chapter | 2
… • …
January 1862 | Alexandria, Louisiana
"I need to know everything that concerns my father," the woman sternly said.
"Your father has chosen to not get involved and take a side in the war. You should expect retaliation," the man replied.
"He and the league is doing whatever is required to keep the destruction at bay. The generals cannot force us to give them soldiers if it is not what the townsmen desire," she told the man eyeing his drink.
"This is war and you won't be able to keep it out for any longer. Cloverville has resources and who wouldn't want that in their pockets," the man laughed and saw her watching his glass before he passed it to her.
"My father trusted you." Adelia blinked, looking around the room to see minimal companions. Her gaze fixed onto a man entering the room and Adelia's companion followed her gaze to look behind him.
"Many people trust me," the man replied impassively.
"I am aware," she breathed out and passed the drink to him who nodded slyly.
"Of course, nothing gets past Adelia Laurentis," he said taking a huge mouthful of his drink. "I will give my regards to the General."
Adelia smiled and started rearranging her veil, "You have my condolences." She stood up as he frowned in confusion. "Forgive me for not forgetting."
Patting his hand twice, she bid farewell and started walking away when the man started coughing vigorously, the glass shattering to the floor. Adelia opened the door and entered the corridor, ignoring the dying man as the passers-by rushed towards the room.
Suddenly a hand caught her wrist and pushed her into a room by the corridor surprising the witch, who plunged a knife hidden in her sleeve into the man's stomach. He threw her into the wall in rage taking the knife out and rushed towards the witch pinning her to the wall with a knife against her neck.
The sound of a revolver uncorking resounded the room as Adelia pointed it into the man's stomach, her finger ready to press the trigger until she saw his face illuminated by the candle beside the bed. "Elijah?"
The Original's heart stopped as he recognized the voice. Adelia lowered the gun, gently pushing the knife away from her neck and he let her. The witch untucked her veil and Elijah gulped— she had grown even more beautiful than he had ever imagined. He stepped back to not overwhelm himself.
"What are you doing here, Miss Laurentis?" He asked looking away.
"In a gentleman's club? A lady cannot leisure away her time playing cards, Mr. Mikaelson?" She answered. "You are injured."
"It will heal," he impassively replied. "Now tell me."
"I am not liable to answer to you," Adelia sat down on the bed and wiped away the blood from her head.
"I apologize. I meant you no harm." Elijah noticed the injury to her forehead and offered his handkerchief.
"You do not have to lie to me," she smiled taking the handkerchief.
"You killed my informant," the Original pursed his mouth.
"He was yours too?" Adelia laughed. "No worries, he wasn't loyal. He'd have turned his back on you too."
"That man had vital information that was of utmost importance Adelia!" He pointed at the closed door.
She got up glaring at him. "I do not consider your information more important than his betrayal."
"You are unaware of what you have cost me."
"I am sure it is no more than a thousand lives," she replied.
"I did everything to reach here and you went on to kill him," Elijah harshly enunciated.
"What are you going to do?" She met his hazel orbs defiantly and grabbed his hand holding the knife to point it at her neck. "Only if you dare."
A trickle of blood flowed down her column wetting the collar of her gown in red and he threw away the knife immediately. The Original bit into his wrist and offered it to her. Adelia stepped back.
"It will heal," she looked away when the door abruptly opened and Elijah instantly threw her onto the bed, climbing over her.
...
Elijah sat reading the newspaper when he felt a nudge to his foot. He looked down to see his wife's new pet dog licking his well polished leather shoes.
"Why don't you go bother someone else?" He said.
Asher whined and nudged his foot with his head.
"Adelia is asleep. Why don't you wake her up? She might appreciate a wet glob of drool. It was her idea to keep you afterall."
The dog observed him and barked, wagging his tail. Elijah annoyed, folded the newspaper and stared at him, veins creeping underneath his eyes.
The dog took a step back, horrified; his servant was not from this world! He looked towards the room where his other servant was resting before turning back to the demon. He barked and continued barking, hoping the female would come to her senses and save him.
