Fated Bonds

24

Maybe losing her virginity in an office chair wasn't the best idea, but it happened, and she wouldn't take it back. Leaving the almost crime scene, she walked nude back to Rebekah's room to shower. What she didn't know was that during that shower, the Mikaelsons were splitting up, and Elijah was writing his goodbye note to his love. He'd disappear with just a note.

Walking from the shower, clad in a towel, she spotted Niklaus and Rebekah sitting sadly with a note in the brother's hand.

"What's wrong?" she asked, standing in front of the mirror and examining the hickeys that littered her neck.

"Elijah's left, little love, just as Kol has," Niklaus spoke softly, his eyes filled with a rare vulnerability.

"Well, Kol didn't leave. Niklaus sent him on a mission to watch little Gilbert," the human shrugged, trying to brush off the weight of the situation. The mates watched her worriedly.

"That's fine," she said nonchalantly, a tone so devoid of emotion that it chilled the room. To be completely honest, the girl was done crying. It seemed she was crying more than Elena Gilbert these days, and it disgusted her.

"He left a note for you, Elijah did," Niklaus said, standing in front of her and offering the note. She took it and glanced at it briefly, then tucked it into her bag.

"I'll read it later," she said, her tone dismissive.

"Love, he didn't leave on purpose. He explained everything in the letter," Rebekah interjected gently.

"Rebekah, I get it," she replied, brushing her hair with deliberate strokes. "I'm gonna call Care and meet her at the Grill."

"It's not safe," Klaus spoke, his voice firm.

She turned to him with a murderous glare. "I'm done being locked in this house. You're not controlling me anymore," she seethed, getting close to his face. He quirked an eyebrow, and she tilted her head, making it clear she wasn't backing down.

"You guys tell me nothing and expect me to know every detail of my day. I'm done. I'll be back tonight; don't wait up," she finished, her tone final as she pulled out an outfit and began to dress.

The two watched her, a mixture of concern and resignation in their eyes. As her hand reached the bedroom doorknob, Klaus spoke again. "Let me guess, you're paying with my card," he bit out, his voice laced with anger.

She turned around, her expression defiant. "No, with mine. Because, unknown to you two, I had a life before you met me," she said, her voice strong and unwavering. She slammed the door behind her, grabbed the keys to one of the many cars, and drove to the bar.

---

As she drove, her mind raced with a mix of anger and sadness. The note from Elijah haunted her thoughts, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the familiar road to the Grill. When she arrived, she spotted Caroline waiting for her, a concerned look on her face.

"Hey, you," Caroline greeted, pulling her into a tight hug. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed to get out of that house," she replied, trying to sound casual as they made their way inside and found a booth.

"I heard about Elijah," Caroline said gently once they were seated.

"Yeah, well, it's whatever. He left a note," she shrugged, trying to brush off the weight of the situation.

Caroline frowned. "Have you read it?"

"No, I brought it with me. I thought maybe we could read it together," she admitted, pulling the note out of her bag and placing it on the table between them.