Written In Blood

Chapter Thirty Five.

Rayna noticed Damon looking at a text, his face turning rather serious.
"So why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah suggested.
"Good idea." Rayna sighed, dabbing her mouth with a napkin as her stress levels began to boil with the growing tension.
"That's very simple." Damon shrugged. "Klaus gets his coffin back and in exchange, he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges."
Elijah turned to Niklaus.
"The deal sounds fair, brother." He pointed out.
Rayna gave a small smile, knowing she had done right by putting Elijah back in the game.
Niklaus shook his head.
"I don't think you understand. Elena's Doppelganger blood ensures that I will always have more Hybrids to fight those that oppose me. I will never leave her behind." He said, getting up and beginning to pace the dining room.
"Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection, what then? How long before one of you turns her into a Vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is...the two of you." Damon gave his younger brother a weak smile at the Hybrid's words, knowing they were most likely true.
"I'm going to get some air." He said, getting up and leaving. Elijah followed him.
Rayna sighed impatiently and followed the two, leaving Stefan and Niklaus alone. 

"I can see why you undaggered Elijah now, Rayna." Damon turned to face the pair as they followed him out the front door. "He's certainly the one talking more sense."
"Elijah seems to be the only one out of you four talking sense." Rayna argued.
"You're only saying that because you're still in love with him." Damon frowned.
Both Rayna and Elijah were taken aback by what he'd said.
"Nice, Damon. How long have you been waiting for that one? I thought we were just getting back on track. Seems I was wrong." The Heretic nodded to herself before storming back inside.

"...Because of Elena, you're going to lose your brother and you'll only have yourself to blame." Niklaus finished what he and Stefan were discussing as Rayna walked back in. "Problem, love?" Niklaus smiled that smug smile.
"Stop winding Stefan up. You're doing my head in, the lot of you." Rayna snapped, sitting back down in her seat at the table just as Damon and Elijah returned.
"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon smiled as he sat back down.
"Okay." Niklaus smiled, touching his fingertips together in thought. "I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot. And to fall in love with a human, maybe that nice Football player - you know, the blonde one?"
Damon scoffed. "Matt Donovan? Really?"
"Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Niklaus shrugged.
Rayna could feel the tense vibes building once more.
"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new Doppelganger to drain and never run out of Hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan finished.
Niklaus smiled.
"Consider it a small return on my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know it's what's best for her." He replied, getting up and walking towards the younger Salvatore.
Stefan also got up and met Niklaus in the middle.
"What are you doing?" Damon asked his brother.
Niklaus held out his hand and Stefan took it.
"Nice try, Klaus. But no deal." Stefan smiled.
The smile was short lived as Niklaus bent Stefan's arm, breaking it cleanly. He then kicked his leg in, breaking that as well.
"Nik, stop it." Rayna growled, getting up.
Niklaus smiled to her sweetly and Vamp sped Stefan over to the open fireplace, shoving his hand into the flames.
Stefan let out a cry in pain, causing Damon to get up and attempt to save his brother, only to be intercepted by Elijah.
"All of you stop!" Rayna yelled, but to no avail.
"What are you doing?" Damon growled at the older Mikaelson.
Stefan's hand began to burn badly.
Without arousing suspicion with the Salvatore brothers, Rayna pointed her open palm toward the fire, lowering the flames with her magic enough to stop Niklaus from burning Stefan more than he already had.
"Stop!" Damon shouted at the Hybrid.
"Now, bring me my coffin before I burn him alive." Niklaus instructed.
"I'll get it." Damon replied with a slight pleading tone.
Niklaus turned to his older sibling.
"Go with him, brother. You keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family." He said.
In Vamp speed, the two older brothers of the group left.
Niklaus continued to hold Stefan's arm over the flames.
"Sometimes a little motivation is all you need." The smug look had returned.
"You are rapidly becoming one vile soul, Nik." Rayna glared.
"Stefan, have you yet noticed how Rayna here will only ever call me Nik when she's angry with me? I've always found it quite amusing, personally. Does she have hateful pet names toward your brother and you as well? Or am I the lucky one?" Niklaus asked the younger brother.
Stefan just chose to ignore him, too focused on the pain he was in to even think.
"I give up." Rayna sighed heavily, slumping down in her chair.