The Original pursed his mouth and took a deep breath as the barks deafened his heightened hearing. Why did his wife have to get herself such an annoying creature?
"What's happening?" Adelia entered the room, tying her night gown when Asher rushed to get behind her.
"Your pet seems to have forgotten who's the man of the house," the older vampire replied.
The witch rolled her eyes and scooped up the dog in her arms. "Did he scare you, my love?" She asked the dog who whined in agreement.
Elijah stared at her in disbelief when she went on to kiss the dog's nose. "As much as I love your delectable lips, they better not touch mine after they have touched his," he replied before going back to the newspaper.
"You are silly. Asher is very hygienic after the bath," she chuckled and the dog perked his ear up. "I will get your fur products today but for now, you will use mine, won't you, my love?" Adelia kissed his nose again. "I will give you a bath."
The dog started squirming in her arms suddenly; his worst nightmare was coming true.
"Do you not like female shower gel?" The witch questioned with a frown, "You can use Elijah's if you desire."
The husband in question raised his brow. "I have to share my products with a dog?"
"Only for today," she nonchalantly replied before looking at the squirming animal in her arms, "We will get you a rubber duck too."
Asher nipped Adelia's fingers before shooting off to stand beside Elijah. Atleast the demon and him were on the same page; he did not like the demon and the demon did not like him.
"I am afraid I'd be of no help," Elijah mused, staring at the creature. "You are her first pet dog, the expectations are rigorously high."
The dog barked at her making her frown before she waved her fingers and he started sliding across the floor towards her. He whined and scratched the marble floor to no avail. Asher suddenly realized that his female servant was another kind of demon too! His gaze went towards the other demon who looked at him impassively and he howled for mercy.
"Yes, we are clipping off those nails after shower. You are now an Original's pet, you represent your owners so you should be immaculate like the man sitting there," she pointed towards Elijah.
"He is yours, Adelia. I take no responsibility," the Original said.
"Don't mind him. He is just sad we won't share a bath anymore," she cooed at Asher who was being dragged towards the female for a trip round the tub.
"We won't?" Elijah questioned incredulously— he was used to her soft fingers rinsing his hair and it always led to great shower sex, was he supposed to give that up too for a dog?
"Then you might have to give him a bath instead," Adelia answered.
"I am not coming second to a canine, Mrs. Mikaelson," he gave her a pointed look.
"Well Mrs. Mikaelson thinks that Mr. Mikaelson should be more mature about a third party in their marriage."
Asher whined in grief but again he was ignored as his servants continued arguing. They should listen to him, he was the master! Adelia looked at him and entered the bathroom. He howled again before the door to the apartment opened and he got dragged out of view into his personal hell.
"Uhh... was that a dog getting dragged unwillingly?" Rafael asked after the dog's face disappeared behind the door.
"Please join. His name is Asher and your friend's latest fascination. I believe her next graduate course will be of a veterinarian," Elijah answered.
"How wonderful," he sarcastically replied. "Why don't you become a news presenter then? Always with the bloody paper."
"We are leaving in ten minutes. Let me inform Adelia," the Original said ignoring Rafael's remark and got up when their heightened senses picked up a struggle in the water and splashes on the ground. "On second thought, it can wait. I don't want to give the poor creature a false hope for a rescue."
"So thoughtful you are, my friend."
...
Klaus and Stefan were climbing the Smoky Mountains while the latter was carrying unconscious Ray over his shoulders.
"You okay? Is Ray getting heavy?" The Original humored.
"I'm fine. I don't understand why are we even doing this? Adelia's friend Rafael even showed you that it's not going to work," Stefan explained.
"You sure about that?" He replied. "Her dearest friend could have done anything to my wolf. I won't believe until I see it myself, on my terms. You know, we've been walking for quite some time now. If you need some water or a little sit-down..."
"You know, I get that we're, uh...we're stuck together, but if we could maybe just skip the chitchat, it'd be great."
