A/N: Hi all! Return to school has been full-on; sorry this took a while. Thank you so much for all of the reviewers (favourites/follows) thus far - usually I email you thank-yous individually, but I've been so disorganised - I'm sorry!
This chapter is right into the Originals now - so I better chuck in a disclaimer!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, nor any of its names/characters/places or plotlines previously established. They belong to WB Television, The CW, respective creative minds - L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson and Caroline Dries [and additional writers]. The rest belongs to, and is copyrighted to me. I write for my own pleasure and enjoyment, not for monetary gain. Copyright © G.M. Portraepic, 2014
26. Eras Anew
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."
- Confucius
Ten Weeks Later
Caroline stared down at the letter, chewing her lip.
It had the same effect, every time she did it; every time she looked at the inoffensive piece of paper. Studied it. Considered it. The familiar twist in her stomach, flutter in her chest, and the tightness at her temples. Regret, fear, loyalty and indecision.
She couldn't. Of course she couldn't; but all the same, it felt strange ignoring a life - that up until six months ago, she'd so desperately wanted.
Part of her wondered what it would be like - if the chain of events that had led her to where she was, at that very moment, hadn't occurred. If Tyler hadn't slept with Hayley; if they hadn't broken up. If she hadn't been chosen by the witches. If she hadn't become a daemon. Gone with Klaus. Grown closer to him. Slept with him. Become...romantically involved, because saying 'boyfriend' didn't feel right.
What sort of life would she be leading?
She would probably be revising the colour palate for her dorm room with Bonnie and Elena. Packing her belongings. Getting ready to start college.
Whitmore.
Caroline's eyes drifted to the acceptance letter.
Rolling her shoulders and squaring them, a strange sense of finality settled within her.
She dropped the letter into the fireplace, and took a packet of matches from the mantelpiece. Sighing, she flicked the head against the side, igniting a flame - and threw it down on the document, watching as it lit up before her eyes. Setting down the box, she turned on her heel.
Klaus leant against the doorway of the living room, arms folded across his chest, lips pursed.
Though he'd snuck up on her - she didn't jump at the sight of him; she no longer did. She'd gotten used to it.
"What was that, love?"
"Nothing," she murmured in response, offering him a small, dismissive smile. She walked to him, and brushed her lips against his cheek. "Desert?" She headed down the hall.
In her wake, Klaus blurred to the fireplace, and reached for what remained of the almost charred piece of paper. Extinguishing it, only one word was legible.
Accepted.
About to pursue Caroline, the slamming of the front door and a voice that demanded attention, pulled him towards the entrance instead.
"Klaus! Get out here and tell me what you've done with our brother, you narcissistic back-stabbing wanker!"
Rebekah.
Slowly, ceremoniously, Klaus entered the foyer. "Enough with all the shouting, little sister," he sighed, smirking. "I should have known. I assume the six dead vampires Marcel told me of earlier this evening were your doing."
"They were very rude; trying to victimize a poor, innocent girl just trying to find her way to the Quarter. So sorry - were they friends of yours?" Rebekah grimaced. "Oh that's right - you don't have any friends."
"I do have friends-"
At that moment, Caroline poked her head out from the kitchen.
Rebekah cocked an eyebrow.
Klaus passed a smitten glance with Caroline.
It was the sort that made Caroline want to laugh; he really could be ridiculously gorgeous - but she would never let her guard down enough in case he snapped.
Klaus turned back to his sister. "And I have Marcel. You remember him, don't you?" He probed, watching as she cast her gaze downwards. "Yes, of course you do. He fancies himself the King of the Quarter now, and he has these rules about killing vampires - it'll be fun to see what sort of punishment he comes up with for you." Klaus flopped down in a love-seat along the wall.
"I don't care about Marcel or his rules," Rebekah answered flatly. "Elijah told me he was here to look out for Caroline - to pull this family back together. When I spoke with him last, he had no intention of leaving soon; he doesn't welch on deals - what did you do to him?"
