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033 | The Laws of A Hunter
2010, Time Travel
A strangled groan esaped Leonora's mouth as her knees collided with the cold,hard flooring of the moistured woodland - her nails desperately digging into the delicacy of her skin. Her teeth gritted against one another, the feeling arising goosebumps upon her skin. The enticing blue hues which devoured her fists slowly evaporated into a blur of nothingness, the remaining pain of time-travelling still corrupting her head. Leonora didn't understand the reasoning behind her sudden pain. For, she had time-travelled many times in the past, doing it effortlessly. However, it seemed the more time she spent haunting the probabilities of the past, the more pain devoures her being. Not to dis-include the only words that left her mouth were when she'd spoken to a temporarily dead Alaric Saltzman, the constant use of invisibility and the effort to creating an abled plan - for more than a year now.
A year dulled with lonliness and nerves. Nerves that she could not save him, save those who had been swept away within the lineage of Niklaus Mikaelson's death. Despite the constant movement of rushing bodies, the over-hearing conversations of highschool drama and dressed work calls - Leonora had never felt so alone. She felt as though she were wallowing amongst the rumbles of the second-world-war, the memories of her days aging away in that abandoned and destroyed pit of school walls bombarding her mind as a reminder of just how little she'd achieved. She'd escaped that reality of nightmares, just to willingly throw herself to the depths of her own mind, her own company.
She didn't know what to do, as tears fell out of her eyes Leonora played with the tips of her hair to try distract herself from her tormenting mind. She sobbed and sobbed, jumping at each explosion given off in the distance. Half an hour passed and Leonora knew she needed to run, a bomb could go off right next to her any second or someone of the enemy side could find her and shoot her. Swallowing her deep fear, Leonora picked herself up of the ground, wiped her eyes and ran.
Leonora quickly shook her head, ridding herself of the painful reminders fo what her life had once been tormented to. Her breaths came out heavy as she adjusted and adapted to the pain thumping through her consciousness, suddenly jealous that Alaric did not have any recollection of his pain. A twig continued to embed itself within Leonora's knee and ripping her knee-high socks, a drip of blood releasing from the wound, prompting the girl to try and gather her footing - pushing through the ache.
Thankfully, Leonora had not nessesary reason to stay amongst Mystic Falls 2009, for, Alaric had not other injuries resulting in a visit with the Original Witch. Therefore, she waste no time in igniting her blood with the grasps of time and manipulated the era she was in - hence the bitter welcome of Mystic Falls 2010. Fortunately, past-Leonora was present amongst the local gossip and murder of its residence, and was present during Alaric's next stumble with death. She remembered is, as she and her dead lover were divided in an argument, mistaken words were spoken and petty actions were encouraged - it was a messy time.
Thus, Leonora started her slowed trudge through the woods, mentally preparing to manipulate the molecules upholding the space she provides, allowing her to become un-seeing to the naked eye. As she walked through the chaotic streets, bodies of individuals rammed through her yet not colliding. It was as though she were a mere ghost amongst the living souls, an outsider to a group of insiders - Leonora was nothing more than just a mutter upon chapped lips. She could not help it, yet, she felt as though she were already dead, a soulless omen wandering aimlessly.
As the lonliness and self-doubt set in, Leonora motivated herself with each step that brung her closer to her love - closer to him. Her strides became powered as she moved towards the Gilbert Residence, the knowledge of future events swirling within her mind, prompting her to move faster. Her feet dragged up the steps of the porch, the creaking melody of the swing stung her ears, goosbumps rising on her cringed skin.
Looking through the window, Leonora saw the two Gilberts, Tyler Lockwood and Alaric Saltzman all wearing a range of expressions upon their faces. Elena looked none the happier to have Klaus's sired hybrid casually sipping juice while sat at her dinner table, she assumed Alaric had similar feelings considering the covered grim frown overshadowing his face.
Shaking her head, Leonora reaped her face of the stray strands that had grown thin and split due to the lack of care for her own body. Her fingers slowly tensed in a closed fist, her eyebrows furrowing with focus as she teleported within the residence; the occupants words meeting her ears.
