VI - 𝔟𝔢𝔞𝔲𝔱𝔦𝔣𝔲𝔩 𝔡𝔞𝔪𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

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Music resonated in the mansion filled with sparkling drinks, laughter, and the scuttling feed of hardworking servers.

Klaus Mikaelson could be found admiring the paintings in a secluded hall, the presence of candlelit corridor a mere caress compared to the bright chandeliers in the dining hall. The soft warm light was positioned in front of a painting of a ship at sea. Klaus' blue eyes trailed over the paint strokes, admiring the artist's skill.

The painting was lifelike. It was beautiful and it was damning.

"My brother hides away while I entertain the guests," Elijah mumbled from behind the blond original. "Is the world ending or have I been ill informed?"

Klaus cracked a half hearted grin. "But it is, brother. I will tear the sky with welcome arms, drain the seas of life, uproot great oaks and maples, and slaughter the wretched humans."

"And why on earth must I destroy the world, you ask?" Klaus mused, talking to himself. "My heart is missing," He continued as if he hadn't just threatened the well-being of everyone in the mansion, "If it is gone any longer I fear I might become...reckless."

His smirk alone is enough to send well veterened soldiers into a flurry, but the raw energy behind his eyes could chill the coldest of hearts and trouble the kindest of minds.

Elijah smiled through his growing trepidation, "They are doing their best to find her."

"Their best has never been enough!" He bellowed, finally cracking from the tranquil facade. "Must I do everything myself?"

Elijah sighed, "We don't want to alarm her family, brother. They will run us from this country the moment they know of our identities."

Klaus inhaled deeply but stopped as if he had come to a decision, "Blast this. Blast everything." He yanked his cravat out with such vigor he sent it flying to the wall. "I've never given one fück about them."

He was at the door now, fists clenched and back tensed.

"Where are you going?" Elijah called.

"To look for my moon and stars, Elijah."

"YOU CAN WAKE UP NOW."

Elena slapped Lilura's cheeks.

"Jesus," The siren hissed, hopping up from the floor. "Calm down Ele..."

Lilura squinted when she saw what the doppelganger was wearing. "Oh it's you," She said, eyeing the leather jacket and curly hair.

"Surprise," Katherine Pierce smirked.

"Why...?" Lilura grumbled as a searing pain erupted at the back of her head. She reached behind to find a decently sized lump, as if someone had smacked her with a heavy object — maybe a fire extinguisher.

The siren sat, perplexed, before everything came back.

"I love my friends." Elena's eyes sparkled like sunlight on water, clear and innocent, before suddenly turning serious, "Which is why I have to do this."

"What?"

"I'm sorry," The Gilbert squeaked.

"That backstabbing bïtch!"

Katherine sighed, "You're late to the party."

Lilura swiftly got up and swayed on the spot.

"Easy, love," Alaric/Klaus grinned, emerging from the bathroom with a towel tied to his waist.

"Oh god," The siren groaned, sitting down on an armchair. "No one wants to see that."

"I beg to differ," Alaric/Klaus winked.

Lilura almost vomited at how gross it was. Klaus was still very much in Alaric's body, and it disturbed the young woman to no ends.

A man knocked on the front door, causing Lilura to raise an expectant brow. Klaus sighed deeply before complying with her unspoken demand, quickly yanking the door open.

"Just like an old married couple," Katherine grinned. "Oh wait, you are married."

Klaus rolled his eyes and the man said, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Yes, do hurry. I'm anxious to get out of this body. And if you get hung up, call me. You know how impatient I get," Klaus chirped brightly before slamming the door shut.

"Where is he going?" Katherine inquired. It was clear that her curiosity was bubbling over like a kettle, threatening to spill copious amounts of tea on Lilura's pristine countertops. The siren thought it was funny how Katherine always looked eagerly impatient when she so clearly prized her apathy. The fact that the vampire had speed-like reflexes but still sat on the verge of chair as if she needed to bolted at any moment's notice was one indicator of her impatience and wariness. Katherine had always been one woman against the world, ready to revolt.

"To retrieve me. So I can get out of this bad hair-do."

"Don't diss the Saltz specialty," Lilura grumbled, childishly sticking out her tongue when Klaus sent her a glare.

"I take it back," Katherine declared. "I take it all back. You two aren't an old married couple. You're children."

"Their bringing your body body?" Lilura asked, big blue-green eyes glued to the sunlight streaming in through the curtains, "Oh, how I hope you've rotten."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Klaus?" Katherine lamented about his revival.

He smiled like he had no care in the world, "Well, the full moon is almost upon us."

