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It was late, or early depending on perspective. Any respectable city would have closed up shop an hour or so before, but much like Manhattan the French Quarter never slept.
She blamed the abundance of 'night' life.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Elijah glanced out the window to the large crowds that cluttered the streets.
"Perfectly," Lexa flipped a page in her notebook, "I ran a locator spell when we left Jeremy's house. You have no blood relatives in the city to avoid, so the chances of enacting Armageddon are slim to none." She scribbled down a few notes.
"I thought there was one," Elena turned down a side street at the behest of the GPS.
"One," Lexa agreed, "but your friend in Mystic Falls confirmed that the Mikaelson in residence is Freya. And Freya does not hold a piece of the Hollow."
"Freya might have the information you need," Elena turned right. She frowned down at the GPS when she was instructed to turn again a few seconds later.
"For anyone keeping track: that's the fourth right hand turn." Lexa closed her notebook. She leaned forward between the front seats and tilted her head. "We are going in a circle."
"Technically a square," Elijah smirked.
Elena rolled her eyes. She used her turn signal and pulled into a parking space along the street. Shutting down the vehicle she peered through the windshield at the hanging sign above the establishment's door.
"Think someone in Rousseau's can tell us where to go?" Lexa unfastened her seatbelt.
"I think any supernatural in the city could point out Freya Mikaelson," Elena nodded. She unfastened her seatbelt and opened the door.
The Abattoir proved easy enough to find, being a mere hop and skip from the restaurant. The gates were closed and the lights were out, but deep within the house the sound of a quiet conversation drifted.
"How's that little voice?" Elena tried the handle.
"It's no louder," he frowned. Tilting his head he tried the lock before lowering his hand.
"Do you think anyone would hear us knocking?" Lexa adjusted her bag and pushed a stubborn curl behind her ear. "Looks like everyone's asleep."
"Their awake," Elena shook her head.
Her knuckles rapped on the door, loud enough that she heard the echo from within.
His heart stuttered when the footsteps came towards him; the first member of his family that he would meet. He wondered what she was like, this sister that hadn't taken a piece of the Hollow.
Elena slipped her hand into his when she heard the stutter. He threaded their fingers together and squeezed just as the light came on.
A slim young woman with straight dark hair opened the door and froze. Her brown eyes widened before flickering from Elijah to Elena and down to their joined hands.
Elena thought she saw something dark flash in the woman's eyes, but it passed too quickly. There was a slight twist to her lips when she addressed them.
"What are you doing here?"
"We were looking for Freya," Lexa released a long breath. She looked the brunette over slowly when her eyes finally turned to look at her. "You're not her; you're not a witch."
"No, I'm not," she shook her head.
Elena tilted her head when the woman fell silent. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end whenever her eyes would stray to her or where she held Elijah's hand.
There was something about her face that looked familiar to Elena, but it took her a moment to figure it out and place the woman in her mind. She had only met her the one time nearly a decade before.
"You're Hayley," Elena lifted her chin slightly.
"And you're Katherine," she tilted her head.
"Elena," she felt her spine stiffen.
"Sorry," Hayley crossed her arms, "it's so hard to tell with you doppelgangers. You all look the same."
"And yet were nothing alike," Elena cocked an eyebrow.
Elijah frowned at the sudden tension percolating between the women on either side of the threshold. He cleared his throat in an attempt to break it and offered a charming smile.
"Is Freya here, Hayley?" He nodded to the compound.
Hayley tore her eyes from Elena and met Elijah's gaze.
There was a different kind of tension between them. He thought he saw anger and regret in her eyes; along with something else he couldn't quite identify.
"She's in the living room," Hayley stepped outside. "I've got a meeting."
Lexa tilted her head when Hayley vanished from their sight.
"Not even going to tell us where the living room is," she rolled her eyes.
"We can hear Freya's heart beating," Elena took a deep breath.
Inside they followed their ears to the dual heart beats and found a woman in a warm sitting room across from a tall man. He had a thin face and dark skin.
Freya stood when she saw them. Her mouth popped open in surprise.
"Elijah?" She stepped around the couch. "What are you doing here?"
"I had a few questions," he let go of Elena's hand and turned around to beckon to the blonde behind him. "Actually she had a few questions."
"Hi," she gave a small wave, "I'm Lexa."
Freya nodded politely. She had grown used to warmer welcomes from her little brother, but she had to remind herself that he had no idea who she was and didn't remember anything about his life. She could only assume someone had filled him in on the inner workings of his family; probably the brunette at his side.
"Lexa," Freya shook her hand. She turned her attention to the other woman. "And you are?"
"Elena," she offered her hand.
"I'm surprised Hayley didn't show you in," Freya let go.
"She seemed a little agitated," Elijah blinked.
Freya's eyes turned to him and took note of the way his body was angled toward Elena. They had been holding hands when they entered but even when they weren't she could see the attraction between them, and the way they seemed to gravitate towards each other was very telling.
