A/N Thank you all for reviewing!

MIKAELSON COMPOUND

"Pretty."

Licking crimson from his fangs, Lucien nodded in agreement with his sister."Yes, she is."

"Yes, yes."Watching her from where he sat, Klaus tipped his glass towards her, grin tugging at his lips."But not as pretty as you, sweetheart."

Leilah simpered to herself with a giddy sigh before snarling hungrily, tipping head back and allowing her fangs to extract. Arms encircling around the woman in her embrace, she sank her fangs into the woman's throat, crooning to herself as her fangs pierced her skin and began to drink from her greedily.

Lucien watched his sister slowly drain the girl until she grew limp in her arms before, swiveling on the heel of his expensive dress shoes, he shifted to face his sire.

"So you're a father."

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Klaus took another sip of his drink before slowly nodding, swirling the remnants of his drink in his glass.

"Yes."

"Congratulations, my old friend!"Lucien raised his glass as if proposing a toast with an ebullient chortle."What's her name?"

"Hope. Her name is Hope."Klaus softly answered with a small, proud smile before, unwilling to associate his past and present; he coined a more authoritative tone."And not to sound ungrateful for the visit, mate, but what exactly are you doing here?"

"We've come to save the king."Leilah bluntly answered, dropping her girl to the ground before cavorting over to Klaus, singsonging."You're in trouble."

Slowly rising from his chair as he noticed Klaus' shoulders stiffen with tension, Lucien clapped his hands together once and rubbed them. Feeling his sire's eyes bore into him as he circled his chair and stood behind it, Lucien drew out a long breath before meeting the Originals' eyes.

"Oh, am I?"Klaus lazily said as he leaned back in his chair, eyes slowly drifting do Lucien."You came all this way to inform me of what?"

"News has spread, old friend."Hands clamping down on the back of the chair, Lucien waited until he was positive he had Klaus' attention before he continued. "Every vampire in the world knows you've been attacked, a number of times nearly killed."

Straightening instantly when Klaus suddenly flashed to his feet and appeared in front of him, the chair swept aside, Lucien pulled back as his sire hovered over him. The hybrid searched Lucien's eyes for a moment, a dangerous smirk playing at his mouth before he shook his head with an almost amused chuckle. Retreating backward, Klaus held out his arms as he motioned for Lucien to carry on, willing to indulge him.

"Oh. Well, I can assure you that all those who stood against me ended up either desiccated, dust, or dinner."

Klaus heartily laughed at Lucien's declarations, reaching out and clasping Leilah's cheek with a smirk, blue eyes glimmering louringly as he stared at Lucien.

"Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

Nestling into his palm with a sigh, Leilah met his smile with one of her own, humming in agreement. Blinking at his sire's provoking actions, Lucien simply rolled his eyes before persisted with what he came to inform his sire about.

"Yes, but what if it had gone the other way, hmm? When Finn was killed, we all learned the truth."He gestured between himself and his sister before pinching his thumb and pointer finger together and indicated to his sire."The life of every vampire is linked back to the Original who begat the line. Kol's death confirmed it. Two entire lines of vampires wiped out. As you can imagine, the threat of it doesn't sit well with those of us that remain."

"Anyone fearing death as a result of my demise should come see me."Klaus brusquely rejoined, shaking his head and turning away from the younger man."I'll be happy to reassure them."

"But the attacks on you do show that you are not completely invulnerable, and your progeny have grown somewhat restless. What if I told you there's a growing conflict between the remaining three sire lines?"Gesturing to the portraits of Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah on the wall across the compound, Lucien firmly added."Suppose one of them wanted to annihilate the other by killing Elijah, Rebekah, you?"

Rolling his eyes but deciding to indulge the younger man, Klaus shrugged one shoulder."So, you came all this way to deliver a warning?"

"Think about it."Lucien softly coaxed, imitating Klaus and tipping his glass in the other man's direction, taking a long sip of his drink. Before carrying on."Kill an Original, wipe out an entire line of competition. A tempting goal, made more so by the fact that your family is divided and thus weaker than you have ever been."

"My family is hardly weak."Klaus dangerously remarked, pointing at Lucien before he furled his fingers around his glass."In fact, we are unkillable. The last of the white oak is gone."

Unconvinced and catching Klaus' less than resolute tone, Lucien shook his head.

"Are you so certain it's all gone, every last splinter of it banished for good?"