Klaus pouted with pretend indifference, leaning against a nearby sideboard. "Perhaps he's on holiday." He motioned above his head. "Or taking a long Autumn nap upstairs." Her persisted, at Rebekah's chagrin. "Well go on; take a look around; you remember this house as well as I."
She strode on past him, halting before the staircase. "I remember everything."
Klaus shrugged, nonchalantly waving a hand. "No use crying of spilt milk, Bekah. He wasn't good enough for you."
"Who wasn't?" Caroline had reached Klaus' side - perching herself on the couch arm.
"This house you're living in?" Rebekah addressed. "Belonged to the Governor. I fell in love with his son." She turned a hard eye on Klaus. "Niklaus killed him." Her jaw stiffened. "No one was ever good enough for me; he made sure of that." She folded her arms across her chest. "Now where is Elijah?"
Klaus phone buzzed, preventing an answer. He opened a text message, and began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Rebekah demanded.
"Mm. Where are you going?" Caroline seconded, crossing her arms: they had not discussed this.
"It appears the night is not over yet; I'm off for another drink with Marcel."
Rebekah stepped forward. "Elijah told me your plan to take apart Marcel's empire piece by piece. I don't remember it involving you drinking New Orleans dry together."
Klaus stepped forward, brow furrowed. "I know you don't have many friends, Rebekah - but what some friends do when they get together, is drink. And when they drink, they tell secrets." His face was painted with such confidence, Caroline wanted to warn him against it - chasten him; he was stirring Rebekah up, and that was never wise. "Marcel has somehow found a way to control the entirety of witches in the Quarter," he continued, "and for what ever reason, they wish to use Caroline in their defence. I aim to uncover the how and why. Finding Elijah didn't make my to-do list today." He turned away once more, and moved towards Caroline, pressing his lips to hers lightly. "Don't wait up, love," he murmured tenderly to her, before making for the door, opening it, he added to Rebekah, "Oh - and welcome home, little sister."
The door closed, and Caroline turned her head very slowly - lips tugging into what felt like more of a grimace than a reassuring smile.
Rebekah stormed towards the basement.
- TVD -
It was the early hours of the morning when Klaus slid in beside Caroline, pulling her to him as she stirred. She turned her face into him slightly, inhaling. He smelt of his cologne, whisky, the faintness of cigarette smoke - no doubt from a bar - but best of all, of himself. The woodsy, hint-of-cinnamon richness that filled her nose, and made her head spin. Wanting to taste him, she craned her neck around further, reaching. He knew what she wanted, and bent towards her, capturing her bottom lip and applying pressure. It was he who broke it off. Murmuring an apology for waking her, he urged her to sleep again. His arms tightened around her, protective. He was cool, and he moulded around Caroline in such a way that made her feel even more content and comfortable: safe. She drifted off in moments - unaware that Klaus lay awake for hours after her.
- TVD -
"Be careful."
Klaus slid two fingers between Hugo's belly and the girth. It was the following morning, and he had to go into the Quarter. Subsequently, Caroline was on her own and wanted to ride. Reluctant - he usually rode with her - Klaus had agreed.
Caroline rolled her eyes, tugging on the black velvet of her helmet. "This" - she tugged in it - "is already ridiculous enough. I'm supernatural; give me some credit."
"Do you remember what happened the last time you hurt yourself?"
"That's because I was in transition; at my most vulnerable state. And then I didn't know that I could heal myself, let alone how to. Now, I can - no issue." She smiled with a hint of self-accomplishment. "Do you know that I cut my hand yesterday, making a salad? Fixed it right, up, you wouldn't have known-"
"You stay in the paddock - understand?" He stepped back.
She nodded, sighing submissively. What was the use in arguing with him, when it came to looking after herself? He was like a bull; could not be persuaded, and stood his ground. Believed that his way was the proper, and only way. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the sought of worrisome boyfriend or husband he would be in an alternate life. Wow, pregnancy would be a bitch, she thought - a smile visibly telling on her lips.
