Hey guys! I'm back! I deeply, deeply apologize for the crazy-long wait. Sometimes life takes up so much time that there's not enough left to devote to writing. But, I'm here, and I'm incredibly optimistic that updates should be rolling out faster in the future. Someone called me out on Klaus forgiving Cassandra and that it happened too soon. I wanted to say that I humbly respect your opinion. It is a very valid argument. All I can say is I did what I felt was right at the time, and I stand by it. Now, with that said, I will leave you guys to the reading I know you're dying to do. Thank you so much for your patience with me. Enjoy!
Chapter 36 - A Mikaelson Misdirection
"That is just not my chin, Nik," Rebekah sighed as she sighed and stared at a portrait of herself in her original body hanging on the wall in the downstairs lounge. "It was much more delicate."
"The only delicate thing about you, sister, is your ego," Klaus poked at her.
Scoffing, Rebekah folded her arms and turned around to face him. "When placed beside the behemoth size of yours, certainly," she smirked. Her remark caused Klaus to let out a soft laugh.
Sitting on the small leather couch Rebekah and Klaus stood next to, Cassandra shook her head slightly. Rebekah had barely been back twenty minutes and she and Klaus were already picking on each other as siblings naturally do. Under any other circumstances, she would have laughed and agreed with Rebekah, but she was still processing everything Rebekah had shared with them.
"Could we dispense with this fascinating dispute for just a moment and return to the subject of our supposed long-lost sister?" Elijah's voice called out from Klaus's cell phone that was resting on a small end table beside the couch next to where Cassandra was seated. They had called him to tell him of Rebekah's return and so he could be privy to whatever she had to say about her experience.
Cassandra was completely dumbfounded after Rebekah told them she'd met a young woman claiming to be their oldest sister Freya. She told Rebekah that their Aunt Dahlia had cursed her to sleep for a hundred years at a time, then wake for one year. While Klaus and Elijah were still skeptical that she was who she claimed to be, Cassandra knew in her gut it was true. She couldn't believe they were going to have to deal with another Mikaelson witch, and a first-born witch at that. She thought dealing with Esther and Finn had been bad enough. She had no idea how they'd be able to handle the likes of Freya.
"There's not much to discuss, Elijah," Rebekah's voice brought Cassandra's focus back onto the current conversation. "Said she was Freya then darted off into the night."
"And you believed her?" Elijah asked.
"I met the girl in a mystical loony bin. She could be anyone, telling any lie. But she did seem familiar somehow," Rebekah met Klaus's eyes.
"Then how is she still alive?" Klaus wanted to know. He rolled his eyes and shook his head as he started to anxiously pace around the room. "A question as ridiculous as its possible solutions given this family's annoying predilection for cheating death."
"I dunno, Nik," Rebekah sighed and shrugged. "I'm just telling you what she said."
Klaus turned back around to face her and began walking towards her. "Well, did you happen to ask if, by some similar miracle, our Aunt Dahlia lives as well?"
"I barely had a chance to process—" Rebekah started to explain, but Klaus quickly cut her off.
"Because on the list of obvious questions, it would be nice to know if the woman who placed a curse on the first-borns of this family is still breathing air!" Klaus grew louder until he was shouting in frustration.
"Well, let me turn back time and do it again to your liking then," Rebekah snapped at him.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Cassandra glared at them. She wasn't in the mood for their bantering.
"If she is who she says she, we'll find out soon enough," Elijah added in an authoritative voice. Klaus let out a breath and slowly nodded his head. "For now, it remains imperative no one learns of Hope's existence. This has been our salvation thus far"
"Unless Hayley and her husband-to-be start flapping their gums," Klaus muttered in a low voice. Cassandra winced and pushed back the ping of guilt that rushed through her. "I should take preventative measures and separate them from their heads."
"Jack and Hayley will do nothing to jeopardize their wedding," Elijah replied coolly.
Rebekah looked from Klaus to Cassandra, her eyes wide in surprise. "Hayley's getting married? What in hell else did I miss?"
"Ask Cassandra," Klaus cast a glance in her direction as he picked up his phone. "I'm quite sure she'll be glad to fill you in." He ended the call with Elijah and headed up stairs.
Rebekah scurried over to the couch and took a seat beside Cassandra. "Okay, go. Catch me up."
