Chapter Five

Damon

Present Day

Her world crumbled before my eyes. Rattled to the core as she learnt the truth. There was nothing I could do. A dense feeling of fear crippled me. Fear that she would form the pieces and realise I had known all along. She would hate me. Her hatred I could never tolerate. I held onto her trembling body. Being so engrossed with everything else, I hadn't got the chance to explain to Stefan who she was. He stood there watching us, wide eyed and brows creased. Immobile.

"Get him out of here!" Her voice bounced off the walls. No one moved, no one spoke. Stefan hung his head low. It was enough to know shame and culpability maimed him.

"Get him out of here! LEAVE!" She shrieked. His face contorted with pain. "I SAID LEAVE!" A surge of energy shook the house. Scared, Caroline grabbed his arm and fled. Exchanging looks with Bonnie, we conversed with our eyes. A mixture of fear and concern. Silently asking how to diffuse the situation, how to handle my sister. It was as if we held our breaths. I held my breath, waiting for the next blow. She climbed to her feet, slowly turning towards me. Vertical wrinkles formed between her low and pulled eyebrows. Eyes bloodshot and lips curled downward. Her heart rate was at an all-time high, adrenaline fuelling and pumping her temper.

"Did you know?"

I shuffled in my spot uncomfortable. "What?"

"Cut the crap Damon! Did you know this whole time it was Stefan?"

"Yes." I raised my arms, palms facing forward, "but hear me out-"

"GET OUT!" She shrieked a second time.

I inched closer and she flinched, turning her shoulder. "Please listen to me-"

She shook, her hands balling into fists and her words like venom. "You are a liar. You lied to me! You knew all along and YOU DID NOTHING! Nothing...you-just get out! GET OUT!" Gut wrenching sobs tore through her chest. I tried to protest. Before I got the chance to register what was happening, we lost control of our bodies. An unseen force dragged us by our feet, sending us plummeting out the house. I scrambled to my knees on hearing her wheezes.

Gently lifting her head, I bit into my wrist, bringing her closer to feed. Breathing again as her breathing returned to normal, her broken bones mending and snapping back into place. "I'm so sorry BonBon." I muffled into her hair, holding onto her.

•

He stood by the fireplace sipping bourbon from his glass, drowning his emotions. He heard me come in. "Who is she Damon?" He asked without glancing back.

In a solemn voice I replied. "She's our sister, Stefan."

The drink swished around in the half empty glass as he turned to face me, his hands trembling. "What do you mean?"

"I mean our father had another child with another woman. A child we never knew of! And she. Is. Our. Sister."

"Why didn't you tell me this? Why did you keep us apart Damon? Where was she all this time?" His eyes pooled and grief swam in circles within them. "How did you find her?"

"To my better judgement, I kept you apart because you killed her family. Killed her birth father too! She has this crazy vendetta for revenge. On you. On Klaus. She knew about you, but I kept you from her. You didn't know it then but the family you killed...were her family Stef. I was protecting you both...We met in 1942 in New Orleans, right after you had gone off to war. She was wearing our family heirloom..." I paused for some time. "The minute I saw it, I knew we were connected." I focused my gaze on the fireplace, watching the flames rise and flicker. "I knew it was you when she told me her family name. Harrington. It was written on your wall of endless victims. I couldn't bring her into your life, into Mystic Falls. That's why I told her to remain in London."

"How is Klaus related to this?"

"He turned her. Big mistake. She's the only heretic left. He got wind of some witches gathering together, plotting against him. Now he's out there, searching. Now you join the dots. We're all screwed."

"You could have said something! You could have told me, and I could have done something! I just found out that I have another living relative, only to know she hates me and will hate me for the rest of my life, for what I did!"

"She'll come round. Just give her space-"

He threw his hands mid-air. "Listen to yourself?! She tried to kill me less than an hour ago."

"I know!" I grunted. "I lied to her about our family. Not just about you but our father. I never told her of your ripper phases. I lied about Enzo. Believe it or not, I was trying to do right by you both."

His expression dulled. "What's she like?"

"She's better than us both Stefan. She's never made the mistakes we've made. I'm terrified she will now."

