chapter | 5
Warning: Graphical violence ahead in the chapter. Proceed at your own discretion.
... • ...
Winter, 1859
"When did you arrive home last night?" Sharel asked her grand-daughter as they sat around the table with the Mikaelsons enjoying breakfast.
Adelia cleared her throat avoiding any eye contact with the occupants, especially the elder Mikaelson who sat directly across from her. "The Council is aware of vampires visiting Cloverville. I provided them with another trail leading to the other town. It might help us and they shall do it unknowingly for I would like the men and the Mikaelsons stay away from one another," she answered.
"Quite devious, aren't you?" Klaus commented looking at her.
"I would've been less offended with the company you keep if it were you rendezvousing with a man instead of scheming with Councilmen," her grandmother admitted with a snort making Klaus laugh as he put down his cutlery.
"Grandmother, please," Adelia said trying to hide her blushing cheeks.
"You are my only grandchild! In addition, you are not getting any younger so I am obliged to assist you for your father does not like the prospect of you getting married. The town already gives me hard time with their gossips of Sharel's granddaughter not having a betrothal contract. I cannot very well inform them that while other fathers discuss dowry, my son discusses wretched politics with his daughter," Sharel confessed, almost looking offended.
"I suggest you take the matter to father," the young woman replied.
"And not discuss personal matters in front of guests, Sharel," Elijah offered, trying to help Adelia.
"You Mikaelsons are family, Elijah. And you would not know the hidden questions behind those betrothal obligations. They believe my sweet Adelia is with a child," Sharel said and the girl in question instantly put down her fork in mortification.
"Or she is a seductress using her wiles to charm her way into the Council made of men. As if Arnold would ever allow a man near his daughter," Sharel scoffed and continued. "Last night an old snobby woman accused the Laurentis heir of setting traps for marrying the richest by getting acquainted with everyone through the Council. Not only do have we money to feed generations, but they dare accuse my Lia of such insolence. I set her granddaughter's hair on fire and rendered the grandson impotent; I am a witch of brilliance after all."
Everybody looked at Sharel in silence processing her words.
"Grandmother! Che cosa hai fatto?" Adelia exclaimed. [What have you done?]
"That was uncalled for Sharel," Elijah sighed but let his lips tug upwards finding it too hilarious.
"You fought for Adelia's honor valiantly. Did you do something to the snobby woman?" Klaus smirked.
"I hexed her into a hallucinatory fever of course. People will consider her mentally ill and she deserves so for accusing my granddaughter of such nefarious plots," Sharel smiled.
"For an old woman you seem enthusiastic about causing mischief when you are to worry about your joints," Adelia replied greatly disappointed.
"She wishes I did not poison her tea. Her taste in the beverage was awful, no sense of quantity and proportions," the older lady retorted. "You should have seen her granddaughter. The neckline an inch lower and her parts would've on display for the entire town." Sharel added ruffling Adelia's high collar ~ very sophisticated her grandchild is.
"That was offensive grandmother. While I consider your sentiments peculiarly heartfelt, they were quite derogatory. You will remove the hex by this evening or I shall do it myself and do send her an invitation for an afternoon tea. Do not forget to ask her granddaughter to accompany her," the younger witch spoke impassively and turned to the gentlemen.
"It was a lovely breakfast. Your company is expected in the study by ten. You have less than two hours to finish your pending obligations. Thank you." Adelia got up and the men followed her actions and watched her exit the room before retaking their seats.
"Ruins my sense of adventure that girl. Not a Laurentis or a Beauchêne trait I reckon, must be the Fleureaus. My son's wife Alessandra was rational to a fault and like her mother, Adelia seems to cling to the moral compass," Sharel replied smearing the marmalade over the bread. "Now I have to indulge in a tea with that old snob and tolerate her granddaughter."
"Authoritative she is," Klaus humored.
"Now that is a Beauchêne trait!" She exclaimed and then continued softly. "I am proud of her and what she is accomplishing. Her witch nature may have failed her in providing her with a normal life but she hasn't resented it ever."
