CHAPTER THREE

Fueled by adrenaline, I moved to slam the door closed but I wasn't fast enough. The blonde, who must be Rebekah Mikaelson, Pressed a hand on the door keeping it open. The other two Mikaelsons came to stand either side of her. Despite knowing that they couldn't enter without an invitation, I scrambled backwards. For now, as long as I stayed in my apartment, I'd be safe. Although, nothing was stopping them from waiting me out or compelling my landlord to let them in.

Rebekah's eyes softened, "We're not here to hurt you, we just want to talk to you. Can we come in?"

"No chance in hell." I spat, keeping my eyes of the vampires as my hand rumaged around my emergency backpack, "If you want to talk, you can do so from there."

Rebekah's eyes flashed with something akin to disappointment, "I apologise for scaring you, that was not my intention. My name is Rebekah and these are my brothers, Nik and Elijah."

"I know exactly who you are." I said coldly. Due to my research, I easily figured out which one was Elijah and which one was Klaus.

My hand finally closed around the white oak stake. I pulled it out and held it behind my back, hiding the weapon from their view. Rebekah continued to talk, none the wiser.

"Well then, I must apologise again, my brothers and I don't have the best reputation." She said with a soft smile.

"Can you brothers speak for themselves?" I challenged, thinking it best to keep them occupied.

"We thought it best that I do all the talking." Rebekah said carefully after a brief pause.

"Oh? And why is that?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Because they're idiots." Rebekah blurted out and the statement was followed by two annoyed huffs from either side of her, "Look, our brother, Kol, said you may have some misconceptions about us due to how you were raised. We know you grew up in a vampire hating Coven but you're our mate, Kresley, we'd never hurt you."

I didn't realise I was shaking until all of a sudden I was struggling to stand. I blinked as my vision began to blur and I had to brace a hand again the wall to steady myself.

"Is everything alright?" Elijah, the brother in the suit, asked. I begun to nod when I noticed that all three vampires has crossed the threshold to the apartment. I began to shake again and they took another cautious step forward, concern lacing their features.

"H-how did you get in?" I asked, my breathing having become uneven.

"I purchased the apartment block yesterday evening." Klaus replied sheepishly.

On unsteady legs, I backed away from them until I collided with the corner of the kitchen table. I stumbled forwards, wincing from the pain that erupted from my lower back. It would most definitely leave a big, ugly bruise. Elijah placed a hand on Rebekah's shoulder, preventing her from taking another step forward.

"I won't let you take me." I spat at them, gripping the white oak that remained out of their sight, "I would rather die."

My mates seemed to physically recoile at my vow. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as silence enveloped the apartment. Rebekah opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. It was Elijah who spoke next.

"We do not wish to take you." He said softly, his voice smooth and soothing. He held his hands up as if he were trying to befriend a skittish animal. "We only wish to talk to you, to potentially get to know our mate."

"If you know what is good for you, you'll leave now and never come back." I said coldly, lacing venom in every word.

He sighed and looked at his siblings, the three of them seeming to silently converse. During the silence, I noticed that my breathing had begun to even out and I all of a sudden felt calmer. My brows furrowed at the change; I was meant to be petrified at the moment. Realisation struck me: this must be a side effect of the mate bond.

A cold determination settled upon me. I would use their calming demeanour to my advantage, after all, I could think clearer when I wasn't drunk on adrenaline. Acting like prey wasn't going to save me, I had to think like a predator.

When the their gaze finally returned to me, I was no longer trying to curl into myself, I stood tall, presenting a confidence that I did not fully feel.

"I am going to ask you this one more time," I spoke, my voice calm and lethal, "Get the hell out of my apartment before things get ugly."

"Kresley-" Rebekah said, reaching a hand out to me.

"Don't you dare touch me." I spat, brandishing my weapon and pointing in her direction.

"We're Original Vampires, Love, wooden stakes can't kill us." Klaus informed me in an almost pitying tone.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Take a closer look"

He did as I told and betrayal laced his features when he identified the weapon.

"You would seriously kill your own mates." Klaus stated, his tone no longer gentle. It now held malice and irritation.

"You have no idea what I would do." I affirmed, "I'm not above killing, just ask my mother."

"For your information, Little Witch," Klaus gritted out as he took a threatening step towards me, "The white oak stake burns along with the body. Even if a naive girl such as yourself could overpower us, you would only be able to kill one of us. You would then be powerless against the other two as they ripped you to shreds."

"Niklaus-" Elijah began to chastise him but I spoke over him.

"Huh, I didn't know that." I said honestly, a smile tugging at my lips, "Thank you so much, that is incredibly useful information."

