The morning sun filtered in through my curtains. Today was the day of the sacrifice. The day Elena Gilbert would die.

I had to be ready.

There was no way Stefan or Damon would let her go so easily. Silently, I prayed to every deity out there that they wouldn't do something dumb enough to get them killed.

I opened my door to find a sight I was not expecting to see.

Nik cooking.

"Morning..." Where was Elijah?

He didn't reply, merely dished up the eggs he was making, and set it on the place setting on the island, with a glass of blood next to it.

"What's wrong?" I thought last night had put us in the clear.

"Sit." He gestured toward the place setting, his tone uncharacteristically measured.

I don't understand. Everything was going according to plan. We didn't even have to use the sacrifice to bargain my life, which could bite me in the ass later. If Nik found out, I wouldn't have anything to trade. I did as told, moving to sit on the barstool. "Where's Elijah?"

His jaw clenched. "Eat."

"I'm not going to until-"

"Eat." Nik set the pan in the sink with enough force to make it clatter harshly against the metal.

I jumped.

His back was to me, but he could very well hear my heart pounding. I quickly picked up the fork, shoveling eggs into my mouth, the food turning sour the second it hit my churning stomach.

Where was Elijah? I had an awful feeling about this.

I downed the still warm blood, uncaring about how this would entirely mess with my meditations, and desperate to finish it all as fast as possible.

"I believe that secrets are a poison." He began slowly. "They need to be spat out." Nik turned, his expression downright murderous. "Like your secret. With Elijah."

"What did you do?"

"The two of you are hiding something. Tell me and we can avoid the nasty business of using your brothers to my advantage."

I knew it. I knew they would become a target. "I can't."

"I had hoped that separating you from Elijah would make it easier." He picked up a knife from the counter, toying with its sharp edge. "Last chance, little one."

"Nik, please. Knowing will only make you angrier." Get up. I couldn't. I was rooted to my spot.

He approached me slowly. "Whether or not I tear it out of your mind is entirely up to you."

That had me on my feet, backing away. Him searching my memories would implicate more than just me. I couldn't run. He was faster than I was. "What did you do to Elijah?"

"He's found himself in a box, exactly where you will go if you continue to defy me."

Fucking shit. "Be reasonable." I held my hands out in front of me. There was quite literally nothing that could satisfy his curiosity but the truth. I couldn't lie, couldn't find some miracle saving grace.

If Nik saw that I played an integral role in summoning Mikael, he'd kill me.

"Do you not remember your time under the dagger? Is this secret really worth protecting?" Nik caught up to me.

"Please, don't."

He let out a disappointed sigh. "I had hoped you would give it up willingly." Nik, grasped my face. I tried to escape his grip, but only felt my eyes roll backward.

Nik didn't even finish viewing the memory before he was storming out of the apartment.

I stood, rigid and trembling, but alive.