Chapter 3

Innocent

New Orleans, 5 months later

"Please," Freya said, looking at all her siblings in turns. "Listen to him."

Klaus, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah were all glaring at Finn who was looking at them calmly.

"He's a traitor," Kol hissed. "He wanted to kill us all. Why would we believe a word he says?"

"Because he's telling the truth," Freya replied.

"I am," Finn stated. "I know you don't trust me and I don't blame you for it. I… I did help mother because I believed it was the right thing to do."

"Right," Klaus snorted. "And you don't believe that anymore?"

"I don't. What she did… It wasn't right."

"What difference does it make, the bitch is dead," Kol huffed.

"It makes a lot of difference," Freya said. "There are others who are willing to do anything to finish what Esther started."

"Who are these others?" Elijah asked.

"Her followers," Freya replied. "Witches who she has contacted from the other side. I have run into some of them few times during the last centuries. They are all determined to correct Esther's 'mistake'."

"Let them try," Klaus snorted. "I have slaughtered countless of witches."

"Are they a threat now when Esther is dead?" Elijah asked, looking at Freya. She hesitated for a brief moment before turning her eyes to Finn.

"Tell them what you told me."

Finn looked at his siblings.

"I trust you all remember the ball back in Mystic Falls? Something happened that night."

"We know," Rebekah snorted. "Mother bound us together."

"Yes, but that is not all. She had another plan she didn't tell me about. I found out after we fled."

"What plan?" Elijah asked suspiciously.

Finn pressed his lips together and looked at Klaus, Elijah and Kol.

"One of you bedded a young woman that night. Which one of you was it?"

His brothers stared at him disbelievingly.

"What?" they all said almost simultaneously.

Freya rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to guess it was either Nik or Kol. Am I right?"

"What does this have to do with anything?" Klaus snorted. "And no, it wasn't me."

Both Finn and Freya looked at Kol.

"What?" he snapped.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Freya stated.

"So what? Get to the bloody point already."

"Well… I suppose congratulations are in order. You're going to be a daddy."

Stunned silence followed Freya's words, her siblings stared at her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kol finally managed to snap.

"Mother's plan," Finn stated. "This child was supposed to be a gift for the ancestors. A way for her to make amends. She did commit the greatest crime against nature."

"Wait a minute," Elijah said. "What you are saying is impossible, we all know vampires can't procreate."

"Normally that's true, but in this case…" Freya paused for a moment before continuing. "Obviously this pregnancy wasn't natural. And the girl… She's not exactly normal either."

"Wait, wait, you have met this girl?" Elijah cut in.

Freya nodded.

"Yes. Finn found her."

"Where is she?" Elijah asked.

"I brought her here with me," Finn replied. "As I said, this wasn't right. She and the child are innocent, I didn't think…"

"Innocent?" Kol repeated icily. His face was completely blank. "She plotted with Ester to create some… abnormity and you call her innocent?"

"Kol's right," Klaus said. "She's obviously our enemy."

"I don't think so," Freya replied. "She was used by some of Esther's followers; it seems that she had no idea what they were going to do to the child…"

"Stop calling that thing a child!" Kol snapped. "We don't know what it is!"

"Where is this girl?" Elijah asked.

Freya glanced at Finn.

"You better bring her here."

Finn nodded and zoomed out. No one said a word after he had left. Freya noticed that Elijah and Klaus looked tense, Rebekah confused and Kol… His face was still blank. Everything had gone so well before this. Freya had finally been reunited with her family after they had returned to New Orleans and she had enjoyed getting to know all her siblings. She finally had a family.

They were ruling the whole city now and Klaus had made peace with Marcel who had obviously been reluctant to step down. The witches and the wolves hadn't really caused many problems after Klaus had agreed to let them keep their own territory, as long as they remembered who was in charge. Then there was of course the Faction.

Lucky for humans, Father Kieran was a very smart man; he knew how to deal with vampires. If Freya wasn't mistaken, Klaus respected him. That was very rare. Yes, everything had gone very well before Finn had contacted Freya, asking for her help. He had spent the last five months tracking the girl and her father, the warlock called Marcus. He was one of Esther's most loyal followers. Thankfully Finn had found the girl.

"Come on," Finn's voice said from the hallway. "It's alright."

Everyone was staring at the doorway as Finn entered the living room with the girl. She looked just as scared as before, she was hugging herself. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes; she was wearing a powder blue dress and a sweater. Her baby bump was barely noticeable, but it was easy to see that she was pregnant. She swallowed as she noticed all the people in the room.

"Miss Smith," Elijah stated.

"Hi," she said cautiously and looked at Kol. "I…"

"We need to get rid of her and that thing," he cut in icily and glanced at Freya.

The girl's eyes widened, she placed her hands protectively on her baby bump.

"No, no, please, I can explain…"

"Explain what?" Kol snapped.

"Alright, why don't you calm down," Elijah stated.

"Calm down?" Kol repeated. "You know what, I have a better idea, I'm leaving. Do whatever you want with her, I couldn't care less."

The girl looked desperate when Kol stormed out; she turned slowly to look at Elijah.

"Alright, Miss Smith," he stated. "I think we need to have a chat."