I'm Not Calling You A Liar

by bkgrl

The last time Klaus had seen her (Caroline) it was 1922 and she was bleeding out, calling his name, with a stake in her hand. Esther's curse involved a doppelganger and a hunter, who would spend the next 9 life times and 1000 years, distracting, stalking, killing, loving, annoying and torturing Niklaus Mikaelson, forever thwarting his efforts to break the moonstone curse.

10. 1492 AD, Lyanna P4

A/N: You might actually want to skim through.

1- This chapter is ridiculously long. You may or may not need to stop for food and water half way. You've been warned.

2- There is symbolism and foreshadowing littered throughout every chapter. These things are more for my amusement than anything else. Yes there is a reason, for example, that Tatia was pregnant when she was murdered, that wasn't just a coincidence. You do not have to pick up on them to enjoy or understand the story, however it has come to my attention (via my Beta) that readers might actually enjoy knowing those things. As a result I compiled a name analysis that is on my tumblr page: bkgrlrandomthoughts.

As a general rule with symbolism and foreshadowing, if I give a character a name its for a reason and their name has meaning, most often quite pertinent to their role in the story. If I go into nauseating detail about an object, poem, word, concept, its for a reason and not just to fill up page because as you all are aware I'm long winded as it is already.

To give you all a taste of the kind of symbolism/ foreshadowing I'm referring to, I've included a quick scene analysis at the end of this chapter. If there is genuine interest, I will go back and compile a list for every chapter- however that will take me a while because there is quite a bit. Many things are mentioned one chapter and carried over to another girl or many other girls therefore yes they do have a greater purpose in the grand scheme of things.

3- This story is marathon in general not a sprint. If you've made it this far with me, I'm sure you're aware of that by now. I promise you, I do not waste words or have scenes without reason. Every single scene in this chapter and others is needed for plot arch.

4- Yes, Caroline is going to New Orleans. Plec and TVD writers be damned this ship isn't sinking. I will continue to try to follow canon as closely as possibly up until then but since the TVD writers like to pull things out of nowhere, claiming that its the new canon, that might become difficult.

5- Salias will show up in this story but... drum roll... Silas is a chick in INCYAL and a badass one at that whose story will follow Klaus to New Orleans. Also, Marcel from the spin off, I've decided is going to be a girl as well and Camile is her love interest. I regret nothing.

Finally- this story at times takes a mini village to put together. That village consisting of myself and Jen my editor. Without her, INCYAL would read like the random musings of an illiterate third grader scribbled in crayon on construction paper.

If there are any errors left. We apologize. This thing is 38,000 words. Give us a break.

For all details and extras about this story go to my tumblr page.

---

This can't just be a chemical
From now any other pain is bearable

I mean you have me on my knees

You've got me on the floor again

All I can picture is held hands, coming apart

Knees: Peter and Kerry

---

1492 AD Scrathclyde, England

She was dreaming again. She loved this dream and hated it just as much.

"Are you following me?"

"I think you followed me." Leaning up against a nearby tree with arms folded, Kol stared back at her. "Well I may have been convinced," he added, eyebrows rising as he gave her a long lingering glance.

Looking down, Lilly rolled her eyes, "Why is it that you are always clothed?" she questioned, disapproving.

"I know what I look like without clothing," he replied appreciatively, circling her.

"I don't…" she shot back, dodging his grabby hands. Catching her elbow, he pulled her closer.

"Do you think of me without clothing, Lilly?"

Pushing, toying with him, she answered, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Why must you always be such a tease?"

"A tease?" she laughed, "Would that not imply that I am offering to begin with?"

He disappeared, appearing behind her, breathing on her neck, "Are you not?"

Kissing her, his hands trailed over Lilly's stomach, moving suggestively south as if he knew that was what she wanted.

"Perhaps…" she bit her lip, leaning further into him in anticipation, "For a husband," causing him to stiffen and pull back as soon as his hand hit her upper thigh.

Disappointed, she commented, "Who is the tease now?" turning to look at him.

"Say it first," he implored, smirking, knowing a little too well how badly she wanted to be touched.

"Say what first?"

"You know…" he coaxed, pulling her closer, hands sliding down her backside, groping.

"Kol…" she murmured, lips on his neck, exciting him, just as much as he, her.

"Yes?"

"What are your intentions?" she inquired, partially joking but somewhat serious.

"Pure, I promise," he snickered, kissing her neck.

"You're lying…."

"Only a wolf…."

"How do you know I'm a wolf?"

"You smell like one and you're as irritating as one," he muttered, cupping her breast, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

"Have you known many females wolves?"

"You'd be the first."

His hand moved past her naval, nudging her legs open a little before inserting a finger inside her, eliciting the pleased sound he was looking for.

Sucking in air, her head felt warm and dizzy as she tried to remember what it was that she wanted to say. All she could think of was, Yes….

Finally managing, "Does that make me special?"

"In what way?" He enjoyed watching her face as she lost herself in his movements, her hips rocking with his hand.

"You know…" she whispered, losing her place in their conversation, struggling to focus.

"Will I wed you?" he scoffed.

Focus returning, face contorting with ambivelence, her hips stopped, legs closing around his hand, "Who said I wanted to wed you?" she threw back, obviously a little wounded at his immediate dismissal.

"I've seen that look before," he replied, only this time it wasn't in Lilly's mind it was out loud, waking her.

Eyes snapping open, she looked down to find herself naked, a hand pressed between her legs, a body cushioned behind her. Surprised, Lilly's head whipped back to find Kol smiling down.

"Morning, Lil," he greeted.

A shriek sounded throughout the forest, as she scrambled from the ground.

"What are you doing here?!" she screamed.

Perched against the base of a tree, wearing a torn shirt covered in dried blood, Kol answered, "Enjoying the view," suggestively.

Remembering that she was still very much bare, her hands darted down to her breasts and other privates, trying to cover as much as she possibly could.

She made a face, clearly disgusted with his lewdness.

"Now is that anyway to greet someone who saved you?"

"Saved me?"

Suddenly it all came flooding back, in brief glimpses until they formed complete memories: the rocks, the fire, Lyanna, the pack, Klaus and Kol.

Watching as a wave of realization come over her, Kol commented, "I'd thought you'd be brown. But black, I like it, the irony… lone wolf and all."

"Where's Lyanna!" she barked this time.

Rising from the ground, Kol dusted dirt and leaves from his breeches.

"I assume with my brother."

The fangs, the things she'd seen the night before and the instincts she remembered so well: repulsion, hatred.

"I know what you are and if she is harmed in any way…."

"You'll do what?" Kol laughed, stepping forward as a mocking challenge. It may have been the lingering impulses from the night before, or the realization that somehow he had understood her dreams, had been able to see inside her mind, was touching her- and knew she enjoyed it. But really it was the thought of Lyanna hurt that brought it out. Lunging forward, her hand caught his throat and with a strength she had yet to harness and employ on another person, she slammed him back against the tree.

The trunk splintered and cracked from the force as she lifted him centimeters off the ground, well above her own height. She was easily crushing his wind pipe and it felt glorious, his face turned red. He coughed then smiled, "Temper Lilly?" he rasped.

"When I find her, you should hope she's in good condition," she threatened, "Or else, you will see my full temper." With that she released him, letting Kol drop to the ground.

Turning on her heels, naked as the day she was born, she headed back through the forest.

"Is that a promise, Lilly?" he yelled after her, grinning ear to ear, watching her go. They'd have to continue this later, now that there would be a later. Undoubtedly at that very moment Klaus was off somewhere fuming. They had missed another opportunity.

And he'd never been more thankful than in that moment for plans ruined. He may not have gotten exactly what he'd imagined, or rather let her imagine, but he was surely rewarded for his efforts.

Granted she wasn't writhing under him, while he pulled her hair, making the sweet, not so innocent, Lilly scream his name, pleading with him to continue. But strangely it was a different kind of satisfaction. Watching her turn and hunt him as he hunted her. Having Lilly relent as dawn broke, falling asleep on top of him: safe from the pack and most importantly Klaus.

Why did he care? He may have bought her thirty one days by not carrying her back to Harte Manor, but that wasn't a lifetime. Soon enough Lilly would have to die. That was unless Klaus had found a substitute during the night or could find another.

Was there not a whole forest of them, an entire pack surrounding them? Surely, Klaus could reconsider.

He had thirty one days...

---

She was splayed out on the table, completely unconscious. Elijah hovered in the corner, trying to look indifferent to what was soon to play out. Katerina was drugged and asleep as Trevor waited outside the door becoming a nuisance.

It was close to sunrise and Kol was nowhere to be found.

"He is doing this on purpose," Klaus accused, pacing the room.

"Klaus be reasonable. Mayhaps he is still looking for the girl."

"We should have found another," throwing his arms out in frustrated exasperation. "There was a whole forest of wolves. I should have just taken one…"

If the floors were made of wood, they would have been worn by now from his agitated movements.

"No, make no mistake, he's stalling, he's doing it for that girl," Klaus sneered. Relations between Kol and Klaus had never been good, but with each minute that passed, that Kol didn't arrive, they threatened to sever forever.

"He will come, Klaus. He knows what is at stake… for us all. The girl means nothing," Elijah responded, certain he was right. Kol had never loved or cared for anyone other than himself.

"It doesn't matter now, it's too late," his fist slammed on the table that held Lyanna. Patiently, Elijah tried to ride out Klaus's outbursts. But the more time that passed in waiting, the more he worried.

"Her arm, Klaus, if we don't treat it soon…." Elijah tried his best to sound technical and detached but his eyes lingered moments too long on Lyanna.

"I'll break the other one if you mention her name, one, more, time," Klaus threatened. Everything was slipping through his fingers. The wolf was gone, Kol along with her, Lyanna looked dead on the table and Elijah- the way he attempted to hide his apparent disgust at Lyanna's state. His eyes accusing, it was almost more than Klaus could take.

She did it to herself! He wanted to scream. In my position you would have done the same.

On edge, his hearing was more attuned than usual. Every creak in the Manor sounded like thunder in its amplitude. So when the doors by the servant's quarters, adjacent to the kitchen opened, halls away, Klaus was out the door and on his way before Elijah could think to protest. Kol was back and was soon to meet his brother's fury.

Looking to Ines, Elijah took his opportunity. Motioning to the blade she kept with the other items on the table, she passed it to him. Pulling up the sleeve of his tunic, he cut his wrist, letting the liquid drip into the chalice Ines kept amongst her things.

"When she wakes, you will brew her tea. Mix that with the tea," he instructed Ines who looked at him warily.

His efforts were likely to set his brother over the edge. What Klaus may have been so easily able to hide from Elijah and everyone else, wouldn't be kept secret from Ines.

The way he looked at the unconscious woman. His aversion spoke a little too closely to affection, and a hidden concern.

Yelling could be heard throughout the hallowed halls as Klaus and Kol made their way back.

"I did the best that I could. I tracked her until day light."

"And you could not bring her here?! She is likely off rallying the local village to burn us to the ground, as we speak."

"Must you be so dramatic, Klaus?" Kol yawned.

Turning, Klaus had Kol by the throat, lifting him from the ground. Twice in one morning, Kol found himself in this position, only this time it was slightly less exciting.

"You had one duty and you could not fulfill it. You are useless!" he bellowed, dropping him to the ground.

"One duty?!" Kol challenged, "While you were off chasing your little widow I was fending off a pack."

"Brothers," Elijah gently intervened, "What is done is done. We have missed another opportunity and now we must look forward."

Looking at Kol, Klaus snapped, "Out, I do not care what hole you crawl into. I want you out of my sight."

Smirking, Kol flatly answered, "Fine by me. It is meal time anyhow."

With each brother that entered and exited the room, Trevor who was waiting outside became more anxious and curious.

"Will you please deal with him?" Klaus requested of Elijah.

"Lyanna?"

Sighing, annoyed, Klaus answered, "Your widow is safe… for now. Ines will have a look at her."

When Elijah left to tend to Trevor and weave whatever fantasy of lies was needed for Trevor to drop whatever suspicions he was likely forming, Klaus defaulted to Ines. If one thing could be salvaged out of this ruined plan, this would be it.

Finally he'd get his answers about Lyanna Lockwood and the ghosts that trailed behind her. Circumspect, Ines leaned over the woman, wrist black and purple, swollen three times its normal size.

Taking the blade, Elijah had previously used, she subtly wiped the blood from the steel onto the back of her skirt before bring it to the girl's wrist. Quick and delicate, she carved a thin line, letting the semi coagulated blood drip into mortar she'd prepared. When she'd collected enough, the wound clotting, she returned to her stack of supplies, setting it aside.

"I need your blood."

Suspiciously, Klaus questioned, "What for?"

"You wish to know of the girl, do you not?"

"Do you know what it is?"

"I have my suspicions."

He bit into his own wrist, blood pouring from the wound as she collected it in the same mortar, watching the liquids meld together.

Red at first, oxygenated and healthy, together their consistency became black as night, like nothing she'd ever seen. It was a struggle between both sources for dominance, an unlawful yielding.

Looking at Klaus she dipped her fingers into the vessel, covering them in blood before allow it to drip out over the wooden table.

What was red and viscous before was now black and slicker than water. It spread over the wood, dividing itself before coming back together. As if it had two separate minds.

Confused, concerned, Klaus looked at the liquid that appeared as if it were poison.

"Ines?"

Without further occasion, she brought the mortar to her mouth, letting only a drop slip onto her tongue.

Closing her eyes, lips pressed together, the metallic, bitter liquid, diffused through the first layers of tissue below her tongue, mingling with her own blood. Quickly, she began chanting, her soft, punctuated phrases.

A bystander, Klaus had no notion what was happening. The seconds drug on, the witch became encapsulated in her own little world: her face contorting.

A woman with plain features, unnoticed and unappreciated struggles with a child, laying it down in a pasture of plants. On hands and knees she crawls forth finding a man and woman locked and rutting away like animals.

Niklaus.

Ines feels pain.

She sees the same young girl, watching a woman, remarkable in her beauty, identical to his doppelganger, as she lies to those around her- drawing them into her web of deceit. All the while the unremarkable girl stays silent, patient and always loyal.

Ines is flitting through time.

The original to his doppelganger is struggling in the woods, torn from her child. Her blood is spilling over dirt ground, a little girl reaching for her mother to pick her up- desperate not to be left.

Niklaus, again, but not as he was in the field. He's colder now. Predatory, life drained from his face. He looks at the plain girl, hungry. He tries to manipulate her only to receive resistance. He feeds just the same.

The girl is dead, lying in a field, a woman hovering over her.

"They'll be beautiful," she whispers knowingly, hands touching her face, bringing color back into her features: Magic.

There's a promise that is made. A connection, ties of loyalty, strings slithering out, like snakes, connecting this sad forgotten girl and her body to others: faceless figures, hovering in the shadows, like threads in weave- tied to her implicitly.

A black vine, wrapping around pale feet and legs, connecting some to faceless women: smell of Vervain in the air.

La via, la vertia, la luce

Darkness...

A young woman, dark hair, unsure in nature, looks up at a man. Cheeks red, eyes diverted, she takes his hand.

Niklaus.

He feeds from her, takes from her, whittling away at her innocence, light. And then she kneels over him stake in hand, plunging it into him.

"La tua cura, Pet."

Hatred in her eyes, she yells something Ines can't decipher before dropping into the unknown.

Darkness…

Pale eyes, a gentle smile and death: Ines can smell it in the air. There's loss and sadness, both his and hers.

Darkness…

Light. Blinding light and blond curls decorated with black snowflakes falling from the sky. Katerina's face flashes through Lyanna's mind.

Keep her safe.

"Let me show you…" she whispers, warm in its genuine feeling and comfort. Ines feels a sense of relief, joy but soon it turns to ash, filling her mouth, the smell of fire burning her senses.

"You will pray to the God that you deny and recieve only silence," echoes throughout her mind.

Pain, sincere, biting, unbearable pain, Ines can't take it.

Darkness…

Screams fill the streets, bodies fall in vain, blood spills on stones. The material of her dress is torn, blood smeared on her face. Eye purpling from a bruise and without hesitation she pushes forward the knife in hand, hatred seeping out of every pore.

"Vous allez mourir ou je le ferai," (You will die or I will)

Darkness…

There are feet dangling as his hand meets her skirt.

Memories, but they aren't real.

Darkness…

Incense in the air. She struggles, hands pushing hard upwards. But he's stronger. He's always stronger. Rosary beads sway and clatter against stone. Water splashes onto his hands. He closes his eyes, jaw tense and looks up. Christ on his cross, leering down in judgment, seeing and knowing all along.

But he doesn't believe. He won't let himself feel guilt.

"You are not light. And this is not your world," Niklaus answers this sorrowful figure.

Darkness…

Heavy rains falls, sweltering heat. She stands; dress thick with mud, dark hair lying flat against her face.

"You've given me nothing!" she screams. "Now it's all I have." He tries to hug her, pull her close, almost reluctantly on his part, but she pushes him away, leaving him.

He's always left.

Darkness…

Bloody feet patter against clean floors, the material of her short dress swaying as she struggles down the long hall. Sweat blotting into the feathers in her short hair, the stake in her hand scraping against the wall she uses to support herself, cold steel pressing into her thigh.

"Family, Emily... Family," some strange male voice whispers in her ears, urging her forward.

Ines feels disgust, loss but mostly desperation.

And love, bitter, rich, suffocating, maddening love. It's so warm that it's hot. It's so brief it feels unreal. It's so haunting that it crawls under Ines' skin, chilling, disgusting clawing at any sense of self and security a person could have.

She feels like death and wishes nothing more than to go back and revisit it all: every second, for only a moment longer. Couldn't this last a little while longer? The light, give her light.

Darkness…

Ines' eyes snapped open and she understood. The connection that she felt between them, so bitter and salient to every thought and inflection: there's a reason.

"What did you see?"

The beginning of the end for Klaus, a long line of struggle and pain, is all that ran through her mind. She saw a plain little girl that started it all, who for her loyalty was cursed and another… whose beauty was unparalleled along with her selfishness.

Ines saw the doppelganger that he sought and her protector that lay on the table before them.

"vid envenenado"

"What does that mean?"

"The finest wine can only come from the poisoned vine," she answered just as cryptically.

He would suffer, as he had sought to make Ines suffer and bend to his will, she would force Klaus into the same fate. Could she have told him then, everything she knew? Yes. Would she? No.

Just enough to keep those that she loved safe.

"Give me your hand," she requested. "You wish to see her connection, I will show you."

Ines could feel the wall that had been built around the woman. It ran in her veins, blocking him from her mind, leaving the girl a mystery.

When his hand touched Lyanna's hair, covered by Ines', it flooded over him.

Lilly's face followed by Katerina's and a feeling so strong, a need to protect. He could hear the crackling of fire and the howling of the wolves- sense her fears and worries.

Katerina's face, again, he could feel her forcing herself forward.

Katerina. Katerina. Find Katerina. Protect Katerina. It screamed through her mind so loudly it was deafening to Klaus.

He saw water, he didn't know where or what it meant. And he saw a stone. The moonstone? It looked almost identical. Fingers brushed over its polished surface, turning it. A thin yellow line ran down the back.

It was an imitation. Not the real thing. But they thought it was. He could feel the sense of urgency, surrounding the object and her obsession with it.

Eyes looked up, focusing on a man with dark hair, dark eyes and a welcoming smile.

"This is our legacy, Lyanna. We must protect this, for our children." He could feel it then. It was her late husband staring back at him. Eyes warm with love, hope.

And then the stone, the stone. Her mind focused endlessly on it. He could see it slipping below water and falling into darkness.

The lake.

Images of wolves again, surrounding her. Lilly's black fur appearing from the corner of her eye. Katerina, Katerina.

She needed to find Katerina and protect her.

Then he could see himself. Fangs bared, eyes dark, he stalked towards her.

Katerina. Katerina. Lilly… were the only thoughts that circled her mind.

Her feet were cold. Muscles and arm aching. He could see himself pacing on the shore.

Let me die. Just let me die, God. If I die and they live, it will be worth it.

The stone.

Katerina.

Lilly.

Wolves.

The stone.

Eyes snapping open, he looked down at Lyanna. There was a moonstone, a fake- product of another one of his lies over the years.

She wanted to get the moonstone and trade it for Lilly's life. She feared that was why they were there. He could see it flashing through her mind; concern that he sought her for the moonstone, to break the curse.

And her concern for Katerina, she was tied to her: strongly. Lyanna was connected to Lilly but this was different. Lilly could protect herself. Katerina was vulnerable.

"Tell me what you know…."

The power you hunt for you'll never find. The love you run from, you'll run to, forever. And the light you seek, you'll squelch, with every move you make,Ines thought.

"What did you see?"

"You know what I saw," a hint of anger coloring his voice. "Tell me the rest. I can only see what she knows… but you know more."

Swallowing, Ines answered, "She is a hunter."

"Is she part of the curse? A spawn from the original five that we spoke of?"

She hesitated.

"Tell me Ines, or your daughter will writhe in pain and every child born in your line after," he threatened.

"No. She is not from the original five that you say you killed."

"Then why is she here?"

"For you Klaus and for the girl, your doppelganger."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what you saw. Her connection to Katerina, it was strong was it not? Her need to protect her, shelter her," her tone toyed with him.

Yes, Klaus knew what he saw.

"She is tied to the doppelganger."

"And those before?"

"Yes..."

"Hannah, there was no doppelganger, nor was there with the other."

Ines paused in thought, before continuing, "The pull, that feeling that you have…. I felt it."

Klaus shifted uncomfortable, thinking to deny it before Ines continued, "Kill the girl and it will only become worse."

"The doppelganger…"

"They are linked."

It occurred to him then, as perhaps maybe it should have before. If they were tethered that could only mean that there was one witch that had cast the spell. The original witch that had cursed him: his mother.

