Strange Fates

Chapter 17: Home Again (the end)

It was the pain that managed to break through the barrier they'd tried to maintain. A wave of sorrow followed by an intense burning. To be truthful, Elijah had feared they would arrive at your home to find it aflame. That you had somehow gotten trapped and they would lose you forever.

When the house appeared as calm as always, they knew something else was going on. They shouted and pounded on both doors of the house. It wasn't until the connection between you faded to almost nothing that they truly began to panic. Mere seconds passed before they busted through both doors. They rushed in with no care to the wards that you thankfully hadn't reset as they passed through unharmed.

Klaus reached you first. He pulled you from your seat and sat on the floor with you in his lap. You were a burnt and bloody mess. Tears ran down his face. "Oh no. What have you done to yourself, love?"

Kol raked his hands through his hair. "What did we do, Elijah? We did this to her."

Elijah knelt beside Klaus as he rolled up his sleeve. "Calm yourself, Kol." He bit into his wrist and held it to your mouth. When you remained limp and unmoving a jolt of panic shot through him. He clenched his teeth and lifted the back of your head with his free hand. "Drink, damn you."

When you began to obey him, he slumped in relief as the tension flowed from him. You would survive. Once he determined you'd taken enough, he stood. "We'll take her home and discuss what to do from there."

***

You woke with a groan and a smile. You were surrounded by mountains of pillows and had sunk down into the bed as you slept. God, this bed was worth every penny. You turned your head to the side and inhaled deeply, catching a bit of the scent from all three of your mates. Yep, best bed ever.

But how did you get here? Last thing you remembered you were...

Oh, god. Oh, no. You shouldn't be here. You should be at home passed out on your table. You should have woken up with physical pain to take your mind off the heartbreak you couldn't live with. You scrambled in the bed, trying to find purchase to push yourself up to the headboard. Finally succeeding, you shoved the bedding away from you and drew your knees up to your chest. "No, no, no."

The words were barely audible but it was enough to draw the brothers into the room. Or maybe they'd felt you wake up. You still seemed to be firmly tied to them despite your desire to forget. You'd hoped getting rid of your marks would lessen your bond.

The three of them stood at the foot of the bed just looking at you as if they didn't know what to say.

"Why?" you asked. "Why would you bring me here? How can I forget you if I'm here? Why would you do this to me? What did I do to deserve this?" Your words held far more of a plea in them than you would normally care for, but right now, you didn't care. You just wanted—no, needed—to get away from them.

Klaus stepped forward, his eyes full of tears. "Calm down, love. Everything will be okay."

You shook your head. "I can't. I can't stay here. You have to let me go."

Kol shot forward and you flinched though he stopped just short of climbing on the bed with you. "We can't do that. We love you too much to do that again."

You sucked in a breath.

"Hush, Kol," Elijah snapped.

Kol turned on his brother with an anger you'd rarely seen him wear. "No. I can't just stand around and pretend I don't love her when she's in front of me hurting. And obviously she's not better off without us. Look at her."

Your eyes darted between them. If they loved you, why would they leave you? You had a million questions and no idea where to begin. Fortunately, you were spared from having to make the decision.