{"id":642,"date":"2024-08-18T14:21:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-18T14:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=642"},"modified":"2024-08-18T14:48:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-18T14:48:05","slug":"chapter-09","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=642","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 09"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 09 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s heart nearly bounced out of her chest when there was a subtle knock on her hotel room door before she realized it was Klaus on the other side of it. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, finding herself staring at an incredibly huge bundle of wildflowers. \u201cAre you shitting me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus lowered the flowers and grinned as he got inside the hotel room. \u201cSeeing as I do wish to keep you as a potential mate when Myriam decides she has had enough of me, I brought you some chocolate as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella narrowed her eyes on him as she closed the door and leaned against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? No hug?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat depends, are you here to kill me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, you and I both know you can\u2019t be killed,\u201d he replied, a gentle smile on his face. \u201cGranted, since your disappearance, I have moments where I imagine pulling your head off your shoulders and tearing off your limbs, but I assure you, today is not going to be that day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She crossed the space between them as fast as she could and hugged him, tightly. Not wanting to let go. For weeks she had felt so alone, so scared and with no one to talk to, and now Klaus was here. Actually here and seemingly in his right mind. Bella could feel the weight lift off her shoulders and couldn\u2019t stop herself from crying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright,\u201d he said softly, pulling her even closer against him. He understood her frustration, her loneliness, her anger and her sadness. For the last few months she had to do everything by herself, and for what reason? He hadn\u2019t even sent her a message since the night she brought him the moonstone rings with his blood in them, while he should have, but merely thought that would be wrong. It had been a conversation with the bartender he realized that he hadn\u2019t been a good friend to Bella, at all. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for having ignored you, Bella, I truly am.\u201d He had a hurt young woman in his arms, not the mighty and scary demigoddess everyone had become so afraid of. People often forgot that beneath all the abilities, there was a person. And he was certainly guilty of that, too. He had a lot to make up for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just Kol,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cI overheard Myriam and Rebekah talk and\u2026 I\u2019m also pretty sure Elijah hates me even more and—\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBreathe, little Swan,\u201d he said calmly, rubbing her back. \u201cIt\u2019s all going to be alright. We\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wasn\u2019t sure for how long they stood there, but frankly, she didn\u2019t care. With Damon still lost somewhere, she was relieved Klaus was still with her, still alright with her. Once she had calmed down, she still didn\u2019t let go of him. \u201cHades kept me for as long as he did to teach me control. He turned down the ghost stuff and taught me more abilities, something Helios should have done but didn\u2019t. And I had to clean up the mess that I made\u2026 so many souls in the Underworld, I— I fixed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd then you come back and your boyfriend is seeing someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. Why? How?\u201d She looked up to him, pleadingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour guess is as good as mine,\u201d Klaus replied as he let go of her to get her a glass of water. He was relieved to find her in a decent hotel, that she was using the money he had given her two years ago. He wasn\u2019t quite sure what he\u2019d do if he would have found her in one of the lesser hotels of New Orleans. \u201cKol spent a month in Forks, waiting for you at your family home. However, Elijah and I ran into some problems here in New Orleans and I recalled Kol to come and help us while he waited for you here. A week later, he walked in the compound with a new brunette on his arm and shortly after that, we all realized you\u2019d abandoned us. That you used us and abandoned us, that there was nothing we could do, either, seeing as you\u2019re a monster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI found that thought disturbing, yes,\u201d Klaus replied as he handed her the glass of water. \u201cYou do everything in your power not to kill people, you have the biggest heart of all the people I\u2019ve met and you\u2019re certainly not in possession of any malignant bone in your body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut how?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe due to some sort of spell,\u201d Klaus sighed as he sat down in a chair, looking at her as she stood there with her glass of water. \u201cI don\u2019t think the source to be Davina, she seems to be truly infatuated with Kol, which is why I wanted to meet with you. Perhaps you could investigate the Regent, Madam LaRue?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy would the witches want to mess with you, though?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has everything to do with the balance of power. There aren\u2019t many vampires left in New Orleans because the werewolves killed them or the witches hurt them. Or, I have to admit, we had to kill four dozen of them for refusing to side with us and still remain loyal to Marcel. The witches are afraid we\u2019ll go after them next and decide to be proactive?\u201d He scratched his head in confusion. \u201cIn any case, we have dealt with a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sat down in the chair, a pensive look on her face. \u201cWhat if this isn\u2019t about you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella,\u201d Klaus laughed. \u201cWe\u2019re the Original vampires, everyone fears us, even the Ancestors. They know what we\u2019re capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Bella countered. \u201cA few minutes ago you said you believed me to be a monster. You, the big bad Hybrid, calling me a monster. What if this isn\u2019t about you and what if whatever is happening to you is because of me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen why did you tell me you thought of me like that? Because I am<\/em> more powerful than you. I can do more than just turn people into animals, smack them against walls and turn invisible. I resurrected Kol from the dead. All of this, without having to use magic. I am not bound by the same laws of nature you are. Or the witches are. Frankly, if I didn\u2019t have a good head on my shoulders, I could be that monster quite easily. A loose canon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus blinked at her and fell back in his chair. \u201cTo be honest, I have no idea why I said that. I know you\u2019re capable of so much more, but I\u2019ve never seen you as a threat, Bella,\u201d he said thoughtfully before a wicked smile appeared on his lips. \u201cThe Ancestors might see you as a direct threat. There is no doubt they\u2019d try to stop us from reorganising the Supernatural community of New Orleans, but with us, they don\u2019t have to fear for losing power. Perhaps by influencing the family you\u2019re close to would ensure you\u2019d stay away?