The Red Herring Returns: A Mikaelson Love Story

Chapter 8: Hearts In The Right Place

~Klaus POV~

Klaus sat in his study drinking away his sorrows after his night with Iliana had been disrupted. He had begun to sketch out a drawing of her as an apology when his brother walked in.

"Elijah, I take it that your night went better than mine did."

"Who do you think you are?" Elijah sneered.

"Maybe not then." Klaus said with a slight chuckle.

"I asked you why Iliana had left and you told me because she felt pressured by me." Elijah said as he stalked up to his brother.

"Well, it might just be possible that the message got mixed up on the way to you." Klaus said with a shrug that resulted in his brother throwing him across the room. "Feisty tonight, aren't we? You're supposed to be the noble one, Elijah."

"How dare you lie to me on her behalf?" Elijah asked, ignoring all the snide comments being thrown at him.

"Maybe because you seek to steal what is mine!" Klaus shot back. "I love Iliana. From the second I laid eyes on her, I did all that was in my power to protect her. For six months, she was safe! She was away from myself and this family! But your actions will keep her here, in the crossfire and end up with her dead. Once and for all. It is not safe for her here and I will not allow your wayward affections for her to undo what I have done."

"I agree that it's not safe for her here." Elijah said with an understanding nod.

"Then you will help me send her away?" Klaus asked his brother.

"I will do none of the sort."

"Excuse me?"

"In fact, I will do all that is within my power to keep her here." Elijah continued.

"Elijah, whatever our grievances may be—"

"Do not talk to me of grievances, Niklaus." Elijah shot back. "So long as Iliana wants to remain in Mystic Falls, I will keep her here and out of the clutches of your forceful hands. And should I even feel an inkling that you aim to force her into anything that she doesn't want, believe me I will finish what I started a year and a half ago and kill you myself."

"Look at you with your primped knickers in a twist." Klaus said glaring back at his brother. "You love her, don't you?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does!" Klaus snapped at him. "Of course it matters! Elijah, this family has tried to strip me of what I love time and time again. You can take the clothes off of my back but not—but not her. She gave up her life for me. Me that caused her unrelenting torture and she still found it in her heart to love me enough to lay down her fleeting life for me. I have to ensure that she is able to live her life to the best of her ability. Even if it means my life is taken from me as a result." Klaus confessed to his taken aback brother.

"You have your promises I have mine. I cannot allow you to make choices for her, under any circumstance." Elijah replied.

"Elijah, I will have her, whether you like it or not." Klaus said with a smirk. "I've already got a head start."

"In that case, surely you could explain why her boyfriend is at her house right now?" Klaus looked back at his brother in surprise and Elijah rolled his eyes. "As I thought. Goodnight brother."

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"So Sean, what's the first place you want to see in Mystic Falls?" I asked him.