chapter three
by the light of the moon
season two, episode eleven

Arabella Mikealson lifted the skirt of her dress, walking around yet another ball her older brothers had decided to host. She was certain she'd never been more bored in her almost nine hundred years of life.

"Arabella," Marcel smirked, sauntering up to her side. Arabella scowled in response, waiting for him to continue. "Dance with me."

"Shouldn't you be chasing after my sister?" Arabella retorted, putting her wineglass to her lips. "Oh wait. She dumped you and got a new man. How sad."

Marcel scowled at her, clearly annoyed. "The rumors are true, you really are a bitch." He chuckled dryly.

"And pyschotic." Arabella added. "Go bother somebody else."

The blonde hadn't adjusted to Marcel being in their family like the others had. To Arabella, the only people in always and forever was her siblings. No girlfriends or boyfriends, and not a boy that had been Klaus's failed attempt at redemption.

She admitted sometimes she was overly rude to him, but he annoyed her. He allowed Rebekah to be daggered and miss out on fifty two years of her life so he could become a vampire. You don't do that to somebody you love.

Marcel, with a scoff, actually listened, stalking off to complain to Klaus about her. Ara sighed softly, growing more bored with the party. All she was expected to do was sit and look pretty.

"Bells," Kol spoke, grabbing her arm with his girlfriend, Ophelia Adams, beside him. Ara whirled around, raising an eyebrow as she waited for him to tell her what he wanted. Kol looked around hurriedly before leaning forward, whispering into her ear. "The witches of New Orleans are trying to make a dark object that would leave you unable to do magic."

Arabella's eyebrows furrowed as she processed her brothers words. The witches wanted to take her powers away? "You're joking right?"

"No, they're working on handcuffs that would halt the powers of a witch," Ophelia whispered back. "As long as they are on you, you can't practice magic. The witches think you're a disgrace to magic because of your vampire side."

Arabella breathed out heavily. Her entire immortal life, her magic had been what kept her anchored to her humanity. And now the witches wanted to take it away from her because she had been forced into vampirism.

Arabella felt the room start to spin as she breathed out heavily, looking up at Kol with wide eyes. A strong gust of wind blew through the room, slamming a window shutter closed.

Kol grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, sister, breathe. Calm down."

Another window slammed shut, making some of the guests gasp in horror. Ara put a hand to her throat, breathing in deeply. 

"Your magic is too much for your body when your emotions get high like this," Kol continued. It made sense. Ara had barely felt anything in the last three hundred years, she wouldn't know. "Calm down."

Arabella felt her brother grab onto both arms, inhaling dramatically to try and help Arabella breathe. "What the bloody hell is going on?" Klaus questioned.

"Arabella can't control her magic," Kol spoke. "Her emotions got high and her power became too much."

"Sister, you need to calm down." Elijah spoke, grabbing her arm. "Breathe, Arabella. Nobody is after you."

"The witches." Arabella breathed out, putting a hand to her chest as she gulped. "They want to take away my magic."

Klaus, trying to play his typical fake role of overprotective brother, scowled. "What witches?" He demanded.

Elijah, on the other hand, looked confused as his younger sister sank down onto the couch. "Take away your magic? How would they do that?"

"They want to make a pair of handcuffs a dark object," Kol answered. "They want to place them on her, when they're on all magic will be blocked. She won't have her powers."

Arabella winced as she saw Klaus's eyes sparkle. He would finally have a weapon he could use to discipline Arabella. She realized he wasn't going to stop the witches.

He was going to help them.

Arabella stood up, putting a hand to her head as she tried to blink away the memory. That was thenineteen fourteen Christmas party. Kol had been daggered ever since that night. Marcel had died a couple years later.

And now there was a weapon that could be used against her somewhere in the world.

Arabella breathed out heavily as her mind flashed to that night. Klaus had in fact helped the witches. Arabella had only been visiting then, so she fled quickly back to Chicago and into Stefan's arms. She had moved from New Orleans in nineteen ten, when it became too boring for her to bear.

Now she had nowhere to flee to, nowhere to call home.

"Arabella," Theodore sighed, walking into the house. He had a solemn look on his face as he looked at her, and Arabella suddenly found herself afraid.

"Who's hurt?" She questioned, before she hesitated. "Did someone die? I've seen that look a hundred times, Theodore, tell me."

