Azalea was truly too scared to leave the room that night, so Rebekah held her close in bed, telling her again and again that it would all be ok.
But underneath, she was just as scared for her brothers welfare.
Why the hell had they decided to do it in the fucking house-! Maybe they did deserve to get caught for being so stupid about it...
Azalea woke up the next morning with Rebekah holding her, blonde hair in her face, making Azalea cough and sit up, trying not to choke on the hair.
She winced a little as she yawned, her cheek hurting like hell from where her father had hit her. Azalea rubbed it for a moment, then sighed, closing her eyes, trying to stop the tears-
Where was Niklaus-?
Azalea got to her feet now, Rebekah groaning quietly as she looked up at her sister, frowning at the window- it was rather early. Then she spotted the girl pulling on her boots, frowning.
"Lea-? Where are you going-?"
"I have to find Nik. I'm worried... Father dragged him out the house, I saw it... but he never returned with him." Was her answer, eyes fearful. Rebekah was silent, then she got up as well, pulling her own on-
The girl was right.
Father had returned without Niklaus.
-AtY-
As they started their search, Azalea asked Rebekah-
"Where is Elijah?"
Rebekah looked rather guilty as she sighed, closing her eyes for a second, then told her sister.
"He never returned home from the night."
Azalea scoffed in disbelief- so it was ok for Elijah to mess around with a girl, but the rest of them-?
It wasn't his fault, but Azalea was going to slap him later on for it.
Then again... he was almost twenty three. A man by everyones standards.
He literally could mess around with a woman if he got drunk enough... and it seemed like he had done as well.
The pair wandered all morning, and Rebekah kept glancing at her sisters cheek- the bruise was mild... but it was redder than a cherry. Father had hit her pretty hard.
When they did finally spot Niklaus...
They both thought him dead.
Azalea felt the bottom of her stomach drop out as she spotted a figure hanging from the white oak by his hands, wearing just deep brown trousers as he hung there without moving.
"Niklaus-!" Azalea very nearly screamed, running over, fear like she'd never felt before shooting through her.
As she got closer, she realized just what had happened-
Like she'd spotted from the distance, he was being held up by a length of rope around his wrists, the rope burns bright red. His feet were bare, and just a tiny fraction away from the ground.
But even Rebekah gasped in horror as she saw her brothers bare back- their father had obviously bought out the old whip their mother had banned him from using. Niklaus' back was stained scarlet, and Azalea shook her head with tears sparkling in her eyes as she saw the bloodied and deep gashes.
"Niklaus-?" She asked him now, tears rolling down her face as she took his bloodied and slightly bruised face into her hands. Rebekah reached up to his wrists now, trying to undo the knots, but they were too tight.
"He just... left him here-!" Azalea said now, unable to believe that Mikael could be even more cruel than they had... could, imagine. He'd never, ever done anything quite as ruthless as this before.
"I know." Rebekah muttered, then said. "Hold him- I have to cut through."
Azalea held him close now as the girl worked with her blade, then it cut through, the young man collapsing against her. She groaned at both his dead weight and injuries- where the hell were they going to take him-?
She groaned as she dodged the shallow pool of blood from where it had been dripping down his back, taking him to the only place she could think of at the moment.
-AtY-
Ayana sighed as the two young women knocked on her door, asking, no... begging for her help in healing their brother.
But the witch knew that she couldn't help... Mikael would have her head. And quite literally.
"I cannot." She told them, staring into Azaleas tear filled emerald eyes with a heavy heart- that man didn't understand just how much this young pair loved each other.
"Please-" Azalea asked the witch who now sighed, then said. "I cannot. But with the right poultices, he should be fine."
Azalea frowned, then understood as the witch made her way over to the table, then picked up a little bowl with a thick paste in, going-
"This would help him immensely. I hope you do not steal it from me."
She set it down now, flashing a smile at the girl as she turned to the fireplace, igniting it in a flash. Azalea smiled a little too, then stepped forwards, picking up the bowl and saying. "Thank you?"
Ayana turned around, frowning. "Whatever for?"
Azalea smiled once more, then left, grabbing Niklaus of Rebekah, knowing exactly where to go...
-AtY-
Rebekah looked around the miniature lake now, in total shock that such a beautiful spot had eluded her for so many years. Niklaus had hidden it well.
Her eyes left the waterfall as she turned to the pair on the floor- Niklaus was laid on his front while Azalea worked on his back, spreading the poultice on his wounds. But he still hadn't woke up-
From the bruise on his left temple, it was like he'd been hit hard, knocking him out.
"How could Father do this to him-?" Azalea wondered now, her heart twisting at the sight of his back- crisscrossed gashes littered it. Most of them were covered in the green paste, Azalea covering another one as Rebekah watched, then the girl sighed.
"Father is very fond of you, Azalea."
Azalea scoffed, then Rebekah sighed once more.
"You do know you are his favorite? And Niklaus... he hates him. I think he's just upse-"
"Upset-! He has next to tortured Niklaus... and you say he cares for me-! He is just a fucking, fucking bastard! I hate him!"
The furious shouting finally woke up the young man who groaned quietly into the grass in agony.