His hatred for her now was more real than ever.

"If I kill Lyanna?"

"Another will come. If the doppelganger lives, another will appear in her place. She is here to keep you from her."

"And if the doppelganger dies?"

"The hunter does as well."

He should kill her right then and there. He knew it from the moment he met her that Lyanna was a problem. She would keep him from the one thing he sought more than anything else in life.

What Ines didn't tell Klaus, purposely failing to mention, was that he'd be drawn to the hunters. He'd care for, think of or love them all in different ways. She may have hinted but she didn't delve into the bloody truth of how poisoned that connection would be.

The more he sought the doppelganger, the worse the emptiness inside him would become. The closer, more connected he was with the hunters, the further from the doppelganger he'd be drawn.

Either option left him miserable in the end. Seek the hunter and kill their light or lose his power and what he desired. Slaughter the hunter and the more his madness would grow.

The poisoned vine breeds the finer wine.

He should kill her, but if he did he'd likely ruin things. Thanks to Kol and his inadequacies they now had another thirty-one days. Four weeks was too long for a person to be missing without questions. He'd have to let her live so he could have his doppelganger when the next full moon arrived.

Klaus would have to find a way to explain things to her. With Elijah's voice chirping outside to Trevor he knew he had to find a source better than himself.

He would use Elijah because as much as it bothered him, sickened him rather- their friendship, Lyanna trusted him. She'd believe the lies Klaus would concoct about wanting to protect Katerina and Lilly. She'd listen to Elijah explain that it wasn't they who needed the moonstone.

That their goal, his new lie: it was all to keep the stone from the wolves. For she would believe his promises of peace.

Lyanna would buy into the fairytales Elijah and his calm demeanor, sweet words, could weave. For of all the things Klaus had, all the lies he'd told, people he'd manipulated, he knew Lyanna would not be one. She was always a little too aware of him and his intentions for either of their own good.

---

Trevor gave him a simpering smile that Klaus quickly ignored.

"Rose."

Stepping forward, she nodded her head, reaching behind her for the boy. Young, he couldn't have been more than eight or nine. With a dirty face, hands and tattered clothing, he looked up at Klaus.

"Come forward."

Nervously the child looked back to Rose and Trevor whom only prodded him to obey.

"What is your name?"

"Simon, Mi Lord."

Klaus examined the child for a few moments; aware of both Trevor and Rose hovering nervously in the background, desperate for his approval- it was pathetic, really.

"What do you do Simon?"

"I work in the big house, Mi Lord."

"I see… and what exactly do you do there?"

"Whats ever the lady asks," he shuffled back and forth, from foot to foot, the reek of filth coming off of him.

Grabbing his chin, Klaus prompted the boy to make eye contact, locking his gaze as he compelled him, "You have a new job now. You will follow Lady Lockwood, Miss Petrova and when time allows, Lilly Lockwood where ever they go. You will listen to each and every conversation they have. You will take notice of whoever enters and leaves Greyshaw Manor at all times. And you will report back to me each night what you find."

"Yes, Mi Lord," the boy answered, his body slacking a little before Klaus let him go.

"Will there be anything else, Lord Mikaelson?" Rose questioned, stepping forward for the boy.

"Yes, bathe the child. You can smell him coming from a mile away."

Nodding her head, Rose shuffled the boy from the room, Trevor following. If his hunter was to live another thirty one days, one thing was sure, he'd know her every move, every conversation. Her life was no longer her own.

---

"Lyanna…" a voice called for her in the distance.

"Lyanna…" it grew louder by the second.

It was dark and she was falling, reaching out for something, anything.

"Can you hear me?" it was gentle, concerned.

She searched through her mind, trying to think of who it could be. Her head thrashed from side to side.

"Lyanna…"

He sounded like he cared, as if he was worried and knew she was lost. Maybe he was looking for her?

Nathaniel? Her mind whispered. It had been so long. She'd thought she'd forgotten what his voice sounded like. Maybe she had wished to forget.

Do you remember, love? Do you remember what I told you?

Something grabbed at her, brushing against her face- carefully.

It's our legacy, Lyanna. It protects us as I protect you.

Nathaniel.

Only he hadn't protected her. He had lied to her and had left her.

Lyanna, promise me you'll look after it.

She felt disgust well up inside her. Hatred from betrayal. She screamed out into the darkness, telling him what a coward he was. A snake with his lies, his pretty lies. His lovely lies that she would have believed forever.

"Lyanna!" this time the voice is less loving and much less concerned. Something cold is on her neck and face, pulling her out of darkness.

"You've slept long enough, Love," she knows this voice.

"Klaus…" another warns, the voice from before. It wasn't Nathaniel, but it was familiar, kind.

Elijah.

Her eyes flew open, looking up at Niklaus who was leering over her.

"At last, you've decided to join us."

She should have felt fear, Lyanna should've been crawling out of her skin, instead all she felt was aggravation. The smug look on his face and a throbbing in her arm. She moved to sit up and was hit with a wave of uncontrollable nausea. Without further pause, her head dropped, vomit from shock spilling out of her mouth onto Niklaus's foot.

Had it been anyone else in the world, she may have been mortified, apologetic. He lifted his foot in disgust, vexation spilling out of his mouth as he stepped from the puddle.

"Charming as usual, Lyanna."

Falling back onto the table, looking up at the ceiling, she wiped her mouth and closed her eyes. Her wrist burned so hot with pain that she could hardly focus.

"I told you we should have treated it long before."

"Yes, your comments are noted, Elijah."

There was a scuffling, none of which Lyanna saw; her eyes were closed, her body shaking.

"I'll leave you to it," Niklaus muttered, exiting the room.

As the door closed behind him, Elijah motioned to the chalice that Ines had poured hot water and herbs into.

"Lyanna, I need you to sit up," he tried.

When she didn't answer, he obliged. Sliding his arm beneath her, he wiped beads of sweat from her forehead.

"You are sick, Lyanna. I need you to drink this."

"I know what you are," she whispered in disgust, eyes opening, weakly pushing away the liquid with her good arm.

"Then you know that if I wished to kill you, if Niklaus did, that we would have done so already and we wouldn't use poison," he replied, his breath warm on her face.

"Take the drink, girl," Ines coaxed, holding it out to her again.

Turning her head, from the glass, she questioned, "Katerina, where is she? Where is Lilly? What have you done with them?"

"They are safe, Lyanna. No harm has come to them."

"Tell me where they are. Take me to them," she replied solemnly, still refusing the liquid.

"I will, after you drink. You are in too much pain to go anywhere in the state you're in."

When he lifted it again to her lips and she refused, he leaned in further, "Lyanna, I will not harm you. I would never hurt you. Drink this and I will explain everything and take you to both Katerina and Lilly."

She looked up at the Elijah, unsure and then to Ines who nodded her head in approval. Lyanna had no intention of doing a damn thing for these creatures until they took her to Katerina and Lilly, but if she had to drink whatever it was they were holding out for her to be able to get there, than she would.

Grabbing the stem, she threw back the warm, metallic tasting contents before handing back the cup.

"What was that?" her face, turning with a mixture of disgust.

"Blood, it will help your arm." Immediately Lyanna felt a desire to regurgitate every drop. As she leaned over the table again to revisit the contents, Elijah grabbed her shoulders, "No, keep it down. Wait just a few moments."

It was seconds after the last word left his mouth that she could feel it spreading through her. Warm and buzzing with energy, her jaw grinded together, sounds of pain escaping through her teeth as the bones fragments in her wrist and forearm collected, re-fusing and repaired.

Looking down, the purple mass of black, swollen tissue had healed itself to normal. Flexing, moving her fingers she looked at the change in awe.

"Now that, that is done…." Elijah released her shoulder, standing before her.

"Where is Lilly and Katerina?"

"Safe Lyanna, as I told you. There are some things we need to discuss first."

"We have nothing to discuss," she shot back, sliding from the table, backing away.

Quicker than she could blink, he moved from behind her to block the door.

"Yes we do. It seems that you now know what we are and we know what you are."

It had been years previous, after Nathaniel had turned that she'd heard the word. Lying in bed at night, post coital, a make-up from a particularly hideous argument that he'd started in a fit of rage, he told her everything. Or at least what she thought was everything at the time.

He explained about turning. Whom he'd killed and how it was an accident. He told her of the wolves, their history, the moonstone, the lands, even the pack. And when she'd asked why? Why did he turn? He answered simply that they must, for protection. He uttered the word vampire and followed by explaining to her the origins of the wolves, the curse and how they were hunted by the blood suckers.

"And what is that?"

"A wolf supporter," he answered, as if he hadn't known the entire time. "Do you deny it?"

She laughed, the ridiculousness of it all, "Amusing, a friend of the wolves? You mean the creatures that attacked Lilly and threatened us both in the woods?" her voice turned vicious, "Those who stalk our properties day and night, leering over us as if we were cattle to be fed on?"

"Yes… as a protector of the stone and Lilly."

The stone, how did they know of the stone? Her mind raced with fear.

"It is no secret, Lyanna. The moonstone is well known with our kind and the curse."

She swallowed, waiting for his next move.

"However, that is not why Klaus found you in the woods…" he paused, stepping away from the door.

"That part of the curse is untrue. The moonstone means nothing to vampires. Believe me, if it did we would have taken it from you already."

"Then why are you here?" She questioned, not quite convinced.

"Because it does mean something to the wolves and if you know of the curse and the value of the moonstone then you know just how desperate they are to have it."

"If it means nothing to you, then why are you so interested?"

"The moonstone will not help our kind but it will help theirs. And since, as I assume your former husband was a wolf," he raised his eyebrows in question, "As is Lilly now, I'm guessing that you are aware that her kind and ours do not mix."

"You prey on one another."

"Not precisely. Wolves are very territorial creatures, as I am sure you know. They tend to not like other predators moving into their territory. We happen to prefer peace. If you give the wolves the moonstone, they will be given control over their urges… and henceforth also control over us."

Lyanna looked to Ines whom sat expressionless.

"Why were they in the woods?" she questioned slowly.

"Klaus and Kol? They feared that you would give the moonstone to the wolves. You see, we've been aware of Lilly's condition. We know the wolves are after the stone and in a moment of desperation, people tend to act irrationally."

"So you had no intentions of hurting us?" she didn't believe it, she remembered the look on Niklaus's face.

"I have no intention at all of hurting you. Klaus however, may have been easily been swayed if you had indeed given up the stone."

Lyanna looked at him for a long hard minute, trying to decipher if he was lying to her.

"Niklaus said he had plans for me…."

"He wished to uncover from you where you've put the stone."

Again Lyanna laughed, "As if I would tell you," she mocked.

"That is what we figured," Elijah returned with a smile, "So now it seems we are at a cross roads. We wish to keep the stone from the wolves and you wish to keep the stone from us."

"I wish to keep Lilly and Katerina safe…."

"We have no intention of hurting either of them, especially Katerina."

"And why is that?" she questioned tartly, suspicion oozing from her every pore.

"For the moonstone to work for the wolves, they need a doppelganger, a look alike. We were alerted some time ago, that the stone was located in this area. Katerina was a pleasant surprise."

"And why is that?"

"She's the doppelganger that they need."

"What do you mean need?"

"For the wolves to break their spell, they have to sacrifice the doppelganger- kill her. Obviously, this is not something that we would wish to see."

"So you were using Katerina?" she questioned harshly, worried about the girl's his feelings and her obvious affections. How stupid young girls were in love.

"No, I wouldn't call it that. She holds no benefit to us, however if in the hands of the wrong people she could prove to be detrimental."

"And Kol and Lilly, Katerina and Niklaus," she paused, before continuing, "You and I?"

"All genuine affections, I assure you. We had no intentions of befriending any of you… developing feelings." His face softened as if he might've been telling the truth.

"Why do I not believe you?"

Looking to Ines, he replied, "Because it is a difficult thing to conceive. If you wish to be sure, I can show you." He nodded to the witch who moved, taking Lyanna's hand. Covering it with her own, she placed it against Elijah's cheek, whispering something so quickly that Lyanna couldn't make it out.

Before she had time to pull away or question what it was that they were doing, she could see it.

Their arrival to Harte Manor, their introduction to the women.

Herself through Elijah's eyes. Conversations he'd had with Katerina, times he'd seen Kol speak sincerely with Lilly. And feelings, she could feel a burst of feelings and concern come over her. Worry over the wolves and their interest in the girls. Elijah's concern about Katerina and Lyanna, as she laid unconscious and his affection for them all.

Dropping her hand, the images disappeared. Had she only seen them and not felt the emotions behind them, she may have called them lies. But what she felt was sincere and difficult to deny.

Backing into the table, she had laid on minutes before, she tried to think of what to say.

"You can see now, that I have not lied to you. We have come here to protect the stone. We have involved ourselves only out of concern and real interest."

It was too much, too information floated around her brain, mixed with the lingering feelings she'd just experienced from Elijah and all of their connotations: memories from the night before, of disgust, fear, hatred and worry.

"I'll never give you the stone," she answered suddenly.

"You do not have to."

"And I will not tell you where it is, either."

Shaking his head, he responded, "That is not necessary. As long as you do not give it to the wolves, we have no need for it."

"And the girls?"

"We will continue to look out for you, Lilly and Katerina, with or without your permission. No harm will come to any of you," he paused, taking a step forward, "And with your permission, we would like to, still see you. I would like to still see you. I understand that this is new and perhaps you will need time…" he moved a little closer, "But we cannot help what we are Lyanna. Any more than you can help who you are."

She was neither repulsed nor welcoming at that point, only concerned: Lilly, Katerina.

"I would like to see Katerina now, if you please? I would like to take her home."

"Of course," he answered, as the door behind him opened. Stepping through, Niklaus eyed them both before questioning, "So we have come to an agreement?"

"On our end," Elijah answered, carefully, looking pointedly at Lyanna.

"We will protect you, the women and Greyshaw, as long as the stone stays out of the wolves' hands," Niklaus commented, forcing Lyanna to meet his gaze.

There it was: Lyanna's two options. She had to pick her poison: side with the wolves, who would love nothing more than to tear them all to shreds or believe the vampires, who by nature were just as predatory but offered a beacon of hope in their desperate situation.

What choice did she have? Lyanna had to protect Lilly and Katerina, even if it meant getting in bed with the devil himself.

She nodded her head solemnly in response, "Take me to Katerina."

Obliging, Elijah touched her shoulder leading her from the room, when Niklaus caught her arm on the way out, leaning in close, he whispered, "My brother may have an affection for you, but I do not. We will protect you and your family, but if you cross me, go against your word… there is punishment for liars, Lyanna."

As Lyanna shrugged him off, Niklaus looked down at her wrist, completely healed. Blood, while he was gone, Elijah had given her blood- his blood.

As she left, following Elijah down the hall to wake and collect Katerina, he watched them go.

Those were his lies that she had been fed and believed and his promises that she had decided to buy into, not Elijah's. Elijah may have healed her with his blood, soothed the worries of her mind, but it was Niklaus who had offered the olive branch.

He'd have a talk with Elijah about his attachment. He'd have to scold Kol again, berate him to no end for his failures. He would keep a closer eye on his brothers and their wandering affections.

And he'd keep his distance from Lyanna. Somehow, by whatever means, she may have an instinct to protect the doppelganger- his doppelganger, hunt him if need be. But one thing the pretty widow didn't know was that she was well out of her league.

Thirty one days or not, if she crossed him, threatened his plan again- he'd end her. And this time he wouldn't feel guilty.

---

Katerina looked at her strangely the whole way back to Greyshaw.

"Is Lilly alright?"

"Yes, Kat," she looked out the window her mind racing a mile a minute. How could she be so stupid? What had she involved herself in now?

"Are you alright?" she looked at Kat and wanted to say no. Nothing about what had just happened was alright. The look on Niklaus's face played and replayed in her mind.

Should she tell Katerina? What would she say to Lilly? One thing was for sure, she would speak with Elspeth immediately.

When they returned home, it was past the noon hour. Elspeth greeted them both with a look of knowing that screamed Lilly had gotten to her first. She knew.

"Where is Lilly?"

"Resting."

Lilly wasn't resting; she was waiting for Lyanna as was Elspeth. They were waiting to discuss their options. Excusing herself from Katerina, she followed the old woman back through the kitchens alive with the sounds of potatoes being peeled, dough been kneaded for the bread they'd consume that evening, workers smiling and nodding their heads as she passed.

Upon seeing Lilly the girl ran to her, embracing Lyanna tightly, "I thought you were dead."

"Hardly, Love."

"What did they do to you?"

Closing the door behind them, Elspeth rested against it.

"Nothing."

"You know what they are?" Lilly questioned, unsure for a moment.

"Yes."

"We need to go to wolves, immediately. Let us strike a compromise," Elspeth urged.

"No."

She looked to Lilly, "Have you forgotten that they tried to kill you?"

"Lyanna… what they are…." Lilly couldn't say it. None of them could say it.

Again Elspeth assured, "Perhaps if we give them the stone. They will leave us the lands. We could bargain with them, Lyanna."

"They will turn on us as soon as they have it. The pack will not protect us from the Mikaelsons. They would sooner have them slaughter us first and save them the trouble."

"Do not talk like that, Lyanna."

"Is it not true?" she looked to both the women who couldn't contradict her claim.

"No, the stone is what will keep us safe. It is the last thing we have." Her mind went to the lake. In a matter of a week perhaps, even days it would start to freeze over.

It was sink or swim. Choose the lesser of two evils. The Mikaelsons had offered clemency, an alliance. The wolves would sooner see them rot.

"We have made an alliance with the Mikaelsons. It is done." Before the women to think to protest she explained the details of the curse, the information that had been revealed to her through Ines's use of Elijah. She explained the complexity of their situation, leaving out the risk to Katerina.

It would have been a terrible position to put Lilly in. Here she was cursed with something she could not control and Lyanna held the key to it all. She knew where the stone was and with knowledge of Katerina as the doppelganger, it would be too much to ask Lilly not to be tempted.

When she was done, Elspeth stood, arms folded, a pained look of worry on her face. Lilly sat silent, confused. They should hate the Mikaelsons and be doing everything in their power to distance themselves. But they had saved them last night from the wolves. They had left Lyanna unharmed and somewhat swayed by the vision she saw through Elijah. And Kol, he'd found her last night. He'd saved her from being tracked down by the remaining pack members and any others that lingered in the woods. He spared her death.

Was that the act of an enemy?

"I do not think they will harm us," Lilly responded at last. "Kol could have let the pack have me last night, or killed me this morning and he did not."

"Lyanna…." years living amongst the wolves had hard wired Elspeth and her sympathies, along with her inherent distrust of vampires.

"We will do what we must to survive Elspeth."

"And Katerina?"

The women knew to tell the girl would be cruel and possibly too much to handle. "No," and they all agreed. The morning could have been settled with that had there not been a knock at the door.

"My Lady, Father Hall is here to see you."

Rarely did the priest from their abbey ever visit the Lockwood Lands. When Lord Harte was alive, Father Hall frequently made visits to the house on the hill, even once or twice coming to Greyshaw before Nathaniel's passing but never after.

When he was shown in, after Lilly and Elspeth excused themselves Lyanna could tell that it would't be a social visit.

"I think we both know why I am here Lady Lockwood."

When she didn't answer, he finally replied for her, "I know Lyanna. I have known about the wolves for quite some time. And if I did not, it would be impossible not to now. Fifteen souls were released to our dear father last night…."

Quickly recovering from the revelation that their secret was not so secret, she began to wonder what his intentions really were. If he was looking for her to offer words of apology he was clearly dipping into the sacramental wine.

"Fifteen souls that tried to kill both Lady Lilly and myself," she corrected not so politely.

The older man sighed; hand running over his face as if he were unsure what he'd say next. Finally he began, "Things used to be not so complicated Lyanna." It was strange and almost inappropriately too familiar for him to address her by her given name. She didn't even know his, to do the same.

"The pack, used to not be at war with one another. Before many things happened…." he reached into his garb removing a handkerchief, dabbing away the sweat that was collecting on his brow. It was a nervous sweat, perspiration of guilt.

"I need to tell you something Lyanna, something that perhaps I should have said long ago."

As he prepared to delve into a speech that had kept him awake, many nights contemplating, neither noticed the young boy hovering in the periphery. Small for even his age, Simon could fit into any nook or cranny, making himself invisible in any background.

"Many years ago, Lyanna, I knew a woman, her name was Claire," his voice started to crack. He nodded at the canter of wine, resting on the adjacent table, "If you please…"

Nodding her head she reached for the goblets, pouring the wine as he continued, "She was your mother, Lyanna."

The priest looked nervously to the widow Lockwood whom didn't respond. Her body stiff, face expressionless, he wasn't even sure she was breathing.

"Lyanna… Lyanna?" she didn't answer, as he continued to call out, her mind was a million miles away. Lost in a sea of thoughts, screaming at deafening pitch as they raced through her mind.

"Lyanna, the wine!" his hand clamped down on her shoulder hard, bringing her back. The wine had overfilled the goblet, spilling over the silver tray, dribbling down the dark oak, blotting into rug.

She dropped the canter with a clatter, aware of the mess she'd made. Hands shaking, she attempted to clean the mess but it was no use. Wine continued to drip onto the floor, forever staining the rug as the priest took the goblet, draining its contents, continuing, "She was sent to my parish many years ago, from Paris. She was so young then."

"Excuse me?" she stammered.

Of all the words that could have come from his mouth, these were perhaps the cruellest. She blinked, not quite sure that she heard him correctly. The shock, made it impossible almost for her to absorb.

Claire, Lyanna thought, she felt her heart stop. She had a mother. Her name was Claire.

"Your mother, I knew her well Lyanna. She was sent to me, many years ago from a special order of Sisters. These women were different, Lyanna. They were skilled in other," he paused, "Talents."

