[THE SUN ALSO RISES]

you are your home.

     JULIETTE WOKE UP TO the sound of someone humming. It was soft and low, the vibrations echoing in her ears as she drifted in and out of consciousness, like a faint memory. 

Her heart pounded, and for a split second, she thought she was back in Elijah's bed, sunlight beaming through the curtain, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her arm, his chest pressed up against her back as he nuzzled into the side of her neck. But then came familiar smells. Bourbon. Dust.

The air smelt off, it didn't smell like Elijah's cologne, and when she finally forced her eyes open, her vision blurring slightly as she blinked rapidly, she realised she was sitting on an armchair she didn't recognise.

A brown leather couch. A messy living room. Empty bourbon bottles on the counter. Bookshelves filled with.... History books?

Alaric's apartment.

Juliette blinked twice, confused, she tried to move her arms but couldn't. Looking down she realised her hands were tied with rope, tying her to the chair. "Great," the blonde muttered under her breath.

Her wrist ached and bruised as the hard rope rubbed against her skin, and the back of her head throbbed. But Juliette could not remember why.

There was no sign of her phone, her jacket, or Elijah.

But, through her blurred vision, Juliette could make out that someone was sitting opposite her.

A hoarse groan passed her lips as Juliette rapidly blinked, slowly feeling her vision clearing, just enough to see who the person was.

Katherine.

Sat casually on Alaric's couch, legs crossed, expression filled with amusement. In her hand, she held a glass of bourbon.

"Morning, sleepy head," she said. "Or well, late afternoon."

Juliette blinked. "What the hell is happening?"

Katherine tilted her head to the side, her mouth remaining shut.

"Why... am I here?"

"Klaus has been using it temporarily while he occupies Alaric's body," Katherine replied simply. "Don't get too comfortable though, if you even can. He will be back soon."

"Klaus?" Juliette repeated, her voice filled with slight fear. "Klaus is the one who kidnapped me?"

"Well, not directly." The doppelgänger replied, bringing the glass to her lips. "It was Maddox."

"Who the hell is Maddox?"

Katherine shrugged.

"Then why mention him?"

"Felt like it."

The blonde rolled her eyes, feeling herself getting increasingly frustrated. Katherine spoke again, "Look on the bright side, you're still breathing. Klaus isn't known for his hospitality, you're lucky."

Juliette chose not to reply to that comment, instead pulling at the ropes tied around her wrist, hoping the rope would loosen. "Shut up, Katherine. You got yourself kidnapped too."

"Touche, I did," Katherine replied, taking another swig of the bourbon, the brown liquid swaying in the bottle. "He told me you were with Elijah before you were taken."

The blonde rolled her eyes at the doppelgängers teasing tone, "Yeah, and?"

Katherine chuckled, "Nothing, just wondering what's going on between you two."

Juliette scoffed. "Look Katherine I don't want to hear about how you had him first and—"

"Whoa, relax." Katherine held her hand up, her smirk widening. "I just wanted to know. Thought we could chat until whenever Klaus comes home. I've been alone for weeks."

The blonde blinked, caught off guard by Katherine's honesty, for once. "Oh. Sorry. Uhm, I mean apparently we are soulmates?" Juliette said, shrugging her shoulders.

Katherine's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Really? I would never have expected that." She leaned forward, intrigued. "So are you two together then?" She smirked, filling her glass up again with Bourbon.

Why am I gossiping with Katherine Pierce of all people?

Juliette sighed, feeling her throat tightening ever so slightly. "No, honestly, I don't know what we are. I mean I have feelings for him, but we haven't really had time to discuss it, considering his psychotic brother is trying to sacrifice my sister so he can be a hybrid."

"Have feelings or are you in love with him?"

"I..... I don't-" Juliette faltered, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.

In truth, Juliette had no idea what was going on between her and Elijah and it was killing her.

The doppelgänger rolled her eyes, playfully, a grin danced on her lips, "Oh come on, before I was put in here, I could see the way you two looked at each other." Katherine replied, wiggling her eyebrows at the blonde.

Juliette groaned, defeated and too tired to argue anymore. "Fine, maybe I do love him, but now isn't really the time to get into a relationship. I want to wait till everything cools down and take it slowly."

Katherine hummed thoughtfully, "Well, Elijah is a noble man, and I'm sure he will do anything to make you happy."

