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chapter eighteen ━ life choices

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❝ your future rest on your shoulders ❞

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TIME DIDN'T SEEM to matter anymore. After all, Melody was immortal for saving the town of StoryBrooke, in the process making everyone else in the town immortal too. She had years just to spend doing absolutely nothing. In her mind, she wanted to meet some nice boy, her true love, and then get married and have some kids. Melody imagined Pan giving the boy a hard time but then warming up to him. Clearly, that was never going to happen.

Elijah gasped all of a sudden, startling her from her thoughts. She rushed over to him. "Elijah!"

He gasped for air and she was confused as to what was happening. It was like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room and he couldn't breathe. Elijah got up. "I can't-I can't breathe! What's happening to me?"

Melody in that moment couldn't help but speak a sarcastic comment. "Because you just saw my beautiful face and your body just can't process—" He gave her a look and she got the cue. "Okay, right, sorry." She went over and push him out of the cellar. "You aren't invited in."

Elijah flashed away making Melody almost fall face first to the floor. "Sh—!" The fairytale woman instantly covered her mouth because Stefan, Damon, and Elena were all upstairs. She slowly made her way back up the stairs and to the front door where Elijah was waiting for her. 

He tried to cross the threshold but couldn't. "What happened?"

Melody put a finger to her lips and pointed to her ear and then up. "Shut up." A figure appeared behind her and she spun to see Elena looking afraid. But then she saw the two and exhaled. "Elena, go back upstairs."

The doppelganger shook her head in protest. "No. I need to talk to him."

"Oh goody because I do too." She glared pointedly. "If you come with, you promise not to be a—"

Elena interjected, "I promise."

Melody made a face and rolled her eyes, annoyed that she couldn't finish her sentence. She didn't believe Elena for one second. She looked back at Elijah and handed him the dagger, walking past him. "You have a lot of explaining to do, hero hair."

———

They had taken Melody's car because she denied Elena's idea to take her car instead. It was probably infested with bad luck which Melody didn't want or need. Elijah had gotten a blood bag and was drinking away as the fairytale woman drove next to him.

Elena already started her interrogation which led to Melody threatening that she'd rip out her heart and feed it to her if she didn't shut up. The doppelganger listened though she pouted in the backseat.

Melody tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. "You told me Klaus didn't need me for the curse. But I just have this feeling like he does. He used me, Elijah, just like Katherine did."

Now, this seemed to shock the Original. He set the empty blood bag down and looked at her with a confused look on his face. Elena — who was now eavesdropping — was gaping in disbelief. But when she went to say something, she shut her mouth, remembering Melody's threat. "No, Klaus wouldn't use you, Melody. I'm sure of it."

"Are you?" She looked over at him. "Are you positively sure? Because he knocked me out so he could kill Bonnie. He doesn't care about me, Elijah."

Elijah sighed and shook his head. "That was only an act of protectiveness." She scoffed. "Don't you see? Klaus was trying to keep you from getting hurt."

"Well, I did." He frowned. "Klaus is a villain and don't you even think for a second that he anything you say about him means anything to me."

The only response he gave her was a thoughtful look. In her opinion, there wasn't really anything to think about. It was relatively straightforward: Klaus used her and now Melody was pissed. And she was ready to go along with the plan to kill him.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled over. Once she saw the caller ID she sighed and then answered. "Where are you? Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Melody couldn't help but laugh. "Gosh Stefan. I'm pretty sure if anyone were to come at me, I could take them. Those werewolves were the exception because I was just having an off day." He sighed in relief on the other line. "Do not fret, Stephanie. I am safe."

Stefan didn't ask about Elena which shocked her. The said doppelganger in the backseat looked offended and was glaring fiercely. Melody paid her no mind and Elijah raised an eyebrow at her. He knew that if Klaus were there at that moment, he'd probably rip Stefan to shreds. Klaus didn't like people taking away things that were his.