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s the case, they\u2019re awfully wrong and they don\u2019t know me at all,\u201d Bella muttered, itching to find out if Klaus\u2019 theory was correct. \u201cBecause you may be right, I don\u2019t have a malignant bone in my body but they don\u2019t know who the hell they\u2019re messing with and it ends as soon as I confirm this theory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how are you going to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, first, I\u2019m going to mess with Davina and talk to Kol. Then, I\u2019m going to track down that Regent and snoop around. And then\u2026\u201d Bella smirked as she thought of something. \u201cI might do something to scare the shit out of the Ancestors and find a way to shake the rest of your siblings out of the hold they supposedly have on them. But only when it\u2019s true. There could be another explanation, but let\u2019s go with this one for now.\u201d Bella set her glass down on the table and got to her feet. \u201cWould you like to come outside with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Klaus said suspiciously. \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t want to be seen in the French Quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t, but we have to start somewhere,\u201d Bella said as she took Klaus\u2019 hand and tugged on it. \u201cCome, let\u2019s have some fun!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait,\u201d he let out a snort, loving her new found enthusiasm, albeit a bit on the darker side of things. \u201cHow are we going to prevent me being influenced again and tell everyone about your plans?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHmm\u2026 yes,\u201d Bella said as she looked around, finding the little golden bowl Hades had sent down to her. She put her hand in it and retrieved a coin, placing it in the palm of Klaus\u2019 hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Bella shrugged. \u201cBut Hades said this bowl keeps out prying eyes, so I guess everything coming from it will do the same?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not sure?\u201d Klaus laughed as he put the coin in his pocket. \u201cVery well then, I\u2019m honored to be your test subject.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She took him to not an all too crowded space, which was proving to be difficult in the heart of New Orleans, but managed to find a spot eventually. \u201cSo, where\u2019s Kol? At your home?\u201d Bella asked as she looked around Klaus to see Davina approach them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, I believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, hold on,\u201d Bella said as she pushed her bag into his arms and picked up an exotic animal from behind him. Walking back around Klaus with the Sloth in her arms, she smiled up at him. \u201cBut first, we need to take this little girl to safety. Doesn\u2019t Rebekah run an animal rescue center?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDavina?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella hummed as she looked down on her clothes. \u201cHey, look at that, it worked!\u201d She smiled up at Klaus again. \u201cAnother new thing I can do, don\u2019t you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is your idea of going to talk to Kol?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d Bella said as she readjusted Davina Sloth in her arms and started to walk in the direction of Rebekah\u2019s shelter. \u201cDo you think I can pull it off?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the surface, Bella did look like Davina. As if she was her doppelganger. There was something about her walk though, that felt off. And of course, Davina was a pushy little brat, could Bella pull that off? \u201cI don\u2019t know, can you? You need to adjust your walk, don\u2019t slouch. Davina is very narcissistic in everything she does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, God, this Sloth is getting heavy,\u201d Bella sighed exasperatedly. \u201cAnd I think it\u2019s chewing on my hair. Care to trade me for my bag? I don\u2019t wish Kol to see me with a hair out of place!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not like Caroline, love,\u201d Klaus laughed and shook his head. \u201cWith narcissistic I meant full of herself, confident. As if she owns every inch of the world, she is, of course, one of the most powerful witches in New Orleans and dating an Original.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBarf,\u201d she said as she nearly fell flat on her face. \u201cStupid heels!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, she is quite short,\u201d Klaus laughed as he had caught her mid fall. \u201cYou\u2019ll be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorst. Idea. Ever.\u201d Bella readjusted Davina Sloth again and rounded a corner. \u201cLuckily, we don\u2019t have to go far for Rebekah\u2019s place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActually, the animal rescue center is yours. It\u2019s in your name. Rebekah is merely the manager in your absence,\u201d he replied with a shrug. \u201cOf course, Rebekah\u2019s medical knowledge is extensive and you\u2019ll have to learn a lot, but you\u2019re still the owner of that building. It was your idea, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven after?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, it was one of the first things we set up, we didn\u2019t know you were going to be gone this long, and I wanted to make sure you had something to do upon your return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She blinked at him. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not in love with me? Because setting me up an animal shelter sure is a lot of work and I doubt you helped Myriam with her brothel. Do they know it\u2019s in my name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, they don\u2019t,\u201d Klaus smiled at her. \u201cI intend to keep it that way until your proper return, once everyone is in their right minds. I\u2019m fairly certain Rebekah won\u2019t mind, but she\u2019d likely insist on franchising. It\u2019s doing quite well, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen just give it to her,\u201d Bella laughed, finding it strange to hear Davina\u2019s laugh. \u201cI\u2019ll think of something else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to disappear again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I sure as hell hope not or I might actually hurt someone,\u201d she said grumpily as they turned another corner and headed straight for the animal rescue center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDavina! What a lovely surprise,\u201d Rebekah greeted her as she walked around the counter before freezing in her steps. \u201cIs that what I think it is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA sloth? Yes,\u201d Bella replied as she handed the animal over to Rebekah. \u201cPlease be gentle with it? Wouldn\u2019t want anything bad to happen to this girl, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI shall be ringing the zoo and ask them if they lost one of their animals\u2026 if not\u2026 Kol\u2019s blasted ex is still in town,\u201d Rebekah said disgusted and it was then when Bella saw it; the dark glow around Rebekah, a clear sign for Bella that Rebekah was indeed, spelled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite disappointing, really. Bella had hoped she could wreak some havoc while trying to figure out what the hell was going on and now it seemed like there were witches involved. Remembering that she somehow could cleans spells off of items such as the champagne at the Mikaelson ball, she reached out to Rebekah and saw the dark glow lessened, but not disappeared completely. Which was lame, as it meant that whomever put that spell up, had put some effort into it. Maybe there was a human element to it, maybe there wasn\u2019t. In any case, now Bella looked like Davina, there wasn\u2019t a lot she could do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Bella replied with a smile before turning to Klaus. \u201cWeren\u2019t you like\u2026 picking up Myriam or something?\u201d She tried to sound as bored as she possibly could. \u201cI\u2019m on my way to see Kol, maybe the two of you would like to walk with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t I come?\u201d Rebekah demanded, still with the sloth in her arms. It took a mere nod from Bella to the sloth for Rebekah to sigh and retreating with Davina sloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus took Bella next door to Myriam\u2019s establishment, excitedly informing her that there are plans to buy the building next door as well and branch out, as Myriam\u2019s brothel was quite successful. There were plans for a nightclub and more rooms for her girls. He also warned Bella that Myriam wasn\u2019t a big fan of Davina and for Davina to be in her establishment was almost as if she was declaring war to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought everyone liked Davina?