To Be Or Not To Be » Stefan Salvatore

Chapter 14 - The Best Choice I Ever Made

Skye Mikaelson was no stranger to grief.

She had grown up with it, learned to carry it like a second skin. People close to her always seemed to die.

She had adjusted to the pain. Adapted. Hardened herself against it.

But this—this was different.

Niklaus had always been there. He'd been the one who told her stories when she couldn't sleep. The one who brought her gifts just to make her smile.

The one who protected her, scared away her bullies, held her when the nightmares got too bad.

The one person who could make her laugh when all she wanted to do was cry.

The one brother she could not lose.

And yet—

She had.

Murdered. By a crazed history teacher, cursed by her mother's own hand.

It felt like something vital had been ripped from her. A limb torn away.

No—worse.

A piece of her very self was gone.

She had once feared that vengeance would cost her soul.

But now she realized—

Her soul had been ripped from her the moment Nik died.

If she had refused to give up his body, he would be alive.

And she—

She wouldn't feel like her entire world had collapsed.

⋯

When Skye woke, her throat was raw, her mouth dry. Her blue eyes were bloodshot, her hair a tangled mess.

She didn't remember how she got here, but she had a good guess as to who had brought her.

The room was bright, the white curtains pulled open to let in the morning light. It wasn't large—not like her room at home. It felt impersonal, holding only the bare necessities: a bed, a dresser, a chair, a closet.

The sunlight bathed her in a golden glow, but she knew better. There was no light left in her.

Her limbs were stiff, her tears long dried. She needed a shower.

With heavy steps and aching muscles, she crossed the wooden floor to the adjoining bathroom. It was simple, but it had what she needed—shampoo, fresh towels.

Skye turned the faucet on, warm steam curling into the air. She stripped off the nightgown someone must have dressed her in and stepped under the water.

The heat soaked into her skin, washing away the grime of grief. She pressed her forehead against the cool tiles, eyes fluttering shut.

She didn't know when she had stopped crying. Maybe it had been when Elijah held her. Maybe it had been on the road, exhaustion finally dragging her into unconsciousness.

She wondered where Rebekah was. If she had come with them.

No.

Rebekah was reckless, and she had probably done something stupid in her grief.

Skye didn't care.

Rebekah could do whatever she wanted. The world could burn for all she cared.

Because nothing else mattered.

The only thing that had mattered was already gone.

She scrubbed at her skin until it turned red, washed her hair twice. The scent of tropical fruit filled the air, clinging to the steam.