Cassandra took a deep breath and let it back out. "Well, you already know about the wedding. Let's see, oh yeah, Finn is channeling both Mikael and Esther. Your plan worked like a charm. She's a vampire now."
"Well, I certainly didn't think Finn had that in him. I'd actually be impressed if he weren't trying to kill us all," Rebekah shook her head.
"Klaus said something similar," Cassandra chuckled. "And you already know about Esther bringing his father back to life."
"Yes," Rebekah murmured sadly. "He told me all about that during our drive back to the French Quarter. We do what we must to protect your sweet, innocent little girl."
"Yeah," Cassandra nodded. She let out a soft breath. "I guess that covers all the major stuff, well all the stuff that's relevant to what's currently going on."
"And the things that aren't relevant?" Rebekah raised a curious eyebrow. "What of those?"
"The most notable thing would be, well, I kind of, sort of made out with Elijah," Cassandra mumbled, looking down at her hands.
"What do you mean 'sort of'?" Rebekah gasped, wide eyed.
"It happened after you and Klaus left the safe house," Cassandra sighed. "And before you ask, yes, I came clean to Klaus the next day and yes he was furious, rightly so, but he actually forgave me, believe it or not, and Elijah. Finn cast some kind of spell on your brothers, trapping them in some sort of alternate realm. I don't know the details of what happened there, but whatever it was affected Klaus in that he's not only forgiven me, but also Elijah."
"You're joking," Rebekah stared at her. "Klaus does not forgive."
"He did this time."
"That's bloody incredible."
"Believe me, I know. I still have to earn back his trust, though. Elijah too."
"That won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, it's you. Anything else I should know about?"
"I can honestly say that about covers it," Cassandra rested her hands in her lap.
"Remind me never to leave you all ever again," Rebekah shook her head with a soft laugh.
-o-
"Nik?" Rebekah called out to her older brother a little while later as she walked up the stairs to the second floor with Cassandra following behind her. He came walking down the hall toward them holding his phone up to his ear and lowered his arm as he reached them.
"That was Aiden," he told them, waving his phone slightly. He turned around and headed back to the study with Rebekah and Cassandra trailing after him. "Finn has Marcel."
"What?" Rebekah gasped. "Why?"
"I don't know," Klaus raised his arms in frustration. "I don't know where they are, what they are doing or what specifically to do about it," he growled. He stopped in front of the fireplace in the study and picked up a stone statue, holding it for half a second before setting it back down with a loud thunk. "This family makes me want to murder people," he murmured softly as he raised his head.
Cassandra walked up to him and placed her hands gently on his shoulders. She didn't know what to say to him, but she needn't have said anything. He raised a hand and placed it on top of hers as he relaxed his shoulders.
"I see my timing is as impeccable as usual," Kol's voice called out into the room causing Klaus, Cassandra, and Rebekah to spin around and find him standing in the doorway.
"Well, the traitor thinks he can just waltz in here like he's welcome," Klaus stepped forward, appalled that Kol had the nerve to show his face at the compound after what he had done to Rebekah.
"As gracious as your apology better be, you're still getting one hell of a slap!" Rebekah growled as she lunged at him.
"Wait," Kol held out a hand, stopping Rebekah in her tracks. "I understand the irony of what I'm about to say. But I came here because I need your help."
A wide grin spread across Klaus's face as he started laughing, while Rebekah's rage continued to grow. "Figure out how to undo your wicked little body swap, and then we can talk about help!" She spat at him.
Kol walked past her, ignoring her remark as he continued to speak to Klaus. "Look, you don't understand, Nik. Finn has locked me in this body. No more jumping," he looked from Klaus to Rebekah to Cassandra. "He's put a curse on me. I am dying."
Klaus eyed him skeptically while Rebekah simply folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. Kol let out a scoff. "You don't believe me," he realized. He quickly turned his focus to Cassandra, pleading with his eyes for her help convincing his siblings. "Cassandra, please. You know I'm not making this up, right?"
"I—" Cassandra started to say.
"You're hardly the champion of truth-telling," Klaus spoke in a lower voice, cutting her off.
"Of course," Kol sighed. "Why would a brother expect his siblings to leap to his aid."
"Oh, spare me the pity party, Kol" Klaus growled in annoyance. "Your recent actions merit a certain allowance for disbelief."