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, love. Myriam and I merely tolerate her because Kol\u2019s smitten and Rebekah and Elijah don\u2019t make a fuss out of the witch, either,\u201d he replied kindly. \u201cBesides, it\u2019s a good thing to have a powerful witch on your side instead of against you, especially in a city as New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreat, maybe I should wait outside then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToo late, she\u2019s already here,\u201d Klaus grinned and left her alone to greet his girlfriend. \u201cBehave,\u201d he said playful as a warning to his girlfriend before he softly kissed Myriam\u2019s lips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought I told you, and her, that she\u2019s not welcome here?\u201d Myriam hissed, grabbing Klaus\u2019 arm and dug her nails into it. \u201cWhat are you doing with her, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gently removed her hand from his arm and maneuvered her arm through his. \u201cWe found a sloth in the street, Davina thought it was only proper to deliver it to Rebekah,\u201d he explained while walking back to Bella. \u201cShe also divulged she was going to give Kol a stern talking to about his ex-girlfriend and I assumed you wanted to see the fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAssuming makes an ass out of you and me,\u201d Myriam sighed but relented. \u201cI need to get out of this place for a couple of hours anyway. How about after watching the lovebirds fight, we retreat to your bedroom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Klaus smiled at her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Myriam,\u201d Bella apologized, seeing the same dark glow around Myriam as she had seen around Rebekah. \u201cI completely forgot you didn\u2019t want me in here but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d Myriam snapped as she pointed to the door. \u201cLet\u2019s go then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella brushed Myriam as she passed to get out first, and by the time they were all outside, Bella could tell Myriam\u2019s glow had completely gone. Smiling to herself, Bella fell into step next to Klaus. \u201cThe Ancestors won\u2019t like it that Bella\u2019s lingering in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah well, maybe it\u2019s a good thing she\u2019s back, the Ancestors deserve to be kicked down a notch,\u201d Myriam replied, sounding quite shocked by her revelation. \u201cI mean\u2026 I\u2026\u201d she looked at Klaus in confusion. \u201cIt\u2019s not good, is it? I mean, don\u2019t get me wrong, I still hate her for not giving us a sign of life over the years but I miss my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite alright, love, don\u2019t worry,\u201d Klaus assured her. \u201cAs is your hatred towards Bella for not telling us where she was, but I\u2019m quite certain she has a perfect excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam huffed. \u201cAs always.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll have to forgive her for her silence, my love, it\u2019s not as if we\u2019ve both been honest with her either, especially not in the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vampire scowled in return. \u201cBut still!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realizing that Klaus wanted to keep Myriam in the dark as to who Davina truly was at the moment, Bella focused on her posture and her walk the entire way to the compound. She was itching to give Kol a piece of her mind, probe him about the ideas he and Davina had thought of for putting her down and then kill him. Oh, if only. She\u2019d rather kill Davina right now and Kol back where he belonged; with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cKol!\u201d Bella called out for him, trying not to wince at how Davina\u2019s voice sounded. It was almost as if she was calling for a puppy to come and heel, and, not surprisingly, Kol did just that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought we weren\u2019t going to meet today, Davina?\u201d Kol smiled at her, giving her a peck on the cheek as they were in front of Klaus and Myriam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the physical touch, there was pretty much a dark glow around Kol, and a part of Bella loved the challenge as Myriam had been too easy, but she didn\u2019t like it. Davina was going to pay for all of this and Bella was really fighting herself on this; now Davina was temporarily turned into a sloth, she\u2019d be so easy to kill. \u201cI changed my mind,\u201d Bella replied, looping her arm through Kol\u2019s and pulled him towards one of the couches in the courtyard. \u201cI need to pick your brain for a little bit, if that\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol smiled at her then. \u201cOf course, but sometimes I have to wonder if you\u2019re only with me because I know so much about you witches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella thought for a moment and looked at him, a serious look on her face. \u201cI might be, would that bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA little,\u201d Kol admitted. \u201cAlthough I thought my handsome face was good enough for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She cocked her head as she gently caressed his cheek with her hand. \u201cIt is handsome, you\u2019re right about that. Did Bella fall for your looks then?\u201d Bella was concerned the dark glow around Kol didn\u2019t even lessen. Granted, it was likely Davina was responsible for the magic befuddling the minds of those Bella loved, but what was this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDavina, we do not talk about her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, for arguments sake, we are. She\u2019s still in town and if I need to find a way to defeat her, I\u2019d have to get to know her a bit better,\u201d Bella argued. \u201cI just had to drop off a sloth at Rebekah\u2019s. Klaus can confirm that there was, indeed, a sloth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frustrated, Kol ran a hand through his hair and reached for the nearest alcohol bottle to make sure he wouldn\u2019t tear out Davina\u2019s throat. \u201cImagine it being like taking down Nik or one of us; you can\u2019t unless you have the White Oak Stake. Since we don\u2019t know what we need to use to take Bella down, the best option would be to create some sort of prison where she can\u2019t escape out of, causing her to have to spend eternity in that prison or until someone in her family decides to intervene.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella winced at that, hoping Kol hadn\u2019t seen it. She wasn\u2019t shocked he had thought about it, but the mere thought of having to spend eternity in a box or whatever wasn\u2019t appealing, at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut Davina, despite the fact she left me, that she left us, doesn\u2019t mean she deserves a fate like that. She\u2019s not my favourite person at the moment but if anything, she\u2019s the one person who strongly fought against me being daggered again. Still, to this day, I believe the only reason I\u2019m not boxed up is because Nik still likes Bella that much. Bella wasn\u2019t all bad. She\u2019s done a lot for this family, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, Bella was surprised by that. Even under Davina\u2019s influence, he still had his head screwed on the right way and not gone off and do terrible things as he\u2019d done in the past. Or at least, not that she knew of. \u201cHer presence in New Orleans is upsetting the Ancestors. She\u2019s the one person who could tip the balance in the direction of whomever she decides to side with. I mean, she moved on thousands of souls that were located at the Lake. She could easily wipe out the Ancestors, leaving us witches unprotected and without power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be silly,\u201d Kol took a swig of the bottle. \u201cYou\u2019d still be able to practise traditional magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hit him on the head with the palm of her hand. \u201cAre you on my side or what? I need the Ancestors, Kol. We all need the Ancestors. Not just the witches, but the werewolves and vampires are under their protection from outside forces like beings like Bella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s harmless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe turned someone into a sloth! There is no way that sloth escaped from the zoo and ended up in the middle of the French Quarter. Who knows who that sloth may be? At least it\u2019s not the Regent!