『Chapter Twenty』
『a trigger』

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FIVE YEARS, THREE MONTHS, AND SIX DAYS LATER. 8th AUGUST 1968

   For five years Bodie had been pretending like the dagger was affecting him. For five years he's had to listen how Klaus was going to get the truth out of him. For five years he's had to listen and wait while the world passed him. And for five years, he's been in waiting for the right time for his anger to take control over himself. He's been waiting patiently for the right time to release his rage, the right time to get back at Klaus for lying to him, breaking his trust, and then stabbing him in the heart in the way that he did. He was going to get back at Klaus even if someone killed him.

   Thankfully, over the course of the five years, Henry had been giving him messages, apologising, and admitting his hand in all of this. Bodie forgave Henry just for his honesty, and yes Bodie was angry at Henry for a short while, worried that there was a chance that Henry was still working with Klaus, but Henry proved himself time and time again that he wasn't and that was something that he was grateful for. Henry had been telling Bodie about where the white oak stake was, telling him all about Klaus' plan about what to do with him and his plans about the Bargeron siblings.

   Henry had been the snake within the group, leaking everything that Bodie would need to know about all of this. Henry was the reason why he had a decent plan—and by decent, Bodie meant that there was a chance that he would die—and Henry was the reason why Bodie now had his hands on the white oak stake while he laid asleep in his coffin. The pair of them made sure that if Bodie was to have the white oak stake in his possession that it would have to be well hidden, which meant that it was currently up his sleeve and Bodie was sure that he was getting splinters because of it.

   Henry informed Bodie the day before that tonight was a full moon so if anything, tonight was the best time to do anything. Henry had been kind enough to inform Bodie over the years that Klaus managed to get a following of people that wanted to be in his good grace which meant that Klaus had an army for Bodie to get through. Bodie had asked Henry to make sure that there's a human close by, someone that Bodie could kill to make everything believable, that and the fact that he just wanted to see the look on Klaus' face when Bodie 'triggers' his curse.

   The pair made sure through their plans over the course of the weeks leading up to this would run smoothly, they planned this like it was the end of the world which was something that all of this felt like. Henry always made sure that Bodie had enough blood in his system but not enough that it concerned anyone who watched over Bodie's body which was always Klaus. Klaus had always come down as often as he could which meant that they had to plan everything around Klaus and his unexpected arrivals.

   But now the time had come. The time for Klaus to know what pain was. The time for Klaus to understand the heartbreak and ache that he felt once the dagger entered his heart. He knew that there should be a part of him wanting to reconsider all of this, but he just couldn't, he couldn't find that part of himself which wanted to rethink about all of this—he was in pain, and he wanted Klaus to understand just how painful it was to spend five years in a box pretending to be asleep. God, Bodie didn't want to think about how it might be for Rebekah, Finn, and Kol, given how long they've been like this, though he supposed that it would be different for them, but even still.

   At around 10 in the evening, Henry came and knocked on Bodie's coffin in a specific rhythm to let Bodie know that it was him and not anyone else before opening the lid of the coffin. Henry pulled the dagger from Bodie's chest, keeping it to himself as it was all part of his plan, and while Bodie rose to sit up, Henry placed three blood bags in Bodie's lap, which Bodie happily drank at his own pace—and by that he means he drained them as quickly as possible.

   "I don't know how much time we have," Henry told. "I tried to take out as many vampires that were compelled to stand guard with vervain, but even then, I'm not sure how long it's going to take them to find the bodies. We need to hurry."

   Bodie nodded. "Where's the human?"

   "Waiting outside," Henry told. "Though, again, human blood might draw vampires which, again, means that we've got to be quick if we don't want others to find out what we're doing."

   Again, Bodie nodded, draining the last of the blood bags before hoping out of his coffin which he still couldn't believe Klaus got made for him. It shocked Bodie slightly with the thought that Klaus got him of all people a coffin made. It made him wonder if Klaus ever planned to dagger Bodie after any and every argument that they had in hopes that he would stay.