"You didn't see her face Damon when it hit her. There was nothing but hatred in her eyes...for me. She looked as though the world had betrayed her. I saw her break-"

"Well, if it isn't my least favourite residents of Mystic Falls."

Recognising that grating voice, I scowled. you have got to be kidding me. I rolled my eyes hard. Stefan bolted towards the opening, pinning the intruder against the wall, snarling as he crushed his throat.

"Relax darling, I'm not here to fight although I'm never the one to turn down one." He chortled, shrugging Stefan off.

"Well, if it isn't the psychotic maniac. I see you came without your bat. Nice touch." Sarcasm rang in my tone. He glowered at me, I glowered back.

"Oh dear, I hit a nerve." It was that condescending smirk that made me want to punch his jaw in. "Well, aren't you going to offer me a drink?"

"Piss off Kol." Stefan retorted.

The Mikaelson chuckled dryly. "I will be seeing you around...oh and a little warning, my family is back in town." He vamped out leaving us speechless and exchanging worried glances.

He stormed into the parlour; a permanent scowl etched on his face. My brows bumped together in a scowl. "Haven't you heard of knocking?"

"Oh, come off it Damon. We have a sister that we've left back in London and she's beside herself! For how long will we keep up the lie? How long will you continue to lie to her and to Stefan?"

I glared at Enzo. He clinched his jaw at the sight of me. Placing the half full glass of bourbon down on the table, I pivoted on my heels and headed for the door. He shoved me back with one arm, displaying his fangs. I curled my hand into a fist and aimed for the front of his nose. Hitting the bridge. Blood splattered onto the door frame. He struck me then hit me again, my blood collecting in my mouth. I struck him in his ribs, flipping him over and slamming him to the ground. He groaned.

"She's over there crying and assuming the worst, while we lie to her face!" He flipped over and landed on his feet, sneering at me.

"I know!" I growled.

He charged and slammed me on to the wall, gripping my throat. "Then tell her the truth!" A speck of spit flicked onto my face. He brandished his fist once again.

"I can't!"

"Why?" His fist connected with my jaw. Prying his hands off me I kicked him across the room. He crashed into the fire pit. "You don't get to question me! I will do what I think is right!"

He seethed. "So, lying to her is right? Hurting her..." he climbed back to his feet and rolled his head.

"I don't want to fight you Enzo." I warned. He grabbed the chair and snapped the leg until the end was jagged and pointed. Holding the stake, he charged with a face set to pure, fiery rage. He took a fore swing. I dodged. The backswing of the stake penetrated through my side. Ripping out the stake I used it on him, ramming it into his left thigh.

"Why is Stefan more important than her?!" He stood straight, eyes bulging as he glowered at me.

"He's not." I said through clenched teeth. "I have to protect them both-we have to." I collapsed in a stupor. His shoulders slumped and a sad smile appeared.

The rage dissipated and his tone ambivalent. "I hate to see her that way. I just want her to be happy. She trusts us blindly and I fear what she'll do if she learns the truth..."

Enzo was right. He was always right, and he knew telling her the truth was the best thing. He wasn't here to help me, to help diffuse the situation and it made me miserable and alone.

~

The three Mikaelsons stood around the great table sipping champagne as they awaited the arrival of their youngest brother who quite liked the grand entrance.

"Ah Kol, nice of you to grace us with your presence." Grinned Klaus, raising his glass at the door. He possessed a delicate yet masculine face, subtle hints that he once lived the life of a nobleman.

"Long time brother...Hello Elijah." He turned to face the eldest of them all. Lanky, yet muscular. Indeed, a captivating young man, his facial features bore a slight similarity to his younger brother.

Rebekah. The youngest of them all. A tall, beautiful slim woman. Her hair a natural light blond, her eyes a perfect spring sky, freckles dusting her pale light skin. Her full lips turned into a smile, warmer than the sun as he strode in. She ran to her brother, pulling him into a hug. "I didn't think you'd make it."

He gave his sister a small squeeze. "You ask and I come." He smiled at her broadly as she pulled away. "It's good to be back."

Klaus raised his glass in a salute. "Freya will be joining us later. For now, let's get down to business shall we."