"Yeah, he is noble," Juliette replied, smiling faintly, just enough to soften the lines of exhaustion around her eyes.

"So, any luck with the Seraphina situation?"

Juliette tensed again, her mind thinking back to the chaos she is desperately trying to ignore. "Well, apparently she hates me because I 'stole her magic from her' and is now haunting me. So safe to say, no I have not had any luck."

Katherine sighed, crossing one leg over the other. "I'm sorry I couldn't help when you asked. I thought it would be best for you to figure some things out on your own."

Juliette gave a low hum in response, "I'll figure it out myself. I always do."

"Now you have Elijah to help you," Katherine replied, her eyebrows moving up and down, giving Juliette and knowing but teasing look.

"Yeah. I do," The blonde chuckled softly, her lips curving into a soft smile, a little dreamily.

The two women sat in a comfortable silence, both seeming to enjoy each other's presence despite the predicament they were in.

Juliette wasn't quite sure what had happened, or why she and Katherine, of all people, just had a conversation. A nice conversation too? Juliette was gobsmacked.

The quiet between Juliette and Katherine did not last much longer, as a voice cut through the apartment like a blade. "How romantic."

There he stood, Klaus, in the doorway, a smirk dancing on his lips as he stepped further into the apartment.

He was... attractive? Juliette thought to herself, but the legends about him said he was a monster. But were monsters meant to be good-looking?

Juliette felt her stomach drop, her breath catching in the back of her throat. Despite her fear, the blonde swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, ignoring her trembling hands. "What is your issue? Let me go."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Klaus replied, his voice smooth as he stopped in front of her chair, his hands clasped behind his back as he leaned forward slightly, "You're very, very special for my plan. It would be a waste to set you free, wouldn't it?" He purred, his smirk staying on his lips.

Juliette glared up at him, her jaw clenching in pure anger and the ropes around her wrists digging deeper against her skin. "I don't give a rat's ass about your psychotic plan." She spat bitterly.

Klaus raises his brow, amusement filling his face as he steps closer until he was inches away from Juliette's face. His eyes glimmered with.... interest and curiosity but the blonde did not know why.

Juliette clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding against each other. "Tell me why I'm here."

Klaus' eyes flicked between hers. "Katerina, leave us for a moment."

The doppelgänger huffed as she grabbed the bottle of bourbon from the coffee table before walking out of the room, leaving Juliette with the Original vampire.

Klaus turned back to the blonde, "Considering I did kidnap you, I guess I owe you an explanation."

Juliette narrowed his eyes. "That would be nice." She muttered bitterly.

"I'm sure you're aware of my plan with your darling little sister," Klaus spoke, his hands behind his back as he slowly paced around the apartment.

"Yep, you want her blood."

He stopped pacing, turning to Juliette with a wicked grin tugging on his lips. "Well I don't just want hers" he added.

"What?" Juliette asked quietly.

"I need a drop of your blood." Klaus leaned in slightly, "And your magic."

Juliette's breath caught, snagging in her throat as though held by invisible fingers. The ropes around her wrists felt tighter as she pulled against them slightly. "My magic? Why?"

"Well, Seraphina, who I'm aware is not being very nice to you, helped my mother create the spell that made me a vampire." He paced behind her, the soft scrape of his shoes against the old wooden floorboards filled the room. His presence at her back made the hairs on Juliette's arms stand straight. "However," he continued, his voice low and smooth, "She also helped create the curse that was placed on me, keeping me from my hybrid side."

Juliette stared up at him. Her lips parted slightly, "So... you need my magic because it created the spell..."

Klaus's grin widened, "You catch on quick."

Juliette swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "But why my blood?"

He paused in front of her, his grin never once faltering. "Seraphina is a Gilbert, is she not?"

"Well... yes, I've just found that out. But how do you know?"

Klaus gave a low, melodic laugh, "Oh please, everyone who is a witch or who is around witches knows about her."

"What? Since when?"

"Well, she was killed by her uncle and her townspeople. The witching community came together for her when she reached the Other Side. They'd had enough... of discrimination, of witches dying because they were different." Klaus clasped his hands behind his back again, taking a slow circle around her.

Juliette's entire body leaned forward as curiosity filled her.