The Mikaelsons knew Adelia was a siphon-witch, one of her kind as told by Sharel. She did not have her own magic and could siphon off anything magical and a powerful one at that where her abilities had to be restrained so she would not harm others. The brothers had never met a witch like her and were curious but they knew better than to ask for a demonstration when it was such a sensitive topic in the household.
"She doesn't seem the kind to resent anybody's nature unless given a reason to," said Elijah.
"I couldn't ask more from her. She has turned out the way Raymond wanted her to and we wouldn't change it for the world."
...
Adelia was sipping ginger tea in the study going through several documents when Elijah entered the room and kissed her cheek from behind. "Any plans?" he asked his wife sitting across from her and picked up a document from the pile on the table.
"No," she paused. "I might be onto the witch massacre site. See this," she handed him the paper, "Lockwood and Gilbert's files described it differently so either they were hiding something or they didn't know what happened."
Elijah took the paper and went through the information. "It is not at all suspicious that the founders were not aware of a supernatural incident in their town." He drawled and gave her a look that made her smile, "Beauchêne papers turned out to be accurate."
"Our first lead is here," she told him and he got up.
"Come, I made breakfast," he stated before leading her out of the room.
"It is his birthday today. Are you still miffed with what he said a decade earlier?" Adelia twirled her hair between her fingers, giving him the most innocent look she could muster.
"Give Rafael my best wishes," Elijah rolled his eyes at her attempt to persuade him. He plucked her hair from her fingers and made a moustache of it over her upper lip. "Now this is fashion."
The witch narrowed her eyes, slapping his hand, "I will destroy your hair. I should have listened to Raffie and burnt it to the ground."
"Give your dear Raffie my regards," he put a charcoaled pancake in her plate and gave her the most delightful smile. Adelia glared at his plate and Elijah ducked just as the utensil went flying off to hit the wall behind him.
...
"You brought back John Gilbert? That was your big 'Save Elena' move?" Damon said to his brother.
"I went to go look for Isobel, and I get John instead. He said he can help us, and we're desperate."
"We're not that desperate, Stefan. The guy tried to barbecue me!" The elder Salvatore exclaimed, clearly remembering the tomb incident.
"Damon, Bonnie's new witch friend is working with Elijah, so we have to assume that the moonstone was never destroyed. Elena is putting all of her faith into some deal that she made with Elijah to keep everyone safe. I mean, do you trust Elijah? I don't trust him. He's an Original, he can't be trusted. It's not like we can just go up and kill him because apparently, he can't die!" Stefan retorted.
"I'm still waiting for the part where John Gilbert is the answer."
"He knew about the sacrifice, Isobel told him. He said he knew of a way to keep Elena safe," replied Stefan.
"And how do we do that?" Damon asked.
"He's not talking. At least not to me anyway."
"Great work Stefan. Top notch. As if I didn't have enough problems."
"Hey, I'm sorry about Rose," Stefan said.
"Whatever. I knew the woman for five minutes," Damon nonchalantly answered.
"And you cared about her after five minutes. I wonder what that means?"
"It means I care, Stefan. It means I'm changing, evolving into a man capable of greatness. Better watch your back, because I may just have to go get a hero-hairdo of my own, and steal your thunder," he blurted out before leaving the room when Stefan received a text in his phone.
...
"So, John. Rumour has it that you know a lot, and won't say anything," Damon joined the Gilbert patriarch where he was lighting a candle for the victims in Mystic Grill.
"How do I know you can be trusted, Damon? Originals can compel vampires. And, according to Stefan, that's why Katherine's still in the tomb because an Original has compelled her to stay there," John Gilbert replied.
"Only because all of the vervain had left her system. Stefan and I, on the other hand, are chock full."
"You guys are drinking vervain?" The vampire hunter asked.
"It's an acquired taste. I don't see that magic little ring on your stitched finger, so if you know something about Klaus, you better start talking, or I will kill you in your sleep."
"Is that any way to convince me that you and I are on the same side? First, I need to know that I can trust you, Damon, that I can count on you. Then we'll talk," John informed him and left.
"What is it about people not trusting me?" Damon muttered to himself.
