Jessica watched as Jackson face went from worried back to bliss. He had a brief moment of consciousness where the problems of his previous of life had caught to him. But now he was back in heavenly bliss, Jessica knew he would be transported to his version of heaven. He'd probably sit in his Bayou and prepare a place for him and his queen to run like wolves. Wasn't unordinary for werewolves to be in heaven, they still had a soul so heaven would accept a heroic death which is what Jackson had achieved. She continued to watch the blissful Jackson as he was ushered to the long white hallways and disappeared around the corner.
Sensing her angels close to her, she wiped her tears and turned to face the task at hand. She walked to Leo who stood sensing her and flicked his ears awaiting orders.
"Leo discedendi tempus. ludah, Leo reversus est ad me." Both big cats lowered their heads in acknowledgement took flame form and back to their places on her arms. She felt the weight of their power on her arms, and felt the weight of her sword on her back. In her sorrow she felt their power like the weight of the universe on her. For a brief moment she didn't want it, she wanted to mourn a good man and the loss of a good life that could have been a happy one. She ached for Tucson and her desert home, the simplicity in life in Arizona, she craved aloneness, and carless life on her porch with a cold beer. But she had responsibility of epic proportions and she could feel King David urging her on gently.
"Are we returning to New Orleans?" Castiel asked gently behind her.
Jessica turned around and looked at her two angels. "Yes, clearly the Mikaelsons are having some difficulties with the Srix. Lucifer and I will go on ahead, it seems when my attention is turned from either the Mikaelson's or the Winchesters something blows up on the other side." Jessica rubbed the bridge of her nose, she was on a verge of a stress headache. "Castiel I will need you to check on the Winchester's. Then report back to me in New Orleans."
"Who's to watch Hell? Or Heaven?" Lucifer said smartly.
Jessica shot him a glance. He was being an ass, but his words rained truth. She couldn't split herself in so many directions. They hadn't heard from Crowley in Hell, and the politics in Heaven needed to be wrangled in submission. Jessica sighed, there it is the headache. She needed leaders, she needed Men, Monsters, Angels, and Demons to step up and take ownership of their situation in hand. She felt like a rock climber teetering off an extraordinary cliff and her rope was fraying. She somehow needed to bind the fray's together, to become one and hold stronger. First thing on the agenda in doing that, is monsters meeting men.
"Castiel go ahead see what Dean and Sam are up to, follow them unseen. I have a feeling Dean is going through something and he hasn't shared it with us yet. Perhaps he has shared it with Sam." Castiel nodded his blue eyes seemed sad, she had just ordered him to spy on his closes friends. Something that had created untrust before. But he obediently disappeared.
"To New Orleans we go." Lucifer quickly grabbed Jessica's shoulder and before she could protest they to vanished from heaven.
Jessica blinked. They stood in Jackson Square in the middle of a crowd of tourist. No one seemed to have noticed that the two of them had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The sun was bright in the sky and quickly warmed Jessica under her leather jacket. She looked to the east sky and saw dark clouds forming on the horizon, Jessica frowned at the metaphor the weather gave her.
Lucifer inhaled deeply through his nose. "New Orleans, my kind of city! it's funny the things you miss when you're locked away in a cage. This city is on the top of that list."
"Please don't be irritating." Jessica made her way out of the square to the Mikaelson compound.
"Oh I can't promise that princess. I have no choice in the matter of joining your quest, but I can be an ass about it if I choose." Lucifer fell into stride beside her and gave her a wicked smile. "I never met the founders of the city, I am excited to meet them. Do you think they will like me?"
Jessica ignored him. He rambled on in every atrocious details on his last visit to New Orleans. Jessica's mind was so preoccupied on what she would say to Elijah. She thought of all the worst case scenarios that could explain Jackson's death. He died protecting his family. Last she knew they were to move the family outside the city walls. She had been gone only a week, and already the Mikaelson's had found enough trouble getting one key character killed.
Jessica walked past a fake tourist voodoo shop, when she felt a surge of heat. She stopped dead in her tracks. Lucifer was rambling and almost didn't realised she had stopped.
"Did you forget your way Princess?" Lucifer slowly walked back to her.
Jessica ignored him. She could feel the heat on her body, it went straight through her clothing and was radiating from the little shop. Jessica peared in the window, the shop was dark. Herbs and charms littered the shelves a strong scent of incense could be smelled from inside. Jessica looked around the block, there was nothing out of the ordinary from this shop it looked just like the others that dotted the streets, all except this one was closed. Jessica waited till a group of tourist passed them before she spoke.
"Fly me in." She whispered to Lucifer.
"Why?" Lucifer raised his eyebrows, "if you're going to do a B&E the B part is all the fun." He smiled. Jessica gave him a cold stare, he rolled his eye's. "Fine, but one of these days Princess you will have to get those clean hands dirty." He pulled her close.
