Episode 19: Steppin' Out Under the Moon

Part Five

Marcel's Loft...

Marcel was sitting on the couch in the living area of his loft while Rebekah was standing a few feet away, a stunned look on her face, her cellphone in her left hand. "Jackson Kenner's dead. Dahlia killed him. Apparently she met up with him in an alley way somewhere in the French Quarter and ripped his heart out, after she was done torturing him," Rebekah said.

Marcel looked at Rebekah for a moment in disbelief before nodding, accepting the information. "Wonder whose gonna be head of the Crescents now."

"Does it matter? Hayley lost her husband because of a mistake my mother made a thousand years ago. I don't know if she loved Jackson or not, but she did care for him, and it's only a matter of time before she starts to blame us for his death. And I'm sure that's exactly what Dahlia was hoping to accomplish."

"I doubt Hayley would blame you for any of this. You and your siblings had nothing to do with it."

"How can you be so sure? I know you see it that way," Rebekah replied, exasperated. "But how can we be sure that Hayley will?"

Marcel got off the couch and started walking towards Rebekah, a surprisingly calm look on his face. "Rebekah, how about we just take a minute to breathe before we start panicking about what's gonna happen next?"

"I can't just take a break, not when I have a psychotic aunt out there who is planning to come for my niece tomorrow at nightfall and take her away like she took Freya," Rebekah sighed. "Not to mention Nik, who, last I heard from Elijah, is doing more harm than good at this point. The only plan he has to deal with Dahlia would involve alienating Freya, who is the only sister I'm ever going to have. And though I don't trust her... I don't want to lose her so soon after meeting her either."

"Rebekah, who do you value you more, Hope, or Freya?"

Rebekah looked at Marcel incredulously. "Hope, of course."

"There may not be a way to save Hope from Dahlia that doesn't involve doing whatever it is to Freya that Klaus is planning to do. I'm just saying, you might have to accept that to protect your niece you may have to sacrifice your sister."

Kol's "Playhouse"/The Claire Tomb...

Kol and Davina were standing by the couch in the Claire Tomb, hugging one another tightly for a moment before breaking apart, a troubled look on Davina's face. "Guess seeing a dead body should really be something I'm use to by now, considering how many I've seen," Davina said quietly.

"It shouldn't be. You're only seventeen love."

"I know. But I also live in New Orleans... and I'm a witch dating an original vampire."

Kol's face lit up, smiling at Davina. "So we're official now, are we?"

Davina smiled shyly at Kol in response. "I don't know. Maybe we are. I mean, that's more or less what I told Kaleb earlier today when he asked."

The smile on Kol's face faded a little. "Right. How is the teenage witch from England now that you mention him? Think he's going to settle back into his old life again without too much trouble?"

Davina gave Kol a worried look. "Not exactly. I actually think he's going to head back to his dad's place and live there again. Was he really that bad? You compared him to Mikael-"

Reluctantly, Kol nodded. "The wanker was beating him. I think he has been ever since his mum died. I had the misfortune of experiencing one shortly after I took his body and went to sever the ties of his old life."

"Oh god."

"I used Kaleb's magic to defend myself before he did any really damage. Something I don't think the lad ever thought to do himself. That sure put the old man in his place."

"Kol, if Kaleb is going back there—do you think you could, I don't know, compel his dad to be a decent parent? From what I understand he's not a witch so why not?"

Kol frowned. "You'd want me to go through all the trouble of rewiring the way a man thinks – for someone I barely know?"

"This someone you barely know is the same someone you possessed for ten months," Davina argued. "And I know it wasn't your choice to take over someone else's life, but now that you've given it back, for however long you plan to, don't you think you kinda owe him one?"

Kol smirked bitterly. "You know, before you could care less about the person I was possessing. You never worried about him. And now... now you do. Because you may have dated my mind, but you were dating his body... You're attracted to him. More than you're attracted to me, aren't you? In this body? And this attraction you have for him is leading you to actually care about what happens to him?"

Davina shook her head, appalled by what Kol was suggesting. "No. No—Kol, of course not. How could you even think that?"

"So you're not attracted to him?"

Davina sighed. "I guess I should've known by now that you were the jealous type."

"Would you not be, Davina, were you in my place right now?"

Davina thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I guess I would be."

