Chapter Nine

Sophia

Present

Another sleepless night plagued by the ghosts of my dead family. They were implacable. It started off pleasant. Mama sat at the end of my bed, folding the clothes, and speaking to me about her day at the book club. They started Jane Eyre and mama adored Jane Eyre. Then it twisted and became malicious. Her face morphed. It was now torn, her veins and muscles exposed. She was bloody. Her eyes as hollow as a tunnel. I flinched as she edged closer, clawing at the sheets, crawling her way up. She hovered above me, her nose brushing against mine and hands holding me down. She let out a deep cry, spraying blood and saliva on me. I whimpered softly. She was on top of me, hindering my airways. I could barely breathe. "Mama, I'm so sorry...I'll make him pay...I promise." Their souls were restless. There was no salvation. "I promise." She retreated, her face slowly reverting back to the smooth, flawless woman she once was. She was adorned in a long, cream dress, her hair tied up in a bun.

"My sweet pea." She muttered, bending down to kiss the top of my head. Seating herself beside me, she stroked my hair and sang the lullaby of my childhood. It dawned on me how sinister it truly was. She sang:

Hush-a-by baby, babe not mine,

My woeful wail, do you pity never?

Hush-a-by baby, babe not mine,

I couldn't stand it any longer. I couldn't bear to see her, hear her, and feel her cold touch. She was not my mother; she was my mother's spirit. It terrified me. Could a spirit really be that terrifying? I screwed my eyes shut refusing to see her. Drifting away.

She was mesmerised as she took in the beauty around her. She spun around giggling. The forest lit up with fairy lights winding and draped around the tree trunks, illuminating the pathway. The smell of pine, wild berries and flowers overtook her senses-tickling her. The light breeze swung around, caressing the leaves, moving in synchronisation. Birds twittered and flew from treetop to treetop. The sight of fireflies surrounding her were hypnotic, dancing around her. They fluttered away provoking her to chase after them, further down the lit-up pathway. "Come back." She called out, giggling. Her laughter being carried off by the wind. She followed the fiery creatures deeper in, feet crunching, twigs snapping beneath her. They came to a stop, hovering ahead, their bright light obscuring her view. A man stepped through them. Her breathing coming to a hitch as he came into focus.

"Kol."

He moved with grace; his steps measured yet confident strides. "Sophia." He beamed, taking her hand in his.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came for you. How do you like it here?" Taking her hand to his lips, he grazed her skin lightly.

"It's magnificent Kol! Breath taking...How are you here?"

He chuckled. "Through your dreams." His eyes filled with mischief, and his soft pink lips curled into a cheeky smile. "I had to come for you, Sophia Salvatore. I will always be here. I heard your cries and my feet led me to you."

"What are you, Kol Mikaelson?"

He extended a handout to her. "How about a dance?"

"But there's no music-" She began.

"We don't need the music when it's just you and I." He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in closer. They danced arm in arm, their movements refined and fluid.

"Why do this for me?" She asked in a whisper. He twirled her around, releasing her hand, watching her spin out of view and into the haze of mystical mist.

I sat straight up in bed, greeted by a breeze that came from the window. It was wide open. I couldn't recall whether I left it open. Climbing out of bed I walked across the room and shut the windows, drawing the curtains closed. I saw Kol again. It hurt my head trying to think back and make sense of what the dreams meant. Why was I seeing him? Were they visions? He came to me when I needed him the most. Why did I need him? Why him? Out of all the people in this world, why Kol Mikaelson? There had to be reason why I was dreaming of him and why when it was at a time when I was losing my mind. When I was being haunted. I searched the house for any signs of my parents but nothing. Everything was undisturbed. Was I losing my mind? Or were my parents haunting me from the beyond? I glanced over at the ticking clock. It was half six in the morning. Somehow, I managed to fall asleep. I felt weak, my body worn out. I knew I needed to feed but I couldn't bring myself to. I couldn't remember the last time I fed properly. The thought of blood, I could taste the spots of sweetness that were left behind on my tongue.