   "You got the white oak?" Henry asked.

   Bodie shook his left arm and the white oak stake fell from his sleeve. "Yeah. You got everything that you need?"

   "Yeah," Henry nodded. "Let's go."

   Bodie caught onto Henry's arm just as he was about to turn away. "Thank you for doing this. I know that you're going against Will, and I'm sorry that it was because of me that there's a block between you."

   "Will made his stand, I made mine." Henry told with a slight shrug. "At least with you, I don't have the fear of someone ripping my heart out or removing my head from my shoulders. With you I'm safer, I always have been. I just want to go back to how it was with us three, but I'm glad if it's just us two."

   Bodie smiled and hugged Henry. "I'm so grateful for having you in my life, Henry, and I'm sorry if there's been any part of it that's been hard because of me."

   Henry shrugged. "If anything, you made it more easier given the way that the Gemini Coven treated me because of being a siphoner."

   There was a small silence between the pair of them then and for a moment it was enough, as if it were a way to say that they loved each other. Henry would always be like Bodie's annoying younger brother that was always there for him when needed to be, and for that he would always be grateful for it, even if the teasing got a bit out of hand.

   "Come on, let's go." Henry told.

   The pair of them turned then, heading for the exit of the basement. The one thing that seemed to surprise Bodie the most was the fact that over the course of the five years, he half-expected Klaus to move around or find a place that still wasn't in Wembley, but he supposed the Woodford's house would be the best place to start base.

   "Did you get all of our stuff out?" Bodie asked.

   "All of our stuff is being taken to a storage facility to then be taken to the harbour in central London. We're gonna get a boat to wherever long enough so that they can't find us." Henry told. "Don't worry I made sure to pack all of your things to do with Klaus and the gifts that Klaus got you."

   Bodie smiled at that. "I'm proud of you, Henry, and grateful for that."

   Henry nodded at him then.

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   Henry and Bodie managed to get to the living room without much fuss which was difficult given the amount of vampires were crawling around for safety given the full moon. They managed to drag the human that Henry brought for Bodie without much fuss. Once Henry walked into the room with the human walking behind him.

   "Henry!" Klaus greeted, overly cheerfully within the crowd. "I was wondering where you've been. And you've brought a snack, I see."

   "Apologies, Klaus," Henry said. If anyone knew him the way that Bodie did, then they'd pick up the slight tinge of worry in his voice. From behind, Bodie took notice with how Henry played with something in his hands. "You know, Klaus, for five years you promised that you'd undo what you did, and I. . .I believe you."

   "Henry," Will said stiffly, "what did you do? Where did you get that?"

   "I wanted to go back to how we were, William." Henry spat. "But you were too occupied with sitting on Klaus' lap, acting as if he wasn't the reason why our dynamic wasn't all fucked up!" The vampires around him hissed slightly then. "I want what we had, I can't sit here and watch as Klaus pretends as if he didn't do anything to him."

   Bodie knew that Klaus had stiffened greatly then. "You dare disrespect me in my own home? Threaten me?" Klaus seemed overly calm, yet the anger in his voice was clear, the way that he spoke reminded Bodie of his alpha when Bodie took the youngest Mikaelson child's life.

   "I'm not threatening," Henry told, "he is." Henry threw the dagger onto the floor and then grabbed the arm of the human at arm's reach. "Night of a full moon, a room full of vampires, and an untriggered Original Hybrid."

   Bodie came up behind the pair of them, he took notice of the way that Klaus' face dropped slightly, more so when Bodie forced the human's head to the side, leaving their neck more exposed and biting down. He knew that he didn't need the food given that he'd already had three blood bags, but he just wanted blood. He then ripped the human's head from their shoulders, holding the head up to both of the Mikaelson's who seem frozen in their spot.