"This is weird. Klaus has hybrids stalking me and now you're just sitting in our kitchen." Elena's cautious voice muttered out, her arms wrapped around herself in some form of protection.
Leonora walked foward so she was able to lean herself against the table, watching as Tyler glanced around awkwardly. "Look, maybe I should go..."
"Oh, stay. You're not doing anything." Jeremy quickly came to Tyler's side, warningly looking to his sister at her blatanly obvious dislike for his newest friend.
Elena nodded, pretending to provide sympathy for the hybrid. "Unless you have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master."
The invisible girl watched with an unreadable expression upon her face, if Leonora were to vocally express her feelings - she was just waiting for Alaric to die. Despite indirectly being belittle, Tyler laughed. "It doesn't work like that, Elena."
Alaric came to sit at the table, all the occupants (minus Leonora) were sitting around the table now, a tense atmosphere filling the air. "Tell me Tyler...What is the difference between being sired and being compelled?" Alaric asked the newly turned hybrid.
Leonora tilted her head in thought, for she had never concluded the two of being much difference. Considering, Tyler was granted vamperism against his will, thus, creating the sire bond. Compulsion is a similar transaction. Therefore, she was invested in the answer.
"Compulsion-that's just mind control-like hypnosis. And being sired is...it's like faith. You do something because you believe it's the right thing." Tyler explained. Leonora placed a hand upon her chin, contemplating the facts within the hybrids answer. Compulsion was hypnosis, and being sired could be considered a form of worship for a common diety within the sired's mind. Yet, Tyler had not willingly handed over that faith, for, Klaus had unconsensually given him this belief of relief against the werewolf curse. So, could it be considered a faith if it was forced upon you?
Elena spoke, her arms still wrapped around herself with a protective manner. "So you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing?" She asked the hybrid.
Tyler shook his head with a confusion. "I don't serve him. Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that."
Leonora leant forward, intruiged with the matter. "Huh..." She whispered out, her voice-box scratchy and almost mute from the lack of use. The belief of faith towards Klaus is definitely there, however, it's misjudgely placed. Klaus did not free Tyler of his curse with the intention of gaining a follower - a worshipper. Klaus killed Tyler, and supposedly freed him off his curse to target the emotions of other individuals.
"What if he asked you to jump off a bridge?" Alaric asked.
All individuals looked to the hybrid with intent and intruige. Tyler's eyebrows quickly furrowed as he shook his head. "He wouldn't! And even if he did I'd be fine. I'm a hybrid."
Leonora's mouth opened with realisation and understanding. She was under the impression that Tyler's sire bond to Klaus made the boy feel a sense of gratitude and respect for the man who had relieved him of his full-moon pains. Yet, given Tyler's answer, the boy percieved Klaus as someone who does things with the intention of good. He believed Klaus wouldn't ask him to jump off a bridge because Tyler views Klaus as a hero.
"Okay, so what if he asked you to rip your own heart out?" Elena asked, shrugging her shoulders.
Once again, Tyler shook his head, a defensive expression taking over his face. " Again, he wouldn't."
"But what if he did?"
Tyler's palms collided against the table in a aggrivated manner, his voice rasied. "I don't know! Then I'd rip out my heart!"
Elena, Alaric and Jeremy's face all morphed into one of disbelief and shock. Leonora continued to look to Tyler with intrigue and curiosity, having not looked up on the topic of sire-bond due to it's rarity, she had no knowledge of the matter. But, she was quite surprised at the magnitude of faith and belief Tyler held for the Original Hybrid despite knowing of his previous actions.
The hybrid boy threw up his hands in an 'I give up' notion. "You guys sound like Caroline, getting all freaked out over something you don't understand."
"You're right Tyler I don't understand. Klaus has terrorized every single one of us and you're just blindly loyal to him." Elena spat out.
"You're over-thinking it. I can still make my own decisions." At his words, Leonora tilted her head, thinking it over. Technically Tyler was correct, he wasn't trapped within the allowances of Klaus. He could still speak to whomever he liked, fought whoever he wanted. But, once Klaus merely utteres a command, he would eventually follow along, despite knowing it may be wrong. For example, Tyler's inability to decline the Original's command at giving his girlfriend a fatal werewolf bite.
