💘( The Woman in White! )✨

ONE

[ Bringing Out the Dead ]

(👰‍♀🗡🧛‍♀️⚰️🐺⚜️)

" I wanted it to be for us. A place we could finally call our home. Where we could be truly happy—the one thing we have always wanted. "

~ KLAUS MIKAELSON to ELYSIA MIKAELSON 

THE CRACKLING FLAMES IN THE FIREPLACE painted the room with an eerie glow. Klaus gripped Stefan's arm, holding it dangerously close to the fire. The scent of burning flesh filled the air. 

"Go ahead and kill me," Stefan hissed through gritted teeth. "I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin."

Klaus narrowed his eyes, studying Stefan's expression. Then, with a sharp growl of frustration, he yanked Stefan back from the fire and shoved him away, "You really have given up, haven't you?" he sneered, his voice laced with disappointment. "Where's the fight? Where's the Ripper?!"

Stefan shoved Klaus back. 

But before the tension could escalate further, the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. The door creaked open, revealing Elijah and Damon. A blonde servant trailed behind them, carrying a silver tray covered with a lid.

Klaus straightened, his expression darkening, "Elijah...why haven't you left?"

Elijah raised an eyebrow, his tone calm yet cutting, "Where are your manners, brother? We forgot dessert."

With deliberate precision, Elijah removed the cover from the tray. Resting in the center was a single silver dagger. 

Klaus's eyes widened, a rare flicker of panic crossing his face, "What have you done?"

Elijah stepped forward, his demeanour as sharp as the blade on the tray, "What have you done? You see, I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on her terms now."

Klaus opened his mouth to retort, but the words died in his throat as another set of footsteps echoed into the room. A figure stepped through the doorway, her presence commanding and electric.

Dressed in the familiar white dress, Elysia Mikaelson entered the room. Her striking features were framed by golden hair, and her piercing eyes, filled with both strength and sorrow, locked onto Klaus.

Klaus gasped audibly, his entire body going rigid. His eyes filled with unshed tears as he whispered, "Elysia..."

Elysia tilted her head, a smirk gracing her lips, though her own eyes glistened with tears, "It's been a long time, my love."

Klaus stumbled back, unable to tear his gaze away from her. His mind raced, memories flooding him—love, betrayal, anguish. The room seemed to close in around him, the flames reflecting the chaos in his heart. 

Elysia stepped closer, her presence as haunting as it was captivating. For the first time in centuries, the Woman in White had returned, and with her came the weight of a love and betrayal Klaus could never outrun.

The room was silent but tense, the air thick with unresolved fury and betrayal. Elysia stood before Klaus, a striking figure in her pale dress stained crimson. She dabbed at her mouth delicately with a white handkerchief, wiping away the blood from the lifeless blonde servant, who now lay crumpled on the floor.

"You look surprised to see me, my love," she began, her voice smooth and biting, every syllable dripping with mockery. "So, it wasn't you that removed the dagger from my heart? And here I thought you missed me." Her smirk deepened, but her eyes betrayed the pain behind her words.

Klaus swallowed hard, his usual bravado faltering for a moment before he forced a smile, "You look like you could do with a drink," he quipped, motioning toward the perfectly set dining table. "And we have a lot to discuss, so shall we?"

Elysia tilted her head, her smirk fading into a cold glare. Before Klaus could react, she surged forward, slamming into him with brutal force. The impact sent him crashing through the double doors and into the courtyard beyond, shards of glass scattering like rain.

Damon leaned casually against the wall, watching with amusement as the chaos unfolded, "And here I thought dinner parties were boring," he muttered, earning a confused glance from Stefan, who could only watch in disbelief. Elijah remained stoic, standing back with his arms folded, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Klaus groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, brushing glass off his jacket, "Easy, love," he said, his voice laced with irritation. "I just finished renovating."

With vampiric speed, he lunged at her, tackling her into the dining table. The wood splintered beneath them, dishes and candles clattering to the floor in a cacophony of destruction. Klaus pinned her down momentarily, his grip strong but his voice almost pleading, "You have every right to be mad at me. I betrayed you. But don't forget who twisted the knife first, love."