The Original picked up the moonstone and admired it's shine, "I've killed the witch, I have the moon stone, and the doppelgänger is waiting in the wings. Ohh, I am ready to break this curse."

"Curse-breaking," The Siren said with a strange tone. "And why would you do that here? There's so many people that would try to stop you."

"You mean your friends that so eagerly handed you over to me to ensure Elena's safety?"

Lilura stared at Katherine and Klaus in confusion.

"Come now, love. Did you really believe the Mystic Falls Scooby gang trusted you after discovering our unbreakable ties?" Klaus smirked. "The Salvatore, he threw you over to me like a piece of meat. I suspect it was his idea, it not dear little Elena's. What great friends they are."

Katherine nodded, confirming Klaus recounting.

Damon, you crap bag of rotten tuna!

"And to answer your question, I need to break the curse here because I have to. It's the birthplace of the doppelgänger," Klaus replied, sitting down on the love seat while pulling on a black shirt.

"I didn't realize that was a requirement," The enchantress mumbled, head still reeling with Damon and Elena's betrayal.

Katherine sat silently, witnessing the split second that Klaus' careless bravado faltered.

"Well, how could you?" He posed, mockingly morose. "You died."

Lilura almost bared her teeth at the sing-song baritone. She almost wanted to tell him there was more to her supposed death, and that she hadn't done it to spite him.

"You always were one to hold grudges, my love," Klaus smirked sadly.

Katherine leaned forward in her seat  eager to learn more about the dysfunctional couple in front of her.

"And you always had a small penis, but you don't see me complaining."

Katherine coughed on her own spit, startling the two immortals out of their little bubble.

"And you!" Klaus spun around to point at Katherine. "You betrayed me and fled England before I could give you the details, Katerina. But I did find your birthplace and I slaughtered your family. So I guess we're cool."

Lilura raised an eyebrow at this new piece of information. She hadn't known. Now, Katherine's extreme dislike to the man she once tried to seduce was clear.

"Let's just hope that Elena isn't as stupid as you were."

"She won't run. She'll die before she lets anyone that she loves get hurt," Katherine said, almost defensively.

"Stupid," Lilura groaned, mentally banging her head against the wall. "Why won't the bloody girl just move?"

"Like you said my starlight, stupidity, which is exactly what I'm counting on to pull this circus of a sacrifice off."

———— Δ ————

"Pass me the bottle, Kitty."

Katherine grinned at the nickname, slightly annoyed but exited at the prospect of a drunk Lilura Anthemoessa.

"Vodka? No chaser?" She chuckled as the Siren flicked the car away.

"Vodka is the chaser, dear grasshopper."

Klaus had left the two girls locked in Alaric's house. One by compulsion and the other just merely too lazy to open the front door.

She hadn't tried, but Lilura was sure Klaus had placed some sort of enchantment that forced her to inhabit the space with Katherine Pierce.

"You're not bad company, Kitty."

Katherine stopped spinning on the swivel chair. Narrowing her doeeyes, she smirked, "Really?"

"Compared to Elena Gilbert, you're like Oprah Winfrey," Lilura gulped the remains of her bottle. "Another!"

Katherine pulled out a bottle of bourbon and handed it to the slightly buzzed Siren, "Can Sirens get drunk?"

Lilura shrugged, genuinely ignorant to the specific question.

There was a lapse of silence before the doppelganger spoke again, "He talked about you all the time."

Lilura raised her head from a pillow, shuffling around to be more comfortable in the couch, "Who?"

Katherine wandered over to the Siren. "You know who."

"Oh my god," Lilura whispered, faux-shocked. "Voldemort?"

Katherine tried not to hit the young woman. "Stop trying to deflect and listen! When I met Klaus in 1492, he was half the man he is today."

"Half the man," Lilura chuckled darkly. "Weaker, you mean? Compassionate?"

Katherine sat down gently on the couch, "He had been mourning. I could see it as clear as a cloudless sky, as prominent as the howl of a melachony wolf. He was in grief, and he didn't even bother to hide it."

"Elijah told me his brother had just lost someone important. Someone, who no matter the circumstances, was a constant in his universe. I don't know him very well and I don't know you, but something tells me there are unresolved matters and feelings."

The enchantress eyed Katherine, "Since when did you become so nice? Last time we talked you basically told me to suck it because the past was gone."

The doppelganger sighed, eyes casted far away and unseeing, "Since I realized the path out of this mess can only be paved by you."

Lilura blanched, "What in the world —"

"Face it, Lilura. In this game of chess, you are the Queen. You're powerful, more so than the Original Hybrid because he worships you. He loves you. With just a smile, you have become his world since 1482 and onwards. It's comical, how you both deny that right now."