Walking over to the sofa, Leonora placed herself down, waiting for the time Alaric's corpse would be brought in. She kept her eyes upon Jeremy as the boy walked a distance away, his phone against his ear, for she knew Nik was on the other side - tempting the boy to walk in a line of fire. The pull she felt to grasp the phone and listen to the symphonic voice on the other line was strong, her emotions coiling in a stormy blizzard. But, she could not jeopardise what she needed to do, where she needed to be.
"What was that about?" Elena asked her little brother, once the boy had gotten off the phone and re-joined the conversation. Jeremy shook her off, placing himself back at the table.
Tyler awkwardly smiled to his history teacher. "I got to go. Umm, thanks for the food offer, but..."
"Next time." Alaric waved off. Tyler nodded and stood up, desperately wanting to escape the unwanting emotion that was building up in him, and the unwelcoming atmosphere of the Gilbert House. Once the door had closed, Elena and Alaric instantly stood up, their postures relaxing and releasing a breath.
"So, Tyler Lockwood is a lunatic who has access to our house." Elena spoke as she made her way next to Alaric.
Alaric shook his head, replying. "I mean this whole sire bond thing is...wild. I don't even think Tyler is fully aware of what little reason lies behind what he's saying. It's this weird cult logic."
Because of the two elder residence's attention upheld upon their own conversation, they did not notice Jeremy taking his walk outside. Leonora watched the boy go, a sense of helplessness at what the teenager was about to go through - but, she did not stop him. She continued to sit down and watch the tortured teenager take his ring off, his escape from death's grasp.
" Well, great, that's a wonderful influence for you Jer..." Elena turned around once her brother's silence met her ears. "Jeremy?" Both Alaric and Elena looked around the house, desperate to find the young boy. But, they did not find him, they only found the singular supernatural piece of jewellery laying unused upon the table - their eyes widened.
Leonora looked out the open front door as the young Jeremy Gilbert, seemingly hypnotised, stood in the middle of the road, awaiting the on-coming speeding car. Alaric and Elena's screams ripped through their throats. "Jeremy!" Alaric booked it to the young boy, his legs taking him faster than ever as he grapsed Jeremy's shoulders and pushed the boy out the way. However, in the midst, the car collided with him instead, sending his bloodied body rolling down the pavement.
Elena and Jeremy desperately carried Alaric's soon to be awakened body inside and placed him upon the sofa, right next to an invisible time-traveller, who immediately latched her tendrils of magic to his temple.
Goosebumps arisen from Leonora's exposed skin as her skirt danced around her, matching the of the Other Side's windy melody. Due to the immediate movement of Alaric's dead body, she had to wait until the man was secured within one place, allowing her to appear within the Other Side. Thus, Esther Mikaelson had already appeared and begun her talk to the injured man.
Upon first glance, Leonora could see the nerves building within Alaric Saltzman as his eyes continued to glance around - a fear evident within them. Unfortunatley, Esther had taken notice of the erratic and nervous bundle that was her destroying creation. "What is it, dear? Is something bothering you?" Esther asked, painting a gentle smile on her face.
Leonora did not allow Alaric the freedom of his own speech, wanting him to play upon her puppet strings. Her eyes illuminaed a deadly navy as she whispered out through the breeze. "Play her."
The persona that was Alaric's other side, instantly perked up at the embodiment of his nightmares whispering against his ear, razors digging into his skin at the fear that trickled through his veins. Despite the mans belief for Esther's words, an under-lying fear build up within him at the reminder of whats to come if he fails the deviless that prowls his moments of death. Alaric instantly looked to Esther, his posture tense yet trying to come off as relaxed. "Yeah, I just, I don't want no vampires prowling around."
Esther smiled at the man, happy of her efforts to create a creature forged of hatred. "Fortunately, no vampire is to set foot amongst the land we stay. For, vampires and witches do not mix well, even in the afterlife."
"So, even in death, vampires and witches hate eachother?" Alaric questioned, intruiged in the answer.
Esther nodded. "And thus, we stay far away from eachother. Despite being dead, vampires who had not yet found peace still take efforts to feed on us. That's who they've been, that's who they'll always be." Alaric nodded, her manipulative words transforming into ones of truth and belief, seeing Alaric's agreeance, Esther continued. "Therefore, each and every one deserves to be wiped out. Alaric, you have the power to do that."
