Chapter Nineteen

Sophia

My fury sprung to life. The witches left no stone unturned to destroy me, to kill me. They knew they couldn't get to me themselves, so they used others. They used Ara who was innocent, and she gave her life unwillingly, because of their own selfish reasons. Now they stopped at nothing to use the love of my life against me. "All because of my bloodline Beks! Because I'm the direct link of Qetsiyah. I am now deemed as a threat and a plague! How is it my fault that I descend from her?! I did not wish for this! I don't even know much about Qetsiyah."

She held me down. "Relax! Breathe. Wasn't she the witch that created the cure and damned the man she loved, who happens to look like your brother Stefan?"

"Oh right, I forgot about the whole sordid doppelgänger thing. I just wish there was a way I could discover more about my lineage and then help Kol." I scoffed. "You know, I would have died, easily let them sacrifice me if they asked me. I rather that then have my loved ones get hurt in the process."

"Don't you dare! We all love and care for you too much to even allow such a thing to happen and not to forget my brothers will indefinitely find creative ways to kill me. So, we will not let you die. Besides, you're the only Salvatore that I actually hundred percent adore."

I flopped back on the bed, sighing. My world completely turned upside down. I should have known better to not get too comfortable. Being immortal came with an abundance of loss and pain. She gave me a sad smile. "You know all my life I have asked myself where I came from and tried to make sense of it all, and I have been lied to countless times, yet today I discovered who I came from, and nothing still makes sense. I know nothing more than what I have been told, and I do not know how to find the answers." I grimaced. She lay beside me, pressing her head to mine.

She began, "There's a saying in my family; Kill a demon today, face the devil tomorrow. Yet even as you dance on that demon's grave, you can't help but wonder, was that demon alone? Or do you have other deadlier ones to fight? And though you celebrate having won the battle, have you really prepared for the war? So, as we dress ourselves in the armour needed for this new fight, we must first tend to our wounds, starting with the deepest."

"Hmm..." I drawled. "What an odd family saying you have but I like it...let me guess, Klaus?"

She chuckled. "Yes, he is rather creative."

I snuggled in closer. "How do I tend to the wounds? I don't know where to even begin."

She turned to face me, smiling compassionately. "I think you already know how to do that. You just aren't ready to accept it, because I think you believe if you accept this, you have failed."

I cast my eyes down. Somehow Rebekah Mikaelson knew what had been going through my mind, what I held deep within and how much it terrified me to face it and set it free. Set myself free. Slowly I got up, feet hanging over the bed and staring at the wardrobe. Hesitant at first but after some encouragement, I walked to it and slid the doors open. There it was. The large brown box containing all my memories. My fingers brushed the top as I lamented over the contents. I turned back to her and placed the box between us. Gently, removing the lid, i peered inside with a heavy heart. My breathing growing shaky as the seconds ticked by.

"It's a very pretty box." She commented, running her fingers along it.

I took out the journals and loose sheets of papers. There were old photographs. There were new ones. Things old and new, all tucked in neatly. All things I held dear. I found what I was searching for. Taking out the loose photographs, I held them up, showing her. "My parents...well adoptive parents..." Tears stung. "I promised I would avenge them but the moment I broke my word, they never stopped haunting me. I see them all the time...every time I look at Stefan or he is around they are there. A constant reminder of my failing. When I look at him, I see all I lost. I'm reminded I lost everything, I lost Enzo and I can't move from it. I failed them and the guilt just doesn't go away. I want to love Stefan, but it is so hard to look him in the eye when they stand behind him! I want to forgive but I am so terrified of what they would do if I did." The warm tears slipped down. She took the photos in her hand and flicked through them. "Every night they come to me, and I can't block them out..."I paused for a second, and stared particularly at nothing. "The truth is, it's not entirely about my family but Enzo. For so long I've loved Stefan workout seeing him, without knowing him and then I find out he's the reason behind my pain. No matter how hard I try, a huge part of me wants to watch him crash and burn."

"I kept something for you, because I knew you would want it and I believe, it will help you make peace and get closure."

"What is it?" Chewing my cheek, I squinted.

Reaching down the side of the bed she pulled out Stefan's journal. "You don't have to look at it now, do it later but what I want to say is, your parents weren't good people. To you, yes, they were but to others...they were horrible. You're seeing them now, it's clear they aren't your parents, and you know that. Stefan and ripper Stefan are two completely different people. Despite that, he is more regretful than anything else." She pushed the journal into my hands. My hands hovered above it, shaking at the thought of it. Closing my eyes, I took it from her and placed it in my lap.

Picking up the photos, a frown settled on her face. "You don't look as happy there than you do now when you're with my brother. You need to let it go. They aren't your parents. The longer you hold onto them, the more power you give them. They will haunt you till the end of time. Take it from someone who has had over a thousand years of family drama. You didn't let them down; you didn't break any vow. Sometimes...blood is thicker than water." She went through the photos one last time and held up the one with Hunter. He had his arms around me and the both of us adorned a fashionable smile. "What about your brother?"

