CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: Sibling Love
WARNINGS: implied/referenced death, implied impending death, mentions of death

ELIJAH AWAKENS, INHALING SHARPLY. HIS eyes flick up, meeting the eyes of Stefan Salvatore. He's hovering by the door, the silver dagger hanging from his fingertips.

"I need you to tell me what you know of Athena and Klaus' relationship," Stefan said, crossing his arms and staring down at the Original. In his free hand, he holds a bag of blood.

Elijah raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Now why would I ever tell you that?" He smirked slightly, standing up and shaking off the dust. He had been caught off guard when Athena had daggered him again but he can't say he didn't think it wasn't coming. "I may be quite the pain in her rear but my loyalties still lie with her."

Stefan narrowed his eyes. "Why is that? You two are terrible to each other. It's clear you both have hatred for each other," he said.

Elijah shrugged his shoulders. "We're complicated."

Stefan taps his finger on the hilt of the dagger. "Athena has you wrapped around her finger. She seems to have everybody. You, Klaus, Katherine..." he shook his head, "I didn't realize she was that good in bed."

Elijah stares up at him with a look of pure disgust. "Well, that's definitely not what happened," he said, "she's..." he smirked a little, "like a little sister to me and Niklaus." He wished Athena would just tell the two Salvatores they weren't her brothers. It'd be so much better. Though, he did love messing with them. Particularly Damon.

"How did you three even meet? From how Athena and Rose talk, it seems that you were ostracized from Klaus' inner circle around the time Athena was alive," Stefan said.

"I'm not going to tell you anything, Mr. Salvatore, so you might as well put that dagger back in my chest," Elijah said with a careless shrug.

Stefan was beginning to get frustrated. "She daggered you! And you're still defending her," he said exasperated, "why is that?"

Elijah merely stared back at him.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA LAID BETWEEN her girlfriend's face-first on the bed. She didn't want to get up. At all.

She wished she could lay here forever and not have to worry about her expiration date or the fact that she has to drain the life out of her daughter's (hopefully soon-to-be) girlfriend.

"I can't believe I owed Katherine fifty grand," she muttered into her bedspread. Hayley looked down at her from where she was reading a book, her brows furrowed. All she heard was sounds since the words were muffled against the comforter. Caroline eyed her girlfriend curiously from where she was finishing up her homework.

"What?" Hayley asked.

"She said 'I can't believe I owed Katherine fifty grand'," said a new voice. A male new voice.

Hayley and Caroline shrieked while Athena groaned. The redhead grabbed a pillow and chucked it at her brother who was standing in the doorway. Klaus yelped barely smacking the weapon out of the air.

"Get out!" Athena shouted before shoving her face back into her pillows.

"No!" Klaus argued, the frown on his face looking weird still in Alaric's body, "you have to help me get my body back! I don't want to be in this—thing—any longer than I have to be."

"How the bloody hell is that my problem?" Athena demanded, flipping over to look at her brother, "you're the one who stole Alaric's body in the first place. I was just fine here—"

"You got kidnapped and tortured—"

"—on my own without you fucking shit up. I would've called when I had everything ready—"

Klaus made a face, "you literally would've still been in that bloody fight club thingy if I hadn't come and got you."

"Isabella would've helped," Athena argued, flopping back. Caroline grunted a little when Athena's head came in contact with her thigh. Hayley patted Athena's arm lightly, not looking up from her book.

"Get up," Klaus said, walking over. He grabbed Athena's foot and began to drag her out of bed.

"Woah! Hey! This is kidnapping!" Athena shouted, latching onto her girlfriends who were watching in amusement. "Help me! Don't let him take me!"

Caroline patted her cheek affectionately, "have fun, baby."

Athena stared at her incredulously before looking at Hayley. The werewolf shrugged, pecking her on the lips once before going back to her book.

"Traitors!" Athena yelped as Klaus yanked her off the bed. She made an 'oof!' sound as she hit the ground. "Niklaus, I swear to all the Gods—!"

Klaus was sprinting out of the room before the sentence was finished.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

KLAUS ENDED HIS phone call, heading into the main room where his sister, Katherine, and Luciana were waiting.

"You awoke me for this? Your body isn't even bloody here!" Athena waved her hands around, her eyes wide.

Katherine side-eyed her, "you okay?"

Athena met her best friend's side-eye with one of her own, "no."

Katherine nodded, gently patting her friend's hip as she looked back down at the newspaper in her lap.

"Are you sure revealing yourself is a good idea?" Luciana asked, her leg crossed over her other one.

"Well, the full moon is almost upon us. I've... accidentally killed the witch, I have the moonstone and the doppelganger is waiting in the wings," he said. Katherine side-eyed him. "Ohh, I am ready to break this curse," he nodded, looking over Athena like she'd drop any moment.

Katherine's brows furrowed. "And why would you do that here?" She asked. She had thought that Athena and Klaus would've taken the ritual to one of their secluded properties. "There are people that would try to stop you."

"Because we have to," Klaus deadpanned, glancing at Athena, "you didn't tell her?"

"She's a vampire. The ritual wouldn't take place so I found no reason to," Athena defended, frowning. Katherine cocked an eyebrow at her friend. "It's the birthplace of the doppelganger," she explained with a sigh.