   Bodie faked out a yell, forcing himself to go through the change. He dropped the head to the floor, it rolled to the vampires who didn't know what to do with themselves. His legs gave way which made him drop to the floor, his arms cracked as they went to change into what would be his legs to his wolf form. He looked up to Klaus and Elijah then, his eyes glowing the yellow of the werewolf and the normal vampire eyes together.

   Bodie found himself grinning an almost satanic grin. He rose to his feet, pushing the change away. He opened his arms out then as if it was an invitation. "Come and get it."

   A few vampires loyal in Klaus—or more correctly, the vampires that wanted Klaus to be proud that he has people willing to risk their life for him—came at Bodie. Bodie either flipped them away from him or extended his fangs long enough to bite them. The ones that he bit hobbled away clutching their neck as if they weren't expecting it—which they weren't, but even still it was satisfying enough.

   There was a brief moment where no one knew what to do before another round—and by another round, Bodie meant like four vampires—came at him. Bodie removed their hearts or snapped their necks this time. He wanted to leave a few of them wondering as to what happens if a vampire gets bitten by a hybrid and how long the death affect takes place from the initial time of the bite. Not only that, but he also wanted to see the effects of it.

   Bodie grinned like Lucifer would before he fell. "Come on Klaus, I know you want to. Or are you scared?"

   Klaus came towards him then as if to attack, though he just briefly stood there, staring Bodie in the eyes as if that would stop Bodie from attacking. Bodie couldn't help but smile, he knew that he held greater strength over Klaus now, stronger than that of an Original, and now he finally could show it without restricting himself.

   "You betrayed me Klaus for the last time," Bodie muttered. "You think that there wouldn't be any consequences for your actions against me?"

   "I thought that you were too afraid to get what you want." Klaus said.

   Bodie didn't say anything, he stabbed Klaus then with the white oak stake just below Klaus' heart. Klaus yelled out and it was only then that Elijah and Will stepped forward, though they were forced down by Henry who also snapped the necks of every vampire aside from two in the room.

   Klaus clutched onto Bodie's arm, looking up at him with fear in his eyes. For the first time in centuries, Klaus looked scared and as much as that unlocked something within Bodie, he didn't stop, he twisted the stake into him more which made Klaus yell once more.

   "Bo. . .Bodie," Klaus whispered. There were genuine tears in his eyes. "Please."

   "Your actions against me will not go unpunished." Bodie said through clenched teeth. "You hurt me, you betrayed me, and now, my love, you will feel it."

   "Bodie," Klaus pleaded with him. For the first time in what was like forever, Klaus was pleading with him. "Please. I love yo. . ."

   Bodie gave him a look. "I don't care. You're nothing to me." He snapped Klaus' neck then, Klaus' body going limp then. He pulled the white oak stake out from Klaus' chest, whipping the blood from it with his shirt.

   "Thought he would've put up more of a fight," Bodie said after a moment.

   "It's you, Bo," Henry told. His arm was out, freezing the Bargeron siblings in place. "Klaus wouldn't want to fight you unless it's necessary. Plus, I think he was surprised that you were up, that I betrayed him, and that you supposedly triggered your curse."

   Bodie smiled though hushed. "I did trigger it."

   "You know what I mean." Henry said. "What do you want to do about them?"

   Bodie made his way towards the Bargeron siblings. He stared between the two of them, both had fear in their eyes, both looked as if they wanted to be anywhere other than here. "Release him, keep her like she is."

   Henry did as that. Amis dropped slightly, though once he was free, he did try and run, though Bodie grabbed his arm before he could.

   "You know, Amis," Bodie began. "I would have thought better from you, from the pair of you. But, I suppose that no matter how many times I torture one of you—whether it be your father, the people that you held close to you, or whoever—neither of you can't seem to understand what a hint is, so I guess I'll have to show you a clear message of what you shouldn't do."

   Amis gulped then. "And what's that? What's the message?"

   "Don't come at me when your pathetic and weak." Bodie told. "Understand?"