"So much brooding. Your self-loathing is suffocating you, my friend," the hybrid joked.
"Maybe it's 'cause I'm a little tired of hunting werewolves. We've been at it all summer," the Salvatore answered.
"Thanks to our pal Ray, we found ourselves a pack. There," Klaus finished as they came to a stop at a camp.
Looking around Stefan concluded that it was hastily abandoned, only four or five people to be seen standing on-guard who turned to look at them immediately. He put Ray on the ground when a standing woman rushed over to him.
"Ray! Oh, my God," she crouched down to look at their alpha before warily glancing up at the intruders. "What's going on?"
"The important question is who am I. Please forgive the intrusion. My name is Klaus," the Original introduced himself with a smirk.
"You're the hybrid, we know," she replied making Klaus smile.
"You've heard of me. Fantastic," Klaus sat down followed by Stefan, "It's fascinating, actually...A werewolf who isn't beholden to the moon, a vampire who doesn't burn in the sun. A true hybrid," he continued and on accord Ray woke up. "Excellent timing, Ray. Very dramatic."
"What's happening to me?" The transitioning werewolf asked.
"Stefan?" Klaus gestured for the Salvatore to look into it who wordlessly obeyed.
"Are any of you human?" Stefan inquired. "Your friend here needs human blood to complete his transition to vampire. If he doesn't get it, he will die."
"Doesn't take much, just a sip. Anyone? A boyfriend, a girlfriend, along for the ride?" The hybrid's gaze fell onto a man, "You!" He rushed over to him and bit his forearm and Stefan grabbed him before throwing him on the ground in front of Ray. The woman tried to protest but Klaus stopped her.
"If you don't drink it, Ray, I will. Problem is I don't know how to stop," the ripper ordered with a threat.
"It's the new order, sweetheart. You join us, or you die," the Original proposed and once again looked around. "Now, where is the rest of the pack?" When she didn't answer, he squeezed her neck.
"A woman arrived an hour earlier to warn us. She told us to leave. The pack followed, only we stayed," she whimpered. "But I'd rather die than be a vampire."
"Wrong choice," he stated before giving her his blood while Ray drank from the man. "She'll thank me for that later, heh," Klaus finished and twisted her head to kill her. "Okay, who's next?"
"There. Good as new. Now you relax, okay, mate? We're gonna need you when the rest of them wake up," the Original informed the human after giving him his blood.
On a nearby rock, Ray sat shivering. "They're dead. They're all dead," he said.
"Ah, he's through his transition. He should be feeling better soon," Klaus stated looking at him.
"So is this your master plan? Build an army of hybrid slaves?" Stefan questioned.
"No, not slaves. Soldiers, comrades," he answered.
"For what war, might I ask?"
"Oh, you don't arm yourself after war has been declared, Stefan. You build your army so big that no one ever dares pick a fight," the hybrid said with a smirk.
"What makes you so sure that they'll be loyal?" Stefan continued.
"Well, it's not difficult to be loyal when you're on the winning team. That's something you'll learn once you shake that horribly depressive chip off your shoulder."
Stefan laughed, "That's why you're, uh...you're keeping me around? To witness my attitude adjustment?"
Klaus looked at Ray, sitting next to him, and went on to examine his face whose eyes were now bleeding. The same he witnessed with the wolf Rafael brought.
"You'll know why I'm keeping you around when I've decided that I want you to know," he stated. "Something's wrong."
"Not surprised. Your friend was right."
"He's not my friend."
...
"Elijah," a man entered the room, closing the door behind him and Adelia's eyes widened when she pinned his voice to be of the General's. "The man you were looking for was left dead a while ago. Forgive me if it sounds intrusive, but what was your business with him?"
"That is my business, Roger. But I am extremely thankful for the help," Elijah pinned her hand to the bed which was pushing him off and discreetly nodded, meeting the witch's eyes who instantly stilled.
"Alright," Roger huffed. "How do you like the services?"
"Extremely pleasurable," the Original quipped, trailing his knuckles down her cheek turning it sideways so the General wouldn't see her face. She shivered and her chest heaved.