Intrigued at what his brother had in mind; Elijah took a seat. "Niklaus, I trust you will not...bring on any bloodshed."

"Nonsense brother. " His eyes danced with mischief. "We'll hold a grand Mikaelson ball for old times' sake. Let's celebrate our return."

"In a town where half the residents retch at the mention of you?" His sister arched a brow, knowing well that with Niklaus there was always a hidden agenda, and he never did anything for the sake of doing it. That's not how her brother worked. She knew him far better than that.

"Well Sister, that's all water under the bridge." He chuckled. A buzzing sound came from the pocket of his dark jacket. In one neat move he pulled out his phone and answered. "Ah, darling Freya....how lovely...well why don't you join us here sister. Mystic Falls awaits." He hung up returning to his siblings all gleeful. "A ball it is."

"Who's here brother?" Questioned Elijah, alert and fascinated by the conversation. "Rather...who. is. she." He leaned in closer, dragging each word.

Klaus raised his glass to his lips, leisurely taking a sip of his sparkling drink. "All in good time." His lips curved into that infamous devilish grin.

"I'm itching to kill something." Came Kol's voice. "I need entertainment." He was playing with the glass in his hand, the thin nape between his two fingers as he spun it.

"Have you no patience." Elijah reprimanded, rolling his eyes.

"I'll go with him to keep him from trouble and having his neck snapped." Assured Rebekah, glaring back at Kol.

"Splendid." He smirked.

The two siblings exchanged looks full of mischief, wide grins that reached their eyes, making the corners crinkle.

Damon

"You shouldn't have kept it from me." He bit his lip to keep himself from crying. I didn't do anything but let my head hang low.

"I wanted to protect you both. She was out for revenge...and if she knew it was you it would have destroyed her because even when she had not met you, she loved you! I wanted to tell you on my own terms, in my own time."

"When was that going to be?"

"I was planning on today, but she showed up and I didn't get the chance!"

He stared blankly ahead, eyes moist. A frown fell upon his lips. "She's destroyed now and there's nothing I can do! She hates me and I don't know how to live with that." We sat before the crackling fire, drinking away our grief with bourbon. There was nothing we could do. I knew her and how she dealt with betrayal and pain. Her fury unlike anything else, uncontrollable. It was what made her unpredictable. Lethal.

He sighed. "Now it makes sense what Enzo said the day I killed him. I never understood what he meant...even when the armoury struck him down, they asked him about her. All this time it was about Sophia." He cast his eyes downwards.

Stefan

That day burned fresh in my mind. Knowing now what he meant shattered me. I was ashamed of all I had done and there was nothing I could do to make it better. I couldn't make up for what I did. I couldn't turn back time and change it. It couldn't be undone. Yet, I stood there with all that anguish and misery, wishing I could change it all-for her.

"What did Enzo say?" Damon asked, his body tensed, and lips stretched thin. Damon had forgiven me years ago for killing his best friend, although it took him a handful of years to do so. Eventually he forgave me, and we never spoke of Enzo again. Would she forgive me for that? How close were they?

I rammed my hand through his back, grinning as my fingers latched onto his thundering heart. I clenched it tight. He didn't fight and even if he wanted to, he couldn't. One wrong move and his heart will be out of his chest and in my hand. "How does it feel to know your life is in my hands?" I menaced.

He groaned as my grip on the pumping organ tightened. "She'll-she'll n-never forgive you." He choked out. Yanking my arm back, he slumped to the concrete ground. I stared at the bloody thing in my hand.

"Hmmm." I muttered before letting it drop and walking away.

"She'll never forgive me. It's what he said. After I turned it back on, I racked my brains thinking, who could it be? Why would he make that comment?" My shoulders slumped and I winced as the feeling of shame resurfaced.

Damon's voice was soft and low, yet it dripped with sorrow. "She loved Enzo dearly. He was a brother to her in ways I couldn't be."

"She's never going to forgive me, is she?"

He gave a half smile. "One day she will but she's better than us...all of us Stefan. One day she'll forgive you, just not now." He didn't look too confident with his answer.

I nodded. For now, I could only be hopeful. "I won't stop trying, I'll do whatever it takes."

