Force of Gravity • NM

•55•

The lie had to be perfect.

The air in Mystic Falls was thick with grief, the town mourning a child that had never really died. Candles flickered in the town square, their soft glow reflecting in tear-filled eyes. Flowers, letters, and small trinkets were left outside the Mikaelson mansion—a silent tribute to the little life that had been lost.

Rebekah stood at the center of it all, draped in black, a grieving mother in the eyes of the world. Stefan stood beside her, his arm a steady weight against her back, as if holding her together. The funeral pyre burned behind them, and the weight of the illusion was suffocating.

Dahlia watched.

She stood in the shadows, unseen, unheard. Observing. Her magic crept through the town, curling around the ashes of what was meant to be hers.

Gone. Destroyed. A wasted fate. She lingered only long enough to be certain...and then, she was gone. Just like that. They had fooled her.

For now.

At the boarding house, tension crackled in the air like an unspent storm.

"She's gone," Bonnie exhaled, finally lowering her hands as the last of the tracking spell faded into the earth. Kol let out a low whistle. "Bloody brilliant, that actually worked."

"She'll return," Elijah said grimly. "The moment doubt creeps in, she will look again."

"Then we make sure there's nothing for her to see," Damon said, leaning back on the couch. "Rebekah stays here. Klaus and Henry remain gone." "What do we do now?," Caroline pointed out. " If you suddenly disappear Rebekah, won't that raise questions?"

Silence. Then—

"I'll go."

All heads turned. Naira stood firm, arms crossed. Damon's response was immediate. "Absolutely not."

"It makes sense," Bonnie admitted hesitantly. "Naira is a nature witch. She can't be traced the same way we can. If Rebekah disappears, Dahlia will suspect something. If Naira goes instead—"

"She'll have no reason to look twice," Stefan finished, nodding. Elijah was not convinced. "You know my brother, Naira. If you go—"

"Then he'll deal with it."

Elijah sighed heavily. Kol let out a low chuckle. "Can't wait for that reunion." Neither could Naira. For all the wrong reasons.

It was late when Naira reached the safe house.

The sky had opened hours ago, rain hammering down in merciless sheets, soaking her to the bone. The safe house loomed in the distance, nestled deep in the forest, isolated, silent. She barely had time to raise a hand to knock—

Because the door was suddenly wrenched open. And then—

She was slammed against the wooden frame. A hand around her throat. A low, furious snarl in her ear. "Who sent you?" The grip was tight. Unforgiving. Her breath hitched— But Klaus... had already recognized her. His grip tightened for half a second...out of habit and then—

He let go.

She stumbled forward, coughing, but quickly caught herself.

"Well, that's a warm welcome," she muttered, wiping the rain from her face. Klaus stepped back, running a hand through his damp curls. His expression was a thunderstorm. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She straightened, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

"Plans changed." A scoff. "Of course they did."

She exhaled sharply. "Rebekah has to stay in Mystic Falls. Dahlia saw her. If she disappears, she'll get suspicious."

"And so they sent you?"

"No one sent me," she snapped. "I chose to come." His eyes flashed.

"Of course you did."

Her fists clenched. "Dahlia came, Nik. She watched the funeral. She believes Henry is dead."

A pause.

Then, coldly—"Then you're no longer needed. Leave." Her breath caught. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He stepped forward, his voice dropping lower. "I don't want you here, Naira. I don't need you here." Her heart ached. But she lifted her chin...a smirk on her face...one she had seen since childhood. "Tough luck wolfie, because I'm staying."

His expression darkened. "You're a fool."

"And you're impossible!"

The silence between them crackled with tension.

Then— "Aunty Naira?"

Both of them turned.

Henry stood at the top of the staircase, rubbing his sleepy eyes. The fight drained out of her instantly. Klaus exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Go to bed, Henry." Henry ignored him, peering at her instead.

"You all wet."

Klaus sighed, but before he could say anything, Henry hurried down the stairs, grabbing Naira's cold hand.

" Come on, Aunty!!" Klaus glared as Henry pulled her toward the other room. Naira, exhausted, drenched, heartbroken— Let the toddler drag her away.

Klaus stood alone. Fists clenched. Jaw tight. Because despite everything— She was right. She was staying. And there was nothing he could do about it.

For now....a plan probably brewing in that brain of his.