Chapter Nineteen

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Author’s Note

Whoa…

Things are about to get a bit more hectic in Mystic Falls.

Tell me what you think, and I hope you enjoy!

-Ade

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Bella held onto Henrik’s hand tightly as they entered the house together. They walked silently to the den were they could hear Kol and Klaus gathered together. Henrik simply nodded in acknowledgement to Kol before turning to Klaus. “I suppose now is the best time to start this discussion.” He said preparing himself for whatever his brother had to say to him.

Bella nodded in agreement, her eyes drifted over to Kol. She stepped forward and held out her hand o him. “We didn’t get to properly meet before, I’m Bella.”

Henrik stiffened as Kol took Bella’s hand and shook it. Kol smiled at Bella knowing very well that Henrik could and would at any moment if he did something wrong. “Kol.”

Bella smiled and moved back to lean against Henrik. “So what happened Nik? Why didn’t you tell us something was up earlier?”

“I didn’t want to detour you from your trip. I assumed sooner or later you two would return home and we discuss things then. I believed we could keep things under control until you came back, then we could discuss what actions to take.” Klaus replied he handed Henrik a drink and smiled at Bella before doing the same. “I was right, I knew you would return.”

“Where are the others?” Henrik said looking around noticing the house was oddly quiet. He paused as a thought came into his mind and his distaste for his siblings only grew. “They’re with her?”

Kol nodded, “They are willing to believe that our mother is back because she wants to reunite this family. They’ve fallen to believe that this is their second chance in having a family to be apart of.”

Henrik scoffed at the thought of ever being a family again. “The chances of us being a family again are slim.”

Bella took a sip of her drink and set it down quickly as she wasn’t in the mood for it. “Has she tried anything since her return? Has anything come to seem suspicious of her behavior?”

Klaus shook his head. “No, she’s been… motherly. She cooks, cleans, sews, and converses with us as if the last thousand years never happened. She’s even gone as far to offer her forgiveness to me for killing her.”

“You don’t need her forgiveness. You did what was necessary and she deserved to die for what she did to you. You and I both know that if you hadn’t killed her she would’ve killed you.” Henrik said as he met Klaus’s gaze assuring his brother that he still held no negative feelings towards his act of murdering their mother.

Bella looked at Kol curiously. “Why don’t you trust her? Your other siblings seem to be easily accepting them back into their lives, so why aren’t you?”

“During my human years the only time I spent with my other was when I was learning magic. Towards the last moments of my human life, I saw the difference in her. She was evil long before she died, I doubt that changed in the time that she spent on the other side. If anything I’m forced to believe that she came back worse than when she died. If she wanted to kill us then, she wants to kill us now. The only difference now is that she’s had a thousand years to come up with a plan that might actually work this time around.”

“That’s a better answer than I expected from you.” Henrik replied as he glanced at Kol for a moment before he returned his attention to Klaus. “Has she tried anything against you specifically? I wouldn’t put it past her to try and attack you when no one else is looking.”

“No,” Klaus replied easily as he himself was confused on why his mother had yet to try anything against him. “I’ve been careful around her and the only time I’m in the same room with her is when there are others. I know she wouldn’t do anything against me with Rebekah in the room. Rebekah is her biggest supporter at the moment, but if Rebekah senses anything wrong from Esther, she’ll turn on her in an instance.”

Bella sighed as thought ran through her mind. “She could be waiting for the full moon.” Bella said catching everyone’s attention. “At this moment Esther is nothing more than a simple witch. If she’s really planning something against this family, she has to wait until she’s at her strongest point. We all know the witches are at their strongest point during the full moon. At this time the witches from the other side can offer her more strength, most likely enough to help her do whatever it is she came back to do.”

Henrik sighed as he hadn’t thought of it until Bella had said it. “She’s right. If Esther is planning anything, it has be during the full moon. She’s not strong enough to do anything that can kill any of you on any other day. She needs the full moon to generate more power, and that means we only have days left before she tries whatever it is she’s planning.”

“We’ll have to work fast to try to get ahead of her. If she’s planning something we have to figure out what it is soon or we might be too late and then not be able to put a stop to her.” Bella said as she looked to be in thought.

“That won’t be hard.” Kol said standing up. “Rebekah just messaged me. They’re on their way home, it should be matter of minutes before they’re here.”

Bella took in a deep breath and looked to Henrik. She smiled as he met her eyes and without having to say a word to each other they knew that they had to stop her. At all costs they couldn’t let Esther follow through on whatever her plans may be. Bella smiled as Henrik’s arm went around her shoulders and he kissed her forehead.