Within a blink of an eye they were in the dark shop. Jessica could feel the heat radiating all around the small room. She tried to locate the source when there was a big crash. Jessica whirled around to see a guilty looking Lucifer mouthing, 'wasn't me!' A light appeared in the back, nowhere to run or nowhere to hide Jessica took out the glock 17 out of her ankle holster.
"ifen yousa ere to rob ma, take whad yous want, an eaven ma n' peace!" Came an old female Cajun accent.
Lucifer's eyes went to Jessica then shrugged and lead the way towards the back. Jessica lowered the gun to her leg and followed the angel through the door. Jessica drew her weapon up and checked the blind spots like a professional, while Lucifer made his way to the stairs. He stopped and turned to Jessica and motioned with his head to the top of the stairs. There stood a small black elderly lady holding a shotgun trained on Lucifer.
Jessica held her gun up in surrender, "Whoa hello ma'am, we heard a crash and came to investigate. Are you okay?"
"Yous bing da dark." The elderly lady gestured to Lucifer, "wadda ol devil want fom backatown voodoo witch lick ma?
"Well first not to get shot, since you know who I am, then you know those shells won't work on me." Lucifer took his first step up the staircase.
"Wadda work n ere charmer." The aged lady pointed the barrel towards Jessica, who raised her glock in defense. "I ave a gris-gris bag." The lady tugged on a pouch on her waist.
"Now now, you know that is only for evil spirits, not the devil himself." Lucifer sighed, then within a blink he was standing behind the witch and grabbed the barrel. Her surprise sent a shot off, but Lucifer's quick motion sent the shell in the roof above them. He quickly overpowered the fragile witch who crumbled to the floor. Lucifer's rage could be seen in his eye's. Jessica flew up the stairs to make sure he didn't kill the old lady.
"Lucifer don't!" Jessica said firmly
"Next time Lucinda you point a gun at her, I will be more than happy to show you true hell." Lucifer lowered the gun and gave it to Jessica, who sighed in relief. Jessica looked at Lucifer hard, how could he possible know the old lady's name. Unless she was a witch who dealt with him before.
"So Lucinda?" Jessica turned to the old witch who hoisted herself back to her feet. "Since my friend here knows your name I figure you practice in the dark magic? Is that what I felt? The heat?"
The old eyes looked at her in shock. "Chéri felt da dark? Waznt ma dark voodoo Chéri fell, waz sumthin, sum-un who cam back fom da death."
Elijah pushed all his weight into the high back armchair, Scotch and ice in hand. For the time being his family was safe. Klaus was walling up Aurora, Aya dead by the hands of Hailey. He sighed, Aya he closed his eyes as he tried to remember every detail about her. Losing her a second time had its sting, her only fault was being too devoted to him, and then that devotion turned to betrayal, and that betrayal turned revenge and hatred. He did have great fondness over Aya, she will now always be a reminder of his faults.
Elijah opened his eyes when his vampire hearing could hear the front door opening. He waited and heard the familiar feminine boot clad stride leave the home, Hailey. He took a sip of his drink, she had been leaving quite a bit. He remained in his seat but used his hearing to find an infant's sleeping breaths. She was leaving at nap time again, was strange. But then again wasn't that strange, she was grieving, probably more than he was. She also had a grieving wolf pack to tend to. Elijah swirled the ice in his glass and frowned. Yes they all to grieve in their own way, and then a major clean up job would have to be done.
Klaus would be first priority. Losing his hold on his sire line would have repercussions that no one knew what. Whether Klaus would suffer physically from being separated from the line was yet to be determine. Freya was keeping a close eye on him. Another danger would be his sire line felt the link dissipate, Klaus had a number of powerful enemies who now had no obligation in keeping him alive. Elijah Mikaelson, always trying to keep five steps ahead of whatever danger would face his family. He groaned, closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He needed some rest, for relaxation he concentrated on little Hope's breathing.
He shot up like lightning when he heard footsteps in the foyer. He hadn't heard the front door open, nor footsteps outside. Vampire adrenaline corsed through his system, he was home alone with an infant he would kill armies for.
"Nice house, no castle, no crypts, no creepy coffins? Call Buffy their hiding like kings!" A male voice spoke from the foyer.
Elijah used vampire speed out of the room and to the railing that overlooked the foyer. There he saw a familiar face, Jessica. And unfamiliar man wearing blue jeans, forest green shirt with a cheap dark blue over shirt. The man stood about 6'1", brown hair, blue eyes, he looked around the house with a mix of disinterest, and arrogance.
"Well well just as soon as my family can breath. The weight of the world returns." Elijah smiled warmly at Jessica as he ascended the stairs. He kept a wary eye on the stranger.
"Elijah!" Jessica smiled kindly.
