The Original: Book 2

Chapter 7

"You left us," Rebekah pouted, seeing Stefan walk into Gloria's bar. She was sitting on top of the counter while Nik sat on a chair, feet propped on the ones next to him. I stood behind the bar, pouring myself a drink.

"Yeah, sorry. Retail therapy was making my head explode," Stefan said, walking over to the bar as I got out another glass, pouring a drink for him.

"Tell me about it," Nik groaned and I glared as he held his glass out to me, asking for more.

"What's she doing?" Stefan turned to look at Gloria, who was surrounded by candles, trying to find Rebekah's missing necklace.

"She's failing."

"She's doing her best, Nik," I reminded him.

"It's hard to find something when you don't have anything to go on," Gloria commented, opening her eyes.

"So use me. I only wore it for a thousand years," Rebekah said, hopping off the counter and going over to sit on the table Gloria was at.

"See? Now that one offers a solution. All right, give me your hand, sweetheart." Rebekah did as she was told, Gloria closing her eyes again. "I can sense something. I found it."

"So where is it?" Rebekah asked.

"It doesn't work like that, doll. I get images. There's a girl with her friends -,"

"Yes, a dead girl with dead friends, if I don't get my necklace back," Rebekah cut her off.

"Well, I'll have to dive back in to get the details."

"So dive," Nik told her, moving over to where she sat.

"I need more time. And space. You're harshing my juju."

"We can wait."

"I'm sure you can. But that's not what I asked." I stepped forward, grabbing him by the arm.

"Hey, why don't we just come back later? I'm hungry anyway. I'll let you pick who we eat." He glared at Gloria one last time before letting me lead him away.

***

"My girl's dead. I'm bored," Rebekah pouted, sitting on top of a large wooden box.

"You weren't kidding about being hungry," Nik commented as I pulled my head away from my victim's jugular. I got up off the man I was straddling, pushing his dead body to the floor and lying across the couch.

"Yeah. It's been a long day," I commented, licking the remainder of the blood off my lips.

"Try being related to her."

"You're being mean. And why are you being mean? You used to love me," Rebekah said as Stefan started to laugh.

"It's been ninety years, Rebekah. Give him a minute."

"Why are you taking his side?"

"Because, my dear sister, I feel pity for any man who doesn't give you what you want."

"Will you stop making me out to be a brat? I am not a brat!"

"A thousand years of life experience says otherwise." I chuckled.

"Well, you're no picnic, either. I mean, I've only spent one summer with you and I feel like I want to blow my head off." Rebekah laughed as Nik glared at Stefan. Pushing the girl off of himself, Stefan stood, "I need to go."

"Where's he going?"

"To write a name on a wall. It's a long story."

***

Nik and I had gone back to Gloria's after our meal, only to find her gone. He rushed back to the warehouse as I followed behind. "Gloria's gone. She's cleared out. We need to find a new witch immediately," Nik stopped in his tracks, staring at Rebekah and Stefan. "What's going on?"

"Something's wrong. He was asking about Mikael," Rebekah stated. My eyes widened as my mouth ran dry. "He's not with us, Nik. I can sense it."

"She's wrong," Stefan said, shaking his head. Nik sped over to him, snapping his neck.

"What are we going to do now?" I asked, quietly. Nik came over, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me with him as he walked.

"Go get your stuff and meet us at the car. We're leaving."