   Amis nodded frantically. "Ye—" before Amis could finish what he was saying, Bodie ripped his heart out.

   "Glad you could." Bodie said.

   With that, Bodie left. He wasn't sure how far behind Henry was, but he was following behind him. The pair of them left Will, Klaus, Elijah, everyone behind. It was just them against the world, them against anything and everything. And Bodie's only thought was that he hoped that it was calm, that none of them came after the pair of them—Bodie wanted peace for the pair of them and he didn't care who he had to slaughter just to get it.

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   The vampires of Wembley were searching the streets of the area and more towards central London in hopes to find Bodie and Henry. Klaus commanded it as soon as he woke and as soon as all of them did, he didn't know what to think as a whole—and truth be told, he killed a few of the vampires beforehand because of how all of this fucked him over.

   Bodie was prepared to kill him, fuck Bodie almost did. And what did he do? Nothing. He did fucking nothing because he thought that Bodie was too afraid, too soft, to do such a thing. But Bodie proved him wrong, Bodie proved him wrong in front of everyone. He wanted to get back at Bodie but at the same time he didn't know what to do. Bodie had the white oak stake, there was nothing that he could do in order to get back unless he decided to kill Henry. But even then, it would be hard to even get to Henry to begin with.

   Gods, he fucked up. He fucked up way more than he expected. He thought that he was doing something right with what he done when it came to Bodie, but clearly he didn't. He fucked up. He honestly fucked up with everything to do with Bodie and he destroyed his ability to rekindle whatever he can salvage with Bodie.

   "Niklaus," Elijah said.

   "I fucked up, Elijah," Klaus told. "I fucked up. I thought that I was doing something right for Bodie—for us—but it's clear that I didn't think about how any of this would affect him."

   Elijah looked at him then and sighed, he sat near Klaus who'd been sat on the floor. "You knew that this would have happened, you knew that if Bodie found out about what you planned, then you'd loose him. You knew that before going in."

   Klaus shot him a look. "I know that it's because of me, I know that. But I thought that I was doing something that would be for him. I wanted to help him and instead he almost killed me."

   "To be fair, you daggered him," Will added. He was consoling a crying Cataline who was crying over her brother's dead body. They all assumed that it was because of Bodie that Amis was dead, which seemed like a Bodie thing to do given that it was his idea to kill them both in the first place—though they were surprised that he left Cataline alive. "And broke his trust—again. So, if anything, you didn't actually think realistically of what Bodie would do if he found out."

   "Thank you for breaking it all down, William, but I didn't ask for your input at all," Klaus said.

   "Though," Will added, "I'm surprised that you angered him enough that he triggered his werewolf side. Which means, if you ever wanted to dagger Bodie once more, the daggers would be utterly useless for Bodie. So, good luck trying to figure out another way to put him down that doesn't include killing him with the white oak stake that he now has."

   "No thanks to your brother," Elijah cut in. Klaus would have to say that he was surprised about Bodie triggering his curse, for a while he was so sure that Bodie already triggered it and was afraid to say as such in case of whatever reason, but to know that it wasn't it made Klaus wonder as to what else Bodie was hiding from him. Though, even with Bodie triggering his werewolf curse, he was surprised that Henry betrayed him—he thought that he had the alliance of both Woodford brothers, but he supposed that he didn't stop and think about it, either that or Henry was too good of an actor for Klaus to see through.

   "I wonder if he had a hand in coming up with this plan to free Bodie," Klaus suggested.

   Will went stiff. "No, I didn't know or even think that he would. I knew that he was pissed because you daggered Bodie, but I didn't think that he would go out of his way to betray you in that manor just to get Bodie back."

   "If you are lying to me, William, I will make sure to torture you slowly and painfully," Klaus threatened, glaring at Will.