"Look, I know what I've done," Kol shouted back in frustration. He turned to Rebekah. "But I won't apologize for trying to pull one over on you, Bex," he stepped closer to her. "You deserved it. But I don't deserve to die! Certainly not at the hands of my own family."
Klaus grabbed Kol by the arm and spun him around to face him. "What kind of con are you paying?" He hissed in a low, menacing voice.
Kol smacked Klaus's arm away and slowly met his eyes. "The con I hate the most. The truth."
"He's not lying," Rebekah moved towards them, looking Klaus in the eyes. "Even as a boy, Kol never lied once called out on the act. He may play dirty pool, but," she shifted her gaze onto Kol. "He's not lying."
"I believe him, too," Cassandra murmured softly. Klaus turned to her, staring at her momentarily in surprise before turning back to Kol. He sneered at Kol for a long moment before turning around and walking toward the fireplace.
"Nik," Kol charged after him. "I was helping Marcel for Davina. Finn has got him." Klaus stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around to face him. "He's trying to get a secret out of him. Something he thinks Marcel knows about you."
As the words left Kol's mouth, Cassandra's eyes slowly widened. She stared at Klaus who briefly met her eyes with the same anxiousness that she felt. The look did not go unnoticed by Kol who glanced from his brother to Cassandra who quickly looked down at a spot on the floor before carefully glancing up again.
Kol glanced back at Klaus and nodded his head slightly. "He's right, isn't he?"
"Marcel doesn't know anything about anything," Klaus answered in a soft, cold voice.
"Well, you better hope that that's true. Because believe me, Finn has the means to get it out of him," Kol warned them.
Bright sunlight basked the otherwise dark attic at Saint Louis Cathedral through a large window with horizontal blinds wide open. On the floor, Marcel and his posse of vampires all laid unconscious inside magical salt circles. Marcel awoke and lifted his head to look around. His eyes landed on Gia who lay a foot or so away from him. Pushing himself up slightly, he army-crawled over to her.
"I know you're in there," he whispered to her. "Whatever Finn has in store, we're gonna get through this together."
"It's that can-do spirit that makes you the perfect choice," Finn spoke as he carefully made his way around the group of vampires towards Marcel. "I have a job for you."
"I don't think so," Marcel turned him down as he slowly pushed himself onto his knees.
Finn nodded his head in understanding and casually started to look around the room. He turned around and saw a broken table leg on the floor. He picked it up and slammed into the heart of the closest vampire, killing them.
"Really?" He turned back around to face Marcel who stared at him, horrified at what he'd just done. "You care to reconsider?" To further prove his point, Finn raised his hand and magically ripped out the heart of another vampire who sat propped up against the wall, his heart flying across the room into Finn's hand. Marcel glanced back at his fallen comrade before meeting Finn's eyes, his panic growing by the second.
Finn lazily let the vampire heart roll off his hand and onto the floor with a loud splat. He tightened his jaw and pressed his lips firmly together as his gaze fell upon the female vampire on the other side of Marcel, the vampire he'd been whispering to. He raised his hand, preparing to magically rip her heart out like he had the last vampire.
Marcel turned his head toward her, realizing what Finn was about to do, . "What do you want me to do?" He raised his hand to stop Finn and carefully stood to his feet.
"It's simple, really," Finn lowered his arm. "I need you to bring me Cassandra's blood.
Kol and Rebekah leaned over a small round table in the courtyard where they'd set up a map of New Orleans and placed candles, salt, and herbs all around it. Cassandra sat in a chair next to Rebekah, watching their movements while Klaus leaned back against a wall a few yards away. As Rebekah used a long match to light each of the candles, Kol glanced up at Klaus.
"So, what is the secret, anyway?" He looked from Klaus to Cassandra.
"The term 'secret' implies something only known by those who have earned the right to be aware of it," Klaus murmured in a bored tone. He stood up and turned toward them, shifting to a more commanding voice. "Start the spell."
"Well, it's easier said than done," Kol explained as he sprinkled the herbs in a particular spot on the map. "Finn is channeling the power from our parents. He's a lot stronger than some week-old witch and I can do."
"Now, hang on," Rebekah protested. "I might not be trained, but I—" she stopped as a gust of wind she'd magically produced from her emotionally charged outburst blew out the candles she'd lit and everything else she and Kol had placed on the map. He set the jar of herbs he'd been holding down with a loud thunk.
"Blast," Rebekah murmured as she slowly sat down in the chair she'd previously been sitting in.