Theodore hesitated as he looked at her. "Jeremy Gilbert got locked in the tomb with Katherine, Stefan went to save him and now he's stuck."

Arabella felt like a dagger was just pierced in her heart as her breathing slowed, looking at Theodore. She shook her head. "No. I'm going to siphon the tomb,"

Theodore stepped in front of her, Arabella slamming right into his chest. "Arabella," Theodore sighed.

Arabella heard the wind outside start to howl as she panicked more. A century later and she still had little control of her magic. "No, Theodore, if Klaus comes to Mystic Falls and Stefan is in the tomb he will kill him. I have to free him."

Ara breathed out, a loud clap of thunder shaking the house. Theodore seemed panicked as he looked outside. "Breathe, calm down. Think Arabella. Rose told all of them you are a ruthless killer, and if you go and siphon the magic away they will know. Stefan will be terrified of you. They all will. You have to wait until Stefan's compulsion is undone to reveal yourself."

Arabella calmed down a little, another strong gust of wind flying past as she breathed out. Theodore was right, but she couldn't abandon Stefan. "I can't leave him in there."

"Tomorrow, once you have calmed down, we will call Elijah and the three of us will figure something out." Theodore told her. "Okay?"

Arabella sank onto the chair, putting her head in her hands. Her whole life was a mess. She didn't know whether to blame Niklaus or Mikeal. "Arabella, he'll be okay. I promise you."

Ara calmed herself quickly, inhaling with a nod. "I know. But if I see a singular trace of Klaus I am siphoning the tomb. I don't care if it makes them all hate me."

Theodore nodded in understanding. Arabella understood why he didn't want her to siphon the tomb. Rose had told them she was a ruthless killer after the doppleganger. They wouldn't believe Ara if she told them differently, she had been lying to them for over a year already.

She prayed Stefan would be okay in there with Katerina.

"Elijah, when I call you, you answer your bloody phone," Arabella spat. She heard her older brother's sigh through the phone, causing her to frown. "Because of our bastard brother, you are the only person I have. I'm sorry if I get worried."

Elijah sighed again, seeming to understand better. "How can I help you, Arabella?" He questioned.

"Stefan Salvatore is locked in the tomb with Katerina Petrova," Arabella replied, sitting on the edge of the couch. "I can't free him without revealing myself. I need to know what our plan is, Elijah."

Ara knew it was risky telling Elijah about Stefan. He already thought she was a fool for not moving on yet. But she couldn't help it.

Ara heard Elijah sigh heavily again. Somehow, his family was always disappointing him. Finn, Kol, Rebekah. "I'll be in Mystic Falls tonight, sister. Hang in there."

Elijah hung up before Arabella could answer, making her let out a huff of annoyance. Everything always had to be on her brothers terms. All of them had to control everything.

"Shit." She cursed, laying her head in her hands. "Shit."

Theodore approached cautiously, acting like she would attack him any second. "Arabella? Are you okay?" He questioned.

Arabella composed herself quickly, nodding. "I'll be fine. Elijah said he'll get to Mystic Falls tonight and figure something out."

Theodore nodded, grabbing a bloodbag from the fridge. Theodore kept himself on mainly bloodbags. He told Ara if it was right from the source he lost control. He didn't want to be a ripper.

Ara didn't have that problem. Ever since she got to Mystic Falls, she hadn't drank from the source. She was too scared to expose herself. At least now she had an excuse for the bloodbags in her fridge, since Theodore lived there.

Theodore sat next to her, starting to tell her stories of his time with Rebekah. Apparently, after Arabella fled New Orleans, her sister had massacred the witches that made the weapon.

Rebekah's rage was as bad as the rest of the Mikealsons. People were lucky hers didn't come out very much.

Theodore threw himself down on the couch next to her. Due to vampire strength, the couch flew back and hit the wall. Arabella turned and glared at him. "You chipped the paint!"

Theo shrugged helplessly, connecting his lips to the blood bag. Arabella felt the rush of need for blood run through her until her eyes turned red, veins growing underneath. She cleared her throat. "Just compel someone to fix the paint."

"I'm supposed to be human, remember?" Arabella retorted. "If anybody sees me compel somebody my cover is blown. You do it since you chipped the paint."