   Will held up his hands. "Look, if there's a spell or something that I can do just to show you my memories over the past few years that you've had Bodie like that just to prove that I'm innocent, then I'll do it. I can promise you this, that I never thought that my brother would betray you like this—hell, I'm surprised just like you."

   Neither Klaus nor Elijah said something in response, what could they say? They had no proof of anything, though they supposed that if Will could do a spell like that on himself, then they'd have all the proof that they would need, but even still, there was more pressing issues at hand. Bodie Erikson is a hybrid, someone who was a lot stronger than any Original Vampire—of course, given time, Klaus knew that he'd soon break the curse that bound his other side, but even still, there was a part of him which was afraid.

   It was somewhat aggravating for Klaus to even think that he didn't properly prepare for any of this, he thought that Henry wouldn't do something like this to him, he thought that Bodie would understand. There was a lot that he assumed that would happen, but he never thought that Bodie would trigger his curse and then stab him with the white oak stake. He wouldn't admit this to anyone, but for a brief moment, he thought that he would've died at the hands of Bodie because of what happened, he was scared—the type of scared that he would get knowing that his father was close.

   He never thought that someone that he loved more than anything would scare him the same way that his father does or did at times. For a brief moment, he generally thought that Bodie was going to kill him, and he would have let Bodie, but to see the dead expression on Bodie's face was something that was tearing Klaus up inside—he sometimes saw that look in Bodie's eyes when he killed someone, but never for a second did he think that he would be on the receiving end of that look or the other end of the white oak stake, especially knowing that it was in Bodie's hand of all places.

   For a brief moment, he wanted it to end though he wasn't sure if it was because of what Bodie was doing or because he realised that he fucked up and that he'd rather sleep for an eternity than experience the level of pain and heartbreak that he caused for Bodie and consequently himself. He fucked up a lot larger than what he expected, and even though there was a small part of him that wanted to go and get revenge for what Bodie did to him, he realised that he didn't want to, that no matter the amount of pain that he would bring for Bodie would never be on the same level as this.

   He couldn't and wouldn't want to experience the sheer level of panic that he felt the minute that Bodie triggered his curse and when Bodie stabbed him. As much as he tried to convince himself that it didn't happen, as much as he tried to convince himself that none of this happened and that Bodie was still in the coffin, he realised that there he was being stupid, that no matter how much he wanted all of this to be fake—it still happened.

   Klaus knew that if he didn't do anything, he'd be seen as someone who was weak, someone who wouldn't get revenge, but if he did do something, he was worried that there was a chance that Bodie would come back just to finish him off. And he couldn't have that.

   Klaus looked towards Will then. "Do you have any way to keep an eye on both Bodie and Henry?"

   Will gave him a look then before looking down. "I gifted Henry a necklace before we turned into this, I told him that the necklace was just a gift, but it can give us a slight idea of where they are and what they're doing."

   "And you didn't bother telling us this before?" Elijah asked.

   Will held up his hands. "To be honest, I thought that it wasn't important. Plus, I've never really used the spell before—okay that's a lie, I used it once but only because Henry got lost and I had no idea where he was. But even still, I never intended to use it because of this!"

   "What was its intentions?" Klaus asked.

   "A connection between me and him." Will explained. "Our Coven wasn't exactly the best for Siphoner witches because we're different, so I made two necklaces, one for him and one for me, where if we were worried about what happened to the other—like if our parents decided to kill one of us because of what we were, we would know." He then looked down. "I only made these just so that I knew that he was alive, and I modified both when we became vampires."

   "Does it track?" Elijah asked.

   "I can only get a glimpse of where he is. Like if he's at the Buckingham Palace or something. I can see if he's talking to people, but I can't hear anything." Will explained. "It's basically a tracking device. But the thing is, Henry knows what it can do, so I have no idea if he's looking into what we're doing."

   Before any of them could say anything, a vampire—who Klaus believed was called Mark or something, he wasn't sure, nor did he care—came in holding his neck that spilled blood. Will was first to see if Mark was okay, he tried to help, but clearly there was nothing that he could do.