•

I sat in the living room with a book in my hand, praying some light reading would help clear my mind. As a human it used to always help me. It was my escape mechanism. I would immerse myself in the book I chose to read and live in that world. I flicked through the pages barely reading, barely focusing on the words. The voices of my parents echoed inside my head. There was only one way to end it. I turned my head to the left, staring up at the clock. It pointed to eleven am. Setting the book down on the coffee table I vamp sped out the house.

The sound of muffled cries diverted my attention. It was coming from near the falls. The cries came again. I listened harder, letting the sounds guide me. Whizzing through the roads I stopped in my tracks, spotting Kol hunched over a pile of bodies, tearing his way through them. "Kol!" I screamed out, rushing over, and prying him off the man he had a hold on. He snarled at me, sending me back. "What the hell are you doing?" It was the first time I had seen his true side. The side everyone warned me about, the reason why they called him the sadistic murderer. He killed in cold blood. He had no care at all. I felt repulsed. How had I missed this? How could I have overlooked his true reality? He jumped to his feet and turned to face me. Thick, gooey blood dribbled down his chin. I forced my eyes shut, sickened by the sight. A gush of wind and I could feel his warm breath on me. I could taste the fresh blood, shuddering as he circled me. I didn't want to imagine it, to see it but it happened. I envisioned kissing him, tasting the blood and running my tongue over my lip, licking the lingering blood. No! I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn't think like this.

"What's wrong love? Repulsed? Shocked?" His finger traced the side of my face, slowly worming down to my bottom lip, smearing blood.

"Leave, Kol! Don't make me hurt you!" I hissed. I couldn't believe what my eyes had shown me. Every part of me wanted to believe it was just a nightmare. It wasn't real. Kol hadn't done this. But why did I care? We shared one kiss and suddenly what he did and said mattered to me? Footsteps approached from behind. Snapping sounds. I spun around to see what it was. He held the limp body of a teenage girl. Holding my gaze, he smirked, and her body dropped to the ground. "Why would you do that?!" I screeched rushing to him and holding him by the collar. The sound of something being loaded and clicking twice came from behind. A gun? Bow?

My eyes widened as the whooshing sound sliced through the air. Without thinking I whirled around, throwing my hands in the air, grabbing the wooden stake, and hurled it back. I froze and stared wide-eyed as the arrow pierced through Matt. Into his heart. He fell backwards, hitting the ground. I let out a cry. "No no I didn't mean...no oh please...no I didn't mean to." I vamped to his side, pulling out the stake from where it was embedded. I pressed my hands down on him, applying pressure in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Taking his shirt, using it to soak up the blood, applying more pressure. It was already too late. "No Matt! No, you can't die please, I didn't mean to. Please wake up!!" I shook him hard, but he wouldn't open his eyes. His blood pooled around us.

Biting into my wrist, shoving it into his mouth, forcing down my blood. "Drink God damnit!" It was of no use, my blood trickled back out. I felt myself shake. My hands shook violently as I looked down at them, covered in his blood. I was beside myself, crying and cursing. "I can fix this!" I told myself. "I'll bring him back with magic. I can bring him back." I lay him back down, closed my eyes and began to incant. Nothing happened. I couldn't feel him or reach him. Refusing to accept defeat I attempted again. Yet nothing! "No! I'm not giving up!" I slammed down hard on his chest. I felt myself weaken, my head spun, and the world began to whirl and twirl but I pushed through.

Arms latched themselves around me and pulled me back. "Stop! You're killing yourself!" Kol agonised, his arms around me. Shooting him a scathing look, I shoved him back.

"This is your fault! An innocent guy is dead because of YOU! I saved you and now he's dead!" I narrowed my eyes at him, I tried to utter the words, but my focus was lost. My vision blurred. Kol moved closer, his arms reaching out for me. "Stay back!" I screamed. "You're a monster. I killed someone because of you! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I staggered back, feeling nauseous.

