twenty-two

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Rise Up

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TEARS. THEY WERE something that Athena wouldn't even think to shed for someone she truly hated. So, when Esther had died and Klaus discarded her body, the girl didn't care. Her mother had it coming, there was no denying that. To an outsider, they'd think she was crazy for not shedding a tear for the person she was forced to call her mother. But Esther had done so much to her and her family that she did not give the witch the satisfaction of her crying.

In addition to Esther's death, the Salvatores' plan failed. Klaus had finally revealed that Kol was actually spying on Jeremy and had cut Damon and Elena off from their plan to find out the origin of their bloodline. Athena didn't know whether she should be upset that her siblings had kept something from her, or if she should be grateful because she could have potentially messed up the plan.

Rebekah had been acting strangely but Athena didn't take it to heart because they all had a lot on their plates. Her sister was no exception. But that didn't mean that the girl's "six sense" per say was on high alert.

A dark portal was the first thing to mind when Athena walked into the living room to see Klaus painting away. She leaned against the doorway with a teasing grin. Her brother knew she entered the room and sighed. "Go on then, spit it out."

"It looks like a black hole, Nik. What even is that?" she laughed.

Klaus dropped his paintbrush and turned to her, throwing his hands up. "Honestly, do none of you have any taste for art?" He was fighting a smile and she knew it. Finally, he let it show and smiled. "Ok, it kinda does."

Athena nodded and walked further into the room. "Guess what Rebekah just gave me?" She removed the hand that rested behind her back and held out her hand to reveal the last white oak stake. "The last stake that can kill us."

She tossed it to him and he caught it with ease. Klaus smiled at her and then threw it into the fire with one motion. They both exhaled when they watched it burn. It was over; no more white oak which meant they could be together again. However, her dreams were crushed when Klaus said, "Get Rebekah and then pack your bags, we're leaving. There's nothing keeping us here. We'll grab the doppelgänger and be off by sunset."

Athena's smile fell and she frowned. Not only did he mention the doppelganger that both she and Rebekah despised, but he also said they were leaving. Which meant that wherever the male Nyx was, he'd probably never find her because they would keep moving so Klaus could gather hybrids.

It made her upset because she was supposed to rule over the wolves. And here her brother was, turning them into hybrids to use them as his "back family" and "minions". She felt like she was betraying her pack. She felt like she was betraying her family. And whenever the male Nyx came around, what would happen to all of those hybrids? Would they be disowned by the werewolf community?

But then at the same time, Athena couldn't do anything about it. This was her brother's life and this is what he wanted to do with it. Changing that would be wrong and would be dismissing his wishes. Her family hardly ever dismissed her's.

"Good luck with that one. Rebekah is kinda the host of the committee for the decade dance and insisted that we both go." Klaus rolled his eyes at the word dance. "Let's just go to dance for Bex and then we can be off into the sunset."

Klaus looked like he was going to argue and then decided against it. He knew that crossing Rebekah would be bad even if he could handle her. "Fine. But only because you asked nicely."

She smiled and then backed out of the room while she faced him still. "Sure thing, Nik."

———

The dance was probably the most boring she'd ever gone to. Klaus had gone over to dance with Caroline, Rebekah was a no-show, and Athena had no date so she was left alone. The topic of the werewolves came back to her.

So what if she did confront Klaus about turning werewolves? What could she say to convince him not to turn them? Her brother was a complicated character that was certain. But he loved Athena and the rest of his siblings even if he didn't show it. And she felt if she did confront him about it, he'd get upset, thinking that she too was turning her back on him.

But them wolf part of her, the part that was meant to lead was pulling on her. It was telling her to do something about it. Just maybe he'd listen to her request, just maybe he'd at least consider it which would give her enough time to think of a solid reason other than that she's the Queen of werewolves.

"Athena, something's wrong."

She snapped back to reality and saw her brother standing in front of her with an upset look. Clearly, something had happened but she wasn't paying any attention. "What do you mean?"

Klaus looked around at all of the people before taking her arm and leading her out of the Gym. People passed by them and the two dodged them easily, making their way away from the school. "What I mean is that something is happening. Rebekah didn't show up to this idiotic dance. And the last time this happened-"

"She was daggered." Athena sighed and then removed her arm from his grip. She followed after him. "You don't think that Esther has something to do with this do you?"

He looked skeptical but didn't shoot the theory down. It made sense if they thought about it. Esther just shows up in their living room, go on about how she's sorry and how she's dying. And just like that, she falls at Athena's feet and dies. Klaus was right, something was up.

Before Klaus could respond, they stopped dead in their tracks when they saw salt-blocking their path. It stretched all around the school and they both cursed. Athena snarled. "What the hell is this?"

Stefan walked up to them and they both noticed yet neither acknowledge him until the Salvatore said, "Your mother is back."

Klaus clenched his teeth and Athena scoffed, shaking her head and turning on her heel, walking back into the school. "Well, you better get rid of this barrier and fast. Or we'll start killing people."

———

The Mystic Falls gang took her threat seriously and quickly began forming a way to remove the barrier. Bonnie had set up several candles on a small table in a classroom. She was chanting while Athena, Klaus, Damon, Stefan, Jamie, and Jeremy stood by and watched.