"I met you in the body of someone else, and the day I leave that body is the same day you decide to take the opportunity to know the person truly inside that body. And you haven't even so much as touched me after I've been restored to my original body-"

"Allow me to fix that," Davina interrupted, walking up to Kol, putting her hands on the back of Kol's head and kissing him on the lips. Kol, though caught off guard a little, kissed her back, listening to the sound of her heart beating while he did. It was the first time he ever heard her heartbeat so clearly before. He put his hands on Davina's hips, kissing her lips again and again to his heart's content.

Davina broke away from the kisses for a moment, moving her hands to his face, looking deep into Kol's eyes. While it was going to take some getting use to, Kol in a new body, he was still the man she knew, the man she had kissed countless times now, and the man she had saved from what it seemed like certain death.

"Alright," Kol said, staring into Davina's eyes as well. "I'll see what I can do about Kaleb's old man."

Davina smiled and the two resumed kissing. As they were kissing, Kol's cellphone began to vibrate in his pant pocket.

St. James Infirmary...

Hayley watched Hope as she slept in her crib, staring at her daughter with a look of worry. She wiped away a couple of fresh tears from her face with her right hand, letting out a sigh. A minute or two later, Elijah joined her at her side.

Hayley slowly turned her head to look at Elijah, Elijah looking back at her. "Hey," Hayley said softly.

Elijah swallowed anxiously. This was the second time today that he tried to comfort a grieving woman. "I'm so sorry Hayley."

"Me too."

"Is there anything I can do to—help? Anything at all?"

Hayley shook her head. "No. Thank you, Elijah."

Elijah smiled at Hayley for a moment, and Hayley half heartedly smiled at him, a few more tears streaming down her cheeks. Elijah opened his mouth as if he was about to say something more, but instead, he quickly closed his mouth again, nodded, turned around and began to walk out of the room, leaving the mourning Hayley to look after baby Hope.

The Mikaelson Compound...

Klaus just arrived in the courtyard of the Mikaelson Compound, looking both exhausted and conflicted. "Is Hayley okay?" Cami asked from behind him.

Klaus turned around to face her, a slightly relieved look on his face. "As okay as one can be after seeing their husband dead and mutilated, by a wicked witch who wants to enslave her daughter," Klaus replied.

Cami looked horrified. "Mutilated?"

"Dahlia decided to make Jackson truly suffer before she killed him. When she was done, she made sure to rip out his heart for added effect."

"She needs to talk to someone-"

"I imagine Elijah is already on the job. Though Hayley went and married another man, I can't imagine my brother has fallen out of love with her. Elijah isn't the type to move on so easily."

"Alright."

Klaus paused for a moment. "Though depending on how she feels about Aiden, she may need actual professional help after I murder him for his betrayal."

Cami stared at Klaus in shock. "What betrayal?"

"The boy and I had a deal," Klaus explained. "He acts as my eyes and ears on all matters concerning the Crescents and I let him be King of the Wolves and dethrone Jackson once I'm satisfied. Unfortunately, Aiden came clean to Jackson shortly before Dahlia killed him. I can't very well let him get away with that, now can I?"

Cami shook her head. "His friend is dead. Isn't that punishment enough?"

Klaus gritted his teeth. "Hardly. Besides, that wasn't by my hand. I have a reputation to maintain Camille, and I maintain that reputation by killing those who cross me. Or have you not realized this about me yet?"

"Don't kill him. Please, Klaus."

Klaus stared at Cami for a moment. "You want me to show the boy mercy, do you? Assuming that I'm even capable of it?"

"Yes. Klaus, you're better than that, I know you are. Or if you're not, you can be... Be the guy that Hope will one day be proud to call her dad."

"First you ask me to pardon Davina, even after she resurrected my father, and now, now you ask me to pardon another? Using my own daughter, as added incentive?"

"Is it so wrong for me to want you to be the best version of yourself?" Cami pleaded.

"You expect too much from me Camille. You may not have accepted it by now, but I am not a particularly good person!"

Cami didn't say anything in response, only staring at Klaus with a desperate look on her face. Klaus sighed, frustrated. "Fine. Aiden gets a pass. This time."

Cami smiled, a little relieved.

The next day, the Mikaelson Compound...