"I'll be back this afternoon," he promised.
She squeezed Hugo's belly with her calves. "Have fun. Pass on my regards to Marcel."
Klaus shot her a warning look.
"Kidding," she teased in a sort of undertone. She waved him off with a hand. "Go. Anthony's nearby if there's an issue."
Anthony was working at a larger, neighbouring property; after all, for the first few weeks, doing up the Plantation had been plenty of work, but when it had all been done - there really wasn't much to do. He'd sought employment for the last few weeks of his stay before he left. He had also been helping Caroline out with Katherine; taking her supplies every week - sworn to secrecy by Caroline, who could no longer compel. Thus far, he'd proved to be loyal - silent as the grave.
As Caroline walked the length of the paddock, she snuck glances in Klaus' direction until she heard him start his car, and disappear down the driveway.
Gathering her reins, Caroline guided Hugo towards the woods.
- TVD -
"So if I had to guess, knowing Klaus' history - Elijah has a dagger in his chest." Rebekah and Sophie rounded another corner in the cemetery. "It's a magical object - you're a witch. Do a locator spell - locate the dagger, locate Elijah."
"I can't use magic," Sophie responded - almost ruefully; it had, after all, been Elijah that had come through on giving them access to Caroline. "It's punishable by death; Marcel's rules."
"Marcel's rules," Rebekah retorted, "what do you think I'm going to do to you if you don't do what I want?"
"Not much," Sophie countered. "I'm linked to Caroline; so anything you do to me, you do to her."
Rebekah chewed her lip; beat. She actually liked Caroline on occasion; let alone the fact her brother Klaus was deeply in love with the girl. "How did Marcel get so bloody powerful anyway? He wasn't like this a hundred years ago."
"Marcel has a way to tell when magic is being done in the Quarter - the 'how' isn't relevant."
"I'll tell you what isn't bloody relevant; a coven of witches that can't do magic. Here's an idea - move away."
"We practice ancestral magic," Sophie revealed. "In this cemetery are the remains of our witch ancestors - without them, we're powerless. If we run, we're leaving our legacy behind. Our family, our home..."
"Well, family's overrated," Rebekah sighed. "Look at me; I'm back in a city that's given me nothing but heartache. Here for a brother that's hell-bent rebuilding our family, protecting the girl who's supposedly the key to it, and my brother's redemption. When I, on the other hand - couldn't really care less. I only want to get Elijah out of here."
"I find that hard to believe."
Rebekah watched her expectantly.
"Well, you're here, aren't you?" Sophie finished.
"I'm here for Elijah - the instant I find him, I'm gone. And now he's missing - probably at the hands of Klaus himself. You were foolish enough to believe Elijah could convince Klaus to go up against Marcel."
Sophie was well aware of the circumstances in which Elijah was 'daggered' for, as she'd heard Caroline call it. To her surprise, at that very moment - she found herself wanting to protect the daemon. Perhaps it was obligation - but she'd also even come to like her a little bit. There was was a determination within the blonde that reminded Sophie of herself. "Klaus sired Marcel," she responded, instead of the truth. "I'm aware."
"You don't understand," Rebekah frustratedly corrected her. "Marcel is not just some guy that he turned into a vampire: Klaus loved him like a son. I was there the day that they met - we were burying Emil, the Governor's only son. Or so we thought. Turns out the Governor had another son - from a mother that he owned. Klaus saw an overseer lashing this...boy relentlessly, until the child picked up an apple and threw it at his offender. It halted him in his tracks: Niklaus picked up an apple himself and hurled it at the overseer before he could lash the child again. He went up to the boy, asked his name; the child didn't have one - his mother hadn't given him one, in case the fever took him before he turned ten. Klaus named him 'Marcellus' - God of War." Rebekah drew a long breath, and Sophie knew that it was because a series of memories - long-since buried, weighed heavily on her. "Klaus saw himself in the boy - he remembered how our father used to beat him; he too was the bastard child of a man that saw him as nothing but a beast." She straightened. "And that is why your plan will fail: all you've done is bring back together two long-lost souls. Without Elijah between them...who knows what they'll do."