Leonora watched as Alaric's eyes showed a mazed depth, a mixed between belief of Esther's words, and fear of concequence if he acted upon that belief. A perfect mix between Leonora Matisse and Esther Mikaelson. Despite not completely wiping out Alaric's alter-ego, for that would change too much of the future and risk creating a paradox, Leonora still invoked her own manipulation within Alaric's mind to mentally battle his darker persona. Making her future plan, easier.
"How? I'm a mortal Hunter, the ring only does so much for me." Alaric questioned, looking down to the ring that was passed down through many generations. A state of confusion filled his mind, the words of both female entities ringing throughout. 'Because you were always meant to have it.' , 'That ring was never meant to be on your finger, it's rightful place is Jeremy Gilbert.'
Esther placed a motherly hand on Alaric's own, the one that the ring adorned. "Within future time, when you are ready, I will transform you into a being deserving of unearthly abilities. You will be faster, you will be stronger. You, Alaric Saltzman, my dear hunter, will be the key to the survival of the human race."
Alaric looked to Esther with confusion, fog enveloping his calves and creating a shadow of dusk to barrier this place of death. "I don't.. understand? I will be faster and stronger than an Original? Than Klaus?" The exposure of Leonora's words telling the origin of Klaus's family, Esther, still alterting within his head.
Nodding, Esther replied. "Yes, you will. A spell will be placed upon you, turning you into a more powerful creature than the Original Hybrid."
"And, what will I be?"
Esther placed both hands on Alaric's cheeks, hoping to provide warmth and security in a whithered after-life. She also wished to brace Alaric for what she was to speak of, the exposure of her plan all along. "My dear Hunter, you will be just like 'Mikael The Destroyer', the legend that is the hunter of the Originals."
With a horrified face, Alaric ripped himself away from the witch, his eyes widened. "You want to turn me into one of them? A vampire?! I thought what you wanted was to destroy all vampires, but you'd only just be creating another abomination!"
"To be better than them, you have to be like them." Esther softly spoke out.
Alaric's head shook as he refused to look to the woman. "No! How can I prove to the humans that I am to protect them if I am the creature that hunts them all down? To be a hunter is to be human!"
"And where would being human get you?" Esther spat out, letting go of the friendly, seren voice she always greeted the man with. "Alaric, you have died at the hands of vampires for many times now. Despite being a renounced hunter, you keep dying. A hunter is to be strong and fast, no matter what creature they are, as long as their morals are of good, then you are a hunter."
Leonora kept herself hidden within the depths of her abilities, watching as Esther finally proved herself of what she truly was, and relishing in the haunted expression of Alaric Saltzman. She waited until it was her time to show, her time to play puppeteer.
The dead-man continued to shake his head, dislike the overall idea of becoming a vampire. "No, I won't do it. I am a hunter, not a vampire! You were supposed to be different, you were supposed to help me!"
Esther's eyebrows furrowed as she looked to the man. "Different? Different than whom, may I ask?"
Leonora's eye widened as Alaric had accidentally possibly given away her presence to the Original Witch, her jaw clenched in anger and annoyance as she carefully watched Alaric. "Lie." She commanded, not wanting to be revealed to her opposer.
Alaric brushed a hand through his hair, playing off his nerves as he looke away. "Different than Damon, Different than Stefan, better than all the vampires who percieve themselves as good! I want to help people, I want to rid the world of vampires, not become one."
Despite his words, Esther continued to gaze at the man with an under-lying interrogation. "And how are you supposed to help do that if you're nothing than a mere human. I am a witch, Alaric Saltzman, and yet I could not do nothing more than accept as I succumb to my death. Yet, you believe you could accomplish more? Kill all vampires in existence?"
"Yes. And I will do it all as a proud human."
Leonora tok that as her cue to call upon the magic that thrived through her veins. Holding a hand to her back, she created the familiar signs of resurrection, the wind bellowing around the three occupants of' The Other Side'. Esther and Alaric looked to one another, believing their time together has come to an end.