I fumbled around for my phone. It slipped from my grip because of the blood smeared all over it. After being unsuccessful several times I managed to call Damon. I waited as the phone rang. Breathing unevenly when he answered, barely able to get the words through.

"Bitsy...calm down and tell me what happened."

I breathed in and out, trying to stabilise myself. "I I-i-killed M-m-mat...it was an accident-"

"You what?!"

"Damon it was an accident I didn't mean to. He was about to attack Kol and without thinking I attacked him..." I broke down.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the Falls. Please Damon, hurry."

The phone went dead. I stared down at my bloody hands, tears raining down. I killed before but never the innocent ones. I didn't know Matt, didn't care for him but he didn't deserve to die.

•

I scrubbed furiously at my hands, washing off the blood but traces were left behind. I scrubbed over and over and over again, avoiding looking myself in the mirror. Killing innocent people was never something i did. Now I had Matt's blood all over me. A knock at my door startled me. Throwing the towel in the sink I stormed down the stairs, shaking, my breathing accelerated. The knock came again. I hesitated a moment before opening the door.

"Rebekah?"

"You're a right mess love." She invited herself in.

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

"I know you're not okay and I thought I'd come by to make sure you are. Matt was my friend." I looked away from her, burying my face in my hands. "Sophia?"

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to. It was an accident...I wanted to-I was protecting Kol and I don't know why I was protecting him." I said through stifled cries. Seeing my state, she embraced me in a tight hug.

"Calm down Sophia. Just breathe. I need to talk to you."

I retracted myself away from her, wiping my tears "What is it? If it's about Kol, I don't want to hear it. He's a monster."

"As much as that may seem true, he is not that. I know my brother and he may have done things in his past but one thing I know for sure, he cares about you, and I don't know why but Kol -"

"He doesn't care about me. How can someone like him even...how can he be capable of caring?"

"Who do you think took care of you that night? Who do you think showed you those dreams? He's acting out because of Stefan_"

"Stefan! What about him?!" I hissed at the sound of his name, rage fuelling me. The greedy voices of my parents awoke and hissed.

"Stefan asked Kol to stay away from you and make you believe he's a monster. They didn't want you getting in the mess of our family. I shouldn't be here, but my brother is beside himself, for what he made you do. Now he's seriously going to go on a frenzy. He's gone off somewhere and I don't know where! Stefan is trying to protect you believe it or not."

Without listening to the rest of her explanation I barged past her, leaving the house. Matt was dead because of Stefan. My family were gone because of Stefan. Enzo was dead because of him. It was all because of Stefan.

~

Freya stared at the flame that had blown out. Panic stricken eyes as she restarted the spell. Her mind engulfed with negative thoughts. She had to be sure it was right. She resumed her chanting. The flames on the candle reignited and flickered tall, then blew out once again. The same results. She had her answers. She needed to warn her family. Hurrying out the room, she stormed down the stairs calling out for her brothers.

"We're here. What is it sister?"

Freya crossed the hall. "It's her!! She's the one the witches will use against us. We have to do something before they end us. We have to act now! There's no time to waste!"

"Are you sure it's her?"

"Yes Klaus!" She wailed; eyes crazed.

They glanced at each other in silence, coming to an agreement on what they would do to handle this new obstacle. Klaus turned on his heels and sped away.

Sophia

The doors to the boarding house flung open. I stormed in yelling his name, hurling objects out of my way. Caroline and Bonnie rushed out towards me. "Motus." I threw them across the room in opposite directions simultaneously, paralysing them using the paralysis spell. The pitter patter of Damon's footsteps came rushing in. Using the same spell on him, keeping him rooted in his spot. "WHERE IS HE?! Where is Stefan!"

I cocked my head to the side, to the sound of slow and steady footsteps.

"I'm here." He said, arms raised in surrender. "Whatever it is, take it out on me. Leave them-"

"Matt is dead BECAUSE OF YOU!" I spewed.