Theodore pouted like a child, but nodded. Arabella shook her head at him. Theodore really did act like a child sometimes. She wondered how Rebekah could stand to live with him for eight years. It had only been two weeks for Ara and she was going crazy.

The blonde leaned forward as she heard her phone go off. She unlocked it, opening her messages to see a text from her older brother. Come to Elena Gilbert's now.

Ara's eyes furrowed as she stood up. Her brother sure did move fast. "I'll be back later," She told Theodore, grabbing her coat. "Don't wait up."

The dark haired boy shot her a look and Arabella immediately knew he was assuming she was going our for some other stuff. She didn't even reply, opening her front door and vamp-speeding to Elena's.

She knocked on the front door, and Jenna Sommers, Elena's red-haired aunt, opened it with a smile. "Arianna, hi! Come on in." Arabella smiled, walking in as Jenna walked towards the storage closet. "Elena, your friends here!" She called upstairs.

Elena came downstairs not even a moment later, tucking her dark hair behind her ear. "Arianna, hi." She greeted, pulling her into a hug.

"Hi, Elena." Arabella smiled. She wondered why Elijah had wanted her to come here. Their plan was to get Stefan out.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked Jenna, who was knelt over in their storage closet and digging through boxes. Arabella looked as well, intrigued. Jenna lifted up a box, shoving it into Elena's hands. "What is this stuff?"

"Your mom's files from the historical society," Jenna replied. "I got roped into helping Mrs. Lockwood. And by roped, I mean very excited to participate."

Jenna shut the door, revealing Arabella's older brother standing behind it. Elena jumped behind her while Arabella's lips parted. He was brave. "Hey," Elijah greeted. "I'm Elijah."

Jenna walked up to Elena, grabbing the box from her hands. The brunette was still shell shocked. "Elijah's in town doing research on Mystic Falls,"

"It's a pleasure," Elijah smiled, walking up to Elena and shaking her hand. Arabella shifted beside her.

"You know, you're welcome to stay and rummage through this stuff," Jenna offered, not noticing the tension in the room. "Or Elena, Arianna, and I could help you load it into your car."

"Yeah, or I can get someone to pick it up tomorrow." Elijah replied with a polite smile.

Jenna chuckled. "Also a good plan," She nodded.

"Thank you so much for inviting me into your home, Jenna." Elijah spoke. Ara knew it was a play to rub it into Elena's face he could enter whenever he pleased. "And Elena, I hope to see you again sometime soon."

Elena grabbed Arabella's hand, yanking the blonde after her as she all but sprinted up her stairs. The brunette knocked frantically on Jeremy's door, only for Elijah to step in front of her: He put a hand to his lip, telling her to be quiet.

Jeremy swung open his bedroom door, moving his headphones to his neck. "What is it?" He asked his older sister.

Elena ran a hand through her hair, shifting her weight. She was still frightened. "Jenna was just asking me to get you to help her with the boxes."

Jeremy sighed with a nod, walking downstairs. The brunette watched him go as Ara turned towards her brother. "That's a wise choice."

"What do you want?" Elena asked him.

"I think it's time you and I had a little chat," Elijah replied nonchalantly. Arabella shot Elena a look, letting her know she would be by her side. The brunette nodded, leading the two to her room and quietly shutting the door.

"Forgive the intrusion," Elijah spoke, looking around Elena's room. "I mean your family no harm."

"Why did you kill those vampires when they tried to take me?" Elena questioned, letting out a heavy breath.

"Because I didn't want you to be taken." Elijah told her simply. Arabella sat stiffly on Elena's bed, right in the middle. She was trying to hide the fact she knew him. "Klaus is the most feared and hated of the originals,"

Arabella corrected him in her head. She was now the most feared and hated. Then again, half the supernatural community thought her dead.

"But those that fear him are desperate for his approval," Elijah continued. "If word gets out that the doppleganger exists, there'll be a line of vampires eager to take you to him and I can't have that."

"Isn't that exactly what you're trying to do?" Elena retorted.

"Let's just say that my goal is not to break the curse," Elijah shrugged.

Elena let her arms fall to her sides, rocking her body in confusion. "So what is your goal?" She asked.

"Klaus's obsessions have made him paranoid, he's a recluse." Elijah told her. "He trusts only those in his immediate circle."

"Like you?" Elena asked. Arabella looked blankly at Elijah. Niklaus didn't have friends. He had only had Ara and their siblings, but now he had no one.

