Danielle's PoV
"Rebekah!" Nik yells loudly.
I hear Elijah talk to Nik, "Walk away."
"Don't move!" Nik screams out.
I hear Elijah turn to Rebekah, "Leave us now."
"I can't. I'm stuck here. Elijah, he has the white oak stake," Rebekah states with shock and fear.
"I brought it for you, sister," Nik says taunting Rebekah.
Elijah turns to Rebekah, "Go! And take Danielle with you."
I walk out grabbing Rebekah's hand to Nik's surprise the two of us disappearing from his sight.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
Sunrise
I step out from my hiding spot, taking the opportunity to stand up for what's right.
Nik stares at me, "What the hell are you doing here?"
I scoff, "I'm protecting Rebekah."
"From me?" Nik says laughing like a maniac.
"Yes!" I glare taking a step in front of Rebekah.
"If you want to kill her, you'll have to kill me too," I state.
"No!" Rebekah calls out tugging on my sleeve.
I roll my eyes looking back at Nik, "Tell me this isn't any different from the time I went against you. Twice might I add."
Nik gives me a look of confusion.
"So you don't remember the time Bonnie tried to kill you, I had a part in that by the way. What about when your father came back, yes you killed him but who helped Katherine and Damon find him, in that cemetery," I state.
His eyes grow dark.
"You didn't kill me, in fact you saved me. You saved my life, when everyone abandoned me and Mikael stabbed me," I tell him.
"You're right I didn't, but this is different. This time it's my sister," Nik says taking a perch up on top of a crypt.
"Let it begin. The trial of Rebekah Mikaelson," Nik bellows down to us.
Rebekah sighs muttering to us, "What a relief. His ego is in check."
Elijah turns to her, "Just speak your truth. I'll make certain he behaves himself."
Rebekah nods and we turn back to Nik.
"You stand accused of betraying your own blood. How do you plead?" He asks her.
"I plead you to shut up and listen," Rebekah states.
Nik ignores her, "You summoned our father. You brought him to our home. What possible defense could you have?"
"I knew he was the only thing that you feared, and I wanted you to run," Rebekah informs him.
Nik scoffs, "Because you hated me."
She shakes her head, "Because you were hateful. You denied me the freedom to love."
Nik laughs, "Oh, so that's your defense? You called Mikael...the Destroyer, the Hunter of Vampires...because I detained you from pursuing some dull suitors."
Angry Rebekah shouts, "You were cruel, and controlling, and manipulative."
Nik rolls his eyes, "I was trying to protect you! From imbeciles, and leeches. Not to mention your own poor judgment."
"And what about the one that you loved enough to call friend? Why did you forbid me to love Marcel?" Rebekah asks.
"Do not mention his name," Nik snaps.
"What has happened to you?" Rebekah asks, "I remember the sweet boy who made me laugh and gave me gifts, who loved art and music. I wanted to be just like you. How could you have fallen so far?"
Elijah then steps in, "You say you despise Rebekah for her betrayal, and yet no one has stood by your side for so long, not even I myself. Perhaps it's you that's forgotten. I remember the day that Father caught you whittling little chess pieces with his hunting knife. He beat you so mercilessly and for so long, I actually feared for your life."
Nik rolls his eyes, "So, you would paint her as a loyal sister, but she betrayed me out of lust for Marcel. Perhaps that was why you did it.....for love. Perhaps I might temper my rage if Rebekah will admit she was a victim of her own idiocy. That her great love, Marcel, used her to oust this family and to take my city."
Rebekah instantly replies, "Marcel did not manipulate me."
Nik smiles, "You defend him, and yet you can't help but wonder, what if I'm right?"
Rebekah shakes her head, "We loved each other. It was your refusal to respect that that led to your ruin."
"Then why didn't he chase after you when you fled New Orleans? Oh, yes! That's right. He was here stealing what I built!" Nik exclaims.
Rebekah steps closer to Nik, "You want me to renounce Marcel, to beg for your forgiveness? I won't. Marcel is not at fault. I called Mikael."
Elijah puts a hand up to Rebekah, "Rebekah, you must..."
Rebekah ignores him and screams at Nik angrily, "I was the one who brought him to New Orleans because of your wickedness! I wanted love and happiness, and you denied me the freedom to have either. Yes, I hated and I was afraid of our father, but he was a lesser evil than you. My bastard brother who loomed over me, threatening me as you are now. I wanted rid of you, and given the choice, I'd do it again!"
I place my hand on her shoulder, "Calm down Bekah."
She turns to me, tears forming in her eyes.
"Go!" Elijah shouts.
We both turn to see Nik's angry expression.
Rebekah grabs my hand and we speed off.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
I hear fighting immediately running to it, walking out to find Rebekah now holding the white oak stake.
"Why not finish what you started a century ago?" Nik questions.
Rebekah shakes her head, "I did not want you dead. I wanted you to run."
Nik glares, "Liar! You wanted revenge."
"You drove me to betray you, and now you want to twist it and make it worse so you can justify killing me instead of accepting your own fault?" Rebekah asks, "All I did was love your friend! You could've been happy for us, but instead, in your paranoia, you feared losing us both. And, because of that, you did. There is no one else to blame, Nik. Only you."
Nik scoffs, "Where is Marcel now, hmm? I thought he loved you, and yet he left you trapped in here with me. "
Rebekah glares at him.
Nik smiles, "You against me. It's hardly a fair fight, is it? I mean, perhaps, if Marcel were here, you'd stand a chance, but I expect he's already found another girl. No doubt younger and prettier."