...
In the woods Caroline woke up in a cage in a RV. Digging the bullet out of her head, she numbly dropped it and tried to unlock the cage but then saw Brady and stopped.
"I see you got the bullet out. That was nasty. I got lots of wooden bullets, other toys. It's gonna be a long night, sweet pea," the man said and shot her in the chest.
"So, How many vampires are there in this town anyway?" Brady asked and got no reply. He shot her with a squirt gun filled with vervain, making her scream. "No?" he asked her again when in retaliation Caroline kicked the cage bars.
"Why are you doing this to me?! Why are you doing this? Why?"
"You're a vampire. Why not?" He answered and used a blowgun to shoot wooden darts in her neck which made her scream again, "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Let me out!" Caroline shouted.
"Excuse me? What was that?" He mocked the vampire when she continued to kick and scream.
"Let me out!" She said again when he left to join Jules outside.
"Get it out of your system?" Jules asked.
"No, I'm just getting started," he replied.
"Brady, let's be smart about this. I just want the boy. It's our duty to help him, it's who we are," Jules reasoned.
"You want to talk duty and honor? These are vampires. They cross one of us, they cross all of us. That's who we are."
"It is not honorable to torture an innocent, sweetheart," a stunning woman appeared out of nowhere as Jules and Brady looked at each other.
Jules went on to attack the vampire, but she dropped to the floor unconscious with a wave of the woman's hand making Brady take a step back.
The woman looked around the woods and then at him, "We have company so let's take this to a more private location, shall we? I wouldn't worry about the invite to your sweet little home. I had the rental revoked some minutes earlier," she told him and went on to throw the werewolf inside the RV with magic and followed him inside before shutting the door.
"Who are you?" Brady asked standing up.
"Adelia. Now be a gentleman and free Caroline this instant. We have matters to resolve," she told him sweetly.
"Maybe you can join her too," he snarkily replied and blew wooden darts towards her, but she caught them unblinkingly and threw them back at him puncturing his chest and neck.
"You wouldn't want to mess with me. I was sightseeing this beautiful little town and came across you wolves inflicting such brutality on a young girl, vampire or not. That makes you a bad person on my list," she said while walking towards him, her stilettos hitting the RV floor in a concurrent rhythm.
"If you want to live, then get out," he shot the vervain water over her from his gun.
"Hurts a little, but not a lot," she smiled wiping the water from her wrist. "Last warning wolf, let the girl go."
"Not before you die," he launched a stake at her but she caught it easily and then swooshed towards him to hold his hand and snapped it.
Adelia stabbed the stake through his spine and got hold of his other hand bringing them both behind his back and dislocated them from his shoulders.
"You will heal and I will shatter your bones again and again until you beg for mercy and then I might consider granting you a little reprieve. I will kill you and hang you outside your home for all to see," she whispered harshly into his ear and then looked towards Caroline.
The witch broke his arms again and dropped him on the floor. She unlatched the cage and helped the vampire out of it.
"There are other werewolves outside. Stay here with me until your friends arrive," Adelia stopped Caroline by her arm when she tried to run past the woman. She looked at Brady on the floor. "The following events that are about to take place are going to be a bit gory Miss Forbes so you can either watch me mutilate this vile wolf or turn around." Caroline immediately turned her head sitting in a corner hugging herself.
Adelia walked towards the fallen wolf and crouched beside him, "I hate when people hurt innocents. You being a furry creature doesn't give you the right to hurt anybody. You hurt someone when they deserve it and you have earned this since the moment you touched Caroline, therefore I am not sorry about your inescapable doom."
She grabbed a handful of tissues from the counter and stuffed it into his mouth before taking out a knife from his pocket. The heretic sliced his arms, making deep cuts and left the knife in there so it wouldn't heal. She got up and went behind him and grabbed his foot and twisted it snapping it off its joints and did the same to the other. Caroline heard his muffled cries and looked at Brady.
"I've had my share of fun with your limbs. Let's move on to your weapons, shall we?" Adelia picked up the shotgun lying beside the man and pulled out the stake from his spine making him howl in pain. She turned him on his back and shot him repeatedly to injure, but not enough to kill him.