Elysia's expression darkened at his words, fury igniting within her. She threw him off with a growl, slamming him into the wall with inhuman strength, her hand wrapped tightly around his neck. Klaus struggled against her grip, his face turning red as he gasped for air, "You think this makes us even?" she snarled, her voice trembling with rage and hurt.

But Klaus managed to break free, flipping their positions and sending her crashing to the ground. In a blur, he grabbed the silver dagger from the tray and pinned her to the wall, holding it to her throat.

"Don't make me do this to you again, Elysia!" he shouted, his voice cracking as his own tears began to pool. 

Elysia's eyes widened, disbelief and heartbreak etched into her face. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she stared into his conflicted gaze, "Come on," she hissed, her voice trembling. "Use it! I dare you!"

The tension in the room was palpable until Kol's voice broke the silence, "If you do," he drawled as he strolled into the room. "You'll have me to deal with."

Klaus spun around, lowering the dagger in shock as he laid eyes on his younger brother, "Kol," he whispered, the name a mixture of surprise and relief.

The distraction was all Elysia needed. She shoved Klaus backward with a force that sent him reeling. Before he could recover, Finn appeared behind him, his face as cold and unreadable as ever.

"Finn?" Klaus gasped, turning just in time to see the dagger plunge through his hand. He screamed in pain, clutching at the wound as Finn stepped back, his expression unchanged.

Stumbling away, Klaus turned toward the doorway, only to find Rebekah standing there, twirling a dagger around her pointer finger with a wicked grin.

"Rebekah," Klaus choked out. 

"This is for our mother," she sneered, before driving the dagger into his stomach.

Klaus gasped, the pain doubling him over as he fell back into Kol's waiting arms. Kol held him steady, restraining him as Elysia approached, her fury radiating off her like heat.

Rebekah stepped aside, passing the dagger to Elysia with a smile, "Here you go, sister," she said, her tone almost gleeful.

Elysia grasped the dagger, her grip firm as she turned toward Klaus, who looked at her with a mixture of regret and desperation.

She hesitated, glancing at Damon and Stefan, "You're free to go," she said coldly, her gaze flicking between them. "This is family business."

Damon smirked, giving a mock bow, before grabbing Stefan's arm, "Come on, brother. Let's let them sort out their...issues."

As the Salvatore brothers left, Elysia turned her attention back to Klaus, the weight of centuries of betrayal pressing down on her. This was far from over.

Elysia walked through the room with calculated poise, her eyes scanning every detail of Klaus' newly renovated home. The flickering light from the fireplace illuminated her face, a mask of cold detachment as her fingers traced the edge of a vase on a nearby table.

"I like what you've done with the new place, Nik," she remarked casually, her tone sharp with mock admiration.

And then, with a sudden, fluid motion, she grabbed the vase and hurled it across the room, sending it crashing into a painting on the wall. The shards rained down like deadly confetti. 

Klaus flinched, "I wanted it to be for us. A place we could finally call our home. Where we could be truly happy—the one thing we have always wanted."

1100

The woods were silent, except for the crackling of the fire that barely kept the chill of the night at bay. Their makeshift camp was nestled deep within the forest, far away from prying eyes and, more importantly, Mikael. It wasn't much—just a temporary sanctuary in a life of constant running.

Klaus stirred awake, his heightened senses catching the soft sound of muffled sobs. He turned his head and saw Elysia sitting a few feet away, her knees pulled to her chest and her face buried in her arms. The faint glow of the fire illuminated the tear tracks glistening on her cheeks.

"Elysia?" His voice was low, groggy, but filled with concern.

She didn't respond immediately, her shoulders shaking as she tried to stifle the sound.

Klaus sat up, brushing the dirt off his clothes as he moved closer to her. He settled beside her, his hand resting gently on her back, "What troubles you, my love?"

Elysia finally lifted her head, her eyes red and glistening. She wiped at her face quickly, as though embarrassed to be caught crying, "Nothing, Nik. Go back to sleep."

Klaus tilted his head, a soft smile playing on his lips despite the worry etched into his features, "I will do no such thing. Tell me, what's troubling you, my dear?"

