Disclaimer : I Own Nothin, but my wishes and dreams
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Elijah's POV
It has always been like this—Klaus and Kol making things difficult, causing mayhem, and leaving me to clean up their mess with diplomacy. As for my sister, she has always been fiery and uncompromising. Even when we were human, we were all stubborn in our own ways.
This family is all I have left in this world. That is why I had always tried to curb my siblings' reckless tendencies—to keep our father's gaze from finding us, to ensure his ears do not pick up our whereabouts.
For a millennium, that has been my mission. The other? Helping Klaus. Making amends for a betrayal that spans just as long.
That is why I never gave the command to free Katerina. Doing so would have invited my brother's wrath, his centuries-old hunger for vengeance—for both our betrayals throughout history—to be unleashed upon her.
That is why I left her. Every damn time.
But now that we are free…
I have met this era's doppelgänger.
At first, I was genuinely surprised. I had believed Katerina had somehow perfected her deception—elevating her theatrics, perhaps even enlisting witches to mask her vampirism.
But no. This was a new one.
Tugging at old heartstrings. The same face. The same pleading expression.
It was at that moment I realized… perhaps I am growing weak, as Kol has often suggested.
And now, it seems, Kol has killed her—and turned her into a vampire.
Oh, how I wanted to attack him. To fight him for her honor. But I hesitated. Because perhaps, buried beneath his madness, there is some truth to his deduction of my peculiar fascination with doppelgängers.
'Let's not voice that dangerous thought'
As I step into the mansion, I find the troublesome brother on whose yoke this family runs.
"Well, brother, you missed quite a bit of fun," Klaus drawls, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. For the briefest moment, his eyes flash amber before settling back to their usual color.
Damn Kol and his troublesome trinkets. He just had to strengthen Niklaus, tethering him even closer to his wolf nature with that cursed amulet.
"Yes, I heard," I reply. "You killed our mother's latest creation. And, on top of that, you let Elena die."
Klaus's smirk widens, his amusement evident.
"Why, Elijah, you sound displeased," he muses. "I thought your affections lay with a doppelgänger who is now enjoying her freedom. Or perhaps she isn't—perhaps she still believes I am hunting her. You can never tell with Katerina."
I move in a blur, gripping his throat and slamming him against the bar table.
"My, my… it seems our brothers are back to their usual selves, Bekah," Kol's voice rings out as he strolls in, Rebekah at his side.
I release my hold on Klaus and turn my attention to Kol instead, my tone deceptively casual.
"Tell me, Kol," I say smoothly, "how was your trip to New Orleans? Did you enjoy stirring up old ghosts?"
There's a flicker of something in Klaus's eyes—curiosity,longing,sadness perhaps irritation. Good.
Kol's smirk remains, but I can see the sharpness behind it. "Oh, just tying up a few loose ends," he says airily. "And, while I was at it, acquiring an apprentice."
His smirk deepens.
"The heir to the Claire family. That would be the granddaughter of your old friend, wouldn't it?"
I press the wound further, letting my irritation seep into my words. Perhaps Elena's death has angered me more than I realized.
Kol chuckles darkly. "My, it seems you have quite the reliable sources, Elijah. Should I set my sights on that particular morsel?"
His expression shifts—sharp, deranged, the glint in his eyes more unhinged than usual. A grin stretched too wide.
He is talking about Katerina.
And I cannot let him hunt her.
Because if he does, her demise is inevitable.
Kol will kill her without hesitation, without bargains, without mercy.
Kol's grin remains, sharp and unrepentant, but there is something almost gleeful in the way he watches me—waiting, perhaps, for me to react, to rise to the bait he dangles so carelessly.
"I should warn you, brother," he continues, voice light, almost mocking. "I've taken quite the liking to this era's doppelgängers. Such tragic little creatures, always running, always afraid. It's rather entertaining."
My grip tightens around the glass in my hand, but I say nothing.
"Oh, come now, Elijah," Kol presses, his tone teasing but his eyes dark. "You know as well as I do that doppelgängers are meant to die. They're nature's little resets, cursed to suffer for eternity." His gaze flickers to Klaus. "Isn't that right, Nik?"
Klaus chuckles, sipping his drink. "Well, I do have a rather long history of chasing them to slaughter." He gives me a knowing look, amused by my silence. "You were never particularly good at letting them die, were you, brother?"
My jaw clenches. "I was never particularly fond of senseless slaughter."
Kol hums in amusement. "Ah, but is it senseless if it's fate?"
I have heard enough. "You will stay away from her," I say coolly.
Kol blinks, feigning innocence. "Who, dear brother? Which one? You'll have to be more specific. You seem to have collected quite the list of people to protect."
I step toward him, slow, deliberate. "You know who."
Kol tilts his head, a smirk playing at his lips. "Oh, I see. You're referring to our dear Katerina. What a shame, Elijah. I thought you were done with her."
He pauses, then his smirk sharpens. "Or is it Elena? The doe-eyed girl with two brothers wrapped around her fingers, making them dance to her tune and whim as she pleases?"
Now, even Niklaus tenses as he sips his drink.
I resist the urge to lash out. That is what Kol wants.
Klaus snorts. "Please. Elijah is never done with Katerina."
Kol chuckles, leaning in slightly as if to share a secret. "And yet, you left her again—for your family. She always chooses, doesn't she? And she knows you will always choose this family. You can't even protect your woman. Instead, you cozy up to a girl with the same face—the one who reminds you of the first girl you loved, the one you fought Nik for."
Kol's grin is razor-sharp. "How unfortunate."
Instead of lashing out, I exhale slowly, smoothing out the irritation from my expression. "Consider this a warning," I say. "Stay away from her."
Kol's smirk does not waver. "And I ask again… which one?"
His eyes gleam—mirth and malice intertwined.
He is toying with me, knowing full well that I cannot do anything at this moment.
I meet his gaze. "You know precisely who."
For a moment, we simply stare at each other. A silent battle. A challenge unspoken, yet understood.
Then, Kol grins, clapping his hands together. "I don't."
He winks. "Well! This has been delightful. But I must be off. Busy schedule, you know how it is."
He saunters toward the door, entirely too pleased with himself.
Rebekah sighs, swirling the drink in her hand. "And to think I actually missed you lot when we were apart."
Klaus smirks. "Oh, you love us, Bekah. Admit it."
She huffs, rolling her eyes. "I tolerate you."
As Kol disappears into the night, I finally exhale, the tension coiling in my chest refusing to ease.
I do not trust him.
And if he does go after Katerina…
I will stop him.
No matter the cost.