Sophie nodded, eyes drifting to her watch.
"Somewhere to be?" Rebekah picked.
"Actually," Sophie muttered. "Yes. So, if you don't mind." She pushed past her.
- TVD -
"You're late." Sophie folded her arms across her chest. "I mean, I left late, and I still beat you." It had only taken her forty minutes.
Caroline dismounted. "Yeah, well...you weren't exactly specific about the where."
"And you do know that there is a road not even half a mile away," Sophie revealed. "You could have driven and walked."
They were in the clearing where Elijah had taken Caroline a couple of months ago for the linking spell.
Caroline didn't respond so Sophie's statement, tethering Hugo to a tree.
"So you still haven't told him," Sophie flatly surmised. "Fantastic. You know, dishonesty is a catalyst for the deterioration of any relationship; let alone a budding one."
The blonde stepped forward, placing her hands on her hips. "Focus. You're not here to tell me how I should conduct my relationship."
Sophie sighed. "See where we are right now?"
Caroline looked around, raising an eyebrow. "The woods. In the middle of nowhere."
"Not 'nowhere'," Sophie corrected her, eyes sweeping the area also. "In 1820, the towns' witches were rounded up - and many of them burned at the stake, right here." Her dark gems landed on Caroline. "Because of your boyfriend, Klaus."
Caroline shrugged.
Sophie regarded her incredulously.
Sighing, Caroline's arms dropped. "I've learned to not be surprised about the amount of bad things that he is responsible for."
"So you just ignore them?"
"Deal with them. One at a time." She stepped forward. "So...witches were burned here...," she prompted.
Sophie nodded. "Right. Now, last time you travelled to the 'Other Side' - as you call it - there was a supernatural phenomenon occurring; something you could used to create an opening. Allow you to pass through."
"My friend lowering the veil," Caroline supplied. "And the time before that-"
"Davina summoned you."
Caroline froze. When she and Sophie had started doing this, she'd made it clear to Caroline she absolutely understood who the 'secret weapon' was - Davina - and the why - although that was something she refrained from telling Caroline; because the information would sooner or later wind up in Klaus's hands. All summer, they'd met each fortnight - and Sophie had taught Caroline how to harness her power. It had been the consequence for involving her with the secret - that was 'Katherine'. Not that Caroline really minded anymore - Sophie had really helped her. But she'd also been dishonest with Klaus; he knew nothing of the meetings, and nothing of the Power that she'd learned to control.
"She told me-"
"What you needed to hear, so you'd listen to her; help her," Sophie countered. "But anyway - so far as I can understand, when you...'travel'...you need an anchor. Something powerful to draw you to points. Davina has a lot of power. Your friend was tapping into a lot of power. And the other places you travelled from were...?"
Caroline's breathe hitched in her throat. "When I was with Klaus."
Sophie nodded - face painted with an expression somewhere between amusement and indifference. "The power of true love," she seemed to jest - although there was an unsettling air of seriousness.
Caroline shot her a dubious, cautioning look.
"Was just joking, jeez," Sophie muttered. "What my theory is, that you need somewhere to...draw energy from, to travel."
"Like a comet or a moonstone," Caroline mused to herself. "Or the centre of an Expression triangle, or the site where a hundred witches burned." It made sense.
Sophie stared at her expectantly.
"My town has one too," Caroline elaborated, "a...place where witches were rounded up and burned in 1864. I remember my friend using it, but then the spirits cut her off; she went too dark..." Uncomfortable, she shook her head, focussing. "But you don't need to...know that, it's irrelevant."
"Witches have been suppressed by vampires for centuries, and it isn't just in New Orléans," Sophie thoughtfully responded. "Before you so decidedly hate me - and my coven, remember your friend, and how vampires have ruined her life; then you'll see why we so badly want to remove Marcel. No more subjugation. We have the right to not live in fear and repression, don't we?"
