Strange Fates

Chapter Fifteen: For the Best

You relayed the details of your attack in full twice, answering what questions you could in between. When Klaus asked you to go through it again, you refused. You had long since moved from Elijah's lap and were sat on your own on one end of the couch. You sighed and ran a hand down your face.

"We've been going over this for an hour. I don't see what difference it makes. He's very dead and I'm fine. I won't walk anywhere on my own. And I'm very tired of discussing it."

"I am simply trying to—"

"Enough, Niklaus. She's right. We've been over it. There's nothing she can tell us that will change what happened."

You frowned as you shifted your attention to Elijah. Something about his wording didn't sit right with you. After a moment, you brushed it off. Your nerves were just on edge from the conversation. That was all. You were seeing issues where there were none.

"But don't you think—"

"Enough, Kol." Elijah was determined to bring the conversation to an end. It wasn't as if you were going to argue with him. You didn't want to discuss it any more either. He turned to you with a smile. "Now, I believe we promised our mate dinner and a movie."

***

You fell asleep halfway through the movie and Klaus carried you up to bed. Normally, they would have finished the film then all gotten into bed with you. Tonight, however, they had matters to discuss.

Once he'd seen you settled, Klaus shut the door to your room and went to join his brothers in his study. Elijah handed him a glass of scotch and he took an empty seat. The silence stretched as the three of them became lost in their own thoughts.

"We knew better," Klaus finally said after several minutes had passed.

"Perhaps we should have," Elijah relented, "but the temptation was too great. The pull to be with her was too strong. I find it unlikely I could have resisted even had I wished."

Kol slammed his glass down on the table beside him. "I don't see why we should. She was made for us. We are meant to be together. And she handled herself brilliantly."

"You know why, Kol. She wasn't attacked. She was targeted. Because of us." Klaus couldn't shake the deep sense of betrayal he felt that he would be given a mate only for the universe to try to take her away so soon.

"We don't know that," his younger brother insisted.

"The wolf confessed they're talking about us. About her. For you to say otherwise only means you are refusing to see the truth of the matter." Elijah's words were short with anger though Klaus was sure it was directed to the universe in general and not any of them. "Throughout our lives, the people who we grew closest to have always been in danger. When they cannot attack us directly, they go after those we hold dear. It is how it has always been."

"And in this case, it's so much worse, isn't it?" Klaus's heart ached. "They need only harm her, threaten her, and they get to all three of us."

Kol cleared his throat. "And if she were to die?"

"Well, that would destroy us, wouldn't it?" Elijah answered.

"We could leave," Klaus suggested.

"And go where?" Elijah asked. "Where in this world could we go where we would not have to worry about enemies on our doorstep?"

After several minutes of silence, Elijah spoke up again. "As long as we are in her life, she is not safe."

"So, what do we do?" Kol asked, sounding completely broken.