chapter 13 Trust Issues

"Who did this to you? Tell me!" Niklaus furiously roared me while glaring at my neck. I knew that James hands prints were on my neck. And all three of my mates saw them. I felt my lip starting to tremble and with all courage, I could muster I lifted my eyes to meet his.

Kol was angrily pacing around the room. He looked like a caged animal ready to kill something while Elijah was holding me in his arms softly stroking my back. But the occasional growl coming from him told me that he wasn't any better.

"Why were you alone? You know the dangers being alone in this cursed town?" he softly but firmly demanded and I shook my head. I could feel my eyes tearing up even if I tried not to show it.

"I'm sorry. I..I just wanted to do my morning run. And…and James said he was one of Nik hybrids. Gosh, that was so stupid of. I thought it would be safer with him. I…I was so wrong. It was all my fault." I answered weakly while trying to maintain my emotions. Unfortunately for me I don't do a good job.

At the moment I spoke about James, Kol stopped his pacing. He venomously glared at Nik. The furious snarl made his way on this face and I almost shuddered.

"Your filthy half-breeds! They almost killed my mate." The said vampire hissed at his older brother and Klaus glared right back.

"She is my mate too!" The hybrid yelled back and I slightly winced making Elijah hold me tighter.

"Stop it… Kol it wasn't Nik's fault. I'm alive now, a bit battered but alive."

I intervened and reached him with an intention to somehow calm him, when my eyes caught sight of my hand.

I could feel my eyes bulging and panic coming in.

My whole hand was covered in almost dried blood. It was everywhere! On my fingers, under my nails.

I felt my stomach churn and without thinking intensively started to scrub my palms in my jumper sleeve.

Oh god no. It was so much blood.

I need to get rid of this blood.

Now.

"Please… can...can we continue this discussion after a shower?" I quietly whispered and I believe the look in my eyes made them stay silent. But the guilt in their eyes was the one visible thing I could see.

After a shower. The long one I dare to say, I felt much much more better.

Gone was the James blood and only the still red skin from my intense scrubbing was left as the evidence.

All the bruises which were left by him were healed because of consumed Nik's blood.

And I felt almost like nothing happened.

I sauntered back to the kitchen while braiding my still slightly wet hair. The growl from my stomach reminded me of my hunger and I really hoped there was some human food in the house.

If not, well,

Time for a change.

As I entered the kitchen I was greeted with a pleasant view and smell of grilled cheese sandwiches.

The small smile crossed my face.

There was almost nothing better after a bad day than some delicious, well made, love-induced, sandwiches.

My favourites!

Both Klaus and Kol were sitting near the table while Elijah was looking through the window with his back turned to me. It was seconds after I stepped in into the kitchen when he turned his front to me and smiled if I was one of the most marvellous things he ever saw.

"Nicolette, " he addressed me and the way he said my name made me slightly shover. Every syllabus of my name was pronounced in perfect Elijah way. "I hope you are feeling better,"

"Kol told us about your favourite breakfast food. And we thought you would be hungry." Nik started sheepishly and I grinned when my eyes found the containing two perfectly grilled sandwiches with a cup of green tea beside.

The gratefulness in my eyes I think said enough.

"Thank you, guys. You are the best." I sincerely told them and sat near the table. I bit a sandwich and almost moaned from deliciousness.

"This is so incredible." I praised and I saw how Nik's chest puffed out in pride. I rolled my eyes. Men.

"Well, it's our job. To cherish and protect you." Kol answered but the bitter tone of the last words made him lower his head in shame. "Which we terribly failed." he almost inaudibly murmured.

I put down my sandwich back on the plate and reached across the table to grab his hand.

"Hey, hey stop it. Listen to me, as I said before it wasn't any of your faults." I whispered with reassurance in my voice trying to somehow soothe him. I glanced at the other two vampires and felt guilt building up because of the way they looked.

Disgust and shame were clearly seen on their faces.

And to tell you the truth I didn't like it.

Because it was my fault. Who's else?

Of course it was Esther's also, but I was the one who fell for the witchy tricks. Finn warned me but I didn't listen him.

"He warned me, and I ignored his warning. Stupid," I mumbled to myself a little too loudly when three of them lifted their heads.

Goddammit their vampy hearing.

"You know who did this to you?" Elijah asked almost demanded with a cold hard look in his eyes and I without any other choice nodded.

The deep breath of air was needed to let's get the cat out of the bag.

"It was Esther." I simply told them and saw how their faces changed.

Good job, Lette. Well done, keep going.

"Mother?" Kol breathed out and I saw the way his face hardened when I nodded. The youngest vampire opened his mouth to speak but the only word came out. "Why?"

Other two were not any better.

