"You hoped that I would be the villain of your story... so that you wouldn't have to show your weak side." I stared into the eyes of the monster I loved most, only seeing blackness-not an ounce of emotion behind his glassy eyes. "Love is not weaknes...
Rebekah and I walked with our arms linked through the corridors of the governor's lavish home. Her lover standing on her other side, Emil, the governor's son. He was a kind man worthy of Rebekah, I was happy she had found someone to love so openly, especially with him and his family having known our secret. Not mine, entirely. We decided to keep my Dragon side a secret between our family, it was too dangerous for anyone to know what I was besides a Vampire.
We approached Niklaus and Eliah at the end of the hall. Elijah and his lover, Katie, kissed against the wall while Nik sat on the bench between two beautiful women, sucking them dry. It was his usual meal, beautiful women he would charm with the false promise of sex. I used to hate it but I've become accustomed to it. He only flirted for a meal. At least that is what I told myself while my heart ached.
"Are we interrupting?" Rebekah asked as we approached.
"Yes." Niklaus groaned.
"No," Elijah said.
I unhooked my arm from Rebekah as I stepped toward Nik. I swiped my thumb across his lip to wipe the blood from it as I sat sideways on his lap, his hands immediately holding my waist as he smirked. His head leaned down, peppering soft kisses along my shoulder.
"Dearest Elijah, you've only ever wished happiness for me." Rebekah began to speak. She had come to me, asking if I thought her brothers would approve of her asking to turn Emil. I told her to try, for they love her and want her to be happy. I also gave her my blessing, not that my vote mattered but I wanted her to know where I stood.
"Emil and I are in love. Please let me turn him." She asked and I smiled at her, happy that she dared to ask. My hand reached back to rest on top of Nik's that lay on my hip. His head raised from my shoulder, staring at his sister with a slight glare. He began to laugh and I rolled my eyes at his childish behaviour. I smacked his hand as a warning, telling him to stop.
"Rebekah, the governor has graciously agreed to hide a lot of our indiscretions. It would not do to turn his only son into one of us." Elijah said. His argument was fair. The governor may not be very happy with the turning of his son, but if Emil wanted this what did his father's opinion matter?
"Please. For me." She begged. I felt sad for her, her love being dismissed by her brothers. Niklaus tapped the side of my leg as he lightly lifted me off of his lap so he could stand.
"It's not gonna happen, sister." He said as he stepped towards her. "If we turned every man you dropped your knickers for, then, human beings would cease to exist and we'd have no bloody food."
"Nik." I called in disbelief, speaking so cruelly to his sister. He turned to me for a moment, taking in my disapproving face before turning back to Rebekah.
"How dare you, sir?" Emil stepped forward, angry with how Nik was speaking to his love. "You would do well to--"
Niklaus shut up Emil as his hand wrapped around his neck, dragging him down the hall. Rebekah and I looked between each other and the situation with horrified looks, my husband treating her lover so wickedly.
"Brother," Elijah said.
"Niklaus." Rebekah and I both called.
"Niklaus!" Elijah called again.
Niklaus dragged the poor man to the railing overlooking the floor below and without a second hesitation, he threw Emil over the railing. The man fell harshly down to the bottom floor, a crack sounding as his head hit the ground. I sighed as I looked between Emil's lifeless body and my husband. Rebekah's sobs were almost ear-piercing, her tears falling over the railing as she screamed for her lover.
Niklaus patted Elijah's back momentarily before stepping toward me. His arm reached to wrap around my waist with a smile as I looked at him with disgust. My stomach turned at his brutality. Over the centuries his heart was shrinking and filling with darkness and it broke me to see it. The man I fell in love with so many centuries ago was slowly fading away.
I pushed his arm away from me as I ran over to Rebekah's side, helping Elijah hold her up as she cried in agony. I watched as Niklaus backed away, his eyes never leaving mine, a hint of hurt in them but also anger, though I could not tell if that anger was for me or Rebekah.
***
May 18, 1820
Our family walked at the back of the crowd, following the Governor's friends and family as we headed to bury Emil. Rebekah was stricken with sadness, her tears never stopping these past couple of days. Niklaus held my hand as we walked, we were still angry with each other, not having really spoken of what happened.
The sound of a whip striking caught my attention. To the left of the road was a young dark-skinned boy, around 10 years old, being whipped by a man on a horse. I flinched as his weapon came down on the poor boy, my body no longer moving along with the crowd. Nik seemed to notice my stare, also watching the scene as Emil's family kept walking. I had always hated slavery, the reason for it and the action of it.
Niklaus knowing my hate for those actions, leaned down, grasping a pebble from the road and launching it at the man with the whip. The rock sped toward the man in the blink of an eye, hitting between his eyes. The man fell from the horse, laying limp on the ground and I couldn't help but smile.
Niklaus pulled me with him as he approached the boy, his hand never leaving mine.
"What is your name?" He asked.
"Don't got one. Mama wouldn't name me, 'til I turned ten. Case the fever took me. Then it took her." The boy spoke. I smiled sadly at him. The poor orphan boy, born to a slave, destined for the life of a slave, and without a name.
I could see the small hint of a smile as Niklaus dropped my hand and knelt in front of the boy. I reached out to lay my hand on his shoulder as he spoke.
"You're a survivor. And survivors need names." The boy looked at us wearily, trying to determine if we were friend or foe. "What about Marcellus?" Niklaus asked.
"Marcellus?" The boy asked confusedly.
"It comes from Mars, the god of war," I said as Niklaus stood, reaching out to help the boy stand as well. "And it means, 'little warrior'."
The boy took Niklaus' hand and stood with a smile. The two smiled brightly at each other and I smiled with him. Nik and I had always spoken of how saddening it was that we could not have children, maybe this would be our chance.
***
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This was a short chapter. Mostly to show the change in the relationship between Priscilla and Niklaus but also the introduction of Marcel. The relationship between the three with be more flushed out throughout the book but keep in mind we might not see much more of Marcel for a while. Sorry.
