Bloom • Mikaelson

XXII. Dance with darkness

ESTHER DECIDED TO THROW A FORMAL ball and even invited Elena Gilbert. Ivonna and I both know that nothing good will come out of it. However, the difference is I care just a little more than Ivonna does. No harm will come to either Salvatore with Esther present — or at least not directly. My phone lights up with a missed call over on my bed. I know exactly who's the call came from and I don't want to speak with him at the moment. I give myself one last look in the mirror and admire the gown hugging my body. The blue brings out the metallic color of my eyes and I run my hands down the satan fabric. Ivonna walks in, wearing a dark green ball gown.

She smiles at me and reaches out for my hand. I cross the room and entwine our fingers. She gives me the strength to brave this night with a squeeze of her fingers and an encouraging smile. I know she isn't exactly fond of every last Mikaelson — only two in total. Ivonna turns on her heels and leads the way down the stairs. I wonder what'll happened if I ever actually got the strength to leave Niklaus. Would it actually make any of my life any easier? How would Ivonna actually feel or react?

Neither myself or Ivonna actually say anything when we step in front of the Mikaelson Mansion. The Mikaelsons have thrown many parties over many years, but never with Esther present nor have I been to one in over three hundred years. We finally find the strength to move our feet and enter the party.

"Let's hope we don't run into any Mikaelsons tonight." I'm the first to speak up.

"Still pissed?" Ivonna questions, grabbing two champagne glasses.

"Kol tried to kill me, and before I blacked out — all I witness was Niklaus doing nothing and Rebekah screaming. So, yea I'm still pissed."

I take the champagne glass from Ivonna, downing the sweet alcohol. We run into Niklaus in the second room of the party and I curse the gods. Niklaus was the last Mikaelson I wanted to run into, if any. Ivonna touches my shoulder, silently wishing me the best of luck and walking off. I'm fast to turn on my heels and leave Niklaus to stare after me. I'm about to grab another glass when he takes my hand and places it back on the tray, leading me outside. I keep my eyes focused on everything and anything besides Nik. His hand slides against my cheek, making me look at him. There are tears in his eyes just like the night before.

"I'm sorry, Nadia." Nik says.

"How can you be, Nik? You sat there and did nothing. I trusted you with a secret I should of taken to my grave. Ivonna wishes I had." I whisper-yell.

"You didn't tell me all of it! I thought you were dead, Nadia!"

"I'm glad I didn't, because clearly you weren't going to do anything. It seems you're more afraid of your older brother than you are of losing me."

"That's not true, Nadia!"

"It is true, Niklaus. He tried to kill me, and you didn't do anything. I'm only here as a curtesy to your mother."

Niklaus and I stare at each other for a while, silence and the crisp air swallowing us whole. Ivonna comes out the house, frowning towards the two of us. I shake my head before heading back inside.

"You screwed up big time, Niklaus — and maybe for good." I hear Ivonna say.

I grab another glass of champagne, downing it as quick as the other. I avoid each Mikaelson that heads my way, until Esther makes it clear I won't be avoiding her.

"Nadia, it's so good to see you." Esther says.

"Niklaus and I aren't on speaking terms and I'd like to keep the same agreement with all you, Mikaelsons." I frown.

"I understand you and Niklaus are having a rough patch, but Rebekah is your best friend."

"As I've said, I'd like to keep the same agreement with all you, Mikaelsons. Now, I'd like to dance."

It seems like Damon is that dancing partner. He keeps watching for Elena, not very present in our dance. I frown at the exchange.

"I know you love her, but you have to let her make her own decisions. Control isn't something a girl wants in a relationship." I tell.

Damon doesn't look away from Elena. I grab his chin and force him to look at me.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine." I compel.

"How do you know?" Damon frowns.

"I have loved the same man for over a thousand years. So, I know that if you keep pushing, one day you would have pushed too hard and too often. She won't have second thoughts about finally pulling away for good. Do you want to lose her because you were too afraid to lose her that you couldn't even keep her?"

Damon just stares at me and I try not to notice Nik watching us, listening.

"Take it from a woman who has loved a monster her entire life. It will get tiring to constantly be pushed away, constantly forgiving the bad decisions, and the people who said he was no good constantly being right."

The song ends before Damon can respond and I walk away. My eyes scan the room. I watch from across the room as Ivonna places a hand on Elena's arm when she comes out the room with Esther. The same thing plays behind my eyes as my twin's. My frown matches my sister's, even if she hated some of the Mikaelson siblings — she'd rather them not die if it meant they all die. We both turn to look at all the Mikaelsons on the stairs. I keep my eyes focused on Niklaus, debating if it's best to tell him or not. When Niklaus steps down, I loop my arms around his and guide him away from the party. I press my lips against his and play the memory in his mind.

"I might be angry with you, but I don't want you dead." I whisper in his ear.

Niklaus doesn't say anything, just stares at me. He loops his arm around my waist and his other hand entwines with mine. I have no idea what dancing has to do with any of this, maybe to calm his brewing anger or get in a dance while he can. I close my eyes and rest my head against his chest. His heartbeat sounds loud in my ears and it makes me never want to end this moment. He leans his head down, pressing a soft kiss to where my neck meets my shoulder. A whimper escapes my lips and I pull back to look him in the eyes. He knew every way to make my body respond to him and kissing my neck was the quickest.

"Here," I offer him my wrist. "I can't stop what Esther has done, but it'll definitely slow down the process until you can be unlinked from your siblings."

Niklaus kisses my opened palm before trailing his kisses to the pulse point on my wrist. He keeps his eyes focused on me when he bites into the skin. His lips and teeth tint red and his gaze never leaves mine as his thumb drags across his bottom lip. They say if you dance with darkness enough, it'll become you. I suppose a thousand years is enough time. As one hand holds my wrist, the other lifts my chin and my hands splay across Nik's chest when he pulls me closer to him. His lips against mine are like wildfire spreading quick and fast. They leave blazes in their wake and brings me to my knees. Niklaus loops his arm around my waist, keeping me from actually hitting the ground.

They say it true when getting even the tiniest taste of darkness it'll often consume you. That darkness snuffs out light and you can never run from. Not even the strongest and fastest of creatures. I've known so for a thousand years, but in this exact moment I certainly know it's true. It seems I don't mind because no matter the pain darkness brings, I always find my way back to it — dancing with it.