Power of Artemis

Graveyard

"Rebekah!" Nik shouts.

"Walk away." Elijah tells him.

"Don't move!" I growl for Nik.

"Leave us now." Elijah tells Rebekah.

"I can't. I'm stuck here. Elijah, he has the white oak stake." She says scared.

"I brought it for you, sister." Nik says pointing it to her.

"Get out of his sight. Your presence here only serves to anger him. Leave him to me now." Rebekah vamp-speeds away, and Elijah turns to Nik.

"I'm asking you, brother to brother-- we end this nonsense now." Elijah says.

"You would side with that traitor." I glare.

"I am not choosing sides, but I will not allow you to hurt our sister." Elijah tells him.

"We cannot leave this cemetery, Elijah. How long do you think you can defend her?" Nik says. Nik vamp-speeds away, but Elijah easily catches up with him and blocks him.

"As long as it takes, by whatever means necessary." Elijah says.Elijah and Klaus are still pacing around outside one of the tombs in the cemetery while Elijah tries to hold Klaus off from killing Rebekah. I sit on top of a grave.

"You've been at this for hours. To what end? " Elijah asks.

"Niklaus, I know you, and I grew up fighting you. I can't be beaten, nor can I be persuaded. You cannot get past me." Elijah then says.

"I could get past you. Although, it might have to be over your dead body. You did stab me with that blade, forcing me to endure hours of unspeakable pain. Perhaps I should direct my rage toward you." Nik points the stake threateningly at Elijah.

"You should see yourself-- the murderous expression, the self-righteous posturing. You look like Father." Elijah says.

"I'm not him. Rebekah's betrayal justifies my anger. His was that of a madman. You were never the recipient of his cruelty. None of you were-- not Kol, not Finn, None of you! I think you've forgotten what he was truly like." Nik shouts and I jump down walking up to him and rubs his arms.

"No. I have not forgotten." Elijah says going into a flashback. Nik stares at Elijah after sharing the memory. Then, all of a sudden, Nik vamp-speeds away. Elijah catches up with him quickly.

"Niklaus, I understand your anger, but I implore you, be better than him. Do what he could not-- demonstrate the grace of mercy, rather than this petty cruelty." Elijah says.

"You ask me to show mercy to one who has wronged me. You really don't know me at all, do you, brother? " Nik asks.

"Enough. Whatever I have done wrong, my guilt is nothing compared to yours. You want revenge? Fine. But, before you have it, I will look you in the eye and tell you why it was your cruelty and your spite that led us to this." Rebekah exclaims.

"Go on, then. Speak your piece, and when you are finished, I will grant you the punishment you deserve, even if I have to go through Elijah to do so." Nik says. Nik, Elijah, and Rebekah are still in the cemetery, arguing. Nik is perched on top of a tomb in order to pretend to be a judge.

"Let it begin. The trial of Rebekah Mikaelson." Nik yells.

"You stand accused of betraying your own blood. How do you plead?" Nik yells after Rebekah and Elijah talk.

"I plead you to shut up and listen." Rebekah says.

"You summoned our father. You brought him to our home. What possible defense could you have?" Nik yells.

"I knew he was the only thing that you feared, and I wanted you to run." Rebekah tells him and I sit up next to him.

"Because you hated me." Nik exclaims.

"Because you were hateful. You denied me the freedom to love." Rebekah says.

"Oh, so that's your defense? You called Mikael-- the Destroyer, the Hunter of Vampires-- because I detained you from pursuing some dull suitors." Nik says.

"You were cruel, and controlling, and manipulative." Rebekah yells

"I was trying to protect you! From imbeciles, and leeches. Not to mention your own poor judgment." Nik exclaims.

"And what about the one that you loved enough to call friend? Why did you forbid me to love Marcel?" Rebekah asks him.

"Do not mention his name.
" he says standing up and pointing the stake at her.

"What has happened to you? I remember the sweet boy who made me laugh and gave me gifts, who loved art and music. I wanted to be just like you. How could you have fallen so far?" Rebekah asks.

"You say you despise Rebekah for her betrayal, and yet no one has stood by your side for so long, not even I myself. Perhaps it's you that's forgotten. I remember the day that Father caught you whittling little chess pieces with his hunting knife. He beat you so mercilessly and for so long, I actually feared for your life." Elijah says.

"So, you would paint her as a loyal sister, but she betrayed me out of lust for Marcel. Perhaps that was why you did it-- for love. Perhaps I might temper my rage if Rebekah will admit she was a victim of her own idiocy. That her great love, Marcel, used her to oust this family and to take my city." Nik says.

"Marcel did not manipulate me." Rebekah says.

"You defend him, and yet you can't help but wonder, what if Hes right?" I exclaim.

"We loved each other. It was your refusal to respect that that led to your ruin." Rebekah says.

"Then why didn't he chase after you when you fled New Orleans? Oh, yes! That's right. He was here stealing what I built!" Nik shouts.

"You want me to renounce Marcel, to beg for your forgiveness? I won't. Marcel is not at fault. I called Mikael." Rebekah says.

"Rebekah, you must--" Elijah tries.

"I was the one who brought him to New Orleans because of your wickedness! I wanted love and happiness, and you denied me the freedom to have either. Yes, I hated and I was afraid of our father, but he was a lesser evil than you. My bastard brother who loomed over me, threatening me as you are now. I wanted rid of you, and given the choice, I'd do it again!" Rebekah screams in anger. Nik, furious, lunges at Rebekah and pushes her against a tomb, and is just about to stake her in the heart when Elijah tackles him. When they get back up to their feet, Elijah has both Papa Tunde's blade AND the white oak stake.

"Sister, leave us." Elijah says.

"I'm not going--" she starts.

"I said, leave us, please." Elijah cuts her off. He watches her leave before he turns to face nik.

"You wouldn't listen to her. So, now, you must deal with me." Elijah says.