Caroline didn't answer. She swallowed.
"I suppose you understand why we were hoping you would help us," Sophie finished.
The blonde cocked an eyebrow. "If you're hoping - by some miracle, that Klaus will bend to your will because of me, you're insane. I can't control him, let alone get him to help you; he hates you for what you've done to me."
"Does he?" Sophie lifted a shoulder, but her stare didn't waver. "I mean, after all - look at you now; strong. Powerful; you have the potential to be greater than Marcel's weapon. A vampire and a sorceress-"
"But hardly a vampire anymore; nothing works," Caroline interrupted. "I can't compel. I can't hear as well. I'm not as fast - although I can still whoosh. I don't have to drink blood, although it's still nice-"
"Is that really all so bad?" Sophie cut in. "Why should you compel when you can influence? Mind control; you still have power. You may be pining for the things that you lost, but look at what you gained."
Caroline was stuck on her first statement. "Influence." She paused. "Like Silas."
Sophie frowned. "...Legend-Silas?"
"Not legend...real." Caroline's fingers curled into her palms. "My friends were actually the ones to raise him." She frowned. "No, technically it was Katherine. She killed my best friend's brother when she fed him to Silas-" she halted again mid-sentence. For God's sakes Caroline. Keep your trap shut. Where you going to blurt about the Cure next? You can't trust this girl. You're only with her because you owe her a favour.
And the favour is her helping you?
Ugh. No. She wants you to bring back someone. And at the moment, you can't do that. The quicker you can control your power - and bring someone back, the quicker the favour is served.
And if you can't deliver?
Caroline didn't even want to think about that.
"If she did something like that," Sophie mused, "why are you helping her?"
"It's not the worst she's done," Caroline responded. "But I'm not one to judge; Klaus has done worse, and I found it within myself to forgive - or at least tolerate some of his actions. And I owe it to Elijah - even if he did, to an extent, sell me out to you, at least now I know the truth, and I can control my...power. So...he did help me."
"Good to see you're not a hypocrite." The witch's tone was dry.
Caroline bit the inside of her cheek to prevent a response. "Are you sure that I'm ready for this? What if we get stuck? Or worse still, wind up in New Mexico or Iceland?"
Sophie's face softened. "Relax. You'll only go where you direct yourself; and you've got me to help with that."
Caroline's teeth grazed over her bottom lip. "But I'm not ready."
"You've travelled before. You're stronger now. You're in control. It'll work."
The blonde exhaled uneasily. "It's a long shot. Any other time we've practiced, its been objects-"
"That you took there and back safely." She reached out.
"Why couldn't we just do it there? Then I wouldn't have to wander around looking for it-"
"No magic in the Quarter, remember? We don't know if Davina is on your side anymore. We need to be careful." Sophie's eyes bore into hers.
Caroline didn't trust her. But something made her extend her own hands, and let Sophie take hold of them.
- TVD -
It was colder than she remembered. The feeling. The void. The emptiness. Echoes. Whispers. It was ambient like a cave. It made her skin crawl. She opened her eyes, to the cemetery - although what lay before her eyes seemed more like a colourless illusion. It hadn't taken her long to reach this place; it was laden with a sort of power that seemed to vibrate through Caroline's veins.
And there were so many of them.
The spirits.
Some sat upon crypts, others strolled aimlessly. It could have been a zombie horror movie for all she knew.
"You go and look for who ever it is you want to bring back," Caroline suggested to Sophie, wrapping her arms around her torso. "I'll wait."
Sophie nodded tersely, and went to set off towards the Devereaux crypt - but Caroline caught her arm.
"Just so we're clear," Caroline warned her through her teeth. "When I've done this for you, that's it; favour paid."
Sophie cocked an eyebrow. "The way I see it, you owe me one more favour."
Caroline relaxed her grip on Sophie's arm. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"I did spend the entire summer teaching you to control your magic."