"Not anymore," Elijah shook his head. The blonde knew losing their siblings hurt Elijah just as bad as it hurt Ara. Klaus needed to pay.

"You don't know where he is, do you?" Elena realized. Arabella's eyes tore to Elijah. He didn't know? "So you're trying to use me. To draw him out."

"Well, to do that I need you to stay put and stop trying to get yourself killed," Elijah told her. The blonde looked up. That was a lot harder than it sounded. She swore Elena had a death wish.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Elena countered.

"Well, if I wasn't being truthful all your family would be dead and I'd be taking you to Klaus right now," Elijah chuckled dryly. "Instead, I'm here and I'm prepared to offer you a deal."

"What kind of a deal?" Elena asked. Arabella looked at her brother, wanting to know as well.

"Do nothing." Elijah told her, standing up. "Do nothing, live your life, stop fighting. And then, when the time is right, you and I shall draw Klaus out together and I shall make certain that your friends remain unharmed."

"And then what?" Elena asked.

"Then I kill him." Elijah told her.

"Just like that?" Elena questioned while Ara's eyes widened. It was impossible to kill an original unless you had white oak. And the only one that had that was Mikeal.

"Just like that." Elijah nodded. "I'm a man of my word, Elena. I make a deal, I keep a deal."

"He's telling the truth," Ara spoke up, making both heads turn to her. "He's famous in the supernatural community for being the Noble original. You can trust his word."

"How are you going to be able to keep everybody safe?" Elena questioned.

"You know, I notice you have a friend, Bonnie is it?" Elijah responded. "She seems to possess the gift of magic. I have friends with similar gifts."

"You know witches." Elena realized. Ara looked up. Elijah didn't just know any witch, he knew one of the most powerful witches in the world.

"Together, we can protect everyone that matters to you." Elijah told the brunette. "So do we have a deal?"

"There's one more thing," Elena replied. "Rosé told me another original wants to get her hands on me. Arabella?"

Elijah's eyes downcast, playing a part, while Arabella stiffened. "Arabella died a century ago. She's no worry to you."

Elena seemed suspicious, but nodded anyway. "I need you to do one more thing for me."

"We're negotiating now?" Elijah chuckled.

Elena nodded. Arabella resisted the urge to laugh. Finally, something wasn't done on only her brothers terms.

•••

Both the Mikealson siblings stepped into Katerina Petrova's view of sight, making the brunette let out a gasp of horror.

Ara smirked slightly, but she couldn't do anything else thanks to the presence of Stefan. "Elijah." Katherine breathed out.

"Good evening, Katerina." Elijah greeted. "Thank you for having the good sense to be frightened." He turned to Stefan. "Your release has been requested."

"What?" Stefan questioned. "By who?"

"The lovely Elena drives a hard bargain," Elijah informed him. "However, we reached a peaceful agreement, she and I. Please, come."

Arabella could see Elijah analyzing him, seeing if he was good enough for his sister. Elijah and Finn had been the only one of her siblings to not meet Stefan. Kol had met him when he and Ophelia drove to Chicago to visit. That had been just before Kol did whatever he did to Ophelia.

"I can't," Stefan shook his head.

"Yes, you can." Elijah disagreed. "I've had the spell lifted." It took Arabella all of five minutes. Stefan cautiously stepped forward, relieved when there was no barrier. Katherine immediately tried to race out, only for Elijah to block her. "As for you, however, you shall not exit until I say so. When Klaus comes, he'll want to know exactly where you are."

Elijah stepped away, talking to Stefan as they went. Arabella waited until Stefan was out of ear shot before she used her magic to yank Katherine against the barrier.

"You know, I've been enjoying thinking about how I'll make you suffer the last couple of hours," Ara smirked. "But I realized the best revenge is lettint Klaus get to you. I know he intends to drag the pain out."

Ara turned on her heel, ignoring Katherine's pleas to let her out. Karma was a bitch.

rys rambles

someone finally got casted for theodore!! milo manheim is theo's faceclaim. i saw him and instantly thought theo lol

also, ophelia's story may be making an appearance tonight or tomorrow... keep an eye out!

Ophelia's story is called illicit affairs

ps...arabella's powers r like this bc when she was turned into a vampire, she was reborn. so out of control powers of a first born mikealson witch? yep