However, Melody was not that kind of girl. She was her own person and absolutely loathed the thought that she'd "belong" to someone. She was a person, not property. It was amusing to Pan because he thought the same way. But then after he got married, he loved to say to Felix that he belonged to him and vice versa. And the immortal boy was waiting for Melody to experience the same thing.

"Where's Elijah?" Stefan asked.

Melody glanced over at the said Original before replying, "Right here next to my beautiful self."

She winked at him and Elijah shook his head smiling. Much to her disappointment, Stefan actually seemed very concerned still. "Where? Stay there I'm—"

"Um, no. Stefan, me and Elijah have to have a serious girl talk. Sorry, you aren't invited."

He did not seem to appreciate her sarcasm and responded seriously. "He can't be trusted. Klaus used you! Who says Elijah won't?"

Melody quickly went to defended Elijah. Even though she trusted Klaus so quickly, Elijah she trusted no matter what. He had proved himself and she was going to honor the trust he had in her and reward him with her trust. "Stefan, I trust Elijah. I was stupid to trust Klaus. And besides, Elijah wouldn't hurt me. Not like Klaus did."

That seemed to ease his worry a bit and she could practically hear his nod through the phone. Stefan trusted that Melody could take care of herself. But these last few days he had distanced himself from her because he was wrapped up in keeping Elena safe. He felt as if he failed her as a best friend. "Okay, just be careful."

"Always am." She hung up and pocketed her phone. Melody looked over at Elijah. "Obviously from what you can tell, Klaus is in town. He possessed Alaric's body."

He made a face. "Of course he has. One of his favorite tricks."

Melody smirked. "I know that trick myself. My dad used it once." Elena gaped again and scoffed. Both of the people in the front seat ignored her. "We want to kill Klaus and we need your help."

Elijah nodded. He was willing to help. But at the same time, he thought about his brother. This woman next to him would be his brother's redemption. There had to be at least a shred of hope that he'd drop this curse and go to Melody. So that was his plan. He'd help kill Klaus, and if his brother chooses Melody over breaking his curse, he'd ruin the plan and help him and the fairytale woman. "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

Elena spoke up from the backseat. "You can't be serious, Melody?" The said female rolled her eyes. "You knew that Klaus possessed Alaric. How do we know that you won't take his side again? You're a traitor that only cares about—"

The doppelganger's door flew open with a gust of wind and Elena was thrown out of the car by an invisible force. Elijah smiled at Melody who had clearly used her magic to do that. She looked out of the car and at Elena who was sitting next to the car on the sidewalk. "You can call me whatever you want. But at least I'm not a selfish bitch and I actually fight for the people I care about instead of giving up like you. And better yet? I'm not leading on two brothers with a leash. Have a good day."

Melody used her magic to slam the door and then started the car, driving off and leaving Elena stunned. Once they were far down the road and Elena was out of sight, Elijah looked over at her. "Are you sure you don't want to give him another chance? You two would make a good team."

"Positive. But you know what would make a good team? Me and some food." He laughed. "I'm serious, me and food could take over the world together."

He laughed even more and Melody smiled, realizing that she'd never really heard him laugh before. Elijah seemed keen on getting her to give Klaus a second chance and she wanted to know why. And she wasn't falling for Elijah. No way. Elijah was her friend. Klaus, however, was a completely different story. While she said she couldn't stand him and was ready to kill him, deep down—

Melody was conflicted because she couldn't get Klaus out of her head.

———

They had gone to the Lockwood Mansion to get Elijah a new suit and to get a quiet place to discuss. Melody had explained to him that she would have to tell the others her findings to which Elijah accepted, as long as she let him talk about her and Klaus.

Carol had made them some tea before she left for a meeting and so Melody and Elijah were left in the house to speak freely. The two had gone to the living room with their drinks and sat down on the couches.

Melody took a sip from her's while Elijah simply crossed his legs and looked at her. "So I assume that the Martin witches are no longer with us."

