To Be King by VisciousRose

Chapter 16

A small laugh escaped me as they continued to scowl and watch me to make sure I understood just how serious they were about not allowing me to ever die and leave them. That was the biggest thing about our large family, we loved freely and with all of our beings, to the point of it consuming us, be it familial love or that of any of type.

It made us possessive of our family and those we accepted into our lives, and that was all centered around me for them who had been the one to give them this, to make this their reality.

"You know that you cannot stop it if that does come to pass," I said in the silence after my laughter faded. "Though I know you will try your hardest to make sure it doesn't but know this, if it puts you, any of you, at risk than do not try it for my life is not worth that of yours."

"I don't care if I have to bathe in someone's or a city of people's blood to bring you back," retorted Lily fire in her eyes reminding me of her mother in that moment as she stood tall before me. "You will not remain dead and whoever was the one to kill you will be tortured and never find peace even in death."

"You have been there for each and every one of us," agreed Joseph with a nod as he overlooked the room before focusing on me.

"Have stepped up and done everything in your power to give us happiness even though others in your place wouldn't have cared or done so. I refuse to repay that with turning my back and not bringing you back when it is in my power to do so. You are more than a parent to us Leviathan Salvatore, you are our whole world, and the one we look up to even when we grow old and walk into Death's warm embrace. "

"Everything eventually dies," I sighed before raising my hands when even Ryder seemed close to snapping. "But thank you. Thank you all for loving me and being my family who would be willing to kill to bring me back."

Before I could respond something came barreling into me and tossing me back causing me to twist in order to land on my feet and face the person now withering on the floor in agony as James, Jesse, Joseph, and Ryder raised their hands to bare down their magic and wrath on this person who had attacked me.

It surprised me, and yet didn't surprise me, at who had done so as a frown pulled at my lips as I motioned for each Bennett to release their magic as I stepped forward to the now curled up form.

"Is there a reason you are attacking me?"

"Hello brother," choked out Stefan as he clambered to his feet with a sway of his body as he stared me down with a grimace. "Long time no see."

"That would be your own fault," I returned with a single dip of my head as my hands crossed behind my back as I stood there with straightened shoulders and cold eyes. "You have been running each time I even come near your location after all."

"Maybe when I was a Ripper," agreed Stefan before his shoulders slumped as he gave a depreciating smile. "But not when I was sane and on animal blood. Then it was you who ran from me."

"I did not run," I sneered out the words like something disgusting. "I stopped searching because I refused to chase after the two of you and beg for a forgiveness that was unneeded, or warranted, seeing as I was not the one to throw away our family bond for a woman."

"You are not even worth Father's time," added Orion arms crossed over his chest as Lily nodded in agreement at his side. "Especially considering the way you have treated him even when you lot were human."

"Even when I fight with my siblings, I would never push them aside or choose someone over them," agreed Ryder with some disgust. "Family is everything and to know that the person who we look up to, and who gave us everything, be treated like trash and a punching bag of vicious words truly pisses me off."

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're a sad excuse for a vampire," snarled Lily being held back by Hadrian. "And open your eyes to the fact that you placed all of your self hatred and blame at my father's feet because you know, and I know you do, that he has always been willing to take it if it meant you were happy."

"No more," continued Hadrian as he gave a sneer of his own. "We will not allow Damon or you to continue treating grandfather this way."

"It is almost pathetic how you never seemed to realize just how far his reach goes," mused Joseph with a shake of his head. "He built a complete far-reaching empire that covers the globe, and every single one of us would not hesitate to make your life hell and remove you if it meant getting rid of that shadow in Leviathan's eyes."

"You put that there," said Derek with such disgust it was all but dripping from his mouth as he stared down a gob smacked Stefan.

"And not a single one of us would feel sorry for you or pity you because we know the truth. You are pathetic and a disgrace who threw away the one person who had always been in your corner and kept you from falling time and again until you pushed him away. And now you want to blame him again for not being there when you went Ripper?"

"Get over yourself," finished Jesse hands placed on her hips. "And open your eyes to the fact that in truth Uncle Levi doesn't need you, not really. But that even still after all these years he still loves you and cares, and you don't deserve that. Neither of you do."