“Come on, I’ll help you bring your things inside.” Klaus said heading out.

Henrik followed immediately as he didn’t want to be in the same room as Kol any longer than he had to be. He left Bella behind knowing her well enough to know she would like to get to know Kol better.

Bella smiled at Kol. “It’ll get better, he’ll learn to forgive you all. Forgiving someone just takes time.”

Kol smirked, “Why are you being so polite to me?”

Bella smiled brightly. “Henri may not like you at this moment, but I know one day he’ll forgive you. I don’t want your first impression of me to be negative, not to mention that if you dislike me it won’t help the situation. I’m being polite because I have a similar feeling to you as I did when I first met Nik. Granted, when I met Nik I trusted him more because Henri trusted him, but I get the feeling you’re someone I could learn to trust.”

“Bella, what the hell is this?” Klaus asked from outside.

Henrik’s laughter followed. “I would be careful, she’s fond of that.”

Bella rushed outside and grabbed the monkey from Klaus. “This is my souvenir from our trip. Henri won it for me at a carnival. I think it fits don’t you?” Bella said hinting towards the mermaid tail.

Klaus smirked and shook his head. “Speaking of…”

“No.” Bella and Henrik both said at the same time. “That’s between us.” They said again in union smiling at each other for a moment before turning back to Klaus.

“Needed to be sure.” Klaus replied as he grabbed a suitcase. “I’ve made sure no one enters your room so it should be fine for the both of you.”

“Has Damon tried anything?” Bella said following after Klaus. “I know that asshole is going to try something stupid. Was he a part of the awakening of Esther?”

Klaus shook his head as he headed up the stairs. “No, I don’t think he had anything to do with her. From what I gathered he left around the same time the both of you did. I was told he went to go find a new car to replace the one he lost in a tragic fire.”

Bella raised an eyebrow at how much information Klaus knew. “How do you know all of this? Now that I think of it, how did you know Bonnie was the one to awaken your mother?”

“I became friends with the blonde.” Klaus said simply. “Caroline.”

Bella smirked widely as they entered her room. “Friends?”

Klaus sighed and rolled his eyes, “Bella.”

Bella put her hands up, “I just find it curious that you made a friend. I’m sorry to sound surprised but as far as I knew you didn’t make friends. Especially with bubbly, energetic, and cute teenage cheerleaders.”

“Isn’t she a little young for you Nik?” Henrik said coming into the room.

Klaus sighed and went to exit the room. “I’m sure you’ll here when the others arrive. I’ll leave you to unpack.”

“Are you going to go check on your friend?” Bella teased she laughed as she didn’t get a response from Klaus.

Henrik smiled, he walked over to Bella and wrapped his arms around her pulling her back to his chest. “I love you.” He whispered into her neck as he kissed it.

“I love you.” She said as she turned around in his arms and kissed him. “We’ll win this fight, we always win.”

Henrik smiled and rested his forehead against Bella’s. “I hope your right, Belle. As much as I dislike them at this moment I wouldn’t wish my siblings to have the same fate of spending the rest of eternity on the other side.”

Bella wrapped her arms tighter around Henrik. “I know. We’ll get through this, Henri. Just like we get through everything else that comes our way.”

Henrik nodded he closed his eyes content on just feeling her close to him. He pulled back a moment later. “I’m going to change before we have to go downstairs and deal with this mess.”

Bella smiled, “I’m assuming we’re back to suits?”

“There’s nothing better to wear when confronting your psychotic mother than a suit, Belle.” Henrik said he kissed Bella sweetly before he disappeared to get changed. Bella grabbed the monkey she had thrown on the bed upon entrance and set it down on the sofa in her room. She debated changing herself, but saw no real needed to do so. Instead she got on the bed and laid back as she waited for Henrik to reappear from the bathroom.

Bella grasped Henrik’s hand in hers as they stood at the top of the stairs. “Henri.”

Henrik shook his head knowing exactly what she was going to say. “I’ll be fine. Let’s go.” He walked down the stairs at a steady pace each step bringing him closer to the woman he once called his mother. He entered the living room and saw all eyes turn to him and Bella. Ignoring them all, he led Bella over to the empty loveseat. He sat down and pulled Bella closely to his side, he knew well enough that she would be the only thing standing between him and his mother at the moment.

Henrik leaned back and smirked widely. “Well, a Mikaelson reunion, isn’t this the perfect moment to have a family photo?”

Klaus chuckled lightly at Henrik’s words. “I would much rather have a portrait painted then a simple picture.”