"I didn't realize that was a requirement," Katherine shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, how could you? You betrayed me and fled England before I could give you the details, Katerina," Klaus smiled sarcastically.

"Don't," Luciana and Athena said, giving him a sharp look.

"What? We're cool," Klaus argued.

"You'll be cool when you pardon her," Luciana shot back, glaring at the man.

"Love—"

Luciana's sharp look had Katherine shutting up.

"Oh, come on!" Klaus frowned, gesturing toward Katherine, "she's the reason my sister has to go through this curse."

"No," Athena argued immediately, "Mikael is the reason for that. Even... Even the mother is the reason for that. Tatia, and Katerina—they aren't the reasons for this curse. Mikael was scared of my power. Do not blame this on her."

Klaus' frown deepened a bit, but he nodded in understanding. "I... apologize," he muttered begrudgingly.

Katherine waved him off, knowing how protective of Athena he gets.

"And I suppose... because you are Athena's 'bestie'—" the three women all make eye-contact, not expecting the word 'bestie' to ever come out of his mouth "—and have helped keep her safe. You are..." he swallowed roughly, "pardoned."

"I'm glad you said it," Katherine said, continuing to read her newspaper like she hadn't just gotten exactly what she'd been wanting for 500 years.

Klaus rolled his eyes. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"STEFAN, WHAT THE hell are you doing?" Damon demanded as he glanced over at Elijah who hadn't moved from his position against the wall. His eyes were closed and he seemed content just where he was.

"I'm finding out information," Stefan shot back, "Athena... she can't be trusted. I love Elena and I'm gonna do whatever it takes to keep her alive. Even if we aren't together right now."

"Right now?" Damon stared at his brother incredulously, "Stef, you gotta let her go, man. She made her decision."

Stefan rolled his eyes. "She's blinded by a pretty face. I mean, she had a crush on you and it went away," he shrugged, looking unbothered.

Damon blinked at him. I'm not even gonna touch that, he thought. He and Elena had established that there were no feelings involved other than friendship and even then that was rocky at best.

Stefan stepped back into the cell even though both Salvatores knew Elijah had heard their entire conversation. "What is it gonna take for you to tell me what I want to know?" Stefan asked, staring down at him.

Elijah cocked an eyebrow, his eyes still not open. "World peace."

Stefan rolled his eyes. "Nobodies getting that with Klaus and Athena running around."

Damon side-eyed his brother. "Maybe not Klaus, but Athena could provide world peace. At least, I think she could," he muttered, rubbing his eyebrow.

Elijah's lip twitched upward. "She is capable of many things," he agreed.

Stefan sighed heavily through his nose. "We need to work together, okay? You want Klaus gone, and so do we," he said.

Elijah opened his eyes and looked at the two Salvatores. "The difference is, I want Athena to live. You do not."

Damon's brows furrowed. "What does killing Klaus have to do with Athena?" He asked confused.

Elijah stared at them. "I can't trust either of you. You've already broken my deals. I'm not willing to make another. Be gone," he waved them off and closed his eyes once more.

Stefan narrowed his eyes. Then he stepped forward and held out the dagger. Elijah peeked one of his eyes open, his gaze zeroing in on the one thing that puts him out of commission.

Elijah raised an eyebrow, his other eye-opening. He weighed his options out in his mind. He hummed and stood up slowly, dusting off his suit. "Fine," he said, "I'll tell you whatever you wish to know."

Stefan smirked a little and glanced at Damon smugly.

"But it has to be him," he tilted his head in Damon's direction.

The dark-haired vampire scoffed. "No way in Hell. Let's go, Stefan. I'ma call Athena to put that dagger back into his chest," he said, grabbing his brother's arm.

"What? No," Stefan held still with all his strength, "we need information, Damon. Come on. Just take one for the team."

"Team? You came up with this whack idea all by yourself," Damon snapped, "I am not about to be punished again for your mistakes."

Stefan huffed a bit. "You're telling me you don't wanna know?"

Damon hesitated, his eyes cutting back to Elijah before moving back to his brother. "I do... but... I've already betrayed her trust one too many times. This feels... wrong."

Stefan set his hands on his brother's shoulders, shaking his head. "No, Damon. Listen, this isn't wrong. She's not being honest with us. This is us evening the playing field. Come on," he squeezed the man's shoulders gently.

Elijah eyed the youngest Salvatore warily.

"It's you and me, Damon," Stefan said quietly.

Damon frowned a little. He was staring intensely into his brother's eyes. He'd been betrayed by him so many times, that his hopes of his brother being there for him had diminished to almost nothing.

Athena had always been there for him.

But Stefan was still his little brother. His baby brother.

Elijah saw the moment Damon gave in. Saw the moment the manipulation worked.

"Alright," Damon agreed. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ELENA BRUSHED SOME hair out of Lorelei's face, watching the girl sleep. She had only been awake a couple of minutes.

Elena couldn't help but admire the girl. Her best friend from before Caroline and Bonnie. The one who taught her how to summon their favorite ice cream from thin air. The one who taught her how to shoot a bow.

