𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞.
chapter eleven, the angel of death!
PART I.

ZAKIYAH REED WAS WATCHING KATHERINE PIN STEFAN SALVATORE AGAINST THE WALL MOTIONING FOR HIM TO BE QUIET. The English vampire did her best to contain her awe at the sight of the youngest Salvatore who was unaware of the memories they once created in Chicago.

She tore her eyes away from the curious brunet sparing her confused and slightly interested looks from Katherine's hold. The Petrova doppelgänger was the first to speak at the arrival of Klaus. . . and Elijah.

"Klaus, you're back. Look who decided to come for a visit." Klaus turned to Katherine and beamed at the brooding vampire. "You just keep popping up, don't you?"

Zakiyah ignored the two's banter and rushed into the arms of Elijah Mikaelson. She tackled him in a bear hug that had him stumbling back. He chuckled, arms wrapping around his best friend.

"It has been quiet some time since I have last seen you, has it not been, Zakiyah?" Slowly, Zakiyah pulled back from Elijah to look him in the eyes. She smiled at him, the latter returning it. "I've missed you, 'Lijah."

"As I have of you as well," he pressed a small kiss on the crown of her head. She giggled at the contact as they broke apart. Elijah looked at Stefan, clearing his throat.

"You understand how important family is, or you wouldn't be here. My brother gave me his word that he would reunite me with my own."

Surprised, Zakiyah shifted her attention to the blond. "You did?" Zakiyah quizzed, yet the look in the Hybrid's eyes told her otherwise.

"And so I shall." Pushing Zakiyah aside and into Katherine who let Stefan go to catch her, Klaus stabbed the dagger through Elijah's heart. Zakiyah's eyes widened, lips parting to release a horrified scream.

"ELIJAH!"

Elijah stared into the eyes of his deceitful brother, his filling with betrayal. At her scream, Elijah slowly glanced over his brother's shoulder to see Zakiyah collapse to her knees in the arms of Katerina.

He felt his heart break at the sight of his little sister breaking down. He knew she felt useless as Niklaus wouldn't dare let her interfere regardless if she was considered their blood.

Using the last bit of his strength, he sent her a weak smile just as his eyes fluttered shut and his body became gray and veiny. Klaus let his brother fall to the floor, lifeless. With his new profound speed, the Original rushed towards Stefan, pushing him roughly against the wall.

"Shh, my love it'll be okay," Katherine whispered. The two were on their knees, the English woman leaning against her lover for support. She hadn't shed a single tear, yet her broken cry was enough to express her agony.

Katherine stroked her hair, calming her down. Her breathing became less heavy and her eyes that spared Niklaus a vicious glare softened at the contact of her lover's touch.

Zakiyah looked up at Katherine who was already looking down at her with a gentle smile. She nodded at her, signaling for the two to get up. They did, their moment shared going unnoticed by the boys who were having their own lethal encounter.

"Do you feel that?"

Klaus questioned, confusing the girls. Their eyes doubled at the sight of the stake. It was lodged into Stefan's chest.

The Salvatore brother groaned, his legs buckling from under him, yet Klaus held him upright continuing to tease the weapon into the heart of the ripper.

"It's scraping against your heart. The slightest little movement and you're dead."

"Niklaus, stop." Zakiyah growled, her fangs piercing her bottom lip. She sped towards the two, her wrist latching onto the hand holding the stake. Klaus looked up at her, eyes wild with rage, yet the fire in hers was enough to silence his.

"He's just trying to help his brother."

"The witches said you had a cure," Stefan wheezed. Klaus and Zakiyah were having a heated staring match that was broken by her at Stefan's words. "Make me a deal. Just give me the cure, and I'll do whatever you want."

Zakiyah took him in as of it were the first time all over again. Stefan was staring deep into her eyes of brown that ignited a foreign yet familiar spark.

Who was she? He hadn't noticed her before as she stayed in the rooms while he and Katherine spoke. She only came out upon the sound of Katherine slamming him against the wall. She was beautiful, undeniably so. It took his breath away- there was something about her that arrested your attention, demanding you to acknowledge her.

The two were quiet when observing one another. Zakiyah's eyes held an overwhelming amount of sadness and hope that confused the ripper. It was almost as if she knew him. . .

There moment was cut short when Klaus took out the stake causing him to hiss out in pain. Zakiyah shot Niklaus another glare that he responded with a cheeky grin. The brunet fell to the floor, gasping. Zakiyah went down on her knees instantly holding him upright.

"Are you okay?"

That accent. It was enough to make Stefan shiver. Her small fingers latched around his arm holding him steady. Her touch was enough to make his heart flutter.

He looked up at her, emerald eyes questioning who she was. She cleared her throat, cheeks tainting pink.

"I'm- I'm okay," Stefan stuttered. He cleared his throat, his smile warming her heart. "Thank you. . ."

"Zakiyah."

"Thank you, Zakiyah." Her name rolled off his tongue easily as if he said it a thousand times. Her smile only widened causing his to stretch.

Klaus rolled his eyes at his best friend whose composure was slipping. Katherine was watching the two of her lover's interaction that was an intensity of passion that made her scowl with jealousy.

Klaus walked over to the counter, placing the stake on it. He began to pour himself and Zakiyah a glass of blood.

"Trouble is I don't know if you'd be any good to me the way you are now. You are just shy of useless."