She was giving him a blank stare, as if her eyes had glazed over. Giving her a few moments of silence, he sipped his wine before he continued, "I also knew your father, Lyanna." This was where his guilt revolved: years having had his suspicions of Lyanna. Not until she was close to five and ten was he almost sure that the girl was Claire's. She looked the picture of her.

She breathed, the air rushing out of her mouth, like she'd been caught under water, her eyes focused on some distant object.

"Lyanna… Lyanna…." He called her back, "Are you still with me?"

"Yes father," she answered, her voice distant, as she slowly came out of her stupor.

"Where is she?" the words tumbled out of Lyanna's mouth. The only family she knew she had was quite distant and had no notion of who she was, save Katerina showing up on her doorstep, many relatives removed; hardly even family, but needing a home.

She had a mother, she could still be alive.

"Gone, Lyanna, many years past."

She was holding her breath again, trying to force it out but it caught in the back of her throat, she feared if she tried to breathe, she'd vomit or cry out. So she held it still.

"I wish I could tell you more about your mother. But I did not know much. When she was sent to me, she- they were, sparing in details. Only specific about where she should be placed."

Her thoughts jumped immediately to her 'father'.

"Where is he? Does he know of me?" The words rushed out of her mouth in haste.

Father Hall's face went grim. He handed her his glass to refill, as a distractor from her intense stare. He felt as if the Father himself were looking down on him, judging him for the mistakes he'd made.

"Yes… before his death, Lord Harte knew who you were."

Slipping through her fingers, the glass bounced against the stone floors echoing throughout the room. Scrambling to pick it up, she clenched her hands to keep them from shaking as Father Hall continued, "When you were still a girl, close to six and ten, I went to him. I explained what I knew…."

He paused before continuing, "He had no children Lyanna. Lady Harte passed years before."

Millions of questions ran through her mild, muddled with intense feelings of loss, "How did…" she stopped, afraid to ask. It seemed a crude question for a priest, to inquire how her parents had met and carried on a torrid affair.

Seemingly understanding where she was heading, he picked up, "When his son passed, he was greatly changed. He would frequent the abbey, daily coming to confession, looking for guidance…." he stopped, not needing to continue. The picture was clear enough.

"I had intended when I knew who you were to offer you protection in the church."

"Protection? From what?"

"From whatever it was that your mother was running from. That the church was trying to keep at bay."

His answers cryptic, however a man could not answer a question if he did not know himself.

"By that time I realized whom you were, you would soon wed. I thought that with the Lockwoods, the wolves- that she… she would have approved. And that it was best to leave you."

"Approved?" Lyanna stammered, accusingly, feeling as though she may cry at any moment. She had a father and she had a mother. They were so close the entire time and he waited until now to tell her.

"I would have considered Claire a close acquaintance. I was aware that there may have been an affection between the two of them, but I never…..When her condition became too obvious to hide, the church threatened to cast her out for her sin."

The look on Lyanna's face said it all, horror and disgust, eyebrows furrowing together in judgement: thoughts of a woman with a child and no means, left to wander the countryside, or worse the streets of London.

"It was not my decision, Lyanna. I have superiors as well…. They were sure that her sin would be a poison spreading, infecting those around her. When Claire knew that she had to leave, she worried of her future. She worried for you."

"So she left me, in the moors?" she responded, cynically.

"I think she meant to take you to him, bring you to Edmure, to stay. For him to keep you safe… but things happen."

"Do they now?" She couldn't pin point what it was, but everything in her wished to scream. Perhaps it was better to never have known that about her mother. She'd rather have spent her whole life making up her own story, promising herself that she was loved; that whoever left her did so because they had no other choice.

Each word, he said, hammered cracks into every lie she'd ever told herself and she resented it.

"I convinced my superiors to keep her for a time, until you were you born. That it would be unchristian to cast a woman out in her time of need…. Afterwards, I sought to find a way to allow her to stay but they were adamant."

He looked to her now, easily thirty years her senior, as if he were pleading his case, trying to justify his every action.

"The last time I saw your mother, she left with you, traveling I assume to your father. She had nowhere else to go, Lyanna. She couldn't take you with her and she couldn't stay. She had to go over the moors, full moon or not."

A hideous image flashed through her mind, causing her nose to wrinkle, face to grimace, the thought of her mother- a woman she never knew, ripped limb from limb, gurgling on her own blood, attacked by the things she saw last night.

"Years later, before his passing, Lord Lockwood, he…," the priest was visibly trying to force himself to continue, uncomfortable, making Lyanna fear what new terrible revelation he had. "He came to confession. He was overcome by guilt, Lyanna."

The edges in her peripheral vision started to go a little hazy, the words coming from his mouth and none of them quite making sense.

"He could not control himself. He said he couldn't quite remember but he was sure…. When he woke the next day…."

She held up her hand, silencing his yammering, she'd heard enough and didn't want to hear anymore. The image was clear enough.

Every pretty fantasy she'd concocted about her mother and father, told herself when she laid awake at night, things she'd reassured herself of, whenever Nathaniel used to mention children- their future children. They were all gone. Lovely lies, strangled by ugly truths.

She'd been abandoned in the moors, by a mother that had been eaten alive by the man that offered her shelter for almost the entirety of her life, out of guilt.

He'd acted like a father to her. Treated her as if she were the same as Lilly and Nathaniel, all along knowing what he'd done. The thought of it made her sick.

"He felt remorse, child. I promise you that."

His promises were little comfort as the walls seemed to be closing in on Lyanna, making it difficult to breathe again. Crumbling, every truth she thought she could still try to hold on to, cling to, was turning to dust in her hands.

Rushing to finish his story before he lost his nerve or she exploded with grief, the priest continued, "When I told Lord Harte who you were…." It was subtle, the moisture that had started to gather at the corner of her eyes. But she held back, she wouldn't do it. It had been close to year since she had last cried; that final time, she swore to herself that she would not do so again. Not over a Lockwood man and not out of self pity.

"He wanted you, Lyanna," the priest comforted. "You were all that was left. He intended to tell you, to legitimize you…."

"Why didn't he?" she cried out. Why did he not ever tell her? Why did the man who lived on the hill, attended dinners in their home, associated with her husband never tell her whom he was?

"I think Nathaniel thought it would be too much for you."

Too much?! She wanted to scream. Nathaniel and his opinions on what was good for her and what was not. There had been moments before and there would be a few after this that she'd again question if he ever even cared for her at all? He left her with a mountain of lies and a sea of troubles and he thought that this truth was too much?

"When your late husband died, Lord Edmure was all that more determined to tell you the truth. To be honest, no matter the with all the things that were changing and the pack had planned to do…. But he passed before he could."

Lord Edmure, her father, had been brutally killed. It was not even days past Nathaniel. She hardly remembered it, so encompassed in her grief.

"Edmure was part of the pack, Lyanna. He knew what they planned to do, that they would kill Nathaniel for what he'd done. He knew there were consequences amongst men for such actions…. They killed him because they knew what he intended to do." A priest, a man of God, was condoning murder, violence and an unjust end?

Before Lyanna could balk, he continued, "They wanted that stone long before, what had happened Lyanna. It was only a matter of time. Nathaniel's sins were only an excuse. Lord Harte, Edmure, refused to support them in their quest to get it. He would not support Arthur in his challenge for pack leader. And if he legitimized you, their claims to your land, Greyshaw, all of it would be denied. You'd be a member of the pack Lyanna; under Edmure you'd be safe. They do not attack one another's families. If you were a Lady-" he paused feeling terrible for even mentioning it, "If you were Lord Harte's heir, if Harte Manor was yours. The kind of power you would have had in this area…. You'd be unchallengeable."

"And you condone this, them killing one another? Slaughtering each other, lying, over land and that stupid stone?" her voice shook with the beginnings of rage.

"No, but it is not I to judge either. The King of England will not do anything about these problems because he is oblivious. The Holy Church refuses to acknowledge the existence of these outlying issues."

The way he said 'issues' screamed: Unnatural, unclean.

Setting down his glass, he leaned forward to take her hand in comfort but she denied him, "Give them the stone, Lyanna. What I saw this morning will not be the last. They will continue to come for you and this property. It is only a matter of time. There is nothing that I or anyone else can do. Perhaps with the stone…."

He was right. It was too late now. Even if she could make an appeal to the king, with Father Hall to corroborate her claim, it would never work. To try to seize those lands now, she'd have to go against the Mikaelsons, Niklaus- his words still ringing in her ears, if you cross me, there is punishment for liars….

Father Hall was too late. He'd given her a solution that came at the price of death for her, Katerina and Lilly if she tried.

"No," she replied firmly, "They will never have that stone."

The priest sighed, knowing all along that would be her response. In a rush to get out his argument, he started, "Lyanna, you could give them the stone. Lady Lockwood still has family, she could leave this place. Katerina…. She could go back," this time he took her hand by force, "Come into the church. You are widowed. I will speak with my diocese. We can keep you safe. Your mother…."

"Is dead," the words fell out of her mouth like a curse.

"You do not have to be as well."

Rising, she walked around the room, finally answering, "I will not leave Lilly or Katerina."

"You would not be leaving them chil-"

She silenced them with her raised hand, "I said, I will not be leaving, Lilly or Katerina. Greyshaw is mine. These lands are mine."

"Lyanna do not be a fool. Do not let pride, guide your decision."

She looked around the large sitting room. The home that had saved her as a child would kill her in the end, "If they wish to take this land from me or that stone, they will have to pry them from my cold, dead, hands."

The priest, sat in silence for a moment before answering, "I hope that will not be the case." Rising as well, he touched her shoulder, "My sincerest apologies, I should have told you sooner."

Lyanna couldn't answer. She feared what she'd say.

Before leaving the last thing Father Hall said to Lyanna was, "I loved your mother like a dear friend, a sister. If you should ever need anything, Lady Lockwood… you know where to find me."

When the door clicked behind him, Lyanna stared around the empty room for a few brief moments. When she was sure she was alone, her hand clutched her hip to keep her from throwing the nearest object in rage, the other covering her face, as she cried. Shoulders heaving, gasping for air, she wept like she hadn't in over a year.

She'd had a mother, her name was Claire. She loved her and died, in a futile effort to keep Lyanna safe. She had a father, who knew whom she was but never said a word because she had a husband who did nothing but lie to her, all in the name of protection, what he deemed as caring.

She loved and hated this place: surrounded by lies and secrets, now ones that she was perpetuating to stay safe. Greyshaw both home and hell, was the only place she'd know.

Looking out over the moors, to Harte Manor, she knew what was done, was done. This was the family she had now and nothing could change that. A thousand tears couldn't reverse time or erase facts. She wished she never knew- could have instead held on to her simple childhood fantasies, ones that could have kept her warm with illusion forever. Now, she was left with nothing but the truth, which was always bitter, cold and unforgiving.

Lyanna never spoke a word of what Father Hall said to her to anyone. Lilly wouldn't understand, Katerina wouldn't either. And Elspeth… to tell Elspeth of her mother and father, to cry to a woman that raised her like her own about a family she had lost would be cruel and dismissive.

She thought the entire revelation, could stay what it already was, a dirty secret and no one would have to know. No one except for Simon, who sat aghast, wedged between a large oak table and the wall. The boy would have many tales to tell Lord Mikaelson when he went to him this evening.

For days Lyanna would think of nothing else other than Father Hall's warnings. Ones she was already well aware of. They'd keep coming for her, until they killed her. The Mikaelsons offered protection, but a woman could never count on a man's promises- living or not.

She needed that stone. It was the last thing she had that could possibly separate her, Lilly and Katerina from death. And if she waited too long, she'd not be able to get to it for months, not until the spring.

---

Her feet slid on the thin ice, parts of it cracking beneath her. She should have chanced it before, been braver. The lake would be frozen over completely in less than a week. It was now or never. Had she waited even longer, she'd be completely out of bargaining chips.

She hadn't told Elspeth what she'd planned, afraid of what the older woman would have to say.

It was early morning, only an hour past dawn. Crunching through the light snow that dusted the grounds, she had stopped every so often, paranoid, she guessed. Always a little too alert these days. She'd wake at night in sweat, Lilly and Katarina's screams filling her ears, pleading for help. Elspeth lying dead on the floor, her throat ripped out to silence her warnings. All of it only in her mind, but so close to what could someday be real.

Nothing, not even a bird, stirred in the forest as she slid along its thin surface. Removing her shoes, taking off her coat, her skin prickled in the cold morning air, her breath fogging before her face in a white cloud. The ice thinned half way out, dropping off towards the middle of the lake. Stepping onto the newly formed sheet of ice, she knew that would be where she'd enter. Looking around one last time, her clumsy fingers worked at the ties at the back of her dress, unlacing each one, pushing the material down her hips until she was in her shift. Any excess weight and she'd never make it to the bottom.

Without another thought, she slipped under the surface. Her breath caught in her throat, choking from the frigidness. It felt like a thousand needles piercing into every inch of her skin. Everything in her screamed to get out: her teeth clattering. But she couldn't. She had to do it. Taking one last gasp of air, her head slipped below the surface, legs kicking as she dove downwards.

What if she couldn't find it? What if it wasn't there? All kinds of thoughts raced through her mind, her eyes burning from the sediment and chilly water, fish flitting away while she made her quick path to the bottom.

Reaching it, fingers combed through the sand, etched along the bedrock, looking for a burlap sack. It wasn't there. Her lungs screamed for oxygen, her nerve endings firing so rapidly, feelings of pain where taking over her mind.

Her first attempt failed. She drifted to the surface gasping for air, closing her eyes from the shock of light and chill, her hair froze immediately as it broke from the water's surface. Her lips turned grey, eyes threatening to freeze shut if she closed them for too long, Lyanna prayed to anyone that would listen that her next attempt would be successful.

What if she couldn't find it? What if it was lost?

Keep trying, she told herself, plunging back to the bottom, limbs growing stiff and less productive with each descent, locking from the biting conditions.

Lyanna's paranoid instincts were superb. She was indeed being watched by more than one person. But just as- a predator, watched her, that individual was also being tracked. Partially covered by the trees Elijah could see the wolf waiting for her on the shore, yet to be discovered.

The more she struggled, the more relaxed the wolf became. Elijah need not wait to know what the man had planned. How careless Lyanna could be. When Simon, came running onto the grounds, through the snow, pounding on the cook's doors, Elijah was sure something horrible was soon to happen.

As fortune had it, the boy found him before Klaus, telling tales of Lady Lockwood leaving the Manor in the early hours of morning- going toward the woods.

Elijah grappled for minutes on whether if he should tell his brother. Whatever Lyanna had intended on doing couldn't have been good. Klaus would likely react impulsively. He'd lash out against her, no matter how minor the slight, as lately he'd become even more withdrawn, suspicious and sensitive to any matter concerning Lyanna.

As soon as he saw the lake, her clothes, Elijah knew what she'd come for and was immediately relieved that it was he that found her and not Klaus. Even more relieved was he that he'd made it there before she emerged from the water and the wolf got to her.

Had the water not been poisoned with Vervain he would have helped her. It was painful to watch her struggling against the water, gasping for air each time she came up empty handed.

"Lyanna…" he sighed. Hadn't Elijah hinted, requested, and discouraged her from entering into the woods alone? And still she didn't listen. Like a fool, she came unaccompanied and vulnerable, asking to be attacked.

When she disappeared from the surface once more, Elijah made enough noise to make his presence be known to the wolf, who turned to find him. Both men exchanged a look, knowing what the other had come for. Neither was willing to leave their claim. Without need for encouragement the thick man headed in Elijah's direction, looking for a fight, a smirk spreading across his face.

It was one of the more engaging kills Elijah had made in some time. For moments the wolf struggled under his grasp, clawing at him, snapping, hoping to make contact with skin. All the while Lyanna was oblivious, continuing her search.

The sound of his neck snapping echoed throughout the quiet forest, the man's body dropping lifelessly to the ground. Righting his appearance, looking back to the ice's edge, it had been close to two minutes since the last time Elijah heard her gasping for air. That was too long, something was wrong. As the seconds crept by he became nervous, until he could take it no longer. Stepping out onto the lake, he was not even a yard into the frozen water when he heard it, the cracking; feeling the shift under his feet.

When she'd walked upon it the first time her weight had begun the fracture, his was the final straw. Breaking off from the larger sheet, the newly formed island moved him forward, away from the shore. Water slidding onto the surface but wasn't the reason Elijah started running. The sheet had drifted forward, moving over the place where Lyanna would come up to break for air.

Covering that area, she'd suffocate- drown.

With moonstone in hand Lyanna sluggishly pushed off the lake's bottom, her lungs burning for air, limbs so stiff they were useless, her fingers had formed a claw around the sack.

"Only so much further," she told herself. But the closer she got to the surface, the sooner she found out how wrong she was. Panic set in as she could no longer see the light, a dark shadow covering where she knew before to be open space.

Ice.

Her hand pressed up against it, pushing hard. It wouldn't budge.

She looked side to side, heart racing. Darkness as far as her eyes could see. Panicked she screamed out into the icy waters- as if someone would hear her. Her fist pounded against the sheet, hoping to break through.

Sliding above the surface, Elijah could hear it, the faint knocking sound.

Lyanna.

He dropped to his knees, following the noise, scrambling to find its source. Looking down through the thick sheet, he could see the outline of her shadow below and hear the faint knocking.

She was drowning.

It had been years since Elijah had felt that kind of fear, mayhaps never before.

"Lyanna!" he yelled out into the forest. The knocking started to grow faint. He looked around, there was ice for yards.

In less than a second his fist was pounding against the ice. Hard and fast, it cracked and splintered around his point of contact, like fragments of a web. Blood spilled over the shards of chipped pieces as he continued to beat away.

When the ice finally broke, water splashed up, burning his healing cuts.

"Lyanna!"

The knocking had stopped. Without thought, he shrugged off his cloak and jacket, diving into the water.

Everything burned, like being set on fire. In fact, that may have been less painful. Opening his eyes for moments his pupils sizzled as he swam to where he'd heard her last knocking and found her pressed against the ice, body limp. Grabbing her around the waist he dragged her to the opening.

Face hitting air, skin lacerated from burns, he groped at her hips pushing her up and onto the surface, sliding her over. Crawling out, steam poured off his skin- a strange picture in a land of frost.

"Lyanna!" He shook her, turning her on her side, landing a sharp slap between her shoulder blades.

"Lyanna!" She coughed, spitting up water, coughed again, eyes still shut.

"Everything will be fine."

As he lifted her off the ice, he noticed it. Looped around her finger, was the burlap sack, in it he assumed the stone.

She was partially conscious, curling into him, "Elijah," she murmured, eyes opening.

"Yes and you are lucky I found you." Gliding over the ice, he was careful where he stepped. All they needed was to fall through once again.

His skin had started to heal itself from the burns, Lyanna shook, frost forming in her hair on her skin, stiffening the material of her cotton shift as moisture froze from the air.

"Lyanna, what were you thinking? You could have drowned."

She coughed, shaking hard, knowing even in her dazed state that she was doomed now. She'd been caught. How she knew, she couldn't explain.

"Eli-j-ah…" she chattered, "I had to, Elijah. Do not tell him, please. If you c-care for us, me-"

"I do not know what you are speaking of," Elijah lied. If he cared for Lyanna, if he cared for Katerina, he'd not breathe a word of this to Klaus. He'd not chance his brother flying into a rage, deciding to kill Lyanna and hold Katerina as a hostage.

What had he gotten himself into? Family: Klaus, Rebekah, Kol and even Finn, they had a purpose. He had a purpose: loyalty. He had promised Klaus. He knew what was at stake.

But was it all just a game to them? Was the whole thing a lie? When he looked at Katerina and she smiled at him, and every moment he'd shared with Lyanna in warm understanding- it wasn't an illusion. It was real, and difficult to forget.

---

When Simon had come to him, late in the evening, telling tales of the events of the house, the coming and goings of servants, conversations between the ladies, Klaus had almost missed the most important revelation the boy had, so distracted by mundane details.

His little interloper mentioned Lyanna being carried to the house, in the early hours of morning by Elijah- how his brother had fished her out of the lake just in time. He spoke as if, he assumed Klaus was already privy to the information. But his brother had failed to mention both Simon's early morning visit and Lyanna's trip to the lake where she had apparently fallen through the ice, only to be saved by his dear brother.

What to Simon seemed nothing but an interesting tale, to Klaus reeked of deception, both Elijah's and Lyanna's. He knew why she'd gone to the lake and furthermore why Elijah had kept it secret, all day not a word from him about the ordeal.

He was doing it for them, her in particular. Protecting her, as he knew what Klaus's immediate reaction would be. Discipline the unruly by rectify the act of defiance. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, the stone was insignificant. But the forethought behind it was not.

She given her word that in exchange for protection she'd not give her fake stone to the wolves. Risking her life and fishing it out, spoke volumes about her loyalty and notions of alliances. Now was not the time for her to be questioning the promise she'd made to them.

This was days after the boy had revealed another troubling detail in Lyanna's ever unfolding story. Each room he passed into in the great manor now had different meaning. They had not only compelled this home and lands from King Henry- stealing it out from under some other desiring Noble, but had also taken it from the widow Lockwood.

Irony, his existence never seemed to be short of irony. Here they sat on the solution to all of Lyanna Lockwood's problems. If she claimed this land, was named Lord Harte's only child, the wolves would surely back down, cower from her increasing power or at the very least, reconsider whom they were dealing with. From the boy's full description of their conversation, it seemed that the priest was desperate for her to give herself up.

And even more, he was full of troubling secrets. The old distinguished Lord, seducing a lady of the church. It made Klaus smile at the thought. Perhaps he would have enjoyed Lord Harte's company- wolf and all. Humans and the moronic little webs they weaved.