\u201d Bella said angrily, finding it strange to be on the other end of things for a change. \u201cI mean, what if someone manages to find a way to control her? She may be harmless, but if they find a way to do that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI doubt the Gods will allow too much of damage. Relax, okay? Once she realizes I\u2019m yours and yours alone, she\u2019ll go away,\u201d he said reassuringly, softly brushing her lips with hers. \u201cAnd to answer your question, no, I don\u2019t think Bella was drawn to me due to my devilish good looks. She believed she and I had some connection and I was supposed to be her guide, I already told you this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I know,\u201d Bella sighed as she tried to stop herself from jumping into his arms and kissing him senseless as Davina. It wouldn\u2019t feel right. \u201cSounds to me, though, that you\u2019re still in love with her, defending her so much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just telling you what I know. Or what I knew. Who knows what she learned in the last two years?\u201d Kol cupped Davina\u2019s chin and made her look at him. Why did her eyes look so sad? \u201cI love you, Davina Claire. I\u2019ll meet with Bella, alone, and see if I can convince her it\u2019s only you I desire. Perhaps I can persuade her to go back to Mystic Falls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you think it will work seeing as she ignored your request the first time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella\u2019s very understanding and she has a big heart. I\u2019m sure that if I tell her the Ancestors don\u2019t want her here she\u2019ll leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fat chance, Bella thought as she smiled at Kol. \u201cIf that doesn\u2019t work, though, we can continue our plans to put her in her version of the coffin, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDavina\u2026\u201d He really didn\u2019t wish that upon anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight? She\u2019s threatening the balance, Kol. Just imagine she\u2019d land herself a werewolf as a boyfriend, she\u2019d go and protect them at all costs! Or she\u2019d get a regular human and finds New Orleans isn\u2019t the place for the supernatural community and she\u2019ll fight us all!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol winced. Davina was right. \u201cRight. Yes. We\u2019ll continue to find a way to neutralize her, although I think we\u2019ll run into some issues with Nik if we do proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she looked over her shoulder to see Klaus and Myriam peek around the corner before looking back at him. \u201cNot to worry, Kol, I will take care of your brother and his whore should they stop us. In fact, should your entire family be against us making sure Bella won\u2019t be able to disrupt everything, I\u2019ll take care of them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol snorted. \u201cAnd then what? Who\u2019s going to run the vampire faction?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, you are, of course,\u201d she gently pat his cheek. \u201cOr we\u2019ll get Marcel back and have him do that for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol scowled at that. \u201cLet\u2019s just keep my family intact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever,\u201d Bella quickly kissed him. \u201cNow, be a good pup and stay here while I go and pick things up. I\u2019ll be back in a bit.\u201d She had to leave before she\u2019d reveal herself or burst out in tears. Or both. She was still angry with him, and would probably be for a long time for making himself available to be manipulated by the witch after Bella had been gone for just a month, but he didn\u2019t deserve this. Stupid Davina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd feed,\u201d Bella said as she got to her feet. \u201cYou look famished.\u201d This seemed to surprise him. Seriously? Was she regulating his blood intake as well? He looked alright, but he had looked better when fully topped off on blood. How the hell did he control himself? Was she controlling him somehow? \u201cAs much as you need.\u201d How was Klaus allowing this to happen to his brother? Was Davina that good at manipulating everyone with her magic and making family members blind to each other or did Klaus really not care that much about Kol after all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment she set foot outside the compound, she turned invisible and released Davina from her slothiness. Bella imagined this being quite hilarious, Davina in a little cage and Rebekah freaking out. She was also going to be on so many shit lists but right now all she cared about was to go to the City of the Dead and yell at some Ancestors. Yeah, she was going to skip the Regent, she was only the middle man anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hades had taught her to dig deep inside of her to turn the dials of her ghost gifts when needed and oh, she was going to do some serious damage to them if they weren\u2019t going to give her what she needed; it all ended now. Today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, stop,\u201d Hades appeared before her blocking her march to the cemetery. She knew she was still invisible, which meant he was as well. \u201cYou\u2019re far too angry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamn right I am!\u201d Bella said as she tried to move past him, but he stopped her by placing both of his hands on her shoulders and kept her in place. \u201cLet me go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBreathe,\u201d he said calmly, his eyes firmly fixed on hers. \u201cYou\u2019re not one to go off like this, you need to think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy won\u2019t you fix this?\u201d Bella said angrily, hitting his arms in an attempt for him to let go of her, tears were now rolling down her cheeks. \u201cOr fuck that, just let me go and I\u2019ll wipe them all out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you will not,\u201d Hades remained calm. \u201cBecause if you do, I will have to take you back and I won\u2019t ever let you go. Your Earth rights will be permanently revoked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care! They\u2019re messing with my family. They\u2019re messing with the one person I feel normal with and he fucking hates me for leaving so long because of that. I have no doubt that bitch is deliberately keeping him low on blood to keep him deep under her influence and fuck that. If I fix this the way I want it to be fixed, then at least I know my family is free of them and I\u2019ll be happy!\u201d The adrenaline released from her anger was coursing through her body and she loved the feeling of that. Her muscles didn\u2019t quite like it but she didn\u2019t care, she was ready to punch someone. To wipe out all the Ancestors. Fuck preserving the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t believe that, calm down and use your brain,\u201d Hades said encouragingly, squeezing her shoulders as he did. \u201cBecause Helios was right about one thing; you\u2019re the first one who\u2019s shown kindness, mercy and so much love towards others and don\u2019t allow your powers to corrupt you. Give in to the anger now, and there might not be a way back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen fucking fix this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella got quiet then, as if she realised something. \u201cWhat if I can\u2019t fix this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hades pulled her into a big hug, pulling her close against him. \u201cI do believe you\u2019re making excellent progress on that, don\u2019t you think?