Stefan who was still on the floor and in the care of Zakiyah frowned. Klaus had made his way towards them and crouched down to their level. He handed Zakiyah a glass as an offering of his silent apology. She took it hesitantly, but her growl warned him he needed to do more than just kiss up.

He took it as a victory and smirked. Katherine was standing by herself watching the trio. She hated how easy it was for Zakiyah and Klaus to bond. She especially loathed how Stefan looked at Zakiyah as of she was the only girl in the world.

He never looked at her in the way he looked at Zakiyah. It hurt her.

"I heard about this one vampire, crazy bloke, always on and off the wagon for decades. When he was off, he was magnificent. 1917, he went into Monterrey and wiped out an entire migrant village. . .A true ripper. Sound familiar?"

Zakiyah tensed at the hybrid's words. What was he doing?

"I haven't been that way in a very long time."

"Well, that's the vampire I can make a deal with. That is the kind of talent that I can use when I leave this town."

Stefan turned to Zakiyah, indicating he wanted to get up. Realizing she still held onto him, she blushed again and let him go. The absence of her touch left a hollow feeling in his heart that was unexplainable. He smiled reassuringly at her and extended his hand to her as he rose to his feet. She took it and the two stood up together facing Klaus.

Klaus studied the two and his best friend. He wondered, where did her heart rely on? "Katerina, come here."

Katherine got closer to the trio, her steps hesitant. He took her arm as his face began go morph into his Hybrid face.

Zakiyah watched in awe as the black veins slithered under his eyes that were black, yet his irises once blue, now gold. He opened his mouth, fangs extended and bit into her flesh. He licked his lips of blood, face returning to normal.

"Aah! Aah! No. No. . .No. No. No." She held onto her arm that was an ugly shade of red. Zakiyah remained silent, knowing Niklaus was to prove his unsaid point.

He bit his own wrist and forced Katherine to drink his blood. Instantly, her wound healed- as if she had never been bitten in the first place. Klaus looked at Stefan.

"You want your cure? There it is."

"Your blood is the cure." Stefan's features hardened. Zakiyah smiled, clearly amazed. "Wow."

"Gotta love Mother Nature," he boasted. Placing his hand on Stefan's shoulder, he gave it a squeeze. "Now. . .Let's talk, you and I. Care to join, love?"

Zakiyah shrugged following the two towards the kitchen island. She watched as Klaus got a blade from his pocket and squeezed. Crimson began to ooze from his hand and into a vial. Stefan and Zakiyah looked at him, curious. Katherine was watching in retreat.

"There it is. You want to save your brother? How 'bout a decade-long bender? And I have big plans for you when Zakiyah and I leave this town."

Katherine tensed at Klaus's words. She turned her attention to Zakiyah who ignored her questioning stare. Why didn't she tell her she was leaving with Klaus? Surely she was going to stay with her. She wouldn't leave her for Klaus. . . right?

Stefan shook his head. "I'm not like that anymore."

"Well, that's too bad. You would have made a hell of a wingman." Extending his hand over the sink, Klaus tilted the vial so that his blood began to go down the drain. "Wait."

Klaus stopped pouring the blood.

"Now that's more like it. I want you to join me and Zakiyah here for a drink."

He threw Stefan a blood bag along the counter. Stefan took it and began to rip it open with his teeth to drink. Klaus turned to Zakiyah, extending his glass to hers. The two clicked glasses with a smirk and drank while watching the young ripper.

It went on for a few more rounds; Stefan taking the next blood bag Klaus would toss him after he finished, and the Original ordering Stefan to finish the next one.

Zakiyah hated how Klaus was forcing Stefan into his old habits, but she remained silent. He threw another blood bag on the floor next to the ripper.

Stefan shook his head. "No more. Not until you give me the cure." His chin had blood dribbling from it, as his chest heaved. His control was beginning to slip.

"Not until we make a deal. It's your choice, Stefan. You can either remain here living your life in Mystic Falls, or you can embrace what you truly are, leave town with me and Zakiyah, and save your brother's life."

Klaus crouched down, picking up the blood bag to offer it to Stefan. Stefan snatched it and drank vigorously. Zakiyah exhaled deeply through her nose, knowing the plans Nik had were up to no good.

"That's the spirit!" He took the vial of his blood and shifted his attention to a jealous Katherine. "Sweetheart. . ."

Zakiyah instantly became protective, her feet guiding her towards the two. She was beside Klaus in a blur, her hand holding onto his shoulder in warning. He rolled his eyes, but went through with it.

"Take this over to Damon and come right back." He compelled. Katherine looked shocked. "You want me to leave?"

"No!" Stefan yelled, knowing just how selfish Katherine Pierce could be. Klaus nodded, his lips curving into a devilish grin. "Yes and if I were you. . ."

She didn't waste time to take the vial from his hand and rush out the door in a blur.

"I'd hurry." Pleased, Klaus went towards the chair and sat in it. Stefan was looking up at the two, his eyes trained on the Hybrid. "She'll never take it to him."

"On the contrary, love," Zakiyah piped up, as Klaus remained silent, tilting his head in a gesture of indifference. He lazily craned his neck to Zakiyah, curious. Her eyes were trained on Stefan who was looking at her, eyes miserable.

"I'll make sure she does. You have my word." and without another moment wasted, Zakiyah went after Katherine.