"Where do you keep wolfsbane again?" She asked him and got disappointed when she didn't get an answer, "No worries sweetheart, I came prepared." She got a wolfsbane packet out from her pockets and added the powder in the same gun with the vervain water used to hurt Caroline. Adelia shot the wolfsbane water all over his wounds and body which made him thrash on the floor which was slowly getting drenched with his blood.
"Please leave me," Brady cried out when Adelia pulled out the tissues from his mouth as he repeatedly tried to get away from her.
"That girl over there begged you too," she grabbed his head and made him look towards Caroline, "Did you spare her? No, then why should I?" She finished before using her heels to break his ankles making him shout.
"You can only conquer fear when you face it, Caroline. Don't let an encounter with this beast stop you."
"I am sorry, please," Brady pleaded when Adelia muffled his shouts with tissues again.
"Very well, since you asked politely. Darling, please look away," Adelia told Caroline, who immediately complied. Adelia tore off the man's limbs throwing them into the cage and pulled his heart out before chopping his head off his neck. The witch pulled out tissues to clean her face and hands walking walked towards Caroline.
The girl in question looked up from Adelia's blood splattered heels and saw her clothes in a similar condition. The woman wrapped her rumpled peacoat over Caroline.
"Let me see," the woman examined her closely. "You are fine, physically. A blood bag and you'll be up and running."
"Thank you," Caroline cried.
Jules woke up from her unconscious feat holding her head looking for any signs of Brady when she heard something in the woods. "I know you're out there," she called out into the woods when Stefan appeared with Tyler.
"Where's Caroline?" Stefan asked.
"Locked up tight," she replied, expecting Brady to be inside the RV.
"Let her go, and I'll release Tyler. It doesn't have to get any messier than it already has. I'm not your enemy, Jules," he told her.
"It's a little late to be waving the white flag, don't you think?"
"You need to leave town. No one else has to get hurt," he said.
"I'm not leaving without Tyler."
"Tyler is free to make his own decisions, as soon as you release Caroline," he finished when Damon arrived.
"My brother the peacemaker. Since Stefan got here before me I'm gonna let him try it his way before I resort to my way, which is a little bloodier. So give us Caroline," the elder Salvatore demanded.
"Let go of Tyler."
"Give us Caroline. Without a full moon, it's not an even fight and you know it. We will take you."
"I'm not so sure about that, tough guy," she whistled and the rest of her pack walked out of their hiding places, all holding weapons including stakes, cross-bows, and a flame-thrower. "Let's try this again. Give us Tyler."
Damon looked at Tyler, "You heard her. Go. Get over there." The young werewolf complied and went over to the woman.
"Which one of you killed Mason?" One of the werewolves came forward and asked the vampires.
"Uh, that'd be me," said Damon.
"Boys, make sure that one suffers," Jules ordered her pack.
Damon looked at Stefan, "We can take them."
"I don't know about that," the younger brother replied.
"Well then..." Damon rushed over to Jules who flipped onto the top of the RV. Tyler went and unlocked the RV and rushed inside. One of the werewolves tried to burn Stefan but he took the flamethrower from him and set aflame two werewolves with it. One of the werewolves tried to jump from the RV roof on Damon, but the vampire managed to rip his heart out mid-air.
Inside the RV, Tyler saw Caroline on the floor and a woman by her side pulling out her wooden darts. He looked further and found blood all over the floor.
"Tyler! Oh, thank you," Caroline said and the newly triggered wolf suddenly hesitated, "Tyler?"
"Tyler, please! Tyler?" She pleaded when he finally relented and helped her up as Adelia watched them leave.
Stefan continued fighting with one of the werewolves and drove the thrown stake through the werewolf's body. Another shot an arrow at him but he stopped it and threw it back in his neck. The werewolf fell to the ground as another went behind Stefan and pierced a stake through his back which made him fall. Damon fought with another werewolf when Jules arrived and fired a wooden bullet rendering him injured too.