"What if you channeled me?" Cassandra glanced from Rebekah to Kol. "I'm a hybrid. I'm strong. I may not be an original, but I've still got power."
"Absolutely not," Klaus growled as he strode over to the table.
"But.—"
"I said no, Cassandra, and that's final."
"I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Nik, Cassandra," Kol murmured softly, drawing her attention back on to him. "I appreciate the offer, but I won't put you in that position. I'm sorry, darling."
"Okay, I get it," Cassandra sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "It was only a suggestion."
"We need a stronger witch. Call Davina," Klaus told his brother.
"No," Cassandra and Kol both spoke at the same time.
"I don't want her getting involved in this. I don't trust her to not find a way to turn the tables try anything to take you down again," Cassandra argued against the idea.
Kol stood up and walked over to Klaus. "I don't want her to know that I'm sick."
"Then do a better bloody job," Klaus growled.
"I just need time," Kol hissed softly.
Klaus rolled his eyes impatiently. "The spell that Finn cast to lock you in your body, do you remember it?"
"Well, I was a little distracted by the murder-y part," Kol mumbled.
"If we can use his own spell against him, once he's locked in his body I can end our collective woes with a brief snap of the neck," he cast a glance in Cassandra and Rebekah's direction. Both were sporting tiny smiles at the thought of Finn being out of their hair once and for all. "All I need to do," Klaus looked back at Kol with a small smile of his own. "Is pull it from your memory."
"Oh, no, no, no," Kol raised his hand and backed up as he shook his head. "I am not allowing anybody into my mind. Do you understand?"
Cassandra slowly stood up. "Kol, what if I did it? Would that be better?"
He turned his head toward her. "Sorry, darling. My head is off limits to everyone. That includes you."
"You came into my home," Klaus hissed in a soft voice as he walked towards Kol. "Asking for my help." He stopped when he reached Kol and held out his arms as he smiled. "This is it." Kol remained silent as he stared warily at Klaus. "It's not a request."
Klaus lunged at Kol as soon as the words left his lips and grabbed the sides of his head with both hands. A memory instantly flashed in his head. Kol was with Cassandra in her room back in Mystic Falls. He stroked her forehead and leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips.
A second memory appeared, where Kol stood in front of Cassandra in her room, compelling her to answer his questions.
"Do you feel the connection between us as I do?" Kol's voice echoed in Klaus's mind.
"Yes," Cassandra answered robotically.
Klaus jumped to another memory, a more recent one. Kol was in the Claire tomb with Davina, and he was showing her the silver dagger he'd stolen from Klaus centuries ago.
"I've wanted one thing for years, to drive a dagger into his heart," Kol murmured.
Klaus gasped as he came out of the memory and into the present time. Kol pushed him away with a loud grunt and leaned over as he caught his breath. When he started to slowly lift his head, he found Klaus glaring at him in wild fury.
"See," Kol slowly raised a hand. "I'm guessing just by the look on your face, that it worked."
Klaus snarled as he lunged at Kol and threw him with supernatural strength against the wall behind him. Kol yelled as his forehead smacked the edge of wall before he landed on the ground.
"Klaus!" Cassandra jumped to her feet. "What did you see?"
"What did I see?" Klaus spoke in a low voice as he glanced from Kol to Cassandra. "I saw Kol kissing you whilst the two of you sat on your bed. Then I saw him compelling you when he asked you if you felt the connection between the two of you as he did, and your answer to it."
"Oh my god," Cassandra whispered and covered her mouth with her hand.
"But that's not the worst part," Klaus was seething as he turned toward Kol who had pushed himself up in a sitting position and leaned back against the wall. "You come simpering for brotherly love and the whole time you're plotting against me with that damn dagger," Klaus yelled at his younger brother. "You're no better than Finn."
"What?" Cassandra snapped and turned to glare at Kol. "I knew it! I knew you and Davina were up to something! Damn it, Kol!"
"Ah, and you threatening me makes you better than Finn, does it?" Kol challenged.
"Both of you, just stop it," Rebekah sighed as she stood up and walked over to them.
Cassandra was about to do the same when her phone buzzed inside her jeans pocket. She pulled it out and stared in surprise at the new message from Marcel. I need to talk to you. It's important. Meet me at Jackson Square. Do not tell Klaus.