"Nik-?" Rebekah asked now, realizing he was awake, but he groaned once more, then hissed. "My back... it stings."
Azalea finished putting the poultice on his wounds, then moved round to the front, helping him sit up, but he seemed groggy. "Lea-?" he muttered now, finally realizing who was before him. He put his head against her chest, closing his eyes without another word.
Rebekah sighed heavily, then asked the girl.
"Do you need anything?"
Azalea brushed Niklaus' hair back with her hand, then nodded to her sister. "Something to eat. And some water and cloak. A shirt of Niks too. He feels so cold."
Rebekah nodded to, then left in a hurry.
There was no sound but the waterfall behind them now, then Azalea sighed, looking down as Niklaus spoke.
"Did he hurt you?"
Azalea sighed, then kissed the top of his head, chuckling. "So... you have the shit whipped out you... and you're worried about me?"
"Mmhmm." He nodded, putting his head against her chest once more. "I love you. If Father cannot accept that... then fuck him."
Azalea rolled her eyes at that, then groaned into his hair. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore."
She nodded, looking to his back. "Your back is rather bad."
"I didn't mean that." Was his reply, and Azalea realized from his growing smirk what he was talking about, scoffing and slapping his arm lightly. "Dirty minded boy."
"You didn't seriously think I was going to get clean minded now did you?" Niklaus chuckled, then fell silent. Azalea sighed, then moved the hair from his eyes, hearing him say.
"I have never seen Father that angry before. I truly thought he was going to kill me."
Azalea sighed, feeling him twine his hand with her own, raising it to his lips, kissing it for a moment. He put his cheek against it now, closing his eyes.
"He wouldn't dare." She told him quietly, moving behind him, checking his back, pleasently surprised when she found it nearly healed- Ayanas poultice must had been been enchanted.
She traced a hand up his back now, but jolted away as he flinched, gasping. "I'm sorry. I didn't hurt you did I?"
Niklaus shook his head, then just said, taking her hand once more. "Cold hands."
"Oh." She just said, then gasped a little as he yanked her forwards, not expecting it. Niklaus smiled, then leaned forwards, kissing her passionately for a moment, pulling her onto his lap, moving to her neck.
"You're lucky that it's me and not Father."
They broke apart now, looking up as Rebekah returned with the things Azalea asked for. She set them down, then sighed. "Father wants... to talk to you, Lea."
Azalea felt cold, then Rebekah groaned. "And... he's not in a too good mood. Elijah."
The pair sat on the floor frowned, then Niklaus scoffed in disbelief. "Elijah is in trouble-?"
Rebekah was silent, then just said. "Um... rather alot."
The young man laughed, then asked. "What did he do? Swear at Father for once?"
"Actually... got a woman pregnant."
Niklaus almost choked on his bread, and he spat it out, eyes wide. "Excuse me-! Now I know you are joking!"
The silence said it all, and Azalea asked in shock. "Really-?"
Rebekah nodded, then told them. "Well... a woman has told Father that she has had sexual relations with him... and now she is expecting a child."
Azalea shook her head, then just said quietly, shaking her head. "Elijah would never be that stupid. She is lying."
The young man snorted, then nodded. "Yes. Elijah and sexual relations do not go together. You know that as well as I do... he is too... well, boring for that."
The girls scoffed, then Niklaus finally got to his feet, wincing a little as he pulled on his shirt and tunic, followed by leather wrist cuffs. "It's just... our brother is not that kind of man."
Azalea nodded in agreement, then sighed. "I shall speak to Father. Tell him that Elijah is not the Father... he cannot be, truly."
But now Rebekah realized something from the previous night.
"He was... with a woman last night at the... oh. We might be... he might be the father."
The trio was silent, then Azalea just said. "Bekah... find Elijah. Well, find out who that girl is. We'll find out for ourselves."
Niklaus nodded. "You are going to talk to... Father?"
Azalea nodded this time, then Niklaus nodded. "I'm coming too."
"Nik-!" Azalea hissed, but he shook his head. "No. I'm not running from that man. He can whip me all he wants... but he cannot change the fact that I love you."
Azalea was silent, but then she groaned. "Nik-"
"I'm sorry. I'm coming." He insisted, tying off his sword onto his belt, taking her hand and pressing his lips to it. "And Lea?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. I'd take a thousand lashes for you."
Azalea was quiet, then she smiled a little. "Thank you... I guess." Niklaus smiled lightly, then looked to Rebekah. "Off you go sister."
Rebekah scoffed, but did so, leaving the place.
"Ready?" Niklaus asked Azalea now, then she nodded, saying quietly. "Together?"
"Always and forever." He finished softly, the pair tracing Rebekahs footsteps out the place-
It would be a miracle if their father didn't kill them this time...
-AtY-
Mikael stared at the pair before him as they walked into the room, then he growled silently as he saw them holding hands- the cheek of them.
"You have some nerve coming back here, boy."
Azalea scoffed, then let got of his hand, stepping forwards.
"You know what, Mikael? You are a cruller and more evil than I ever thought."