Tyler opened the RV door so Caroline could leave but Jules grabbed her and pushed her face-first against the RV putting a gun to her back. Tyler saw Caroline being held at gunpoint but didn't take a step.
One of the werewolves grabbed a stake and was about to kill Damon when all of the werewolves except Tyler began screaming in pain as they all covered their ears with their hands and fell down on their knees.
"What's happening?" Caroline asked.
"Oh darling, help has arrived," Adelia exited the RV with a heart in one palm and with another, she clutched Brady's head by his hair horrifying Jules and her pack.
The Salvatores were shocked by her presence when she rolled over Brady's head in the middle of the woods and moved towards it. She muttered a spell and the werewolf's head caught fire.
"You hurt an innocent and your fate shall be worse than death," she told the pack grimly dropping his organ into the flame too.
"What the hell is going on?" Tyler said when Jonas Martin walked in with his hand held out casting his spell on the werewolves. Damon and Stefan got up from the ground after his arrival just as Elijah walked in, his eyes meeting Adelia's.
The Original stepped forward removing his coat and silently walked over to his wife. Relieved to find her safe and sound, he draped it over her and moved his gaze towards the newly turned vampire. "Are you alright, Miss Forbes?" Caroline nodded, silently thanking him and the woman.
Elijah looked around at the crouched wolves and his eyes narrowed. "I am an Original. Elijah, sure you've heard of me," he bellowed seeing various one stiffen. "These people are under my protection until I see fit. If you interfere in my business then I guarantee you all a very painful death. Do not cross me." A second later Elijah grabbed Adelia's wrist and disappeared out of sight.
"Elijah made a promise to Elena. I'm here to see it's upheld. You need to go. Get out of here. Now," the warlock told the vampires. They all nodded and left the woods. "When your friends awaken, give them a message. They need to get the hell out of this town," Jonas informed Tyler and left him in the middle of the woods among his fallen mates.
...
Adelia walked out of the shower in a bathrobe drying her wet hair stepping inside the bedroom and saw Elijah sitting on the recliner. She directly went towards the vanity and sat down and continued drying her tresses.
Her husband looked up from the document he was reading and their eyes met in the mirror.
"Dr. Martin informed me of your little escapade in the woods," Elijah asked, not breaking his stare.
"The wolves were torturing Ms. Forbes, very young she is. She did not deserve the repercussion for the sins committed by another," she replied with a sigh, choosing to look at her reflection instead and set the towel down on a nearby chair.
"You could have been injured," the Original breathed out, "I am not particularly happy with your actions tonight, but if you deemed it necessary to intervene then I will not question it," he got up and took the brush from the vanity and proceeded to untangle her hair.
"I am an immortal like you," Adelia grumbled. Even after so many years of marriage, he still managed to make her feel like an anxious 19-year-old.
"I have no doubt regarding the fact. If you're an immortal then so is Caroline," Elijah gave her a look in the mirror and then his eyes softened. "I will always choose you and I would prefer if you didn't endanger yourself during our stay in this town where nothing ever happens," he sarcastically finished with a smile, hoping to not come off as a disapproving husband.
Elijah was aware that Adelia was smart and knew what she was doing and he would never reprimand her for helping others when she was known for her compassion. But that never dissuaded him from worrying about her. She was the most precious to him in the entire world.
"Thank you," she smiled a little when he finished brushing her hair.
"I have business to conduct with the Martins. Get rested, dear," the Original bent down to kiss her head and exited the room.
...
Damon opened the door to his boarding house to find John on the front step. "What do you want?" The Salvatore asked.
"We didn't finish our conversation."
"I'll bite," he replied and allowed John to enter the house.
"I've been thinking. Personal feelings aside Damon, I think you and Stefan will do all you can to protect Elena," said John.
"I agree with that statement."
"So I come bearing gifts," the father said, unfolding a cloth which revealed a silver dagger and a jar full of ash.
"What is that?" Damon questioned eyeing the objects.
"This is how you kill an Original. In this vial is ash from a white oak tree that dates back to the genesis of the Originals. The dagger must be dipped into the ash, and then plugged into their heart," John stated as Damon observed the silver dagger.