With a grunt, I broke the tip of the stake with my knee, the old wood breaking fairly easily. I then did the same again and looked down at the three chunks of white oak. "I guess I now have three." I said, placing two of them in my dressing gown pocket for safe keeping.

Klaus scoffed, "You still only have three and there are five Originals. Our siblings would hunt you down. You would spend your life running from them.

"I already spend my life running from my sociopathic coven." I deadpanned, "Besides, didn't you keep them in coffins for centuries? I don't think that either of them would be in a hurry to avenge you."

"The Ashvail Coven have been taken care of." Elijah cut in and I was taken back with shock, hope and doubt.

"What?" I gasped.

"After learning what they did to you, Kol tracked down all the remaining members of the Coven. None of them survived his wrath." Elijah told me.

My heart pounded as I felt a sense of freedom for the first time in my life. Tears threatened to fall and I turned my back to the Mikaelsons. It was foolish but I needed a moment to myself. I jumped when I felt a hand brush against me to a split second. I turned to find Rebekah holding the two pieces of white oak that I had put in my pocket.

"Kresley, we don't wish you any harm, nor do we wish to force you into doing anything you do not wish to do. We only wanted the chance to get to know you but if you do not want that, then we will leave." Rebekah said softly, her body tense as she spoke.

"No." Klaus spat at his sister, "I am not leaving her here with weapon that can kill us."

"She won't use it, brother, not if we don't give her a reason to." Rebekah reassured him.

"And what if it falls into someone else's hands?" Klaus replied.

"I'll make you a deal." I said and three pairs of eyes turned to me, "I'll give you this final piece and in return you vow to forever leave me alone."

Klaus didn't say anything, which shocked me considering how eager he had been to get his hands on the white oak. He looked out the apartment window at the city below, his jaw clenched. Elijah was fiddling with his cufflinks, his eyes fixed on them. Rebekah, however, looked me dead in the eye, disappointment evident on her face.

"Very well." She said with a sad smile.

Elijah looked at his sister with something akin to shock before fixing his face into a neutral expression, "I believe that shall be a fair arrangement."

"Well, it seems like my siblings and I are in agreement." Klaus finally said with a smile that sent shivers down my spine. Slowly, I passed him the final piece. My hand briefly brushed his and he jerked it away. "Kol was right to give up searching for you."

I visibly flinched and Rebekah took a step towards me, as if to offer me comfort but I shied away. A look of acceptance crossed her face before she sped out of the apartment using vampire speed. Klaus followed seconds afterwards but Elijah remained, watching me for a moment.

"I apologise for the distress we have caused you." He told me, "Rest assured that you have no need to hide from us, we shall honour our bargain."

Elijah turned to leave.

"I'm sorry." I found myself whispering, tears welling in my eyes.

Elijah turned his head and gave me what I believed to be a genuine smile, "Enjoy your freedom, Kresley."

And then, he was gone.

***

The next day, as I hauled my suitcase out of my apartment, ready to embark on a journey. I didn't know where I was going but my options were unlimited. I was finally going to live. My bright smile faltered when my eyes caught on a white envelope on the door mat. Picking it up, I ripped it open and read the letter inside.

Kresley,

The concept of mates is somewhat of a fairytale to me. Although the stories of them have mostly died out in this age, as a child, it was all anyone could talk about. My brother Kol and I used to guess which one of us would find their soulmate first, little did we know that centuries later we would all share the same one.

When I learnt of your existence, I was ecstatic. I felt as if I were finally going to get the happy ending I had been yearning for. I now realise that I had unrealistic and unfair expectations of you, which I sincerely apologise for. I thought having a mate would fix me, when in reality I need to learn how to fix myself.

Whilst I am disappointed that things did not work out between us, please know that I wish you no ill will and support you in your decision.

I understand wholeheartedly that you need your freedom and I sincerely hope you enjoy every second of it. If you ever feel lonely, however, contact me and we can be free together.

I sincerely hope that our paths cross again someday, whether it is in this life or the next. But if we do not, know that I will cherish the brief, albeit heartbreaking, moments that we spent together.

I have attached my phone number below as well at the address for our residence, although please do not feel obliged to use them.

Wishing you all the happiness in the world,
Rebekah Mikaelson

My first thought was to screw the letter up and leave it behind but I felt my heart pang at just the thought. With a sigh, I slipped it into my pocket for a rainy day.

A/N: Don't fear, this is just the beginning for Kresley and the Mikaelsons! I know many of you will will be disappointed in Kresley's decision but she needs to enjoy her newfound freedom and learn who she is before she can have a healthly relationship. The next chapter will be set three years after this one!