She shook her head with a slightly sad look. It did make her feel guilty for Stefan killing Luka. Jonas didn't deserve to lose his son. All she knew was that she was glad that the two were together wherever they were. "I'm afraid not."

"And Katerina? She would have been released from my compulsion when I died."

She nodded. "Oh yeah. Klaus took her for running for all these years. Stefan said he probably killed her but it doesn't seem very likely." Elijah looked intrigued and urge her to explain. "If someone was running from me for over five hundred years, I wouldn't kill them right away. That would be an easy punishment."

"Spoken like a true daughter of villains."

Melody gave him a look though she fought a smile. "Ha ha ha."

It was easy talking with Elijah. And now that she thought about it, it was easy to talk to Klaus too. When she broke down, he was there listening to her every word. And when she finished, he spoke to her softly and gently. He was kind to her and Melody had a hard time believing that it was fake. But she had to. If she fell back into his arms, what if he hurt her? What if she was right about him this entire time?

Elijah knew what she was thinking about. However, he did not comment on it and continued on. "There is something you should know about me and Klaus." She motioned for him to continue. "Klaus is my brother." The fairytale woman spat out her tea and Elijah calmly took a sip of his. She was speechless. "I'm a little behind on the times, but I believe the term you're searching for is "O.M.G."."

Melody gaped in shock and tried to form words. The news shocked her. "Wow, um. O.M.G."

He smiled and then set his cup down. "Yes well, Klaus and I aren't the only ones."

She shook her head to clear of her shock and then set her cup down, clearing her throat. "So there's a family of Originals?"

"My father was a wealthy landowner in a village in Eastern Europe. Our mother bore seven children."

It made sense if you put thought into it. Elijah and Klaus were the oldest vampires in history. It wouldn't make sense if the first vampires weren't connected in any way. The idea of there being a family made much more sense to her.

Elijah stood and Melody followed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You were human then?"

"Yes. Our origin as vampires is a very long story, Melody. Just know...We're the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family, and from us, all vampires were created."

She nodded, trying to process all of the information he'd given her so far. "You told me Klaus was trying to protect me, which is a nice thing. Why would you want him dead? How could we kill him?"

He fixed his tie in the mirror and then turned to her. "Let's go outside shall we?" Together they walked outside and began to walk the grounds behind the Lockwood Mansion. "So as you've seen, nothing can kill an Original. Not Sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree my family made sure burned."

Melody nodded, fitting some of the pieces together. "Which is where the white ash comes from."

"Yes. The witches won't allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain the balance."

After he told her that bit of information, Melody's mind began to reel back. Her mind was trying to piece everything she learned together. If the Sun couldn't kill an Original, why would Klaus want to break the curse so much? That is what didn't add up. And then it hit her. 

"You have got to be kidding me!" She stopped and stood in front of Elijah. "The sun and the moon curse is fake?"

Elijah smiled. "You do catch on quite fast. But yes, you are correct." She moved out of the way and they began walking once more. "Klaus and I faked the sun and moon curse dating back over a thousand years."

Melody raised an eyebrow. "What's the real curse then?" Before he could reply, her phone rang and she sighed before answering it. "If you're going to yell at me for leaving your stupid girlfriend on the side of the road, save it."

"No, it's not that," Stefan told her on the other line. "Klaus went after Jenna, Melody."

She looked up at Elijah and ran a hand through her hair. "What? Is she okay?"

"She's fine, Elena's taking care of her. But Melody, he was talking about you. He said that once he breaks his curse that he's taking you with him and that he'll kill us if we try to stop him."

Elijah avoided her eyes and Melody glared at nothing. "Don't worry Stefan. If Klaus shows up I'll take him. Just be careful." She hung up and then looked up at the sky to see that the sun was beginning to set. "I think we should head back inside."

"I agree." They went back inside and Elijah lit the fireplace. Both of them sat down and Elijah fixed his tie again before answering her question from earlier. "My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages to this day."

Melody nodded. "The vampires and the werewolves. Which means that Klaus would be both."

