BLONDIE • the mikaelsons

chapter twenty four

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

I winced as I delicately traced the tips of my fingers over the left side of my face. My cheek still stung from the strike I had received at Mikael's hand. I knew that my injuries could have been significantly worse than they were, but that didn't lessen the pain.

As a ballerina, I’d danced with pain many times. It was familiar to me and not always unpleasant. I had spent my childhood dancing until I was out of breath, loving the searing pain in my body. On other occasions, I hated the pain, like when I had injured my ankle.

The pain I felt now, however, was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had never before been hurt in such a punishing and demeaning way. The way Mikael had pinned my struggling body to the ground and struck my face had broken a part of me.

But what had come next was worse. Mikael had ripped my necklace from my neck, giving him the ability to compel me. The loss of control over my actions was absolutely terrifying.

My legs moved without my permission as I followed the vampire, my hand quivering as I held a dagger at his command. I could hear music and chatter from the nearby Lockwood Mansion, where the homecoming dance was taking place. I desperately tried to drop the dagger but it was no use.

I had heard of people that were immune to compulsion, but it was something that took years for them to learn. Even if I knew how to avoid the mind tricks, I wouldn't be able to master it in a matter of minutes. If I made it out of this alive, learning would become my top priority.

"You know what to do." Mikael said and my feet stopped. I watched in horror as he approached Klaus, who stood inside the Lockwood Mansion. From where I stood, I watched as his hybrids came to stand behind his father. One of them pushed me forward and my legs moved of their own accord. My body shook and tears welled in my eyes as I stood beside Mikael. Klaus' lips parted when he saw me, a renewed anger on his face as his father addressed him.

"Your latest plaything is quite lovely." He gripped the back of my neck to hold me in place. Since I was already compelled, I knew it's only purpose was to provoke my fiancé. "Come out and face me, Niklaus, or she dies."

Klaus' eyes trailed down to the dagger I held, the tip pressed against my stomach, before they met mine. Unable to speak, I widened my eyes and raised my brows, hoping that he understood what I was trying to convey. A flash in his eyes told me that he did.

"Go ahead, kill her." Klaus said coldly and the words stung, even though I knew them to be an act. It's like you said, she's just a plaything."

"The rock on her fingers suggests otherwise." Mikael said, hand brushing over my hair, "You've lived for centuries and never before has a woman worn your ring."

"I don't need her," Klaus spat, "I just need to be rid of you."

"To what end, Niklaus? So you can live forever with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you anymore, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you've forced? No one. No one." Klaus' eyes glassed over at his father's words as he looked at me. I shook my head subtly, telling Klaus that his father was wrong, I cared.

"I'm calling your bluff, Father." Klaus hissed, "Kill her!"

"Come outside and face me, you little coward, and I won't have to."

"My whole life, you've underestimated me." His gaze met mine, silent tears falling as he tilted his head and smiled softly, "But you've also underestimated her."

In a move that my father taught me, I turned and plunged the dagger into Mikael's stomach. It wouldn't kill him but it would distract him. I pulled the weapon from his body before pushing it into my abdomen. Mikael compelled me to stab myself, but he didn't say that I couldn't stab him first.

I fell forward through the doorway and into Klaus' waiting arms. He bit into his wrist and forced it to my mouth, heaving a sigh as I began to drink. He lowered me to the ground gently and was about to say something when all of a sudden he was pushed off of me.

I helplessly tilted my head to the side to see Damon pinning Klaus to the ground, a stake in his hand. I willed my body to move but I could barely stay awake, let alone move. I let out a pained whimper as the stake pierced Klaus' body, but then something unexpected happened. Stefan pushed Damon away and pinned his brother to the floor.

Grabbing hold of the stake, Klaus sped towards his father and pierced his heart. The smell of smoke surrounded us as my fiancé stood above his father's burning body. Mikael was finally dead.

Black spots invaded my vision and I blinked as I watched Klaus walk towards me. I let out a whimper as he lifted me and cradled my body to his chest. I leaned into him, finally letting myself cry.

"It's alright, love," Klaus' tender voice said as darkness claimed me, "You're safe with me."

***

My eyes fluttered open and the sunlight blinded me. Holding up a hand to shield my eyes, I slowly sat up in bed and looked around. I was back in Elijah's house, sleeping in his bed, just like I had been the day before. I could almost pretend that it had all been a dream.

The vampire blood had completely healed me and I felt no aches or pains as I slipped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. I was met with my reflection in the mirror and realised that I was wearing one of Elijah's shirts, which was odd. Despite the temptation, I hadn't yet given in to wearing his clothes.

I brought my hand up to my mouth to suppress a yawn and froze when I glimpsed the reflection of my hand. My engagement ring was gone.

I felt a jolt of panic, thinking for a moment that I had lost it in the scuffle, but the memory of gripping Klaus' shirt whilst looking at the ring came back to me. It was with me last night, I was sure of it.

So where was it now?

Originally published: August 2nd 2024