"This is the great Elijah Mikaelson?!" The stranger asked in disbelieve. "No offense I've always wanted to meet this city's founders, just not exactly what I was expecting."
Elijah sense the stranger picked up the friendliness between himself and Jessica. "Founders?" Elijah stood feet apart and narrowed his eyes at the stranger. "I'm sorry I don't believe we have been introduced." Elijah could sense a tinge of jealousy coming from the man. Something about the stranger gave Elijah a cold shiver, which was hard to do he had seen and done a lot of evil nothing should phase him like this stranger did. Something was unnerving behind his blue eyes, he didn't look to be a killer but he sensed death and evil in the blueness. Stranger still, the man had no heartbeat, and Elijah couldn't smell blood in the man's veins.
The stranger smiled and opened his mouth to speak. But was quickly cut off by Jessica, "he… well he is a long story. You can call him Nick for now."
Elijah kept his eye's narrowed, his animal instincts were giving off warning bells. The stranger rolled his eye's, "Nooo,." He whirled around to look at Jessica, then slowly turned back to Elijah, "name is Lucifer." He smiled wickedly, and gave a wink to Jessica "It's rude to be embarrassed of your allies... Princess."
Elijah's mouth dropped habitually and he blinked in shock. "Um… I beg your pardon, you... you are the devil?"
"It is a long story Elijah, but yes this is Lucifer second Arcangel, who rebelled and is what we now call the devil, or satan." Jessica rubbed her forehead, she wanted to spare this long conversation.
"But he is so…"
"I know ruggedly handsome. Good ol' Nick is my vessel, he wasn't my first choice, but oh well just because the first girl said no doesn't mean you don't go to the prom altogether." Lucifer smiled. "Well this is awkward, I'm going to go find the booze, while you two talk about me." He winked and walked off in search of the kitchen.
Jessica tried to smile at Elijah but faltered, this is not how she wanted the conversation to go. "He is under my control for now," Jessica reached to grasp the blade that was hidden under her backpack. The Black metal caught the sunlight from the window. "This was mine when I was King David and has the ability to control all heaven host." Jessica motioned to where Lucifer had disappeared to, "and no matter how hard he tries, he is still just a fallen angel."
Elijah turned towards the kitchen, and raised an eyebrow. He could hear Lucifer rummaging around the kitchen, he heard a glass and liquid pouring. "Well he has found Klaus scotch." Elijah smiled of course it would be the devil himself who would have the same taste in alcohol.
"Good maybe it will keep him busy for awhile. You and I have some catching up to do." Elijah turned to see the seriousness of Jessica's face.
"How much do you know?"
"Well for starters I knew nothing till last night. I figured since there were no prayers to Castiel things were going all according to plan. Till I show up in heaven and see the Alpha from the Crescent pack! Jackson's dead!"
Elijah bowed his head, "we decided to fight the Strix. We all saw an opportunity and took it, Jackson death was tragic he died when he and Hailey werecaptured by Aurora and Tristen. He was Tristan's col…." Elijah cut himself off."
"What!? Collateral Damage? Shit Elijah not only was he your niece's step father, not only was he the Alpha in the Were pack, he was…"
"An honorable man! Yes i know this Jessica. He was an admirable second father Hope. He has saved me and my family numerous times." Elijah backfired at Jessica. He placed his hands on his hips in an attempt to calm himself down. "Every day I see the pain it has on Hailey, and Hope. My family is grieving this barbaric loss!"
"Okay okay, is Tristen dead? Aurora?" Jessica asked in a calmer voice.
Elijah opened his mouth to answer but the kitchen door swung open. Lucifer appeared bottle of Scotch, and a glass of ice in the other. He gave a low bow when they both turned to watch his entrance. "Pretend I'm not here." He clasped in a high back chair.
Trying to ignore Lucifer imprudent behavior Elijah continued "No Tristen is in a watery grave, damned to drown alive over and over again. And Klaus, as of right now putting Aurora inside a wall, it's a kind of a metaphor to him."
Jessica looked irritated, "Why are they not dead?"
"There are worse things than death." Elijah walked towards the parlor area in the foyer. He felt more comfortable closer to Lucifer, after all there was an infant sleeping close by he was responsible for.
Lucifer eye'd the suited vampire closely. The well dressed blood sucker stood to be about 5'11' impeccable posture and carried himself as a refined man. He had heard stories of the Mikaelson family, children made vampire not by being a monster of Eve, but by magic of their mother. Being trapped under of convent waiting for the seals to be broken for his release he heard many of their stories. The blood thirsty beast made by magic, and couldn't be killed. He expected more than this well dressed creature, it was far from bloodthirsty. Lucifer didn't know who this Tristen or Aurora were but he knew that if these creature truly were blood thirsty then they could have torn these people in half. Instead one is in the Ocean and the other is in a wall? Lucifer had to chuckle.
