𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄:
Her new favorite color
(S2:E10 — The sacrifice)

"YOUR SISTER NEEDS TO ADD 'NO' IN HER VOCABULARY," Genesis tells Simon, who is sitting on the opposite side of her couch. He's wearing a scowl again, disappointed at himself more than his sister.

"What are the Salvatores asking of her now?" Simon asks with a heavy sigh.

"They want to get the moonstone from Katherine, who's stuck in the tomb under the Church ruins," Genesis informs him, and Simon's jaw clench, face hardening as he cracks his knuckles.

Katherine Pierce. Simon had heard about her since her return to Mystic Falls, and if he had taken action from the start, this shouldn't be happening to her sister.

But he couldn't risk exposing himself that he practices magic or that he's a powerful warlock—especially when his grandmother died of trying to open the stupid tomb.

He should've helped them. Still, he wanted to prove something, that what they were doing was wrong, and look at what happened.

"What do you suggest?"

"You have three options," Genesis starts as she walks towards the kitchen, returning with a small pouch and handing it to him. With Simon opening the pouch, he purses his lips, looking at the contents.

"First, you make her drink that herb, and it'll weaken her magic for as long as it's in her system," Genesis says. Simon ponders, and Genesis continues, "Second, you put her on house arrest, but the risky thing is, the Salvatores will want to find out who cast a boundary spell in your house. As far as they know, Bonnie is the only witch in town."

Simon shakes his head, and he doesn't need the Salvatores knowing that he's a witch—although they have their suspicions, but Bonnie told them that his brother doesn't use or practice magic, not wanting to get involved in anything relating to magic, and that reasoning saved him from vampires taking advantage of his magic—but his sister wasn't.

"Lastly, strip her away from her magic, teach her a lesson of some sort." Genesis finishes with a shrug. She was waiting for Simon's answer. Genesis knows all the options she gave him are difficult, being the oldest sibling.

The responsibility of taking care of Bonnie after their mother suddenly left them, and their father, that's always away on business trips, all they had was their grandmother, and now she's gone too.

And it's Damon Salvatore's fault.

"The herb. I'll talk to Bonnie when she gets home." Simon answers shortly.

"I don't mean to intrude, but someone told me you plan to move away from this town. What's stopping you?" Genesis asks curiously, her town soft and welcoming. Simon looks away from her, he sighs. Genesis's intention from the beginning is nothing but good.

"It isn't exactly easy. The financial resources of buying a new house or renting an apartment in a new city aren't exactly friendly for a doctor doing his residency with student debts waiting to be paid." Simon answers gruffly, and Genesis ponders, leaning her back on the couch and crossing her arms to her chest.

"I can help with the student debts. I have an apartment in every city you can stay in until you have adjusted—free of charge, of course." Genesis offers with a gentle smile. Simon looks at her with furrowed brows.

The offer is tempting. Really fucking tempting. It's nice to finally feel at peace that his loans from Medical School are eventually paid. That his salary from the hospital can now actually help him save money–enough to support Bonnie on his own without his father.

"Why are you so keen on helping me?" Simon asks, confused. He had just met Genesis recently, and judging from the reputation that Genesis earned throughout the centuries—she wasn't exactly a saint. She was known to be ruthless and unforgiving, but he also knew she had done that to those who deserved it.

Especially when he read an article about the Crimson killer in the 20s—it wasn't that hard to guess. The shade of the lipstick she wore every day is the exact same shade described in the criminal reports, crimson red cross on the victim's forehead.

They weren't exactly victims. Simon corrected himself in his mind.

"Because I know the hardships of this world for people like us," Genesis answers shortly with a shrug. "I know you notice it too, how patients refuse you to be their doctor because of the color of your skin."

Simon stays silent. It was true. A lot of medical schools rejected him when he was applying. He was lucky when one accepted him—but it was far away from Mystic Falls, resulting in him leaving Bonnie in the care of Grams. He visited, of course, as much as he could.

Then, medical professionals—clinical instructors doubted him and favored others, giving him and his peers who had the same color of his skin unequal treatment.

Medical Schools claim to be committed to anti-racism. But the lawsuit reports say otherwise.

But he proved them wrong, and he graduated on top of his class.

"I'll think about it," Simon answers with a tight nod as he takes the pouch of herbs. Genesis gives him an understanding look as she leads him toward the door. Simon turns around and says, "Thank you, Genesis."