"How do you know all this, John?"
"Isobel. She's very good at finding out things. But, of course, you know that."
"Where is Isobel?"
"Let's just say if she accomplishes what she's attempting, Klaus will never set foot in Mystic Falls. Where Elena's concerned, you and I are on the same side," John answered before leaving the boarding house.
...
Adelia walked along the streets of Mystic Falls while on the phone, "And now he seems very gruff. I will have to endure a silent dinner tonight."
"I fail to understand why you must live with that neanderthal," a voice replied from the other side.
"Do not call him a neanderthal! He is my husband!" She pouted into her phone.
"He called me insolent for just suggesting a change of style of his insipid hair. I will call him for what he is- a neanderthal," Rafael suggested and Adelia could very well imagine him rolling his eyes.
"Just because he is a bit protective doesn't make him that," she frowned.
"I am a bit protective. Your husband is overprotective. Last time we sat across each other, he drained a poor guy of his blood just because he gave you a rose," her childhood retorted. "He was in a hospital for a week!"
Adelia sighed, "Raffie, I did cut off his blood diet for week."
"I was hoping for a divorce. Is that even applicable to eternal vampire marriages?"
"Cease your jokes," Adelia stared at her feet. "Elijah is your not-so-technically brother-in-law."
"That is why I even tolerate him. Perks of being an acquaintance of Original familia aside," he humored.
"Of course. Perks!"
"The alcohol is calling to me. It's not everyday you turn 172," he laughed.
"Once again Happy Birthday. I sent the gift and Elijah also wished you alright."
"Your husband must have been cursing me internally but I do hope he sent me that wine bottle he had been hoarding for a century. I called dibs first, his Original vampire speed was totally not fair," Rafael's voice had a hint of annoyance.
"Bye! and stop sending my husband annoying texts. He gets a headache," the witch kicked a pebble.
"Why do you think I send them anyway?" He smiled and hung up. Adelia stared at her phone and pocketed it with a huff.
A little later she came across the Lockwood boy apologizing to Caroline. The witch stopped on the porch of the house as the young girl ordered the boy to get out. Tyler turned around and both he and Caroline noticed Adelia standing there. The werewolf without a word decided to leave the two women as they stared at each other.
Adelia without a word sat down on the steps and glanced behind at Caroline to join her. With hesitant steps, the blonde girl took her place next to the brunette. The newbie vampire felt safe in her presence and knew the woman wouldn't hurt her when she had protected her earlier and the brunette had a peaceful aura about her that made things bearable after what she went through.
"I will not ask you about your well-being because you are not fine," Adelia stated.
"I am not," admitted Caroline after a minute as tears pooled in her eyes.
"It's okay to accept that, it doesn't make you weak."
"I don't want to be weak. I was weak tonight and I let them do this to me," cried Caroline.
"You were strong and you fought for your survival. I don't see a weakness," Adelia told her.
"I am a big girl. I should have done something."
"You are still a teenager dear and now an immortal. You will see every facet of life and experience it first-hand. It's not easy being what we are, Caroline. I consider it alright to shed tears over something like that, I would have cried too and I am 170 years old," Adelia added the last part with a little humor in her voice, hoping to distract the blonde.
"You cry too?" Caroline asked hesitantly.
"Of course, I cry. My tear glands need to stay clean and not rusted with cobwebs surrounding it," Adelia cringed.
"My friend betrayed me when he didn't save me tonight," Caroline said.
"Betrayal comes in various forms sweetheart. It's on you whether you want to forgive or not."
"Should I forgive him?"
"If you want to. You are a big girl after all," Adelia winked at her quoting the blonde's words from earlier which made the girl sitting beside her snort.
"How do I forget this?" She questioned softly as they both stared at nowhere enjoying the silence.
"You never forget Caroline, you take it with you. Learn something out of everything and consider it a life lesson. You cannot move on if you do not accept. And if you are accepting then know that you were very brave tonight, coming out of this even stronger than before," the witch answered, placing a hand over Caroline's and squeezed it gently.