Staring at Lucien for a long moment before briefly closing his eyes, Klaus snapped them open again as his jaw tightened. Then, suddenly, he quietly chuckled low in his throat, blinking before he shifted his eyes to Leilah, mouth curving up into a wicked smile.

"Leilah, love, if you had the slightest suspicion that anything harmful should befall your sire you would, of course, come running to let me know."Klaus lazily crooned as he stalked over to the female vampire, holding his hand out and beckoning her to come to him."You would, wouldn't you?"

Placing her hand in his own and allowing him to pull her up against him, Leilah keenly nodded to reassure him.

"Mmm-hmm."

Knowing she wasn't lying, he touched her face with a murmur of approval. Only for her to be pulled from his clutches when Lucien forced himself in between them. Blinking at the slight, Klaus pulled back to glower down at Lucien, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Easy, Nik. You are my sire. Our sire."Lucien gestured to himself and his sister, tilting his head as Leilah came up beside him, arm locking with his."Our fate is linked to yours and you know I would rain hell upon anyone to assure mine and my sister's safety. We are here to protect you."

Eyes flickering between the pair, Klaus downed what remained of his drink before picking up the bottle to refill his glass.

"You are?"

Instead of waiting for a response from the pair, his blue hues snapped to Leilah's dark orbs, his brow arching as he urged her to answer honestly.

And as usual, without fail she did.

"Yes, Nik. All for you."

SOUTHERN FRANCE—1002 A.D

"LEILAH!"

Lucien shouted for his sister as he rushed through the woods, the newfound speed he'd gained after turning being used to its full advantage. He's been running for what seemed like days, flanked close by Klaus and Elijah. The three smeared from head to toe in blood, coming off as if they'd been in battle when in reality they'd been disposing of the bodies Leilah had left behind.

"Sister?"

The worry was evident in his voice, sheer panic laced in his tone as he shouted for her. She'd never gone off without him for this long and since it had just been days since they'd turned the distress was alarming. The bodies had been piling up, and it was only a matter of time before they were found out. While Leilah had been tranquil all day, she'd been prowling and feeding all night. It was as if she couldn't get enough.

They needed to find her before someone else did.

"LEILAH!"

"Where is she?"Klaus hissed as he slowed his pace, turning and walking backward, listening out."If we don't find her by sunrise..."

Trailing off when something shrill resounded throughout the air, Klaus motioned for Lucien and Elijah to be silent.

That was when their ears picked up on it. A sharp scream.

Leilah.

"Brother, help me!"

Lucien spun on his heel, flashing past Elijah as his ears searching for more sound. Back to back, he and Klaus shifted from left to right as they tried to connect to the sounds. He hadn't gotten used to his new abilities yet; the hearing was still troubling him. He could hear her speaking to herself, as if someone was talking to her but he doubted it. Nobody talked to them; they had always been alone.

"Too loud. One at a time, please."

"Leilah?"Klaus shouted, his voice echoing near and far.

"You."Following her screams, the trio picked up their pace and followed."It's always you."

They all turned around at the sound of her voice again, Elijah pointed at another direction, and they nodded before following him, running as fast as they could. Lucian was right behind Elijah, shouting his sister's name as he tried to make sense of her location.

It didn't take them long to find her.

However, what they found wasn't a sight they had prepared for.

Curled up into a fetal position, her entire body trembling and hair covering her face was how they came upon her. Crying into her knees, bare legs streaked with blood that didn't belong to her and her dress torn at the hem, Leilah was trying to stifle her sobs.

Passing or stepping over the corpses that surrounded her, Lucien advanced upon his sister slowly, Elijah and Klaus behind him.

"Sister?"

Gasping at the voice, Leilah wiped at her face as her sobs faded, brushing her hair back.

"Lucien?"Leilah's head snapped up, her eyes wide and hopeful."Is it truly you?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Lucien felt relief soar through him, and he forced himself a calm smile. Klaus caught up with them, a stunned look on his face as he looked down at Leilah, his blue eyes shining with the same relief Lucien felt.

"It's me. You're safe. It's me, sister."Lucien quickly got on his knees beside her, whispering to rid of the silence as he tried to calm her down."What is it? What's wrong?"

"They're in my head. All in my head, brother! They're whispering. They won't hush!"She whimpered as if she were in absolute agony, cupping his face in her hands before clinging to him, tears running down her cheeks."Make them hush!"

Pulling her into his lap, Lucien brushed his fingers through Leilah's matted hair as he tried to calm her down so she could catch her breath. He murmured to her before slowly looking up at the Mikaelson brothers, narrowing his eyes accusingly.