She blinked in surprise and reread the message before sending a quick reply to let him know she'd be there. She stuffed her phone back into her pocket and slowly began to shuffle backwards while Klaus remained focused on Kol. She would have loved to give Kol a piece of her mind along with Klaus, but she was far too curious about whatever it was Marcel wanted to talk to her about. Plus, considering he'd been his prisoner, he had to know where they could find Finn.
Once she was far enough away, she whooshed through the corridor to the gate and out onto Royal Street. She continued speeding down the street until she reached Jackson Square, a couple of blocks away. Marcel was waiting for her by the entrance on St. Ann St.
"Okay, remember our friendship when I tell you why I'm here," Marcel told her in a calm voice. Cassandra nodded and waited for him to continue. "Finn sent me to get your blood?"
"Why would Finn want my blood?" Cassandra narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"I assume he needs it for a locator spell. To find your daughter," Marcel told her.
Cassandra's stomach dropped and her heart speeded up as she processed Marcel's words. "No," she let out a shaky breath. "How does he know?"
"He put two and to together," Marcel answered calmly.
"Where's Finn now?"
"I dunno. He said he'd tell me where to meet him later. Listen, I gotta give him something. He's killing one of my guys every hour til he gets it."
"Damn it!" Cassandra hissed softly as panic and dread festered inside of her. "I have to tell Klaus. But we still need a way to stall Finn so he won't keep killing your guys." She started tapping the top of her legs with her finger tips until an idea popped into her head. "I've got it." She paused and quickly pulled out her phone, dialing a number before placing it against her ear.
"Hayley," she spoke a moment later. "It's Cass. I need a huge favor." She quickly explained the situation and presented her idea to Hayley who was immediately on board with it. "Okay, good. I'm sending Marcel out there to you, so be ready for him. And thank you for this."
As she hung up and repocketed her phone, she explained the idea to Marcel. "Hayley's waiting for you with her blood. Hopefully this will buy us enough time to find where Finn is hiding so we can stop him before he leaves town."
"Got it," Marcel nodded in understanding and took off for the Bayou.
Cassandra took off and raced back to the compound as fast as she could. When she entered the courtyard, she found Klaus standing alone gazing at his phone. Both Rebekah and Kol seemed to have disappeared. A second later she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. Hearing the noise, Klaus spun around.
"Where'd you run off to?" He asked as he tapped his phone again, making the buzzing from her phone stop which confirmed he'd been calling her.
"Marcel asked me to meet him," she spoke quickly as she approached him. Worry filled her face. "Finn wanted him to get my blood. He knows Hope is alive. He's looking for her."
Klaus's face contorted in a mixture of anger and worry. Tightening his jaw, he pulled up Elijah's phone number and dialed it. He began to pace around as he waited for Elijah to answer. When his voicemail came on, Klaus hung up with a growl and called again. By the fourth attempt, Rebekah had reappeared from upstairs, wondering what the commotion was about. Cassandra quickly filled her in.
"Pick up the damn phone, Elijah! Finn's trying to find Hope," Klaus growled into the phone.
"She's safe," Rebekah tried her best to reassure her brother and Cassandra once he'd ended his call. "It'll take a hundred witches to break the cloaking spell."
"I would've said the same thing about mother finding you," Klaus turned around to face her with his hands raised. "And yet a flock of starlings later and here we are."
"We all know how powerful Finn is right now thanks to your parents. If he finds the safe house before we've been able to warn Elijah and Cami, he's...he's gonna," Cassandra trailed off and covered her mouth as she fought to suppress a sob. Klaus's face softened, and he walked over to her, pulling her into his arms.
"Elijah will keep them safe," Klaus murmured softly as ran his hands up and down her arms.
"We won't let him get to her, but you both need to remain calm," Rebekah gently told them.
"Our brother doesn't do calm," Kol shouted as he came storming into the courtyard. Rebekah turned around to face him and froze as Kol threw a fistful of powder at her face. Her eyes fluttered shut as she swayed on her feet until she toppled down to the floor unconscious.
Klaus spun around and stepped in front of Cassandra, blocking her, and started to step toward Kol. Kol held his hand outstretched and his fingers spread wide as he cast another spell on Klaus, making him begin to cough up blood.