"She might have been jealous," Freya beckoned them to the seats. "Before placing the Hollow in all of you, you and Hayley were together."
"Hayley and I?" Elijah frowned. He turned his head in time to see the surprise flickering through Elena's expression; she hadn't known.
"Yes," Freya sat down and crossed her legs, "the two of you broke things off because you had to leave." She turned her attention to Lexa. "You said you had questions."
"I did," Lexa leaned forward, "about the spell that extracted the Hollow from your niece and placed it in your siblings."
"Then you've come at the right time," Freya smiled. She motioned to the man she had been talking to before their arrival. "Vincent here was the one who cast the spell."
"You're the one who did it?" Lexa frowned. "You're the one who placed the Hollow in four people?" She sat up straight when Vincent nodded. "Great," she smiled. "Now tell me what you were possibly thinking?"
"Excuse me?" Vincent frowned.
"Sorry," Lexa shook her head, "that sounded rude. I didn't mean to be rude. I've just been puzzling over this for a while now. I just meant why would you put it in people when you could have had any vessel?"
"And then scattered those vessels to the four corners of the earth?" Vincent cocked an eyebrow.
"You could have placed boundaries around them to keep people from reaching them," Lexa nodded.
"I had thought of that," Vincent rubbed his beard. "That was my first suggestion when I found the spell and took the news to Hayley, but she wasn't convinced it was the best idea. She suggested the Originals as hosts so nobody would ever find the pieces."
Elena glanced at Elijah as his eyes widened marginally. Had he known?
Elijah shook off the surprise. He must have known and agreed to the plan. If he and Hayley were together before she would have told him about her idea.
"Can I see the spell?" Lexa lifted her eyebrows hopefully.
"Why?" Vincent tilted his head.
"Because I'm gonna put it somewhere else," Lexa shrugged.
"Where someone could find it?" Freya sat up straight. She felt the beginning strains of hope flutter in her chest.
"I guarantee that nobody will ever find it," Lexa reached into her bag, "and even if they did they would never be able to get it out of this."
Freya held out her hand to accept the small box. Her fingers traced the polished ebony and glittering runes. She could sense the perfect balance coming from the box and knew once sealed it would be nearly impossible to open again.
"You've sealed this with blood?" Freya glanced up.
"Elena's," Lexa nodded. "She's the last Petrova doppelganger and as such only her blood, willingly given, can open that box."
Freya nodded. She passed back the box and stood up to walk around the couch to the desk. She pulled open a drawer and took out a small bundle of pages before walking back and giving them to Lexa.
"Just like that?" Elena's brows lowered. She had been expecting a bit more of an argument.
"If there's the slightest chance I can save my niece the heartache that comes from growing up without her family, I'll do it."
Elena watched Lexa lay out the candles. She mirrored the young witch's actions until there was a large circle beneath the full moon. It gleamed off the water in the pond casting wavering reflections of light across their skin.
"Are you sure it's going to work this time?" Elijah knelt, lighting a few of the candles with a match.
"I didn't have enough power before," Lexa let three candles with a wave of her hand, "now I've seen the original spell, no pun intended," she smirked, glancing up, "and I know I need to draw on a few more things."
She unfolded the papers from Freya and pointed out a few symbols along the margins.
"Vincent drew on the full moon to seal the Hollow in you and your siblings," she tucked the papers aside and stepped into the circle, "and whether he knew it or not created a lock of sorts; kind of like the lock I put on the boxes, but the key is a lot easier to find."
"So you just need to draw on the full moon?" Elena placed the box in the damp grass and opened the lid.
"And you," Lexa took her place.
Elena rose from the grass and found she was situated between Lexa and Elijah in the middle of the circle. If they were to join hands they would have created a smaller circle within the ring of flickering candles.
"I'd like to channel your blood," Lexa held out her hand, "for little extra power."
Elena eyed the outstretched hand and shook her head, laughing softly. She should have known back when they started that it would come down to it.
"You're not gonna let me channel you?" Lexa frowned.
"Oh no, I am," Elena took her hand and reached for Elijah. "I'm just finding humor in the situation."
"What do you mean?" Elijah squeezed her hand.
"Just that I've gone full circle and am now back where I started years ago: supernatural pawn," she chuckled.
"I don't know about that," he shrugged. "A pawn is at the mercy of the higher players. It looks to me like you've got most of the power here."
"More like the queen," Lexa hummed.
"I don't know if I'd go quite that far," Elena shook her head.
"I don't know," he squeezed her hand, "I think the title suits you."
Lexa cleared her throat when she caught the way the two of them turned to look at each other. She cast her eyes heavenward to the full moon hanging heavy over their heads.
"Moon's at it's apex," she cocked an eyebrow. "It's either right now, or we wait a month."
She waited for Elena's nod before closing her eyes.