"What's happened to her?"

Klaus shook his head, eyes wide with horror."I-I don't know."

"They're in my head, whispering all sorts of horrid things."Leilah murmured against his skin, sobbing against him while panting for air, breathing hitching when he rubbed her arms, trying to warm her up."They won't stop. Make them stop."

Elijah frowned intensely, gazing closely at the female vampire as he tried to piece together her pattern of events. It was as if she had completely lost all self-control of herself and no longer knew who she was. This wasn't Leilah. The Leilah he knew was reliable, poised and spoke well. She wasn't 'crazy.' She knew the difference between right and wrong; she knew the difference between what was real and what wasn't.

This wasn't the girl he had come to know. Something had happened to her.

Lucien wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his embrace while Klaus wrapped some fur around her, whispering to her to try and calm her down. She seemed to recognize Klaus too, and she grabbed his hand, bringing it to her cheek.

"You're safe."Klaus whispered, allowing himself to turn into her palm when she clasped his cheek as he had her, brushing her hair from her face."You'll be all right."

"I'm afraid she won't."

Lucien's head snapped up, and he met Elijah's gaze."What did you say?"

"What's wrong with her?"Klaus quietly asked his brother without looking away from Leilah."This never happened to us."

"I'm sorry, but she's not right. Her mental state seems to have perished. She is not of a lucid mind."Elijah's own eyes shined with wetness as he looked between the siblings."I'm sorry."

"That can't be right."Lucien hissed through clenched teeth, breathing labored as he stared down at the woman in his embrace."This can't be my sister."

"I'm afraid it is."

Refusing to accept the response, Lucien shook his head."How can I change it?"

"You can't,"Elijah murmured with an apologetic sigh, pursing his lips as a feeling of guilt cascaded through him."This is Leilah."

Shaking his head a second time, Lucien clasped his sister's cheeks in his hands and tried to make her meet his eyes, but all she wanted to do was stare above. At what he didn't know, but instead of lingering on it he just wrapped his arms around her again, humming in approval when she nestled into his neck.

"I'll care for her."

Instead of repeating himself, all Elijah could bring himself to say was a simple."She needs taken care of."

Determination clouding his dark eyes Lucien didn't seem fazed by Elijah's statement. Instead, he merely tightened his hold on Leilah and murmured to her when she sniffed against his neck with a string of incoherent whispers.

"Then i'll look after her."

"Lucien, you don't know what this will entail."Elijah sternly warned, glancing at Leilah's frenzied wide eyes and listening to her rambling before he addressed the other man again, this time more resolute."Lucien-"

"I'll look after her!"Lucien cut in with a sharp glare, refusing to hear any more of it before he bundled his sister up in his arms and stood."I'll take care of her. Until the end of the world if I have to."

PRESENT—MIKAELSON COMPOUND

"Who are they?"

Elijah looked up from where he was looking down at Lucien, Klaus and Leilah with a sigh, offering the human a small smile. Camille stood next to him, the blonde wearing a confused look as she watched Klaus chuckle with his old friends. He was pouring them another drink, passing a starry eyed victim slumped in a chair to pour one for the dark haired woman. Camille, who had been assisting him babysitting Hope after Freya's shift had ended, slowly made her way over.

Coming up beside him with a friendly smile, she curled her fingers around the railing. Eyes seeking out the newcomers, Camille curiously watched as she witnessed Klaus lazily drawl something into the woman's ear, something that seemed to vex the unnamed man as he frowned at the pair.

"Leilah and Lucien Castle. They are old friends of Niklaus'."

"Old friends."Camille repeated curiously growing as she glanced at them before looking back up at Elijah."Are they..."

"Vampires?"Elijah offered with a small, amused smile before slowly nodding in confirmation."Yes. Leilah is the first human my brother turned, Lucien the second. The first of his sire line."

Camille's eyes widened a little at this, nibbling on her bottom lip as she watched the three below converse loudly in-between lively laughter. Perched on the arm of his chair, Leilah was whispering into her brother's ear, something that made him smile and resulted in hearty laughter as he sipped on his drink. With an arm wrapped around her waist, as if he were paranoid that someone would come and steal her from him, Lucien happily offered his glass as Klaus poured himself another.

"Yes, yes, yes! Oh, the look on his face as he walked in on..."

Tuning out of the memories the hybrid was happily recalling, Camille focused on Klaus' face as he laughed. He seemed merry as he remembered fond memories with his old friends and seemed sincere as he partook in the joyous occasion.