It was around two o'clock in the afternoon. Klaus sat down at the head of the table in the dining room, Kol, Freya and Mikael sitting on the left side of the table, while Elijah and Rebekah sat on the other, Mikael looking slightly irritable. Elijah looked over at Klaus, who threw him a reassuring look.

Everyone had a glass of red wine out in front of them, Freya's wine laced with Elijah's blood. Klaus invited Freya over to the compound with the intention of turning her into a vampire to prevent Dahlia from further channelling her, just like he expected, and Elijah was seemingly on board with his plan now, even agreeing to use his blood. What Klaus hadn't expected was that Freya would bring Mikael with her. They wouldn't be able to attack Freya here without incurring Mikael's wrath. He would have to be dealt with first and Klaus understood this.

"And we still have nothing, in terms of a plan to defeat Dahlia?" Mikael asked, looking in Klaus' direction, Klaus glaring at him in response.

"That is why I asked Freya to come down here today," Klaus replied.

"We have to come after Dahlia when she's least expecting it. And before nightfall tonight, when she comes for your child," Freya added. She looked around the table at each one of her siblings, then Mikael, who sat next to her. "It's going to take all of us to defeat Dahlia."

"Now something that occurred to me the other day dear sister, is that Dahlia is only as powerful as she is because she's channelling you. If you were to somehow lose your magic, say become a vampire, Dahlia would lose a considerable amount of the power she wields now. We would be able to vanquish her much easier," Klaus pointed out, staring at Freya as he talked, Freya stunned by the suggestion.

"No. I don't want to be a vampire. Out of the question."

"And why not? It's good enough for Elijah, Kol, your father, and myself."

"To be a vampire... means to become a different person altogether than the person you were before you turned-"

"Actually, to correct you Freya, being a vampire only exaggerates who you truly are-" Klaus interrupted, only for Freya to interrupt him.

"Even so, I happen to like being a witch."

"I understand that," Kol added, taking a sip of his wine, Klaus rolling his eyes.

"You will respect Freya's decision," Mikael insisted,

"About that," Klaus started, taking the white oak stake out of his jacket pocket, Freya's eyes widening as she realized what it was. Mikael immediately got up out of his chair, standing by Freya to protect her, staring at Klaus intently.

Klaus used his enhanced vampire speed to attack Mikael before Freya could get off her chair, pinning Mikael to a nearby wall, stabbing the white oak stake into his chest, inches away from his heart, while Kol restrained Freya. Elijah and Rebekah got out of their chairs as well, staring over at Klaus worriedly.

"NO!" Freya shouted desperately.

"If I feel even the faintest touch of your magic, Freya, I will end him with a flick of my wrist!" Klaus warned, before addressing Mikael. "You don't seem surprised."

Mikael gasped as the stake brushed against his heart, before smiling at Klaus wickedly. "Betrayal... is in your nature, boy."

Klaus shook his head. "No. I wasn't born like this. Her, you fight for, lovely Freya, the daughter you barely know. But there was a time where you knew me as your son! A time before all the disappointments, the revelations of betrayal," Klaus went on, his voice beginning to shake, his eyes filling up with tears. "There were moments where all you had to do was be my father! And even then, you despised me, didn't you?" Klaus was allowing his tears to flow freely now. "I'd like to know why."

Mikael looked at Klaus for a moment, surprised by how vulnerable he was being. "Niklaus... do what you will with me. Kill me again if you want. But do not harm Freya," Mikael ordered, speaking in a surprisingly soft voice. "She is innocent in all of this and she is your sister."

Klaus swallowed, still crying a little. "I am getting tired of people giving me orders today... Answer my question. ANSWER ME!"

Mikael just gave Klaus a look of confusion. "I don't know. I just... did."

Klaus stared into Mikael's eyes, overwhelmed by the admission. Kol was still holding back Freya, all of them seeming surprised at the vulnerability on both Klaus and Mikael's parts.

Klaus sighed, forcing himself to stop crying. He glared at Mikael bitterly. "Are those your final words... father?"