"Klaus!" Cassandra shrieked as he leaned over and let the blood spill out of his mouth onto the ground with a loud groan. She held on to him and looked up at Kol who shook with rage as he clutched a large paragon diamond in his other hand, using it to strengthen his spell. Klaus slowly raised his head and flashed his hybrid face at Kol as he growled in fury.
"Oh, you're angry are you?" Kol bellowed after seeing Klaus's face change. "Well, join the party. I'VE BEEN HERE A THOUSAND YEARS!"
Klaus lunged at Kol, but Kol hit him with another spell, stopping him in his tracks and sending him to his knees.
"Kol, why are you doing this? Please, stop!" Cassandra begged. She started to walk towards him when he snapped his head up to look at her.
"Do not move, Cassandra," he ordered. "I do not wish to hurt you, but I will if I have to. This is between my brother and me." He continued hammering Klaus until he was on all fours, his head hanging down as a stream of blood continued to flow out of his mouth onto the ground. "I was building that dagger to protect myself against you, Nik." He started to pace around Klaus in a circle. "I'm not the bad guy in this chapter of our family's story. I'm the wronged. I'm the dead but never mourned. And whilst you got everything that you wanted, including Cassandra whom you've never deserved, I got a family didn't care if I lived or if I died."
"Oh, shut up," Klaus growled and grabbed Kol by the throat, vamp-speeding him backwards until he had him pinned back against the wall. "WE'VE ALL SUFFERED! WE'VE ALL BEEN WRONGED!"
"Go on," Kol gasped for breath as Klaus squeezed his throat harder. "Go on, finish it off. Go on, kill me!"
Klaus sneered at him as his entire body shook with rage. Cassandra rushed over to intervene, but she needn't have worried. As she reached Klaus, he let go of Kol and sent him down to the floor. "I'm not gonna kill you, you idiot. Despite your behavior, you're still my brother."
"Yeah, just the one you dagger, repeatedly," Kol mumbled as Klaus started to walk away.
"I've daggered all of you!" Klaus yelled as he turned back to Kol. "Each for your own good. If you don't agree with my motives, fine. I never claimed to be the bastion of temperance. But stop this drivel about being singled out and unloved. You are a Mikaelson! You're my blood!" Klaus knelt down in front of Kol. "And I need you," he softened his voice. "I need you by my side."
"So do I," Cassandra murmured as she came to a stop beside Klaus and knelt down to be at Kol's eye level. She took a deep breath and stretched out her hand, placing it on top of his. "I mourned you, Kol. I found out from Caroline about what Elena and Jeremy did an hour after we bumped into each other in town. You may have seen me that next day when I came to their house, but when I first found out, I was so shocked, and not just because I'd just spoken to you. I was shocked because your death made me realize I really did care about you. We could be good friends if you stopped trying so hard to come between me and Klaus," she let out a faint chuckle. "You're my family, too. And as much as I hate to actually say this because I know you'll never let me forget it, I need you by my side, too."
Kol stared at both of them for a long moment. "What does it even mean? Hmm? You two talk about family, family this, family that. I haven't even earned the right to share your secrets, have I?"
"No, you haven't," Klaus whispered. "But by all means, brother, prove yourself. It's not too late." He held his hand out to Kol. Kol eyed it for a moment, then placed his own hand into his brother's, allowing Klaus to pull him to his feet. Cassandra quickly stood up at the same time.
"Finn wants your blood," Kol told Klaus with a nod of his head. "He promised to heal me if I delivered it."
"You know where he is?" Klaus asked.
"You've gotta tell me why he wants it," Kol pleaded. Klaus turned away, scoffing softly.
"Look, Nik," Kol continued, forcing Klaus to turn back toward him. "You gotta trust me, for once in your life, and I will stand by your side. Yours and Cassandra's. I promise."
"You would risk your life to help me, help us?" Klaus eyed him skeptically.
"I know enough about dark magic to know that I'm hexed," Kol sighed. His words caught Klaus and Cassandra off guard, and it showed in their faces. "There's no reversing what Finn's done to me. Which makes him a murderer and a liar. And I'm gonna die, I'll be damned if he gets what he wants."
"Klaus," Cassandra murmured softly, grabbing his attention. "I think we should tell him. He'll help us in any way he can. I know he will."
Klaus thought about it for a moment, then slowly nodded his head and shifted his gaze back to Kol. "Finn has been dead to me for a long time. Tonight, I intend to make that official. Help me and Cassandra, then we will share our secret with you."