"To be a hunter is to protect the innocent, despite what monster you may be." Esther spoke as her figure became faded and improper.
Alaric did not speak, yet he allowed the words to linger within his head as a fear blossomed in his gut. He did not bother looking around, already knowing she was here. "You're not her."
Walking behind the man, Leonora hummed out. "Hm?"
The man turned around, his eyes disgusted and full of hatred. "You're not the Leonora I know. She wasn't a torturer, she wasn't like him."
"Like Klaus? Of course not, I'm better." Leonora smiled out as she whispered out. "Dolore."
Instantly, Alaric began to screech out a tortured yell, dropping to his knees. Leonora up-held a hand and opened up a portal hole under the mans feet, his screams echoing as he fell through it. Moving her hand with a gesture, Alaric's body re-appeared as he fell through multiple branches and leaves of the trees occupying the space. Blood spewed out what appeared to be whip marks upon Alaric's exposed skin, bruising swelling up around it. Leaving no time to adjust, Leonora's fingers moved with structure, watching as a beautiful body of navy surrounded Alaric's figure. She manipulated his body-clock work, making his movements slow to the pace she desired, everything she implemented upon the man, he was experiencing 10X slower, the pain remaining for longer.
His screams came out slowed and deeper in pitch as Alaric's arms wailed around in a humiliating slow motion. Forming a solitified embodiment of space, Leonora launched the ball of power at the man, sparks of electricity buzzing off it as it soared through the air. Alaric's skin rippled in a slowed notion, his face contorting into one of terror and pain. Leonora took pleasure in watching the man's body move at snail speed as it moved through the air, blood slowly pouring out of opening wounds.
Twisting her hand, Alaric's body resumed to normal pace, his body responding and flying back with speed into a tree - branches falling onto him with a sickening crunch. "S..sto-" Leonora left no room for words as she held up both empowered hands, commanding Alaric's body to hover within the air. "If you want to become like Mikael, then you'll end just like Mikael." Her words coated in venom as she sapt them out. Tendrils snaked their journey around his torso as she slowly parted her hands, a squelching ripping sound echoing throughout the abyss. Alaric's throat became scratchy and lost as he ripped out a scream of agony as Leonora continued to command her magic to make his body rip in two - very slowly.
Blood dripped onto the woodland floor as a lightning zag appeared upon his skin, an indication of a tear. Leonora's ears begged to be covered, protected from the monstrosity of Alaric's howls of pain.
"Femare." Leonora cringed out as a ringing pounded her ears. She dropped her hands, the blue tendrils loosening and disappearing from view as Alaric's bloodied and battered body dropped to the floor, hid blood splashing up from the collission. The man did not look up, his eyes begged to close as dots appeared within his visions, the pain dancing through him like a black swan.
Bending down, Leonora spoke. "Everytime you even think of ending any vampires life, I want you to remember this. Remember the warmth of your own blood as you lay in a pool of it." he wind danced around the two as Leonora crept out of Alaric's mind, her eyes remembering of the sights she caused.
Leonora's eyes opened to see her past self conversing with Elena. "I may not like you, nor agree with your actions. But Jeremy and Alaric are innocent. They will be protected."Her past self left no room for words as she teleported away, future Leonora knew that she was going to erupt an argument with Niklaus about the protection of Alaric and Jeremy.
Staying sat down, Leonora stayed admist the chaos of Elena, Jeremy and an appeared Damon, all of whom were ignorant to her presence and undergoing an argument of which they should leave Mystic Falls to escape the grasp of death that haunts the town. The Irony.
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Leonora boredly flicked through the book that lay upon her lap, already having read it twice. she was tired, wishing to shut her eyes and indulge in the dimpled smile that she would see every time she blinked, or the enticing blue eyes that followed her every move. Yet, Leonora had to stay and watch as Alaric organized his weaponary and guns as nearly every residence of Mystic Falls danced the night away and shared stolen kisses as it was the night Klaus had kissed her, really kissed her. Her head laid back against the sofa in bliss of the memories of how soft his lips had tasted against hers, the brushes of his fingertips against her skin, the night she had finally allowed herself to accept the emotions she felt for the villain.