\u201d He tucked her hair behind her ear and made her look at him. \u201cYou figured out they\u2019re indeed spelled, Klaus is no longer under that spell – although I have to admit, he did most of it himself. I guess it\u2019s great to be this super hybrid. But you cleansed Myriam. You cleansed Rebekah, but she didn\u2019t quite like you anyway so the spell lingered, it might go away in time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not even going to attempt to do it on Elijah. He\u2019s never liked me,\u201d she sulked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou figured out that the Ancestors are behind it, or the most likely suspects anyway and Davina\u2019s likely the conduit to it all. I\u2019d say you\u2019re doing great,\u201d Hades said with a nod. \u201cVery positive progress indeed. I think your next step would be is to find whatever Davina uses to have that hold on your beau and destroy said object. I\u2019m sure you know a friendly witch somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a grunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, I know I fucked up and should have given you the chance to at least check in on your family, but from what I understood was that they knew about the fact time moves differently where we are. You needed the time to get control and pay for sending so many souls to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill no apology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNope. But how about this? Remember the tasks Hercules had to do? Like twelve before he could ascend to Mount Olympus? See saving your boyfriend from the claws of that deviant witch as one of your impossible tasks and your reward will be not one child, but as many as you two want? I could make him fertile for like a month a year to get you pregnant?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a fucking asshole,\u201d Bella scowled. \u201cWho\u2019s to say I\u2019ll ever get him back? Or take him back, for that matter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour weeping heart tells me,\u201d Hades smiled at her. \u201cI may be the God of the Underworld and fertility and shit, but I do know your heart is aching. And that is very unpleasant. But keep at it your way<\/em> and don\u2019t do anything stupid while you fix this. I have every faith in you that it\u2019ll work, just don\u2019t go blasting cemeteries filled with Ancestors, okay? Klaus is back to his senses, and so is Myriam. You have allies now. Use them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t even understand why the Ancestors are afraid of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause you do have the power to wipe them all out and end Ancestral Magic,\u201d Hades reminded her. \u201cYou could tip the power balance, but we all know you won\u2019t. As long as they leave your family alone, you leave them alone. That\u2019s how it works and that\u2019s brilliant. They just don\u2019t know it – you – yet. Once you\u2019ve fixed what you need to fix, go talk to the Regent and come to an agreement, allow her to get to know you the way we all have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUse my brain and keep my cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d Hades nodded and let go of her. \u201cGo to your hotel room and take a nice hot bath. Get some rest. Start tomorrow anew, who knows? People might surprise you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoubt it,\u201d Bella muttered. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re very welcome. Now, I don\u2019t know if you still want to hide from the Ancestors, but if you do, don\u2019t forget to turn invisible again,\u201d he winked at her before he disappeared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella looked around with bleary eyes and saw people stare at her again. She\u2019d been so lost in her anger, sadness and her conversation with Hades she hadn\u2019t noticed they had turned visible. Turning invisible again, Bella started to make her way to the hotel. Hades had been right, of course. Bella had always tried to avoid killing people. She\u2019d help them and then it would be their choice of what they did with the information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such as Silas and Amara, who she had turned into swans as an alternative to death; pretty much against their wishes but to Bella, the only reason. If they still wished to die, they\u2019d have to kill themselves and that would be pretty easy as swans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who was she to depower an entire city of witches only because she was angry with those who gave them power? Since when had she lost the ability to use her words?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she returned to the hotel, the bath was drawn and there was a huge plate of beignets waiting for her on the table, a large box of chocolates and a bottle of wine with a card from Hades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well deserved. Don\u2019t leave the hotel drunk! H<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiling, she made sure she could let off some steam on her laptop in the bath safely and once that was done, she undressed, poured herself a glass of wine and got into the tub, allowing the warm water caress her suddenly tired feeling body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took her a while to realize the banging on the door wasn\u2019t happening in her dreams. There was someone at her door. Glancing over at the hotel issued alarm clock, she could tell the time was 7 in the morning and she was nowhere near done sleeping. Whoever disturbed her sleep, was going to pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a grunt, she kicked the covers off of her as the knocking didn\u2019t stop and managed not to trip on her way to the door. Being drunk of sleep was never a fun thing to have when having to do things. Bella pushed her hair out of her face before she opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taken aback by the vision before her, she stumbled back into the room, giving her guest the opportunity to come inside and close the door. There was blood all over; his clothes, his face, his hands and there was a crazy look on his face that told her he was probably high on blood, too. The dark glow around him was nearly gone, but what was he doing here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did it,\u201d Kol proudly said. \u201cNik won\u2019t be too happy with the bodies in the courtyard but I did it, Bella, I did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rubbing her eyes to get rid of the sleep, she blinked at him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI figured it out! The Davina who visited me wasn\u2019t Davina, was it? It was you. And you told me to go feed!\u201d Kol approached her, but she froze him into place. She wasn\u2019t scared of him or anything, but she wasn\u2019t awake enough to deal with this just yet. \u201cYou know, I didn\u2019t really know it was you until I headed out to go to the witches and then I saw you with Hades in the middle of the street and overheard you guys talk. Seeing you falling apart like you did, did something inside of me, Bella. It jolted me awake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She turned around and quietly started to make some tea with the services supplied in the hotel room. While she couldn\u2019t hide the fact that her heart was aflutter with Kol in the same room with her and seemingly alright, she didn\u2019t trust him. This could also be a ruse. She had heard him talk about his plans when she was Davina. No, it wasn\u2019t going to be this easy for him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo I fed. And I fed. And some more. Oh, Bella, it felt glorious. It was messy and very bloody and it was amazing. Davina found me and stopped me, but your conversation with me and the one you had with Hades was still—-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning around, she looked at him. \u201cWhy are you here? What is so important that you have to interrupt my sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol giggled then. \u201cThe Ancestors might be really angry with me right now and this is the safest place I know. I mean, you\u2019ve been hiding here for months, haven\u2019t you? They haven\u2019t found you, they won\u2019t find me here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou found me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI asked Nik where you were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can see you\u2019re still spelled, Kol. I\u2019m not stupid, but, assuming you\u2019re telling me the truth, what the hell did you do to piss off the Ancestors?