"Come, love..."

However, his smile only seemed to beam as Leilah ambled over to him and seated herself in his lap, pointing at the night sky and dreamily informing the hybrid about just how delighted they were about their reunion.

"She seems..."Swallowing thickly Camille strived to come up with the correct word to describe her assessment of the woman's behavior.

"Touched."Elijah finished when he noticed Camille's struggle, slowing humming when she could only offer a nod in response."I suppose she does and you are, in fact, correct."

"If you don't mind me asking..."Camille trailed off as she turned to face Elijah so that she could look at him as well as the scene below, hip resting against the railing."What is the story?"

"Leilah was very close with Niklaus when they first met. They bonded over being mistreated, him by Mikael and her by Count de Martel."Elijah spat out the monikers of the savage men with a disgusted sneer, collecting himself before he recommenced."When she first found out about us being vampires, she didn't run and hide instead she pleaded with Niklaus to grant her and her brother eternal life. My brother agreed, but she didn't react to it well. She became afflicted and has been like that ever since."

Tearing her eyes away from the triunity as her eyes shined with intrigue, the question slipped from her lips before she could stop herself.

"What do you mean by ill?"

Elijah pursed his lips, seeming blindsided by her question and coming off as if was quite reluctant to answer as the human peered up at him with curious eyes. Reluctant because he was unsure whether his brother would want him to divulge his past and if Camille was one to know such things about someone she wasn't familiar with.

But, even so, if the siblings were to linger in the city, he thought it better Camille know what sort of people she'd be near.

"Forgive me for being frank but Leilah became deranged, and it has made her a feared. However, I strongly suggest you do not use that word or any alike around Lucien. I've heard stories."Camille had to strain to catch on to Elijah's words, humming in understanding as he enunciated his warnings."Her already fragile mental state couldn't manage the transition, and she's only gotten worse through the centuries."

"The outbursts are random nowadays, and she's seemingly more in touch with reality which I suppose is progress, but I suppose it's only made her more dependent on her brother. Heavily."Elijah's knuckles were sheet white as they tightened around the railings."But this...this timid, submissive nature only seems to show itself around Niklaus. She's utterly faithful in her reverence for him."

Her blue eyes shining inquisitively and eager to know more, Camille's lips parted in wonder as Leilah's shrill laughter rung in her ears, blending with Klaus' own booming laughter.

"She's in love with him?"

"No, no."Elijah shook his head with an almost amused chuckle, watching as Lucien left Leilah's side for a moment to refill their glasses. He only trusted her with Klaus."Besides Lucien I don't believe she can understand what love is. She recalls the love she felt for him the day he was born until the day they turned; there is nothing she wouldn't do for him."

"But Niklaus..."Pausing to listen in an attempt to pick up on what the hybrid murmured into Leilah's ear, Elijah took a moment before resuming."Niklaus is her sire which meant he created her, he gave her life, and to Leilah, it's as if he's a divinity."

And I think we're both aware of how Klaus appreciates being reminded of supremacy.

"Mercurial, proprietorial, bright-eyed and ruthless."Elijah carried on almost absently as he recalled stories he'd heard of Leilah's random outbursts, his voice lowered to a mere cautious whisper."Leilah can't comprehend what's right or what's wrong. Attachments are similar to how a child would become to a toy only to toss it away when they grow bored. She'll think the world of it only to destroy it when something else catches her attention."

Sharing an indefinable glance, Elijah and Camille reverted their eyes to the three below them, silence hanging over them. And, as if on cue, Leilah rose from Klaus' lap with an animated flail of her arms, lips parting in awe as she gazed up at the moonlight gazing back down at her.

Glass still in hand, Lucien watched his sister with a doting smile, unlike his sire who grudgingly glanced up at the female vampire who'd suddenly abandoned her place in his lap, shifting in his chair with a grumble. Spinning around to face her sire, Leilah smiled adoringly down at him before beckoning him to join her.

"Dance with me, Nik?"Leilah entreatingly caroled, reaching out for him with a theatrical gesticulation, wiggling her fingers."Hmm?"

Motioning for Leilah to move aside so he could continue his conversation with Lucien, Klaus brusquely refused with another dismissive wave of his hand.

"Not until i'm half-cocked."

"Go on, old friend!"Lucien encouraged across his sire and behind Leilah, tilting his head so he could gauge Klaus' expression, his feet propped up on another chair."You always said you put me to shame with your expertise."

