BLONDIE • the mikaelsons

chapter fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Whatever you do, don't go downstairs!" Elena told me as we crossed paths in the hallway. I shot her a confused look as I tied my hair into a ponytail. Dealing with my sister when I had just woken up could be incredibly confusing.

"Why?"

"John's here." Elena said with a grimace.

"John? As in Uncle John?" I blurted out, "I haven't seen him in years."

"Consider yourself lucky." Elena remarked, "He arrived last night, I had to let him in."

"Why do we hate him?" I asked in confusion. I had few memories of John but he had only ever been nice to me.

"Because he's John!" Elena emphasized and I nodded slowly.

"Fair enough." I muttered to myself as Elena hurried downstairs, "This town is so dramatic."

I finished getting ready for the day before heading downstairs and finding John and Elena in the kitchen talking.

"Uncle John, hi!" I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster given the early hour in the morning.

"Emilia! It's been quite some time since I last saw you." John replied as he eyed my hair.

"So, what do we owe this unexpected visit?" I asked as I grabbed a yogurt from the fridge.

"Do I need a reason to visit my family?" John replied as I grabbed a teaspoon and began shoveling my breakfast into my mouth.

"No but given that the town is running rampant with vampires and the Gilberts are notorious vampire hunters, I'm guessing that there is a reason for you visiting." I summarized in between mouthfuls.

Elena raised an eyebrow at me and John ohn looked taken aback "I didn't realize you knew about the vampires."

I shrugged, "So, why are you here?"

"I'll tell you what I told Elena, I'm here to protect you both. That is all I can say for the moment."

"That's very cryptic." I commented. I finished my yogurt and threw the pot in the bin just as Jenna and Alaric walked into the room.

"What the hell?" Jenna said, coming to a stop at the sight of John.

"Good morning to you, Jenna, Alaric."

"It's okay I'm confused, right?" Jenna asked, looking between Elena and I, "Because we were not expecting you, like, ever."

"Well, I got in late last night." He explained, "Elena let me in."

"You know, I'm probably just gonna take off." Alaric said awkwardly as he slinked out of the kitchen.

"I'm still confused here." Jenna prompted as she crossed her arms.

"I decided to come back and stay for a while."

"Not here, you're not." Jenna said instantly.

"Actually, you can't stop me from living here." John replied and I frowned at my Uncle.

"Actually I can, as legal guardian." Jenna shot back.

"Yeah, about that... Elena, do you want me to explain the situation or would you like to do the honors?" I looked towards my sister, who looked back with apologetic eyes.

"Okay, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, Jenna, Emilia." Elena began, "I should have told you earlier but-"

"I'm Emilia and Elena's biological father." He said and I felt my heart drop as I looked between my twin and my apparent father, "There, now you know."

"What?!" Jenna exclaimed and John walked out the room.

I stood frozen for a moment, a million feelings flooding through me all at once. Betrayal, disbelief, anger and sadness rushed through me as I stood in the kitchen completely shell shocked. I could hear Jenna and Elena arguing but I couldn't make out their words as I was lost in my own mind.

In less than a minute, I learned that I had been adopted and that my biological father was the man I thought was my uncle. My parents weren't actually my parents; they had lied to me. Elena had known and she had lied to me. I felt sick to my stomach.

My feet started to move and before I had consciously made the decision, I was running after John. He had made it to the front door when I grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him against the wall. He looked at me with wide eyes as I scowled at him.

"You don't get to just walk away after dropping a bombshell like that, you bastard." I snarled at him as I landed a blow to his face.

Lpger let out a groan as he gripped his broken nose, "You throw quite the punch."

"My father taught me well, oh wait, that wasn't my father." I hissed.

I pushed myself away from him and hurried up the stairs as quickly as possible without looking back. Slamming the door behind me, I fell against it and slowly slid to the flood. The tears that I had held back finally came as I cried, not knowing who I was anymore.

As I sobbed, I pulled my phone from my pocket. I clumsily dropped it a few times, causing me to cry harder in frustration, but eventually I held the device steadily in my hands. My tears fell onto the screen as I scrolled through my three contacts: Jenna, Elijah and Klaus.

Calling Jenna was out of the question, since she was currently in a similar state, which left the two Mikaelsons. My thumb alternated between hovering over each of their names as I tried to decide which Mikaelson to seek comfort in. The hopeless noises that left my lips only worsened at the indecision and the realization that I simply could not pick.

I threw the phone away from me and it landed on the carpeted floor, which I knew I would be grateful for later, but right now I didn't give a damn whether or not it broke. I cried until I could cry no more, until I was simply an empty shell.

As I sat there, staring into space, I made the decision that I needed to leave. I was staying in Mystic Falls for my sister, who couldn't be bothered to inform me that we were adopted. If Klaus wanted to sacrifice her, I no longer felt so inclined to stop him. Elena already had plenty of people to protect her, including Elijah, so my leaving wouldn't change anything.

I let out a shaky breath as I stood. Walking over to my laptop, I sent a quick email to the academy and informed them of my recovery, pleading to return. If they didn't allow me to keep my scholarship, I would have to find a way to pay because I now knew without question that dancing was the only life for me.

It didn't take me long to pack. I heaved my suitcase down the stairs to find a tearstained Jenna waiting at the bottom for me.

"You're leaving." She stated.

"I am." I confirmed, "I can't stay here Aunt Jen."

"I know, you belong on a stage in front of royalty, not in this small town where everything goes wrong." Her acceptance made leaving her all the more painful.

"I'll see you soon, Aunt Jen." I told her as I hugged her, "I did call you much last time but this time will be different, I promise."

"I know, sweetheart." She said with a sad smile. We said our final goodbyes before I walked out the door, not looking back.

I was going back to where I belonged.

I walked hastily to the bus station, ignoring looks from nosey neighbors. It was only once I was on the bus that I messaged Elijah and bid him farewell. He didn't reply.

I was alone again and it felt painfully familiar.

A/N: Writing this book is so addictive! Out of all of my books, this is definitely my favourite one to write!

Originally published: July 6th 2024