05

She was reconnoitering the house, just in case she needed to, and ended up finding the elusive and untrustworthy Stefan. He looked handsome, with that intense gaze, but equally dangerous. At least her brother showed when he was irritated, but him? He wasn't family to that body; he would hurt her without a second thought.

She took a step back, wanting to retreat and not encounter him. However, he turned to face her. Stefan easily noticed that Rebekah was there.

—Why don't you remove their stakes?— It was only then that she noticed the coffins. Were they other vampires? If they were like Stefan and the psycho she called her brother, they could remain in their respective coffins. —That's a good question, isn't it?— The vague answers easily bypassed the vampires; it was almost funny.

—You've changed. You seem different.— Rebekah stopped, sitting on one of the coffins opposite Stefan. Of course, if her brother had noticed the Toy Boy, he would have too.

—We've had many years, Stefan, people can't always remain the same,— she feigned a relaxed pose, looking at her own nails. 

—Everything is in constant flux.— The silence lasted a few seconds longer than necessary before his voice broke the silence, but it seemed different, sounded different. 

—When I met you, you were on the run.— Well, this conversation was more interesting than she thought it would be. Who were they running from?

 —Who were you running from?—

—How so?— She waited for Stefan to provide the information, but she couldn't help but notice his insistence on the subject. Was he trying to screw them over? Not very trustworthy at all.

—On the night I met you, there was a man looking for you, and you both seemed afraid.— She stood up, twice as uncomfortable with Stefan's presence as when she entered. At least her brother didn't want to screw them over. —And I just thought Klaus wasn't afraid of anyone.— Was he trying to screw them over? It was as if an alarm had been raised within her, the danger of dying again making it difficult to focus on the conversation. —Who was that man?—

—I wanted to know too, man, I wanted to know too,— Rebekah smiled. The jumbled thoughts shouldn't leak out. He seemed suspicious all around, it was funny how he seemed to think he was seducing Rebekah with those loving eyes and soft, low voice. —I think you'd better stop here, Stefan.— —Sorry, I won't ask anymore. Okay?— He placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to be comforting. 

—Trying to use love to manipulate me, how disgusting can you be?— Her question seemed to repel Stefan as if she were fire. She took the opportunity to step back as much as she could. The sound of the door opening made them stop staring at each other. —Something's wrong, Gloria's gone, we need another witch,— her brother stopped, looking at them before fixing his gaze on Rebekah. It was almost as if he was asking what was wrong through his gaze.

—He was asking too many questions about you being afraid of someone, about who came after us,— she said. In a matter of seconds, Stefan's neck was broken on the floor. She looked at the only other man in the room, unable to help feeling more comfortable in his presence, at least he didn't want to kill her. Right?

They spent hours and hours breaking poor Stefan's neck. Heading to some backwater town called Falls something? The name sounded familiar. But of all things, what her brother had asked for was different.

—I... don't want to,— she said.

He looked at her, as if she shouldn't disobey him. Talita might be a girl obsessed with family ties, but he wasn't family, and as much as she owed something to the owner of that body, she wouldn't be helping a violent guy like him.

— Rebekah, I don't have time for your tantrums. — There he was again, acting like he was dealing with a spoiled child.

— Look, I get it, but I'm your sister, not a servant or someone like him. — She pointed to Stefan, who had been having his neck broken for hours and hours, traumatizing her in a thousand and one different ways. — Or is that how you see me?

— Rebekah...

— Am I not your sister? Your family? — Was he supposed to be so easy to manipulate? Just a few well-chosen words, and there he was again, unsure how to respond to her.