*Equation*
by: WhiteGloves
"If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results
then surely my quest for your salvation ranks me as one of the maddest of men."
~Elijah to Niklaus~
The Given
Everything was quiet. One would think it peaceful.
But one Elijah Mikaelson knew that hidden behind the shadow of this facade was a brewing peril towards which he holds dear: his family. The Mikaelson, threatened. Elijah grinds his teeth at the thought. Unlike his brother Niklaus, he was not susceptible to outburst of rage, but like any of the Mikaelson, he has it— overwhelmingly—that once triggered even Death will bend at the outcome. He was no stranger to death, yes, but he would not let any family member of his to meet their end. Not on his watch.
He was alone in the tranquillity of the Mikaelson's household yet... feel his very heartbeat make music to the upcoming war. Let them come, he thought. He does not have inkling as to who or what may come nor does he care. Klaus had already taken his family away from harm and with Rebekah daggered in secrecy; Elijah almost thought the threat improbable to touch his dear family. Freya and Kol will be under his protection no matter because his answer will always be to his family. Always and forever.
Till there was Freya's palpable tinkling laugh.
Elijah Mikaelson arched an eyebrow as he lingered by the balcony of the Mikaelson household overseeing the open air centre where there he accidentally spied on his sister, Freya, who entered the premises with a special acquaintance escorting her arm. A mortal man.
They stopped near the fountain for a moment, whispering obvious sweet talk.
And then they kissed.
Elijah narrowed his eyes and waited till the man had gone before he made his voice sound and call out her name.
Freya looked up, unsurprised to find her brother lurking by and went to him with a knowing look in her face. There by the balcony the siblings stood side by side. And the third son Mikaelson spoke his thoughts in low notes.
"Are we going to allow Niklaus to chase them all out or you prefer I do the honor?" he glance at her with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Freya fixed him a look and then roll her eyes.
"Seriously, we're talking about this?" she leaned her hands on the railings and shook her head, "You're both paranoid. Niklaus and you. Is this why Rebekah's still flighty? No dates? But then again the last I remember Niklaus almost choked Davina too if not for Kol. What is it with you and your siblings' affairs?" But she was smiling. Elijah's content expression remained a moment, before he, too, leaned by the railings and sighed.
"Paranoia is part of this family..." his eyes suddenly flashed as if seeing something beyond where he was looking. Then as if making a final resolution, the head of the family Mikaelson stood straight with his jaw tight, his right hand automatically slipping to his fine three piece suit pocket and faced her older sister. "There's something we have to talk about."
Freya turned to him. She knows that look of Elijah that begged gravity.
"What? You're not telling me to leave the house now because of my dates, are you?"
The brother took his time, before finally breathing the word that sealed Freya's undivided attention.
"Rebekah."
And within minutes, there Freya stood by Rebekah's open coffin, gazing at her younger sister in slumber with a dagger in her heart at the deepest section of their family vault. Elijah stood behind her with what seemed to be a calm expression but his eyebrows would twitch every now and then.
"Since Christmas...?" Freya gave his brother a look of disbelief, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she grabbed Rebekah's dead hand with the mark and examined it closely. The mark was back and darker still.
"On Rebekah's words, sister. I took her words to be... the only solution at that time." Elijah's voice was soft as he too gazed at his baby sister, "I honoured her... but I assure you I would not have done so without weighing my options. That was why I encouraged Niklaus to go... it was him she was most concerned about. His happiness."
Elijah paused shortly as if suddenly realizing the impact of his sister's sacrifice and regretting them. His eyes glinted and he exchanged looks with Freya who was watching him.
Then like a silent air, she slipped passed him without a word.
"Freya," Elijah called her back with a visible infliction on his once calm face. "I—"
The eldest daughter turned sharply, hands half raised—
"Don't, Elijah. I can't even imagine what you've gone through being the person she trusted to do what is right. But I'm still angry. To both of you. Without even consulting me! Isn't that part of being a family—no!"
For Elijah attempted so speak but she shook her head, eyes full of daggers.
"I don't want explanations. I just want our sister back. Hell knows you're already burdened as it is now get me that cursed dagger!"
And off she went, leaving Elijah feeling more dejected than he was willing to show.
His sister had taken much of her time studying spell books of dark arts she got from the witch shop around town and hadn't spoken to him since except brief and polite exchange of words being the only two people in the house.
And Elijah felt, as he walked around the city a week later, that he was alone with everybody with his only sanctuary unable to be reached. Freya. So he too, focused his attention on his job of being his brother's decoy which he played well. There was no passing day that Elijah did not encounter his brother's enemy. They were drawn to him by the power he placed upon himself.
"You really are a piece of work, you know?" Marcel said as he watched Elijah wipe blood off his hand using his kerchief always tucked on his suit. It had been an eventful day with Elijah ambushed by the empty lot and almost outnumbered had it not been for his strength. Then Marcel arrives to find a dozen unidentified dead bodies.
"Niklaus' art piece, in fact." The Mikaelson answered with a nod at the vampire leader who shook his head with a look of admiration in his eyes.
"I get it Klaus doesn't know," Marcel then said with crossed arms, eyes twinkling at Elijah who turned to face him quietly, "He didn't know what you did with that magic spell on you."
"Niklaus knows it's a battle arena here." Elijah threw the cloth aside and surveyed the bodies. "He is aware of what was to happen and still left me to handle it. I see no point in this chatter."
Marcel chuckled.
"Well, I can't very well just stand around even if I am unsired now when Rebekah's brother jumps to the bloodbath."
Elijah raised an eyebrow at him and smiled.
"Marcel, do you want me to chase you out?"
When Elijah returned that night to the silent household, it was to find Freya seated by the sofa with hands together and in a very solemn vigil. Elijah made his presence known and sat beside her quietly. She refused to talk for awhile and Elijah was ever so patient and waited.
Then she looked up at him and shook her head.
"I called Kol... he'll be here in a minute... but I don't think you'll agree with it anyways so I let Davina stall."
Elijah's expression didn't change. No surprise will surprise him anymore.
"Tell me." His voice was soft, almost resigned.
Freya gripped her hands and looked down the cursed dagger with grimness etching on her face.
"I've been talking to the witches and like usual they're not as handy as I thought." she started and met his eyes, "The curse can be lifted to the present bearer but the nature of the spell is one of dark arts that once inflicted, would not go away without serving its purpose. That's why when I do this spell to save her the element of the curse will not truly disappear. It will find another host which will be its last. Then it will do its point and lead that poor soul to the edge of reason, Elijah."
She suddenly took his arm and squeezed it, her eyes too sincere to look away.
"Tell me you're not the one who pulled the dagger from her chest when you saved her."
A/N: Should be fun for two more chapters :)
Thanks for reading!