"Call me Gen."

Genesis and Simon didn't know that Bonnie bonded with Luka's magic.

───⊱⁜⊰───

DAMON CALLED GENESIS, telling her they needed to get to Richmond immediately. Damon explained to Genesis along the way that Elena convinced Rose to talk to Slater, who was dead. And that after looking through his files, Slater's human girlfriend was told by Elena to contact a guy named Cody and practically offer herself to Niklaus on a silver platter.

It's good to know that she's willing to be sacrificed. Genesis thoughts to herself as she stops a grin morphing in her plump red lips. So, Genesis texted Elijah and informed him about what Elena planned to do, and it was a good time to surprise them.

"What are you doing here?" Damon asks, behind Elena, with the girl turning around in surprise. Genesis, who was a few steps behind them, watched the interaction, intrigued and amused.

"What are you doing here?" Elena echoes out, seemingly breathless, watching his eyes going to where Rose was walking up behind them.

"You called him?" Elena turns around, looking at Rose with betrayal in her eyes.

Rose sighs. "I'm sorry, Elena."

"You said that you understood," Damon rolls his eyes. "She lied," Damon looked down at Elena, who looked as if she was going to argue back, but they were all silenced when the human strutted up to him with a wide grin.

"Damon Salvatore and Genesis Ackerman." The human says in admiration, "No way."

Genesis chuckles. She has a fan. How flattering.

Damon narrows his eyes and looks at Rose. "Get rid of her," he says with an annoyed tone. Rose follows his order and drags the girl away as she fawns over their presence, and he rolls his eyes.

"Come on, and we're leaving."

"No."

"I said we're leaving." Elena shakes her head stubbornly. "I'm not going with you."

"You don't get to make decisions anymore."

Elena scoffs, holding her hands out frustratedly. "When do I ever get to make decisions? You and Stefan do that for me. Now this, this is my decision."

Genesis looks away, stopping herself from laughing. All of this that is happening in front of her is entertaining. Salvatore Princess has finally learned to talk back.

"Who's going to save your life while you're making decisions?" Damon frustratedly asks.

"You're not listening to me, Damon. I don't want to be saved. Not if it means that Klaus is going to kill every single person that I love."

Genesis grins, biting her lip. She is enjoying this way too much. She didn't mind being the villain in their story. It's just that they're all making her job too easy for her. But Niklaus says it's not time to break his curse yet.

So she needed Elena safe.

Cody or whoever Elena contacted wanted to be in Niklaus's good graces—and they are doing the exact opposite of that by messing with their plans.

"Get your ass out the door before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself." Damon grabs Elena by the arm.

"No." she wrenches it away from him, swinging her fist at him. Damon catches her hand with ease, his face hardened, looking at Elena with stone-cold eyes, squeezing her hand.

"Don't ever do that again," Damon warns, his voice low. Elena, frightened, releases a sigh of relief as Damon lets go of her hand, striding towards the bedroom Rose locked Alice in.

Genesis strides towards the living, and her phone pings. She takes it out of her pocket and sees a text message from Jonas.

Bonnie is channeling Luka to strengthen her magic. Luka is alright. But I don't know about Bonnie.

Fucking hell.

Genesis then texted Simon. Stop your sister from channeling Luka's magic. After she drank the herbal mixture, she's going to drain him and herself. They're underneath the Church ruins. Quick.

Genesis sits down on the chair, waiting for Damon to finish compelling Slater's human girlfriend. She needed to talk to Bonnie, and they were taking advantage of her, manipulating her with her supposed-to-be friend's life. It isn't right.

Damon walks out and looks at them, "Time to go. Alice is soundly sleeping and won't remember a moment of this horribly stupid day." Genesis hears footsteps approaching. Suddenly the door bursts open, and they look at the intruders. Genesis stands in front of Elena.

"We're here to meet the doppelganger." The man says.

Elena attempts to step in front of Genesis, "Thank you for coming," but Genesis's hand goes to Elena's arm, squeezing tightly, warning her to stay in place, and Damon does the same to her other arm. "I will break your arm."

If this is the life of a hero, Genesis doesn't want it, constantly trying to save people but also endangering them at the same time without giving it a thought. She'd rather be known as the villain who has a motive for the evil deeds that she'd done—a reason.

"There's nothing here for you," Damon tells them.