Esther stared intently at Henrik, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the right words to say. It only took one look and Esther knew that before her sat her baby boy. The child she had so long ago lost and mourned for. “My little boy…” She said finally tears welling in her eyes as she looked to Henrik. “I’ve longed to see you for so long.”

Henrik sighed he rolled his eyes, his anger towards his mother not letting him believe her words. “I doubt the words you speak are true. I don’t think you’ve said the truth in a long time, mother.” He spat the last word glaring at her. He knew if he tried hard enough he could one day forgive his siblings, but no matter how much he tried, no matter the effort he put into it, he would never be able to forgive his mother. She was a monster with no redemption. She cursed her own son blaming him for her own mistake. The fact that she had so easily let Mikael torture Niklaus never left his mind. Now, every time he looked at her, every time he thought of her he could only see the monster she truly was.

Esther shook her head tears rolling down her cheeks as the words from her youngest son, her baby, stung worse than anything else. “Leave us. I wish to speak to my son alone.”

Henrik watched as Rebekah, Elijah and Finn obediently left. He nodded to Klaus who pulled Kol with him out the door. “You wish to speak, so speak.”

Esther shook her head and pointed to Bella. “She has to go as well. This is between mother and son, she has nothing to do with this!”

Henrik grabbed on tightly to Bella’s hand all the while glaring deeply at his mother. “She is my WIFE.” He said loudly causing Esther to take a step back in shock. “Anything you have to say to me, you can say to her as well. If you wish to speak to me, she will stay. Understand that she is the only reason I am speaking to you, the only reason I didn’t leave the second I knew you were here.”

Esther glared at Bella, but turned her gaze away as she heard the warning growl from Henrik. “What has happened to you, my sweet baby?” She whispered as she looked at him with sorrow filled eyes. “You were always my little boy. I curse the spirits on the other side who turned you against me.”

Henrik rolled his eyes, “The spirits on the other side had nothing to do with me despising you, mother. If anyone is to blame for my dislike towards you the fault rests on your shoulders. You know as well as I do that on the other side we see everything. I saw everything you did to my family.”

Esther shook her head, “I did what I had to!” She shouted as she wiped away the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Her emotions of sorrow now being replaced with anger.  “I protected this family! I did what I was always meant to do, which is keep this family out of harm’s way. I did what I had to in order to keep you all safe!”

Henrik rolled his eyes, “Safe? Protect?” He scoffed at the words she had used. He released Bella’s hand and stood. He watched as Bella stiffened but didn’t move from her spot on the loveseat. He was grateful she understood his emotions and knew at the moment he wouldn’t hurt his mother, despite how much he wished to.

“If your way of keeping this family safe is by unleashing a monster to hunt down your SON, than I think you need help. You didn’t protect this family, you tore it apart! You destroyed the very meaning of family. What kind of mother allows her husband to tie up her son and allow him to be cursed and tortured for the rest of his existence? I don’t think you even know what it means to be a real mother.”

Henrik saw her hand twitch and in close to slow motion he saw her hand lift ready to hit him for his words. He smirked as he saw Bella’s hand wrap around his mother’s wrist. Forcefully Bella forced Esther’s hand down, she nudged the woman back and glared at her. “You might be his mother, but I am his wife. You lay one hand on him and I’ll rip it off and set it on fire.” Bella said through gritted teeth, she didn’t want to get involved it wasn’t her intention, but she would never let anyone hit her Henri.

“How dare you!” Esther said her eyes practically glowing with anger as she stared at Bella. She quietly muttered a spell one meant to cause Bella an intense amount of pain. Her eyes widened as the curse was thrown back at her and she fell to her knees.

“Don’t. You. EVER. Try that again!” Henrik yelled in anger, he stood in front of Bella and looked at his mother who was withering on the floor. “She means more to me than you ever have. I will kill my own mother if I have to in order to protect my wife.”

Henrik stepped past his mother and held his hand out for Bella to take. “Let’s get some air, Belle.”

Bella took his hand and followed him out, she almost smiled as she saw the five originals waiting outside the door. She knew without a doubt that they had heard everything that had happened. She looked to Klaus and smiled, “We’ll be back soon.”

Klaus nodded he looked inside the room and tilted his head to see his mother unconscious on the floor. He raised an eyebrow one to which Henrik merely shrugged before he exited. Klaus shook his head as he saw Rebekah screech and blur inside the room upon seeing their mother on the floor. Elijah and Finn soon followed her each one worrying about what exactly could’ve happened to their mother.

Kol leaned towards Klaus. “This really wasn’t how I imagined this playing out.”