The constant clanking of weaponary caught her ears, disrupting her paradise of Nikaus as Alaric continued to inspect his collection of weaponary, some stolen from evidence by the doppelganger. Leonora lifted her head up and saw Alaric softly muttering to himself, his lips moving in an inaudible rush.
Her eyebrows furrowed and eyes zeroing in on the peculiar man as Leonora stood up from her lying position, the book disappearing from view. Alaric continued to feel every piece of weaponry, guns glinting under the light with an urging atmosphere. Leonora watched as the man picked up a pistol, his eyes looking it up and down with a hidden desire, prompting her eyebrows to furrow. She felt as though she was interupting something...
However, it was when the man picked up a wooden stake, blood dried and out-dated staining the wood, did Leonora begin to understand. Alaric's lips curled into a smile as he gazed to the weapon in his hands, his other hand clenching into a tensed fist. The time-traveller believed this was the start of when Alaric's alter-ego was beginning to make an appearance outside of just his mind.
Leonora was secretly counting on this, for, she had not desired to accomplish the utter destruction of Alaric's alter-ego. No, she needed that to be created for the future to play out safely. It was what she was inducing within the after-math was what was important and would be used to her advantage. But, she did wish it wasn't of the magnitude that she'd seen it to.
Suddenly, Leonora's figure jumped back in shock as Alaric had quickly threw the stake, making it hang out of the dent in the wall he'd produced. Her eyes focused on the heavy breathing of the man and how his fingertips weaved through his hair, pulling at it with a groan. "Stop it." Alaric groaned out, doubling over in protest.
Her eyes locked onto Alaric with an almost impressive look as she watched the man attempt to push back his postering alter-ego. In her experience, her old future, Alaric had not been able to protest to his altered mindset, not even being able to acknowledge it until another perspective told him of it. So, to see the man mentally fight himself of control was... impressive.
Alaric's back collided with the Gilbert's fridge as his teeth clashed together in mental pain, guns had fallen onto the floor, narrowly missing his foot as they descended towards the floor. Leonora continued to manouver around the struggling man as he slammed his head against the table - her eyebrows flew up in slight surprise.
"Get out!" Alaric groaned out, his voice tense and scratchy as he fell back on the sofa, hoping to relieve himself of the migraine. But it wasn't a migraine, it was his modified person trying to break through and commit the sinful acts it was instructed to do as a hunter.
Leonora flinched back as Alaric hastily stood up and slammed against the wall, the painting falling off its hook and falling to the floor with a loud clash. She felt a bit out of place as she continued to avoid the struggling moving man with furrowed brows and surprised startles. Alaric (or not) stumbled his way towards the table which contained the weaponary such as stakes, guns, knives, daggers, etcetera, Leonora watched with uncertainty as the man tried to take his grasp upon the weapons only to jerk back with a groan.
"Our...destiny..." Alaric, or what Leonora assumed not to be, muttered out through a tensed jaw as the man upheld himself against the wall, eyeing the displayed table of weaponary with both anticipation and nerves. Leonora's eyes zeroed in on the man as she remembered the words Esther had told the man out of motivation and belief.
"Because it isn't my destiny. It is yours. You have a foothold upon the land of the living and here, 'The Other Side', because of that ring, originated to protect hunters from vampires. The ring was generated through the Gilbert bloodline, yet it landed upon your finger. Why do you think that is?"
"Because of my last wife, Isobel who knew John Gilbert. She gave it to me, after a Gilbert gave it to her."
"Because you were always meant to have it."
Unfortunately for her, Alaric had not won the mental battle with Esther's creation, the man that was in front of her was a dulled model of the evil counterpart that stalked Alaric's consciousness. The man had taken ahold of a crossbow, and skillfully taken a start at cocking back the ignition. Thinking on the spot, Leonora conjured a physical ball of her power and drew the hand to the side, exactly where the circuits were.
Alaric had almost dropped the crossbow out of shock as he was encased in darkness, his sights no longer belonging to the strings and bow, but instead a voidless pit of nothingness. Despite Leonora not able to see throughout the darkness, she had enhances of the occupied spacing due to her ability of space, allowing her to sense the movements of Alaric Saltzman.