Out of the blue. They watch the man near the front door fall, hearing his neck break. Revealing Elijah Mikaelson with his gray collared shirt, sleeves folded just to his elbow, displaying his muscular forearms.

Genesis looks away when she realizes that she is gawking openly at Elijah.

Elijah speeds in front of the other two men, eyeing them as Rose runs out of the penthouse. "I killed you. You were dead." Damon says.

"For centuries now," Elijah answers shortly. "Who are you?" Elijah asks the man.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Elijah." Elijah grins as the man's face drops, and fear settles in his eyes.

"We were going to bring her to you for Klaus. She's the doppelganger. I don't know how she exists, but she does. Klaus would want to see her."

Elijah ignores his words. "Does anyone else know that you're here?"

"No."

"Well, then, you have been incredibly helpful." Elijah smiles mockingly. In a swift motion, Elijah plunges his hands into their chest, pulling their hearts in one motion, then dropping it to the floor carelessly as he shrugs, but the whole time Elijah was looking at Genesis.

Goddamn.

Genesis, who was now staring at him openly, ignoring Elena's terrified gasps, Elena and Damon didn't notice the action and the impressed expression on her face, nodding at him ever so lightly in approval, then Elijah was gone in a blur.

Elijah did it again, and he had impressed her.

───⊱⁜⊰───

"IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. Simon is scolding his sister as we speak." Genesis assured Jonas, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Elijah observes their conversation, letting Genesis handle the situation.

"Bonnie needs guidance, and Simon can't provide it right now," Genesis tells him, remembering that Simon has a lot on his plate with Residency and Medical School debt. The supernatural phenomena in Mystic Falls aren't a top priority on his list.

"There's nothing I could do when it comes to magic. I could only cast minor spells. The only thing I can do is advise her." Genesis sighs heavily.

In times like this, she really wished she had her magic, so instead of Bonnie being in the front line when it comes to the magic department, and she should be the one who's doing all the casting.

After all, she was a powerful witch when she was human, and now she's just channeling magical objects that wouldn't do much.

"And why isn't Simon doing the Salvatore's bidding?"

Genesis's jaw clenches. She takes a deep breath, exhaling, "Because he doesn't want it to happen to him. What's happening to her sister. They don't know that he's practicing magic. And I want it to remain like that." Genesis answers calmly.

"Why?" Elijah asks intriguingly.

"To be unpredictable. The less they know, the better." Genesis answers with a shrug. Simon already agreed to help her. It'll shock Elena and the Salvatores that he has magic—a powerful one at that.

One of the things she learned over the centuries.

Never let them know the first move. Let them guess, and prove them wrong.

Elijah seems to agree with her answer with a subtle nod of his head. Jonas sighs, finally agreeing with her.

"All we need to do is keep Elena safe until the day of the sacrifice comes." Genesis stands up from her seat, preparing to leave as she takes her bag.

"Until then." Jonas looks between Genesis and Elijah, "We have no involvement in the sacrifice. Our debt will be paid." Jonas reminds them—more to Elijah than Genesis.

"It's our agreement, yes," Elijah confirms again. They ended the night with Genesis and Elijah walking out of Jonas's place. With Elijah offers his arm to Genesis as he strolls toward her car.

"You've impressed me again, Mr. Mikaelson." Genesis grins at him as she leans on the hood of her car with Elijah standing in front of her. Elijah now has a grin of his own, "Given your expression earlier. I did a good job." He says proudly. He held his head high, tucking his hands in his front pocket, highlighting his forearms.

Genesis tilts her head, crossing her arms to her chest, her expression teasing as she looks at him with slightly squinted eyes. "How do you make violence noble...and hot?"

Elijah smiles widely. He fixes his collar, trying to avert Genesis's attention to his movements rather than his face, which was grinning like a kid who was praised. Then he looks at her, clearing his throat, "I make violence, in your term, hot?" He asks with his velvety smooth voice that is coming through Genesis's soft waves, and it feels like his voice is caressing her skin.

"Is it wrong?"

Elijah shook his head lightly, still a smile on his face. He couldn't even muster a flirty response, too giddy from what she had said, "In today's society, it seems so."

Genesis pushed herself from the car's hood, taking a step forward, "If you must know, Mr. Mikaelson," inches away from him, she leaned into his ear as she softly placed her palm against his chest. Genesis felt Elijah's breath hitch as he stilled.

"My new favorite color is morally gray."