The one she had loved.

She was young. They both were back then before they had been ripped apart for their protection. But they had always had a connection.

Lorelei would sometimes know what Elena was thinking before Elena knew she was thinking it. Elena knew when Lorelei was going to panic and calmed her down before it could start.

Elena wonders what would've happened if they had grown up together. Raised by their mothers, trained, conditioned. With magic.

Elena thinks it wouldn't have taken them long to be together.

"You're staring, bella," Lorelei said. Her voice had a small rasp to it that made Elena's chest fill with warmth. Lorelei had yet to open her eyes, but she did shift closer to rest their foreheads together.

"I can't help it," Elena muttered back, setting her hand on Lorelei's cheek and sweeping her thumb over her skin. "I said some awful things yesterday morning. Things that I didn't mean. Things that I hate myself for saying to you."

Lorelei's eyes flutter open. "Claire compelled you," she argued quietly.

None of them had really talked about it. When they got home, they had their little meeting last night and then went to bed.

Truth be told, Lorelei didn't want to think about yesterday. She choked it up to being a terrible dream.

"She did," Elena agreed, tracing Lorelei's jaw absentmindedly, "that doesn't mean my words didn't hurt. I know they did, Rory. I just want you to know..."

"That you didn't mean them," Lorelei supplied, "I know. We don't have to—"

Elena kissed her, a chaste press of their lips. "I am in love with you, Lorelei Castillo. I loved you when we were kids, I felt something for you when we danced that day, and I'm in love with you now. I know I have a death date, but I needed you to know."

"You're not dying, Elena," Lorelei said firmly, wrapping her arms around the girl. Her eyes were wet, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes. "My ma found a way. You're not leaving me. Not when I just got you back."

Elena kissed the lone tear that fell from her lover's eye. "It may not work," she whispered.

Lorelei's arms tightened around her. "It will. Stop trying to convince me otherwise. I believe in my Ma and I believe in you. So stop. You're going to live and in two years, you're going to give Davina that damn teddy bear back. We're going to make our family complete again."

Elena bit her lip to stop the sob that threatened to come out. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Lorelei said. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA EYED HER girlfriends silently. Her brother had left to go back to Alaric's apartment. Katherine had followed up with Luciana to make final preparations. Since that, Athena has gone back to her room to spend time with her girlfriends.

Much needed time.

She had no idea what Claire could've said to them yesterday and she hoped to every God that they knew she loved them. That whatever Claire said meant nothing.

"Why are you staring?" Hayley asked without looking up from her book.

"I can't just stare at my two beautiful girlfriends?"

"Not with your intense, trying to read our thoughts look of yours," Caroline shot back, glancing up at her red-haired girlfriend before looking back down at her laptop.

Athena frowned a little and rested her chin on her arms. She was sitting at her desk, hunched over. "What'd Claire say to you two yesterday?" She asked.

Athena knew she was right the second Hayley went rigid and Caroline froze.

"She didn't say anything," Caroline said, forcing her body to relax and going back to typing.

The Heretic stared at her for a moment, her frown deepening. Then she turned her gaze to Hayley who met her own for a moment before her eyes darted away. "Why are you lying to me?"

Hayley scratched her knee. "She's a fucked up person," she said, not looking up from the motion. "I don't understand why she hates you so much. Why she wants to hurt you so bad."

Athena hadn't understood it really either. Not until Elena connected the dots last night. She was very smart, but when it came to her family she tended to be a bit oblivious.

Claire had set her eyes on Athena when they first met. Had tried everything to get with her even after Athena's polite rejections. She hadn't wanted anything with anyone.

She hadn't realized it at first, but that's when Kol had started to act out against her.

It was a frustrating time. Athena was struggling with Elijah's betrayal and her son's death. She was grasping for straws with the pack. She had been fighting injustices in the world and she had been knocking on death's door.

She hadn't needed Kol to revolt against her. It had made people lose faith in her.

Things got even worse when Athena started seeing Cassidy. Of course, she hadn't known then, but she knew now. She connected the signs. Kol had cut off contact with her after Cassidy was pregnant with Lorelei.

Threats of Claire and her gang of misfits had also risen then. They were one of the reasons their family had to split.

But now she understood everything.

"In her eyes... I had devastated her best friend. A man she was very much in love with. She may be a fucking bitch and crazy, but she is loyal to the people she cares for," Athena shrugged. "I ruined Kol's life so she decided to ruin mine." She gently scratches the table with her thumb.

Hayley frowned a little. "That's bullshit," she said.

Athena shrugged once more. "It's my life." And wasn't that the saddest thing? It was Athena's life. She was blamed for others' mistakes, having the weight of the world on her shoulders, and having people hate her for things she had no control over. Being betrayed by her own family.

"It shouldn't be," Caroline said, the crease between her brows deep.

Athena smiled sadly at her but said nothing. "Will you please tell me what she said to you two? I know she said something. You," she looked at Caroline, "would barely touch me last night and you," she looked at Hayley, "are being awkward."

"I'm always awkward," Hayley argued.