"Is something amusing?" Elijah's dark brown eyes scanned the sitting Archangel.
"Oh yes and I think Princess here feels it also." Lucifer filled his glass and placed the bottle on the floor.
"Pray do tell?" Elijah straightened his posture and clenched his jaw.
"While I was locked up I heard about the Mikaelson creatures. Bloodthirsty beast, vicious ,monsters. Roaming the earth drinking from anyone they pleased, only fearing one thing. Their father, but I do remember hearing a report that your father was slain by Klaus the bastard. Now here sitting in the presence of these monstrous creature is little…" Lucifer paused to give a fake thinking face, "well it's not what I expected.. Princess here is more threatening than you."
Elijah smiled and bowed his head, "I do admit maybe in our old age we have tamed ourselves. But I would warn you that it is just a facade. I have no reservations on killing anyone who threatens my family."
"Please," Lucifer threw back his drink and stood to his feet. "I am the princes of darkness, Beelzebub, father of lies, and the ruler of demons. I'm calling you out, you are a creature who holds on to humanity and despises the beast within. Maybe at one time you would have enemies for the main course. But you are timid, I think it might be because of the infant I hear sleeping upstairs."
Elijah shook with anger and lunged at Lucifer. His fangs exposed and eye's lite with anger and evil he roared. Immediately a force caught Elijah in the air and thrust him backwards. The force threw him across the room, Elijah landed on both feet. Lucifer had his hand extended and was smiling at the vampire.
"Now there! There is the beast I heard about." Lucifer clapped his hands together in joy. See all I had to do is threaten your family and your animal instincts kicked in. Now I know I'm wondering, and the Princess is wondering where is this savage now?"
Jessica took a step forward. "These men kidnapped Hailey and killed Jackson. Are they not part of your family?"
Elijah's fangs retracted and he calmed his breathing. He could see where Lucifer and Jessica were going with their point. They were correct, Aurora and Tristan had threatened their family, if it had been anybody they would never have found the bodies. Wasn't long ago he had snapped necks of witches who tried to destroy his family. His family had always felt guilty about the treatment of Tristan and Aurora. Niklaus probably felt the same despair in Aurora like he had felt for Aya. Was his families deepest secret they all did care, and now the devil himself called him out on his weakness.
"We have company?" A voice spoke from the doorway. Elijah didn't move he knew it was Niklaus. "Well well if it isn't King David…. Herself."
"Niklaus Jessica has returned because she found Jackson dead in heaven." Elijah looked at his younger brother.
"And who is this?" Klaus motioned to Lucifer and his scotch bottle. "Clearly a creature who doesn't value his own life and thinks he can just dip into my personal liquor cabinet."
"Niklaus…" Elijah tried.
"Oh well this one is feisty." Lucifer's eyebrows raised.
"Oh I'm more than feisty…"
"Niklaus!"
"I'm deadly and pissed off." Klaus spat
"Niklaus!" Elijah roared.
"What is it brother, who is cheaply dressed creature who dares to speak to me like a child?!" Klaus turned to his brother.
"That is what I'm trying to tell you. Niklaus this is an Archangel." Elijah couldn't bring himself to say the devil.
Klaus raised an eyebrow and turned to Jessica, "traded in the other angel for a more powerful model." Klaus turned to look Lucifer up and down. "He doesn't seem much but he must be powerful if he thinks he can just drink my good scotch!"
"I think I like this one." Lucifer whispered loudly to Jessica, who rolled her eyes. "Klaus Mikaelson, ah! That's right you're the bastard who killed Michael. I'm a big fan!" Lucifer smiled broadly.
"Pointing out I am a bastard is fortunate. Now I have no reservation in killing you." Klaus' eyes turned yellow and he smiled wickedly.
"Uh uh, your brother just tried to attack me and well he didn't succeed. Let me introduce myself, since everyone in this place is so rude. Father of all sin," he gave a fake bow, "pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Klaus rolled his eyes. And turned to his brother who stood motionless. "He really…"
"Niklaus it appears so." Elijah nodded to the Archangel, "this is Lucifer himself."
Klaus turned back to Jessica. "Well you weren't kidding when you said Heaven and Hell where in jeopardy."
Jessica stepped in between Klaus and Lucifer. "No I wasn't kidding, there is trouble on your side. Not only is the death of Jackson worrisome, but on the way here. Lucifer and myself stumbled upon a old Cajun witch who says someone has used powerful dark magic to bring someone back from the dead."
Klaus closed his eyes. "Dark powerful magic. Could only be Davina and what she took from me." Klaus opened his eyes to see Jessica staring at him not following his thinking. "A certain witch attempted and succeeded in breaking my sire line spell. Freya says, that she also siphoned the magic from the spell, that could be the magic your witch felt."