Chapter 14

Myriam had made herself comfortable on the sofa and pat on the seat next to her for Elena to sit down. “Hey, look, nobody can know that I’m a vampire, you know that, right? You can’t even tell Stefan and Damon that you know. I’m here to help you. To keep you safe.”

Elena sat down next to Myriam with a nod. “But what about them?” she asked in a hushed voice as she jerked her head in the direction of Rose and Trevor.

“Oh, right,” Myriam nodded as she got to her feet. “You want the target off of your backs!”

“Can you grant us that?” Rose asked hopefully. “Like Elijah?”

“I’m not sure if you should trust Elijah, to be honest. He may come across as all honourable and all, but he’s the worst of the worst. There’s always something else at play with him.”

“But you’re working for him?”

“No, I said I was here for the girl, and I am,” she smiled. “And Elijah is delayed. You made out of it that I’m with him. And trust me, darling, I’d rather be dead than to be with him.”

“I can’t give you the girl!” Rose said panicked. “We’ll never be free otherwise!”

“You won’t ever be free because I believe that it’s Niklaus you’re truly afraid of, because he put the target on your back. The last thing I heard was that Elijah and Niklaus weren’t on speaking terms anymore,” Myriam shrugged as she ruffled Trevor’s hair before pulling out a stake and pushed it through his back, straight into his heart. “I believe it was his transgressions that marked you?”

“No! Trevor!” Rose sobbed as she fell to her knees when Trevor’s body dropped to the ground. Myriam quietly sat down next to Elena with a big smile on her face.

“So, what did Rose tell you about the curse?” she asked lightly.

“That my blood breaks the curse?” Elena replied, nervous as she inched herself away from Myriam.

She tsked her, clicking her tongue. “Don’t be like that, I’m not going to hurt you,” Myriam sighed. “Look, Elijah will tell you that he wants to keep you safe from the big bad Klaus. Everyone’s afraid of Klaus, even Elijah. With good reason, really, because Klaus can be very dangerous when angered. He has a brilliant strategic mind that will always put him a few steps ahead of you, but truthfully? It’s Elijah you need to be worried about.”

“How so?”

“Because with Elijah… and in a sense with Klaus, you really have to listen to his words. What is he telling you? I know of one instance where one promised someone to be safe, gave them their word, while the other killed that someone anyway. It wasn’t his word, but the other’s.”

“That’s just fucked up.”

“Is it? I think it’s brilliant because that’s how they have survived for so long. Wordplay. Manipulation. Telling the truth but leaving things out intentionally. Now, again, Elijah will likely tell you that he’s here to protect you from Klaus. He will also guarantee your family’s safety. All he wants is your cooperation. It’s also likely that he will come to Mystic Falls now because he will know of your existence.” Myriam said as slowly as possible so she could make things very clear for Elena. “Now, what he won’t tell you is that he wants to hand you over to Klaus anyway so that Klaus can break his curse. You see, what people don’t know about the Sun and Moon Curse is that’s fake. Elijah and Klaus made it all up because they’ve been looking to break this curse ever since it was put onto Klaus after he was first turned.”

“What?”

“Klaus’ mother had a fling with a werewolf. They only found out when they turned and Klaus killed for the first time,” Myriam shrugged. “The curse was placed on Klaus to make him a vampire only. Klaus always wanted to be stronger, more powerful, and as a vampire-werewolf, he’ll be unstoppable. Anyway, when Klaus breaks the curse, he’ll transition, and he’ll be at his weakest. That’s when Elijah will kill Klaus.”

“But that’s good, right?”

“Elena, you will die. Elijah will not flinch and will sacrifice you to make sure that Klaus breaks the curse, and he will leave that out. If he does tell you this information, he’ll also tell you that he has some sort of potion that can bring you back to life. This is a lie, the potion doesn’t do anything. Why do you think Katarina ran?”

“I don’t want to die.”

“I will not allow Elijah to sacrifice you, you have my word. Elijah will not do that. I’m here to protect you from him, and I will do that for as long as needed, as I’ve done so for the last few years.”