"My love," Athena sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"She said that you told Cassidy she was your person. That you only told us that to get what you wanted. That you only dated us to make Elena jealous. That you did everything for Elena. Okay?" Caroline's typing grew quicker and her girlfriends were worried she'd end up with her fingers going through the plastic.

Athena appeared beside the blonde, taking the laptop away and setting it to the side. She crawled onto the bed, settling between her girlfriends, and facing them.

She looked between the both of them for a moment. "I never even told Cassidy about the soulmate thing. I knew we weren't so there was no reason to give her that. You two are the only ones I want. I love you two so much that it terrifies me. You two make me feel a way that I've never experienced before—a way that I've only read and dreamt about."

She gently took their hands, rubbing her thumbs over the skin. "I did come here for Elena. I didn't have my memories so my priority was keeping the doppelganger safe for the man who took me in when my 'brothers' abandoned me. She was not the reason I stayed," she said seriously, kissing the back of Elena's hand, "when we met that night, I knew I would never be able to forget you. That you were going to be important to me. I am so unbelievably happy you ran me off the road that night."

Caroline scoffed, wiping her eyes.

Athena turned to Hayley who was smiling softly at the two of them. "And meeting you... I am so happy that you become her knight in shining armor. Even that you stalked us—" Athena ducked out of the way of a slap, laughing as she did. "The moment I saw you... I knew I'd always protect you. I knew we'd be together, whether platonically, romantically... anything."

Hayley smiled, squeezing Athena's hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"While we're making declarations," Hayley chuckled and Athena rolled her eyes playfully. "Um... I just... you two have helped me so much. I actually have a semblance of a family now. I never used to have that. I was always on my own. Thank you for being so patient with me. I love both of you—I never thought I'd have this, but I do and I..." she breathed out, looking a little frustrated that she couldn't get the words out.

Caroline brushed her hand over Hayley's cheek, "we know, baby. I love you too. We'll always be patient with you." Hayley leaned into the blonde's hand.

Athena grinned a little. She turned when she heard her door open. Lorelei stood in the doorway, shifting nervously with a piece of paper in her hand.

"Hey, Ma. Can we talk?" She asked, biting the inside of her cheek.

Athena nodded immediately, getting off the bed. "Of course. Roof?"

Lorelei nodded in agreement.

"Roof?" Caroline repeated, staring at the two of them incredulously.

Lorelei blinked and turned to look at her mother for help. The redhead didn't seem to be doing any better, shrugging back at her helplessly. "Uh," Lorelei coughed, looking back at Caroline—she was pointedly ignoring Hayley who was snickering into her pillow—"yeah. The roof. We just sit and talk. No walking or jumping or running." She smiled innocently at the woman.

Caroline narrowed her eyes a bit, flicking between the two Castillos. "Don't break any bones," she muttered, going back to typing.

Lorelei and Athena both let out a breath, quickly making their way toward the balcony while Hayley laughed behind them.

They got settled onto the roof relatively quickly, silence enveloping them. Lorelei shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to start this conversation. She didn't really want to talk about yesterday, so maybe she should just start with the letter.

"Davina wrote to us," she said, pulling out the folded piece of paper. Athena's head jerked toward her, eyes wide with excitement and joy. Lorelei knew that her mother had been writing a lot to Davina, not receiving a letter in return. Which is why the letter was a bit confusing. "It's... well." She held it out to her mother.

Athena took it gingerly, unfolding it. She read it over, taking her time. A frown pulled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes hardening at the words on the page.

Lorelei pulled her knees to her chest. "I thought you said you had been writing to her."

"I have been," Athena pouted, confused and frustrated, "almost every day. I don't understand. Why wouldn't she be getting—" The woman paused for a moment, staring out in front of her blankly.

Lorelei tilted her head in confusion. "Ma?" She asked quietly, setting a hand on her arm.

Athena blinked a bit, scowling. "I think I know what's going on. Have you written a letter back?" She wondered, turning to look at her daughter curiously.

Lorelei nodded immediately. "Elena and I wrote it this morning before getting up. Can I send it back?"

"Of course. I just need to make sure it gets to her," Athena said, folding the paper back up into eighths. She handed it to Lorelei who slid it into her pocket. "Why don't you leave your response with me? I'll write one as well and then I'll send them both once they're done. That sound alright?"

Lorelei nodded once more.

"Good. Is there something else you wished to speak with me about, my darling girl?" Athena asked, tilting her head curiously at her daughter. She had noticed the same stiltedness that Hayley and Caroline shared with her. Like Lorelei was scared to try to speak with her.

"Nope," Lorelei shrugged, turning to look out at the people in the backyard. Since it was daytime, people were actually outside and could see them.

"Liar," Athena muttered, pulling Lorelei's earlobe gently in affection, "you don't have to tell me now, though I want you to know you can always tell me anything." The redhead decided to lean more toward joking to lighten the tension from her daughter's shoulders, "if I need to buy you more condoms, I can do that too."

"Ma!" Lorelei exclaimed, slapping her shoulder with a flushed face. She looked horrified. "No! I'm—why are you like this?" She groaned, dropping her face into her hands.

Athena laughed, nudging her daughter's shoulder with her own. "I have been around a long time. I rarely get embarrassed about such trivial things. Besides, your uncles and aunt are too far away for me to embarrass. All I have is you, Jenna, and Bianca."