In all truth, it was a sad little story that played out like some Italian tragedy his brother would have adored: all of it with Lyanna standing in the middle, drowning in others' mistakes.

They had her throttled in more ways than one. To cross them, she'd have to be a damn fool and still with every turn, she acted in defiance. Fishing out the stone, what would be next? Would she be naïve enough to attempt to circumvent them? Go to the wolves or worse yet, attempt with her new found information to appeal to the Parliament?

The only thing more perplexing then Lyanna's complete lack of self preservation was his brother's disconcerting silence, over recent events- deafening in its betrayal.

When he dismissed the boy, Klaus mulled over his new conundrum, one of many as of late. With the boy's revelation about Lyanna's heritage, both the problematic genesis of her newfound possible advantage and the unearthing of another piece in her mystery, he fingered the old letter.

He hadn't read it for close to a hundred years, only kept it tucked away with the few other private belongings of his. But now, he read and reread its contents, looking almost for it to map out all of his unanswered questions from Ines.

When he'd taken it from Anne's home, that putrid day in Serres, he never considered its importance. It read like a hasty plea: join the church, let the Lord save your soul and abandon your child.

It had been signed and dated, by a Father Nicomedes, sealed with the sign of the church. Perhaps it was coincidence, Lyanna's mother coming from church and this letter. But the boy's retelling of the priest's story suggested something else.

A string of his hunters, he'd obviously missed. But what would it matter anyhow? Lyanna would die with Katerina and it would be done. He refolded the worn letter, placing it again in his drawer.

It would be another day that Klaus would wait before Elijah finally came to him, casually informing him of the situation, as if every word from his mouth wasn't a blatant confession of intended betrayal.

"The boy came so suddenly, I had to act."

Listening, trying to quell his tongue from bursting forth with ridicule and accusations, Klaus continued to dismissively recorrect the lines of the figure in his drawing, "Did she retrieve it?"

"Yes and almost died in the process…."

"Almost…." Klaus corrected, sharply, not bothering to even look up from his work.

"Yes and where would we be then? What do you think would happen to Katerina if Lyanna passed? I thwarted a disaster."

"And managed to keep it secret for close to two days. Tell me Elijah, if you acted, as you say, in the best interest of the plan, then why be so furtive?" Klaus's eyes cut into his brother, looking for a slight falter in his features, the tell tale sign of deceit.

"I acted only in your best interest Klaus and am I not coming to you now?"

"Only because you know I knew. And do tell, brother, I'd love to hear your laminations on how your attempts at duplicity were acting benevolently in my interest."

"You would have acted capriciously, Klaus, compromising our already mercurial arrangement with Lady Lockwood."

"Capricious? More accordingly, is what I assume you meant. Defiance will not be tolerated with that woman, I do not care what fictitious, temporary attachment you have formed with her. She will follow our agreement to the letter or she will pay duly."

He'd yet to appraise Elijah of Lyanna's true origins. The story of Lord Harte and the new inconvenience his idolatry had bought them. Soon enough, he'd let his brother in on his little revelation, but only what was necessary for Elijah to know.

He had yet to divulge the complete findings of Ines. He'd likely never tell him the full story of the hunters and their connection to the doppelganger as soon enough there would be no need to do so.

"Is that necessary Klaus? Is the matter not solved? The stone means nothing."

"It is not the stone, brother; it is the impudence behind her intentions. If she will attempt this, what else, I ask you?"

"Klaus, can you blame the woman?"

No in truth he couldn't. Rash as it was, most any practical person would have considered it. Considering was not the problem, it was the undertaking of such a breach of verbal contract that was unforgivable.

"Lie to me again, Elijah and I shall stake you as I did Finn."

A dark expression passed over Elijah. Threats, they had never succumbed to tactics like this between them before, not since her. Not since Tatia. It was portentous in its illustration of the atrophying lines of trust between them.

"Klaus, I have never been anything but loyal to you. I would never risk our safety for one little human woman. However, I think if you were to give it some thought you would see-"

"I would see that you are clearly blinded in this situation. I will deal with Lyanna Lockwood as I see fit. And I suggest that you keep your distance from her as you seemingly cannot separate your weak humanistic inclinations from prudent action!" Klaus snapped.

"My association with the widow Lockwood has done nothing but aid our efforts. If you had foresight, dear brother, you would see that your alienation of her has done nothing but impugn our every advancement."

"She is nothing but an obnoxious casualty, Elijah. It seems that you are the only one that cannot see that. You will stay away from Lyanna Lockwood, for so help me, if you cross me one more time, attempt to act without my knowledge or aide that widow again, I will desiccatee you myself after I rip her limb from limb."

Looking back, Klaus would possibly see this as, not the beginning, but most certainly a harbinger of the division that was already forming between himself and Elijah: one that would officially be catalyzed over Katerina's disappearance but originating, taking deep root, with Lyanna.

---

They hadn't spoken since that day in the forest. They'd seen one another a few times in passing, on the road, but no real communication beyond that.

Five hundred years he'd walked the earth and this morning may have been the first time that Kol had ever set foot inside an abbey, mosque or temple.

It might likely be another five hundred before he'd do it again. Both of his brothers had given him a few sideways glances as they readied themselves to leave for the abbey early Sabbath morning.

They went to spy on the ladies of Greyshaw. Could not Kol use the same excuse?

No.

They badgered him the entire coach ride there, until finally he'd insisted that he'd run out of delectable locals to feed from. The abbey was nothing more but a simple gander at the food market.

After two hours, he wasn't so sure he'd lied. Ready to rip out the throat of the first person whom crossed his path after too much prolonged boredom, the entire ordeal almost seemed worth it as soon as he saw Lilly, set slightly apart from Elijah and Katerina.

"Did you enjoy the lesson?"

Lilly looked at him warily. She was well aware that they had come, sitting rows behind them. She could smell Kol long before she saw him.

"Perhaps more than you, I was not aware you were allowed to enter sacred ground."

"I made a deal with your devil."

She didn't seem impressed in the slightest.

Taking her by the arm as people passed by them, he directed her away from the crowd, to the side of the stone building, into the small graveyard.

"Come now, just because we now know who each other are doesn't mean that we can't still enjoy one another."

"No in fact I would say that, that is exactly what it means," she tugged her elbow away.

"Lilly," he didn't know why he cared. So what if Lilly Lockwood wanted nothing to do with him? There was a whole village of women, in fact an entire household of serving girls for him to play with.

The only problem, as he'd discovered over the past week of their silent standoff, was that none of them were quite Lilly.

"What?"

Confronted with this annoying little issue, he pressed forward, choking a little on his pride, "I have not changed. I'm still the same person I was before."

"Still a lecher?"

He smirked, "Only for the right tease."

Everything about Kol screamed the blatant warning of NO. It would be just Lilly's luck that she'd finally garner a man's attention and he happened to be one of the most despicable creatures that walked the face of the planet.

"How would I know that I can trust you? You've proven yourself to be anything but trustworthy."

Hand on chest, as if he were wounded, Kol feigned, "Me, untrustworthy? What would lead you to that conclusion?"

"You lied about who you were."

"You did as well," he had her there.

"You've been invading my dreams. A gentleman would never do such a thing."

"Funny, I do not remember you complaining at the time."

She blushed, regrettably, "That is not the point! That is the behavior of someone who is not trustworthy and undeserving of my time."

Undeserving of her time? Internally Kol laughed, this is why he liked her. A baby werewolf, not yet even eight and ten, still a virgin, considered herself to be too important, no rather, too refined for his company. Did she not know who he was? What Kol had seen and done over the years? There were parts of the world that revered him as a god.

Impertinent she was but part of Kol, the underlying insecure part that he hid (at least he thought he hid) so well behind his quick wit, unpredictable temper and menacing behavior, worried that she might be right.

"I promise to no longer enter your dreams."

"You are too late, I started taking Vervain again, and therefore that is not a sincere concession."

He sighed rolling his eyes, "Fine Lilly, how am I to prove myself trustworthy if you do not give me an opportunity?"

"An opportunity?"

"Yes, I cannot refute your accusation if not given the proper occasion."

"And what would this opportunity consist of?"

"Perhaps if you were to get to know me," he began and then quickly regretted it. This would be the type of trick he would attempt with any other supernatural creature. Blaming his relative inexperience in these types of situations, with female werewolves, he didn't account for Lilly's impeccable ability to differentiate between fact and fiction, until it was too late and the suggestion was already made.

The things he'd do for a little stimulating entertainment.

"You're willing now to tell me things of yourself?" she'd tried this with him previous, before their encounter in the woods. Kol had been quite tight lipped about himself, his life and any personal details.

Kol's mouth tightened, searching his mind for any of the usual tactics he'd use in a situation like this, to defer from the intended path of conversation.

"I accept. But only if you are honest," she stopped, to make her point, "And I will be able to tell if you are not."

"What are we, children now? Is this a game?" he snapped.

Put out by his insulting comment, she replied, "I am not the one who sought your company. If you wish me to leave, I would be more than happy..."

Feminine manipulation, it reminded him of Rebekah.

"Ask away," he answered, waving his hand, looking back to the carriage. There was no sight of Klaus, Elijah and Katerina seemed to be deep in conversation.

"Where are your mother and father?"

"Dead," he answered emotionless. Although Mikael still lived, as far as he was concerned the father he'd known as a human was dead. Whatever feelings he'd had about Esther and Mikael, his parents, not the co-conspirators, had long since dissipated over the past 500 years.

"And your sister, Rebekah? Where is she?" How did she know of Rebekah? Immediately Kol's mind jumped to the defensive but then relaxed when he realized she wasn't probing him for information to use maliciously- he hoped.

"Staying with family elsewhere."

"You are lying," Lilly corrected him. She was right, he was. Kol knew where Rebekah was and he'd be damned if he'd tell anyone, even as harmless as it may seem.

"Next question."

"No, I want that one answered."

"Safe, that is all that is pertinent for you to know."

"Why is she not here with your brothers now?"

She was like a dog on a bone; Kol knew this entire thing was a terrible idea. He should have gone back to his serving girls.

He hesitated, before she warned, "And do not lie."

"A few reasons, one being that she and Klaus have had their differences over the years."

"Differences? It seems pretty petty to me to separate yourself from your family over a disagreement."

"Yes, well over the course of a few centuries, it was more than one disagreement and a few that were a little more than an exchanging of words," as Lilly opened her mouth to ask another question, he stopped her, hand raised, "And that is all I'm willing to say on that matter."

"How many centuries is a few?"

Clever, no his real age would be a little too revealing, however perhaps it would teach her to mind her elders.

"More than two," he answered somewhat cryptically.

Kol watched the revelation of his age pass over Lilly's face. Skipping quickly to her next questioned, she stammered, "What have you done with all that time?"

"Traveled mostly: Rome, Spain, the Russian Empire. I've seen the Mongols, trekked far enough south that I've seen men as dark as night and spirits you will never read about in books."

If Lilly was impressed it didn't show, as she failed to linger on his exploits and instead with a wrinkled brow continued, "And where did you call home?"

"Where ever I wished. The south of France, the Swedish states..."

"No," she interjected, "Where was home?"

Kol tried to smirk, come up with something tart to say, but the longer she stared at him waiting for her answer, the more difficult the witty replies were to come by. His hand ran through his hair as he looked at the ground.

"Come now, you can't find more interesting questions than these? Do you not wish to know what princes and Kings I've conversed with? What beasts I've fought? Where I've-"

Cutting him off in the middle of his rambling, this might have been the first time that Lilly had ever seen Kol vulnerable. It was shocking, much more so than whatever other tales he thought he had to impress her with, "Where is home, Kol?"

"I told you, I have had many-"

Again she interrupted, repeated her question now, almost like a chant, "Where is home, Kol?" It was a simple inquiry, but he felt as though he'd been stripped naked and left for public ridicule.

He shifted uncomfortably; he should have fed before he came to the abbey. He was likely to go mad and kill half the parishioners if she didn't stop.

Watching him shuffle, almost nervously, avoiding her gaze, Lilly felt a strong sense of emptiness and loss coming from Kol. It could have been her imagination, perhaps just her interpretation of his behaviors because she wasn't aware that wolves had the ability to sense other's emotions so keenly. But she could have sworn she could feel both on Kol like a written sign.

"You do not have one, do you?"

Like a petulant child he shot back, "What would you know about home? Trivial things such as those don't matter when you aren't human."

"Yes, they do. If they didn't then you wouldn't be so upset." She'd struck a significant nerve, one she never intended to agitate. Lilly only assumed that everyone must feel the same as she: they had a place where they were welcomed, loved, needed even, if only by one other person.

"Is Harte Manor not home, now? Your brothers are there."

"And so that would make it home? What is a home anyhow? It's only a place where your belongings are kept. I have plenty of those."

That place was not home. Elijah and Klaus wanted him there no more than he wished to be there, most days. Elijah and Klaus didn't need him; they had each other and their little plans, the never ending system of competition and companionship between them.

For a while he thought things might be different with Rebekah. When she'd left Venice with him close to four hundred years ago, they'd spent the last four centuries traveling where ever they pleased, doing whatever it was that they wished.

She told Kol she could be free with him. Rebekah could act as she wished; carry on hundreds of her brief affairs with her pathetic human males without judgment. She could live her life without fear, for she knew Kol would never turn on her, leave her cold in a box as Klaus had Finn.

He told her that someday, they'd find a way to release him. So Rebekah could be unburdened of her guilt. He had thought that they needed one another. If Elijah had Klaus, he would always have Rebekah. But as soon as the threat of Mikael had come into the picture, in truth before, he realized that would never be true.

Rebekah may run to him when she fled Klaus but she'd always prefer their brother. She may have stayed away, even with the looming threat of Mikael hunting them, but Kol knew it would only be a matter of time until she went back to Klaus.

And then what would Kol have?

"Home is where you are at peace, where you belong and are wanted- always, no matter what."

No, Kol didn't have a home. He had a spiteful father, who will kill or torture any of them to get to Klaus. He had a dead mother and brother and another that was held hostage by two members of their family whom could care less whether Kol perished or not.

Maybe Rebekah ran to Kol because she thought he'd protect her from Klaus. His brother wouldn't waste a dagger on him. He'd rather let him run free, out of sight and mind, then keep him in a box like Finn, carrying him around everywhere he went, a burden.

"It seemed that we are not the loving family that you have enjoyed."

The words came with an amused expression but she could see just below the facade he was attempting with her, there was someone who was lost. He may have lived eight life times more than she, but Kol was perhaps more confused about life than Lilly had ever been. She'd never had to question whether Lyanna loved her, wanted her.

How terrible it must feel to have an eternity of those kinds of questions. Kol seemed to be many great things, many of them deplorable in nature. But he'd saved her that night in the forest knew whom she was the entire time and had not been repulsed.

He most certainly was not a knight from the fairytale stories Elspeth and Lyanna had told her when she was still a child. But he had other redeemable qualities and despite recent events, honesty was one of them.

Elspeth would likely douse her in holy water if she knew; start muttering in Gaelic, praying to Mary for intercession, Lyanna would surely disapprove. But if she asked Katerina, she knew she'd tell her 'yes'. A person couldn't help how they felt, even if it was wrong.

Kol watched Lilly licked her lips as if she were trying to decide something. Maybe he'd disgusted her with his small lapse, his exposure of weakness?

Apparently settling on her answer, she stepped forward, not caring who saw. Leaning up on her toes, she framed his face with her hands, pulling him closer, "You are a terrible lecher and you think yourself to be much more humorous than what you actually are...but..." he was about to make a snide rebuttal when she leaned in and kissed him. Not like their other hurried, hungry ones.

It was gentle and sincere. Pulling away she finished, "You are not forgotten. I will remember you."

"Lilly!"

Lyanna waved to her from the carriage.

"I'm sorry, I have to go."

Kol didn't respond as she ran back to the carriage. It seemed she was always the first to go, leaving him with too many thoughts. Ones he shouldn't be thinking. The kind that would get him killed if Klaus found out.

It was a terrible advantage she had and played it well. He was sure the thousands he'd preyed on over the years that, for the rest of the meager lives, never forgot him.

It wasn't being remembered by someone that gave him this feeling. It was being purposely remembered by the right person.

Lilly was just a silly little werewolf. What could she possibly know about the tedium of eternity, the emptiness that came with being the only one that seemed to not have a purpose?

Still tasting her on his lips, it appeared she knew more than Kol could have imagined.

She'd remember him and Kol would never forget her, no matter how terribly he'd wish differently over the next five hundred years.

---

Looking around as the people filed out of the abbey, Niklaus immediately noticed Elijah and Katerina standing beside the carriage, Lilly, Kol and Elspeth not far behind but no Lyanna. Maybe she could sense that he was looking for her and had decided to hide, run, or seek refuge?

No, nothing about that rang true to any part of Lyanna. If she knew he was looking to confront her, she'd likely have been there; prepared, dagger and sharp tongue ready.

He wasn't going to leave without addressing her little indiscretion first. Niklaus would be damned if he had sat through two hours of mindless blabber, the proselytizing of fairytales, without getting what he'd came here for.

Ducking back into the abbey, he checked the sanctuary again and found it empty. There were only so many places for a lady to hide. Then he saw it, tucked away at the end of the long hall, a woman exiting.

Nodding somewhat politely at the elderly lady that passed, he made his way down the corridor, stepping inside the sequestered room. Behind a heavy dark curtain, there was a collection of candles, seated at the foot of a marble statue of Mary.

A few rows of dark wooden pews, spread out over the wide room and a gaudy, rod iron cross complete with marbled Christ skewered to it, was at the front of the confessional area.

Empty, he noticed her immediately, on her knees, in front of the first row of pews, waiting for the priest that would come to sit in the bench directly behind, listening to the sins of his parishioners.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are those among children and blessed if the fruit of thy womb. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for sinners now and in the hour of our death."

As she continued onto the next bead, whispering to herself, he snuck into the room without detection.

What did she pray for? He wondered. It shocked him that a woman as practical as Lyanna would believe or practice such trivial, contrite traditions. If he were honest with himself, he could have listened to her for a while longer, pondering what it was that sent the humans running in fear to such idealisms. However he sensed that their time would be short.

Absorbed completely in her thoughts, hoping for insight as to what she should do about her current predicament, Lyanna had come to confession for the first time in close to four years. She feared it would take her another four, to confess and be pardoned.

Although she may not have completely trusted Father Hall, he seemed to possibly be her only ally. And if she ever needed advice from either Father Hall or the father himself it was now.

"Lyanna..." his voice, sent chills down her spine as she looked up to find Niklaus leaning against the adjacent wall.

"Come to ask for forgiveness?"

"Go away," she answered, closing her eyes to continue. Why was he here? How his skin didn't start on fire the moment he entered this place, was beyond her.

"If you wanted my forgiveness, you need not kneel to ask for it," he resumed.

Does he know? she wondered. No, she was sure, from the look Elijah had given her before he left, that morning he'd saved her from the lake, that he would not breathe a word of it. Perhaps he didn't even know of what she was doing?

How did he know that she was there? How did Elijah know she'd be the lake?

"Although that might be interesting..."

Her face, crumpled in disgust, caused him to smirk briefly in return before he acted. Moving quickly behind her, he clamped his hand over her mouth, restraining her arms before she had a chance to act.

"I think someone has been lying to me," he teased, harshly.

Struggling, she managed to get one hand free as she attempted to uncover her mouth.

"I think someone has not been holding up their end of our bargain."

Irritated, she screamed, hoping someone would hear and come in, forcing him to stop. He knew. Elijah must have known what she was doing.

He'd told him. Of course he'd told him.

Unrelenting, he squeezed her hard enough that she swore her rib would crack under the pressure, before continuing, "What was it that you told me, Lyanna? I believe you said you hated liars."

She writhed against him, squirming in every direction but failing to make progress.

"Interesting that you said that, Love..."she hated that he used that now. That was her word to condescend to him. Now he used it against her like a weapon.

"I hate liars as well..."

Her rosary scraped down the seat of the wooden pew, leaving an ugly white mark in the dark wood. The harder she tried to squirm away from him, the harder he pressed her forward. Hand over her mouth; sounds of her struggle were muffled, even as she bit through the flesh of his fingers, his blood dripping through her teeth before the wound could heal.

One of her hands clawed at his, clamped over her mouth, the other one snaked behind her, ripping at the skin of his throat, trying to tear at his face as he effortlessly moved out of her reach. She bent forward, desperate to get away as he pulled the back of her thighs tighter against the front of him.

"What did I tell you about crossing me, Love?" desperately, she swung again for his head- missing.

His arm pressed into her diaphragm, forcing air out, sending her spiralling further into a panic, making her feel as though she'd suffocate.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Lyanna?"

His fingers dug into her ribs, possibly bruising, his knuckles brushing the underside of her breast.

"Hm?" he continued, as if she could even answer.

He was going to strike the fear of God into her, even if it meant suffocating her in the process, possibly making her cry, struggle and scream pleas for him to relent. Enough was enough. The crime was no more egregious than any other- harmless really. But that wasn't the point. She couldn't be trusted. If he let this slip, what else, which might actually be significant, would she try?

Did she think she could turn Elijah against him? That he'd sever his loyalties to Klaus over one human woman? If she thought him weak because of his brother's vulnerability, would she be bold enough, to attempt to bring Father Hall in league with her, go to the Parliament? Would she try to peculate Harte Manor, right out from underneath them? Think them to be ignorant, unaware of what she was planning?

Insolence was a dangerous thing.

She bit harder into his hand, possibly hitting bone, blood dribbled down her chin, blotting into the sleeve of his arm. Trying to both scream and breathe, whilst not drowning in fluid, she swallowed his blood, regretfully.

"Did you think I would not find out?"

Her hand made contact with his head this time, grabbing him by the throat, squeezing pathetically as he shrugged her off. Trying to strike again, her bottom pressed notably firmly against him, eliciting a small rush of lust.