Elena's breath caught in her throat. Her skin tingled where she held their hands. Her heart pounded as her mind flashed back a decade to a different Mikaelson beneath the full moon. The only difference was the direction the energy was being drained from her body. Klaus had pulled her life out through her neck, but Lexa was pulling from her entire body. It seemed to pour from everywhere.
Her knees buckled and from the corner of her eyes she saw Elijah and Lexa fall with her until they were kneeling in the grass.
Lexa gritted her teeth against the ache in her mind and continued to chant. Opening her eyes she saw a blue glow just beneath Elijah's skin. One last pull from Elena and the energy pooled together and rose out of his mouth. Lexa let go of both of them and slammed the lid of the box shut before the Hollow could escape again.
Blue light pulsed beneath the seam.
Elena slumped in the grass with Lexa and watched. She held her breath as the blue glowed brighter and brighter. She reached out without looking and reclaimed Elijah's hand when the box rattled.
Lexa's arm trembled beneath the weight of her upper body, trying desperately to remain upright. She held out her other hand in, but she had no idea what she was going to do if the Hollow burst free since she could barely keep her eyes open.
Luck, however, appeared to be on their side. The blue energy was quickly overtaken by the blood of Elena that had infused the box. For a brief moment the seam between the top and bottom glowed violet before fading to the crimson sparkle that signified the locks were in place.
Elena breathed again when Lexa smiled and flopped over to lie on her back. She stared up at the moon and wiped away a drop of blood from her nose with a shaking hand.
"Did it work?" Elena whispered. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but she turned them on Elijah as he straightened up.
He nodded after a moment when he found his mind free of the dark shadow that had been encroaching on his consciousness for the last few months since he'd woken up on the bus.
Elena smiled.
The uplift of her lips was weary but her eyes shone bright, and for a moment he thought the sun had risen, but then he caught a glimpse of Lexa who had all but fallen asleep in the grass.
"Aren't you tired?" Elena placed the box on the dresser by her makeup bag.
Elijah shook his head. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so much energy, the last time he had felt refreshed.
"I feel much better," he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He could feel the exhaustion beneath her skin and see it in her eyes.
"Lexa?" She met his eyes in the mirror.
"Asleep before her head hit the pillow," he kissed her cheek. Propping his chin on her shoulder he inhaled the sweet combination of her floral perfume and the blood beneath her skin. There was no voice in his head telling him to sink his teeth into her neck.
"She's tired," she said, sliding her palm over the back of his hand.
"She used a lot of magic tonight," he murmured, watching her eyes slide shut. "You should get some rest, Elena."
She took a deep breath and turned around to wrap her arms around his neck. Opening her eyes she searched his gaze for a moment before standing on tiptoe and pressing her lips to his.
Her blood quickened with the gentle kiss.
He slid his hands beneath her shirt, flattened his palms over her back and pulled her flush against him.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Elijah smoothed his palms along her sides until he was holding her hips and pulled away to rest his head against hers. Her warm breath fanned over his chin.
"You need some rest." He tightened his hold when she swayed in his arms.
"I know," Elena murmured. She could barely stay upright but she had wanted to kiss him at least once more. She didn't know what he had held with Hayley, but she knew he was not the casual type.
"Come on," he kissed her forehead.
"What are you doing?" She gasped when he picked her up.
"Putting you in bed," he tilted his head and smiled innocently.
She released a tired laugh when he set her on the mattress. She reached behind her back to unsnap her bra; she pulled the constricting material away and dropped it before reaching into the pocket of her shorts.
She ran her thumb over the length of the small vial before holding out her palm. A tiny voice in the back of her head, one that sounded suspiciously like Katherine, chastised her and told her what an idiot she was being.
He won't want you once he drinks it, it whispered. You'll just be one more doppelganger. If he doesn't go back to Hayley what Petrova will he see when he looks at you? It's never been you. Nobody ever chooses you.
"Here," she placed the lavender liquid in his hand. Her insecurities kept whispering all of the reasons why she should have kept the vial hidden, or thrown it in the Thames before they left London, but she ignored them. He wanted his memories back and she had no business taking the choice away from him; she'd lost her own agency for years and she wouldn't take it from someone else.
"Have you been carrying this in your pocket since London?" He glanced up from the potion.
"It was too valuable to leave lying around." Elena sighed. She struggled to keep her eyes open as he pushed her back gently to lie against the pillows.
He walked around to the other side of the bed and draped the blanket from the foot of the bed over Elena's body. He could hear the way her breathing leveled out as she drifted off to sleep.
Elena rolled over and felt the sun warm her skin. Paper crinkled beneath her curling fingers. Her eyes fluttered open.
A glance at the alarm clock showed her it was after noon.
She blinked away the sleep and sat up. Next to the alarm clock was the slim vial from Niamh and on the pillow beside her was a folded piece of paper.
She fiddled with the silver necklace around her throat and sat up, unfolding the paper to reveal the elegant handwriting she had seen only once before.
Her heart stuttered as her eyes traced the letters. She had to read it through three times before the words finally sank in and she could lower her hand from her throat.
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