•

The leaves crunched beneath my boots. A light breeze brushed my cheek as I moved slowly through the woods. I never understood why Damon buried him in the family crypt. I always assumed it was because that was his one and only best friend. My relationship with Enzo was always a rough one. At times we had no choice but to tolerate one another. With my hands shoved in my jacket pockets, I halted at the entrance and stared up at the engraving on the stone wall. Exhaling a deep sigh, I pushed the door open and entered. With the help of magic, candles remained burning, illuminating the crypt. Creating an ambient environment.

"Enzo..." I said aloud, knowing there would be no response. If he was here, I wondered what he'd have done. "I'm sorry for what I did but I want you to know, I'll do everything I can to protect her and do right by her. I'll be the brother she needs." Sensing a warm presence to my right, I turned my head and searched the crypt. There was no one there, no one visible. In that moment, I knew Enzo was there by my side, watching me. Feeling his presence gave me strength and eased my aching heart.

~

London

The anger was far too much for the fifteen-year-old to handle. With no will of his own, thrown to the wolves, into a life of subjugation. He was flushed, heart rate high, pacing up and down his room, making loud noises. No one seemed to care, to care for his well-being, his safety. Not a single being felt for him. "I hate this!" He slammed his fist down. The door to his room opened and his mother peeked through. Her frown sunk her face, turning her blanched. With trembling features, she entered his room.

"Benji." He turned his body away from her, staring down hard at the ground. Closing the space between them, placing a hand on his burning shoulder, she continued. "You need to calm down."

He turned his head to her. "Why?!"

"Your father...he-he won't be pleased."

"Why?! I don't want this! I don't want to be this monster! I want out! Being under the rule of a tyrannical man, is not what I want! I HATE THEM ALL. I HATE my so-called FATHER!" The words choked themselves out and the burning tears pooled."

"I know you are scared baby, but you have to pull through it. You have to." Her voice broke.

"I don't want to!" He growled, balling his fists. Like the child he was, he sobbed hard, his pain raw and heart breaking. "Why mum? Why-why can't we leave? I want to leave."

She held her child closer. "We don't have a choice, baby." The tears she kept locked away for years, finally broke through. "We can't leave, even if-even if we wanted to. We can't." The words came out in a whisper. "We're trapped and there's nothing we can do."

"I can't do this-" His sentence cut short. His mother was torn from him. Crashing sounds. Turning to his right, eyes landing on his mother laying on the floor crumpled, both arms clutching her head. Over her, stood his father, with a fury of a gathering storm.

"You're trapped, are you? You want to escape and live a free life you ungrateful whore!" He degraded. Benjamin lunged forward but was shoved back. Turning back to his wife, he yanked her up, forcing her to stand straight despite her wobbling legs threatening to buckle over. The next attack was fast, foul, and deliberate. Recoiling, Benjamin squeezed his eyes shut, desperate to block out the disturbing sounds. "Stand straight!" His father barked in her face. Swallowing down her cries, Lintha obeyed. Another sharp slap and Benjamin's eyes shot open.

His hazel eyes flashed with a fury, burning bright. "Don't touch her!" He growled through clenched teeth.

Slowly turning his head, he locked eyes with his son, a smirk spreading across his face. "You think you can stand up to me, boy?"

"I said let her go!" He clenched and unclenched his fists.

Forcing her up straighter, gripping onto her hair, he yanked her head back. "Or what?"

Reacting to his emotions, his own will and to the love of his mother; he transformed, slowly and painlessly. Snarling, the large, white, furry creature leaped, taking the man off guard, and tackling him to the ground. The wolf dug his claws into him, gnashing. Grabbing its paw, the father bent it back, cracking the bones and flinging the wolf child across the room. The white wolf howled, holding his mangled paw in the air. Whimpering, the poor creature backed into the corner, softly crying, and staring ahead with big hazel eyes. Walking to the door, the man turned back. "Next time, it'll be your head." The door slammed shut. Minutes zoomed by and the mother crawled her way to her son, still in his wolf form. His whimpers and cries broke her worse than the physical torture she endured and she weeped. Taking his paw in her hand, she nursed him, stroking his fur.