It was crazy to think about and it hurt her head. At the same time, she sympathized for Klaus. He just wanted to be accepted, and it wasn't his fault for how his father treated him. Melody mentally cursed herself for that thought. She reminded herself that Klaus was not someone she should care about. 

Elijah nodded. "A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore the witches, the servants of nature, saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."

"And that's his curse?"

He stood up and leaned against the doorway. "He wants to trigger that part of him that's a werewolf. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline." She stood up. "He'd build his own race. Endangering not just vampires, but everyone."

"We can kill him now. We have the dagger which can kill him right?"

Elijah shook his head. "When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger." She looked at the ground for a second, seeing his point. "So you see the conundrum. The dagger does not work."

Melody looked back up. "So Klaus is indestructible?"

"There's one way to kill any supernatural species...at the hands of the servants of nature themselves. The curse must be broken during the full moon. When Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power...can kill Klaus. However, in the ritual, the doppelganger must die. I found a way to save the doppelganger."

She sighed and frowned at him. "You loved Katherine. Didn't you?"

He nodded. "It's a common mistake, I'm told." Elijah knew that Melody was hesitant on the subject of Klaus. Her eyes gave it away. She was struggling with how to feel about him. "We do not have to speak any more about Klaus. I thought you would be my brother's redemption. But he has fallen too far and I'm sorry for that. You would've brought out the good in him."

Melody didn't respond and just walked past him and out of the room. Tears pricked her eyes but she pushed them back. Klaus's name would be forever burnt into her mind.

———

When they got back to the Boarding House, Damon and Stefan were fighting each other. Elena was trying to stop them but to no avail. Elijah interfered and pushed them apart. Melody didn't stick around for their argument as she went upstairs to her room, shutting the door.

She laid her head against the door with her eyes closed. And since she did that, the fairytale woman had not yet noticed the sketch and note on her bed. But when she did open her eyes, the first thing she saw was that.

Melody shook her head in disbelief and stomped over, ready to rip it up when she stopped. The sketch was of her. She was wearing the decade dance outfit and she was smiling like an angel. Klaus had put so much detail in her alone. The area around her was nowhere as detailed and it was evident that he had spent more time on her than anything else.

Biting her lip, she picked up the note and read it.

Dear Melody,

I know that you want nothing to do with me after what I did to you. What I did was wrong but I do not regret it. All I was trying to do was protect you and I want you to see that. I know you will be going against me and helping your friends kill me. But you don't have anything to fear from me, I'd never hurt you. Ever. I'd die before I ever laid a hand on you. Saying this doesn't change anything and I know that. Just give me one chance, that's all I'm asking.

Let me break my curse and then we can leave this town together. I'll show you the world, that is what you've always wanted right? You are not needed for breaking the curse and I meant that. Believe me, if you were, you would know by now. I promise to tell you the truth. Just give me one chance. That's all I'm asking, love.

One chance

Melody stared at the note for a long while before she took the sketch and laid it on her nightstand. She put the note below it and then sat on her bed. Putting her head in her hands, she nearly began to cry. Klaus was being honest with her and it physically hurt her to go against him now. But this had to be done. Right?

Pan had always told her that the reason he denied his feelings for Felix for so long was that he was afraid of loving someone. He was afraid of getting hurt. But then he realized that no love story is easy and to take a chance.

But was that what they were? Was this Melody's love story? Was her true love Klaus? Nothing made sense about that. Her mind told her to screw what Klaus was saying and to go with the plan to kill him. Her heart told her to screw the others, help Klaus break his curse, and take him up on his offer to explore the world.

It wasn't easy. Her mind and heart were at war. Hours had passed before she made up her mind. Melody laid down and looked at the sketch. She closed her eyes and then drifted off to sleep.

She could only hope that she made the right choice.

———

What do you think Melody chose to do? I hope you guys have a great day/night and don't forget to vote on this chapter, comment your thoughts, and follow me for updates!

( credit : @pepperronys )