"Because I know too much,"

"Perhaps you can start with the beginning, elskan." Elijah always the diplomatic one intervened and I gratefully smiled at him.

"Alright then, you already know your creation story. Obviously" I lazily drawled the last word and Nik just waved his hand in 'keep going' motion

"And you know that witches are self-proclaimed the two-goody shoes. Or something like that. And by turning you into vampires, your lovely momma Esther betrayed nature." The name of the original witch came out with so much disgust even I was surprised with myself.

"You are abominations in her book, so is her job, as a servant of nature to fix this problem." I finished and they stiffened.

I eyed Niklaus and saw the way sadness clouded his features. There was the anger of course, but the deep sadness was the one who captured my attention.

"She didn't forgive me? Of course she didn't, " he silently asked the question he already knew. I just shook my head.

"Even if she may love you like a mother but not enough to spare you."

I knew that talking like that it was like sticking a dagger in their hearts and twisting. Because no matter how old children are they shouldn't hear how their mother is trying to kill them.

"Then why she organized the ball? All that attention, why?" Elijah inquired sitting still as the statue.

I took a bite of my sandwich and slowly chewed.

That's was so sensitive, Lett. You will seduce them with your chewing.

"To link you as one." I swallowed the bite.

"She wants to kill you all in one shot. The red champagne you drunk was laced with Doppelganger's blood." I spoke before taking a sip of my tea. ended my talking, and they stared at me with horrified looks on their faces. "You are linked as one. Simple but clever,"

Clever if you don't have someone like me.

"And that's not the worst part my darlings." I mockingly smiled at them. "Today, when the moon will reach it's the highest point. Esther the mother witch, will reverse vampirism spell by using Finn. And then he will kill himself. One dies other follows,"

I finished. The silence was deafening until Kol jumped to his feet growling.

I was unfazed still sipping my tea.

"Like always the good son Finn, sacrificial lamb." he hissed. Elijah and Niklaus were not any better. They started to argue with each other.

"We should kill her before she kills us," Nik exclaimed, and I felt my eyes widen.

No! If they kill her now, everything will change. Nononononono.

"No! No now!" I shouted without thinking and they looked at me. I instantly flopped down on my chair.

"It's too risky now," I explained.

For a few seconds there was a silence.

Three

Two

One

"When is not risky? When we are dead? " Kol snarled, and I narrowed my own eyes.

"Like I would let that happen," I spat out.

Not on my fucking watch.

"You knew about her plan, and not told us earlier." Elijah interrupted. And I fought against the need to lower my head in shame.

"And what if I would have informed you about this? Hm? Will any of you would have believed me?" I questioned them while delicately raising my one eyebrow. Move perfected for many years.

The hybrid opened his mouth but I beat it.

"And most importantly what you would have done it? Killed her where she stands?" I asked and raised my hands palms up "Don't mistake me, I'm not judging. But it would have changed so many things and I don't think it would be for better."

"So yes, I knew about her plan and not told you about her." I agreed with him.

"And now we are linked." He added, but I firmly shook my head. I let a mischievous smile grace my lips.

It's a good feeling to know what others do not.

"And there where you are wrong," I told them while they were staring at me.

"Alright. Listen, guys, you already realised that I'm somehow aware of many shits in this world. Things like what already happened or will happen." they nodded but the mistrust and slight anger were still there.

"And many of things don't make me happy. So I'm trying to slightly change something but without making it worse, " I explained as simple as I could "And about that you are not linked, but Esther doesn't know that. Finn and I make sure of that."

And I told them all my plan, how I persuaded him, how he warned me about Esther. After I was done, they stayed silent until Klaus started to laugh out loud.

"That's my girl," he announced.

And I grinned.

After our talk and my breakfast, we were in the living room. Kol was playing some game on my phone and from the look of agitation on his face terribly failing.

Niklaus was drawing while sitting on the couch, and I was reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde with my legs on Kol's lap.

Elijah was just somewhere around the house. And I still couldn't believe it where I was and how comfortable I was around them.

I was in the middle of the chapter when Rebekah, still in her green ball gown dress walked in.

Kol jumped from the sofa and walked in front of her.

Here we go.

"Well, well, well there is our girl!" he cheerfully greeted Rebekah and I smirked.

How I loved this part.

"Get out of my way, Kol." she hissed.

"Out all night. What a scandal. I trust you did better than that commoner. " he said mockingly. "Matt?"

"If you don't shut your mouth, the next thing to come out will be your teeth." she threatened and I laughed out loud.

She glanced at me smirking and I winked.

"Watch it, dear. Rebekah, it's not joking." I just told him and saw how Nik's corner of lips turned up.

"Don't start, Nik." she narrowed her eyes at him.

"I didn't say anything" he defended himself.

I think I will like it here.