“Are you sure?”

“Babe, with the shitstorm coming you can need all the help you can get. I’m older than Stefan and Damon, and that makes me stronger than them. I know things about the Originals that Rose even doesn’t know,” she then let out a long sigh. “Rose, sweetheart, stop crying over your dead boyfriend, it’s very unbecoming and you’re starting to get on my nerves.”

“We’ve been together for centuries! And you killed him!”

“Ah, but if I hadn’t done it, Elijah would have,” Myriam shrugged. “Speaking of which, you have a visitor. Don’t tell him that I’m here. He won’t be able to see me, but I’m here to protect Elena, got it? If you are going to tell him, I will know, and I will kill you myself.”

“Why won’t he be able to see you?” Elena wondered.

“I have my secrets,” Myriam smiled. “Don’t worry, whatever happens, Elijah’s going down.” She then giggled and clapped her hands. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!”

It didn’t take long for Rose to come back with Elijah, who was shocked to see a human Doppelganger standing in front of him. The smelling of Elena was really creepy though. Just as expected, he didn’t pick up on Myriam, which made her thank the demon that was doing this for her. “Alright, come with me,” Elijah said as he grabbed Elena’s arm. “You’re free, Rose,” he said as he stepped over Trevor and then paused to look at the body. “Who else is here?”

“No one,” Rose said quickly. “Elena surprised Trevor with the stake, he hadn’t properly searched her for any kind of weaponry when he brought her in.”

Elijah narrowed his eyes on Rose. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I swear, I’m not.”

Myriam grinned when she put a demon on Elijah, causing him to shiver ever so slightly. There was no way that she’d have him disappear without a trace again. Klaus would love to have his brother back if only to hurt him himself or to make nice. Whatever he was in the mood for that day.

“Are you sure?” Elijah asked playfully before the cavalry arrived and he couldn’t think about what was going on right now. After some fun play with Damon and Stefan, Elena and Rose disappeared out of sight. “Excuse me,” Elijah called out as he walked to the coat rack. “To whom it may concern, you’re making a great mistake by thinking you can beat me.”

Myriam was surprised by how playful Elijah sounded. Had he adapted this to cover up the fact that he was a maniac?

“You can’t,” Elijah said as he motioned with his hands and a big smile on his face. He then turned to the coat rack and started to strip it of its additional parts. “You hear that? I repeat you cannot beat me. So I want the girl, on the count of three or heads will roll,” he said as he stood on the stairs. “Do we understand each other?”

Myriam sighed as she pulled the coat rack out of his hands by surprise, appearing before him. “You are such a megalomaniac,” she said as she turned him around, shoved the coat rack into him and pushed him up against the wall and he desiccated on impact. Was she going to tell them that he couldn’t be killed like this? Nah. “Oh, that felt good!” she said all giddily. “Come on kids, let’s go home!”

Of course, when they got back to Mystic Falls Myriam had to come to the boarding house to explain herself, but she didn’t. She told Stefan to bring Elena home and give it a rest. Now that Elijah was close, she needed to go back home and put up some more security features and call her husband.

“Hi honey,” Myriam grinned as she sat down on her sofa with a good glass of wine in her hand and propped her feet onto the table.

“What are you up to, love?”

“Me? Nothing! I’ve secured a werewolf, I have the moonstone, and the Doppelganger trusts me to keep her safe from Elijah.”

“Elijah?!”

“Yep,” Myriam said as she popped her p. “Rose and Trevor, remember them? You must as you’ve told me about them a while ago.”

“Of course, they betrayed me!”

“Well, Trevor’s dead now. Rose and Trevor wanted to hand the Doppelganger over to Elijah. He’s planning to kill you.”

“Of course he is. He’s mad at me for telling him that our siblings are at the bottom of the ocean! But he started it!”

“I know, Mon LouLou,” she smiled. “I know, and I’m doing the best that I can to make sure you can break the curse.”

“Good. I’ll have Isobel send over a dagger and some ash through John Gilbert. Put Elijah down if you have to, love. I still have a coffin with his name on it.”