The man growled out, not happy with the distraction as he put down the crossbow, and instead picked up a stake. Leonora squinted her eyes through the dark and huffed out a breath of frustration as Alaric begun to walk towards the door, a stake tightly clenched in his clutches. However, before the man could take another step, Leonora conjoined two fingers in a point and swiped her hand, a knife following her command and flying towards it's target - embedding itself deep within Alaric's gut.
A scream tore through the mans throat as his hands came to his stomach out of reflex, Alaric begun to look around in confusion as he was under the impression that he was alone within the Gilbert's house. A puddle of warm blood trickled to the floor from the open wound, Alaric's clothes staining red.
Despite the pain that was necessary, Leonora had fortunately suceeded in snapping the man out of his corrupted throughts. Alaric's breaths came out frightened and laboured as he dropped the stake, unknowing of what he was doing with it in the first place, and tumbled his way upstairs - leaving bloody handprints on the walls as he goes.
Leonora closely followed after the man, occassionally assisting his fallen steps inconspicuously and silently applauding him for having the idea to not take out the knife. Her hands were outstreched and hovering over his torso, incase Alaric were to fall despite not actually willing to catch him and ruin the progress she'd made.
Alaric's handprints smeared across the walls and bannisters as his steps became staggered and slowed, paintings nearly toppling upon him. The sight looked like one out of SAW as blood continued to leave a trail all the way upstairs.Suddenly, Alaric's knees gave out on him, his breath getting caught in his throat as his body no longer supported itself. Looking behind her, Leonora did not wish for Alaric to fall all the way down the stairs and risk a harsher injury, therefore, she shoved him. She allowed her hands to solidify and collide with his back, knowing the man was too out of it to remember.
Looking down at him, Leonora witnessed the fluttering of the mans eyelids, his chest heaving with slow breaths. Igniting her hands, faded streaks of blue pulsed around her fingertips as she weaved her magic amongst Alaric's pockets, trying to find his mobile. Once she telekenetically grasped it, Leonora teleported it within her hand, the mobile falling into her palm. Unlocking his phone, Leonora dialled Elena's number, allowing it to ring as the girl did not answer.
Leonora silently growled out, for, Alaric was not able, but he was not dead. Meaning, she'd have to wait until Elena or Jeremy came back to be the ones to kill him. But, she did not have the patience for that, she was not willing to wait any more unccessary minutes than she already had. Leonora would get back to Niklaus, even if it meant killing the man.
Therefore, Leonora snaked her magic into Alaric's consciousness as like she'd done many times previously, his head lolled to the side in indication of his slumber as his chest slowed in a deep sleep. Craning her neck, Leonora allowed her magic to fade from her body, her mirage desintergrating into nothing as she became visible to the eye. She wrapped her delicate fingures around the knife and slowly and carefully weaved it out, not wanting to risk waking the hunter.
unconscious groans emitted from Alaric's throat as he shifted against the wall, pain filling his body. With her other hand, Leonora placed a singular finger upon Alaric's temple and willed a sleepful bliss to overpower his pain. She continued to ease the knife out, dis-allowing any more blood to spew out and stain the carpet. (Knowing how hard it was to get out.)
Once the knife was out, Leonora thought back to the frightened dull light in Klaus's eyes as he gazed to her exposed back and watching the close calls of Alaric's attacking hands. She thought back to the flames that licked his body as it prised away the love of her life, the helplessness that wreaked her body as she was bounded to the arms that dis-allowed her to run to him. With those thoughts in mind, Leonora happily plunged the knife deep within Alaric Saltzmans chest, his body giving off a jerk at the action. Blood sprayed onto her face, dropplets fo it smearing down her cheek as she disappeared from on-coming eyes once again.
A cold breeze swept around her as Leonora looked around to the place she'd haunted not mere days ago. However, Leonora had grown tired of Esther's fake voice, grown tired of witnessing the appalling acts and sweetened smiles as she tried to play Alaric for a fool - which she unfortunately succeeded in.
Therefore, Leonora upheld a hand, her eyes glowing a threatening blue as she released a powerful wave of magic, dis-allowing any unwanted spirits to wander along her meeting with Alaric. Blue walls glinted in the duskful lights as it slowly faded from her sights, merely disappearing to look as though it were never there. Yet she gazed in fascination at the rememberance of the high, demanding barriers that opposed any unwelcomed guests.