Roger walked closer with a frown. "I am certain she's not one of our girls," the man said, staring at her violet embroidered gown.
"I can assure you she is," Elijah shook his head to gesture her not to panic, hearing her heartbeat rise with each passing second.
"With that expensive jewelry adorning her dainty ankle, I assure you she is not," Roger laughed and Adelia twitched her foot to hide it under her gown, the attempt unsuccessful due to her position beneath Elijah.
The Original caressed her pulse with his thumb when she hid her face into his shoulder as the footsteps came closer.
Intertwining their fingers, Adelia hid their joined hands under the blanket and started siphoning a little magic off the Original vampire.
"I prefer privacy, Roger," Elijah said.
"No offense Elijah, but this is my club and I own the girl. Pardon my intrusive behavior, but this is rather necessary," Roger smiled and went to touch the ankle lain with the gold piece when a hand grabbed his an inch away from the foot.
"You will not touch her," the Original gritted his teeth and swiftly broke his neck.
Hearing the sound Adelia sat up, horrified, "You killed him."
"You should be grateful," the vampire impassively replied.
"Grateful? Grateful! He knew everything!" The witch glared at him.
"He wouldn't be missed just as the dead informant outside," Elijah fixed his cuff-links.
"This was intentional," realized Adelia.
"I have no idea what you're on about," he looked at her before extending his hand towards her.
Adelia glanced at his hand and looked away, crossing her arms. Elijah took a step forward and the witch turned towards him hesitantly, before placing her hand in his.
The Original tightened his grip as she stepped down the bed, closer to him. He touched the wound on her head gingerly making her wince and he instantly removed his fingers. Taking his handkerchief back from her palm, he pressed it lightly over the injury and she scrunched her eyes shut, hands clutching his lapels involuntarily.
Elijah's lips turned up without his permission and he stepped closer to Adelia, his boots brushing against her gown's hem. She didn't open her eyes but felt the proximity and exhaled as her warm breath hit his nape. He watched as she took a step back.
...
"You said it was gonna feel better. Why doesn't it feel better?" Ray mumbled, his eyes still bleeding.
"Some master race," the Salvatore commented.
"Lose the attitude," Klaus said, annoyed when the woman woke up. "Derek, come feed your girlfriend."
Suddenly Ray snarled at them before running off quickly and the Original looked at Stefan.
"Go get him," Klaus ordered and the other vampire complied. _
"Bad news, my friend. End of the road for you," Klaus told the lone human before he drank his blood rendering him dead. Suddenly the female werewolf stood in front of him. "Careful, love. There's only one Alpha here," he said and witnessed all the creatures moving around the camp, appearing like zombies. "Bloody hell."
"Need help, Niklaus?" Adelia appeared behind him and sighed looking at the scene.
"You are late to the party and yes, I'd appreciate it," he commented before dodging a wolf.
The witch rolled her eyes before snapping her wrist as all hybrids fell down holding their heads.
"The head or the heart?" She inquired.
"I love a massacre with a touch of blood. The head please," he muttered nonchalantly with a smirk as he killed off an an approaching hybrid. She gave him a look at his comment, "Seriously Maeve?"
"I am not going to do your dirty work. Your bunch of lovely people are going insane. Kindly finish them off, they wouldn't survive the transition anyway," Adelia said, shrugging her shoulders.
Stefan walked back to camp back with Ray over his shoulders and saw rest of the werewolves lying dead on the ground. He dropped Ray on the ground and noticed Adelia leaning against a tree.
"Hello, Mr. Salvatore," the witch sent him a minute wave.
"They went rabid. Some of them, I killed. The others just... bled out. In the end... they're all dead," Klaus mumbled and threw the bottle of beer in his hand before screaming, "I did everything I was told!"
The Original took a deep, composing himself, "I should be able to turn them. I broke the curse. I killed a werewolf. I killed a vampire. I killed the doppelgänger."
Stefan and Adelia shared an uncomfortable glance.
