Free of family

37

The next morning, Arkyn woke to his cellphone ringing.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Green or purple?" Rebekah asked.
"What?"
"Green or purple?"
"Rebekah what are you talking about?" He whispered, slipping out of bed.
"Why are you whispering?" She asked as he tiptoed away.
"You called me for a reason?"
"Didn't you see my text last night?"
"I was a little busy." He said.
"Did Bonnie stay for the night?" Rebekah asked. "I thought we weren't allowed to do that."
"Firstly, I said you don't bring home people to feed off. And secondly, this is not the time, so what's up?"
"Mother's throwing a ball."
"Oh no."
"Oh yes. Tonight. A rather lavish one and, in fact, she already has Nik's hybrids decorating."
"You're kidding?"
"Not kidding. Anyways, your presence is required. No way out of this one, I'm afraid."
"What if Lex is sick?"
"Is she?"
"She could be."
"Ark-"
"I'm not leaving Lex alone and I'm not bringing her along. Tell our mother thanks but no thanks."
"Tell her yourself." Rebekah said.
"What do you mean?"
"Arkyn." His mother said.
"Mother." He greeted. "I'm sorry, but I can't make it this evening."
"Why not?"
"Lex is ill. Fever, chills. So I'm afraid tonight just won't work well for me."
"I raised you Arkyn. I can tell when you are lying."
"Ark?" Bonnie called, looking around.
"Who's that?" Esther asked sharply.
"Uh, I have to go, mother. Goodbye." He hung up, and walked over to his bed. "Hello, there."
"Please don't tell me that was your mother on the phone."
"It was Rebekah. Who passed the phone to my mother." She cringed but sat up. "Apparently my mother's throwing a ball."
"A ball?"
"Yeah. She says she wants the whole family back together, and I'm guessing this is her trying to bring us all together. And introduce us to the town."
"Are you going?"
"No." He said. Alexis walked into the room.
"Ark there's a-" she stopped as she saw Bonnie. She threw the card she was holding at Arkyn and walked out. Arkyn picked it up.
"Lex is invited." He skimmed through, before looking at Bonnie. "I should go after her. Talk to her."
"Yeah, of course." Bonnie fell back onto the bed as he pulled on a shirt.

"Lex!" He called after her, following her down to the kitchen.
"Are you taking her to the ball?"
"No, because I'm not going."
"I am." She said.
"No you're not." He denied.
"Yes, I am. I was invited."
"I told my mother you were sick."
"Well then, better tell her I made a speedy recovery."
"Klaus and Elijah are going to be there. I can't keep you safe there."
"At this point, Bonnie poses more of a threat to us than Klaus and Elijah. Before, it was fine. Before, she wasn't willing to throw you under the bus to get to Klaus. But she is. She will do anything to kill them, including hurt you. So if you're okay with her in the house, then I'm going to this stupid ball." She tried to storm away but he pulled her back.
"My mother will be there."
"And Bonnie will be here." Alexis countered.
"Name it. Anything you want to do. Me and you. Tonight. We'll go out if you want."
"What about Bonnie?"
"No Bonnie. Okay? Just me and you. Say the word, and we'll go visit your brother. Or I can take you to that concert you've been wanting to go to."
"Do you really trust her?"
"I do, Lex."
"Then you two come. Tonight. The three of us will go to the ball. You can help your mother save face or whatever, when introducing the family, be there to make sure your brothers don't try to kill me or whatever and there's a bar, so win for me too."
"Seriously?"
"I'm kidding. Sort of."
"Uh huh?"
"I can get to know Kol and Finn."
"You might have trouble connecting with Finn." He smiled. "Which reminds me, you remember the witches that put out the word Elijah was looking for me?"
"Yes..?"
"You think they'd be able to find a vampire in particular?"
"Someone in hiding?"
"She's not in hiding."
"That shouldn't take them long."
"Great. Get them to find the vampire Sage."
"You want to reunite Finn with his long lost love?"
"Just do it, would you?"
"Sure. But I need your credit card."
"Why?"
"I need a dress for tonight, and you don't really have many dresses."
"You'd be surprised." He winked and she laughed. "Okay, go eat some breakfast while I get changed."
"Please, go. Put on pants. I do not want to see that much of you."
"Then knock before you barge into my room."
"I didn't know you had her over."
"Play nice, Lex."
"I will tolerate her." She shrugged. "I will not be nice to her."
"Lex-"
"Take it or leave it. That's the best I'll do." He gave her a hug. He kissed her forehead.
"Love you, Lex."
"Yeah, yeah." She pushed him off, as though she didn't much care for it. He walked away after a bit and headed back to his room.
"So, would you like to be my date to the ball my mother is throwing?" He asked.
"Is Lex okay?"
"Might be a while till things are okay, but better than before."
"She hates me."
"She's protective. Xave and I are all she has left."
"Which translates to she hates me."
"She's actually the one to suggest we all go together."
"To the ball?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yeah, all her idea. I promise." He said.
"Okay." She smiled.