Force of Gravity • NM

•45•

The night had been tense from the moment they arrived, but nothing compared to the instant Klaus felt Naira being yanked from his side. A knife pressed against her throat, and though she didn't flinch, the room was instantly charged with panic. No one moved, but everyone was on edge. Mikael would know if they acted on impulse, and that would be their downfall.

Klaus's eyes darkened, his muscles tensing to react—until he saw who was holding the knife.

Elijah.

Klaus's breath hitched, and his grip on his fists turned white. Elijah's eyes were cold, impassive, betraying nothing, and for the first time in centuries, Klaus felt scarred - no, fear.

Mikael smirked proudly, watching his children destroy themselves. "Now this is a sight I wanted to see—Elijah, the noble one, finally making the right choice. I always knew you were the best of them."

Klaus's lip curled. "Let her go."

Elijah remained unmoved.

Klaus took a step forward, fury radiating from him, but Mikael was faster. He lunged, white oak stake in hand—the very one Elijah had handed over to him. But just before the stake met its mark—

Stefan stepped in.

The force of Stefan's body sent Mikael slightly off course, but the stake still buried itself deep into Klaus's stomach. Klaus staggered, his vision blurring as pain exploded in his gut.

Damon, standing a few feet away, groaned loudly. "For God's sake," he muttered as he strode forward. "And just when I was starting to like you, Big Bad Hybrid." He yanked the stake out of Klaus, earning a groan from him. "You're welcome, by the way."

Klaus shot him a glare, his breathing ragged. "Remind me to rip your head off when this is over."

Damon smirked. "Oh, please. Naira wouldn't let you."

Klaus was about to retort when suddenly, chains wrapped around Mikael, forcing him to the ground.

Standing above him were Elena—or at least, the girl they all knew wasn't really Elena—and Sage, alongside Elijah, a rare smirk on his face. Bonnie stood a few feet away, her eyes glowing with power, having just spelled the chains to hold Mikael down.

Mikael thrashed, rage filling his features. "You think this will hold me?" he snarled.

Bonnie crossed her arms. "Yeah, actually, I do."

As Klaus pushed himself to his feet, Finn stepped forward, holding the stake out to him. "End it," he said simply.

Klaus looked down at the stake, then at his older brother. After a long moment, he shook his head and pushed the stake back toward Finn.

"No," Klaus said, his voice low but firm. "You should do it."

Finn's brow furrowed. "What?"

Klaus stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "He hurt all of us," he said. "But you... he silenced you brother. He never let you have a voice, never let you feel like part of this family." Klaus's voice softened slightly. "That ends now. You do it, Finn. You finish it."

Finn looked at the stake, his expression unreadable. And then, after a deep breath, he tightened his grip and drove the stake straight into Mikael's heart.

Mikael let out an inhuman roar as flames consumed him, his body burning away into nothing.

And just like that, it was over.

The moment Mikael was gone, everyone collapsed—some from injuries, some from exhaustion, some just from sheer relief.

Kol, of course, was the first to speak. "Well, that was dramatic."

Damon, lying on the floor, let out a breathless chuckle. "Says the guy who once tried to stab me with a fencing sword because I called him 'annoying.'"

Kol huffed. "You are annoying."

Bonnie smacked his arm. "Be nice. You almost died."

Kol grinned at her. "Aw, Bon-Bon, you do care."

She rolled her eyes but didn't move away from him.

Across the room, Stefan had pulled Rebekah into his arms, resting his forehead against hers. "Are you okay?" he murmured.

Rebekah sniffled, her hormones clearly all over the place, but she nodded. "You saved my life."

Stefan smiled. "I kind of like you, you know."

She laughed softly, resting her head against his chest. "too bad, i love you."

Meanwhile, Klaus found himself face-to-face with Naira. She had a few scratches but nothing serious, though her eyes were filled with worry.

"You're bleeding," she murmured, pressing a hand against his stomach.

Klaus smirked. "I'll survive."

Naira arched a brow. "You're an idiot."

He chuckled, pulling her close. "And yet, you still love me."

She sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately." But then she smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

Finn and Sage stood a few feet away, just watching each other. Sage looked uncertain, as if waiting for Finn to say something.

"You came back," Finn finally said.

Sage swallowed. "I never wanted to leave."

Finn took a shaky breath before pulling her into a tight embrace. "I missed you," he whispered.

Elijah, still catching his breath, glanced across the room to find Katherine standing alone. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, she looked—soft. Vulnerable. He took a step toward her.

"Katerina."

She raised a brow. "Elijah."

Silence stretched between them before she smirked. "Nice suit."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Always so charming."

Finally, as everyone was recovering from the night's chaos, Kai, sitting alone, dramatically sighed.

"Wow," he said. "Look at all these couples. It's like a Nicholas Sparks movie threw up in here."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, Kai, why did we introduce you to Netflix"

Kai pouted. "But I'm all alone. Where's my hug? Where's my emotional moment?!"

Caroline crossed her arms. "You flirted with everyone here. That is why you have no emotional moment."

Kai sighed, then turned to Bonnie. "Witchy, be my emotional moment."

Bonnie groaned. "Stop calling me that."

Kol wrapped an arm around her. "Sorry, mate. This one's taken."

Kai smirked. "Fine, but if anyone else becomes single, call me- Clarice?"

Everyone groaned at once, but for the first time in a long while—they all felt safe.