Elysia let out a shaky sigh, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm tired, Nik. Not just tonight...but of all of this. The running, the hiding, never knowing if the next sunrise will bring us safety or Mikael." She paused, her gaze drifting to the fire. "I want a home. Somewhere we can stay without looking over our shoulders. Somewhere we can truly live."

Klaus' jaw tightened as her words hit him, the pain in her voice cutting deeper than any blade, "I know," he said softly. "I feel it too."

Elysia shook her head, "It's not just for me. It's for all of us—for Rebekah, Elijah, Kol, even Finn. You must want more than this? A place where we can finally be happy?"

Klaus reached out, gently cupping her face and forcing her to meet his gaze, "I do," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "And I promise you, Elysia, I will give you that. A home. A place where we won't have to run anymore. However long it takes, I will make it happen."

Her lips trembled as fresh tears welled in her eyes, "You say that now, but what if—"

"No," Klaus interrupted firmly, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped. "I will not let Mikael or anyone else steal that from us. I swear it to you, Elysia. One day, we shall have a home to call our own. A place where we will be truly happy. Always and forever."

Elysia leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his for any hint of doubt. But all she saw was the fierce determination that defined him, "Always and forever," she echoed softly.

Klaus pulled her into his arms, holding her close as the fire crackled between them, casting fleeting shadows on the forest floor. For a moment, the weight of their lives lifted, replaced by the fragile hope of a promise made in the dark.

But as the years passed and the shadows of their past grew longer, even the brightest promises could be eclipsed by betrayal and pain.

Elysia laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that echoed in the tense room, "I want a divorce."

Kol, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, erupted into laughter. The sound was rich with amusement, cutting through the tension like a blade.

Klaus shot him a withering glare, "Shut up, Kol."

Elysia stepped closer to Klaus, her voice ice cold, "I am leaving you, Nik. And I will make sure you are alone. Always and forever." Her eyes darkened with a dangerous intensity, the words striking him harder than any blow.

Klaus clenched his jaw, his voice rising with a mix of anger and desperation, "If you do, I will hunt you down."

Elysia tilted her head, a faint smirk on her lips, but eyes burned with fury, "Then you'll become everything you hate. Your father." She turned sharply, her dress billowing as she strode toward the door.

Klaus' voice thundered behind her, "I'm the hybrid! I can't be killed! I have nothing to fear. Especially not you!"

Elysia paused at the doorway, glancing over her shoulder, "You will when I have that coffin." A large sinister smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, sending a chill down her husband's spine. 

The room fell silent as her words lingered in the air. Suddenly, the creak of a door echoed through the house. Every head turned toward the sound.

Esther stepped into the room, her presence commanding yet eerily serene. She moved with purpose, her eyes sweeping over her children and landing on Klaus.

Klaus gasped, his face pale with shock, "Mother?"

Rebekah's voice trembled as she spoke, her expression one of disbelief, "Mother?"

Esther's steps were steady as she walked toward Klaus. He avoided her gaze, his body tense, his hands clenched into fists.

"Look at me," Esther commanded. 

Klaus hesitated, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Slowly, he lifted his tear-filled eyes to meet hers.

"Do you know why I'm here?" Esther asked, her voice a blend of sadness and resolve.

Klaus' voice cracked as he whispered, "You're here to kill me."

Esther's expression softened, and she reached out, placing a gentle hand on his cheek, "Niklaus, you are my son, and I am here to forgive you."

The room seemed to shift as she turned her gaze to the rest of her children, her voice growing stronger, "I want us to be a family again."

Her eyes landed on Elysia, and she extended her hand, "And that includes you, my dear girl." 

Elysia stared at her for a moment, her composure faltering from overwhelming emotion. Slowly, she placed her hand in Esther's, the room heavy with unspoken tension.

The Original family stood frozen, the fractures between them exposed but the promise of healing lingering in the air.

A/N: 

06/02/2025 

Hey, all lovely readers, 

I'm asking for a little favour to please leave a comment or a vote, some small gesture to let me know that you are enjoying this story as it will determine if I post the next chapter and even continue the story all together. I've just lacked so much motivation to write my TVD stories because it seemed like no one was into them due to the lack of any sort of feedback. 

Thanks in advance, 

Marley 😄

Words: 2524