“Aw, but I want to play!”

“Not while we’re this close.”

Myriam sighed. “I think it’s best if John gives it to Damon or something. Elijah will see me coming with it from miles away.”

“Your demons can protect you from the effects of using the dagger. Your little pet would not be so fortunate.”

“So?”

“I’d rather have you do it, love. Who knows what Elijah’s up to?”

“Well, he managed to get Daddy Martin and his son Luka on his side,” Myriam shrugged as she studied her nails. “They’ve arrived in town a couple hours ago. No doubt Elijah will follow shortly.”

“No doubt Elijah told him that he can help them get their Greta back. When will he learn that a lot of the time my allies come to me out with genuine reasons and that I’m not actually forcing them?”

Myriam shrugged. “I really don’t wish to hear about Greta, Klaus.”

“Why, are you jealous?” he laughed.

“Do I have a reason to be?”

“No. Never. You know that I’m faithful to you, and only you. Trust that I will arrive in Mystic Falls shortly. Maddox and Greta are dotting their I’s and crossing their t’s to make sure I’ll be safe.”

“Again!”

“Patience, sweetheart,” Klaus said teasingly. “Keep an eye on Elijah for me. You have no idea how much I’ve been anticipating the breaking of the curse. We can’t allow things to go wrong now.”

“Now I’m hurt,” Myriam scowled. “What have I been doing for the last few decades, huh? Am I just one of your minions to you?”

“You are my wife, and trust me, once this is all over, you will not have to leave my side ever again.”

She scoffed. “It’s been too long, I feel like I’m stuck.”

“You were just here a couple of weeks ago!”

“I’m bored playing the barmaid and having to play mommy to these idiots! You’d think that all vampires would have heard stories about The Originals but nooo, of course not. Not Damon and Stefan Salvatore!”

“Well, Stefan is compelled to forget, you know that.”

“Ugh!”

“Buy yourself something pretty and feel better.”

“Fuck you.”

“Gladly!”

“And if that witch lays one finger on you, I will rip her face off her head. You may need to find another for the ritual. I will know if she does,” she growled before hanging up on him.

A couple of days passed while Myriam worked her shifts at the Grill. They had been downsizing a little because the bar was trying to stay afloat, but Myriam needed the distraction. And she needed stay visible, a member of the community. Hide in plain sight. These days, most of the scoobies stayed at the Boarding House or at Elena’s place, but never at the grill.

Alaric and Damon, and later Stefan, met up with a werewolf called Jules a few times something about Tyler and them being a werewolf and they threatened the wolf on a full moon. Stupid. But, the werewolf took care of Rose, so Myriam was happy. Elijah took care of the wolves because he had given his word that none of Elena’s friends were to be harmed, and Jules left, with Tyler. It was a good thing, Tyler needed someone to take care of him, teach him the ways, although Myriam still wanted to kill him. And Jules. And Mason in the cellar.

Whoops. Myriam had forgotten entirely about Mason and brought her guests some food from the grill and some bottles of water. “I never said I was a good host,” she muttered before leaving him again.

She was excited when she received a text message from Klaus to meet him at Alaric’s place and hurried to find her husband there. But instead, she found a Katerina stabbing herself in the leg with a pocket knife and Maddox leaning against the kitchen counter watching Katerina. “Where is he?!” She demanded.

“Oh, of course,” Katerina whined as she stabbed herself again. “I should have known you were working for Klaus. You’re a grade A bitch.”

Myriam slapped Katerina and turned back to Maddox. “Where is he, Maddox?”

“He’ll be back in a bit, he wanted to check up on his Doppelganger. He’s at school. Relax.”

“Relax?!”

“Myriam, he’ll be back.”

“Oh, sure, but what I wouldn’t give to see him as a history teacher. No doubt everything becomes the same in his mind, history, and he won’t even remember when the first Moon Landing was. Or Watergate,” she snickered as she headed to the cabinet and got herself something to drink. “Hell, he barely remembers our anniversaries.”

