Severed Heaven (Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson)

Chapter Fifteen: Dead On Time

          When I entered the compound, my breath had solidified and lodged itself in my throat. Not because I might run into Niklaus, but because everything was torn to shreds. There wasn't much furniture left to sit on. I ironically found them sitting there, though— Niklaus and Elijah. They were covered in blood from head to toe, and it confused me even more when neither of them seemed to be bothered. In my mind I'd heaved ever so slightly, but I just needed to ask. "May I ask what the hell happened?"

Niklaus avoided my eyes, but eventually let them attach to mine either way. "We had a little chat about the past. Nothing that concerns you, love." He said casually.

"I politely informed Niklaus that I'm not his enemy and, though, they entered the city under the guise of peace, Tristan and Lucien in truth, are allied against us— you were right." Elijah ended up admitting as he'd known all along anyway. "We can't trust him at all." The noble brother told me.

Niklaus was slightly on edge. I could easily tell. I knew him well enough to know that there was something on his mind, whether it was the prophecy, or the fight he'd had with his brother, or even me— he couldn't let it all distract him, though. I'd rarely been visited by such a strong urge to scold him again. I wanted to do it as I'd done the last time I saw him, when he was drunk on liquor and I drunk on feelings. I tried to still my mind the best I could. I tried to let the anger pass, to avoid it of getting in my way. It corresponded to the time when I was completely and utterly in love with him. Was I still? Or again?

I watched Niklaus down whatever was in the bottom of his glass— from what I could smell blood, and let my heart flutter when he spoke. "And so I reminded my brother who angered them in the first placed, didn't I?"

The older brother practically rolled his eyes. I hadn't seen him do that before. But then again, he had every reason to be infuriated with Niklaus, and quite frankly, so did I. It quickly became my life's work to show the hybrid how angry I was, so much so that I wanted to get an apology out of him even if I didn't care for one. I wanted him to notice my anger, my rage, my frustration with him, and I wanted him to notice me.

I wouldn't let him persuade me to walk down the path of admiration again. So, I crossed my arms over my chest, and stood tall. "And after all of this civil discourse, what understanding did you come to exactly?"

Elijah got up to his feet, and did not need to think about an answer twice. "That we expose and destroy our first-sired."

I could feel him looking at me. Was he finally detecting my anger with him? Yes, he was, because I sensed it. This was agony, for something like rage was brimming over inside me. I was forcing myself to think of other things because I did not want to touch or use up any thoughts bearing on the expanding frustrations. This was how I got distracted every time. This was it, right here.

Watch yourself, Elizabeth.

Niklaus glanced at me with culpability for the very first time, but I ignored it. "Couldn't agree with you more, brother." He then said. "You see, gentlemen know when it's time to call a truce, and turn our fury in a more pertinent direction."

"Well." I instantly shot at him without giving my anticipated words any second thought. "Good thing Elijah's a gentleman, then."

Silence fell quickly after that, none of us spoke another word. I thought I'd already passed the barriers of my bitterness, but I found myself tapping into places of resentment that I never knew existed within my body. I should set another barrier, I thought, but how long until I'd crossed that as well? How long until he'd show up, and present me with a genuine apology? I remembered the regret that he'd shown me when I showed up here for the very first time again. I remembered the apology only vaguely, but I knew exactly how he'd said it, and where he'd said it— on the balcony, with my heart skipping, his hesitation and distrust, the soft breeze being the only thing between us. Had it all been a lie, or even a joke?