𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓥𝓸𝓲𝓭 𝓞𝓷𝓮 [𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 1]

Chapter 44

Dahlia POV

"We define ourselves by our family. From birth, we share their names. Entrust them to protect that which we hold most dear. We value them above all others. And yet, inevitably...we are forced apart. Promises are made...then left unkept. Children, in particular, turn their backs on those who raised them...seeking lives of their own. The bond of family is not a bond forged by choice. In fact, some would see family as a terrible burden.•"

Stiles POV

I woke up with a gasp. I looked over to see Klaus. I was on the ground. I looked up to see Dahlia. "•And thus, Niklaus...Stiles, you find yourselves here. With me." Dahlia said. "Dahlia." I stated. I looked down at my chest with a gasp to see the dagger was gone. "What have you done to me?" I asked standing up along with Klaus. "Where is my daughter?" Klaus asked speeding towards her. She disappeared and reappeared beside me. "Get out of our heads." Nik said. "I'm not in your heads. You're in mine." She said with a smile. "As you two lie daggered by your beloved brother and by the woman you love..." Dahlia said looking at Klaus and me, respectively. "You two have no choice but to listen. I have a proposition for both of you." Dahlia said. "Come along." She added walking away. Klaus and I looked at one another before following her.

"Spare me the agonizing boredom and explain what it is you want." Nik said to her. "Quiet." Dahlia said as she stopped. We found ourselves in a small village. "I've no use for demented dreamscapes." Klaus said. "Niklaus. Mieczyslaw. Listen." Dahlia said. I sighed before listening closely. I heard people screaming and the ringing of swords being unsheathed and used against them. I spotted barbaric men slaughtering people. Two women ran past me and Klaus. "Is that?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows. "The Vikings came while you were in the garden. I'm scared, Dahlia." The blonde woman said. "Don't be. I will protect us, Esther. But come what may, we must remain together. Always and forever. Promise." Young Dahlia said. "I promise." Young Esther replied. "And so the most ridiculous and eternal promise in history is born." I said sarcastically with an eye roll. A viking grabbed Dahlia and she blasted him with magic. "Leave her be!" She screamed before the both of them were kidnapped. "So much for protecting her I see." I said looking at Dahlia. "Let me guess. The Vikings slaughtered entire village?" Niklaus asked nonchalantly. "Esther and I were the only ones who survived." Dahlia answered. "Well no wonder our mother hated us." I said. "We promised to stay together." Dahlia said. "Yes. Always and forever. A familiar promise, but then you knew that. I suppose you think that makes us kindreds." Klaus said. "Not exactly. What I mean to show you two is that we can be allies." Dahlia said. Klaus and I looked at each other in silence.

Hayley POV

"Elijah called. Freya's doing a locator spell to find us. We need to leave. Now. Wait. You're burying Aiden? Here?" I said holding Hope and walking to Jackson. He was going to bury Aiden in the ground. "We can't keep carrying him around forever. Give me a minute to get him in the ground." Jackson said. "You said that this is how wolves bury murderers and traitors. I know Aiden was answering to Klaus, but he was loyal to the pack in the end. That's what got him killed." I said. "You don't think I know that?" Jackson asked. "You think this is how I wanna put Aiden to rest? I don't have a choice, Hayley. You said it yourself, we gotta go." Jackson said. I shook my head. "It's not right. If we expect the wolves to put their lives on the line...then they deserve to know that those lives matter to us. We'll take Aiden downriver. Give him a true Crescent funeral. Too much has been taken from our pack, I won't let them lose this too." I said.

Stiles POV

"Charming." Klaus said as the three of us entered a building. "I'd have to agree. Who ever the interior designer for this place is. I would really like to their name." I said with a smirk. "This dismal hovel is where I endured the terrors of Viking captivity...for years." Dahlia said. "How fun." I said with a smirk sarcastically. "I performed the dark magic they demanded...so that Esther would be free of their violent abuse. While she was out in the sun gathering herbs, I toiled in the gray of this room. But I never resented her. We'd made a promise." Dahlia said watching her younger self bleed a dead snake dry. "Is this your feeble attempt to garner sympathy? To what end? No ancient plight will ever justify your intention to enslave my daughter. Or what you have done to Stiles with his Ripper mode." Klaus said. "Oh, Niklaus, our plights are the same." Dahlia said as the hovel door opened and young Esther walked in. "You've been with Mikael." Dahlia said looking at her sister. "We were only talking." Esther said. "No matter. I have something to show you. This is potent sage soaked in serpent's blood. It will give us strength. We can get out of this place. Esther, together, we can live forever." Dahlia said. "Dahlia, stop. I no longer wish to practice magic." Esther said. "What? Magic has kept us alive." Dahlia said. "Mikael will protect me now, sister. We plan to marry, have a family." Esther said. I looked at Niklaus, who looked at me. "Are you? I'm your family. I am your sister. We promised each--" Dahlia said. "You will always be my sister, Dahlia...but I wish for children of my own. And...I love him." Esther said leaving. Dahlia grabbed her. "Stay, Esther. Let's sing our song." Dahlia said. "I don't remember that silly little tune anymore, Dahlia." Esther said yanking her arm free and leaving. Dahlia fell to the floor crying. Klaus and I stared at her. "She broke her promise." I said. "Indeed she did, my young nephew." Dahlia said squatting down in front of her younger self. "I take it. You're not one who likes someone to break a promise?" I asked looking at a witchcraft table and picking up various objects. I turned around leaning against the table looking at Klaus.