I reached for the slip and gazed down at him. "He is an angel. The perfect boy. Sweet and wise." I held it close to my heart. "I want to keep this. You know I named a child after him and miraculously, they both possessed the same traits and manners." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Burn these then." She stated bluntly, waving the pictures of my adoptive parents. "They are holding you back and it's using you. If you don't burn them...then I bloody hell will!" She tossed them to floor waiting for me to do something. Incanting under my breath and sitting back, the polaroid's caught fire and withered in the flames, until they disintegrated into nothing but ash. My body slumped back, freeing itself from the rigid form. I let out a huge breath, laughing shakily. That was the relief flowing through me, freeing me.

I looked to Rebekah, and she gleamed. "That's more like it. Isn't it freeing?"

I nodded in agreement, smiling. "That's one demon dealt with...what next?" It was freeing, but I still felt I was holding back. It was Stefan.  I was still fighting an internal battle and I wasn't sure what side would win. It hurt me so much, my heart was in a knot and I know she could tell.

She took my hand in hers and gently gave it a squeeze. "We will figure it out together but right now, you need to relax, and tomorrow is New Years. Everyone is coming, including your friends and Marcel. When the time comes, we will cross that bridge. Together! Don't go running off by yourself now!"

I creased with uncontrollable laughter. "I'll be sure not to."

Damon

Pressing my back against the wall, I listened with a heavy heart. Every part of me wanted to barge into her room, pick her up and hold her tight. She was conflicted. Struggling with right and wrong, love and forgiveness. A constant battle with the past and her present. Resting my head to the wall, I continued eavesdropping. "There was a moment where Genevieve....when she-she had Stefan on his knees and she was torturing him, a tiny fraction of me wanted to stand back and watch him suffer. That tiny part felt so good about it. Then...I don't know what it was-I snapped, and it hurt seeing him in pain. Enzo is probably here, looking over me and saying one thing while-while my adoptive family hiss another. The voices in my head...they won't leave me...I'm so torn." Her tone heavy and austere.

She continued in that soft, depressing tone. Every now and then I could hear the smile she tried so hard to put on. Was she that torn between Stefan and the past? Looking at the wall in front, that warm, fuzzy presence returned. He was there, watching us. Enzo was here. I knew it was him. Smiling at the emptiness, hoping he'd return it back. "I want to forgive him. I love him, I really do. I want to be able to love him without... It just hurts."

"I've hated and fought-even attempted to kill my brother Nik...we all have. In the end, love won. All you need is a little bit of time. I promise you; Stefan Salvatore will never let you down. I think, Damon's really happy you're trying. It's all he's wanted."

I glanced back to the wall opposite, my smile faltering, no longer feeling Enzo there.

~

He drove past the red light, ignoring the speed limits. He had to get as far away as he could. He did not want to hurt her. His fear overpowered him. He had no intention of leaving but knew it was the only way to ensure the safety of the woman he loved ever so dearly. He was cursed and that enraged him. His brother was right, he should not be anywhere near her or even think about coming close to her. He was almost at the border, just a few more minutes.

Disorientated, he looked down at his hand that gripped the steering wheel. It began to pale and the grey slowly crept up. Why was he starting to desiccate? Gritting his teeth, he pushed down harder on the pedal and drove further through. The grey darkened and veins became more apparent. The car came to a screeching stop. He could feel himself become stiff. With what energy he had left he unlocked the car door and stumbled out, walking back closer to the city. The further he walked back in; the desiccation decelerated. "Bloody hell!" He cursed, slamming his fist against a pole. Footsteps, steady breathing, his head snapped to the side.

"Heading out brother?" Klaus speculated.

He rolled his eyes. "I tried to leave but I began to desiccate. I don't understand."

"The witches." Elijah claimed. "Must be of their doing."

He clasped his hands behind his head, distressed. "Leaving was the only option. They won't let me leave, will they? I'm itching to kill someone." He growled lowly, the blood lust intensifying.

"Settle down. Control yourself, or can you not?" The elder brother admonished.

He sunk back, pressing his back against the cold, wet pole, eyes brimming with tears. "I couldn't live with myself if I hurt Sophia. But, hurting the ones we love, whether we mean it or not, that's what we do. Isn't it?" He looked up at his brothers, who stood side by side with grim expressions.

"It is who we are." Came his taut voice.

"Look..." Klaus began. "Despite what I said earlier, you need to come back home and we will look for some loophole, we always do...I imagine if Sophia were to find out I drove you away... she'll make good use of that dagger."

At that Kol smirked. His heart sunk at the thought of her. The love of his existence, whom he could not be near for fear of destroying her. "Damn that wretched curse." He muttered to himself. Closing his eyes, her face flashed before him. Her smile and her laughter echoed in his ears. For now, that's all he needed to subdue himself.

Sophia

I heard the whole conversation between Rebekah and Klaus. To say I was infuriated would be the understatement of the century. Kol tried to leave because his brother drove him out! I shook my head at her in exasperation.