Mikael hesitated before looking over to Freya with affection in his eyes. "Freya," Mikael began, Klaus rolling his eyes. "I'm so sorry, I love yo-"

With that, Klaus plunged the stake into Mikael's heart. Mikael gasped. Klaus took a few steps back, allowing Mikael to fall to his knees. Within five or so minutes, Mikael was completely desiccated, the stake still sticking out of his chest. But he wasn't burning, to Klaus' confusion. Klaus waited for another minute, staring at Mikael's body expectantly, but nothing happened. Klaus turned around to look back at Kol and Freya, only to be shocked when he saw Kol let Freya go, a regretful look on Kol's face. He looked over to Elijah and Rebekah, who both looked guilty as well. "What did you all do? You betrayed me, didn't you?! All of you?!"

"...I'm sorry Nik," Kol said in a sincere tone.

"I took the real white oak stake while you weren't at the compound," Elijah admitted reluctantly. "It's safe with me. The one you had on you... was an ordinary wooden stake I had mystically disguised to look like the white oak stake, thanks to the help of Freya. Father will awaken in a few hours."

"He was in on it, WASN'T HE?!"

"...He was," Elijah replied.

"He's also not going to awaken in a few hours," Freya jumped in, to everyone's surprise, confused at what she was saying. "I do love our father, I know I'm the only one here who does... But he can't be trusted when it comes to Niklaus and his child. His hatred for Niklaus has completely consumed him. Which is why I plan to cast a spell that will keep him desiccated indefinitely. Providing no one revives him with a bit of blood."

"And what do you plan to do about me then? We still have one sister who is annoyingly not a vampire not, and still has her magic. I plan to do something about that," Klaus warned, glaring at Freya.

Kol quickly pulled out the golden dagger, Klaus' eyes widening as soon as he saw what it was. Using his hybrid speed, Klaus ran out of the room, through the compound and into the courtyard, Elijah and Kol following, Rebekah and Freya staying with the desiccated Mikael in the dining room.

"So this it, you're going to dagger me to prevent me from weakening Dahlia?" Klaus asked, looking at both Kol and Elijah, who were standing a few feet away from him, Kol clutching the golden dagger in his right hand.

"We're doing this for Hope, and for the good of our family," Elijah stated, though he looked clearly conflicted. "We need Freya on our side, a witch, if we hope to defeat Dahlia, not a newborn vampire."

"WE DON'T NEED, HER!" Klaus bellowed.

As Klaus lunged for Kol, Elijah used his speed to get behind Klaus, grabbing his younger brother with both hands and attempting to restrain the panicked hybrid. Kol held the dagger up to Klaus' chest, though he didn't seem happy to be doing it. Not too long ago, Kol would've been overjoyed to do to Klaus what Klaus had done to him numerous times but now... now he didn't want to. Though he didn't have much of a choice. Freya's magic had come in handy on a couple of occasions now. If it weren't for Freya and her magic, he would still be hexed and trapped in Kaleb's body right now.

Kol shoved the dagger into Klaus' chest, piercing his heart. Klaus gasped and screamed loudly as he began to desiccate, succumbing to the effects of the dagger. "AHHHHHHH!"

"For Hope," Elijah said under his breathe as he watched Klaus' skin turn a greyish colour, the veins underneath becoming darkened and visible.

"For Hope," Kol replied, taking his hand off the dagger. Klaus fell to his knees, giving Kol a look of sadness and betrayal. Once Klaus was fully neutralized, his body laying gray and mottled on the floor, Elijah and Kol looked at each other nervously, both of them hating themselves a little for what they had just done.

Author's Note: I didn't expect last chapter to be so well received, so I'm happy about that. On to the events of the chapter, Klaus still ended up daggered in this story. I'm sorry for those of you who really didn't want it to happen and are now a little disappointed in me. All I can say is, I have my reasons, and if you've enjoyed the story so far, keep reading to see what happens. Klaus being daggered was ultimately too important to the overall storyline to take out, though I did strongly consider not daggering him at all, but it just needed to happen for the sake of the story I wanted to tell if that makes any sense. I hope if you're not happy about Klaus being daggered, you can at least enjoy the parallels of that scene with the Spanish flashback in 2x02 where Elijah and Klaus dagger Kol. Lastly, just to let everyone know this is the last chapter of 2x19 AU, the next chapter will be the start of 2x20 AU: "Help is on the Way". And the idea to dagger Klaus while Klaus was trying to kill Mikael and to have Freya desiccate Mikael to prove her newfound loyalty to her siblings was an idea given to me by Dante 101.