"You look like hell," the hybrid commented seeing Stefan and turned to Adelia, "and you've come to gloat for my failures."
"I did not have to gloat, Nik. The scenery is speaking for itself," she replied.
"Last I checked, I'm dying... and you don't want to heal me," Stefan said while Klaus looked down at Ray's body. "I had to take him out. I didn't have a choice. I failed you. I'm sorry. Do what you have to do."
"It should have worked," he impassively mumbled before taking an empty bottle of beer and bit his hand to pour his blood for Stefan. "Tell me Maeve, why it didn't?"
"I have theories, but none of them, I am willing to share unless you give me the coffins," she answered, standing upright.
"You know why," the Original realised and blurred forward making Stefan fidget, "Tell me!"
"You cannot command me, I am not one of your lackeys," Adelia said impassively.
"Tell me! Or I will have Elijah daggered again!" Klaus yelled at her before gripping her arms tightly. "Where is my noble brother, my oh-so-dearest sister-in-law?"
A hard gleam took her eyes as he threatened Elijah. "So far you've fallen, Niklaus. Using your own brother of thousand years as a leverage for some hybrids of one night who wouldn't even call you family."
"Do not talk to me about loyalty, Maeve!" He continued shouting at her.
"I have given you no right to shout at me!" the witch gritted her teeth. "If you want a polite conversation, I suggest you cease this rudeness. I will not tolerate it."
"Who are you to even demand civility from me?"
"I am your elder brother's wife so if you have any respect for him and a little dignity for yourself, you will stop this," she punctuated the words with a glare.
"You are Elijah's wife, not mine. Do know your limits, Maeve," Klaus said heatedly.
"Loyalty has to be earned, Klaus. One who hasn't been able to earn his share from his own family would never have another's," Adelia continued as a hurt expression took over his face. "I won't help you. You are my family but I have others too. You think your hybrids are more worthy than those you put in coffins. Elijah did everything for you and this is how you repay him? I won't grovel to you anymore. I will find them and take them from right underneath your nose," she shrugged off his hand and took a step forward to kiss his cheek softly, "Take care."
"Maeve," he said and hugged her tightly before taking her face in his hand, caressing her cheek lightly, "please tell me."
"Forgive me, I can't," Adelia replied, giving him a hesitant smile when Klaus pushed her neck to the side with his same hand as she tumbled onto the forest floor, temporarily dead.
Klaus stared at her prone figure lying at his feet, "We're leaving. It appears you're the only comrade I have left." He took a step back, looking around the forest and hesitated. Her earlier words echoed in his mind and he hardened his resolve before turning his back to her and walking away.
"She certainly knows where to hit. You must hold her on high regards if you haven't killed her, well permanently, for not helping you," Stefan commented, falling into steps beside him.
Klaus pursed his mouth, "Oh believe me, I can't even if I want to, so unless you want a bite from an Original hybrid, do not speak."
...
Fixing Adelia with a stare as she continued looking away, Elijah took a long glance at her beautiful face before rearranging the veil over it, surprising her.
"Where's your carriage?" He asked Adelia.
"A little distance away," the witch answered.
"Come," the Original didn't wait for her answer as he started leading her out of the room. He hid her behind him whenever they encountered a person in the corridor, his fingers gripping her nimble ones.
Her heart beat erratically as she looked down at her feet during their walk, submitting to his will when he continued dragging her along the nooks of the club towards the exit.
"Is it hurting?" He questioned after a moment.
"Yes," she replied softly, a lone tear sliding down her cheek. The witch withheld the urge to run away from him.
They reached outside to already see the sun setting down.
"I request you take my blood," Elijah faced her, offering his wrist again and she blinked in confusion, out of daze.
"No, it is not hurting anymore," Adelia realized and left his hand abruptly, walking down the path towards the carriage.
Elijah sighed, staring down at his empty palm and followed her.
"You should be on your way. Thank you," she said after a minute.
"The carria–"
"–is visible from here," she gestured towards the vehicle under a tree.