Klaus chuckled and smirked, “I thought it would go much worst. We both know Henrik was our mother’s baby, if she truly still loves any one of us, it’s him.”

“This could mean things could get worst.” Kol whispered with a frown on his face.

“I’m sure we can handle it.” Klaus said, “For the meantime, I think its best we try to keep our mother away from Bella. I have a bad feeling when it comes to the way our mother views Bella.”

“Why? If she loves Henrik, wouldn’t she also love Bella?” Kol questioned quietly not wanting to let his three siblings overhear their conversation.

“I believe because Henrik loves Bella so strongly, my mother has taken her as a threat. If I’m right, her biggest enemy is no longer her children, but her daughter-in-law.” Klaus replied he sighed and took in a deep breath. “Come, let’s at least seem like we’re worried over our mother.”

“Right, let’s go put on a good show.” Kol replied with a smirk as he headed inside the room. Instantly falling to his knees beside Rebekah. He looked over at Klaus and winked with a smirk before he went back to ‘worrying’ over their mother.

-Page Break-

Klaus looked up from his book as it was the early hours of the morning and his siblings were all upstairs and sleeping. Or so he thought until the creaking from the doors to the library caught his attention. “Something wrong, Bella?” He questioned as he saw her enter quietly.

Bella shook her head. “Not at the moment, no.” She replied she took a seat across from him and smiled. “Henri is taking a shower, he got some blood on him after we went to feed and he insisted on showering until he couldn’t smell the blood on him.”

Klaus smirked and noticed her hair was wet. “I assume you’re down here because you were distracting him from his original task and you left before you could be more of a distraction.” He stated.

Bella rolled her eyes. “No… well yes, but I wanted to speak to you. I happen to know this is a soundproof room so your other siblings won’t be eavesdropping on our conversation.”

“Is it something serious?” Klaus asked as he threw the book onto the table in the corner of the room.

“Yes.” Bella replied, “Nik, your mother tried to kill me tonight.”

“But she didn’t, Henrik stopped her.” Klaus responded.

“Exactly, Henrik reversed the direction of her spell, the spell that was meant to kill me. Your mother believes I’m just a simple vampire, so the spell she used must’ve been something stronger than many other spells. If Henrik sent her own spell back at her, she herself should be dead.” Bella said her eyes filled with worry. “She’s not human, Nik, and she’s obviously stronger than any regular vampire. I think the spirits are protecting her, I think they’re wrapping themselves around her like a shield. They’re preventing her from getting hurt, from dying.”

“No, if that were true she wouldn’t have been affected by the spell,” Klaus said.

“That’s what I thought too, but Henri believes that she was acting.” Bella responded playing with the loose strings of the seat. “I think he’s right. I think your mother was acting so that no one would catch onto the fact that she has a shield of spirits guarding her. It would only allow us to know that killing her would be no easy task. I think she knows that we’re planning on stopping her plans. Your mother is not stupid, she knew she couldn’t make you believe what she said was true. I think that whatever we planned to do, she was prepared for it before we even came up with a plan. She wanted us to wait until her plans came to light to attack her. By the time we realized she couldn’t be killed so simply, it would be too late to stop her, too late to find out what could really kill her.”

“This causes more problems.” Klaus responded as he looked off into the distance not really focusing his gaze on one thing alone. His mind working to think of possible ways to eliminate the threat his mother caused.

Bella nodded, “But it also gives us an advantage. We know what she didn’t want us to know. We can still kill her, but we’re going to have to work harder and we’re going to have to keep her from knowing the truth. Which means from now on, we can’t discuss anything when she’s near. When she’s around the spirits are as well.”

Klaus sighed and nodded, “I suppose it’s time the two us get some rest. It’s going to be a long few days.” He stood and led Bella to the door. He paused for a moment as a thought skipped through his mind. “She doesn’t know what you can do with your voice. Can’t you just charm the truth out of her?”

Bella sighed and shook her head. “I said the same thing to Henri, but he said no. The witches don’t know a mermaid is still out there, if I tried to charm her I’d be giving myself away. And then eventually, the spirits could all turn their attention on trying to kill me. Henri doesn’t want to take that kind of risk and I won’t put myself at risk either. I don’t want for him to feel more worried about anything else. Stress kills humans, and I’m sure it’ll drive a vampire crazy.”

Klaus nodded, “I agree, you need to stay safe.” He opened the door and they both silently climbed the stairs to their rooms. They nodded a goodbye before slipping behind the doors to their rooms. They both knew the rest was needed for the days that lay ahead were sure to be tiresome.

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