The young vampire processed her words. "You are right. I should accept this and move on. I am strong and I should not let this stop me," Caroline replied, looking at Adelia in awe.
"Absolutely. Let how you came out of it alive define you," Adelia smiled at her when she was suddenly engulfed in a hug from the blonde as she cried into her shoulders. The witch soothed her back when Caroline got out from her arms.
"Sorry and thank you for tonight and for everything. You never mentioned how you knew me?" Caroline wiped away her tears and glanced at the beautiful vampire to her right.
"Elijah made sure I knew what I was getting into and even if I didn't know who you were, I would've come to your rescue. What they were doing was wrong. Prejudices shouldn't dictate your morals."
"You are that Adelia?" Caroline asked remembering Elena telling her about the vampire-witch who got Stefan out of the tomb.
"I am indeed that Adelia," the witch held out her hand to the vampire with a smile.
"I am Caroline Forbes," the vampire took the outstretched hand. Then she instantly took Adelia's other hand and noticed the rings, "You are married, I felt the ring earlier and got curious."
"144 years and counting."
"That's a very long marriage."
"Time passes away when you are immortal," the witch sighed. "You should take a bath and sleep. It was a pleasure meeting you Ms. Forbes," Adelia said getting up. Caroline nodded at her doing the same when the brunette flitted away leaving the young girl to her insightful thoughts.
In front of the Fell's Church Tomb, John Gilbert stopped with a sigh. He needed to talk to Katherine and explain what Isobel had wanted him to say to the vampire doppelganger. She had sent him here so they could work together to save their daughter and getting Katherine out of the tomb was crucial.
He made his way towards the steps leading underneath but was suddenly stopped by an invisible wall. He tried again to go past the barrier and proved to be unsuccessful. This was not good when he certainly didn't remember the Salvatores informing him of this new barrier preventing entry beneath the church.
He had to inform Isobel about this latest development about a powerful witch involved who had sealed the entire church. John got his phone out and glanced back at the tomb frowning in confusion as he walked away.
...
March, 1941 | Seattle
Elijah heard a resounding knock at the door and frowned in confusion. They were not supposed to have any visitors today and Adelia was out. She definitely would not have knocked.
Exiting the library of their rather secluded villa, he trudged forward and opened the door to be greeted with the sight of his brother he had not seen in seven years.
"Niklaus," he spoke as they stared at each other for a few moments before the silence was broken.
"Hello, Elijah. Forgetting your manners? Let me in," the younger one smirked. Elijah didn't say anything but opened the door wider for him.
Klaus stepped in and looked around the residence thoughtfully, "Adelia does capture your sense of flair quite beautifully." He took a seat and put his feet on the table across him, earning himself a look of disapproval from the elder Original.
"She happens to know me very well," he replied, choosing to stand across his brother. "Why are you here Niklaus?"
"Why dear brother? Afraid I will wreak havoc on your jovial peaceful life?"
"As informed on several occasions, you are welcome to join us," Elijah drummed his fingers on the couch.
"Maybe," Klaus picked up a frame from beside the lamp and looked at it. Elijah and Adelia; they looked happy and he couldn't help but envy them when he lived in constant fear.
"Adelia and I would like for you to think about it. She hasn't seen you in decades," the elder brother smiled while looking inquisitively at the man who was busy staring at the picture.
Elijah remembered the time in Moscow where they had taken that. Her smile after the first snowfall of the season had been truly contagious and he lived to experience that every day.
"I know," replied the younger Original placing back the frame.
"When do you intend to undagger them?" Elijah asked.
Klaus' features changed drastically giving out an evil smile as he stared at his lone breathing sibling. "Let me ponder over it. I prefer them daggered Elijah. It gets quite difficult to be on the run when you have baggage to carry around. Rest assured they are doing fine."
Elijah pursed his mouth, "Whatever do you mean Niklaus?"
"They are faring well buried deep within the sea," the younger brother snorted and the older vampire stiffened.
"Do enlighten me brother," Elijah's eyes blazed with fury as he clenched his fist looking at him.
"You and your beloved wife can cease your efforts to look for them. I can assure you that they will not be found."