Elijah exhaled and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
The witch gulped and nodded in farewell with a small smile gracing her lips. She turned around and took a step when his voice stopped her in his tracks.
"How have you been?" The Original asked from his spot in the middle of the road.
Adelia's eyes brimmed with tears as it proceeded to trail down her chins. Taking a deep breath, she continued walking away, not turning back.
Elijah's heart broke when she didn't answer and he anxiously fixed his cuffs; the fragrance of rose and sandalwood once again engulfing his senses after two years. Glancing at her retreating form climbing the carriage as the driver shut the door; he turned around, a tear escaping his own hazel orbs.
...
Rafael whistled at the sight of the dead body and gave a thumbs up to Elijah.
"Now that is what I call a clean murder," he commented earning a look of disapproval from the Original.
"I have minimal appreciation for blood. Who else is left?"
"Two more and then we are done. I get to put another coin into my cookie jar and my goal for the year is complete," he said in thought.
"Any news of the coffins?" Elijah asked.
"Was I supposed to look for them?" Rafael raised his brow.
"They are your family," the Original replied, "by extension, of course."
"Spare me the trauma. I am not one of you," the Desmond said before giving him an impassive look. "I am going back to Seattle. If you find anything, do inform me."
"And what should I tell my wife?"
"I will inform her. Goodbye."
...
Adelia woke up amidst the woods massaging her neck and slowly sat up looking around. Remembering the last thing that came to her mind, a tear slid down her face before she wiped away her suddenly running nose. A twig snapped in the vicinity and the witch immediately stood up on alert.
"Come out whoever you are," she ordered and all she could hear was a rapid heartbeat. "Do not be scared. I will not hurt you." Adelia waited and was disappointed when nobody came forward.
A tiny head peeked from behind the tree and she squinted her eyes as a child rushed behind a bush making her smile.
"Hello there. I am Adelia," she sat down on her knees and waved at the four-year child who walked towards her hesitantly. "Why are you here?"
"Mommy," he pointed towards one of the bodies and her smile instantly disappeared.
"I am so sorry, sweetheart. Why don't you come to me? You must be hungry."
"I want mommy," his lips quivered.
"You can call me Lia. What is your name?"
"Tobias," the child replied.
"It's alright. I will help you. Please come to me. We will leave this place, together," Adelia offered.
"She is here."
"Your mommy is in a better place and she wants you to come with me."
"She does?" His brows furrowed.
"Indeed," she opened her arms and he immediately fell into her embrace, hugging her tightly. "We must arrange a hot bath, you are very cold."
Adelia got up with him in her arms and rushed out of the woods. She stood on the side of the road and messaged Elijah as the child fell asleep.
Some minutes later, he pulled up and rolled down the windows and frowned seeing a child with her. She immediately got into the backseat, shutting the door softly and laid the child in her lap.
"Niklaus?" He simply asked.
"I told them to leave but some stayed," Adelia replied.
"Then we must proceed to Seattle. I will get us rooms on our way," the Original ordered after a moment.
"His name is Tobias."
"I see," he replied impassively and she looked away, not willing to let his words affect her.
"Park at the nearest motel. I would like him to get rested and have a meal," Adelia said.
"Of course."
...
A week later
The dry leaves crunched under her feet as she ran through the forest hurriedly. Gown well up above the ankles, bordering on inappropriate, Adelia held the heavy layers within her fingers and didn't dare look back. Hiding behind a tree, a shot splintered the tree beside her making her jump before she once again started running beyond the foggy creaks of the forest.
Hair billowing wildly, the hairpin failed to confine the brown tresses as she looked back and immediately hid under the roots of a giant tree.
This was ought to happen when you sneak inside a prison to look for your dearest friend who was foolish enough to get caught. Her father would reprimand her, kill her and then resurrect her to be wedded off to one of those hypocrites as a punishment. Rafael's fate now sounded similar to heaven compared to the repercussions she'd have to face.