Mikael just stared, his eyes narrowed, then he scoffed. "You truly believe that you belong with him? He has led you astray, Azalea. My girl." He raised a hand now, touching the bruise he had caused on her cheek, but Niklaus grabbed his wrist, snarling.
"Don't you dare touch her."
There was a silence, then Mikael turned his attention to his son, then glanced at the hand on his wrist, grabbing it with his other and yanking him forwards, twisting it back, making the younger man hiss in agony.
"Stay there." Mikael snapped at Azalea as she started forwards, then he said into Niklaus' ear. "One twist... and I can separate your arm from the rest of your body. Get out this room. I asked to speak to Azalea, not a failure like you."
Niklaus was silent, but Mikael pushed him hard, making him almost crash into the wall. He looked to Azalea, and she nodded, saying it was ok. He snorted, but left.
Mikael turned to Azalea, then scoffed. "What has he done to you my girl?"
"I am not your girl, Mikael! I am not your daughter either!"
The man smirked, then as she went to leave, grabbed her wrists, yanking her around and said in a low voice.
"When we found you homeless in the forest... I could have left you there. Left you to be eaten by the wolves, torn apart by werewolves... but I didn't. I took you in, as another child, another daughter."
Azalea was silent, then she just said. "Maybe you should have left me out there then, if you hate me so much."
Mikael didn't reply, his pride getting in the way of telling her that he loved her as his daughter. She wasn't like Niklaus. But... if she carried on being with him like this, she would end up just like him.
A failure.
"You are my daughter, Azalea." He just told her, taking her face in his hands, genuinely sorry for hitting her. It was Niklaus' fault, not hers.
"Don't you think you should be caring about Elijah? That child is not his... you must know that?"
Mikael was silent, then let her go, nodding. "I do know. I have already found out that this girl... she has made it all up."
"Wha-? Just... why did she do that-?"
The elder man, looked away, glancing to the fireplace. "She was thrown out of her home for being a whore."
Azalea understood now, glancing down- so she pretended that Elijah was the father so she would get a home? How low could she go?
"I have banished her, of course." Mikael snapped, walking over to the fireplace, picking up something from next to it, going back to Azalea and showing her the necklace.
"Your thoughts on this?"
She took it, staring at the rectangle locket, a deep purple stone in the middle while lacework silver surrounded it.
It was beautiful.
"It's... lovely." She said sincerly, and Mikael nodded, putting it around her neck. "Today, six years ago, was the day you joined us." She didn't say a word as the man put it on her, and he told her. "You are not one of my mistakes, Azalea. I have no shame in saying it."
Azalea was... humbled by his words. He'd actually put his pride aside for a moment... and that was incredibly, incredibly rare.
"Elijah is upstairs. Talk to him, he is rather upset."
She nodded, then left, heading upstairs to where Elijah was sat on his bed, staring at the floor with red eyes, tear tracks down his face.
"Elijah?" She asked softly, sitting down next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
He was silent, then he shook his head, saying in a hurt voice.
"I loved her... I really, really did."
Azalea sighed, hugging him tightly, head on his shoulder. She noticed the goblet of mead next to the bed now, groaning as she realized he'd been drinking.
"Don't worry love- you're worth more than any woman could ever be worth."
With a light chuckle, Elijah nodded, tears springing to his eyes once more, and Azalea sighed again, holding him tighter.
"Come Elijah, you are almost twenty three. You will fall in love again, I assure you."
He scoffed, then shook his head. "No. That woman... I truly loved her. How could she hurt me like that-?"
Azalea groaned, shaking her head a little, getting up and grabbing the hairbrush, sitting behind him, raising it to his hair, brushing it through.
"Do you love Niklaus?" Elijah asked her as he brushed his long oak hair. Azalea stopped, then chuckled. "I do, Elijah, I really do."
"Keep a hold of him... and never let him go, Lea. Life is too short."
Azalea was silent as she reached forwards, twisting his hair back a little, moving it from his eyes. "I will."
Elijah turned, staring at her with deep brown eyes. "Good."
He reached down and picked up his alcohol, going to finish it, but Azalea took it away, going. "Ah-ah- no more drink for you."
"But I need it, Lea-!" He groaned, reaching over, trying to grab it, but she threw it out the window. "Drink won't help Elijah."
"It does." He muttered, tears in his eyes once more, Azalea rolling her own as he pulled her back into his arms, sobbing into her shoulder.
"Oh for goodness sake, Elijah-! Man up!"
She pushed him away onto the bed, pulling the covers over him, getting in next to him, arms around his chest, letting out a sigh. Azalea jolted a little as arms crept around her own midriff, then a voice in her ear.
"Thank you my love."
She smiled a little, looking over Elijahs shoulder opposite where she spotted Rebekah getting in, flashing her a smile as she snuggled closer into her brother, Henrik squeezed in the other end, and Azalea chuckled-
They really were one messed up family...
But peace... life... were coming to an end...
Thanks for all the looovely review^_^ I'm glad you're liking this! Next chapter you'll start recognizing things from flashbacks in Ordinary People;D next up soon enough! Reviews much loved and thanks all x Nic And oh! If you want to see a picture of Azaleas amethyst and silver locket, I'll be putting a photo up on my twitter- you can find the link to my account on my profile!
