Tainted || n.mikaelson

forty-five

"I've been wanting to kill her for a long time."

"She's going to go off the rails eventually anyway, Stefan," Damon said. "So, the faster we can make it happen, the sooner we can get her back on track."

"She's strong. If we help her, she can survive," Stefan argued.

"She's starving, Stefan," Damon snapped. "She hasn't been able to keep blood down for days, ask Seraphina, she was there when she told me."

"What are you talking about? She told me she was fine," Stefan said.

"Well, she lied. Your four-legged protein shake was a bust," Damon spat. "The juice box was a no-go," He added, gesturing at the bag. "She can't even keep my blood down." Damon finished, making Seraphina's eyes grow wide.

"She drank from you?" Stefan questioned.

"Oops, did I say that out loud?"

--

"Before we begin the mass, we'd like to open the floor to anyone who would like to share a memory about our late friends on the town council," Carol began. "I know that April Young wanted to say a few words about her dad. April?" Carol called, making Seraphina look around the room. "April? Are you still here, honey?" She questioned. "Is there anyone else who would like to share a recollection or memory about Pastor Young?"

Stefan and Seraphina grew tense as Elena stood up, making her way up to the front.

"Come on up, Elena," Carol said, making Elena do so as one of the doors opened, making Seraphina turn to see Damon.

"She doesn't look so good," Damon commented as he sat down beside his sister.

"Maybe you should have told me she was rejecting all food sources," Stefan replied quietly.

"Jealousy's beneath you, brother."

"Oh, bit me," Stefan scoffed, making Seraphina roll her eyes.

"I, um, when I talked to April earlier, she was kind of nervous about coming up to speak, and," Elena sighed, letting out a soft chuckle. "Now that I'm up here, I'm kind of nervous, too." Seraphina, Stefan, and Damon all shared a look, all of them looking at Elena. "The worst day of loving someone is the day that you lose them."

"Guys, do you smell that?" Seraphina asked no one in particular, knowing that Tyler and Caroline could hear her as well. Metal wafted through the air, making her clear her throat lightly.

"Blood," Caroline whispered.

"Nobody move. Don't turn around," Damon reminded. Seraphina straightened her posture, her head staying straight. "It's a trap."

"I, um," Elena breathed, sweat beads forming on her brow.

"Go get her," Seraphina urged, shoving her elbow into Stefan's side, making him get up and walk up to the front. Stefan wrapped his arm around Elena, pulling her away from the podium and going to the pew where she sat.

"Please turn to page 42 in your hymn book," The new pastor spoke, motioning for everyone to stand. "Let us join together in song."

"The blood. Stefan, the blood, I can smell it," Elena spoke as she stood beside Matt and Jeremy. Stefan held onto her tightly as everyone sang along to the hymn. "There's so much."

"It's all right," Stefan assured. "It's all right, just remember what we talked about. Focus, push back. Come on, you can do this."

"What's wrong with her?" Matt questioned Stefan.

"She's hungry. She hasn't fed."

"So get her out of here," He urged.

"We can't. There's somebody watching us," Stefan explained.

"Phina and I are going to rip his head off now," Damon informed.

"You do that, and you risk exposing all of us," Stefan responded.

"Oh, c'mon, just a little fun," Seraphina said.

"Well, I think the risk will be slightly diminished when we, you know, rip his head off," Damon added.

"Stefan, I'm losing it," Elena sneered, making Seraphina purse her lips, ready for the action to begin.

"You have ten seconds before we go old-fashioned on the new guy," Damon spoke.

"Don't do it, Damon, please," Stefan begged.

"Three, two, one, bye." Damon grabbed Seraphina's wrist, turning to leave.

"Wait, wait, wait, Elena. Feed from me," Matt suggested, making Seraphina and Damon stop in their tracks. "It's okay. Everyone will just think you're upset. Feed from me." Stefan and Elena shared a look before Stefan nodded, making Matt wrap his arm around Elena, pulling her into his side so her head would be in the crook of his neck.

"Well, the quarterback does have brains," Seraphina murmured, a light smile playing on her lips as she watched Elena feed on Matt.

"I'm okay," She breathed, leaning away from Matt. "But the blood, there's so much. It's got to be April. We have to help her."

"Elena, we can't risk it," Stefan reminded, stopping Elena from leaving the pew.

"Then I'm going to do it," She said sternly, trying to push Stefan out of the way.

"Excuse me," Tyler said at the front, making everyone stop singing. "I just wanted to say a few words about Pastor Young," He explained.

"What do we do?" Elena questioned as everyone sat down.

"Back in first grade, I was a brat who couldn't be bothered with team sports," Tyler explained, making Seraphina scoff lightly. "Didn't care much about anything that didn't affect me, but he was the one who made me understand how important it is to be part of a team; a community. Of giving yourself up for the sake of --" A gunshot rang through the church, making screams echo through it as Tyler fell to the ground.

"Wow, he's got balls," Seraphina mumbled as Damon and she bent down behind the pew. "We going to kill him?" Seraphina questioned quietly as she and Damon raced out of the church, following the crowd.

"Definitely."

--

Seraphina walked around her room as she packed most of her belongings. Elijah had called her, telling her that he was ready to try to find Rosalind. Her phone rang, making her grunt lightly as she answered it, putting the device between her shoulder and her ear.

"Elijah, I told you I would message you when I was on my way."

"Hello Seraphina," Klaus' voice spilled through the speaker. "Why are you talking with Elijah?"

"Why are you calling me?" She deadpanned. "I actually have a lot of work to do, so."

"I heard about your little encounter," He began, making her sigh. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, no injuries," She answered. "Now, I have to go."

"Wait, please come talk to me," Klaus pleaded softly, making her close her eyes. "Just come join me for a simple drive and I promise –"

"I can't, I'm on a mission."

my favorite brotp elijah and seraphina are ab to be here :))))

may 27, 2020