"What did you just do?"
Spinning around with a heavy breath, Leonora's chest risen at a quickened pace with the exposure of magic - having not done it before. "I've grown tired of Esther. So, I simply blocked her out and anyone else who wish to talk to you." She replied to the dead-man as Alaric looked around him of where he remembered towering walls of blue trapping him.
"But, won't she know? She is the Original Witch after all." Alaric questioned, taking a step away from Leonora, almost sad that Esther wasn't there to provide security.
Leonora shook her head, shrugging her shoulders. "Even if she does, what is she going to do against that?" At her words, the menacing fortification of walls gave view as it dominated over 'The Other Side', the top unsee-able to any eyes as it soared from view.
"But..? What are you going to do with me?" Alaric muttered out, refusing to meet Leonora's eyes as though she were Medusa and would cave him into stone.
Leonora began to walk out, deep in thought. "You see, I had the first encounter with your evil-counterpart, don't interrupt, and I had to unfortunately stab you, evidently kill you. Now, despite all my efforts, you still have an evil-persona hell-bent on murdering the vampire species. The brilliant thing is, is that you started protesting against it, feeling pain. Which means, it's working! How fantastic is that?"
Alaric look confused as he watched the girl pace, a string of fear weaving in his stomach at her quickened words and erratic behaviour. He had grown to use to the dead-panned, emotionless Leonora that often brought fear and torture wherever she stepped foot upon. Yet, this Leonora was unknown, too happy, foreign to him. The sudden change in personality brought a bundle of nerves within him.
She gestured to him, laughing out. "Don't you understand? Everything's working, it's all working." She giggled out, before her face went dead. Alaric took steps back at that, his eye widening with surprise and alarm.
"Dolore."
Alaric's body screamed out in agony, his teeth digging into his teeth to try and not release the horror of screeches that wished to bellow out into the dusk. Droplets of blood grew upon his lips as he had bitten so hard, his eyes squeezed shut. Leonora looked to the man with a small smile, knowing that all her hard work was paying off, all the lonliness and tearful nights was bringing her closer to her beloved.
With buckled knees, Alaric's body crashed to the floor, wanting to fold in on itself and rid himself of the coursing pain. His lips cracked as his teeth unclamped themselves and a wail destroyed his vocal cords. The man began to scratch at his skin, an unbearable itching scruttling along his body.
Leonora leant against a tree, watching the man roll around on the floor with a strainful sob. Alaric's screams becoming familiar to her as she had done so many times, yet none at all. Many times, Leonora wished to laugh out at the complexity of her plan, the absolute mastery she produced out of the sheer desperation for Niklaus Mikaelson.
She was almost there, a fingertip away from the man she failed to appreciate enough to save. The man she refused to accept as the one she loved, as her one in many life-times. Leonora would no longer have to drown in her desperation and lonliness as she watched her past brush away the precious memories and erupt arguments.
Everyday, Leonora awakens with a void in her soul, missing his warm presence and gentle touch. Memories of their time together flood her mind, and she clings to them, hoping to keep Nik alive in her heart. The world feels empty without him, and the nights are filled with tears as she yearns for his love. As she's spent her wraithful days watching Alaric build relationships with his lovers, she's spent her souless days reminiscing, cherishing every moment they shared, and wishing for one more chance to hold him close. Despite seeing the hybrid and gazing at him as though he'd gifted her every desire, seeing him walk along the streets of Mystic Falls - he's never felt further away.
Two years she's been kept away from him, and not one moment has her mind not been plagued by the villain, the one who'd stolen her heart and refused to give it back, the one who'd mercillessly murder those that stood opposite her. Two years... Leonora had nothing left to loose, and everything to gain.
For, Leonora Matisse would stop at nothing to get back to Niklaus Mikaelson, even if it meant re-writing time itself and unfortunately for the thrashing man, he'd unfortunately missed the key detail to his torture.
Leonora was simply observing.
AUTHORS NOTE
We're so close to having Nik back and I cannot wait for my girl to not be so lonely anymore. :)