If she were wise, Lyanna would have held still. He didn't know what he enjoyed more, finally feeling as if he ascendancy over Lyanna or the rigorous fight she was giving him in return.

Running with it, more on instinct and possibly to further prove his control, his fingers danced up, feeling over the cloth covering her right breast.

Weeks before he thought twice of calling her by her given name. Now drunk on authority, proximity, he boldly stopped thinking, letting predatory instincts take over.

"Anything you do, Lyanna, I'll know," he threatened.

It was a violation, a perversion really. She fought back, gnawing again at his injured fingers, more blood rushing into her mouth, forcing her to swallow, inciting him further.

His hand slipped under the neckline of her dress, groping her. Pinching her nipple, soft at first, causing a dull ache to form between her thighs, which she tried to ignore.

She hated him. What kind of sick, abhorrent creature was he? Had he no respect for anyone, fear of anything- attacking her in the abbey?

But a person's body and mind weren't always connected it seemed. And neither was Niklaus's understanding of pain and pleasure, as he purposely pinched until he applied enough pressure that pleasure soon became pain.

"Do you fear me?" he questioned, whispering into her ear, before dodging her hand once more. She held still suddenly, trying her best to ignore him.

He wanted nothing more than a reaction from her, this she knew. Niklaus fed from it, needed the attention she'd denied him. As Katerina would trail behind him, like she assumed countless women previous, hanging on his every word, clinging to scraps of his attention in adulation, Lyanna refused to venerate him.

Without validation, he'd soon tire, after he'd felt he'd proved his point and surely leave her. Perhaps if he had his little speech then they could be done.

Perhaps not….

Leaving her breast, his hand dropped to the hem of her dress, mildly struggling with her for moments as she tried pushed him away.

Disappearing beneath, he leaned in again once more, hand sliding between her thighs that she tried desperately to keep closed.

"You should, Love. You know not whom you toy with."

This was a point of no return. Having a brief glimpse of what he was entering into, his hand rested on her thigh, her breathing heavy as he could feel her chest rise and fall.

His intentions were to scare her, make sure she knew whom she was dealing with. This crossed a line; Niklaus hesitated for a moment.

Fingers brushed forward, punctiliously, somewhat absolved by what he found.

She could have died of embarrassment. She surely would rather have God strike her dead at that moment then have him discover what was disgustingly already evident to her.

Finding her damp, he smirked, "Are you not going to pretend to struggle anymore?" Tracing the outline of her, he continued, his finger dipping inside, causing Lyanna to clamp down around him, reflexively trying to force him out.

She waited for some other hideous thing to come out of his mouth. Making her feel even more culpable for the malfeasance her body was willingly participating in. But instead he was silent. Sparing her his dialogue, his forehead pressed to the back of her veil, as he took a private moment- breathing deeply in wonderment.

Her smell... yes, he remembered it now from that night by the fire, it lingered in the room where she'd slept in Harte manor, similar to how her scent perfumed every drawing, letter and other thing that he had kept tucked away with the handkerchief she'd given him.

I'll burn them all tomorrow, even the drawings, he swore to himself. He would let her words to Elijah go up in smoke, just like his thoughts of her; watch as her smell dissipated in the flames along with that ridiculous white square of cotton.

Yes, tomorrow would be the day that he'd rid himself of her influence.

Except for one letter…

He'd leave one for prosperity. To remind him what a moment of humanity had brought him.

What could keeping, just one, hurt?

But for now, since it wasn't tomorrow, he'd let himself enjoy this.

Maybe it was the sudden silence that allowed her to do it- to release her thoughts for a second. She'd pretend, or try to anyhow, believe that what was happening wasn't between her and Niklaus. It could have been Elijah.

It's Elijah... flitted through the back of her mind, as she tried to convince herself of things she knew were lies.

As he moved inside her, her hand dropped from his arm, gripping the seat of the pew, rosary beads, clinking off the wood. When his thumb traced over her clitoris, he received the reaction he sought, as she murmured, her bottom curving back further, rubbing against him.

"Ly," he breathed, so quiet and muffled she didn't hear.

Tracing circles, he moved his hips up against hers, as she subconsciously pressed further into his hand. Her fingers grabbed at him again, this time making contact with hair at the nape of his neck. Short, she caught what strands she could, tugging hard, ripping it from the root, causing him to hiss against the back of her head as she continued to move against him, he against her.

Eyes wrenched closed, she tried to pretend that it was okay. That what they were doing wasn't only a violation of trust, affection, of both Katerina and Elijah, but also a crime committed against God.

As his fingers quickened their pace, a lewd smacking noise softly filled the room that was lit by prayer candles, perfumed with incense, and otherwise bathed in reverent silence. She could feel him hard against her, his hips rocking forward, in encouragement, his hand falling from her mouth to her breast outlining her nipple through the fabric.

Sinful thoughts, corrupt thoughts, flooded out other nagging ones, as she started to vibrate around his fingers.

She should have been fighting. She should still be clawing at his face. Lyanna should be thinking of Katerina- possibly even Elijah, of every pretty word he'd ever said to her and every foolish thought of a future she may have let wander into her mind.

Most of all, she should have been thinking about not only what she was doing and whom she was doing it with, but also where she was doing it. Rosary beads clattered at a steady pace-in unison with their hips, his hands, her breaths- against the pew, as Lyanna bit her tongue and repressed a moan. All she could focus on was stumbling towards the finish, finding the release she wanted so terribly.

Fluid rushed over Niklaus's fingers, her walls contracting around them, the remnants of sex and raw want filled the air, mingled with incense and her smell. His noise pressed further into her veil covered hair. Poison, the whole thing reeked of poison- deadly in its deception.

The poisoned vine, breeds a finer wine, Ines' voice rang in his ears.

As Lyanna finished, her eyes snapped open, taking in the sight of Christ on the cross: his lidded, sorrowful, tortured expression, crown of thrones and all, looking down on her.

She was going to hell.

Lascivious thoughts swirled around her mind, colored with guilt. When she could feel herself being nudged, her hands flew out, bracing her shoulders for the fall as she found herself bent forward on her knees, her legs being spread, skirt raised over her hips.

The alarm bells that should have been sounding in her mind were muffled by post release bliss, mixed with desperate lust. Cold air hit the back of her thighs, her flushed cheek pressing against the cool pew seat.

Stop this. Stop this, now, Lyanna! Her mind screamed. And she may have had every intention of doing so, when she suddenly felt her skirts dropping. With her shoulders being forced back, Lyanna found herself once again in a sitting position, her bottom rested on her heels, with no one kneeling behind her.

The shuffling of robes filled the hallowed halls, as the priest passed by the door, preparing himself to take the Eucharist before attending to Lyanna's confession.

The spell was broken. As quickly as they were sucked into their little world of debauchery, a higher power, or rather the priest, took it upon himself to interrupt with his looming threat of entering the room within minutes.

Looking around, she found Niklaus feet away, lighting a candle as if he were preparing himself for confession.

Her cheeks burned bright red, veil pulled completely from her head, breasts peeking out from the top of her dress. Scrambling from the ground, straightening her skirts, she retrieved her beads from the pew, readjusting the veil over her hair.

Turning from the statue of the Blessed Virgin, he called to her, "Lyanna..."

Her knees ached, along with other parts of her she'd rather not think about.

"Stay away from me," she threatened, quickly making her way to the door.

"Lyanna…" he continued less patiently, "You will think on what I have said?"

"No," she shot back quickly, answering the question he'd asked earlier, "I'm not afraid of you." And he knew it then that she meant it. Standing there, with her still sticky from his fingers, his blood smeared and dried on her chin, she looked at him with more disdain then he'd ever seen from anyone in his life, even Hannah. It was an immediate separation, dissociation, of her from him.

"Do not ever touch me again. Do you understand me?" she condescended to him, like he were a child and she were the disciplining adult, erasing whatever they had just shared, understood, moments before.

Five hundred years, he'd fucked, fed and terrorized at his own free will. Two months with this women and he felt as if he lived his whole life under tyrannical control, disciplined with the harshest emotional forms of corporal punishment at each turn. The worst of it, she didn't even have to try to be indifferent- she just was. Easily, controlling her emotions, it seemed; able to shut him out without another thought, as he should be able to do with her.

As she turned to leave, return to those that waited for her, rendering him alone, Niklaus yelled after her, spiteful as ever, "Go then, run back to my brother!" almost as a challenge, a curse, pointing out her sin.

She didn't look back, only clutched her beads tighter. Stopping in front of the pool of holy water, she dipped the sleeve of her dress, into the aqueous, oiled liquid, using it to wash his blood from her face. Embarrassed, confused, she looked up at the stained glass window behind the sacred pool and saw Christ with his apostles.

Reaching out to them as they slept, blessing them for the trials ahead, there were only ten figures pictured with him in the Garden of Gethsemane: Phillip in the distance, crucified upside down and Judas standing outside the gates, looking in.

Judas, she was worse than Judas. She'd sworn, like Iscariot, that she'd not betray Katerina or ever think of leaving Lilly. She had cursed liars.

She was a liar, a terrible, awful, liar.

Crossing herself, Lyanna could have sworn she could feel the thirty pieces of Sanhedrin silver jingling in her pockets, weighing her down; the noose of guilt closing around her neck. She'd sold her soul for protection. She'd gone against nature, what Nathaniel would have wanted.

She'd been forced into a precarious association with evil itself, all in order to save Katerina, Lilly and Greyshaw. Little did she know that with her soul, her own thirty pieces of silver, she'd bought from Niklaus, Akeldama.

"For the sake of his sorrowful soul, have mercy on us and have mercy on the world," she prayed, looking up at the window one last time before leaving the abbey and Niklaus behind, finding Katerina, Elijah and Elspeth waiting for her beside the carriage.

---

It was quiet when they came. Just after the evening meal. Katerina lay in front of the fire, Lilly playing with her hair. Mindless chatter, everything light hearted, much more than what they deserved but soon, as with everything, it would end.

Reading her book in the corner of the room, Lyanna felt the chill and head the foot steps before the door burst open.

"Lady Lockwood?"

He tracked snow behind him, along with a trial of female servants, a guard from the door.

"You cannot be in here?" he protested, but the intruder wouldn't listen.

"Lady Lockwood?!" he bellowed even louder.

Dressed in a thick wool cloak, dyed royal blue she hardly could believe what she saw.

"Yes, that is I," she answered, placing her book on the side table, standing in greeting.

"I tried to tell him My Lady that you were not taking visitors," the older female pleaded.

"It's fine…. How can I help you?"

"I am here by order of the Hundred Courts, you are under arrest," quickly he moved toward her, another man whom was waiting in the hall, stepping forward.

"Lyanna?" Lilly and Katerina, rushed to her aide, scared, trying to intervene, not understanding what was happening.

"Why?" Lyanna boldly asked as he took her by the wrists, starting to bind them together.

"For conspiracy and murder of over a dozen souls on your lands, not a week past."

"Lyanna?" Lilly grabbed at the man, to stop him, but he shrugged her off.

Tying her hands tightly behind her back, he pushed her towards the door, the girls beginning to cry, scared.

"I will be fine, girls," she cried over shoulder, "Find Elspeth."

As they shuffled her down the halls of her own home, a man at each side, those who worked for her watched looking down on Lyanna as if she were a common criminal, walking to the executioner's blade.

Not struggling, she followed willingly, being given no other choice. She should have seen this coming. Perhaps this was what Father Hall was trying to warn her of, this type of aggression.

What she'd do now she didn't know.

---

When the girls found Elspeth, the elderly woman moved as quickly as if she were six and ten. Her first inclination was to go after the Sheriff, try to plead with him. Perhaps they could purchase Lyanna's freedom. But she knew not where to go. The Hundred Courts was a moving system. In their small village they had no official housing for their Sheriff.

Both Katerina and Lilly besides themselves were sure of one thing. There was only one place they could go for help: Harte Manor.

Elspeth vehemently tried to stop them. Pleading with the girls all the way to the door, holding on to them, promising that she'd find another way. Katerina, looked at her strangely not understanding, but Lilly knew clearly what her reservations were. But they had no other choice. They had no allies. They were an island onto themselves, vulnerable. It would be Lyanna's word against the pack, an entire group of men, some of them well respected in that area.

They had to go to the Mikaelsons, no matter how strained their alliance may be. They were perhaps the only ones that could help.

---

When the girls arrived without announcement, dresses soaked, eyes red from crying, faces white from shock Niklaus knew something must be terribly wrong.

"They just took her," Lilly stammered, as Katerina ran to Elijah, not Niklaus for comfort. What a strange turn of events this was. Instinctively, Elijah responded, allowing her to cling to him.

"Took whom? What are you talking about?" Elijah questioned, the snow from Katerina's cloak soaking into his tunic.

"Lyanna," Lilly rambled. "They came, saying something about the Hundred Courts- accusing her of murder."

Kol kept his distance, standing in the background when Lilly began to shake from chill and shock. Elijah comforting Katerina, deferred to Klaus for a long moment, whom until this point was completely silent, seemingly unshaken by the announcement.

"Who took her?" he questioned calmly.

"The sheriff."

"Where?"

"I don't know…" Kol could see the tears reforming in Lily's eyes, ones that she tried to hold back, ashamed to cry in front of him.

"The abbey," Elijah offered. "There is no official posting for the Hundred Courts in this area. If he has taken Lyanna, he will detain her there."

"Elijah we have to help her. What should we do?" Katerina questioned, her words somewhat muffled in his tunic.

"I will go see sheriff," he offered, starting to detach himself from Katerina.

"No." Finally rising, setting down his drink, Niklaus answered, "I will go to abbey."

"W-What are you g-going to do?" Lilly shivered.

"Reason with them," Niklaus answered, in a way that sent a frozen chill through Lilly's already frigid body.

---

When Klaus arrived at the abbey, he was greeted by Father Hall, who looked just as panicked as Klaus deep down would soon feel. He explained that they had held Lyanna there for a period of time, but that due to the nature of her alleged crimes, the Sheriff claimed that Lady Lockwood should not be held on holy ground.

Although Father Hall had ardently disagreed, even going as far as argue that Lyanna should be kept at the abbey until the Chief Pledge arrived so that she may be given opportunity to confess, the Sheriff seemed to have other plans.

"Where would they have taken her?"

When he had left Harte Manor, he had thought that retrieving Lyanna would be an easy task. He'd compel a few officials and have her back at Greyshaw before the dawn broke. Now was not the time for the prying eyes to be invading into their little world. He still had twenty some odd days until the next full moon.

But with each hour that passed that she wasn't found, mysteriously disappearing with their area's freeholder Sheriff, he began to worry, that the pack had become even more desperate. Not even willing to use the full Hundred Courts to go after Lyanna and Lockwood lands. That instead their only plan was to use the Frank Pledge system as an excuse to retrieve her from Greyshaw, and then kill her, like a dog on the side of the road.

By the time he'd reached the village she'd been missing for over half the evening and it was only an hour until morning. Crowded with close to a hundred huts, there was only one place she could be if they were holding her in any type of public place.

It could hardly be referred to as a tavern, as pathetic as the little building was. But being the only structure made of stone, it stood out like a castle next to the modest little homes and moveable carts for market.

All of this work for one woman. He should have sent Elijah and saved himself the trouble. Lyanna Lockwood and her encompassing problems, which were rapidly becoming Klaus's, were anything but dull.

---

After Klaus had made his hasty exit, Elijah offered Katerina a glass of bourbon.

"To warm you."

Gratefully she took it, sucking down its contents, handing him the glass for more.

Lilly hadn't said another word, just stared solemnly into the fire. She was still shaking but seemed unaware, instead lost in thought.

Elijah looked at Kol sternly, clearly suggesting that he offer his aid to Lilly. But Kol was not one to be lead and Elijah knew nothing about the woman.

Kol could tell from the way she stood that the last thing she wished at this moment was to be touched or comforted by anyone.

"Come with me, I'll find something for you to change into while your gowns dry," Elijah offered. Katerina, eagerly accepted, but Lilly shook her head in refusal.

Left with just the two of them, the tension was unbearable as Kol couldn't find the right things to say. He was never good at these sorts of things. When he knew Rebekah would cry she would come to him, cling to Kol for comfort. He never had to go to her.

Lyanna would be fine. Klaus wouldn't let anything happen to the widow for fear it would ruin his plan.

But he couldn't explain that to Lilly.

"She'll be back by sunrise. Klaus will solve this little issue."

"And if he can't? He cannot compel every member of the freeholders, Kol. What do Katerina and I do then?"

If Klaus couldn't compel them, he'd slaughter the men and deal with the consequences later. Again, something that wouldn't likely comfort Lilly in a moment like this.

"She'll surely meet the executioner's blade Kol. They'll do whatever it takes to get that land." By 'they' he assumed she meant the pack.

"If Lyanna were to die," he started, playing devil's advocate, "Which is highly unlikely, life would go on Lilly. You would still keep Greyshaw, you are a Lockwood."

"You think I want that place now!" she screamed tears streaming down her face. "You think I want to stay someplace, fight over land with Lyanna gone?"

Perhaps it was not the best time to bring this point up, but Kol had never been one for tact in conversation, "I thought Greyshaw was home."

Lilly wiped tears from her face, "Kol did you not listen to a word I've said?"

No he was pretty sure he'd heard every one from their conversation at the abbey. They all had been burned into his memory on constant repeat, especially what she'd said to him in the end.

"It doesn't mean anything without Lyanna. They could have it all: that damn stone, the land, the Manor. I don't want any of it. I'll live in a ditch," she snapped.

"Are you done?" he asked, when she'd finished her rant.

When she didn't respond he answered, "You do not need Lyanna, Lilly. You could survive just fine on your own."

"And what would I have Kol? Nothing... I would have nothing."

Kol hated sentimental moments, they made his skin crawl. When Rebekah would cry, he held her because it would shut her up. His composure with Lilly had already begun to corrode over the past months. He didn't need one more thing to think about regarding Lilly Lockwood.

So instead, he stood beside her, listening to her cry, ramble, until she reached for him. Against his better judgment, much out of character, he comforted her, "She'll live Lilly, I promise," for now anyway.

Lying to her was becoming increasingly more difficult as she chipped away at the carefully crafted wall of indifference he'd been building over the past few centuries.

It was just another moment, one of many he'd wish he could forget.

---

"Where is it Lyanna?"

On a dirt floor, in the small back room, hands and feet bound she looked up at Arthur as he glared down at her, his breath putrid.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

The Chief Pledge insisted that he would give Arthur and his companion a few moments with her before they left. The Hundred Courts didn't have a definite seat in this area of Strathclyde. The crime for close to five decades had been minimal, easy controlled by the Frank Pledge alliance, Galbraith clan and the local sheriff. In the past year and a half, however, there had been more unsolved killings in one small hundred mile radius then in the whole of their territory and part of Wales.

She could be tried technically in the Scottish courts, by Galbraith law. But at this point the English system jumped at the idea of finding a conspirator to solve social unrest whilst garnering public favour over the clan. It seemed even Lyanna's death would be political, their area, a battleground for control between the English and Scottish crowns.

For a case of this measure the trial wouldn't take place in their little village. Lyanna wouldn't be kept in a small room at the back of a makeshift tavern. As a child of Britton, as the Hundred Courts would claim, she'd be taken south of Lennox out of Scottish territory and tried in Scrathclyde's seat, Dumbarton.

"Have you ever been to an execution Lyanna?" Reaching down, he touched her face, "Soon those lips of yours will be blue as your head rolls in front of all of Dumbarton." She bit at his hand like a rabid dog.

"Temperamental… good, you'll need that fight when they keep you in the hole for weeks in this type of weather, only your own piss to warm you."

"I'll manage."

"Is that so? Do tell me, Lyanna. What is your plan to avoid the reaper's blade?"

"Truth."

"Truth?" he snickered.

"Yes, are the Hundred Courts not a blind justice?"

He smiled wide, "Read that in your books did you? You and Nathaniel, filling your head with useless lies."

"Do you even know how to read?" she snapped.

He lunged for her throat, grabbing her hard, Lyanna wheezed bound hands clawing away at his grip as she choked for air.

"Not so witty now, are you Lockwood whore?"

"Arthur," his partner warned, the Chief Pledge and Sheriff within hearing distance.

Relenting he released his grip, Lyanna gasping for air. "Tell me where the stone is Lyanna and I will make this all go away."

"'fhéidir go bhfuil sé idir do bhean chéile chosa? Chuma sí go bhfuil neart seomra." (could it be between your wife's legs? She seemed to have plenty of room.)

She expected him to lung at her again but this time he bent slowly, "It seems your husband took something that was mine," his hand slithered under Lyanna's gown, running up her leg, onto her thigh, "Perhaps a little late, but should I not have the favour repaid" He stopped at her small clothes as she kicked at his hand.

"Arthur," the other member of the pack looked over his shoulder at the door.

Spiting in his face, she answered, "Was that your finger or your prick? I couldn't tell."

Wiping her saliva from his eye, he may have tried to push her down further on the dirt floor and attempted to rape her into submission, wipe the proud look off her face with tears of shame, but there wasn't time.

He smirked, "No worries lovely Lyanna, both young Lady Lockwood and that women of yours, your guest, they will both be able to tell the difference between my prick between their thighs and my fingers covering their mouths before this is all said and done."

He was playing for vulnerability. Testing to see just how much he could use Lilly and Katerina against her. To be swayed by his threats, give him the reaction he wished would only encourage further action.

"You could violate all of Greyshaw and you'll never find it, Arthur."

Their time was up, as the Chief Pledge re-entered the room. Rising from the ground he promised, "We'll have to see if Lady Lockwood's tongue is tight as yours."

Fear burst forth, "You stay away from Lilly!"

When the Chief Pledge and Sheriff looked warily at the two men, Arthur knew he'd worn out his welcome.