His body warped, knees buckling under him as he crashed to the floor. "Who do you think you are parading around town as if you're my brother! YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER! Who are you to tell Kol to stay away from me-everything is your fault, Stefan!" My rage drove me, unlocking into untapped power, I attacked ruthlessly. I watched as he crippled in pain, his eyes bleeding. Kill him. Kill him. Came the snakelike whispers. "Vido." I sent him crashing into the hallway. Charging, I dragged him through the house. My head jerked up to the sound of metal clangs. Bang. Tucking my hair behind my ear I focused my hearing, locating where the sounds originated from. The basement. Stepping over him i stalked on, dragging him along. He clawed on the ground helplessly, trying to break free. I found the cellar. With a flick of my wrist the gates burst open. Kol sat in the middle of the cold, stoned room, chained. "Fractos." The chains came undone, freeing him.

I fixated my sight back on Stefan, seething with fury as he looked straight into my eyes, pleading. He erupted into screams to every bone I snapped in his body over and over again. He twisted and turned, deprived of air. "How does it feel to have your life taken away from you?" I whispered, crouching down before him. "I won't kill you just yet...I'll make you suffer!"

"I-I'm so-so-sorry-" He tried but his voice was strangled.

"Shut up! SHUT UP! You don't deserve a chance! You killed my family! You manipulated your way... IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT! Enzo is dead because of you! He was more of a brother to me than you ever were! You KILLED ENZO!" I screamed into his face, salty tears rolling down my own. I grabbed him by the hair, yanking him up. Grabbing his arms, digging my fingers into his skin, and siphoning away his vampirism. The magic of his vampirism slowly flowed through me. His life-force slowly stripping away. A warm liquid trickled down my nose. Bringing my fingers to my nose I wiped away the blood. Arms held me in a death like grip. I struggled but the arms yanked back. Kicking and screaming in his hold, he released me, sending me crashing into the stone wall.

"What are you doing Kol?!" I snarled, baring my fangs at him.

"You're killing yourself!"

With a swish of my hand, I pushed him backwards through the air, onto the ground. "Stay away!" Staggering back up to my feet I charged at Stefan. "Vodux!" He levitated in the air, eyes wide, paralysed on the spot; my menacing aura holding him in a tightening grip. His heart pounded in my ears. The colour quickly drained from his face, and I stepped closer. "The longer you're alive, I'll never know peace. Killing you-" A sharp sting to my neck, a burning sensation as something entered my blood stream, veins itching. The hold on Stefan was lost and I stumbled backwards, feeling around. The room spun me around and I lost my footing-

Stefan

She crumpled like a puppet suddenly being released from its strings, into his arms. He smiled down at her, stroking the side of her face. "Let's get you out of here, luv."

"Nik what are you doing?!" Kol demanded, stepping in front of his brother. "Leave her."

Flashing them a malicious grin, he disappeared.

"I'm sorry." Came Freya's voice as she slowly materialised. "I had to do it for our family."

He charged at his sister, but she cast him backwards. "Kol, our family is under threat!"

"To hell with this family. I don't care what you think but if you lay a finger on her, I will kill you myself, Sister." He glared at her, squaring his body.

With a curl of her fingers, his neck snapped, and he slumped back down, out cold. I glared at her helplessly, too weak to move. "I'm sorry, I have to protect my family." She hurried out, leaving us behind.

His voice grew closer, and my name was called out. "I'm in here Damon." Came my weak, broken response. Damon slid into the cell, falling to my Side. "Where is she?" He questioned, eyes darting around.

"Freya and Klaus took her. We have to get her back."

"We'll get her back." He glanced back at Kol, who now sat up, back straight, rubbing his neck and a face twisted with anger.

London

Setting down the plate, she stared out the large window, into the night. Faint rustling sounds emanated from the outdoors. A shadow skittered across; another fell back into the dark. Not one, but five presences loomed heavily. "Dearest, we have guests." She announced dryly, glancing over her shoulder. Pushing the chair out, the freckled faced witch shot to her feet. "Stay there, no need to fret." Manoeuvring around the sink, Genevieve leisurely walked to the back door. A couple of twists and turns, the door unlocked, and she stepped out into the cool night. Folding her arms and drumming her fingers, she called out. "Show yourselves."