"Please, Nik?"Leilah's coaxing tone dropped to a low whine at the dismissal, pulling on his hand with a light, impatient squall."For me?"

His ocean blue hues flashing amber warningly, Klaus suddenly sat upright in his chair, his hand clamping around hers that had pulled impatiently. A growl rumbled in his chest as he clutched her hand tightly, head tilting upwards, so his eyes met hers. Wrenching her close so that she hovered over him, he slowly shook his head from side to side.

"I said no."Lightly pushing her away, Klaus released her hand before reaching out the half-empty bottle."Now stop your blethering."

Her eyes rounded as they widened with horror and, just as she had when Lucien snapped at her, Leilah released a distressed mewl, slowly retreating from her sire. However, unlike with Lucien, her brown hues shined with the tears that slowly started to well in her eyes. Recoiling from Klaus Leilah swallowed the lump in her throat before turning away from him, bowing her head to hide her face.

Camille, who had jumped at Klaus' sudden raised voice, and she watched as Leilah stepped away from him and turned around, facing away. Elijah simply remained relaxed, as if he'd witnessed something similar many a time and remained focused on the scene below.

Glancing out of the corner of his eye to gauge Camille's reaction, Elijah kept an eye on the human as she watched Klaus slowly trail behind Leilah. He didn't come off remorseful as such but, as Leilah sniffed and remained turned from him, he did seem troubled by her sadness.

"Sweetheart..."Klaus called after her with a gentle croon, jew clenching when Leilah didn't react to the term of endearment and, instead, continued to walk away from him."You're aware how agitated I get when one assumes they can command me. You know this, don't you?"

"I know this."Leilah understandingly answered, clearing her throat as she smoothed down her dress before, voice turning more assertive, she hastily added."But you yelled."

"I know. I know."Klaus simply replied in understanding as he stalked up behind her, hands finding her hips once more."However, i'm sure I can make it up to you."

Pulling back when Leilah spun around in his arms, her eyes glistening with expectancy, the tears in her eyes suddenly gone. Hands covering his, she arched up into him with wide, hopeful eyes, nails digging into the tops of his hands.

"You'll dance with me?"

"I suppose it's a debt I ought to pay."Klaus murmured under his breath, inclining his head and allowing his mouth to brush her forehead before he smiled against her."Is that what you want, love?"

Brow furrowing in confusion as the anger was instance vacant from Klaus' tone, Camille blinked down at the scene in surprise. Confusion at how quickly his anger had vanished and surprise with how in tune he was with her, how observant he was while not less than a minute ago he was acting the complete opposite.

"Is that what you want?"Klaus repeated as he led Leilah to the center of the compound, his eyes trained on her own."Hmm?"

"Yes."Leilah's tone rose in pitch as excitement twinkled in her eyes, fingers curling into her palms as she tried to contain it."I want."

Klaus cocked a playful eyebrow before leaning down and hooking his arm underneath her legs. With a low chuckle, he lifted Leilah up in his arms bridal style, his laughter chiming in with Leilah's giggles as her arms wrapped around his neck. Pivoting on his heel, twirled the female vampire around in a small circle around the compound, the entire situation forgotten.

"Should we be worried?"Camille gently inquired, the 'worried about Klaus?' going unsaid but going by how Elijah tilted his head it was obvious he'd understood what she'd meant."Elijah?"

Jaw tightening, the Original tilted his head as he watched Klaus and Leilah twirl round and round around the compound.

His brother had always held a torch for Leilah—whether it was on account of her being his first sired, how he felt a kinship with her concerning their similar pasts concerning their demeaning, patriarchal figures or just because he gloried in the control he had over her—and was quite proprietorial of her.

"She's beautiful."Camille suddenly commented as the silence drew out too long, arms folding across her chest.

"Yes, she is."Elijah murmured in agreement, gaze lingering on Leilah as her giddy laughter resounded throughout the compound before he raised a hand, pointing to Camille as he fully turned to face her."However, make no mistake, she's dangerous."

While there was still a questioning flicker in her eyes, Camille simply nodded in understanding. Turning away, Elijah sighed under his breath, eyes seeking out his brother with a worried pursing of his lips.

He felt a specific panic itch under his skin as his brother dipped Leilah with a playful chuckle, lips brushing hers as he whispered something only she could hear.

"She's as beautiful as the moon above, but her mind is dancing with demons that only the devil could match."

Thank you for reading!

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