my seven year stint.

Desperate option it was.

I threw my phone down with all my might, watching as it shattered, pieces flying everywhere. "You won't threaten me. I'll find a way around this- this leash. Then I swear to god, you'll never see me again."

Elijah's expression darkened.

He expected me to give up.

Not any longer. I moved toward the stairs. "Since I'm stuck here, I'll have my old room back."

They watched as I found my door.

Then as it shut.

What they did not see is me crashing to my knees, a gut wrenching, guttural sob tearing itself out of my chest.