This time Rebekah scoffs, "You take joy in other people's pain, and then you wonder why I hate you."
Nik rolls his eyes at her, "Yes, and that hatred led you to do what you did. Admit the truth. Admit you wanted me dead."
She shakes her head, "I wanted you to run, that is all.....despite your delusions."
"Elijah lies suffering, and I will allow you to help him. All you have to do is admit it," Nik says.
"You're insane."
Nik nods, "Yes! Yes! I am a vicious, heartless monster, and so you summoned Mikael to kill me. Admit it."
"It's not true."
"You know what you did," Nik growls, "Admit it."
"I didn't," Rebekah panics.
"You wanted me dead! Admit it," he yells in her face.
Rebekah then screams in his face, "Maybe I did. Nik--"
To my shock Nik stabs her with the white oak stake, that I didn't realise he was now holding.
I scream loudly watching Rebekah fall to the ground, desiccating.
I ran over to her but I'm caught in Nik's arms.
I hit his arm, "Why did you do that? She's your sister!"
Tears falling down my face.
"I missed Danielle," he mutters
"What?" I choke out still looking at Rebekah.
"I missed her heart, she'll be fine," he tells me vulnerably.
I place my hand on his cheek, "It happened a long time ago, Nik. She loves you, she always has. She always will. I don't think she ever meant to truly hurt you, just make you feel the fear she's felt before."
He nods, "What would I do without you."
"You probably would have killed you sister," I say chucking my eyes looking to Elijah, "You should help your brother."
"I will, I just want him to suffer a little longer. That blade really does hurt," Nik says.
"Nik, that's not very nice," I say, "He's your brother."
He just shrugs walking away, pulling me with him, helping me on top of a crypt to watch the sunset together.
I lean into him, comforting him from everything.
"So that witch, Genevieve?" I ask.
He nods.
"She knows something else, she's a threat to our family, " I mumble, "We need to keep an eye on her."
"And how do you suppose we do that?" He asks.
"Well if she thinks we are at odds with each other, she'll make a move on you," I explain, "And you need to let her."
He shakes his head, "I can't betray you-"
I place my finger to his lips, "You won't be, because we planned this. Besides if things get out of control I'll kill her myself."
He sighs, "I don't think this will be a good idea."
I shrug, "Maybe not, but it's the only one we've got right now. She'll trust you, even more if I move out of the compound."
"I won't allow you to leave-"
"Nik!" I huff, "I'll be in the bayou with Hayley and the pack they'll protect us," I place my hand on my bump gently rubbing it.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
Nightfall
I smile widely running into a now standing Rebekah, hugging her in an emotional embrace, "I'm so glad you're okay, I genuinely thought Nik had killed you."
She lets me go turning to face her brother, "You missed my heart."
Nik nods, "Perhaps I did. Or, perhaps I never meant to kill you. Perhaps I just wanted you to feel a fraction the fear I felt when Father came for me."
"Do you yourself know the truth?" Rebekah asks.
Nik sighs, "I know this. You accuse me of being evil, and yet you are the one who conspired to kill your own blood."
"You made our lives a living hell. You tormented us," Rebekah whispers.
"I love my family.....You, Elijah, Danielle I loved all of you," he says, walking over to Rebekah, "I know I can be difficult, but I did not make myself this way. It was Mikael who ruined me."
Rebekah whispers back, "He ruined me, too. That's what you forget. Centuries later, each of us is broken. You with your anger and paranoia, me with my fear of abandonment. And poor Elijah."
We glance over at him, who is still laying on the floor with Papa Tunde's blade stuck in his chest.
"He dedicates himself to everyone but himself."
I grab hold of both of their hands as they both start crying.
Rebekah whispers to him, "We are the strongest creatures in the world, and yet, we are damaged beyond repair. We live without hope, but we will never die. We are the definition of "cursed." Always and forever."
I smile sadly.
🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
An hour later
I stand in front of the barrier waiting for the spell to break.
"We're still trapped in here. Whatever you're going to do to me, do it now," Rebekah says.
"You said our father ruined us. And I can't help but wonder, what if his father ruined him?" Nik asks.
Suddenly there is a strong gust of wind that sweeps past us, blowing the cemetery gate open.
Nik glances up, "The barrier is down."
Rebekah walks over to Nik, "I know you hate me, but what's done is done."
Nik shakes his head, "What's done is never done. It remains within us, a story we tell ourselves so we know who we are. Vicious father, a bastard son, and the sister who betrayed him. Perhaps it's time for a new story."
He pauses, "What is it you want, Rebekah?"
Rebekah smiles, "Same things that I've wanted since I was a child. I want a home. I want a family. I want someone to love me, and I want to live."
Nik smiles at her, "Then go. Go far away and never come back. We are far too damaged to remain together, less a family now than a volatile mix of ingredients. New Orleans will be mine. I will raise my child here in the city you took from me. No doubt, Elijah will choose to stay, but you? Sister, you are free."
Rebekah stares at him in shock.
I walk over to Rebekah, "Live your life Bekah. I'll always be here for you, as will Nik. And despite what Nik said you'll always have a room here in the compound should you ever need us."
She smiles brightly.
"I love you Bekah," I say, "You don't have to worry about your brother, I'll stay by his side."
She nods, "I love you too, Dani."
"Stay safe, all of you," Rebekah says looking at Nik and I, "Make sure you tell that little girl stories of her crazy Auntie Bex. And let her know, despite my absence, I do love her very much."
I take Nik's hand, Rebekah speeding off, "You did the right thing."
He looks to the ground, "Let's go."
xxemsy2510xx