We got ready quickly, checked on the babies to make sure they were asleep, and headed out toward the hospital.
I immediately gave orders for my compelled vampires on duty to keep watch over my house and eliminate any suspicious strangers loitering nearby.
In the car, Jenna sobbed in despair.
"My God, Nik… she's my only sister," Jenna cried, curling into a fetal position on the front seat.
"I know, love… but she's alive. We'll figure something out," I said, brushing her face with one hand while keeping the other on the wheel. "We will figure this out."
The drive was filled almost entirely with Jenna's sobs until we reached the hospital.
We stepped out of the car and found Jenna's parents and Miranda talking with a doctor.
"Mom, Dad!" Jenna cried out, embracing them. "How is Miranda?"
"She's stable… but do you know the couple well?" the doctor asked gently — that careful tone when you're about to ask something hard.
"Yes… my sister and her husband were private people, but lately they've been leaving their children with us," Jenna answered, confused. "Why do you ask?"
"Well… the nurses found scars and injuries — both recent and old — across Miranda's body," the doctor began, and I already knew where this was going. "Can you tell me: was your sister in an abusive relationship with her husband?"
There it was. I knew it.
Jenna shook her head firmly.
"Grayson was a piece of work…" Jenna started, "but he would never lay a hand on my sister."
Oh, he would. That man was absolute garbage. I only spared him for the sake of the story — and the story's already gone off-script anyway.
I should've killed him when I had the chance… but he's dead now, so it doesn't matter.
Emotions ran high — Miranda's parents were distraught, Jenna was shattered — until I stepped in to take charge.
"So, Doctor — how is Miranda?" I asked, drawing their attention.
"She suffered a traumatic brain injury followed by a stroke on the right side," the doctor sighed. "It's very likely she'll never regain movement on her left side. There's also pulmonary edema from the impact."
Everyone fell silent. It was worse than I'd thought.
"But her condition now?" I pressed.
"She'll survive," he said. "But as I mentioned, there will be lasting effects. All we can do is start physical therapy and hope for the best."
"We can't afford that," Jenna's mother murmured.
The Somers family had never been as wealthy as Grayson.
"I'm certain Mr. Gilbert has the means to cover these costs," the doctor offered.
"We want nothing from that man," Jenna's father snapped, furious. Good — he knows his daughter suffered at his hands.
"Don't worry — I'll take care of everything," I said, resting my hand on Jenna's waist. "After all… she's my wife's sister."
"Sir…?" the doctor hesitated. "Are you in a position to fund long-term treatment?"
"Nik Michaels," I replied — holding back the full surname; it carries too much fear, too many enemies I don't want near my children. "I have investments and properties. Whatever the cost, I'll cover it all."
"Nik…" Jenna's parents breathed, awestruck. "You're truly a blessing to us."
"Not at all," I smiled. "I'm just looking after my wife's family — the woman who chose to love my children as her own, even without blood between them."
"Thank you… truly," Jenna's mother wept, clutching my hands.
Even Jenna blushed. I kissed her, then headed to reception to sort out the arrangements.
The bill wasn't as steep as I'd feared — just a few thousand dollars for the ambulance and procedures.
That night, once Jenna was asleep, I slipped into Miranda's hospital room.
She was in terrible shape — her face so swollen I barely recognized her. I bit my wrist to draw blood. Damn that hurt. I'd tried using a needle, but it wouldn't pierce my skin — unlike in the show, a vampire's body is far denser and stronger than a human's.
Once the syringe was filled, I injected it into Miranda's arm. The effect was instant.
The swelling went down. She began coughing up blood — her lungs clearing. Vampire blood doesn't just magically knit wounds; it biologically repairs them.
Satisfied she was healing, I headed home. Jenna was crying in her sleep. I curled beside her, resting her head on my chest. Looks like I'll be looking after her for a while. I thought about hiring a housekeeper again… but honestly? I don't want strangers that close to my kids.
That's when I saw something glinting in the yard. I settled Jenna, then moved at supernatural speed outside.
There — bound and wrapped in barbed wire, bleeding — stood an adult woman who looked exactly like Elena. The wounds kept reopening, never fully healing. She wasn't a vampire… so this wasn't Katherine. And this was Elena — grown, mid-twenties.
Katherine turned at eighteen… this is someone else. Qetsiyah — is this your "help"? You promised to help me break the curse, and now you hand me… her? How am I supposed to sacrifice an immortal older and stronger than me? You're insane.
Give me a break.
I approached her. She stared back — dead-eyed, resigned. Do your worst. I don't care anymore.
"Alex," I called. A figure stepped from the shadows — one of my guards. "Take her to the safehouse. No harm — feed her, tend to her, but leave the wire in place."
"Yes, sir." Alex lifted her onto his shoulder.
"Ahhh!" she screamed in agony as he moved her, then vanished in a blur.
Morning came. Miranda had woken — alert, talking, to everyone's shock.
Jenna and I arrived to find her parents already there.
"Sister!" Jenna ran to embrace her. "I was so scared!"
Miranda stiffened and pulled away.
"I'm sorry… but who are you?" she asked.
Jenna's eyes went wide. "My God… Miranda, it's me — Jenna. Your sister."
Miranda only looked confused — then angry.
"No. Jenna's sixteen. You're… you're an adult. Stop lying to me."
Great. So vampire blood heals — but it can't fully repair damaged brain tissue? Does it just patch what's left and hope for the best? This is going to be a mess.
"Miranda… do you remember your children?" I asked gently.
"I have children?" She looked frightened. "Is this a joke? Mom? Dad? What's going on? Who are you people?"
She glared at me. Things are getting complicated. Step up, Klaus. Be the family man. It'll be easier, you'll see.