"Ugh. Why can't it just be Jen and Ian?" Lorelei pouted.

Athena snorted. "They have been on the receiving end of my embarrassment for centuries. Your turn, dearest."

Lorelei groaned once more. "I can't wait till Davina's around. Then I'll be off the hook."

"Never," Athena said seriously, before grinning at her daughter and placing a kiss on her temple. "Now, seriously, do we need to have The Talk? 'Cause I love you, and I love Elena but I don't want little traveler hybrids running around here."

"Oh. My. Gods. Please stop talking."

"Just saying!"

"Stop saying!"

Athena and Lorelei both started to laugh.

Once they calmed down, Athena brushed her daughter's hair back. "Whatever Claire said to you using my face isn't true. You're my daughter and I love you with every fiber of my being. You're one of my little girls and I will never let you believe otherwise. Cassidy was a fool to not see how wonderful, truly amazing of a person you are. I am so lucky to call you my daughter."

Lorelei's eyes watered, biting her lip to choke back a sob. She hated that her mother knew her despite having not been around. But she was also thankful that she didn't need to say it, that her mother just knew when she needed reassurance.

"I love you too," Lorelei whispered back, burying her face into her mother's chest.

Athena ran her hand over her daughter's head, smiling. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"WHEN I AGREED to talk with you, I didn't agree to go out to some whackass field," Damon grumbled, slowing the car to a stop on the side of the street. Elijah had said that he wouldn't speak inside the house where Stefan could overhear.

"Yes, well, your ability to make demands has long passed," Elijah said as he dropped the empty blood bag into his lap.

"It wasn't a demand. Technically, it's my help. Fuck, I can't believe Stefan talked me into this," Damon said, muttering toward the end. "In return, I want yours."

"Why should I even consider helping you? Or telling you anything?" Elijah wondered, turning his head to look at the younger vampire.

Damon turned his upper body to face the Original, glaring at him. "For the same reason you haven't killed me."

Elijah cocked an eyebrow, a small smirk pulling at his lips. "And what, pray tell, is the reason?"

Damon narrowed his eyes. "You need our help to kill Klaus. Obviously, Athena isn't going to help you since she seems to be thick as thieves with Klaus. And... I need you."

Elijah's eyebrow ticked up, just a bit, the smirk falling from his lips.

"I don't know what's going on with Athena, but if Klaus is as bad as you say he is... then I need your help keeping him away from her."

Elijah looked out in front of him for a moment. He then turned back, holding his hand out. Damon raised an eyebrow. "We need to cut off contact with the world for a little while. I need to make sure you're not talking to Athena behind my back."

Damon's jaw clenched and he pulled his phone out, slapping it into the Original's hand.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Elijah smiled.

"First things first, he's here," Damon said, crossing his arms and looking out in front of him.

Elijah's whole face dropped, paling. Damon side-eyed him, his heart pounding slightly at the look on his face. Damon didn't care that Klaus was the 'big bad vampire' but he knew that the man was obviously ruthless if he had Elijah scared.

"Klaus is here?" Elijah repeated.

"He's taken over Alaric's body."

"Of course he has," Elijah sighed, looking forward. His brother was nothing, but not consistent. "One of his favorite tricks."

"Well, what are his other tricks? What is he gonna do next? You're the only one who knows him."

"Yes, I do," Elijah mutters, staring at the wheel in thought. He knew them both. If Klaus was already here, where Athena was, where Katherine was... If Athena and Klaus made friends with Katherine instead of searching for her all these years, they would be in deep trouble. "I want to get out of this suit. Drive me to Carol Lockwood's please."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to go to Carol's?"

"Will you just drive, Mr. Salvatore?"

Damon huffed in annoyance, turning the car back on.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

THEY SAT IN the living room in the mayor's mansion, Elijah dressed in a new suit.

"So, I assume that the Martin witches are no longer with us," Elijah said.

"Nope," Damon said, leaning back in his chair and smiling sarcastically at him, "the kid is, but he bounced. Sorry for your loss."

"And Katerina? Is she still here?"

"Klaus took her, then Athena got her back. Oh, Claire had taken Athena's body by the way. So, Atty didn't actually kill you, unfortunately," Damon smirked, rolling his eyes. "We thought Katherine would be dead."

"Mm," Elijah said, his jaw clenched at the thought of Claire being in his sister's body, "Athena has her body back, I suppose?" Damon nodded. "Klaus would not have killed Katerina despite him having searched for her. Not Klaus' style. Death would be too easy for her after what she did."

"I don't understand that," Damon snapped his fingers, pointing at the Original, "you say that you want Klaus dead. But you still wanted Katherine to pay for betraying him."

Elijah stared at him directly in the eye. "I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay. There was a time... I'd have done anything for Klaus. For Athena. Klaus is my brother. Athena is my sister. They are twins."

Damon stared at him for a moment, not appearing to have registered what was said. "What?" Damon asked, his brows scrunching together, "that's impossible. Athena was born from my mother's womb. Lilian Salvatore. Not wherever the Hell you two came from."