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI fought Davina. She had used a binding and controlling spell on me and wasn\u2019t working properly anymore with me topped off on blood,\u201d Kol smirked, still frozen in place. \u201cI drained her from all of her blood and burned her body outside New Orleans and I felt her hold on me disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah right. This couldn\u2019t be happening, it sounded too easy. Too much like the words she wanted to hear from him. \u201cYou what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI killed Davina and made sure she couldn\u2019t join the Ancestors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m too tired for this shit,\u201d Bella muttered as she walked to the door and opened it before throwing Kol out and closing the door again. Satisfied with her handywork, she made it back to her bed in time for the kettle to pop to tell her that the water for her tea had been boiled. Bella rolled herself into her duvet and pulled a pillow over her head and went back to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Klaus and Myriam hadn\u2019t gotten much sleep that night, not that they needed it, vampires could go for a long time without any sleep, but it was the habit that was so nice. No, instead, they had watched Kol bring in revelers from the streets to drain them dry – while they had a perfectly stocked up blood fridge in the basement of the compound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol hadn\u2019t been exactly careful with who he chose for a victim and Elijah was spending the morning at the police station to compel the officers while compelled servants were cleaning up Kol\u2019s mess in the courtyard. Getting rid of the bodies was easy, scrubbing blood off the walls and floor and making sure everything looked immaculate again wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for some reason, watching the whole thing unfold in front of them was simply spectacular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They weren\u2019t surprised when Kol returned to the compound and joined them on the pathway above the courtyard to oversee the cleaning up. \u201cShe kicked me out,\u201d he sulked, getting down from the high he was on just moments before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myriam looked at the vampire in disgust. \u201cDo you blame her? Have you seen yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI went straight over after killing Davina!\u201d Kol whined. \u201cI thought she\u2019d be happy to see me, but instead she didn\u2019t say much and stopped me from pulling her into my arms and —\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgain, do you blame her?\u201d Myriam said again. \u201cOn top of that, we haven\u2019t been exactly welcoming her back ourselves due to that little troll.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpeak for yourself, love,\u201d Klaus mused. \u201cMy encounter with Bella was quite pleasant. She was the one who brought the stones to me. Even when she knew we all weren\u2019t like ourselves, she looked out for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell us she\u2019d been here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause it would give Davina another reason to go after Bella harder or perhaps I knew what you were going to say, who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I killed Davina. I\u2019m no longer under her control. Bella shouldn\u2019t have kicked me out. I\u2019m hurt,\u201d Kol sulked as he leaned over the bannister. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou broke her heart, Kol. After your first encounter there were fractures, but after she posed as Davina to talk to you about her\u2026 we could hear her heart break from where we were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t myself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, but a part of Davina\u2019s spell factored in the humanity we still carry around with us. The human element. For example; Rebekah was cleansed yesterday after Bella and I dropped off Davina sloth, but Bella could tell the spell wasn\u2019t completely gone, merely because Rebekah has never truly liked her. Yesterday, Bella tried to cleanse you, but that was impossible. What did she say?\u201d Klaus looked at his brother, he looked like a lost puppy and well deserved, too. If it hadn\u2019t been for him, they wouldn\u2019t have been in this mess right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe said I was still spelled but, she also didn\u2019t make any attempt to remove the spell from me, either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you blame her?\u201d Myriam said again, nodding to the way Kol looked. \u201cThe least you could have done was a change of clothes and a bath before trying to reunite with the girl whose heart you broke. Flowers. Chocolate. Anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol scowled. \u201cShe should have cleansed me and we should have talked it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not about you, Kol,\u201d Klaus spat at him. \u201cYou told us about the conversation you overheard between Bella and Hades and you didn\u2019t learn anything from that? You didn\u2019t learn anything from the conversation you and Bella had before she resurrected you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the spell is—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Kol, this doesn\u2019t have anything to do with the bloody spell and you know it. It\u2019s likely you barged into her hotel room telling her that you need to be with her because there\u2019s no safe place for you once the Ancestors realize you\u2019ve killed their star witch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did, how do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause I know you, brother,\u201d Klaus sighed as he tiredly ran a hand through his hair. Oh, he really hoped his brother didn\u2019t blow his chance with Bella. Despite everything, Bella did not deserve that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella\u2019s still a girl, Kol,\u201d Myriam said kindly. \u201cClean yourself up, think about how you\u2019re going to make this all better for her and try again later. She was likely still asleep when you demanded her attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what if the Ancestors—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re so scared of their wrath, leave New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what about Bella?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a choice you\u2019re going to have to make, buddy,\u201d Myriam said, pushing herself away from the bannister. \u201cI have to go to work, will I see you later, Klaus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, love,\u201d he smiled at her. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure I\u2019ll bring an excellent tasting lunch to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~o.O.o~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella wasn\u2019t ready to face Kol, at all. After the early morning interruption, Bella went back to sleep and after waking up, she got dressed and decided to spend her day at the zoo, still as the invisible woman because even if he had been telling the truth about killing Davina, it didn\u2019t mean the Ancestors were quite done with her. If anything, things were going to be a lot worse and she needed a game plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She needed to clear her head and start over. Or at least adjust her previous plan and do go to the Regent to talk things through. However, should Davina truly be dead, the Regent might even be less receptive to Bella than she\u2019d already been. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She found it admirable that Kol had figured out a way to fight off the spell himself even if it meant killing Davina and seemingly a lot of innocents by the way he looked that morning, but she didn\u2019t like the fact that he had overheard her and Hades\u2019 conversation; that Kol had seen the state she was in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there was nothing more that her heart wanted; Kol. But her head was wiser in this case; could she trust Kol with her heart again? Kol knew it could take some time for her to get back to him after being swooped up by one of her relatives; time moved differently and he knew that. Had he truly loved her like she loved him if he allowed a pretty young thing to get that close to him just because Bella was no longer in the picture?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had Kol been with her merely of what she was instead of who she was? Had he been in love with her power only?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Granted, the way that they had rolled into their relationship hadn\u2019t been text book, either. She had felt an attraction to him, a connection, even when he was still daggered, and even during their travels, they never truly defined what they were to each other, but she supposed that referring to each other as boy and girlfriend was definition enough. But was it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he had truly overheard her conversation with Hades, why would Kol want to be with her now? Was it because together, he and her could produce tiny Mikaelson heirs with Hades\u2019 blessing? She knew of Rebekah\u2019s wish to be a human and start a family, maybe the blessing was better used on her instead of being wasted on Bella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides, their kids would grow up knowing their mother\u2019s an abomination to the supernatural world, their father one of the mightiest vampires in the world and they\u2019d be a combination of that, and a tiny bit of human. A God-Vampire-Human hybrid. It sounded like a recipe for disaster if the human part wasn\u2019t that much present anyway. Unless Hades could make it so that the children would be perfectly human or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had she listened to her heart this morning in her sleepy state, she would have jumped on Kol in an instant, welcoming him back, making sure the spell around him was completely gone, but that would have been a bad thing all around. Her heart was still broken and she needed to protect what was left of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was going to get her revenge on the Ancestors for what they\u2019ve done to her family, and then, maybe, leave New Orleans to see if she could mend her heart and feel whole again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TrashPanda: <\/em><\/strong>Seems like we\u2019ve got an unexpected guest today and he\u2019s asking for you. Coming to dinner?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CeilingCat: <\/em><\/strong>I\u2019m not in the mood to deal with Kol right now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TrashPanda: <\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s not Kol. Well, he will be at dinner but you\u2019re going to like this one.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CeilingCat: <\/em><\/strong>No. I have other plans.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TrashPanda: <\/em><\/strong>They can wait. Klaus is showing immense restraint not to kill this guest to allow you two to catch up. Dinner is in two hours. Be presentable, which shouldn\u2019t be a problem as we\u2019ve sent something to your hotel room. Klaus is making sure everything is perfect because we have a lot to make up to you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella sighed as she looked at her phone. She really didn\u2019t want to go. She wanted this Ancestor problem sorted as quickly as possible so she could disappear if she still so required. In fact, Myriam\u2019s demand made her feel angry again and she wasn\u2019t sure if it was a good idea to go.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CeilingCat: <\/em><\/strong>No. I\u2019m sorry, Myriam, but I really have to deal with this. It\u2019s because of me you guys were put in harms way and I need to fix it. Seems like all I\u2019m doing these days is fixing my own mess.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TrashPanda: <\/em><\/strong>Bella, you\u2019re not alone. Let us help.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CeilingCat: <\/em><\/strong>No. This mess is because of what I am and I\u2019m going to fix it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TrashPanda: <\/em><\/strong>Don\u2019t do anything stupid, Bella, I want you to be around for a long time.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she turned her phone off and shoved it into her pocket. She took her time to get back to the hotel; she was going to grab a bite to eat and then head out to seek out the Regent. Screw the Mikaelson dinner. She really didn\u2019t want to see Kol right now. Her head was in charge, her heart deserved its rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course she wasn\u2019t going to do anything stupid, not after Hades\u2019 warning. One wrong move, and she\u2019d be permanently banned from being on Earth while there was still so much she could see and do. To experience. It wasn\u2019t going to happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe a solution would be she\u2019d give up on her mother\u2019s side of herself, relinquish her powers and be an ordinary human again. It would be perfect as then, the Ancestors would definitely back off and Bella would never run into problems like that again. On the other side of the coin, it would also mean she\u2019d have to leave her family here, for some reason it didn\u2019t seem wise to be human in a family of Original vampires. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella didn\u2019t trust the smell of food wafting down the corridor that lead to her room. Granted, someone could have ordered room service, but this smelled like a lot of food. Dreading to open her door, she did it anyway and inwardly cursed. Somehow – no, not somehow, this was the result of some compelling. Her bed was still there, but the rest of the room had been transformed into a private dining room with plenty of seats for the entire family. There was good food on the table and she was met by 5 pairs of hopeful looking eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, hell no,\u201d Bella exclaimed as she put her bag on the bed. \u201cI said no.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told you she wouldn\u2019t like it, Niklaus,\u201d Elijah said quietly, the spell still firmly in place on him, making Bella yet again wonder if Kol had truly killed Davina. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t deserve our kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella narrowed her eyes on Elijah. \u201cI want you all to leave, now,\u201d she said slowly, making sure that they all heard the words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re doing this for your own good, Bella,\u201d Myriam said as she rounded the table to hug her friend, but didn\u2019t get the hug returned. \u201cRemember, I know you. I know how much you like to retreat into yourself and—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMyriam, I said no.\u201d Before the other members of the family could speak, Bella turned them all into bunnies and sat down at the table to have something to eat in relative peace and quiet, only to be disturbed by someone slow clapping. Had someone been on the toilet? In her hotel room? Seriously? Looking up, she was surprised to see Damon, but it was a welcome surprise. \u201cDamon!\u201d She flew off her chair and flung herself around his neck to hug him tightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEasy,\u201d Damon chuckled as he returned the hug. \u201cOne moment I\u2019m freed from the prison world they sent me to, and sleeping it off on my bed, the next I wake up on Klaus\u2019 couch in his bedroom while he and Myriam were\u2026 well, that was quite embarrassing.