"I'll see you in Dumbarton, Lyanna. I hope the rats don't get you too badly."

---

As he led her back to the room, she'd stayed in before; Katerina immediately began tugging at the laces at the front of her dress.

With his back to her, Elijah gathered the clean shift procured from one of many female servants. When he turned to find her sternum clearly bared for his viewing, wet hair sticking to her shoulders, he averted his eyes, clearing his throat, "For you, leave your gown and the staff will take care of it."

Amused with his chivalry, Katerina let her gown open even move until her naval could be seen.

"Thank you for your kindness."

"You are most welcome." Elijah didn't have to be so decent. Clearly she was putting on a show for him, testing the waters to see how far she could draw him out.

Today would not be that day. He let a few brief images flash through his mind: his hand slipping through her gown, those lips she thanked him with being put to better use, thanking him in a much more gratifying way.

Quickly, he pushed those glimpses back into the periphery of his mind where they belonged.

True, they were just humans. Soon their lives would end and at the current moment the letters that once came in volume from Lyanna had stopped. But Elijah liked to think himself much more dignified than to resort to molesting Katerina while Lyanna sat in shackles somewhere.

Klaus would call him pathetic. But he knew loyalty to be one of the most important pieces of character a man could have, even if it was to just creatures like humans. Elijah didn't care freely, despite what his brother may have thought. And when he did, he intended to keep those sentiments pure.

"I'll leave you to dress."

As he left, he could hear her gown hit the floor. She was testing his will, not very subtly.

"Thank you Elijah," she called after him, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.

---

He had listened just long enough to the Chief Pledge's conversation with their area's Sheriff to know that they planned to transfer her to Dumbarton, likely to a quick death by their estimations. Picking up on the wolves, their tones were considerably more hushed as he overheard the exchange between Lyanna and one she called Arthur.

He'd heard that name before. The man from the abbey, the first day he'd met his hunter.

Patiently he waited for its conclusion, considering intervening more than a few times as the discussion turned quickly sour with threats. Lyanna, as usual, found all the wrong times to speak her mind however amusing her fight may be. It was nice for a change to hear someone else be at the receiving end of her sharp tongue.

With the sound of footsteps near the threshold, he considered killing them both immediately. Two less wolves for him to trouble himself with, however, their deaths would only further escalate the crimes levied against Lyanna. He could compel the two officials but would not be able to quell an entire village convinced that there was a murderess in their midst going unpunished.

If he squelched the fire now, perhaps word wouldn't get out beyond the pack and mob mentality could be thwarted.

Watching both men disappear down the road, Klaus knew in all certainty it would not be the last time their paths crossed. As this Arthur seemed determined to unseat Lyanna and therefore complicate his plans before the full moon, Arthur would have to die.

Entering the tavern were he'd fed freely weeks before, he heard them in the back of the building.

"Lady Lockwood, by authority of the Hundred Courts and the Freeholders system under the holy guidance of King Henry the VII, you are accused of violating the Frankpledge law through the killing of fifteen innocent men on your lands."

"Do you deny this crime?"

From the doorway he could see her stockings ripped and torn, gown heavy with mud. Lifting her head as if they were guests in her sitting room she calmly replied, "Yes, I think we are all well aware that I could not have possibly murdered fifteen men in one evening, single handily."

It was terrible timing, but all Klaus could think was how he was perhaps the one man who had seen Lyanna not composed and what a sight she was on both occasions.

"By the authority of the Hundred Courts you will be transferred to Dumbarton, where you will await trial."

"I do not think that will be necessary."

Both men turned to find Klaus leaning against the door frame, as if it were completely natural for him to be there.

"Excuse me!" the Chief Pledge barked, "You cannot be here, this is a matter-"

"That is soon to be resolved," flashing forward he grabbed the older gentleman but the head, pulling him close, "You will release Lady Lockwood-"

"I beg your pardon!" the Sheriff cried out.

"Quiet," Klaus snapped, compelling the man to promptly close his mouth, "And wait your turn."

Turning his focus back on the Chief Pledge, he continued, "You will dismiss this entire case."

"I will?"

"Yes, you will. Witnesses claim it was a male that attacked those men. He was foreign looking and hasn't been seen since. He is rumoured to still be wandering around the countryside."

"Yes," he answered, completely transfixed.

"You will tell your superiors that there is absolutely no evidence to corroborate the claims against Lady Lockwood and you will profess her innocence to anyone whom shall inquire."

The man shook his head in agreement as Klaus moved to the Sheriff, repeating the same instructions.

By the time he'd finished with them both, he looked down to help Lyanna from the ground only to find her missing.

Excusing himself from both men he finished, "Neither of you have ever seen me. I was not here. After finding Lady Lockwood innocent you returned her to Greyshaw. Is that understood?"

Both agreed.

Exiting the small room, the door to the tavern was wide open, snow blowing through. What was the matter with this woman? Did she not know how to be properly saved?

Following her out onto the road, he could see a figure struggling not forty yards ahead of him. Feet still somewhat bound, her walk was more a hurried shuffle.

"Do you plan to crawl your way back to Greyshaw?" he called out into the snow.

"Go away!" she yelled over her shoulder.

"If you plan on walking all the way back to the Lockwood Lands, I won't stop you," he called out.

Stupid woman, let her freeze with her pride. He'd held up his end of the bargain.

"However, it will be a long shuffle with your feet still bound like that."

That got her attention as she stopped.

Lyanna's face was burning red and she hadn't even turned to face him yet. Of all the people for the girls to go to, wasn't she specific when she said Elspeth? She would have never sent the Mikaelsons for Lyanna.

At the very least could they not have sent Elijah? Oh how she would have loved to see his kind face at this moment, she even would have tolerated Kol's smirk, anything but-

"Well are you going to stand there all pathetic like or would you like some assistance?"

-Niklaus. She would rather have Arthur back, taken her chances with the Hundred Courts and the rats.

Do not think about it, Lyanna, her mind sternly warned. Turning she looked up at him a sour look on her face.

"Now is that the way to greet your hero, scurrying off like that? Really we must work on your gratitude."

"You are not my hero. I had the situation completely under control."

If under control meant she was out of plans, had prayed the rosary a dozen times in her mind, tried to appeal to every saint in heaven and hell and still was sure she'd freeze before she even made the chopping block, then Lyanna had everything finely calculated.

"Really? Well I guess you won't be needing my help then?" No she wouldn't need his help. She never wanted to see him again. How dare he come here, with altruistic gestures, feigning benevolence, after the thing he'd done- what had happened.

Like it had all been a figment of her imagination.

He turned to leave. She never wanted to see him again, but she needed him now, "Wait!" she called out, stopping him.

"You offered to help me with my ropes. It would be churlish to go back on your word now."

He should leave her bound like that, but he couldn't stand the thought of Elijah scolding him, giving him that disapproving look if he arrived back at Harte Manor without her, or furthermore that he'd left her in the middle of the road.

Walking back he stood in front of her, eyes locked, waiting.

The breaths in front of Lyanna's face slowed to a faint fog.

"What?" she finally questioned, somewhat less impervious than before. Did he really have to look her that way?

"You told me to never touch you again. It would be difficult to follow your orders," the sound of that word was harsh and unforgiving, "And assist you, it would seem."

She hadn't told him, he was right, she ordered him. But since when did Niklaus care about the things she may or may not have said. The answer to that question was a little too obvious for either of them to handle.

She nodded her head in response, but Niklaus wouldn't budge, he wanted to hear her choke on her own words. If she wasn't shaking from the chill and her worries about both Lilly and Katerina she may have been willing to play out their little standoff but time was of the essence.

"Niklaus, will you please touch me."

He bent then, easily snapping the rope. Lyanna could feel the blood begin to rush into part of her ankles again. Still on the ground, his hand rested on her stockings for moments longer than what was necessary.

Lyanna shivered, this time from more than just the cold.

Rising from the ground, he nodded his head and then turned back towards the direction that he'd come from. She was free to go, she could walk back to Greyshaw, but that was a long hike.

With his back turned, he crunched through the snow, pulling his cloak up tighter around his neck, his hand tingling.

He'd done what he came for, nothing more, he reasoned with himself.

"Niklaus!" his name echoed out through the little village, homes shut up in the early hours of morning, families still asleep.

He thought he may have imagined it, when she continued, "Can I ride with you back?"

He turned slowly. It was the only practical option there was for her. But Lyanna was never practical when it came to Niklaus. She'd rather trek shoeless over the Siberian dead lands than accept anything from him.

She looked at him hopefully, snow falling against her dirty cloak. She looked like a vagabond, but a beautiful one, nonetheless.

Waving his hand, he answered, "Well hurry, I'm not going to stand out here all morning waiting for you, Lyanna."

The small smile that spread over her face, was more than enough thanks than he needed. On no uncertain terms should they be okay with where they stood: the water between them blood red.

But as she rode back to Greyshaw Manor with him, they came to perhaps a semi truce, for just that short ride as both tried to think of anything but the other, the entire way home.

---

Although Lyanna had made it home that morning, the solution to her problem wouldn't be as simple as Klaus swooping in and compelling a few officials. That it had only bought her a few days. Little did the Mikaelsons or Lyanna know that her case had spread much further than the Hundred Courts. Frank pledge law was superseded by the Parliament whom was already well abreast to the developments in their area, intending to all along to make an appearance in Dumbarton for her hearing. So when it was suddenly dismissed without cause, or substantial proof, despite the Chief Pledge and Sheriff's protests of Lady Lockwood's innocence the King's council became increasingly interested in deaths that took place on the Lockwood Lands and in particular the accused. The local people would not be satisfied until someone paid for the alleged crimes. And unfortunately for Lyanna the wolves had much greater public support than her.

News of an official from the Parliament came to Greyshaw along with an invitation.

"What is it?" Katerina questioned excitedly.

"I don't know." A package at been left in their drawing room, next to Lyanna's stack of books.

A wooden box, with a letter resting on top, it was missed for most of the afternoon until Katerina had pointed it out.

Turning over the letter, it was addressed to Lyanna in handwriting that was unfamiliar. When she broke the seal, another letter, packaged with the first slipped out onto her lap. Picking it up she examined the precise calligraphy, eloquently scrawled across the expressive formal parchment.

"Well do not leave in suspense, Lyanna. Who is it from?" Lilly coaxed.

"The Mikaelsons," she answered handing the invitation to Katerina.

"A ball," her face lit up. "Lyanna, this is an invite for us to attend a ball at Harte Manor in three days... Three days! Lyanna what will we wear?"

She ignored the girls, moving on instead to the original letter. Something as formal as a ball seemed not only out of place for the brothers but sudden. However upon reading the letter, that was unsigned she realized immediately why they had such a sudden urge for festivities.

"They are hosting a member of the Parliament," Lyanna answered, as if either of women cared or knew what that meant. To the girls, they understood it as an occasion for them to have dresses fashioned, to wear pretty trinkets and dance with attentive men. For Lyanna it only meant one thing, her problems were far from over.

Not that she was surprised. Nothing in life would be as easy as a simple conversation (compulsion or not) eliminating all of life's worries. She knew the wolves wouldn't give up so easily, she was only waiting for their next move.

The author stated in no uncertain terms that the member of the King's Council was there to investigate her. As a friend of the King's the Mikaelsons would host the liaison and as the person under scrutiny it would be in Lyanna's best interest to attend and appear as charming and non- threatening as possible.

To deny the invitation would as good as an admission of guilt in the public's mind. If she did not attend she would appear as if she were hiding out- had something to fear and therefore a reason for avoiding social situations that included a members of the King's authority.

If she went, she'd spend the entire evening being the bud malicious gossip, outlandish accusations while being stared at like bug for inspection. All those things she could easily handle, but going to that home, knowing what she did now about Lord Harte, her mother and having to deal with other things- Niklaus and Elijah type things that she'd rather avoid seemed an miserable task.

"What is in the box, Lyanna?" Katerina pointed to the thing resting in her lap, interrupting her reading, mid sentence.

Looking down she held up her finger, "Give me a moment." Soon after the explanation for the ball, the warning of the Parliament, there was small paragraph about the contents of the box. It read:

When we arrived at Harte Manor most of the former Lord's belongings had been removed. This was amongst the remaining personal effects. Upon inquiries to workers of the Manor, it was discovered that it was a belated wedding present from Lord Harte to Lady Lockwood that was never bequeathed before his untimely death.

Please accept that following gift from the late Lord Harte and our apologies for not delivering it sooner.

Lyanna's hand shook as she opened the box. Her father had meant to give something to her?

Inside was a gold chain decorated with an uneven baguette cut piece of amber.

"It's beautiful. Who is that from?" Lilly questioned, taking it from her hand.

"A belated wedding gift from the late Lord Harte," Lyanna answered a little overwhelmed with the gesture, both that her deceased father had intended her to have it and that Elijah (she assumed) was thoughtful enough to make sure that she received it, its value, unbeknownst to him, priceless.

"Did Elijah send this to you?" Katerina asked, trying to sound indifferent.

"It didn't say."

"I am sure it was," Lilly replied, handing the necklace to Katerina who examined it, her skin turning hot with jealousy.

"That was very thoughtful of him," she finally added, her tone somewhat reserved as she handed it back to Lyanna.

"Yes, it was." But wouldn't that be just like Elijah, to be so considerate? She'd have to find a way to thank him.

"Lyanna, can we have our dresses made?" The two women looked up at her hopeful. Lilly secretly could not wait to see Kol again. She almost missed him invading her dreams and had considered discontinuing the Vervain- considered, not done.

Katerina would not wish to miss any opportunity where she could display herself in public and truthfully she needed the excuse to see Elijah for he had been trying to avoid her as of late.

Lyanna dreaded the idea of a ball but nodded and smiled for the girls' sakes. If she was going to go before the member of the Parliament, she would need to make an excellent impression. Brushing her hair to the side, she clasped it her amber around her neck where it would stay until just before she died.

---

When they entered the home a smile had spread across Lilly and Katerina's faces as glanced around at the other guests arriving. Brushing snow from their shawls and hair, removing heavy cloaks and furs they whispered to one another, their excitement palpable. For days, Lyanna heard nothing but talk of what they'd wear, the gowns they had fashioned and made.

Looking around the great entry way of the Manor, Lyanna couldn't help but feel a pain of sadness. This was the home her father had once live in, where her mother had wanted her to be raised. All of this should be hers. Fingering the amber strung at her neck, she had to remind herself that all that was gone now and to hold on would be pointless.

Had Lyanna not been lost in a sea of thoughts and questions, she would have noticed that they were being watched, the three of them. Country life was much different than that of court. Here women were married young, in birthing beds shortly after and often haggard and old before their time. Three young, attractive women of some means, unspoken for was a rare thing. The male guests took notice, admiring them.

Katerina, immediately aware that she had an audience, was quick to smile, use every inflection she'd honed and perfected. Lilly who had an honest charm, was herself and was all that much more welcomed for it. Lyanna, as usual was either oblivious or too caught up in other pressing, periphery matters.

"They've arrived," Elijah murmured, leaning close to Klaus, interrupting him as he spoke with a female guest. She was attractive and young, her ample breast suggestively pushed tight against the cut of her gown. Klaus could smell the blood running through her veins, the desire in her voice, it made him hungry but nothing else.

Smiling, he excused himself, draining his wine, preparing himself for the night ahead. Yes, the ball served a purpose, the Parliament was there, investigating the happenings in their area. It seemed their little war with the wolves, rather Lyanna's war, had surpassed the Hundred Courts and had now fallen to the king's attention. Yes, there was a purpose for this evening, but as soon as he turned all those issues floated into the periphery.

X

Immediately aware of Lilly, smelling her before he even heard the timbre of her voice, Kol had pushed his way through the pack of male suitors that had begun to cluster around the ladies of Greyshaw before Elijah was even alerted of their arrival.

Young and attractive, hailing from west of Scrathclyde, Emil Wellington held Lilly's wrist in his hand, turning it over, kissing both it and her palm, very familiar and unwelcomed as far as Kol was concerned.

Lilly was quite overwhelmed with the attention enjoying their lavish pandering when a throat cleared behind the eager gentleman.

"If you will excuse me," Kol started, a menacing looked passing from him to the surprised admirer. Bowing his head, he requested a dance from Lilly later, before he left.

"That was rude," she commented, as Kol slipped his hand possessively against her lower back.

Leaning in, his lips were hot and not subtle against her ear, "He was bothering you."

Lilly pulled back, exchanging a cold glare with Kol, "He was doing nothing of the sort, I was perfectly content with his company."

"See I would tend to disagree."

"Oh you would?" Lilly was somewhat aghast at his blatant jealousy. It was out of character.

"Yes," he answered, handing her glass of spiced winter wine, "You can deny it all you wish Lilly Lockwood, but you and I are both well aware of your feelings."

"Feelings?" she laughed mockingly. "And what would these said, 'feelings' be?"

Leaning in closer, the inflection of his voice sent chills down her spine, "I think we both know the types of feelings I am speaking of: warm, wet, sinful, lust ridden ones."

"I think you are mistaken," she answered her voice faltering slightly.

As the guests moved into the main ballroom, drinks in hands, music filtering out through the halls, he grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the pack that shuffled forward. Just out of sight, her back pressed against the frame of the nearest doorway.

"I can smell you, darling." how he made something so crude, sound so inviting, Lilly would never know. His hands inched closer to her hips, when her wine glass blocked him.

"Perhaps Lord Wellington, can smell me as well," she shot back, shocking in her sweet vulgarity. "And I am almost positive his manners are much better," she stepped just out of his grasp.

"Lord Wellington is a fool full of pretty words," Kol griped.

Looking back over her shoulder before she turned the corner to fall back in line, Lilly answered, "Sometimes a lady likes to treated as one."

X

Courtesy would call for Elijah to go to Lyanna first. But instead he sought Katerina, knowing that his brother had some unfinished business with Lady Lockwood and would prefer not to have his presence interfere.

Katerina, surrounded by Lords, attracting even the member of the King's council, called out to him as if he were the only man in the room, "Lord Mikaelson." Excusing herself from the group of men, she came to him, face beaming as if he'd lit the world for her.

"I was hoping you would ask me for a dance."

"Is it not the man's place to ask a Lady?"

Katerina looked at him, all eyelashes and demure smiles. Wearing a rich red gown, the color of wine, her hair pulled back and a jewel (borrowed of course) at her throat, she looked beautiful as always.

"Some men never ask," she retorted, grinning suggestively.

"I am almost positive you do not encounter that problem." Elijah detested games. They were beneath him. He was not a child or a human male, willing to be baited and strung along. But with Katerina, everything was different.

"You would be surprised."

"I would?" he questioned, eyebrow rising, playing right into her hands, knowingly.

"Elijah?"

"Yes, Katerina?"

"Must I beg, because if you ask nicely I may be so inclined."

"Are you not concerned that you may upset your male suitors?" he asked mockingly.

"What males? I only see one and it would seem that it is I trying to court your favour," her hand found his arm. So simple, but the look she was giving him was enough to magnify its effects. Elijah was not a fool. He knew she was leading on him, Niklaus (like she could), Trevor and any other man who may be willing to fall into her trap.

However, the more he denied her, the more intense her interest became, making it impossible for him at times to feign indifference.

Relenting, he took her glass from her hand, setting it down alongside his own, "Then you should know that you have won it, for this evening."

X

"They are 12th century," he commented from behind her.

She turned from where she was looking up at the large oil painting, in awe, like a child at its complexity to find Niklaus. Her stomach clenched, a strange mix of dread and anticipation colored with the faint twinge of desire, the latter she'd rather not acknowledge.

"Who is the artist?"

He had been watching her stare at his painting for minutes. Mayhaps all artists felt that way when someone viewed their work or perhaps they became immune. She studied it like it had some key to the universe. All of it gave him a heady rush of excitement.

But it was more than just feeling appreciated; it was the way she looked. Last time he'd seen her, she'd been covered in dirt exhausted, trying to hide her fear but still comely as ever. Now she stood in front of his landscape, blonde hair hung loose, in thick curls around her shoulders. In comparison to the other women who wore intricate braids and things adorning their hair, Lyanna looked fresh and natural.

Effortless was the kind of grace that she had. Her emerald dress swayed as she looked back to the painting. He smiled, watching her hand instinctively touch the amber necklace that hung from her throat. The one she most likely thought was a gift from her father. But in all reality was one of the few things, Niklaus had kept over the years. It gave her comfort, which was all that mattered, even if that comfort was in the form of a lie.

She wore it, proudly, paying subconscious attention to it throughout the night, giving him a kind of satisfaction he hadn't felt in quite some time.

"Me."

Her eyes drifted from the pastoral scene, to him in awe.

"You? It's beautiful."

"It was of our home, long ago."

A scene of sprawling landscapes and dense forests, it looked similar in some ways to Greyshaw Manor.

"And where was this?" she hadn't spoken to him in days, not since he'd found her like a gutter rat, tether on a dirt floor, waiting whatever fate she was soon to meet. She was almost embarrassed, ashamed of herself that she had never thanked him.

If she had acted on instinct in those last moments between them perhaps she would have slapped him hard across the face, for his assuming that she would need him to save her and then quickly kissed him, squeezing the air from his lungs because in all actuality she most likely would have been waiting at the bottom of a dank hole for the executioner's blade if he hadn't intervened.

"Italy, miles outside of Venice."

"Is that where Rebekah is now?

He stiffened at her mention of his sister, Elijah's loose tongue never ceased to amaze him, "Yes," he lied because he had no clue where Rebekah may be hiding.

"Seems strange…."

"What is that?"

"That she would not choose to stay with you and your brothers."

"She has other interests," he answered somewhat curtly, flustered by the mention of his sister.

