Bloom • Mikaelson

XXI. She's back

MY BODY JERKS AWAKE, SUCKING IN AIR in one giant rush. I reach for my amulet for comfort and find my neck bare. I search my surroundings for something familiar and I find I know the place very well. We spent some time here back in 1730. Ivonna experienced her first heartbreak here and most likely her last. Across the room sits a box surrounded with candles and marked with my mother's blood. I know exactly what the box is for — my mother made it as soon as I turned sixteen and was given the amulet. I reach for the box and feel the magic surging through me.

I press my eyes closed before opening them again and setting my eyes on my amulet. I clasp the cool metal around my neck and take a deep breath. In the last few weeks, Ivonna has only invited herself into my thoughts once. Thoughts that I projected, thoughts that I was actually thinking about. She hasn't seen the ones that involuntarily entered my mind. The ones that I dreamed about even if I was never there to witness them. I pick up my phone and dial the one voice that I'd wish to hear outside of my thoughts. The call only rings once before being answered, but it's quiet and no one says anything on the other end.

"Niklaus?" I smile.

"Nadia?" Nik's voice makes me smile even bigger.

"Yes. It's me, my love."

Before Niklaus can respond, Ivonna materializes from thin air and stares at me with wide eyes. Tears build in her eyes before she wraps me in a hug. She doesn't let go for sometime. And I'm glad she doesn't, I have missed her the most.

"Nadia?" Niklaus' voice sounds through the phone again.

"Yes, my love?" I place the phone to my ear.

"The white oak stake I need it back."

"Okay, I'll bring to you tonight."

The phone call ends with I love you's before Ivonna turns her anger on me. She heard every bit of that conversation, but it is the first time she's hearing about me having the white oak stake. I'm guessing she wished I would of told her about it earlier. She folds her arms like a disappointed mother to a child.

"You have that?" Ivonna asks through clenched teeth.

"Yes, I've had it for awhile now. Asked me to keep it for him." I shrug.

Her eyes fall to my amulet, but that's not what she cares about at the moment. She wants to know why I haven't given it to her or the Salvatores. I wave my hand and watch as we materialize in front of the Mikaelson mansion. Ivonna's pissed and she wears it well. I can tell her mind is running through all the reasons she didn't know I had it. Why if she knows everything, why she didn't know that bit of information.

"Are you coming in?" I turn to look at Ivonna.

"No." Her answer is short.

"Why not? Don't you want to see Elijah?"

"No."

"What's your problem?"

I know exactly what her problem is but I suppose it's best to hear it from her own mouth.

"My problem is that Niklaus handed over the one thing that can kill him, yet you won't let no one kill him with it. Now, he wants it back and you're just gonna hand it back over. That's my problem."

"Niklaus trusts me with his life, reason he gave it to me. Why do I want to break that trust?"

"Imagine what mother would think."

As Ivonna mumbles under her breath, I stare at her in disbelief. Our mother has nothing to do with Niklaus' and I relationship. I stare a few moments longer before responding.

"I do imagine what mother would think. Every time Niklaus and I end on bad terms and you give me a look of pity and your thoughts rang loud: I told you so. I imagine our mother stroking my hair, comforting me and telling me how amazing I am and if Niklaus didn't see that — he didn't deserve me." I frown.

Ivonna bites her lip, silently taking in my words and feeling obviously guilty. Niklaus' and I's relationship will always be the one argument Ivonna and I keep having.

"If you didn't want to come, you didn't have to." I shrug.

I walk towards the house, leaving Ivonna to her anger and guilt, two deadly combinations. I let the white oak stake materialize in my hand and let myself inside.

"Hey, Nik. I'm here." I call.

I turn the corner to find all five Mikaelson siblings. Three, stabbing Niklaus with daggers. Kol is quick at my side when he spots me, a pain in my chest stops me in my tracks. Niklaus catches my eye, obvious tears in his eyes. Rebekah combs her hands through her hair, holding her head and opening her mouth to scream. No sound comes out, or at least none that I hear.

Ivonna Petrovich

"By killing my best friend!" I hear Rebekah scream.

"You wanted to hurt, Niklaus." Kol responds.

I'm quick to enter the house, curious about all the yelling. Rebekah is still screaming and Niklaus is staring in disbelief — unsure how to respond to the situation in front of him. From what I gather, it's the situation of my identical twin being stabbed in the heart with the same stake meant to kill original vampires — which we are. I suppose killing the only woman he's ever truly loved is its own way of revenge, but not at Nadia's expense. I focus my eyes on Kol, popping every blood vessel in his brain again and again. He screams in agony, clutching his head in pain and dropping to his knees in a cry of pain. I turn my focus to Niklaus and Rebekah, refusing to meet Elijah's at any moment.

"She's not dead, but you're gonna wish she was when she wakes up." I tell them.

They're clearly confused.

"My mother's blood created us — only my mother's blood can kill us, and she's been dead for four hundred and seventy seven years." I elaborate.

They're still confused, Niklaus being the only one to understand. Guess he didn't tell anyone.

"Nadia and I are hybrids. Unlike your brother, we don't howl at the moon — instead we can make daylight rings or pop blood vessels."

"There's no way, you can't be a witch and a vampire." Elijah stares.

I keep my eyes focused on Rebekah, this being news to everyone but more importantly her.

"My mother made it possible."

"So you can create more?"

"If I so choose."

I finally turn to leave, only to come face to face with Esther Mikaelson. I'm just as stunned as her children. I can't seem to pick my jaw up off the floor and Niklaus can't hide his fear of his mother. Anyone would be afraid of someone coming back from the dead if they were the ones to kill them. Nadia groans from her place on the floor, coming back quicker than the couple hours normal vampires take when coming back from the dead. Rebekah rushes to her side to help her up and I watch as her amulet glows in the process. When she fully stands she sets her anger on Kol, ready to murder him where he stands. The sight of Esher stops her in her tracks. Even if she doesn't show it, she's just as surprised as everyone else.

Nadia Petrovich

My mind and heart rages war against each other. Do I grab Niklaus' hand in comfort or stand my ground in anger? I am so obviously pissed at him for doing nothing as his brother stabbed me in the chest — intending to kill me. My heart wins out, and I lace my fingers through his. I give a slight squeeze, never letting my eyes leave his mother. I've never been afraid of anyone, but Niklaus' parents definitely gave me pause — most cautious I've ever been. When Niklaus squeezes my hand back, it makes me realize I've been holding my breath. I can see Esther's mouth moving but no words come out. I suppose it's do to the fact my heart is racing so fast and my blood boiling still with anger.