As the foot steps came closer, she peeked from under the tree and used her remaining magic to make them fall asleep with a wave of her hand. Hesitantly she came out and continued trekking the forest for a way out.
After half an hour of no success, a tear slid down her face when she realised she might as well have been lost in the depths. Adelia was already missing her father and internally hoped he would forgive her if she returned dead with starvation or as a wild animal's meal.
...
"Your key," Elijah said handing her a lone piece, "Room 504."
Adelia took it, putting the sleeping child over her hip properly. "You can stay with us. I can assure you it won't be a prob–"
"–I'll be fine," the Original interrupted her. "I have the room beside yours and I will keep Asher for the night."
"I apologise if this is inconvenient for you."
"It is not," Elijah smiled a little and pecked her lips. "I love you. Call me if you require anything."
Adelia smiled and kissed his cheek before ruffling Asher's fur and swiftly closed the door to the room.
Left alone, Elijah stared at it and took a deep breath. He looked at the dog and took the leash. "You and I have to tolerate each other for the night. I propose a truce."
Asher whined before entering his room and the Original followed him, shutting the door with a click.
...
"Elena did not tell me where she was going! And Alaric let her accompany him to a wolf territory, around Klaus!" Jenna's voice blared through the phone speaker kept on the counter as Adelia checked the water temperature before closing the tap.
"I did not spot them," she replied.
"I am her guardian, she should atleast tell me where she is venturing off to. Undermining authority for a guy who kills because he lusts after human blood is not how I envisioned my niece's future. What would my sister say?"
"Your sister would say that you should take this matter directly to Elena. Convey your doubts and lay out the facts, make her realise her mistake, tell Alaric to not encourage her and Damon to back off," Adelia said and picked up the child in her arms who looked excited seeing the bubbles in the tub.
"Handling teenagers is exhausting," the newbie vampire sighed. "Where are you?"
The witch put the now naked child into the tub who immediately started playing with the water. She got up and discarded his soiled clothes. "In a hotel somewhere. I didn't bother with the location. We will leave for Seattle in the morning."
"Is there a child with you?"
"I found one in the same woods. We will get Tobias into Lumiere and get him into a home, probably a werewolf family," Adelia pulled up her sleeves before crouching next to the tub and started rinsing his hair.
"Are foster homes really good to the kids?" Jenna questioned.
"Finding a quality home is quite a work but knowing their intentions is quite an easy feat if you have compulsion," she answered.
"Smart," muttered the redhead. "Elijah hasn't made a smart-ass comment yet. Is he being his grumpy self?"
"No, Elijah has taken another room," she replied hesitantly. "He is not comfortable around children we find in this state. He'll be fine once we get to Lumiere."
"Oh, I needed a trip out of this town. I think I deserve it after I died, became a vampire, handled teenagers and is currently on a relationship break."
Adelia laughed as she used a showerhead to wash the suds off Tobias, "I would suggest Seattle but who am I to manipulate your thought process."
"If you have already taken this much pain to manipulate it, I will be down in a day or two," Jenna huffed.
"I will send Rafael to receive you if you do not mind."
"Of course not, I am all for free service," the vampire giggled.
"I will see you then. Its vacation for the kids anyway."
"Mm-hmm. Good bye and take care."
"You too," Adelia finished as the dial tone echoed its end. She turned her attention to the now clean child. "Now we go to sleep." She scooped him up in a towel as he giggled and stood on the bed.
"I love the new color!" He exclaimed gesturing to the new set of clothes.
"You do?" The witch widened her eyes dramatically.
"I do," he laughed as she proceeded to tug the shirt down his neck.
As Adelia entered the room to see him fast asleep, she tucked the sheets around him before switching off the lights. Going outside to the balcony and tugging the wrap around her, the witch looked into the dark.
She breathed when the balcony door beside hers opened and Elijah stepped out. He froze and smiled hesitantly at her. Adelia returned it, fidgeting with her wrap before going back inside immediately. The Original looked down at his feet in contemplation and entered his room.