Lyanna looked away from the painting, "Yes, well eternity is a long time to be alone," before she turned her gaze back over to the calm meadows and dark forests painted before her. Forests where he'd once taken Hannah; where he had almost fed on her before he had abused her, where he had tried to train her, only to have been deceived. The thought of Hannah brought back that nagging feeling or maybe it was just a familiar pain that always accompanied Lyanna's presence.

She was right. Eternity was a quite a long time to be alone and no one was more aware of this than himself. Was this part of the curse? Is this why she could read him so well? Was it the reason that Lyanna knew his every weakness, vulnerability?

"I guess that would depend on how you spend it," he replied.

"And how do you choose to spend eternity?" she questioned.

Not alone, whispered through his mind. "Many ways… and you?"

It took little thought, she replied confidently as if she'd known he'd ask all along, "With someone I loved."

He looked down to his glass.

"Love," Niklaus snickered, "That is the best you can do?"

Taking a sip of her wine she looked back to the painting and then to him, her blue eyes magnetizing his attention, as she sighed, "Oh, Niklaus, love is the best any of us could do. If you had ever been you would know."

"How do you know I have not?" the way he looked at her caused all kinds of repressed thoughts to resurface, the time he'd kissed her in the cemetery, even in this very home, his hands on her in the abbey, the way he looked at her when he'd found her bound on a dirt floor.

"I only assumed."

"Assumptions can be a dangerous thing," he answered into his wine glass.

"And where is this great love of yours Niklaus? Is she alive?"

Great love? What had he professed to this woman? Perhaps he had already drank too much or it had been too long since he'd last fed.

Tatia's face flashed through his mind, but the feeling that was there before had dulled considerably, the thought of her no longer invoking pain or regret.

Then what had he thought he was speaking of? The longer she waited for his reply, the more feverishly he searched his mind for an answer until finally he swallowed, warmed by either the liquid or her intense gaze, "Never far…."

What did he mean? Klaus hardly knew. Setting down his goblet of wine, he watched as her eyes followed the guests making their way to the ballroom. Picking up her skirts she turned to him, "Fortunate woman."

It was most definitely probably meant as a slight, sarcastic, but as Klaus watched her go, his mind filled with thoughts of Lyanna, he answered to himself unknowingly "No, I fear she is not."

---

As the music began they fell in line. Katerina looked at Klaus then back to Elijah. His brother smiled at Lyanna. Kol glared at Lord Wellington who devilishly winked at Lilly, eliciting a blush. Lyanna looked to Elijah and then the floor, purposely avoiding Klaus's none too subtle gaze.

First round, they stepped together, hand on hand circling one another.

Kol's partner laughed trying to engage him in conversation as they turned, circling in the opposite direction.

"Hmm?" he replied, half listening, straining more to catch every word passing between Lilly and Emil.

He could hear them, four partners away, see him leaning in closer than what the dance required, his hand sliding down her wrist, "You are beautiful, do you know that?"

And she was exquisite in fact, dressed in a strange faceting of black and deep violets. Her dark hair adorned, half braided, the rest scaling down her back.

Kol could have vomited as he rolled his eyes. "Please!" he felt like shouting out above the racket of music. Could he be any more obvious? But as they made the last quarter turn before separating again, and his hand found Lilly lower back, Kol became decidedly less amused, skipping past annoyed to completely disgusted.

X

"Lyanna," Elijah looked down at her, in his soothing way, the one that made her wish nothing else other than to crawl into his embrace, discuss her every problem and issue with him as he listened patiently.

"Elijah," since her incident at the lake and the knowledge that he had told Niklaus- betraying her, she'd been more distant that ever. But it was hard to distrust Elijah, no matter how unsavoury his actual intentions could have been. Part of her didn't wish to make the connection between the man that had written her all those letters to the one that would leave her at Niklaus's mercy.

He looked down at her keen and panegyrical, "I've missed you."

It was out of character for him to so quickly confess something like that, without thought- so impulsive, but he meant every word. The ease that had been between them before, the understanding, it was now strained, clouded with Klaus's warning and new muddled feelings. He was laden with his guilt of both thoughts of Katerina and the knowledge of what was to come. She, in return, was distant with what he could only assume were feelings of betrayal and overriding suspicion.

In a simple world, Lyanna thought. If none of the past couple of weeks had happen. If he was just a man and she was just a woman, no Niklaus or Katerina, they could live forever together in perfect harmony and bliss: so natural, their understanding and appreciation of one another.

But life was complicated. Lyanna had a mounting stack of regrets and unknown to her, Elijah had his own dilemmas. Both smiled at one another in perfect contentment as their demons stayed at bay-Niklaus and Katerina partners away.

Temptation, desire, lust, it was the worst of all evils.

"I've missed you as well," she replied, even though he didn't deserve it, nevertheless it was true.

X

Back straight, hair sliding over her shoulders, exposing pert breasts and a look under heavy dark eye lashes, Katerina wasted moments trying to draw him in.

"Klaus..." as they came together, making their first turn, she was making effort to snare his attention, lust, affection. None of them were working.

He'd taken her to his bed and not spoken more than a few words to her afterward, as if they had shared a drink from the same glass, had only a casual friendship.

"Katerina," he answered curt, flat, and expressionless.

Perturbed by his lack of enthusiasm, she followed his gaze, which had settled on Lyanna and Elijah. They always looked the perfect couple; it was galling in all truth. She could tell that he was saying something to Lyanna. Undoubtedly it was undeniably sweet and considerate as Lyanna smiled, warm and inviting, leaning a little closer.

Katerina felt a hot, deep, flash of jealousy. Why couldn't Klaus ever look at her that way? Why did Elijah not spare such beautiful words on her? In fact Elijah never spoke to her that close: so familiar and welcoming.

They may have been palm to palm, circling each other, imitating that either cared for the other but Klaus and Katerina's thoughts couldn't be further away.

"I've missed you," echoed throughout Klaus's mind making him stiffen with Lyanna's response. Somewhere, layered under years of trained indifference, the most childish form of him wanted to snicker, laugh at Elijah.

Pretty words and lovely gestures he may have. He could write her thousands of letters, recite her dozens of poems, but Klaus knew what she felt like wet, moaning encouragement. He knew the smell of her excited, wild, the sounds she made before she finished.

Katerina watched Elijah look at Lyanna with complete acceptance, the ease at which they exchanged conversation, their affection; it itched away under her skin. He was never that way with her. And why not? Had she not tried? Was she not just as pleasing? Was Katerina not just as beautiful or more?

The atmosphere between Katerina and Klaus could have boiled water. Their focus honed in with muted jealousy, petty thoughts about a person whom seemed to want to have nothing to do with them and the other who had everything they wanted.

When the second stanza of the dance began, a turn before they aligned again, Klaus took his opportunity. As Kol grabbed Lilly's hand, thwarting Lord Wellington's efforts, Klaus stepped into line across from Lyanna.

X

"Truly, Lilly is beautiful the best he can do?" Breaking the rules of the dance, Kol had placed his hand on her back as they circled.

"Are you jealous Kol?"

"Me, jealous, of that classless fool? Please…" he scoffed.

"I think he's sincere, sweet and very kind."

"You would think that, Lilly. He is playing you, like a fine tuned instrument."

That turned her mouth hardening with embarrassment, "Is it so hard to believe that someone else may find me desirable?"

That was not the point he was trying to make. But for a brief moment Kol thought of answering yes. Mayhaps then she'd stop this foolish little game she was playing with him- attempting to make his jealous… like he could be jealous.

But he was, pathetically so.

"No, any man that has eyes and pulse would clearly want you," Kol snapped, "But any man here would be capable of going about it in a less fawning manner."

"Oh, really and what would they say instead?" she shot back, trying to brush his hand from her back, but Kol was unrelenting.

He leaned in close, "They would tell you that you have the face that could rival Helen of Troy, the temper of Hades, a body that would make Aphrodite jealous and breasts…."

If anyone else could have heard their conversation, Lilly would likely be shamed to no end. Instead she smiled, knowing that he spoke low enough that they were in their own little world.

"What about my breasts?"

"I cannot be sure, it has been a while since I have seen them last, but artists should stop wasting time on poetry about good and evil, god and the meaning of life, and dedicate volumes to your breasts instead."

The way he looked at her made her thighs slick and regrettably she knew he could tell. She could never hide anything from him, "How can you make the most lewd things sound endearing?"

"A gift, surely," he smirked.

Closing her eyes, she refocused her thoughts, away from Kol's hands, memories of the thing he'd done that morning in the forest ,"Perhaps I seek Emil's company because he is vocal about his feelings, freely so and without shame."

"Are you saying you would like me to be clear about my intentions?"

"Yes."

"All of them? Because if it would please you, I will stop the orchestra right now and announce to the entirety of our guests every dirty thought I have ever entertained about you. I could describe in elaborate detail all the things I intended to do to you some day."

He could hear the blood rushing through her veins, "I'd rather have one word of sincere caring, than thousands of your complimentary laminations on lust."

What more could she possibly want? Did he have to scream it about the countryside? This is why Kol never bothered with women long term, human, witch, vampire or wolf. They could never just be satisfied.

"One word?"

"Yes," she challenged, unwilling to fall prey to his devious thoughts.

Damn he hated that she was making him do this.

"Peace…" he whispered, watching as her face softened, making him feel both light that he'd pleased her and nervous that he had divulged too much, "And misery…. Sorry that was two."

X

"Do you love her?"

Elijah had been avoiding her gaze from the moment they were paired across from one another in the line up. She could have went about it a more subtle way, had some build up, led him into her impertinent question, but Katerina was never one for subtleties when she wanted answers.

"I thought we discussed this," Elijah answered somewhat neutrally.

"We did? Then you must refresh my memory."

"I do not believe in love, Katerina."

"Do you not, because you are surely making an excellent impression of it with Lyanna."

She tried not to sound bothered but it was obvious that she was, her skin pinking slightly as they stepped to the side, his hand on her arm.

"Is that so? And tell me dear Kat, why are my intentions of your concern? Do you love my brother?" he was almost afraid to hear her answer. Elijah had his suspicions about Katerina, that she'd taken Klaus to bed or rather him, her. The last thing Elijah would allow to happen was a repeat of Tatia. They had grown since then. They were not immature youths, willing to be naively manipulated by a woman.

Little did he know it was too late, for both he and Klaus were already too far down that road, in more ways than one, to turn back now.

Katerina faltered, ready to spit out some other rash haughty line, when his question stopped her short. At one time, she may have thought she loved Klaus. Had she not allowed him to crawl between her thighs? Use her any way he pleased? Had she not professed love when she was in his bed?

That was before she had all of these confusing feelings for Elijah. How a family of brothers could contort her so, she'd never know. She may have thought she felt something for Klaus but she wanted Elijah, like she'd never wanted anything before. And she'd be damned if she let anyone or anything stand in her way.

Katerina loved Lyanna, would be forever be grateful for all that she had done for her, but in times like these a woman had to look out for her own best interests.

"No, love cannot be real if it is not returned."

"And so you fear that you are not in love because you believe that Klaus does not return your affection?"

That was wounding, Katerina's jaw clenched. Unable to admit defeat in anything Katerina answered, cleverly, "No, I would not claim love for I do not love your brother."

This was a change, one he was not prepared for. Katerina's pursuit of him was strange in nature, that a woman should want him, seek him out as she was doing, it was difficult to refuse, especially when he felt the same.

"You have not answered me, do you love Lyanna?"

As they rounded the next turn, he answered, innocuously, "I thought I was clear, I do not love."

"Then you must care for her deeply."

"And why would you say that?"

Katerina looked to Lyanna who danced with Klaus.

"You do not look me as you do Lyanna."

"And how is that?"

"Like you wished nothing more that to lose yourself in her and never return."

Of all the words he could have used to describe Katerina, perceptive would not have been one. But in this instance, her observation was unnerving in its accuracy. Elijah would never say it out loud, over the next centuries, as the division between he and Klaus only widened becoming so deep Elijah would fear it couldn't be repaired, he'd never admit how sincere his affection for Lyanna actually was or how deeply he cared for her. Perhaps because it was the origin of his and Klaus's separation only venomized further with the disappearance of Katerina.

"What do you wish me to say, Katerina?"

She wanted him to tell her that it was an affection of convenience, nothing like the desire he had for her. Katerina wanted him to confess that he thought of her, wanted her as much as she did him. And that whatever denial he'd had before about what had already begun between them, he would be willing to set aside.

She wanted him to look at her the way he did Lyanna and say the things she needed to hear.

"The truth."

"What truth?"

"That you think of me as much as I do you."

Bold, she was always so unashamed about everything she did. Elijah admired it, her willingness to always run headlong into everything without fear of consequence.

He was falling for it and although he was aware that this was where she'd meant to lead him all along, somewhere he shouldn't be, he feel right in line, "I would be lying if I said I did not think you often Katerina."

She looked at him as if she wanted to stop right there, in the middle of the floor and kiss him in front of a hundred prying eyes, "And I would dishonest if I told you I hadn't hoped you'd say that."

X

She looked up, surprised. Trying to hide the flustered look on her face, she glanced at the ground before they advanced toward one another.

Palm to palm, wrist to wrist, he was closer than what was deemed appropriate.

"Lyanna..."

She wasn't timid in her avoidance; she was simply a creature with a strong sense of preservation. As soon as their eyes met, all she could think of was a blur of images, his hands in places they shouldn't be: rosary beads clicking against wood and the look on his face when she walked away.

They were playing with fire. If he were human he may have known better. Being a predator for so long, had ruined his sense of peril. Strings fraying in the complicated plot he'd weaved and instead of tying them off, reassessing the situation, he kept cutting the ends, allowing them to only unravel further. He should have known, everything from the Vervain, her troubles with the wolves, the Hundred Courts and now the threat of a plea to a member of the Parliament. What had been a periphery issue, the hunter, was now becoming the bane of his existence.

She knew she had a claim on this land, everything. Lyanna had an impenetrable alibi to corroborate her story with the King- her priest. If she so chose, she could easily make her case known, usurp their Lordship, distancing him from the doppelganger even further. He shouldn't have invited her, however if she wasn't in attendance, it would only further drive the curiosity of the King's liaison, perhaps prompting another full trail, where she'd likely be found guilty. If Lyanna died, his plan would become difficult to execute. Outmanoeuvring and protecting the hunter was becoming an increasing complicated task.

If he was wise he would have sent in Elijah. Yes, she always liked Elijah better. He could have left his brother to watch Lyanna, ferret out her intentions, while he put out the fires that were sprouting up, all over, wild and spreading.

"Niklaus?"

He could attempt to compel the King's advisor, so he'd dismiss her case, if she brought it forth.

As they completed another turn, she nodded in the direction of a bystander.

"Is the member of the Parliament?"

"Yes."

Then again perhaps she was more concerned with his looming evaluation than plotting ways to defeat the pack. If not, he could kill the priest and therefore her creditable source. But had she told anyone else? That witch, Lilly, Katerina? Who else knew besides the priest?

"Why do you never refer to me as Klaus?" they stopped, changing direction in the turn.

"Is that not your given name?" he could smell her, that fascinating mix of rose water, lavender oil and he could have sworn lemon.

He didn't answer, thoughts of the last time his nose pressed into the veil that covered her hair coming to mind, along with other places he'd like to bury his face.

"People should be called what they are."

Shall I call you Lucifer, then, sweet Lyanna? he thought, for every time he was around her, plans seemed to fall apart. Decided actions seemed to deviate in intentions as his mind would wander down dangerous paths.

Niklaus, the sound of it brought up memories, a family, them all together long ago: thoughts of Rebekah, his mother, Henrik, Mikael and Tatia.

Things he didn't wish to remember.

"I want to thank you for what you did…" he could have let himself revel in his little moment of false chivalry if she hadn't finished, "Although I'm sure you had your reasons," ruining the moment with her truths.

"Could I not act out of charity and not have a motive behind it?" he questioned, knowing she was right. Lyanna was always right, easily able to sift through whatever false charm he was attempting.

"No."

"And why is that?"

"Charity would indicate feelings for another, concern. And I do not think you are capable of caring for someone other than yourself." The words that dripped out of her mouth could be as sweet as sugar, lulling him into a sense of false comfort and other times, they were as acrid as poison. So sharp they'd cut through the first outer layers of his shield before he'd even felt the laceration.

And incorrect, how right she usually was, but she could not have been more wrong in this situation. Mayhaps Niklaus's greatest fault was that at times he cared a little too much. In all the wrong ways, unable to express himself naturally, appropriately, always smothering out of fear, whatever he meant to keep close.

"I did not know you thought so lowly of me."

"And what did you expect?"

"Perhaps not all of us are always clear or vocal about our intentions, Lyanna."

"If you are not clear, then what would be the point in having intentions if they cannot be communicated and therefore responded to?"

She'd verbally cornered him, leaving Niklaus tongue tied. What did she want from him? A confession? What would he confess? That he planned to kill her, Katerina and Lilly? That it was all a lie, every act he'd committed that seemed as though it were perhaps for her protection?

Or did she want something more? At times her words were so clear, painfully so and other times, their meaning was so horribly recondite.

Did she want a confession that he cared? That he thought of her, much more than what was appropriate or even sane? That with all the knowledge that he had about who she really was, that Lyanna was a curse, not a blessing, in more ways than one, he still thought of her enough to make him question if he was hallucinating again.

Did she need him to tell her that every time Elijah touched her, it made him sick, irrational even, wanting to kill them both to just be done with it?

Perhaps she wanted it all, as Lyanna always seemed to but he couldn't give her any of it.

There was smoke in the air, danger, a poignant warning of the collapse that could and would come. But Klaus paid it no mind. He'd play with fire, thinking it was impossible to get burned. After all, was he not God? Could he not make his on fire, cause his own destruction if need be.

They separated without his answer weaving in and out of participants, switching with another couple, circling their new partners. Lyanna kept her eyes on the member of the Parliament, her dance companion and then him.

Klaus followed her throughout the room, as it were just them and to not do so would be rude. When they separated, to come back together again with their new partners, he quickly changed places with the gentleman she should have aligned with.

Predators... they often made the easiest prey.

He struggled to think of exactly what to say. He knew that he was running out of time. If he didn't say it soon it would be too late. And he'd wished that he'd done it.

Why? This whole thing was maddening.

Klaus wanted to tell that she looked beautiful, however that sounded, trite, overused and even weak.

"Quite a change from the tattered gown I saw you in last," that didn't come out right. Nothing he ever said seemed to come across correctly.

She looked up at him, unimpressed and unshaken, "Yes, it's hard to keep decent on a dirt floor."

"I thought you looked stunning, dirt and all," it may not have been what he had intended to say but it had the obligatory meaning behind what he'd meant as she responded with a strange look on her face, as if she were trying to not be affected by him.

"Niklaus..." she looked at him suspiciously, "Are you flirting with me?"

Was this a thawing in their cold war? He jumped at the opportunity. "Perhaps..."

"Do you flirt with all your victims before you torture them?"

Wicked humour or perhaps it was honesty, he could never tell with her. Niklaus smirked, "Only when they are deserving."

"Was that supposed to be a compliment? Should I have swooned?"

No, they were past that point. Swooning would have been a few kisses ago, before the abbey, the discovery of them being vampires. If he wanted her to swoon, he would have been gentle, less subtle, he would have been anyone but himself.

"No," he responded sincerely, "I apologize, if I had the words to describe how glorious you look now, Lady Lockwood, I would use them instead. Just the same, someone should tell you... even if it is just me. "

She looked up at him, whilst he was still trying to fight his way back from allowing himself to slip into pathetic again, looking at her a little too long, with a little too much desire. Control, it was running like water through the cracks of his hands.

Was he manipulating her or was she, him? It was unclear anymore as Klaus continued to allow himself to drown in ambiguity.

The mask of indifference she wore so well for him was slipping, as she looked at his lips, thinking of the last time they kissed.

Swallowing, she replied, "You look nice as well, when you aren't terrorizing those around you."

The music had begun to slow, there were only seconds left, as they the orchestra moved into the last few bars.

It came out quick, in a moment of desperation, "Do you wish for me to terrorize you, Lyanna?" It should have sounded more menacing. Instead it came off as more of a promise of a different kind.

They looked at one another, both clearly aware of all the things they weren't saying. She thought of it, the abbey, every time they kissed and every time they touched. All of it making her sick with guilt and lascivious thoughts.

"Too late... you already have."

Dropping his hand, he went to reach for it, to pull her back and finish their conversation, getting to the end he needed to hear: that she cared, could care, might have felt something as well and wasn't trying to forget. But his guest of honour interrupted, waiting for Klaus to announce him to the crowd, give the pandering human the recognition he was so pathetically desperate for.

---

She had led him away as Klaus made his speech introducing their guest. It was rude of him to leave, but when the door shut behind Katerina, he didn't care anymore.

He looked at her almost indifferently, or tried to. So this is what a little encouragement had bought him? She was practically predatory.

"Katerina, I am not interested in playing games."

"Then I won't ask you do so."

He had no notion of what she had planned, as she crossed in front of him, biting her lower lip, before she reached up on her toes, taking his chin in her hand.

Not willing to be led, Elijah pulled his head back when her lips were almost on his, denying her brazen advances.

Katerina fell back onto the balls of her feet, "I never knew you to so righteous about everything Elijah," she commented sharply.

"Perhaps you do not know me."

He could see that she was frustrated, trying to hide the fact that she was embarrassed by his rejection. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned to leave, "You are not the only man in Strathclyde, contrary to what you must believe."

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her back hard. Lips slamming against hers, his tongue entering her mouth, so much more forceful then what Katerina would have imagine. Roughly, his hands tugged at her hair, teeth lightly biting her lip- not enough to draw blood.

He didn't trust himself. A little blood and he'd likely fuck her until she passed out, feed from her until she was dry.

