"Her mind is split." It was that witch bitch. Why couldn't I move? "It'll take time to heal. Tell me what you know."

Why was it so dark?

Fingers were splayed against the sides of my head.

I was laid out on a comfortable bed, one that smelled of the compound.

"She kind of showed up out of nowhere." Marcel. "Little ten year old. That kid wouldn't have lasted long in this city alone, even if she were determined to. She was also pretty tight lipped about her past, but I've seen eyes like hers more often than I'd like to admit."

"So her secondary personality-"

"Her shield. Built specifically to protect her. The ripper is merely an elaborate mask without emotion. If I had to wager a guess, her parent or parents were abusive, and when her brothers died, she ran."

Was that not obvious?

"I'm not sure my magic is enough. Everyone has their darkness. I can't just pull it out by the root, it would entirely destroy her psyche."

"Can't you flip her humanity switch?"

I didn't want that.

"It can't be done by any magic I know. Unless you were to compel her."

Why couldn't I move?

My limbs felt frozen in place as if restrained but I felt nothing holding me.

"She's had vervain, I could bleed it out of her, but I don't know how much she's had, that's more Klaus' area of expertise."

"What are you going to do about Alistair?"

"Klaus said he was vain. All I have to do is feed into it a little and he'll leave in peace. Another reason I can't bleed her. I've got vampires crawling everywhere."

"Leaving me to work on Morgan."

"If you would." Keys rattled and Marcel's familiar steps receded. "Keep her under or she'll escape. She's smarter than anyone gives her credit for."

"Got it."

There was a beat, after the characteristic whoosh of vampire speed.

"I know you're awake. You don't know me, don't trust me. I understand." Freya's hands left my head, one of them instead running through my hair gently. "Hayley is so close. The family will finally be together again. But we need you on our side. You so clearly have Marcel's ear. You can convince him to stop this madness."

What of Morgan's brothers? Whatever their qualms with one another, Salvatores were supposed to stick together, and Elijah ripped that away from her.

Is she supposed to just forgive?

"Help us, Morgan. I swear I'll never ask for anything more. If you do this, and leaving is still what you want, I will cloak you myself."

Tempting.

"All you have to do is turn that switch back on."

And let the grief come back? Then again, if Freya kept her word, I would switch it off after, and Morgan'd gladly give up control for a moment to breathe.

"I was actually kind of excited to meet you." There was a dip in the bed as she sat on it, and cradled my hand in her lap. "I'd known about you, of course, when I was last in New Orleans, before Mikael. You were a beauty even then. A well guarded beauty. I had Kol's trust and he still wouldn't let me near you. Then when I met them again, they spoke highly of you. Morgan, you are Elijah's pride."

I could feel it.

Morgan was trying to access the emotions. She was trying to shut me out.

"You are endlessly fortunate that you are not Elijah's blood child. Someone much worse would have come for you if you were. Perhaps then we could've been closer."

Was I the only one slightly creeped out by this?

"It doesn't matter. I'm rambling." She laughed to herself. "I'm excited to have another niece, petulant as you are."

Another one?

What happened in the seven years we were under?

"Take my deal and I'll give you your freedom. I'll stop Klaus and Elijah from following. Even in your emotionless mind, you should see the advantage in that."

Fine. I wouldn't have control much longer anyhow.

Letting my emotions in was like a dam breaking.

Poisonous grief crawled out of the deep dark hole I'd shoved it down, and it was the oddest thing to feel Morgan. It was as if I took a step back and she moved in front of me.