BLONDIE • the mikaelsons

chapter twenty seven

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

I spun around on the empty patio as the smell of petrichor filled the air. I tilted my head towards the sky and laughed as the rain fell onto my face. My hair was completely drenched and I feared that the white summer dress I wore had become completely diaphanous. I didn't care though; dancing in the rain made me too happy.

Instead of leaving after Klaus requested my absence, I had decided to stay and explore the garden. Given that the house had only just been renovated, there was not any patio furniture yet. Since there had been nowhere to sit and wait, I had decided to practice the dance routine I had perfected over the summer. When the clouds had burst, it only added to my entertainment.

I twirled again and again until my feet ached with a beautiful sort of pain. My lungs were burning as I concluded the dance with a proud smile. I wiped away the rainwater that had collected on my eyelashes as I turned to go inside. I sucked in a breath when I saw Elijah standing in the threshold of the backdoor, watching me with dark eyes. I smiled shyly at him as I walked through the door and looked up at him.

"You dance beautifully." Elijah said, brushing a strand of wet hair behind my ear.

"Thank you." I whispered, biting my lip at the praise as I stood before him.

Whilst I had been outside, he had changed into a brand new suit and his hair had been perfectly styled. Meanwhile, I looked completely disheveled with my saturated blonde hair, which needed the roots touching up. The white dress I wore was soaked, making the black bra and panties I wore completely visible.

Elijah made no attempt to hide his perusal of my body and I flushed at his intense gaze. Slowly he removed his jacket and my heartbeat sped up at the sight. He gently placed it over my shoulders as I blinked up at him.

"I can have one of Niklaus' hybrids fetch a new dress from you." Elijah said, taking a step away from me as he began to fiddle with his cufflinks, an anxious tic that I had seen him engage in multiple times.

Instead of answering, I said, "I missed you, Elijah."

"My brother has informed me of the events that occured during my absence." He looked down at me with concern, "I heard what my father did and I apologize profusely for his actions. I also offer my gratitude for your assistance in his demise; I shall be in your debt."

"You don't owe me anything, Elijah." I smiled softly, "In fact, I must offer my apologies. I'm afraid that Mikael broke the necklace you gave me. The pendant remains intact but the chain is completely destroyed."

"Then I shall purchase a new chain for it." He replied simply and I shook my head.

"I can't ask that of you."

"You didn't ask, I offered." Elijah replied.

"This isn't going to help Rebekah's god digger theory." I groaned, and Elijah tilted his head in amusement.

"Gold digger theory?"

"Your sister is absolutely convinced that I am a gold digger who is after the Mikaelson family jewels." I told him, "She doesn't seem to like me very much."

Elijah grimaced, "Yes, my sister has never been overly fond of doppelgängers."

"I don't blame her, I'm not very fond of doppelgängers either." I shrugged just as Klaus came around the corner.

"I was wondering where the two of you disappeared to." He said, glaring at the jacket I wore, "Emilia, it is time that you and I have that conversation."

I removed the jacket and handed it back to Elijah. Klaus looked down at the sheer wet dress I wore and his jaw tightened. His eyes met mine briefly before he directed his attention to Elijah. "I shall see you later, brother."

***

"You killed your mother?" I asked in disbelief, shaking my head at Klaus, who sat opposite me in the living room, "No wonder your bitchy sister teamed up with your evil father."

"I have already come clean to Elijah and he forgives me, as shall the rest of my siblings when they awake."

"So your mother is the one in the final coffin?" I asked and received a nod of conformation, "What will happen if Bonnie and the Salvatore's manage to open it?"

"Likely nothing. If they manage to open it, all they will find is the preserved corpse of a long dead witch." Klaus informed me and I nodded in relief.

"Well thank goodness for that! For a moment I feared that the coffin held something dangerous and I am way too exhausted to deal with any more drama." I said with a bemused chuckle, "Speaking of drama, I'm afraid that I have some news that will displease you. I think I lost my engagement ring."

"You think?"

"I have definitely lost it." I corrected myself and Klaus let out a chuckle.

"There is nothing to worry about, Emilia." He said and I frowned, "You didn't lose it, I took it."

"You stole my engagement ring?"

"Technically it belongs to me." He corrected and I rolled my eyes.

"Why did you take it?"

Klaus stood from the sofa and walked over to me. When he reached me, he knelt before me and cupped my hands in both of his. My lips parted at the sight of him on his knees.

"What my father said got to me." He admitted, avoiding eye contact with me, "He said that all those loyal to me were forced and I realised that his words were correct in regard to you. I love you, Emilia, and I want to marry you but I realise now that I cannot force you."

"Klaus..." I whispered softly as I watched him.

"That's why I took the ring. I thought that I could handle your resentment but the truth is, I would give anything to have you look at me the way you once did. The way you now look at my brother."

I sucked in a breath, "I don't look at-"

"I fully intend to win you back," Klaus interrupted my feeble attempt at denial, "But I shall do so fairly and with honor."

"What about Jenna?"

"I shall not break my end of the deal. Your aunt is safe from me." He said, standing and walking to the other side of the room. He poured himself a glass of something expensive and sipped slowly.

"Thank you, Klaus." I said as I stood and walked towards the door.

"I had my hybrids fetch you a dress; go put it on." Klaus said before I left, "Tonight, the Mikaelsons shall dine with the Salvatores."

Originally published: August 9th 2024