"They kind of... made her a saint, in a way. A leader, if you will." He gestured with one hand. "On the Other Side, Seraphina and the dead witches banded together to get their revenge on humans."

Juliette blinked confusedly, "But... I got told she was haunting me because I apparently stole her magic." She asked lowly, "Is that not true?"

Klaus raised a finger, "I'm not finished." He stepped closer, "Just as they were about to conjure up a way to fight back, to escape the Other Side, Seraphina, who by the way was the most powerful of all the witches, lost her magic. Entirely. Couldn't even perform simple spells."

Juliette raised her brow. "Oh?"

Klaus smirked, a slow, cold curl of satisfaction. "And that date was March twenty-third, 1987."

The world tilted.

Juliette's breath hitched violently, a startled gasp tearing from her throat. "The day... I was born..."

"Yes. So you did steal her magic. Seraphina became mad, furious. She began to act out, falling into insanity from her anger." He circled her chair, almost like a predator. "The witches began to fear her. Fear what she could do. So collectively, they sent her to a prison world. Where she's completely alone."

He leaned down slightly, his voice dipping into an almost affectionate mockery. "However, she has her fun tormenting you, I'm sure." He chuckled to himself.

Juliette felt her skin prickle, goosebumps racing up her arms as she swallowed thickly. "This is the first I'm hearing of all this." She mumbled, her voice trembling slightly.

"So, you're needed for the ritual. That's why you are here." Klaus replied before walking over to the kitchen cabinets, pulling out a bottle of bourbon.

Juliette scoffed, frustration filling her body. Her shoulders slumped back against the chair. "Great, thanks. Don't I get a choice or no?"

Klaus gave a single amused laugh. "Well, I did kidnap you, so... no, love."

Juliette stared at him, her expression flat. "Thanks."

✧✧✧✧

THE SKY HAD FALLEN deep indigo, the forest turning almost black around them. Klaus walked just ahead of Juliette as she staggered behind, one hand firm on her arm as they moved deeper into the woods.

Torches flickered along the path, lighting up the surrounding area. The wind shifted through the trees, making the branches creak like old bones.

Juliette dragged her feet slightly, the cold biting at her ankles. She didn't know if it was the chill or fear making her tremble.

For a long time, they walked in silence.

Until Klaus spoke.

He glanced at her wrist, the soulmate mark glowing faintly beneath the rope.
"He cares for you, you know."

"I don't want to talk about Elijah."

Klaus chuckled, "Why? Does it frighten you? The idea that he might actually love you?" his voice was filled with taunt and amusement.

Juliette's breath stuttered, catching painfully in her chest. She stared at the ground, refusing to give him the satisfaction of reacting.

Klaus smirked, clearly pleased regardless. He gripped her arm harder as he began to speak again. "When we were turned, Elijah spent decades wondering who his soulmate was. It nearly drove him mad. If only he knew she'd be a Gilbert."

Juliette's throat tightened and the clearing appeared before she could answer.

Candles burned in a circle, each flame flickering as if breathing. Strange symbols were painted in thick, dark strokes across the dirt.

Juliette's eyes glossed over the area, until they stopped on something... no, someone.

Jenna.

Juliette's entire body froze. Her knees buckled, nearly giving out beneath her.
Her breath left her in a single, violent exhale, like she'd been punched in the chest.

"Juliette?" Jenna's voice was a whisper, trembling with fear.

Juliette stumbled forward instinctively but Klaus's hand clamped around her upper arm, tightly.

"Sorry love, I thought she would add to the fun." He spoke lowly before chuckling to himself.

Juliette's vision blurred around the edges. Her heartbeat thundered so loudly she could barely hear. She could feel her breath coming in quick and sharp.

She wasn't sure if she was going to scream.

Or collapse.

Or both.

✧✧✧✧

Omg guys what is this????

Could it possibly..... be..... a new chapter after like 4 months?!?!?!?!?!??

YESSSSS ITTTTT ISSSS!!!

i'm gonna be honest, it took me four months to write this chapter but last night a bunch of motivation came back to me (FINALLY!!!!) and I just began writing!!

It's not the best, i know, but it will have to do and i hope you guys can understand!!!

i hope to start the next chapter soon if i haven't got a lot of homework to do so pray i can get it out maybe in like two weeks???

See you then!!!

Byeeeee!!!!

19/11/25