Elijah tilted his head. "Back when Athena was 20, she had become immortal. Like the rest of us. But she was no regular immortal. While my eldest brother, youngest brother, and youngest sister did not keep their... magic," he smirked a little, "Athena did. She was also a werewolf."

Damon froze a little, his mind jumping back to the night he was in her blood room. Hybrid and Heretic were two different shelves. Athena told him that heretics were vampire-witch hybrids, like herself. She also told him that Hybrids were two different supernatural. Like a werewolf and a vampire or a werewolf and a witch. If Athena was a witch and a werewolf before she became a vampire...

"My father became paranoid as she grew older. She broke from his commands, and went against him. So, he and my mother placed a curse on her. Every 170-180 years or so, she would die and reincarnate into a family that hated who she was," Elijah continued as Damon stared at him incredulously, "hence how she was born from your mother, this... Lilian. Though her blood is not Salvatore. It is... Mikaelson."

It wasn't. She wasn't a Mikaelson by birthright. Her parents were Esther Hagen and Alix Castillo. Though, that probably wouldn't help Damon understand that they were siblings.

"Wait..." Damon shook his head, sitting up. His brows were furrowed and he looked like he was going to be sick. "No. You're lying to me. This isn't real. Athena is my sister! She's mine! She—" He stood up quickly, looking panicked.

Everything she ever told you was a lie.

Everything she ever did for you was a lie.

Every time she saved you, was. A. Lie.

That was a lie.

Elijah appeared in front of Damon, placing a hand behind his neck and forcing the younger man to look into his eyes. "Breathe with me," he said, the tone not leaving room to argue.

Elijah began to breathe, Damon slowly following his example.

Elijah sat the young vampire down.

"You're lying to me," Damon whispered, "please, tell me you're lying to me."

The Original frowned a little, wondering why this was hitting him so hard. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed that the Salvatores hated each other. Athena could barely stand to look at either of them, especially Damon.

"I am not," Elijah said.

Damon clenched his jaw, closing his eyes tightly for a moment. Get yourself together, he snapped at himself. He exhaled, leaning back and away from Elijah. The Original took a step back, eyeing him closely for a moment before returning to his seat.

"How come Athena never told us? Why did she stay so long if she knew she was not our sister?" Damon asked.

"Part of the curse is that she has her memories taken from her. They return randomly or unless she becomes a vampire," Elijah replies with a shrug, "except for eight years ago. She lost her memories in 2001."

Damon's brows furrowed. 2001... but he had seen her in 1958... "She had her memories since... 1864 till 2001? You're positive?"

Elijah nodded slowly, eyeing him. "Why?"

Damon shifted uncomfortably, "no reason. So, okay." Damon runs a hand through his hair, "you are related to Klaus, and the both of you are related to Athena who happens to not even be my sister but is actually a crazy old vampire who wants to kill her girlfriend's best friend."

Elijah tilts his head a bit, contemplating. "That sums it up yes. I know I'm a little behind on the times, but I believe the term you're searching for is..." he picks up his teacup, "'O.M.G?'"

Damon stared at him incredulously, the absurdity of that sentence making him almost laugh. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"SO, THERE'S A whole family of Originals?"

"My father was a wealthy landowner in a village in eastern Europe," Elijah said, buttoning up his shirt in the mirror, "our mother bore eight children."

"So... your parents were human?"

"Our whole family was," Elijah nodded, turning to face him, "our origin as vampires is a very long story, Damon. Just know... we're the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family and from us all, vampires were created."

"Right, but Klaus is your brother. And you want him dead?" Damon eyed him skeptically, not believing this for a second. He may hate Stefan, but he never wanted him dead dead.

"I need some air," Elijah said, "I'm still feeling a tad..." he tilted his head, "...dead. Come." He brushed past the younger vampire and headed toward the backyard.

Damon huffed a bit and grabbed his jacket, muttering to himself about ancient high-class vampires with control issues.

"So, as you've seen, nothing can kill an Original," Elijah said as they walked down the steps, a slight quirk on his lips at the men mumbling. "Not sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree, my family made sure burned."

"That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from," Damon said, clicking his tongue.

"Yes. The witches won't let anything truly immortal walk the earth. Hence the ruby dagger made for my dearest sister. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain the balance."

"So the sun can't kill an Original," Damon drawled, knocking his shoulder against Elijah's while stepping past him, "why is your crazy brother so obsessed with breaking the sun and moon curse?"

Elijah smiled a bit. "Have you ever met twins, Damon?" He asked curiously, watching the man turn to face him.

"Yes," Damon smirked, "they're quite nice."

Elijah hummed, "well. Supernatural twins, like my brother and sister, aren't whole without the other. They can feel each other's pain, and know exactly what the other is feeling. If one dies... so does the other in every way that matters." He stuffs his hands in his pockets, "my sister dies every 170 or so years."

Damon raised an eyebrow, "so Klaus feels like he's being murdered. Great, that's not giving me an answer to my question."

Elijah huffed a little, smirking at him. "So impatient. The curse placed on my sister was also connected to the curse of the sun and the moon. It's all so... Biblical-sounding, don't you think?" Amusement is shown clear on his face, his lips pursed to try and stop the laugh from leaving his mouth.

