The Unknown Variable

Chapter 10

“Then, there is a very good chance Niklaus will keep him captive, refusing to let him go, just as he has done to us in the past. I despise how Niklaus has treated the entirety of this family and I refuse for it to happen to another. Besides, if we manage to keep the boy from him, then perhaps Niklaus will finally understand his actions have consequences.”

As Elijah allowed the words to sink in, Luka stood walking away from the group towards the alley where the entrance to the Mystic Grill lay. Sparing a glance at his siblings, Elijah moved yanking Luka from the doorway of the grill and further into the alley, free from prying eyes.

Luka’s back hit the stone wall hard, knocking the breath clear from his lungs as Elijah held him firmly in place, leaving him unable to move a single inch.

“Hello, Mr. Martin. It seems you and I are overdue for a conversation.” Elijah crooned, his eyes steely. Luka struggled against Elijah’s hold, his face twisted into a dark scowl. “I got nothing to say to you.”

“Perhaps not but, you will still assist me with my problem regardless.” A sarcastic laugh tore its way up Luka’s throat, tears pricking his eyes as he openly glared at Elijah.

His words dripped with poisonous venom as he spoke, “Now why would I do that? You and that stupid little bastard got my father killed. And your brother, as good as murdered my little sister, the moment he recruited her. As far as I’m concerned you and the rest of your family can rot in hell.”

Anger thrummed through Elijah's veins at the words, this boy, had used to describe Damon. Fire burned through him, his fingers squeezing tighter where they held him by the neck.

His skin felt hot, a buzzing rang through his ears, and his vision tunneled until the only thing he could see was the stupid brat in front of him. Luka’s hands clawed desperately at the hand compressing his air flow. His ears ringing as oxygen failed to find its way into his lungs, his legs growing weak, his vision darkening as he fought with all his might to escape the treacherous hold that held his life in its grasp.

His lungs burned at the lack of air filling them. One thought rang through his mind, ‘I CAN'T FUCKING BREATHE!’

Just as he was about to lose consciousness, the hand around his neck released. His legs buckled, his knees slamming into the hard asphalt.

A sharp burning pain shot through his left knee, Luka choked on a whimper of pain as his leg seemed to go numb from the fall.

He gasped desperately, the air cold against his burning aching lungs. Coughs raked through him, his eyes watering as he glanced up at Elijah, who stood glaring down at him.

“If,” Elijah growled, his eyes becoming slits, his voice low and menacing, “you value whatever small bit of a life you still have, you will do exactly as I say. Or you can join your very deceased family in the grave.”

A hand came to rest on Elijah’s back as the final words crossed his lips.

“Well, said brother. Well, said indeed. However, if we are going the route of forcing this warlock's hand, may I have some fun with him.” Kol crooned, “It has been something of a while after all. Wouldn’t want to get rusty.” A vicious grin slowly worked its way on to his face, his eyes sharp and deadly as he glared down at Luka.

It had been a long while since Kol had seen his elder brother lose his temper but, seeing it now stirred something in him. Something dark, angry and dare he say possessive.

If this boy, this Damon had enough power to make his otherwise calm and collected brother lose his carefully constructed composure, then Kol needed to meet him. Should Kol deem to acknowledge the words Elijah had spoken, then the boy was technically his nephew.

And what type of Uncle would he be if he just failed to make his acquaintance.

Damon had no idea what type of war was coming his way, the hell that would trail him in his wake. No, no he was ill-prepared for the storm that was coming his way and nothing would be able to stop it when it truly began.

After all, one man’s trash may be another one’s treasure but, one Original’s child was claimed by the other Originals forever.

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“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST HIM?” Klaus bellowed, shaking with rage as he glared down at the shrinking Maddox. Maddox swallowed thickly, his eyes staring at the ground in front of him, refusing to meet Klaus’s gaze.

His tongue flicked out, wetting his lips before he opened his mouth but, no words came out.

“WELL, nothing to say.” Klaus growled menacingly taking a step towards him. “I’m sorry.” Maddox whispered, “I’ll find him. I’ll…” Words failed him again as his mind raced trying to find anything to say that would calm Klaus down.

Nothing came to mind though, he had been left in charge of Klaus’s ward…son…whatever he was and he had failed.

“You better!” Klaus paced back, his hand coming to run down his face before he shot back around. “If you don’t you’ll discover exactly why I am the most feared of my family.”

Liberty rolled her eyes from where she stood at Klaus’s back. She had about had it up to here with self-important, asshole, egotistical vampires.

Damon was a lot of things but he wasn’t stupid and Liberty had a sinking feeling in her gut about where Damon had gone. Telling Klaus this though would go against everything she had ever promised to Damon.

Even if she did tell him, she doubted the Original would believe her with no evidence of proof for what she claimed.

To be fair, she wasn’t completely sure that he would be where she thought he would be. After all, he had promised that he would wait for her before going to Richmond.

Damon had never broken his promise to her before but, these were also the people who had gotten Enzo killed so she couldn’t be sure.

Truthfully, it was more likely than she wanted to believe that he would break his promise in his quest for vengeance. If he was planning to break his promise then Liberty had to get to him before he did.

Damon was strong but, even he couldn’t take on an entire research building of vampire hunters and scientists. Those monsters didn’t care that Damon was breathing or that he felt emotions.

All they cared about was the next piece of research they could achieve to gain themselves more prestige. It made Liberty’s gut churn to even think of them getting their hands on Damon again.

She felt sick at even the possibility of it happening and it had nothing to do with her being in charge of protecting him.

It had been so long since she had been assigned Damon as her charge and she could safely say, she considered him a friend.

Glancing at Klaus’s pacing form out of the corner of her eye, Liberty knew what she had to do.

Damon would hate her for a while, heck maybe forever but, from the clear worry and rage etched on Klaus’s face, she knew it was the right call. Klaus cared about Damon on a level that she wasn’t even aware was possible for him.

To turn away from using him to protect Damon simply because of a promise would not only be stupid but the consequences would be everlasting. After all, if she was right. Damon had already broken his to her.

Liberty steadied herself as she turned to face the newly formed hybrid.

This was the right thing to do, it had to be, at least she hoped it was.