Both Original hybrids were becoming impatient. Klaus was proud of his sister and knew he wouldn't have to do much threatening considering that she had it under control. The gang also knew that Athena was being serious. And after her transformation, she spent no time in letting people who hurt her family live.

Athena was getting pushed to her limits and then spun to Bonnie. "It can't honestly be that hard to break a simple boundary spell. They all have loopholes."

Klaus smirked beside her happily and they noticed. He let his pride show because he wanted Athena to know he approved and that it was okay to do what she was doing. He didn't want her to ever feel like she was a monster for protecting her own family.

Bonnie didn't respond and Matt ran into the room. "People are walking right out of the dance, past the barrier."

Jeremy realized something and looked at the others. "Matt and I can leave, we can stop Esther ourselves. We just gotta find out where she is."

Athena didn't really like the idea but it was the only way they could stop Esther if Bonnie couldn't break the spell. Stefan shook his head. "It's suicide, Jeremy."

The younger hybrid saw that the situation was going nowhere so she flashed over to the human, Jamie, and held him by his throat. Klaus stood in the same spot, still smirking while everyone looked at her with wide-eyes.

"We don't have time to dillydally Bonnie. You may be a part of my pack, but I protect my pack. And this little human could potentially hurt you and I wouldn't want that. My mother could also hurt my pack. So continue with your spell before I kill your little human friend."

Bonnie didn't know what to say but settled for, "Let him go, Athena! Please!"

Athena glared with her hybrid eyes, her veins, and fangs. "I will once you get us out."

Stefan walked over to her after seeing that the girl wasn't joking. Klaus wasn't doing anything to stop her. He knew that Athena was desperate to keep her family safe after everything that happened. "Come on, Athena. Bonnie doesn't give a damn about us. The only reason she's helping us right now is to save Caroline and Tyler. You start killing the people she cares about, she'll tell us all to go to hell."

The girl let out an amused laugh and turned to him. "Now you see, she will care when I remove her from my pack." He avoided her eyes. "Why don't you tell her the feeling you got when I removed you. Tell her how that void is still in your chest and never left." She let go of Jamie and then brushed past Stefan, getting a sense of deja vu. "I expect to hear good news soon."

She exited the classroom and Klaus smirked at them before following his sister.

———

After Athena had threatened Jamie, Jeremy and Matt had gotten ready to pass the barrier to look for Esther and Elena. Klaus knew where they were apparently, yet the only people he told was Stefan, Jeremy, and Matt.

So the girl decided to involve herself instead of letting her pack go out there without knowing what Esther was up to. While she was walking down the hallway, she stopped when she heard Stefan talking to Tyler and Caroline. "They're at the old cemetery. Jeremy and Matt are headed there right now."

The hybrid took a deep breath and then flashed out of the school and to the salt line. Athena looked up at the sky and sighed. "Witches, I really need to get past this barrier. Esther is trying to kill my family, and how do you know if she wants to kill me too? If I die, then the wolves get angry and lose one of their leaders." She nearly rolled her eyes at herself. "And that'll upset the balance. So please-"

Wind blew past her and hit the barrier near her feet, making it separate. She nodded with a sigh and a smile. Athena silently thanked the witches and flashed out of the school zone and through the woods.

Her timing was miraculous as reached the cemetery just as Esther made Jeremy and Matt point their weapons at each other. Jeremy yelled at him as his hands shook. "Matt! Matt drop your gun!"

Matt struggled against Esther's magical bind. "I can't! I'm not controlling it!"

Elena who was standing behind Esther yelled, "Esther stop it!"

Athena then flashed to her mother and ripped out her heart. Esther gasped and fell to the ground, dead. She took a step back and let the heart drop as Alaric stepped out of the tomb. Just then, Klaus appeared and went wide-eyed when he saw the scene.

Everyone was dead silent as they watched Athena race up to her brother and embrace him. She did not cry and neither did he. Athena didn't know if she should cry or not. There were no tears to fight because she was not the slightest bit upset about what she just did.

Klaus let go of her and picked up Esther's body. The two walked away from the rest of them, leaving the Mystic Falls gang stunned.

———

When they arrived back at the mansion, Klaus went and put Esther's body into a coffin, un-daggering Rebekah as well. Athena stood outside of the room and listened as Klaus spoke to their mother.

"Your trap failed, mother. I live and I will go on living. Let your beloved spirits try to preserve you again, I dare you to come after me! I will build an army so big, no one will ever touch me. My survival will haunt you through eternity." He then yelled, making her jump in surprise. "You will never destroy me!"

Klaus fought the tears and Athena ran into the room, embracing him. He started to cry and embraced her back as they both stood there. Athena fought her own tears but would not allow herself to cry. "I'm so sorry, Nik. I'm so sorry."

In that moment she knew she couldn't tell him about her thoughts about the wolves. Athena would tell him later, but not for a long time. She could wait. And right now her brother needed her. Lately, he was the one there for her. It was her turn to be there for him.

Always and forever

———

I got an update in for this book today! I'm on chapter four of my Gotham fanfic so I decided to take a break and maybe get a few updates for this book since I'm so anxious to get to the second book.

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