She exclaimed displeased. "Look, they were doing it for you so don't go biting anyone's head off! We will see them tomorrow afternoon for New Years and hopefully, Freya can fix him before then. Can we go back to sleep now?"

"Fine!" I huffed, crawling back into bed, loosely throwing the duvet over me. She had been persistent and demanded that I not sleep alone, and she would be here, for support and to keep an eye on me. Although, I suspected Klaus coaxed her into acting as my bodyguard. Regardless, I was happy to have her. She switched the bedside lamp off and turned to face me, flashing her pretty whites.

"You know they both love you...the same. Nik asked me why Kol? He met you first, yet you went for Kol despite them being similar."

"That's a rather odd question...they share the same reckless and impulsive nature, and I can imagine as much as they may get along, their similarities cause conflict between them. When I first met Klaus, I was human and though at first, I found him interesting, I wasn't attracted to him...the darkness around him was alluring. After he turned me, I saw him as nothing short of a monster. I don't love him in that sense, and I don't think I ever will. I can't deny that we share a connection and I do care about him but Kol...the way he makes me feel, I have never experienced in my entire existence! With him I'm free, it's exhilarating...I feel at peace, and we connect on so many more levels! The moment I first laid eyes on him, I couldn't shake him off, it's like I saw through his soul as he saw through mine...it's indescribable Beks. He may be unpredictable, menacing, a tad bit sadistic with an amazing temper...he's unreasonable but despite that all, I can't help but love him-"

"Let me guess, loving him goes against everything you believed in about good and bad, pure and evil?"

"No. When I look at him all I see is light! He is surrounded by light Rebekah. I don't see the darkness and if anything, it doesn't scare me how I love that dark part about him! We're all monsters in our own way." I exhaled. My eyes fluttered shut as I muttered incoherent words to her, her laughter becoming a distant memory.

Damon

Slipping the phone back into my pocket I turned back to Stefan. "Care bear and Bon will arrive tomorrow, but they'll head straight to the Mikaelsons and deal with Kol."

He nodded, staring into his empty glass. He was going through decades of memories and regret. Sophia entered his life and she forced him to rethink everything. All he cared about was her forgiveness and doing right by her, making up for lost time. "I also came to tell you; I heard her conversation with blondie and she's trying to move on and accept you."

Lifting his head, he met my gaze. "I just wish I could take it back."

I nodded, listening to his concerns, and monitoring his face. "Stef, you need to give her time. Yes, she accepted her parents were deceptive and terrible, but it does not excuse you killing them. What troubles her, is losing Enzo. He was our brother, and they did everything together-he did everything for her. She killed Tyler Lockwood because I lied to her, to protect you. She's not free from having blood on her hands, but she always lived by the code of not killing innocents. Enzo meant the world to her, he still does. She needs a little bit more time to come to terms with it. Trust me when I say, she will forgive you and you will form a strong bond. Enzo believed it."

"How much longer?" He whispered.

"Remember how long it took me to forgive you? She's more like me in ways, than you can imagine and it's a nightmare." We chortled. "She loves you. That's why it's so difficult for her." He nodded, a smile creeping up on his face.

"Do you think she'll tell me whether she's forgiven me or not?"

"Yes."

"When she hugged me, I never felt that kind of love before. It filled me with so much hope but I'm scared."

I sighed. "It's okay to be scared, just take each day as it comes."

After our heartfelt conversation, there was a change in his mood, and I smiled. He was much happier and determined. Finally, he decided he's not going to mope around and feel sorry for himself. Rather he will be worthy of her forgiveness and worthy of her love.

~

Their bellowing aided the throbbing in his head. On all fours, nails digging into the wet soil, heaving for breaths. He didn't want to transform into his wolf form. He refused. An anguished gasp tore through him, his right leg popped and cracked in a slow, excruciating manner. "What's wrong with Benjamin?" The short, pixie haired female questioned, raising a brow at the squirming teen. "It's not meant to be painful for us?"

"He's fighting it! The sod doesn't want to turn." The curly haired one barked.

"BENJAMIN!" Roared his father from behind. "TURN!"

He tried so hard to fight it, to prolong the transformation. Completely disregarding the torment, he forced it to slow down. Deep, heavy breaths wracked his body. An onslaught of bones and limbs, popping and cracking. "TURN! You know you can't deny me, your Alpha. Turn." He blustered, thundering forward. Grabbing his head, forcing their eyes to meet, the Alpha's eyes glowed amber. "Turn."

His will power, his mind and heart were not enough to hold it back. Just like that, his body gave in, and he stood on all fours, before his master. "Submit." The Alpha condescended. The snow-white furred wolf, shook its head side to side, dragging its paws back. "SUBMIT!" The acerbic voice boomed, towering over him. Shrinking back, the little wolf lowered his head, whimpers parting with him. Turning to the curly haired one, the Alpha ordered. "Take him with you! There's a new lead I want you to follow and see what that Genevieve and her insects hid from us."

Nodding, the curly haired leapt into the air, coming into its beastly form. Snarling, it circled the little wolf before it dragged him with its canines.