"He'll be in the bell tower of the Saint Louis Cathedral," Kol answered slowly. He reached for Klaus's arms and placed his hands on the sides of his head. "Go inside my head. Find the spell. Let's finish this."
Cassandra winced as Kol let out a loud yell when Klaus used his vampire power to go inside his head. It didn't take long for him to find the spell and release Kol. As Kol caught his breath, Rebekah came to and slowly crawled back onto her feet. Cassandra quickly filled her in on what happened, and together the three of them took off for the cathedral. When they walked into the bell tower, they were disappointed to find that Finn wasn't there. All that remained was a small table with remnants of a recent spell.
"Well, where is he?" Klaus stopped beside the table and turned around to face Kol. "Is this a trick?"
"He said he'd be here, I swear," Kol was adamant about it. He began to look around, his eyes instantly landing on the table. "This is the remnant of a spell. Ancient. It's impressive."
"Admire it's artistry later," Klaus spat impatiently. "Tell me what he set in motion."
Rebekah had walked over to a latter that had been set up near the wall and climbed up a few legs to get a better look. "Kol," she gained his attention then pointed at something on the table. "What is that?"
He stepped up to the table for a closer look and picked up a burnt piece of wood barely sticking out from under a pile of ash. He brushed it off and held it tightly in his hands. Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and muttered the incantation to a spell. When he was done, he opened his hands to reveal the wood had become whole and unburnt.
"Runic tiles," Rebekah murmured. "What's it mean?"
"It's a symbol," Kol stared at it. "For baby."
Klaus glanced behind Kol at Cassandra, exchanging a somber look with her. She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat as Kol glanced from her to Klaus, noticing their silent exchange. Kol's eyes slowly widened when he realized what the runic tile meant.
"That's it, isn't it?" He whispered, glancing back and forth from Klaus to Cassandra. "Your baby's still alive."
"Yes," Cassandra whispered.
"Finn tricked us into running about all day thinking he was looking for a way to find Hope," Rebekah climbed down the ladder and joined them by the table.
"When he knew where she was all along," Klaus finished. He yanked his phone out of his jacket and called Elijah again.
Cassandra took a deep breath to keep herself calm and took out her phone to call Cami. When Cami didn't answer she let out a low growl. She looked up at Klaus and could tell he'd finally connected with Elijah. She walked over and stood next to him.
"Cami's not answering," she told him with a voice full of worry once he'd finished speaking to Elijah.
"Elijah will protect them," Rebekah tried to reassure them.
"Finn is channeling both our parents. He's too strong," Klaus argued. "We need to find a way to sever his link." He paused and glanced at Kol. "How do we do that?"
"I can't sever the link," Kol regretfully informed them. But he wasn't without another plan. "But there is something that we can try." He turned to Rebekah. "It will take power of our own. And a lot of it."
-o-
"We can't get in without Finn's blood," Kol explained as he and Rebekah set up candles outside the Lyonne tomb in Lafayette Cemetary a little while later.
"Well, how do we disrupt Finn from channeling our parents in there if we can't get even get to the bloody binding circle?" Rebekah asked, not bothering to hide the doubt in her voice.
"We're not here to disrupt Finn's power, we're tryin' to overload it," Kol glanced her way as he finished placing all of the candles on the ground.
"Are you daft? You want to make him stronger?"
Kol stood to his feet and walked up to her. "Look, a witch can only ever channel so much power. After that, things start to get ugly. You literally start to disintegrate from the inside. He'll either have to release the power or…or let it kill him."
"He won't be dead, he'll just body jump."
"Yes, into a body three hundred miles away from a niece that he's tryin' to nab."
Rebekah laughed softy as a smile appeared on her face. "In case you're wondering, this is the side of you I like."
"Look, I um," Kol stammered, looking down for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "I'm gonna get you back in your body, Bex. If it's the last thing I do. I promise."
Rebekah smiled again. "Right now, I just worry about how in blazes I'm gonna be any use to you whatsoever when I know nothing about magic."
"You don't need to know anything about magic. I'm just gonna have to channel you," Kol told her. A moment later Cassandra arrived with Klaus who was carrying a duffel bag. "Did you get me what I asked for?" He asked them as Klaus dropped the bag at Kol's feet.
"Mystical artifacts and dark objects galore," Klaus nodded. "From my own personal collection garnered over a thousand years.