Katherine blew a lock of curly hair from her face. "But enough. As the person who dictates the fate of others including little old me, let's hope you make the right decision in this tumultuous game."

Suddenly the grin on self serving Kathrine Pierce's face grew wider, "We have visitors."

"Alaric, are you home? Andie...Star, Jenna's friend."

Katherine jumped up in excitement, rushing to the door to open it, only to find that she couldn't. Frustrated, the 500 year old vampire stomped back to her place under Lilura's reclining form.

"Thank God!" Katherine muttered when the door swung open.

"Welcome to Saltz's humble abode," Lilura pipped up. "Please take off your shoes."

Andie Star weirdly followed Lilura's request. "Wow! You were right. She looks exactly like Elena."

Blue eyes and a smirk stepped out from behind the woman, "Yep."

"Thought you might be dead," He remarked, nodding to Katherine. "Thought you might have a concussion," He snickered to Lilura.

"Unfortunately not," Katherine sighed.

"Next time hit me with a bus," Lilura picked at her nails.

"What are you doing here?" Katherine demanded.

"We are here to rescue you," Andie smiled sweetly.

Damon grunted, "No, sweetie. We are here to see if she deserves to be rescued."

"Right."

"I figured you still might be kicking. Alaric-Klaus was blending way too easily. Figured he probably had some coaching."

Damon flipped a phial in his hands.

Lilura frowned, "Is that...?"

"Vervain? Katherine's salvation."

"It's not going to undo anything," The vampire monotoned.

"There's always a loophole. Did he tell you to stay in this apartment until he said it was okay to leave?"

Katherine gaped like a fish out of water.

"You can't say. Did he tell you to do absolutely everything he says until the end of time?"

"No," She managed.

"There's your loophole. Drink this and it'll prevent any further compulsion," The Salvatore tossed it over to Katherine. "Say, Lily. Ready to get out of this place?"

Lilura felt her chest become hot with anger. "Ready to go?" She repeated.

The expectant look on Damon's face woke a strange rage in Lilura. He just expected everything to be alright after using the enchantress as a bargaining tool with Klaus?

Hell no. No one used Lilura Anthemoessa, especially ignorant little backstabbing boys.

Damon stared at her as if it was obvious. "Let's go! We need to decide a fool proof plan for Elena."

Without flinching, Lilura smacked her glass of wine on the edge of a table nearby, making Andie Star shriek in surprise. Before anyone could react, the Siren had thrown one sharp piece to Damon Salvatore's forehead and another pass Andie's ear.

"Let's get one thing straight, Salvatore," She hissed maliciously. "I am not someone who is the second choice. I am not your lackey, and as of now, I am not your friend. I am not a pawn you whip out when things go south."

The enchantress smirked when she glimpsed the glass imbedded above Damon's eye, "I will not go with you for the sole reason that you've betrayed my trust," Her eyes flashed, and Damon was sure he could see the depths of hell in them.

"I didn't mind when you and your little gang whispered about me. I didn't complain when you excluded me from the plan when I genuinely wanted to help. I don't even care that you see me as a liability — someone who will only hurt you in the end."

Damon stayed silent, blue eyes wide as saucers as the blood from his wound slowly dripped off his nose.

"And I'm awfully sorry your ego is so small," Lilura stated, advancing to Damon, "that you've chosen to put one girl above your own blood."

"I haven't done anything to Stefan," Damon rebutted.

"Haven't you?" Lilura smiled wickedly. Then, just as quickly, it slid off her face. "You've messed with my family as well."

Realization dawned on his expression. "You don't have to worry," The blue eyed Salvatore gulped, "Elijah's awake, thanks to Elena."

"I should kill you right now," Lilura declared with a grin. "I should rip your heart out and splatter your organs across the floor."

She was now in front of Damon, eerily close. "I should... "

Suddenly, Damon Salvatore felt himself being lifted like a doll. Lilura held him with one arm up against Alaric's bookshelves.

"Kinky," He croaked.

Lilura smiled sweetly, "Or I should slice your tongue out and stuff it up your ass."

Katherine unconsciously inched back. Andie was cowering and whimpering in the corner.

"But I won't," Lilura said. "I won't kill you yet."

She released Damon and retreated back to her armchair elegantly.

"Go on Damon Salvatore, and tell your little friends that I've made my first move. It's just a matter of time before Nik and I tear down your walls, kill your pawns, and storm your kingdom."

Lilura reclined in her seat and crossed her legs. With a wild light in her blue-green eyes, the Siren smirked,

"I hope you're ready for the war."

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💫 guys!!! 5k??? tytyty. i'm really happy people read my books. hugs and kisses to you all!