\u201d Damon then thought for a moment. \u201cAlthough, quite hot too, I wanted to join in but Klaus threatened to rip out my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m so glad you\u2019re back,\u201d Bella buried her face into his shirt. \u201cWhen Stefan told me— I—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re glad I\u2019m back? Bella, I was only in that prison world for like\u2026 what? Three months or so? You were gone for two years! If there\u2019s anyone who should be glad someone\u2019s back it\u2019s me, for your return,\u201d he replied as he gently rubbed her back. \u201cHey, uhm, they were here to share dinner with you, not for you to eat it by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she let go of Damon, grabbed the salad bowl and dumped the content on the floor in one giant heap. \u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat works,\u201d Damon shrugged as he pointed at the chairs. \u201cSit. Eat. Let\u2019s talk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, because they\u2019ll hear everything and remember when I turn them back, so let\u2019s just eat,\u201d Bella said grumpily as she retrieved her plate and continued her food. \u201cI have plans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, then I\u2019ll come with you to whatever you\u2019re going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He put some food on his plate and shrugged. \u201cKlaus told me what happened, sort of, I think I get it. I also understand you\u2019re a very stubborn person and you don\u2019t want their help. Not even Klaus\u2019 and Myriam\u2019s. This is your mess, not theirs, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you don\u2019t want their help because they\u2019re a bunch of dicks who deserted you through a spell, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGuess what? It\u2019s not your mess. It\u2019s simply the Ancestors being a bag of dicks and they have more experience dealing with Regents than you do,\u201d Damon said as he looked underneath the table. \u201cUhh\u2026 you might want to turn them back because two bunnies are now having sex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait, what?\u201d Bella looked underneath the table and gasped. She grabbed the nearest glass and chucked it at them. \u201cQuit it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou might want to turn them back, Bella,\u201d Damon smirked before holding up his phone with an image of swanlings. \u201cThese little cuties were created by Silas and Amara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh god! I didn\u2019t know that could happen!\u201d Bella squeaked before turning everyone back and pointed at the door. The last thing she wanted was for someone to get pregnant; vampires bodies worked the same as humans as long as they drank blood, and if she\u2019d get Myriam or Rebekah pregnant, they would be able to carry the baby to full term. Gross. \u201cNow get out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Klausy-Klaus, I\u2019ll handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella whipped her head back at Damon. \u201cI will not be handled, Damon Salvatore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course not,\u201d Damon huffed as he cocked his head towards the retreating Mikaelsons. \u201cHad to say something to get them to leave.\u201d When the door closed, he continued to eat. \u201cI\u2019m on your side, Bella. I understand what you want to do and I understand what they want to do, but seriously, they have more experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s because of me they were put in a vulnerable position in the first place. The Ancestors got spooked; I\u2019m merely going to show them I\u2019m not someone to be afraid of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you are,\u201d he pointed out. \u201cEspecially with all the pent up anger you\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got my anger under control,\u201d she huffed. \u201cOne misstep and Hades revokes my Earth privileges and I go \u2018poof\u2019 permanently, so don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ve got it under control and I won\u2019t do anything other than stuff that won\u2019t hurt anybody,\u201d she bit down on a piece of chicken and sighed. \u201cI just want to go back to being me. Get this fixed and maybe go back to Mystic Falls or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t mean that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t?\u201d Bella let out a snort. \u201cDamon, I am the reason the Mikaelsons got messed with because a bunch of dead witches are scared of me. People are scared of me, of what I can do. My boyfriend is a jerk who couldn\u2019t keep it in his pants after an encounter with a gorgeous young brunette and instead of waiting for me, he moved on within two months and after hearing him talk about what he would do to neutralize me, I am not even sure I want him back. Spelled or not, knowing people are actively thinking about how to get rid of me is not a great thing to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd here I believed you two had an epic love, like Stefan and Elena,\u201d Damon smirked as he leaned back in his chair. \u201cBella, love isn\u2019t easy. You haven\u2019t had a lot of boyfriends and your last ex has been permanently changed into a pig. Kol is a very needy vampire; he needs validation on a day to day basis that you love him. Of course, without—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you really trying to give a rational explanation about him being a cheating jerk? Really?\u201d She took a sip of her wine and shook her head. \u201cVampire or not, what he did was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damon shrugged. \u201cFine, whatever. Things are very simple, Bella, and they\u2019re easily fixed, just allow your family to take care of it. To take care of you. Maybe in this case, it\u2019s better to let them handle the Ancestors. Elijah may not like you, but he does know you wouldn\u2019t do anything out of malice. The last thing you want is for people to get hurt and if you ask him to talk to the Regent for you, she\u2019ll understand and the Ancestors will back off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWitches are backstabbing bitches,\u201d Bella muttered. \u201cThey\u2019d \u2018back off\u2019 for a while, before regrouping and coming back full blast. On top of that, if Kol was speaking the truth about Davina, he\u2019ll be having a target on his back as well. At least I know I\u2019ll be able to make sure he\u2019ll be safe from them, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you are too invested in this. Too close. Not a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSays the person who likes to make rash decisions that eventually come back to bite him in the ass and still hasn\u2019t learned from his mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damon sighed as he reached into his pocket, revealing something wrapped in cloth as he handed it to Bella. \u201cI so wished I didn\u2019t have to do this,\u201d he said, regret evident in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA gift, open it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She narrowed her eyes on her friend before pulling the corners of the cloth back, revealing a beautiful shaped stone. It was polished and it looked absolutely perfect. But why was a stone a gift? Bella picked it up to examine it even further, but before she could, the world spun out of existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 09 Bella\u2019s heart nearly bounced out of her chest when there was a subtle knock on her hotel room door before she realized it was Klaus on the other side of it. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, finding herself staring at an incredibly huge bundle of…<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":601,"parent":598,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-642","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChapter 09 - MeekoBuggy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chapter 09 - MeekoBuggy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Chapter 09 Bella\u2019s heart nearly bounced out of her chest when there was a subtle knock on her hotel room door before she realized it was Klaus on the other side of it. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, finding herself staring at an incredibly huge bundle of... 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