   "What happened?" Klaus demanded, he pushed back against anything that he felt because of what happened. He couldn't afford anyone to see him weak and upset.

   "Bodie," Mark said. "He bit me. We were at the docks in Central London, we found them boarding a ship and before we could do anything or even bring them back, Bodie bit me."

   "He had a message for you, Klaus," the vampire with him said.

   "Well, what is it?" Klaus asked, crossing his arms."

   "Run." The vampire—May—responded. "Bodie said to run. He's coming." She then looked to Elijah. "Bodie said that the pair of you need to run if you don't want to get caught."

   Something within Klaus tensed. Surely, Bodie didn't mean who Klaus thought he meant—or was this a threat from Bodie to him about how far he was willing to go just to see him suffer. The pair of them didn't know what to do—what was they meant to do with something that they wasn't too sure on. Klaus didn't think that Bodie would do this, he just managed to shake his father's tale, he didn't want to have to lose it again—he couldn't go through that pain.

   For a moment, there was nothing within Klaus, and then, everything overfilled, wanting to snap—which it did. He ended up in front of both May and Mark, looking at them for a moment before he decided to rip out both of their hearts. Mark was dying anyway, and he refused to let May live not after knowing what she knows. He dropped their hearts beside their already fallen body.

   "If what they said was true, Niklaus," Elijah spoke, there was the same undertone of fear in his voice, "then we must leave."

   Klaus nodded. "We'll go back to America." He straightened himself up then. "We'll have to focus on finding what we need to break the spell that binds me if I intend to find a way to get back at Bodie."

   Cataline—who Klaus generally forgot was there—rose to her feet. "Your just gonna let him get away with all of this? He killed my brother!"

   Klaus gave her a look then. "I do not care for your brother, nor you for that matter. You were both clearly useless in my findings, therefore I have no use of you."

   Cataline shifted, clear that anger filled her, something within Klaus found comfort in that. "You Originals care for nothing but yourselves."

  He was done with people yelling at him and having people tell him that he hurt them, so, Klaus done what Klaus done best, he stuck his hand into her chest, her heart in his hand. He gave her a look then. "You and your brother mean nothing to me, you never have and never will. You were just a means to an end."

   "Do it," Cataline whispered through the pain. "Please."

   Klaus removed his hand, leaving her heart in her chest. "Leave. Never come back, if I see you again, you will be joining your brother in death. Or you could see him sooner if you follow Bodie and inform me where he is and his plans. Understood?"

   She nodded and then left, leaving Elijah, him, and Will in the house that was partly destroyed. If there was one thing that Klaus knew it was the fact that he felt empty knowing that Bodie was no longer here, he knew that Bodie had been pissed at him before, but this felt different—he knew that there was a chance that he wouldn't get to see Bodie again without Bodie trying to end his life. He supposed that he would have to be ready so that he could go against Bodie—including his feelings for him.

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   Bodie watched as England slowly faded from his eyesight, leaving Klaus behind. As much as he was proud that he managed to get away, there was a part of him which felt weird that he was leaving without having Klaus by his side—or Will for that matter, but Will chose his side. He knew that he shouldn't expect Klaus to forgive him for what he did nor did Bodie want to apologise for what he did, but there was just this small part of Bodie that wanted Klaus to apologise to him for everything. Bodie thought that he deserved one after everything.

   Klaus got exactly what he deserved, even though everything seemed a bit dramatic in terms of what he did, but he thought that Klaus deserved it. Klaus deserved everything that Bodie gave him and probably more, but Bodie was satisfied enough with what he did.

   "Bodie," Henry said. "He's not gonna come."

   "I know," Bodie told. "Guess, we're going back to America. Where do you wanna go afterwards?"

   "Anywhere." Henry told with a shrug.

   "Anywhere?" Bodie asked with a risen brow.

   Henry nodded. "Anywhere."