Damon crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "What's so funny?"

"One night, many, many centuries ago... Niklaus and Athena were particularly... intoxicated. They made a Roman parchment. Aztec drawings on a scroll," he smiled at the memory.

"So, you're telling me, Atty and your lunatic brother drew the Aztec sketches about the curse?" Damon asked, holding his hand up.

Elijah tilted his head in confirmation. "Roman scrolls, African tribal etching, and any other culture or continent ew felt like planting in it," he shrugged.

"Why?"

"Easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelganger or to get your hands on some long, lost moonstone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout," Elijah said.

"So, it's not Aztec at all?"

Elijah leaned closer to the man, smirking a little. "The curse of the sun and the moon... is fake." He shrugs as Damon stares at him incredulously. "It doesn't exist." He walks across the bridge with a little skip in his step, looking more than a little smug.

Damon blinks a bit, "what?" He follows after him quickly.

"The three of us faked the sun and moon curse dating back over a thousand years," Elijah said.

"But if there's no curse—"

"There's a curse. Just not that one. The real one's much worse. It's a curse placed on Klaus and Athena."

"What are you talking about?" Damon waved his hands around, "I think I'm done with story time today. This is all a bunch of bullshit. My sister is not some 1000-year-old vampire who has a curse placed on her—"

Elijah appeared in front of him as soon as Damon turned away. "She's been coughing and puking up blood, hasn't she?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head a bit. They were so close, about a foot away from each other. "She passes out sometimes. She's in pain, shuddering, tensing, sweating."

Damon stared at him in slight shock.

"That is the first curse Mother placed on her. The one that's killing her. This curse, the one that Klaus is trying to break, will break the one placed on Athena. He has been trying to break it for a thousand years. And Elena was his only hope."

"...Athena's dying?" Damon asked quietly, staring into Elijah's eyes blankly.

Elijah stared back at him, tilting his head just a little as he took in the man's expression.

"How... How do I know that this isn't just some—some trick? That you're trying to get us to help you under false circumstances or—or—"

Elijah gently placed his hand on the side of Damon's head and suddenly, they were thrust into a memory. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

1000 A.D —
ELIJAH WALKS ACROSS a field where a young woman with red hair is sitting. There's a little boy and a little girl beside her, the three of them picking flowers together. The three were all dressed in pants and long shirts, covered in dirt.

"Uncle 'Lijah!" The boy called when he noticed the man, grinning upon seeing him.

Elijah smiled back at the little boy, appearing beside him in a second. "Hello, little King. What are you three up to today?" He inquired, squatting beside his nephew.

The little girl with darker skin held up a bundle of flowers. "Atty is making us crowns out of flowers!" She said cheerfully, grinning with her front two teeth missing.

The woman picks her head up, smiling at the two little kids. Her hands were working quickly, but with care as she wound the flowers together to create a crown.

"Hello, big brother. Nice of you to stop by. Would you like a flower crown?" Athena asked, raising an eyebrow teasingly at the man.

"Oh, I would love one!" Elijah agreed, smirking back at his sister.

"Mm," Athena finishes and turns slightly, gently placing the crown upon her older brother's head, "there. A crown fit for a prince."

Elijah grinned. "Why thank you, milady. Now, shall I fetch the swords and we can have a little sparring session?" He asked, looking between the two kids who instantly grew excited at the prospect.

"Yes!"

Athena laughed, standing up and brushing off her knees. "I'll have your crowns finished before Elijah gets back," she promised, leaning down to press a kiss to each of the children's foreheads.

"Alright, ma," the little boy grinned, his cheeks dimpling.

Elijah ruffled his hair before disappearing into the wind.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ELIJAH DROPS HIS hand, stepping away from Damon. "Is that enough for you or shall I show you the memory of her birth?" He drawled, walking back toward where they were before.

Damon stared after him for a moment, processing the memory he had just seen. Athena seemed so happy back then, a smile lighting up her entire body. Red hair, long and braided. She had seemed so happy with Elijah.

What had caused such contempt between them for centuries?

Damon followed after Elijah slowly. "What's the other curse? The one placed on Klaus?" He asked as he leaned against a tree, staring out at the pond.

"You know, my family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. Athena didn't get on with him well either after she hit her tenth birthday," he said, leaning against the tree with the man and staring down at him. "When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. We are my father, eldest brother, and youngest siblings. Klaus and Athena were not my father's children."

Damon turned his head to look at Elijah in shock.

"My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret," he clicked his tongue, "Athena and Klaus were from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this he hunted down and... killed my mother's lover and their entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that raged until the day my sister finally found peace."

"A war between the species?" Damon repeated, crossing his arms, "a witch? Atty's a witch."

Elijah smirked a little. "The vampires... and the werewolves."

Damon burst out laughing. Elijah blinked, startled. Damon slapped his thigh, giggling away. "Oh-ho-ho! That was a good one—" Damon looked at Elijah, going serious when he saw the scowl the Original was giving him, "wait, you're serious?!"

Elijah merely cocked an eyebrow at him.

Damon blew out a breath. "So Atty and Klaus' father was from a werewolf bloodline?"