"But you said-"
"I wonder how much Klaus would enjoy hearing about Katherine. And that you've practiced with me for two months now."
Caroline felt rage boil up from the pit of her stomach. "Are you blackmailing me?"
Sophie didn't answer directly. "I'm just making use of the resources at hand, so the witches can defeat Marcel. Once and for all." She turned on her heel, striding away.
Caroline stared after her, eyes glazed with fury. She'd vowed to never allow herself to be used again, and yet here she was. Kicking the bitumen with the toe of her shoe, she paused as an idea struck her. Leave the bitch here. Leave now; a favour can't be called in, if no one's around to collect. Caroline closed her eyes, willing herself to return to her plane.
But nothing happened.
Caroline thought of Klaus.
Of returning to him.
She willed helplessly until tears of indignation built up in her eyes.
"It won't work, you know."
She turned in the direction of the voice. A voice she knew so well. A voice she'd grown up with.
Her jaw dropped when her eyes rested on them.
Her heart stopped beating in her chest.
"Bonnie?"
Her friend hastened towards her.
Caroline enveloped her, trembling.
She lifted her gaze. "W-what are you doing here?" She barely managed. "How are you...," she trailed off, comprehending - but not wanting to vocally acknowledge it. Because the truth made her feel sick.
Another death.
"When I brought Jeremy back," Bonnie cried into Caroline's shoulder. "When I put the veil back up..."
Disbelieving, Caroline clung to her. "Does anyone know?"
"Jeremy does."
Caroline let out a breath of comprehension. "He was the one emailing me back all summer, wasn't he?" She drew back, setting her eyes on her. Her voice dropped. "Why not just tell us. Or let Jeremy...?"
Bonnie bit her lip. "For the first time in a long time, you guys were happy. I didn't want to ruin that."
Caroline swallowed. "And when would it have been a right time? Bad news never has a 'right time', Bonnie. We deserved to know-"
"You had enough to deal with, without me adding to it," Bonnie murmured, eyes clouding - as though she were trying to puzzle together reality. "And I couldn't...I couldn't tell you guys. Because then it would be...real, and I just couldn't; I'm not ready to leave. To be mourned - to be a memory, and a gravestone."
Caroline took hold of Bonnie's hands, squeezing them supportively. "What are you...what are you doing in New Orléans?"
"I've been...looking over you," Bonnie murmured, trying to lift some of the tension. "I followed you here. I don't trust any of these witches. Not with you. Not after what they've done to you already."
Caroline bit her lip, tears slipping over her. She'd missed this girl so much - and yet, she'd been with her the whole time. "You were looking out for me?"
"Well, you are in a relationship with Klaus." Bonnie rolled her eyes - offering a kidding smile, sniffing. "And have a tendency to get into trouble. All. The. Time."
Caroline dipped her head, feeling her cheeks burn.
Bonnie right hand moved to grip Caroline's upper arm. "Hey...I know that you care about him. I can't judge, and I won't." She stared up into Caroline's blue eyes earnestly.
Caroline bit her lip, eyes scanning the nocturnal, grey-scale duplicate of the real world. "I don't know how much time I've got left." She set her gaze on Bonnie.
Bonnie smiled knowingly. "It's okay. You can't leave until Sophie returns anyway."
Caroline furrowed a brow, demanding elaboration.
"My Grams got wind of your transformation almost as soon as it happened...and has been digging; talking to spirits from everywhere; different cultures have different legends, different stories. Trying to find out what exactly you are. So she helped this girl, that's been trying to help you. Even since I...died, I've been helping her, too." She smiled in spite of herself.
"Davina," Caroline murmured. "You were the spirits that were communicating with her?"
Bonnie nodded. "And there's...something you should know."
Caroline waited - and felt her heart leap when Bonnie's eyes darted over her shoulder.
Sophie and a girl advanced.
"One culture said that the same amount of people that go through with you, have to go back," she quickly finished in a hushed whisper. "No more, no less. So if you try to bring people back from the Other Side like you've said to Klaus - if you bring back Alaric...Lexi...or me? There has to be a substitute. That's why you couldn't go home before. Two people needed to return, not one."
