Another Year Passes
The rumors that the Russian, Italian, and French magical ministries had killed or captured Klaus were thoroughly debunked. Following investigations by other ministries, mounting public pressure from the witch community, and even threats from vampires demanding the captured Original be released or at least that a body be produced, the truth came out: the vampires killed and captured were nothing more than newly turned first-generation vampires. Those ministries even had their leadership replaced—they'd been thoroughly embarrassed, so easily fooled by Klaus. All that was left was issuing apologies to Klaus's enemies, and bowing their heads even lower to beg forgiveness from his allies.
Kol, Rebekah, Finn, and the witch arrived at the last of Klaus's doubles. They walked into a nightclub, and there he sat, his back turned to them.
"Look who finally decided to show up," the man said, sliding a drink across the bar. "Took you long enough. Honestly, I'm disappointed it's you lot and not Elijah."
"Nik!" Rebekah cried out and started running toward him, but Kol grabbed her arm. "Let go of me, Kol!"
"Who are you?" Kol ignored Rebekah and spoke directly to the man. "You carry far more magical power than the others—meaning you're older than they were—but you're still not anywhere close to my brother's level."
The man turned to face them. He looked like Klaus, yet his eyes were a soft, ordinary light brown.
"Well, Kol—sharp as always," he said with an amused smile. "I see a few extra years in a coffin haven't dulled your wits… Oh—what are you looking at?" He raised an eyebrow, watching Kol scan the room.
"You're not my brother," Kol said, still glancing around. "But the way you speak is exactly like him—every inflection, every tone. Which means you're under compulsion, speaking for him. He's close by."
"Nik, where are you?" Rebekah called out, looking frantically around the room. "We need to talk. I have to apologize to you."
"You don't need to apologize, Rebekah," the man said gently. "You are forgiven. That doesn't mean I've forgotten what you did, nor does it mean I want you around. And Kol—don't even try. This is one of the marvels of the modern world."
He pulled an earbud from his ear and held the microphone toward them.
"I could speak to you from another planet with this thing." Klaus's voice came clearly through the speaker.
"No, no, no…" Rebekah began to cry. "It shouldn't be like this. Why are you doing this? After everything we've been through—you don't have the right to shut me out like this."
"But I'm giving you exactly what you always wanted, aren't I?" Klaus's voice came through, sharp with irony. "Freedom. Isn't that what you wanted when you led Mikael to New Orleans, along with Marcel?"
Rebekah gasped, her breath coming in short bursts. Then her eyes went wide with realization.
"Mikael… Is Mikael doing this to you?" she cried out. "Is that it? Is he threatening you?"
There was a short pause on the other end. Then Klaus spoke again.
"No. I hold an advantage over him," Klaus said through the speaker. The double turned to look at Finn. "Our dear eldest brother knows exactly what that advantage is, don't you?"
"So it wasn't a dream…" Finn sighed, his breath hitching. "You really do have our older sister."
"Older sister?" Rebekah and Kol both turned to Finn, stunned.
The double put the earbud back in place.
"Nothing that concerns you," he said with a bright smile, redirecting their attention. "Just know that Mikael will no longer be hunting you. You are free. Though… since Elijah isn't here… I assume none of you bothered to tell him you were no longer trapped? The poor man is probably driving himself mad on some expedition at the bottom of the ocean trying to find you."
"Why punish Elijah so harshly?" Rebekah asked, horrified. "You've never pushed him away like this before."
"He knows exactly what he did," the double replied flatly. "And he's been making my life unnecessarily difficult. In fact—thanks to him freezing all my accounts—I had to sell Welberg Castle. Have a wonderful freedom."
"You did what?!" Rebekah and Kol shouted in unison, equal parts shocked and furious. "You had no right, Klaus!"
Their anger was so intense that their magical power flared outward. The witch fell to her knees, gasping for air. That was when they saw it: Klaus's double had reached into his own chest, torn out his heart, and crushed it. He shattered the earbud in his hand along with it.
"You coward!" Kol roared, outraged. "Don't run away! Face what you've done like a man!"
There was no answer.
All Kol could hear was Rebekah's sobbing as she sank to the floor.
"He's abandoned me," she wept, broken. "He's really gone. It's not fair. It's not fair at all. After everything he's done, every betrayal—and I make one mistake—and he just casts me aside."
"Easy, sister," Finn murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"He'll see. I'll make him see," Rebekah said, her sobs fading. Her eyes began to harden, her emotions shutting down—but Kol moved faster. With a sharp, sickening crack, he snapped her neck.
"What have you done?!" Finn shouted at him.
"She was about to turn off her humanity," Kol snapped back, irritated. "The last thing this world needs is someone that temperamental and powerful running around without a conscience."
Back in Mystic Falls
I pulled the earbud from my ear. Mary lowered her wand from the back of my neck.
"Did you get what you wanted?" she asked quietly.
Honestly, it had hurt—seeing Rebekah cry. This body of mine had practically screamed in protest at the sight of her tears. Annoying as hell.
"Yes," I said shortly, turning to her. "How is Amara settling in?"
"Jenna visits every day and teaches her English," Mary said with a faint smile.
"She didn't speak English?" I frowned, confused. Amara had always spoken English perfectly.
"She did—she was just communicating with us telepathically," Mary explained. "I was surprised too. Anyway—Jenna says she wants to take her home with her."
"What? Why?" I almost snapped.
"Jenna says she needs a proper housekeeper and simply can't keep up with the mess around here," Mary said, grinning. "Mr. Nik—just say yes. She's grown fond of Amara and wants her to be part of the family."
That's exactly the problem. Amara is the sacrifice I need to become a hybrid. I could have done it by now—but I've seen how fate loves to retaliate against my plans. I'll wait. Until the moment feels right, and the timeline aligns with the story I know.