Elijah's smiled, just a little at the thought of their 'father'. "No," he said, and Damon's whole face scrunched up in exasperated confusion, "their mother was from a werewolf bloodline."

Damon blinked. "Huh? Gay people existed back then?" He joked, his mind reeling at this information.

Elijah stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge whether the young vampire was joking or not. "Yes...?"

"That was rhetorical," Damon deadpanned.

"Oh."

"So... so what does that make them then?" Damon asked, tearing his gaze away from the cute pout on Elijah's face. "Athena's a witch and a vampire, obviously, but when you became vampires... did this make her a were-witch thing or was she always a heretic? And for Klaus... is he a werewolf or a vampire?"

Elijah tilted his head, a slightly smug expression falling over his face as he talked about his siblings. "Athena is all three. Klaus is both."

Damon blinked at him. "Pardon?"

Elijah tilted his head, "is this another rhetorical?"

"Yes," Damon replied as he turned away from the Original, placing his hands on his knees and staring at the ground. "If Athena was already a menace like this... oh, my God, I'm terrified of what she'd be like as a werewolf."

"You do know that Lorelei is a werewolf-witch hybrid, no? Where did you think the werewolf gene came from?" Elijah asked, tilting his head as he crossed his arms, staring down at the man.

"I don't know! I—I thought perhaps Cassidy was a werewolf! I never met that woman so," Damon threw his hands up, running a hand through his hair, "I also thought that werewolves turn when they're bitten."

"They can," Elijah said.

"WHAT?" Damon waved his hand, closing his eyes, "no. Stop. You're overloading my brain. I don't think I can do this anymore."

Elijah narrowed his eyes a bit, her lips pulled flat to stop the smile that threatened to spread across his face. "You're quite dramatic, do you know that?"

"Yes, Athena tells me a lot," Damon said, flopping onto the ground and staring at the darkening sky.

Elijah hummed, eyeing him. "My sister is, what people call, a Tribrid. All three. A witch by birth, a werewolf by birth, and a vampire by magic. And my brother, a hybrid. We don't know why Klaus didn't end up being a witch as well. Nothing would be deadlier than a Tribrid and a Hybrid running around. Deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore the witches, the servants of nature, saw to it that my brother and sister's werewolf sides would become dormant."

"So, that's the curse that Klaus wants to break?"

"No. I mean, yes. Athena always complained about never being able to be whole because of her werewolf side. He wants to trigger that part of themself that's a werewolf. And, if allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race. Endangering not just vampires... but everyone."

Damon stared up at him incredulously. "But you helped him. Before."

"I helped them because I loved them."

Damon nodded slowly.

"That's changed. Now t–he must die."

"We have the dagger," Damon said as he got up, brushing off his pants and flattening down his hair, "we could stop him."

Elijah shook his head. "When a werwolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. So you see the conundrum. The dagger does not work. The ruby dagger created for my sister, would work, but since I already used it, I have reason to believe it's back with my brother."

"So, you're saying that Klaus can't be killed?" Damon asked, scoffing. He pressed a finger into Elijah's chest, "you told me he could be killed!"

"There's one way to kill any supernatural species. At the hands of the servants of nature themselves."

Damon drops his hand slowly. "A witch. One who can channel enough power—if they even can. But it would kill them," he sighed heavily, looking away. He clicked his tongue, wondering if maybe he could get one of Athena's witches to do it if he played his cards right.

"The curse must be broken during the full moon," Elijah said and he stepped closer to the man, "when Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power..." his voice drops a bit, his fingers brushing some hair from Damon's face, "can kill Klaus."

Damon inhales a bit, frowning a little. "If I knew a witch... that could channel that much power?" He whispered and Elijah's eyes lit up, just a tiny bit, "would you... would you make sure the witch didn't kill Athena?"

Elijah's eyes flicked between both of Damon's. "I give you my word," he whispered. Damon exhaled shakily, closing his eyes. "Athena... has been searching for a way to save the doppelganger. And she would not go through with this if she hadn't figured it out. So Elena will live."

Damon sighed. He grabbed Elijah's suit jacket, his face set into a look of determination. "If this is going to happen, if I'm going to help you... You will leave Athena's children alone. You will leave Caroline and Hayley alone. Once the killing is done, you will leave and Athena will never see you again," he said.

Elijah stared at him intensely, dipping his head just a little. "If that is what you wish..." he murmured, "then that is what I will do."

Damon swallowed and nodded. "It is." Then he pulled away. 

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

MADDOX AND LUCIANA chanted a spell, kneeling before a box with Alaric standing beside it. Katherine was hovering behind her wife, watching the flames climb higher. Athena was leaning against the counter, watching silently.

Alaric gasped suddenly, his head jerking backward. His eyes opened a moment later and he dropped his head a bit, looking around. He frowned a little when he saw Katherine, his brows furrowing. "Elena?" Then he collapsed into a heap on the floor.

Luciana stood up, walking toward the large box, and slowly pulled it open.

Klaus, dressed in a white button-up and a black jacket exited the box, smirking. "Now that's more like it," he said, meeting his sister's eyes. 

AN: yoink...?

edited:
finished: 04/17/24
wc: 8359