A minute later a knock echoed the living room and Adelia kept her cup on the table and walked towards the door. She opened it to find Elijah who look relieved that she even wanted to see him at present.
He took a step inside and joined his forehead to hers, breathing heavily. "Forgive me."
"It's ok. I understand," she said and joined their lips and he returned it ferociously, backing her against the wall. A thought made her part from him and the witch looked at him questioningly, "You left Asher without supervision? He is a baby!"
Elijah blinked at the turn of conversation, "He is not a child."
"You are so cruel to my little Asher, Elijah!" She exclaimed before going out to his room to fetch the dog while the older vampire stared at the wall, pinching his forehead already.
...
As the sun was almost setting down and she walked along a barely used path with trepidation of her upcoming fate, a carriage came and her eyes widened with hope. It stopped and a man came out who she recognized as the dead General's brother, and she withheld the urge to narrow her eyes.
"Good evening, lady. You seem to have lost your way here," he said looking at her dirt stained gown and unruly hair. Adelia cleared her throat and patted her hair to make herself presentable.
"Bonjour Monsieur. Je ne parle pas l'anglais, mon seigneur," Adelia replied timidly in French accent, almost innocent as she peered up at the man from under her lashes. [Hello, sir. I do not speak English, my lord.]
"I am afraid I do not understand French. I am James Sinclair," he placed a chaste kiss on her hand as she curtsied innocently.
"Maeve Fleureau. On m'a volé alors que j'allais à Alexandrie. Je retrouvais mon chemin," she replied. [I was robbed on my way to Alexandria. I was finding my way back.]
"I shall call my friend. Maybe he'll be able to help you. Mr. Mikaelson!" James said and her eyes widened when Elijah walked towards them, his own eyes glimmering in surprise when he saw her appearance, not gone unnoticed by the other man "This lady here only speaks French. But you seem to know her."
"Mr. Mikaelson, comment avez-vous été?" Adelia curtsied when he kissed her hand softly. [How have you been?]
"Vous ne devriez pas être ici. Je vous suggère de revenir," Elijah said with a smile keeping the facade. [You should not be here. I suggest you return.]
"Et comment vais-je, Monsieur Mikaelson? Je ne possède pas vos traits pour trouver ma voie en sentant les humains," she grinned and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as his eyes followed her actions. [How shall I, Mr. Mikaelson? I do not possess your traits to find my way out smelling humans.]
Elijah turned to James and nodded. "If you'd allow, the lady can accompany us and I shall send a missive to her father by morrow."
"I cannot refuse my abode to such a beautiful lady," the man smiled eyeing her up and down and Elijah narrowed his eyes when James extended his elbow to her.
"Je vais dire à mon père de vous vider," she replied with a smile and took his hand. [I will tell my father to gut you.]
"You speak such beautiful words, Miss Fleureau," James said as they walked towards the carriage, Elijah following closely behind.
"Vous êtes aussi nauséeux," she hummed innocently and the Original smirked as they sat inside. [Yours are just as nauseous.]
"Miss Fleureau," Elijah called and she looked at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes that had him falling for her once again. Gulping down the expected words, he smiled, "Continuez s'il vous plaît." [Please continue.]
A genuine bright smile took over her face as she carried on her conversation with the other man all the way. Elijah stole glances of her and went to look out the window as a smile flittered across his face listening to the conversation inside.
"You truly are very stunning," James said with a look of awe, his eyes trailing over her features again.
"Je suis flatté, merci," she smiled and unconsciously fiddled with the emerald ring on her finger. [I am flattered, thank you.]
Elijah caught the glint of the betrothal ring from the corner of his eyes and his heart immediately sank. He took a deep breath, not looking at her for the rest of the journey.
...
A/N: Adelia and Elijah meet again after two years under not-so-favorable circumstances and it turns out that she is now betrothed. So Arnold did manage to find a horse for his daughter [reference to Destined].
Credits to Google Translate.
...
Eiza González as Adelia Laurentis
"You have ruined me, Elijah."
a n d
Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson
" I don't want to let go."