“That’s typical of men,” Maddox shrugged.

“Don’t even start,” she snarled before walking over to Katerina. “How’s the stabbing going?” Myriam asked as she stabbed Katerina’s open wound with her finger.

“I don’t know who’s worse, you or me,” Katherine whined.

“What do you mean, sugar?” Myriam cocked her head and kept poking her.

“Well, I was simply toying with Damon and Stefan but you… Are you actually crazy enough to fool around with the Originals? Kol first, was it? Now Klaus?” Katerine let out another grunt when she stabbed herself again, unable to stop as Klaus had compelled her.

Myriam smirked as she poured a bit of alcohol in Katherine’s open wound, causing the vampire to cry out in pain. “Ow, did that hurt? Poor little baby,” she cooed.

“Bitch!”

She smiled as she took a step back. “You did the same with Elijah and Klaus in attempt to gain their sympathies before you learned of what they wanted you for. You played Elijah before going after Klaus because he presented the higher status in society in London. I may not have been there, but I know the stories, Katerina. Do not take me for a fool,” she scolded her. “And for your information, Kol and I never had a relationship. We’re friends. Klaus is my one and only.”

“Oh, and that sounded music to my ears,” Alaric’s voice sounded as the door opened. Myriam couldn’t contain herself but to fling herself around her husband, despite him being in Alaric’s body. “Hello love.”

“This doesn’t count as cheating, right? You’re you, just in a different body. I can kiss you?”

“Of course you can,” he smiled at her as he kissed her, hard. “You look well, my love.”

“Can’t say the same about you… Alaric, really?”

“It’s only temporary, not to worry.”

“It’d better be. While I’m fine with kissing you like this, I want more, and I’m not willing to do that with you looking like this,” she pointed at him. “Besides, I kinda like Alaric. He has a good head on his shoulders.”

“He’s a vampire hunter.”

“True, but one that can be reasoned with. He’s best buds with Damon Salvatore.”

“Wait, didn’t Damon kill Alaric’s wife, Isobel? Turned her into one of us?”

“Yep, and guess what? Katerina sent Isobel to Damon to begin with.”

“Are they stupid?”

Myriam nodded. “When aren’t they? Besides, they’ve been useful in keeping the girl occupied and relatively out of trouble. Last I checked, they actually have your brother daggered and in holding for us. So, yes, stupid yet useful.”

“He needs to remain daggered. I want him to join the rest of our family.”

“Unfortunately, the Doppelganger shares some traits with her ancestors,” Myriam sighed as she pulled Klaus to the couch and snuggled up against him while Katherine kept stabbing herself. Myriam wasn’t entirely comfortable with Klaus in this body, nor had she been when he had been others, but at this moment it was a necessity. It gave Klaus the opportunity to scope out the town and the players without showing his true face. “Elena seems to like double crossing people. She’s actually willing to sacrifice herself if that means saving her family. I won’t be surprised if she’d undagger Elijah and pump him for more information about the Curse.”

“I thought you bonded with her?”

“Oh please, she won’t even let me inside the boarding house since it’s registered to her name for safety. She knows I won’t allow Elijah to sacrifice her, but still. She’s a crafty little bitch and, as we speak, the Bennett witch is getting stronger, she’s going to harness the power of the 100 dead Salem Witches that were burned at the same spot your mother turned you.”

“You said you had everything under control!”

“I do! I have a werewolf in my basement for you to convert to your hybrid. I don’t want you to sacrifice him because he’s an excellent specimen and I’m pretty sure you’ll like him. I have a vampire, who’s my little spy despite Katerina thinking otherwise, and I have the moonstone,” Myriam looked up at him. “It’s your brother who throws wrenches into the plan but with him still daggered, when the next full moon comes, the Doppelganger will sacrifice herself willingly. All we need to take care of is Damon and Stefan.”

“Well, it’s a good thing that I’m going to pay a visit to Aunt Jenna tomorrow, would you like to join me, darling?”

She raised a brow, fighting back a grin. “You planning on ruining a doppelganger’s day?”

