The Red Herring: A Mikaelson Love Story

Epilogue: Monsters

"I can't believe you're leaving." Elena told me, clearly distraught.

"I have to go, live my life, continue my career. Mystic Falls has nothing to offer me anymore except pain and death." I answered.

"What about Klaus?"

"Out of sight, out of mind. Klaus is a monster who killed Isobel, Jenna and me." I gave her one last hug and left her before driving out of the town only to meet with Klaus again.

"Hello Iliana." He said as he stopped me in the car.

"What do you want Klaus? I—" I stopped mid-sentence as all my memories came flooding back to me.

"Iliana!" I shot up and was met by the face of my friends and family. Jeremy and Elena immediately hugged me tightly.

"What happened? I'm alive?" I asked, looking back at them in bewilderment.

"How do you feel?" Elena asked me.

"I feel fine. What happened?" I asked her. "I—I died. How am I here?"

"Iliana, Uncle John, was actually our dad. He gave up his life, so that you could live." Elena explained as tears began to form in her eyes.

"So he died, because of me?" She nodded and I began to feel tears well up in my own eyes.

"I'm sorry." Jeremy said, comforting the two of us.

"What about Klaus?" I asked gingerly.

"Elijah took him away to find the rest of that crazy family tree." Damon said bitterly. "He's still alive if that's what you're asking. You made quite the sacrifice."

"Yeah, you crazy person!" Elena added, smacking me on the shoulder. "What if John's plan hadn't worked?"

"I still can't believe this happened." I told her, taken aback by his sacrifice. "I didn't even think he really liked me. He always said I was spoilt and Hollywood was where people like me went to high school gods to monsters."

"This might explain more." Jeremy said as he picked up to envelopes. "He left you both these." He gave both Elena and I a letter and me the Gilbert ring too.

It's no easy task, being an ordinary parent to an extraordinary child. I have failed in that task. And, because of my prejudices, I've failed you and your sister. I'm haunted by how things may have played out differently, if I'd been more willing to hear her side of things. If I'd been more supportive of what you were born to be—a star. If I had been honest and upfront from the beginning but for me, it's now the end. For you, it's now a chance to grow old and someday do better with your own child than I did with mine. It's for that child, I give you my ring. I don't ask for your forgiveness, or for you to forget. I ask only that you believe this: I love you no matter what, as I have always loved you, and always will.

"I have to go." I ran out of the house and all the way to Klaus' house where a surprised Elijah met me at the door.

"Iliana, I thought you were dead." Elijah said in shock.

"I was." I told him honestly. "Now I'm not."

"Did you take the elixir?" He asked.

"I wish I did." I answered. "Instead the man who I thought was my uncle but is actually my dad died for me. Now where is Klaus? Don't tell me you already killed him."

"Klaus is alive." He told me with a chuckle. "Rest assured."

"Thanks for saving him, after you tried to kill him." I growled.

"You're welcome." He answered with a small laugh.

"What's so funny?" I asked him in confusion.

"You." He said, walking towards me. "You intrigue me. However, I know enough about love to know when someone is already preoccupied. My brother is a lucky man."

"Oh." I said in shock. Elijah was about to speak up again when the sound of Klaus entering the house was heard.

"Elijah, I'm—" Klaus stopped in his tracks and looked at me in confusion. "Iliana. You're alive."

"That I am." I said with a nervous smile.

"Elijah, give us a minute. Please." Elijah nodded and left the two of us alone in the room. "How?"

"John gave his life up for me." I told him before giving him a well-deserved slap. "You shouldn't have gone through with it, Klaus. I wished you would've given it up when I asked."

"I should have." He mumbled. "I hurt you. And I need to make sure I will never hurt you again." He ran up to me and gave me a lingering kiss as if he was going away.

"How will you do that?" I asked as he rested his forehead on mine.

"Through this." He slipped my vervain bracelet off, creasing in pain as he did.

"What are you doing, Klaus?" I was terrified about what he was going to do. I tried free myself but he refused to loosen his grip.

"Ensuring that I never hurt you again." He pulled up my face to his. "You have to go, live your life, continue your career. Mystic Falls has nothing to offer you anymore except pain and death."

"Klaus! No, please, I love you." I said starting to sob.

"Out of sight, out of mind. Klaus is a monster who killed Isobel, Jenna and you." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and I found myself going back to my house and packing away to leave Mystic Falls.

"Get out!" I yelled at him.

"You know why I had to do it." He said, clutching my hand in his.

"Because you're a coward that won't let me to make my own decisions." I sneered as I pulled my hand away. "What are you even doing here?"

"Returning this." He gave me my vervain bracelet, trapped in a plastic bag.

"Thank you Klaus, now only you will be able to compel me." I said as I snatched it back. "In spite of everything, I can't help but love the continuity. Always returning things."

"Wouldn't be us without it." He hesitated before speaking up again. "I really do love you."

"Then undo this compulsion and let me make my own choice, Klaus." I pleaded but he shook his head.

"I promise I will never hurt you again."

"This hurts me Klaus." He pulled me towards him and gave me one last kiss.

"Out of sight, out of mind." He got out of the car and the moment he was out of my line of sight I returned to driving away from Mystic Falls, the place that only had pain and death to offer me. The place where Klaus Mikaelson lived—the monster who killed Isobel, Jenna and me. Only thing was...I don't believe in monsters.

A/N: The Red Herring Returns goes up today! Hope you like it!

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