Black Rose • Mikaelson

13. Sired love

Cassidy Kyteler

I catch sight of Klaus and walk up to him. He isn't very happy to see me, since the last time we crossed paths he found out my brother and I were sired to the one person he's ever loved. My brother being in love with the same person. I suppose there's something about Nadia does that.

"I was told to give you this if Nadia was to ever turn it off." I hold out the gifts.

"By who?" Klaus asks.

"Ivonna."

Elijah walks over at the sound of her name.

"When?" Elijah furrows his brows.

"1542, after you left. Nadia was thinking about turning it off. I was only told to give it to you, nothing more. I don't know what's inside, I don't know what it says."

"How did you know Nadia turned it off?"

"I've been sired to her for centuries. I just knew, but I came to New Orleans to double check. Seeing her without Ivonna and unbothered by the people she hurts, confirmed it."

Niklaus Mikaelson

I open the package and frown. Nadia's amulet catches the light and gleams. My hand wraps around the girl's neck, my teeth bares.

"How the hell you get this?" I hiss.

"Three weeks ago it appeared in the mail. I was told not to open it. I assumed it was Nadia who sent it." Cassidy hisses through short breaths.

She shoves her hand into her pocket. She pulls out a small neatly folded piece of paper. Elijah takes it from her hand and reads.

"In the case you need to go to New Orleans, you give this to Niklaus Mikaelson. Do not open it. Do not give it to anyone besides Niklaus."

I pick up the amulet and twist it against the light. Another small folded piece of paper is taped to the back. I unfold it, my brows furrowing.

If you're reading this Niklaus, you have my amulet and I've turned it off. Let's hope you know a witch strong enough to know what to do with it. I love you.

Once Cassidy leaves, I unwrap the package she gave me. I stare at Nadia's journal.

"Aren't you gonna read it?" Elijah questions.

"I'm not sure." I shrug.

I continue to stare at the items in my hand. What if I don't like what it says? Or I'm the reason Nadia wanted to turn it off all these years? What if she has another journal somewhere for her thoughts this time around? I finally open the journal, my eyes falling on neat cursive. I take a deep breath in before reading.

Dear, . . . To whoever actually cares.

Once again, I'm left to piece back my shattered heart alone. I've even resorted to putting pen to paper. Everyone has to go through heartbreak at some point. It's not the heartbreak that bothers me the most, I've dealt with this before. It's a heartbreak mixed with another heartbreak. One heartbreak for the man I love so very much. A love and passion that consumes until it swallows me whole and I'm left broken. The other, the type of heartbreak that brings so much pain. The kind of pain that is unbearable. The thought of it stabs you in the chest and twists the blade.

I've never thought about turning it off. Flipping the humanity switch. Mother use to say, you turn it off and forget the ones you care most about. I've always kept that advice with me, never letting the thought of turning it off cross my mind. Now, it has crossed my mind every second of every day for the last two weeks. I'm afraid I might find the courage to do so. The thought of feeling nothing — no pain, no worry, no anger, — sparks my weary soul. Even the thought of no happiness makes me smile.