“Of course. And tell her all about vampires,” Klaus smiled. “But for now, I’m quite happy with you in my arms. Tonight I’m going to attend the Decade dance at the school as ‘chaperone.’ See what the Bennett witch is made out of.”

Myriam looked over to Maddox. “You’ll protect him with a spell, right? If not, I’ll have my own ways.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Myriam, of course, I will protect your husband.”

“Husband?” Katherine spluttered.

Sighing, Myriam got to her feet and snapped Katherine’s neck. “I’m sorry, Klaus, I know you’d love to play with her, as do I, but she’s getting on my nerves.”

“Well, I was going to ask her all that she knew about the players, but I suppose I’ll have to ask you now.”

“I’ve told you enough, you’ll be fine,” she said as she nestled herself against him again. “You know, I could take you to our home…”

“When I’m back in my own body, love, then I’d love to see what you’ve made of the place. I haven’t been back to Mystic Falls since we all left a thousand years ago. It’s lovely to see what they’ve done with the place.”

Myriam hummed as she reached for the bottle of bourbon and took a swig before handing it to Klaus. “Here’s to no longer having to pretend to be a good person.”

“Sweetheart, you always were a good person to the family and me. It never mattered what anyone else thought and that’s what you should take stock in,” Klaus toasted as he took his glass.

“Oh I don’t care what they all think, but after so long having to pretend to be someone I’m not… It’s a relief that I no longer have to do that,” she smiled at him. “I can’t wait for Damon to find out that I’m with you. He’ll lose his tits.”

He appeared thoughtful. “Then perhaps I should hint to him about our relationship tonight and see how he reacts. Or perhaps, imply that I may come after you after the dance simply just because I know that he is friendly with you.”

“You’re already going to reveal yourself tonight?”

“Of course, knowing that Elijah is close and may be undaggered by our whimsical doppelganger, we need to move things along. After all, it’ll be full moon soon,” he kissed the top of her head. “Will you stay here to keep Katerina company while I’m away?”

She shook her head. “No thanks. I’ll check up on the werewolf in my dungeon, he’s due for another feeding. I mean, I neglected him for a few days, and he was starving so…” she shrugged. “But you can pick me up when you’re done? We’ll have a stroll through the town together.”

“I now see why you were so against Marcellus when I took him in,” Klaus barked out a laugh. “You’d be a horrible mother.”

“Hey, in this case, it’s a soundproof dungeon. I don’t hear him, and I forget he’s even there!”

~o.O.o~

“Hi, Jenna!” Myriam smiled brightly at her as she shoved a pecan pie into her hands that she had picked up from the bakery. “Alaric thought it’d be nice to invite me over for dinner as well, no idea why, but he’d better cook up a decent meal!”

“Myriam?” Jenna blinked confused before looking at Alaric. “What?”

“I have some things to say to you today while we’re having dinner, I thought it’d be nice if you had a familiar face around,” Klaus said as he kissed the top of Jenna’s head and followed Myriam into the kitchen with the bag of groceries he was carrying.

“Uh, sure, but Myriam and I aren’t exactly friends? Only when she’s pouring me a drink at the Grill.”

“Yes! That’s why I’m here!” Myriam nodded as she lifted a few bottles of alcohol out of the bag. “You need your favorite drink while he shares what he needs to share with you!”

“Alaric, are you breaking up with me for Damon’s bartender only because I’m angry with you for keeping things from me?” Jenna asked as she put her hands on her side.

“Oh please,” Myriam huffed. “I’ve been happily married for a very long time.”

“And yet, you’re not wearing your ring,” Alaric pointed out. “I told you to wear it.”

Myriam thought for a moment. “Maybe once you’re yourself again. Not like this.” She poured Jenna a drink and handed it to her. “Sit, relax, and let Alaric do all the cooking while he talks.”

When the doorbell rang, Myriam got to her feet and opened the door. “Stefan! Hi!”

“Uh… what are you doing here?” Stefan blinked as he saw Myriam and walked inside the house. “Are you protecting Jenna?”

