The Original Love Triangle

14. The Birthday Surprise

Chapter 14

Ariel POV

                My head was pounding as I woke up. There was the familiar sound of crackling fire wood and the smell of lavender and chamomile that told me I was in my room. The only unfamiliar aspect was that no one was in here with me. I got out of the bed and saw that I was changed into a nightgown, if it could even qualify for one due to the lack of fabric. There was a pair of sweat pant-leggings and a long sweater laid out for me on the chair by the fire place. After brushing my teeth, taking a quick shower, and tossing my hair into a fishtail braid, I dressed myself, slipped on my Converse and crept out of my room.

I expected to find Niklaus and his siblings in the kitchen or living room, but after looking in both, I thought of one last place that they could be. The library was not far from the living room. I quickly walked down to the library and found the doors closed in front of me upon trying to enter.  A rush of warm air caught me as I opened the doors.  I found Nik, Elijah, and Rebekah all sitting down and reading various informative magic books. As soon as I entered Nik looked up from his book. He looked like a ghost.

“Ariel. Please, sit?” He got up and offered me his seat. On any other day I would refuse, but he seemed very protective and alert at the moment. I looked up at Nik and saw dark circles under his eyes. He stifled a weary yawn.  

“How long has it been since you slept?” I asked, whole-heartily concerned about him.

“I don’t know. How long has she been asleep, Elijah?” He yawned again.

“Three days.” Elijah never looked up from his book when he answered his brother.

“I’ve been asleep for three days!” I shouted.

“Calm down love,” Nik stroked my hair, “you were ill so we ordered in Celeste. She gave you some medicine that helped you, but made you sleep for a while. I wanted to make sure you were alright so I stayed up the whole time.”

I smiled at him, I didn’t believe him, but I smiled at him for reassurance. I curled my feet to the side of my body. Rebekah marked off a section in the book she was reading with a small, warn out ribbon. The headache I had was starting to subside. I looked up at Nik, “What’s the date?”

“November, the seventh,” Elijah replied for his brother who was too busy in his daydreams to notice I asked him a question, “Why do you ask? Is there a special event coming up that we weren’t informed about?”

“Well, there is one measly little happening today. It doesn’t matter much though.” I replied.

“What?” Nik said almost cutting me off mid-sentence, “what’s the date?” he clarified.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, “It’s not even important.”

“Oh, okay.” He went to the kitchen and brought out some cereal for me to eat.

“Thanks.” I smiled before gobbling the food up. After three days of sleeping, I wouldn’t expect to be as hungry as I was. For the rest of the day I got caught up on my school work with a little help from Elijah and Niklaus. I wasn’t hungry for dinner, so I retired to my bedroom while the rest of the house ate. I took out a drawing pad and pencil from the bed side and let my mind wander as I drew. A while later I heard a knock at my door. I put the pad down and went to open the door. Niklaus stood there with a hand behind his back. He was dressed in black pants and a gray tee. His deep blue eyes looked softly on me, “Hello, Love”

My insides felt like they were going to melt from the soft and masculine way Nik said “Love”.

Niklaus held out his free arm, “Ariel Mercer, would you do me the favor and accompany me to my studio?”

                I was too flattered and embarrassed to say anything, so I took his arm. He led me down the stairs. We were silent the whole way to his studio. After we got in and Nik shut the doors and drew the curtains, he spoke, “Ariel. I know that the past week had been rough for you, but I want you to know this; I am drawn to you, Ariel Mercer, just like your mind is drawn to creativity. Before I continue on with this gesture, I want you to know what really happened when Celeste came.  

                “She discovered something inside of you. She found magic.  Like witch magic. An ancestor of yours must have been a witch, but there was another, complication. She found traces of werewolf in you. Now under any other circumstance, I would not be worried, but what happened with my vile brother, Finn, I am alarmed.

                “You may have come across this while in the study, or maybe Elijah has told you, but a werewolf can only change when they have killed a living human. Now, I use the word human lightly, because, as you and I both know, your blood somehow killed Finn, who rightfully deserved it. But now, on the full moon, you will turn. I’m sorry Ariel, if I knew how to reverse it without killing you, I would. But…” Nik trailed on.

                I knew what this meant, and I was not the least bit angry with him or myself. I drew him into my arms, “It’s okay Niklaus. We’ll figure this out when the full moon comes, but for now, let’s just forget about it.”

 “I need to show you something that I have been working on for the past week.” He broke our embrace and walked over to something that was covered by a sheet in the center of the room. He took the sheet off and a small squeal escaped my throat. Before me stood a portrait, an impressionism portrait, of me. Nik stood beside it grinning, “How do you like it?”

“Nik! It’s amazing!” I walked over to it and lightly brushed my fingers across it, “I love it. It’s so beautiful!”

“You’re so beautiful,” he said. I didn’t know if he was correcting me or telling me. He took a small gift-wrapped rectangular box out of his pocket, “I almost forgot, this is for you. Happy birthday!”

“You remembered!” I beamed with happiness. He handed me the box. I daintily unwrapped it which left me with a little black velvety cushioned jewelry box. I pulled the top open and my eyes couldn’t believe what was there. A small heart locket with an intricate silver design glimmered in the light let off by the few candles that kept his studio lit. There was a tiny, aqua colored Swarovski heart shaped diamond in the center of it. I ran my index finger and thumb over it and felt indents on the back. I turned the locket over and was amazed by the words on the locket: I love you –NM.  I felt a tear drop from my left eye. I looked up at Nik with a huge smile on my face, “I love it”

He took the locket out of my hand and out of the box. He motioned me to turn around. I did. He pushed my hair to the side. I held it there for him. He fished the locket through the tangle of arms and clamped it in the back for me. He spun me back to face him.

“Beautiful.” He whispered, barley audibly. He rested his forehead on mine and whispered even lighter than before, “I love you so much, Ariel Mercer.”

“I love you to Niklaus Mikaelson.” I breathed out.

He lightly swept his lips against mine. I felt a bubbly emotional rush of love and adrenaline explode in my body. I couldn’t resist anymore. I kissed Nik back. He kissed hard, not a bad hard, one that made me feel secure and loved. Our bodies pressed together as if there were a force pushing us away from each other. Before I knew it, Nik swept me off my feet. For a second I was frightened, but I wrapped my legs around him as he brought me over to an old dusty couch and sat me down, his body on top of mine.  His hands curled over the hem of my shirt. My stomach did a flip as one of his, cold and large hands ran up my back.  He started to lift my sweater.