25
Katherine executed her plan perfectly; she fled, taking the moonstone with her. Niklaus, seething with rage, began hurling accusations at everyone around him until he discovered that a vampire named Trevor was behind it all. Meanwhile, Elias watched the unfolding chaos with a sense of amusement, offering little assistance as he was preoccupied with spending time with Finn, who hardly allowed him out of sight.
As the tensions escalated, Niklaus intensified his search for Trevor and the moonstone, his anger leaving a trail of chaos. Katherine remained elusive, her cleverness keeping her one step ahead.
As Finn and Elias enjoyed their time together, their peace was interrupted by an unexpected knock at the door. A woman with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes stood at the threshold. Elias, taken aback, demanded, "Who are you?" employing his compelling gaze.
The woman met his stare with a blend of defiance and confusion, replying simply, "Sage."
"And what business do you have here?" he prodded further.
"I'm here to see Finn. I've heard he's been undaggered," Sage declared with a hint of urgency in her voice.
Elias couldn't help but smirk at the unfolding drama. He stepped aside, gesturing her in with a mischievous glint in his eye. He was curious to see how the reunion would unfold.
Turning towards the house's interior, Elias called out teasingly, "Finn, darling, come down. You have a guest."
Finn's gaze locked onto Sage, a storm of past and present swirling in his eyes. "Sage," he uttered, his voice a mix of warmth and bewilderment. "What brings you here after all this time?"
Sage's eyes darted between the two men, settling on Finn with an intensity that matched his own. "I had to see you, Finn. I heard you were free and..." Her voice trailed off, loaded with unspoken words and history.
Elias watched the exchange, a slight frown creasing his brow. He moved closer to Finn, a silent assertion of his place. "We were not expecting company, were we, my love?" he said, his hand finding Finn's.
Finn looked at Elias, then back at Sage, his mind racing with the complication her presence brought. "No, we were not, Elias. But we must entertain our guest, mustn't we?" Finn replied, his voice steady yet carrying an undercurrent of tension.
Sage's eyes finally settled on the man next to Finn, a realization dawning. "You're Elias," she stated an edge of recognition in her voice.
Elias smiled, responding confidently, "The one and only. Now, what is it that you want? Speak swiftly." His tone was light, yet the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Elias was aware of Sage and harbored a deep dislike for his husband's past with other women. Overwhelmed by a sudden surge of protectiveness and jealousy, he swiftly moved to confront her, his actions swift and decisive. Without a moment's hesitation, he ripped out Sage's heart and dropped it to the floor.
Elias fixed Finn with a piercing gaze, his voice a blend of stern warning and underlying hurt. "Remember what we promised each other, love. I'll overlook this incident, but I will not stand for betrayal if you ever stray from our marriage again. This is your only warning. Next time, I'll leave, and you won't see me again. Understood?" The seriousness in his tone left no room for doubt or further discussion.
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(Finn's POV)
Darkness enveloped me for what felt like an eternity. It was as if I was conscious but not truly alive, aware yet detached. With the dagger embedded in my heart, time lost all meaning. It could have been a day, a century, or even 500 years that passed by - it made no difference to me. My existence was reduced to a timeless void, indifferent to the world moving on without me.
As the sensation of the dagger being removed from my heart and my body being moved washed over me, I was engulfed in fury. Niklaus and I had an agreement; I had chosen this dormant state to keep overwhelming emotions at bay. I couldn't discern the length of time that had passed before consciousness flooded back, but as it did, rage consumed me. I lashed out, destroying chairs and anything within reach until, exhausted, I retreated to a corner of the room.
That's when I heard a familiar voice piercing through the chaos, " Finn"
Then, a familiar voice pierced the chaos. "It's me, Elias," it called out gently.
My head shook relentlessly as I muttered, "You're not real, you're not real, you're not real," denying the possibility of his presence. Despite my disbelief, Elias closed the distance between us. The warmth radiating from his fingertips, the depth in his green eyes, and the gentle curve of his smile all felt overwhelmingly real.
As he leaned in, his lips met mine in a kiss that was both tender and fervent
Elias's voice persisted, soft yet firm. "I am real. I'm here," he assured.
My voice cracked with emotion as I repeated, "I'm sorry, so very sorry for everything." The weight of my remorse poured out in a torrent of words. Leaning into his shoulder, I allowed the tears to flow freely. Elias responded by gently rubbing my back, offering me comfort. He reassured me of his presence, affirming, "I'm alive."
Our gazes locked, and with a soft, sincere whisper, he vowed, "Always and forever." I mirrored his sentiment, my voice steady and full of emotion as I affirmed, "Always and forever."
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Elias had changed; he was now colder. I noticed it in the way he acted and looked at people. He used to be kind, but hardship had hardened him. He was more willing to resort to violence, quicker to anger, and less patient. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now held a steely glint. But despite these changes, I held onto him as he slept, cherishing the remaining pieces of the man I knew, inhaling the scent that still reminded me of better times. I understood the reasons behind his transformation.
He killed Sage. Although she was just an acquaintance and I didn't care much for her, I understood why he did it. If I were in his place, facing betrayal from someone who was with my husband, I would have done the same or even worse.
So, as I faced the reality of Sage's death, I couldn't hold anger towards him. Instead, I felt a cold understanding. Betrayal had driven him to act, and under the heavy weight of such betrayal, I might have reacted with equal or greater ferocity.
I am steadfast in my commitment to Elias; I would never abandon him. As I hold Elias close, I silently vow to safeguard him, to be his protector in the face of any danger. My resolve is unshakeable, and my dedication unwavering, as I embrace the man I love, ready to shield him from whatever may come.
So, I resolved to become stronger, more formidable than Mikael and the rest of my family. I began learning to fight, returning initially to the basic techniques Elias taught me when we were still human. However, I quickly understood those skills alone wouldn't be enough. That's when I turned to Stephanie for training. As Elias's number one, she was adept in combat, and would make the perfect teacher for the time being.
Under Stephanie's tough training, I learned advanced combat techniques every day. It was hard, but I grew stronger and more skilled with each session. I was determined to be a strong protector for Elias, ready to face any threat.
After a few months, I outgrew Stephanie's training. So, I decided to continue practicing on my own. With Elias's help and our regular sparring sessions, I improved my skills significantly.
"Come on, love, you've got to hit harder than that," Elias taunted as my punch landed on his face, not even phasing him.
I couldn't help but chuckle, feeling the challenge rise within me. "Just warming up," I shot back, aiming another playful jab his way.
He dodged gracefully, his laughter mixing with our movements. "I love it when you get feisty," he teased, effortlessly blocking my attempted kick.
With determination and a grin, I advanced. "Watch and learn, darling," I declared, my eyes sparkling with a mix of challenge and deep affection.
Circling each other with smirks, I managed to feint left, then right, and before Elias realized, I had him pinned to the ground. "Got you," I said triumphantly, looking down at him.
Elias chuckled from beneath me, not the least bit worried. "You think this is over?" he quipped, trying to wriggle free, but I held firm.
"It is for now," I replied, leaning down to plant a kiss on him, a brief moment of tenderness amidst our mock battle.
He met my kiss with equal fervor, then with a swift move, twisted, reversing our positions. "Never let your guard down, love," he teased, now on top.
I laughed, admiring his quickness. "I'll remember that," I promised, pushing up to meet him halfway for another kiss.
Our kiss broke with a shared smile, the air around us charged with affection and the adrenaline of our sparring. "You better," Elias teased, helping me to my feet.
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