Caroline's mind - though she was internally struggling to process - had made up its mind. Sophie was fifteen metres away. Ten. The daemon looked to Bonnie. "I'm going to bring you back with me," she told her, determined. She gripped her friends' arms.
Sophie hastened, realising what was going on. "No!" She yelled, tugging the girl with her. "No! Caroline stop!"
The daemon wrapped her fingers tightly around Bonnie's arms. "Close your eyes." Caroline shut her own, and focussed - leaving Sophie's screams in her wake.
- TVD -
Klaus entered the living room to be greeted by Rebekah - or rather, verbally assaulted. She messaged him not even an hour ago, to tell him that Marcel had taken her to see Elijah - after she'd threatened Camille while the 'king' had been on a date with her.
"Marcel's secret weapon," she revealed before he'd even halted. "Its a who. A girl; she can't be more than sixteen - and I have never felt power like that before."
"Davina," Klaus said. He knew who she was. He and Caroline had known all along - but this was the first time that it had been confirmed. Trying to find that girl over the summer had been the equivalent to chasing a phantom; the child had obviously been hidden very well, for a very good reason. And they hadn't been able to locate her.
"She is something beyond powerful," Rebekah continued, voice laced with venom, "and now because of you - she has Elijah. Who knows what she could do to him?"
Klaus tried to brush of his sister's words. "Where is she? Caroline and I have been looking for her all summer."
Rebekah's fury at his indifference was evident. She frowned, desperately trying to recall. "That clever bitch. I don't know. She wiped my memory of the location." She stepped forward, eyes dark, voice rising. "Marcel possesses a weapon bigger and more powerful than an Original and you handed our brother to him. How many times will Elijah forgive you?" She yelled. "How long until his hope for you finally dies?"
"I did what I had to do! Marcel took our home! He threatened Caroline!"
"Caroline? Caroline? We are your family. Family above all else. I don't care what Elijah says, but that girl that you've fallen for is not part of it!"
"Do not ever speak of her in such a way! Ever!" Klaus roared furiously. "You've done enough yourself; leaving a trail of bodies like a road-map to our door."
Rebekah held her ground. "I am finding Elijah," she told him through her teeth. "Our brother. What ever it takes. Are you going to help me?"
Klaus' eyes narrowed. "What ever it takes."
At that moment thundering hooves sounded in the distance. Klaus turned on his heel, and stormed out the back door, to the garden.
It was Hugo - foaming with sweat, heaving - and riderless.
"Caroline," Klaus' voice choked in his throat. He whipped around to look at Rebekah.
"Marcel," Rebekah barely breathed.
- TVD -
"I'm sorry about that unpleasantness."
Davina looked to Marcel, offering him a small smile of assurance. "She doesn't scare me. None of them do."
"Didn't think they would," he responded, eyes resting on her latest artwork. "But listen, honey - the thing is, I think they're here to stay." He grimaced.
Davina's face visibly hardened. Her lips pushed out with distaste. "They don't belong here."
"It might be kind of tough to convince them that," Marcel said. "Which is why I need to ask you for a favour."
She awaited what she knew he'd say.
"I need you to figure out how we kill an Original."
The room suddenly shook as though a gust of wind had blown through it. The chandeliers trembled, and the walls groaned in protest. A loud thump sounded - like bodies hitting the floor.
Marcel - who had immediately come to Davina's protection, lowered his arms. Both opened their eyes.
A girl with smooth, chocolate skin, large, dark round eyes and silken black hair pushed herself to sit up, staring about her surroundings with disorientation. Her eyes met Marcel's.
Her stared at her in absolute wonderment.
She was beautiful - but what was even more of a miracle; the other passenger by her knees.
The blonde he'd had his men searching for, for almost a month - before he'd given up.
The girl with indescribable power.
Unconscious, Klaus Mikaelson's prize lay right at his feet.