“Yeah… I’m protecting Jenna and Alaric, after all, Klaus is in town, isn’t he? I promised Elena that I’d-”

“Wait, Alaric’s here?”

Myriam nodded with a smile and led him into the kitchen. “Look who decided to join us!”

“Oh, hi, Stefan, how’s it going?” Alaric smiled at him. “How’s Elena?”

“Uh, I wouldn’t know, she and her new friend needed some personal time,” he said confused but sat down next to Jenna to protect her. “What are you doing, Ric?”

“Oh, you know, I find chopping so calming. The feel of the blade in my hand, maybe,” Alaric said as he chopped the carrots.

“I’m still waiting for someone to tell me what the fuck is going on!” Jenna demanded. “You’re all acting strange!”

“Well, would you like to tell her, Stefan? Or shall I?”

“Tell me what?” Jenna blinked.

Myriam slid around the counter and put an arm around Jenna. “Do you believe in vampires, Jenna?”

“Myriam!” Stefan had a hint of panic in his voice. “What are you doing?!”

“Oh, apparently Stefan does,” Alaric laughed. “But believe it or not, they do have a place in our history. And as a history teacher, I find them fascinating.”

Jenna shook her head. “Why are we even talking about this?”

Alaric laughed. “Well, you’ve been angry with me for keeping secrets, and this is one of my secrets. I’m obsessed with vampires. There. I said it.”

“You’re joking, please tell me you’re joking,” Jenna sighed exasperatedly. “Really? Vampires?”

Alaric walked over to the stove to stir in some pots. “I’m not joking, Jenna. How about you, Stefan? Are you a fan of vampires?”

“In literature,” Stefan replied. “Bram Stoker. It’s dense, but I appreciate it.”

Alaric hummed in appreciation as he turned around again. “Hmm. Did you know that vampires are the oldest creatures of the night? Except for werewolves, of course.”

Jenna got to her feet and started to walk away from the counter. “Werewolves. Werewolves. Now I know you’re joking.”

“You know, I’ve read that there’s an Aztec curse on both species that keeps werewolves slaves to the Moon and vampires bound by the Sun. Isn’t that right, Stefan? You know, they say these creatures would do anything to have this curse broken and that they wouldn’t care who they had to kill to do it.”

“Oh, don’t look so shocked, Jenna,” Myriam smiled at her. “I mean, it’s the same in the animal kingdom, isn’t it? You’ve got the lions and the lambs. Same deal when it comes to vampires and humans.”

“Are you quoting Twilight?” Jenna spluttered. “Seriously?”

Myriam scratched her head in confusion. “What’s Twilight?”

“Oh, it’s a book, love, and a movie?” Alaric smiled and watched as Myriam turned around with a raised eyebrow. “Whaaat? You told me! Don’t play dumb now!”

“It’s a part of my cover, dammit!”

“Wait…” Stefan said as he looked at Myriam. “You know Klaus?”

“Didn’t Elena tell you? I know all the Originals, and it was so much fun seeing you run around in circles all this time!”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why didn’t Elena say anything to you? She knew the entire time that I know Elijah and Klaus. Besides, you never came to me for help, so I didn’t offer it to you,” Myriam shrugged. “Must be that duplicity that those damn doppelgangers are so famous for.”

“Get out,” Jenna said sternly. “Get the hell out of my house!”

“Oh, it doesn’t work that way, sugar,” Myriam purred as she pulled Jenna back into the kitchen and made her sit down. “You invited us in, and we have no inclination to leave just yet…”

“What do you want from me!” Jenna demanded.

“We merely want you to know the truth about what your niece has gotten you involved in. And Alaric too, I suppose,” Myriam shrugged. “I mean, vampire hunter? Hello?”

“Myriam, don’t,” Stefan begged her. “Elena wouldn’t want this.”

“She’s a child, Stefan. Besides, Jenna would be a lot safer if she knew what the hell was going on in her niece’s life, wouldn’t you agree? You can leave if you want to, we don’t need you for this.”

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