The figures stepped out from the blackness and into the steady, stream of light. Four menacing men and a timid Benjamin formed a line. "Wolves." She muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. "Aren't you ashamed of tiptoeing around like thieves?" The thought to her was hilarious.

The man on the right end, took one large step forward. "We've heard, you're the most generous and you are the one to turn to."

She raised a brow, the corners of her mouth twitched. "Interesting. What do you mongrels want?"

His mouth twisted but he forced back his retort, focusing on his orders. "We need your help in locating Qetsiyah's descendant. You're a witch and we need one."

She chuckled. "And why do you need to find the descendant?"

"Can't discuss that further."

"I'm sorry, I can't help you. Anything to do with Qetsiyah, I refuse to play a part. Leave and never come back." With pinched lips she stared blankly.

"You don't understand, we can't return without your help." Benjamin rushed forward, his features trembling and the fear in him loud and clear.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry kid, leave or I'll have no choice but to kill you."

Growls emitted from the four men. She stood her ground, sending them away without a second's thought.

Sophia

My eyes slowly flickered open, feeling a throbbing sensation in my head. As If I had been struck on the head. The world around me disoriented, low resolution. I drifted in and out of consciousness. Everything was a blur, floating aimlessly. It hurt. Everything hurt. I was burning up from the inside. My veins, twisting and squirming as they were set ablaze. I looked down at my numbing hands. They were restrained. Vervain. My eyes trailed up the thick tube that was stuck in me. I was hooked to an IV. A clear liquid entering my bloodstream, I watched helplessly. "Help." I croaked. I tried to free myself, but it was pointless. My throat burned, the taste of sand in my mouth and I could hardly keep my heavy eyes peeled.

"Hey, hey..."

I blinked, focusing. "Stefan...." I murmured, struggling to see his face. My vision distorted. All I could see was white and snippets of images. He worked at the restraints around my feet then yanked out the thick tube stuck in me. Starting on the soaked ropes, he winced, his hands searing. They came undone and he emitted a huge sigh of relief.

"let's get you home-"

I felt myself fall back as he's suddenly thrown off me.

"Foolish of you to come alone." Klaus. They were fighting. The images came in quick flashes.

"He didn't come alone, brother." Kol. My eyes drifted open, desperate to see. The world still a blur. They were fighting. Things were being broken. Crushed. Screaming. Klaus bellowing. He floated back into my view. "Stefan..." I whispered.

"I've got you. You're okay." He lifted me up and climbed to his feet.

"Whenever you need help, trust me when I tell you, that Stefan will always come to your rescue. He will save you no matter what. Just like me and Damon, he will lay down his life for you."

"Enzo..." I whispered. "I can hear him, he's here...Enzo."

"It's okay, I'm here. I'm here." Stefan soothed.

I tried processing my thoughts, but it was all a haze. Everything jumbled up. After a second, I was lost again. "Stefan...I-i-i can't...breathe...Stefan..." He lowered me back down hushing me. Telling me I was safe. I could sense his panic, the worry. The room fell silent. Heavy with anticipation. Uneasiness.

"She needs to feed." It was Kol. Though his voice distant, unclear, I knew it was him. He dashed into view, and I felt him lift up my head. "Kol..."

"Drink." He brought his hand to my lips, encouraging me to drink. "It's okay darling, drink." He murmured, peering down at me. Reaching out, my fingers laced around his wrist and the fangs protruded from my gums. I looked at him again and he nodded. Closing my eyes I bit into his palm, drinking the honey like blood. It trickled down my throat slowly, instantly soothing me. I gulped down more and the more I took the more I wanted. He ran his fingers through my hair, holding me close to him. The hunger in me slowly disappeared but I didn't stop drinking from him.