"Please tell me you are bluffing Niklaus. They are our siblings."
"The coffins are untraceable somewhere in a sea. The destroyer is nowhere near me. My life is once again on track," Klaus grinned at him. "I envisaged for you to be happy brother. You get to play happy families with Adelia without any worries."
"How dare you?" Elijah sped forward and pulled him up before rushing him into a wall, the frames on the wall falling to the ground on impact.
"Calm down Elijah. Your true colors are showing," the younger Original pushed Elijah off him who fell over the table shattering it into pieces.
Elijah got up and charged at him breaking his jaw before thrashing him against the wall. Klaus swiftly stood up when he heard the iron gate being opened. With a sigh, he sped over to his brother, snapping his neck.
"Give my farewells to dear Adelia, brother." He dropped the unconscious body before walking over to the picture frame he was examining earlier and quickly put it inside the jacket.
Giving a last look towards Elijah, he fled through the open window just as the sounds of heels against the cobblestone pathway leading towards the house became clearer.
Adelia unlocked the door carrying a thick book in her hands. "Elijah, I came across this wonderful vol..." she stopped when her gaze fell onto her husband lying on the floor with the parlor in disarray.
She ran over to him keeping aside the book as she turned him over on his back. She looked around the room with suspicion before her hands snapped his neck back in place with a crack.
Within a minute, Elijah stirred and opened his eyes finding Adelia kneeling beside him. "Niklaus."
"Elijah!" She made him sit up before he was engulfed in her arms. His own arms went around her breathing in her sandalwood fragrance.
"Where is he? I will kill him Adelia!" He asked getting to his feet.
"What are you going on about?"
"Niklaus. He visited this noon. He has done the unthinkable, my love," his voice quivered.
Adelia noticing his distress caressed his jaw, "Please tell me, Elijah."
And he did, he told her everything. "I do not know what to make of it," he seethed in anger. "He will pay for it."
Taking a deep breath, she gripped his hand catching his attention. "Listen to me. Niklaus wouldn't dare commit such a heinous crime."
"He told me himself, Adelia."
"I refuse to consider it. His ways are a bit extreme at times, but he would never harm them."
"You are blinding yourself to the truth," he told her looking her in the eye. "He has hidden them in the sea. We would never find them. Rebekah, Kol..."
"He wants you to believe that," she interrupted him loudly. Taking his hand, Adelia made him sit on the sofa and crouched on her knees in front of him. Kissing his hand, she sighed as Elijah looked on silently. "I know Nik comes off as an uncaring entity, but he has always looked out for his siblings. He doesn't know how to convey it. He has protected you all in the way he knows how. You are his brother and you should not doubt his love for family. He lied to get a rise out of you and succeeded. Maybe he embarked this for Mikael to dissuade him from going after his only vulnerabilities."
"I cannot help but think that Klaus said the truth Adelia," his features begged her to trust the younger Original on his claim.
"He is keeping them safe. Not in the sea but somewhere he would never be able to reach. I have heard the rumors about coffins and the Mediterranean Sea. If you start believing what Klaus says then your father would do the same riveting towards Nik. He is doing all this to make certain that we never fall into father's hands. This is not a matter of intent, my love but also of perspective. Trust him; put your faith in your brother."
Elijah stared at her for some time as he tried to get out something but his throat clogged up in contemplation and disbelief. "Niklaus did not bury them in the sea."
"No, he didn't. He is for the lack of a better word, paranoid. His paranoia only dwindles if his precious things are within his reach, including his family. If we want to find the coffins, we have to find him," she said.
He grabbed her wrist and stood up immediately bringing her up along with him. "He shouldn't be far away."
"And we will indeed get hold of him. He is persistent but so are we." she intertwined their hands before speeding off to the city.
...
A/N:Adelia is not in favor of his hair style. Must be the wifey thing ;)
...
Introducing
Julianne Moore as Sharel Beauchêne
"My granddaughter is my pride."
...
Eiza González as Adelia Laurentis
"You are all I have."
a n d
Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson
"You mean the world to me."
_
Constructive criticisms are appreciated.