Kol knelt down and opened the duffel to examine the artifacts. As he rifled through it and held up a long chord with a feather on the end, he glanced up at Klaus. "I wondered where this had gone. Half this stuff is mine."
"Come on, Kol. Just be grateful he's going along with this," Cassandra sighed.
"There's more," Klaus reached into his jacket and pulled out the white oak stake.
Kol slowly stood up as Klaus held it out to him. "You would entrust me with this?" He stared at his brother in awe.
"Whatever you need," Klaus slowly placed the indestructible stake in Kol's hand. "Whatever it takes."
"All right," Kol whispered, nodding his head. "Let's get started."
He walked over to the tomb and set the stake on top of table set up as an altar. He placed one hand on the tomb door and held his other hand out to Rebekah. She placed one hand in his and the other on the door as he did. As they closed their eyes and began to chant, Cassandra moved over to stand beside Klaus and slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers together. He gave her hand a small squeeze as they watched Kol and Rebekah.
A moment later they both jerked backwards away from the tomb. A small amount of blood began to trickle down from Kol's nose because of how hard he was doing magic.
"We're close," Kol exhaled. "We just need something to put it over the top."
Klaus brought Cassandra's hand up to his face and brushed his lips gently against the back of her hand before releasing it and stepping forward to Kol. "Take me."
"What?" Cassandra squeaked.
Klaus turned so he was talking to both her and Kol. "I am a vampire-werewolf hybrid with ten centuries of blood on my hands. Channel me."
"No, Nik" Kol murmured, shaking his head.
"Klaus," Cassandra whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
"I will be alright, sweetheart. I promise," he spoke softly to reassure her before fully facing Kol again and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You wanted my trust, brother? Here it is." He grabbed the Papa Tunde blade from a pile of artifacts on the alter and placed it in Kol's hands. "Do not fail me."
Cassandra covered her mouth with her hands as Klaus dropped to his knees and surrendered himself to Kol. Using the tip of the blade, Kol carved the channeling symbol into Klaus's forehead. Once his skin turned grey and veiny, a confirmation that Kol was now channeling his power, he and Rebekah carefully laid him on the ground and placed their hands on the tomb door.
"Please work," Cassandra murmured under her breath as Kol and Rebekah resumed their spell to overload Finn. The mausoleum they were in began to shake as power flowed from Kol and Rebekah into the tomb where Mikael and Esther where, and then through them into Finn. Kol and Rebekah became so overwhelmed by the power that they began to scream until they were both thrown backwards onto the ground. Before Cassandra could ask if they were okay, Rebekah scrambled to her feet and ran over to Kol.
"You're a genius," she pulled him back up to his feet and hugged him tightly. "You glorious bastard."
"I'm a little surprised it worked myself," Kol hugged her back. He started to laugh when he was overcome with a coughing fit. He backed away from her and doubled over as his coughing intensified.
"Kol?" Rebekah murmured, her eyes filling with worry. She pulled him back up so she could look him in the eyes and gripped his shoulders. "Listen. I am not going to let you die. You hear me? Whatever it takes."
"Hey," Cassandra walked over to join them. "Me either. You proved yourself tonight and helped protect my daughter." She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, allowing her cheek to rest against his. "Now it's our turn to help you."
"Thank you," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her. "Both of you."
They pulled apart and moved over to Klaus's side so Kol could release him from the channeling spell. Once he woke, Cassandra and Rebekah helped him sit up and lean back against the alter table while he caught his breath.
"Tell me it worked," Klaus glanced from Rebekah to Kol.
"We did our bit," Kol smiled. "I promise Finn is back to being a normal, regular strength, maniacal bastard."
Klaus let out a sigh of relief. "I know in the last millennium we haven't always seen eye to eye. He paused and slowly stood to his feet. "Family is power." He placed a hand on Kol and Rebekah's shoulders. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kol murmured.
"Speaking of Elijah…" Cassandra spoke softly.
"He will prevail. Of that I have no doubt," Klaus reassured her as much as he could.
Cassandra nodded in understanding and flashed him a small smile. He started to step towards her when her phone began to buzz from inside her pocket. Letting out a breath of air, she pulled it out and glanced at the screen before answering it. "Caroline. Hey. You will not believe the day I've—"
"Cass, you need to come home," Caroline blurted the words out. "It's mom. She's dying."