Her hands ripped at his tunic, sliding over cool skin. If Elijah was thinking clearly he would have let it stop at the kiss, but his hands were pulling at what seemed to be a dozen layers of silk under her dress.

When his hand hit the top of her thighs, his other, reached for the front of her gown. Tugging at the laces, he pushed her up against the door, dipping his head, sucking her nipple into his mouth, fingers tracing the outlines of her other lips.

"Is this what you wanted Katerina?" he murmured against her breast. Her small clothes were ruined. She'd spend the rest of the evening standing in uncomfortably damp cloth, smiling to herself, replaying it all a thousand times in her mind later when she'd touch herself again.

She brushed the outside of his breeches, finding him hard, rubbing herself in response against his hand in encouragement, tugging at his hair- pulling him up to kiss her again.

Without, further inspiration he moved the fabric of her small clothes submerging his fingers inside her. Katerina's head hit the door in a resounding thud, as she closed her eyes and smile.

Yes, this is what she wanted and more of it.

Finally untying the laces of his pants, she drew him out already knowing him to be ready. Her fingers running along the length of him, linger at the head.

Elijah buried his face in her neck, uttering a deep throaty appreciation as his forefinger traced her clitoris.

"Do you want me to have you Katerina?"

Her mouth dropped open, hips snapping against his hand, moisture sliding through his fingers as they moved inside her again, his thumb taking the place of his forefinger.

Katerina's other hand, moved down cupping him as she felt his teeth scrapping along her neck. How badly he wanted to bite her.

"Yes," she breathed, emphatically, picking up speed in stroking him as he did with her.

He sucked on her neck, the place just below her ear, loving every moment as she unwilling grinded herself roughly against him. She was close and he knew he was as well, shoving himself further into her hand.

Elijah pressed himself close her to her, Katerina's skirts pushed up well over her hips, her hand encasing him, hit her thighs slick with sweat and secretion, both his and hers now.

Surely, he'd finish her off. Fuck her hard enough against the large wooden door that the guests would be forced to stop in wonderment at the source of such a noise.

But Elijah was far more devious it seemed than Katerina had ever imagined.

"Not yet," he answered his teeth on her ear lobe, his cock pressed against her, inches from giving Katerina what she really wanted.

Continuing to thrust into her hand, toying with her to the point where she unashamedly pressed against him just as hard, he finished, "But when I do, rest assured..."

Katerina's lips were trembling, she was panting; ready to scream out as she contracted around his fingers. Quickly he removed his other hand from the door, where he had steadied them both, falling further against her as consequence as he covered Katerina's mouth- muffling her screams and other noises from the guests as he concluded, "You will never forget it." She shook and moved, full body now, snapping against him as she finished.

Moments later, he came, hot liquid sliding down Katerina's hand and arm, as she tried to catch her breath, both of them pressed against the door.

Calmly, Elijah took a few moments before he removed his hand, stepping back, lacing himself up, and straightening his appearance.

Katerina looked at him bewildered. How could he go from complete recklessness to polite pleasantries so quickly?

When he was sure, that his appearance was righted sufficiently he commented, "Come now Katerina, compose yourself. There are people waiting for us."

Holding out her hand, his semen dripping onto the stone floor, Elijah seemed unaffected reaching into his breast pocket, producing a handkerchief for her to clear herself off.

Taking it, Katerina wiped her hand down, before, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress, fixing her hair.

This was an Elijah she'd never even imagined. Who knew something so dark and carnal lay under such a polite exterior?

"Katerina?"

She looked up, arranging her hair.

"You will not ever be intimate with my brother again. Do you understand me?"

She could have denied it, but the way Elijah said it was not accusing or malicious, just matter of fact.

"Yes."

A small grin shadowed his lips, "Are you ready, Kat?"

She nodded as he opened the door, allowing him to escort her back. The entire night he'd smile and talk politely with those around him, smug on the inside as he could smell himself on her from across the room- sure that Klaus could as well.

It may not have been intentional and even though Klaus couldn't have cared less, it was a clear message sent to Klaus. He'd stay away from the widow Lockwood, but Katerina was hence fair game.

---

Her skin burned hotter than any human. He could feel the blood quicken in the vein as she tugged at his material at his neck, pushing it aside, kissing every inch of exposed cold skin.

When his hands reached her small clothes, he could feel her clench in anticipation.

"Kol?"

He looked up at her as she hovered slightly above.

"Did you mean what you said?"

They were meant to hate one another. She was meant to be repulsed by him and him, her. At this point it was ridiculous to even ask. What did it matter anyhow?

He would live forever. And she would never change.

"What exactly was that?"

During the formal announcement of their guests, the men of court, the member of the Parliament, she could feel him take her hand from behind.

"Come with me, Lilly," he had whispered. She knew she shouldn't, that it was wrong, to defile herself before marriage was one matter but with a different species was an abomination.

"Please Lilly," he asked again and this time she relented. Subtly, disappearing behind the crowd of listeners, she followed him from the ballroom, down a series of dark halls until the sound of the guests was faint.

Shamelessly straddling him on their decadent London furniture, she looked down, answering, "Do you care for me, Kol?"

The expression dropped from his face. So this was her true question. What were his intentions? Hadn't he answered this before with his one- two word response? He could sense it, how desperately she needed him to say it out loud.

To him it was so embarrassingly obvious, but to her still such a mystery how he felt.

But if he wanted Lilly, he'd have to play in her world. No matter how foreign it may be. She wasn't some human he could screw, feed and leave. She was young, but she quite deft in her ability to corner him.

He tried to ignore the question, moving in, lips on her neck, hand pressing against her small clothes, he'd make her feel so good, show her the things he'd learned over the years that she'd forget whatever questions she had.

"Kol..."

It was so quiet that if she was human she wouldn't have heard it. But against her skin, eyes closed he relented and for the first time ever, even when he was human Kol admitted true, divine feelings, "Yes, I do."

Gone of bravado, it sounded so sincere it gave her all the confidence she needed to allow him to guide her down onto her back.

Tugging at her undergarments, he gave her a reassuring grin before he made the necessary arrangements. It was strange, after all the salacious things he'd done in his five hundred some odd years, he was slightly nervous.

It wasn't as if she were his first virgin. But this was different.

Opening the front of her gown, he kissed her breasts, sucking on each nipple, listening to her reaction, teasing her before he slid between her legs.

Kol had never been particularly gentle about anything in his life and there was no easy way to go about this. Entering her quickly, with all the satisfaction of a man that had waited long enough, his mouth dropped open in ecstasy.

"Lilly?"

Her eyes closed, she whispered, clearly in pain, "Yes?"

Leaning down on his elbows, kissed her lips, softly, his tongue outlining the bottom one, before he brushed hair from her eyes, "I promise it will get better."

And he was right. It did. As he began to move, Kol kissed her neck, nuzzled her jaw, reaching between them, rubbing her, trying to make it as pleasurable as possible- reconfirming earlier suspicions that he couldn't verbalize.

He had never been one for sincerity, of any kind. That was Rebekah, Elijah and Finn, he was too much like Klaus: the two of them a pair. Disgusted by any raw emotion that didn't include rage or some form of amusement.

But with Lilly, alone in the dark, the sounds of guests and music filling the silence of the empty room, he admitted for the first time caring beyond just simple amusement. It may not have been vocalized entirely, but Lilly knew all the same.

Kol wanted her in more ways than just this and needed her even if he wasn't willing to admit it.

It was the only time in his entire existence, where he was gentle, considerate. It was a concept quite new to Kol and overwhelming in its context.

All the things he'd heard in over the centuries, poets waxing about love, beauty, fulfilment, it all seemed like a ridiculous lie to him. Something people told themselves to feel better about their existence.

But as he covered Lilly with himself, listened to her breaths, buried his face between her jaw and the cushion behind them, he imagined that this was as close to content as he'd ever be for all eternity.

When it was over and he lay next to her, kissing her hand, shoulder, listening to the pounding of her heart, he felt a strange sense of calm.

Peace, there was only one other word that possibly could describe how he felt when he was around her, but he couldn't say it. It was too pitiful, but true. Belonging, it may not have made sense, they were from two separate worlds, of opposing interests but when he was with Lilly she made him feel for the first time in too long that he belonged somewhere and to someone.

"Lilly?"

"Hm?"

Maybe it was the post coital bliss that made him ask it, but in all likeliness it was fear, "Do you care for me?" As soon as it left his mouth he immediately wished to take it back. How pathetic he sounded. Centuries he'd lived on his own and now in a dark room with a female werewolf, whom he should be plotting to kill, he was possibly the most vulnerable he'd ever been in his entire existence.

If she rejected him, he might just kill the entire damn party. He couldn't be responsible for his actions.

Both staring at the ceiling of the dark room, she reached out for his hand, squeezing it, "Yes, of course I do."

He belonged to Lilly as she belonged to him.

Kol felt as if he had won the most epic battle of his life, a wide grin passing over his face, one of pure elation.

When she would have to leave sometime later, straightening herself, Kol pulled her in, kissing her before they'd have to separate. Only this time it was a little less demanding than usual and a little more sincere.

"I will see you soon. I promise," he told her.

When she turned to leave he grabbed her again, kissing her like a fool marching to his death.

"They will be wondering where I've gone," Lilly panted in between his lips and hers. When he refused to let go, she bit his lip gently, her venom seeping through. Immediately, Kol felt himself weaken a little, as her hand pushed him back against the wall.

Her tongue slid into his mouth, licking at his blood, nose nuzzling against his cheek.

"I'll see you soon," she replied before skirting away while he was in a moment of semi paralysis.

"Still a tease, I see," he called out, laughing.

Shutting the door behind her, Lilly fought the urge to go back in. She was ruined now, but when she left it didn't seem to matter as much because she knew he was too.

---

Lyanna need not seek out the King's adviser, he found her. Niklaus watched the lengthy conversation that look place, listening intently from a far. Not once did she mention Lord Harte or Father Hall. In fact Lyanna hardly had the chance to speak at all.

The wolves in the room, watched the interaction as well. Well dressed, pretending to converse with ladies and other Lords, their eyes leered in her direction, possibly getting the outcome they wished as the member of the Parliament informed Lyanna that her presence was requested in London. The king had no intention it seemed in letting this matter of the wolves and other disturbances on her lands go unaccounted for.

By the time, Klaus had politely exercised himself into their private conversation; every wolf in the great ball room was listening intently.

"I was just informing Lady Lockwood that King Henry requests her presence in London."

Klaus glanced around quickly, trying to gauge if it would be worth it for him to attempt to compel the man. However, before he could decide either way, the Regis member continued, "As well as yours Lord Mikaelson."

"Mine?"

"Yes, the disturbances that have taken place have been on both your lands and Lady Lockwood's."

"And has this issue not already been settled by the Freeholders' Courts?"

A stocky, balding man, he looked up at Klaus through bushy brows and answered tartly, "No, it has not. In fact this problem now supersedes the Hundred Courts and therefore is now in the hands of the King."

Lyanna looked at Niklaus then to Katerina whom remerged into the ballroom with Elijah.

"Any member of your house will do Lord Mikaelson, however the King expects you both in London before the week's end."

"The week's end? That would mean we would need to leave within a day's time."

"Yes it would seem that way."

He worried with the decree of the King's disciples that the issue between Lyanna and the wolves, their Hundred Courts was not resolved. He considered even that he'd sniff around, bore of such a meager issue and return to London with nothing to report. This however, was not something he'd expected.

To compel a few men, in a dusty tavern, members of the court, even parts of the Parliament was one thing. But now, the problem had spread too quickly, with too many people in the know, to resolve the issue quickly. There would be no way around it. Lyanna was going to London to answer for crimes which were not hers and it seemed a Mikaelson would be going as well.

---

"I will go," Elijah offered as the guests began to leave for the evening and Klaus apprised him of new developments.

Both knew they could not send Kol. He'd likely kill half of court for his own amusement at a whim. This situation required delicacy and a finesse, with both Lyanna being so close that she could reveal information that they did not wish to come out and their own status in Strathclyde.

They were too close to the full moon only weeks away to encounter any more bumps in the road.

"No, it will never work," Klaus answered. Since he'd informed Elijah of Lyanna's linage he'd worried that his brother's weakness for the widow had only worsened. However, that was not the reason why Elijah could not go.

Lyanna would be fearful of leaving Katerina and Lilly at a time like this. However taking them both to London could be disastrous for their plan. Perhaps she could be convinced to leave both ladies in the care and protection of the Mikaelsons if it was not for Klaus.

He was no fool. He knew she didn't trust him around Katerina. She had an innate sense of uneasiness in their proximity that Klaus was well aware of. She may not trust any of them implicitly but of the three, Elijah would be the only brother she'd consider leaving in care of the women.

"Lyanna will never trust Kol and I alone here with Katerina and Lilly. And we cannot afford to have her take them both to London this close to the full moon."

Although he had a point, Elijah didn't know if he trusted Klaus in the company of Lyanna alone. He'd likely fly into a rage and do considerable damage, kill her if he wasn't careful.

"Do we have any other choice?" he answered solemnly.

The look Klaus gave him spoke volumes.

"Then who will tell her? You or I?"

"You."

As he watched Elijah head towards Lyanna and Katerina, as they donned their heavy wraps and cloaks, preparing for the coach ride home, he was amused at the look that spread over her face as Elijah quietly brokered their deal.

She seemed to verbally put up a small fight before Elijah did whatever it was that he did that consistently calmed her. When he was sure that it was safe to intervene, Klaus approached.

"I guess you have heard the news?"

Looking to Elijah, clearly unhappy about the situation to begin with and even more so now, she replied, "Yes."

"What news?" Katerina questioned.

"I have been summoned to go to London by the King."

"You're going to court?" Katerina looked as if she'd die of excitement thinking she too would go along.

"Yes, but you and Lilly must stay here and watch over Greyshaw Manor."

Katerina opened her mouth to protest, when Lilly coming from out of nowhere took her hand, stifling her as she pulled her back, "Of course Lyanna."

"Are you going alone?" Katerina balked.

Lyanna's face hardened, her tongue wetting her lips in clear frustration, "No. It seems Lord Mikaelson has been summoned as well."

"Elijah?" Katerina looked at him disappointed.

"No, Niklaus," Elijah answered.

Then, Lyanna made eye contact with man that she'd be travelling with for the twelve days. Perhaps she should just confess to the murders and let it all be done with.

Although she understood Elijah's reasoning behind his proposal, however true his every assertion may be, she still would have much preferred his company, looked forward to it even. Surely death would be a more welcomed punishment then a week sequestered with Niklaus and his ever present stifling ego, fighting, and then choking back biting remarks.

Mostly she'd rather travel with the devil himself then spend that much time alone with someone she purposely was trying not to think of, dream about.

It would be long way to London and even longer way back.

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Abbey Scene Analysis

This is a scene breakdown from the abbey scene. This scene is VERY dark and was actually much darker before I rewrote it a few times. Its dark for a reason. Those reasons are outline, in part, through the symbolism/ foreshadowing used here. Again you don't have to read any of this to enjoy the story. But just the same, if you would like to have an example of the bigger picture things and small details going on in this scene here they are:

1- The entire setting for this scene takes place in a room used for confessions of sins, a place where you admit your wrongs and deepest fears and desires.

2- The rosary, so much significance. For a few reasons, one being, when she leaves, she treats Klaus as if none of it happened and should be forgotten. However, the mark that the Rosary leaves on the pew, in the confessional, that will be there forever as a symbol of what happened between them, not to be erased.

3- Liars, I won't bother writing the novel about this, its self explanatory.

4- The way Klaus holds Lyanna in this encounter is very important and not just fodder for a titillating scene. They are so close but still disconnected by not facing one another. The fact that they are in the confessional, but don't ever even face on another as they act on all their darkest desires involving one another.

5- The part about his fingers digging into her, how he holds her so tight that she fears she'll suffocate and as a result she submits at one point briefly. This hearkens back to the meaning of Lyanna's name and what she is (all the hunters) will be to Klaus: light. Ines touched on this in her scene. If Lyanna is light that Niklaus is drawn to, needs even, the closer he gets to her, the more he threatens to snuff out that light and kill what he love. Just as he holds her so close she feels like she's suffocating. What happens to a flame without oxygen?

6- Lyanna swallowing his blood is very significant for a few reasons. The first time he offers it to her she doesn't take it when she's injured. It's something so intimate on his part and when it finally happens (as with everything with Niklaus) the moment is ruined because it's out of duress.

7- "Do you fear me"- this is a direct connection back to the dream he had of her, his feelings about Hannah and Anne and his hallucinations. Also this touches on the revelation of the things Ines tells him and he will eventually come to realize.

8- The poisoned vine, breeds a finer wine. This sums up Niklaus's 1000 yrs with the Carolines.

9- The blessed virgin- this and its image will make much more sense once we get to Mary's chapter.

10- "Still sticky on his fingers, his blood smeared and dried on her chin," this reference is made after I mentioned the Eucharist. When you go to confession often you take the Eucharist after you've done your penance. The Eucharist is symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. It started with the last supper the night they slept in the garden. Caroline is the body, which Klaus took and Klaus is the blood which Caroline consumed.

11- "Go then, run back to my brother" this obvious but the cracking of Klaus's completely indifferent exterior as she can see that he's clearly affected by her.

12- The moment when they are both on the ground and he buries his nose in her hair/ has this private moment where he thinks about the letters. That's all part of Klaus's humanity which he mocked Elijah for, but she brings back to him.

13- The veil. Veils are used to mean many things, modesty, a barrier, reverence etc. Here it works as a barrier. So close, too intimate, forced, but still giving her that modesty, separation, both for her and for himself because it's just as intense for him, almost a little too much so. It eventually slips from her head, notice, at the end of the scene when she's lost all inhibitions. But after she denies him, she properly puts it back in place.

14- When she washes herself in holy water. This symbolizes change, also it foreshadows so much with Mary.

15- The fact that Klaus lights a candle. Most likely he doesn't know what that means. To light a candle is done in prayer. He lights the candle and then in his strange, weird way tries to reach out to Lyanna and is denied.

16- The 10 apostles. In the Judeo Christian religion there were 12 not 10. Apostles were used as teachers, yes followers of Christ but he used them to enlighten the world. This is why he blesses them in the garden- so they can go out and "be the light of the world" through him. Light, Lyanna, the girls… I'll leave that one for a moment.

17- There were 12 original apostles, only 10 in the garden. There are 10 girls.

18- The garden scene from the stained glass window is all a throwback to so many things mentioned in previous chapters. Mostly the Garden of Eden reference used in Lyanna's first chapter, but also specifically Lyanna and Elspeth's dialogue out of that same chapter. Elspeth: "Heavy is the burden of the shepherd, whom watches over the flock" Lyanna: "And stupid is the fool who slumbers peacefully in the garden with his enemy at the gates."

19- The two missing apostles. This one has two meanings. To explain both its important to have basic knowledge about the nature of the 2 missing. Judas of course, betrayed Christ, when he said he wouldn't, and sold his whereabouts to the Jewish priests for 30 pieces of Sanhedrin silver (more on that later). Judas acts out of self preservation, instinct and is ruthless in it. He also denied that Christ was the messiah- leaving him to die alone. This gets heavy into dark symbolism with Niklaus's god complex and Lyanna and others denial of him- I'll leave that one alone for now. However as Judas left Christ, the girls will leave Niklaus alone to suffer. Then there is Phillip whom did not deny Christ, was righteous and innocent- went against his natural instincts for self preservation and as a result was crucified by the Romans- but furthermore he was crucified upside down, which back then was the ultimate horrible dishonor.

Meaning A: 10 girls and 2 doppelgangers they protect. And more specifically the nature of the 2 doppelgangers. Katerina is Judas and Elena (as the show chooses to portray her- I disagree) is not about self preservation and always acts the martyr, making her Phillip.

Meaning B: 10 girls and 2 different ways of dealing with Niklaus/ 2 types of hunters. There are the hunters, who self preserve and strike out against him but do so conflicted. And then there are the Phillips- who are righteous and don't hunt him. They pay just as dearly and often die without inflicting pain on Niklaus intentionally- they are martyrs.

20- The silver coins- oh this will come up in later chapters, believe me.

21- "noose of guilt around her neck" Judas is reported in Matthew to have hung himself in guilt. This symbolism/ foreshadowing will come full circle in future chapters with another one of our reincarnations.

22- "with her soul (symbolic coins) she'd purchased from Niklaus Alkedama." Alkedama was bought with the 30 pieces of silver by the apostles/ Judas. Translation of the name Akeldama is "Land of Blood", which is a fitting description of Greyshaw but also could be delved into deeper. Lyanna makes the agreement with Niklaus, eventually bringing them closer. She'll pay for her connection with him, with her own life. What she bought with her soul will be the land of blood for her and every hunter after as Klaus is forever changed after their encounter.

23- The prayer she says in the end "for the sake of his sorrowful soul" throw back to when she opens her eyes in the confessional and see's Christ and his sorrowful look looming down on her. "Have mercy on 'US' and have mercy on the world" the 'us' is the 10 girls/ reincarnations.

There are also other things such as the fact that he mother was a nun and disgraced/ cast from the church and Lyanna is defiling holy ground (following in mom's footstep) and a few other things but I've most likely bored you by now.

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As you all have now discovered, if you are still with me there is one more chapter to finish Lyanna. I originally was going her story in this chapter but I had to break it down into 2 instead of 1 because that one chapter would have been 50,000 words. This alone was probably quite a lot to digest.

There is a VERY important reason why I have spent so much time on Lyanna. Her story and plot arcs with Lilly, Kol, Elijah, Katerina and Klaus's in these chapters will be carried over in every chapter past the Lyanna chapters, directly setting up things for every character in Caroline's present time.

Next chapter = sexy times

Thank you to every person who reads, follows me on tumblr, favorites, follows and most importantly reviews. You guys motivate me to keep going.

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