AN: *bangs head on table* Lots of long paragraphs in this chapter… Why do fights have to be so exhausting to write? Enjoy!
Some Things Never Change
In which Adriana spills her guts
While Elijah went to talk to Gia, Adriana glanced around the courtyard, humming lowly under her breath.
"Rebekah, darling, who's this?" Adriana asked casually, her eyes falling on the two sisters.
"I'm not sticking around for this." Rebekah sighed, nodding to the brown haired woman as she left. "Her name is Freya, she's our long lost sister."
Rebekah left with a flourish, Adriana raising an eyebrow as she slowly turned to the other female.
"So, you were telling the truth." She stared casually, her sharp brown eyes landing on Freya. "Let's hope that's a character quality you can teach the rest of your siblings." She dissappesred from her spot near the entrance, the sharp click of heels signalling her reappearance centimetres away from the eldest Mikaelson sibling. "But, then again, miracles can only go so far."
Freya narrowed her eyes at the smaller woman, while Adrianas only became brighter with hidden humour.
"You said you wanted nothing to do with this family." The blonde said lowly, staring back at her.
"I've changed my mind." Adriana grinned, not at all phased by the look on Freya's face. "People tend to do that."
"Not people like you."
"You don't know anything about me."
"You'd be surprised."
Adriana laughed, the sound cold and short: "Was that a threat? Maybe stupidity is a genetic trait…"
"Adriana." Out of instinct, Adriana stepped away from Freya. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." She smiled coldly, her eyes meeting Elijahs. "How has your day been so far?"
"Lovely until you turned up." Elijah responded, the sarcasm not lost to Adriana as tension began to fill the area around them.
"People do tend to be left aghast by my presence." Adriana waved off, her smile becoming slightly strained.
"Aghast isn't exactly the word I'd use." Elijah countered, crossing his arms as he finally reached her. "You stink of that boy."
"Thank you."
"It wasn't a compliment."
"I know." The tension was so thick now that you could have cut it with a knife, Adrianas eyes narrowing while Elijah scrutinised her further. "Have you got anything else you wish to say?"
Elijah only hummed non-committingly, straightening up and shoving his hands into his pockets. "Welcome back Adriana."
"You act like I truly want to be here." She scoffed, dramatically rolling her eyes at him. "Please, the only reason your graced with my presence is because of pure boredom."
"Lying to yourself isn't a good habit, gypsy girl." Elijah said flippantly, walking around her and further into the courtyard.
"Lying to myself?" Adriana blinked, the tension disappearing with the small motion as she walked after him. "Lying to myself? Warrior, if anyone is lying to themselves here, it's you."
"What happened to little warrior?" Elijah asked, stopping suddenly and turning around. Adriana bumping into his chest, going to step back only for his hands to keep her there. "I was rather attached to the nickname."
"Little warriors protect gypsies." Adriana said simply, staring back at Elijah. "Warriors do not."
Elijah tilted is head slightly in contemplation, something akin to guilt flickering in his eyes before he let her go.
"It must be a gift Adriana," He said finally, Adriana having stepped back the second her let her go. "That even a change of nickname can be used to cut people deeply."
"You have no right to act on your regret." Adriana snarled, a sneer forming on her lips.
"Perhaps." Elijah shrugged, turning away from her and walking away. "Or maybe you refuse to see anything past your point of view."
Adrianas only response was to throw a stone at him.
He dodged it.
Some things never did change.
On the other side of New Orleans, Tayte looked up at the sound of rapid footsteps.
"Where are you going?" He called out, pausing in between feeding Ulrik to stop Davina in her tracks. Raising his eyebrows at the stack of grimoires in her hands.
"Somewhere." The witch said vaguely, not looking at the male.
Humming lowly, Tayte turned back to Ulrik.
"You're responsible for your own life." He stated bluntly, though worry was still present on his voice. "You can feel your mothers wrath if you die. I know nothing."
"Of course." Davina nodded, leaving the penthouse quietly.
"Well Ulrik," Tayte finally sighed, putting down the plastic spoon and leaning forward in his elbows. "It's up to you and me to stay alive now Mamas gone." Ulrik laughed excitedly, clapping his hands together with a large grin on his face. "Well, you've definitely inherited Adrianas sadism, that's for sure."
When something terrible happens, part of the grieving process is to find someone to blame. We are all heroes, and everyone else is the villain. We all need to find someone to blame, to rid ourselves of our own guilt.
It's always someone else's fault.
Adriana could never point the finger at herself for causing some of the problems between her and Elijah.
"I loved you." Elijah growled at her from the opposite side of the table.
"Congratulations." Adriana growled back, her arms tied to the chair, skin blistering under the vervain soaked rope every time she struggled. "Get in line."
"You called Mikael." Elijah continued to snarl, beginning to pace the length of the room. "You wanted to kill me!"
"You're being especially slow today." Adriana sneered, clenching her fists and hissing at the ropes. "Let me go. Let me leave this god forsaken household and you'll never hear from me again. No Adriana. No Mikael. No problems."
"I loved you." Elijah growled once more, suddenly appearing in front of her. "And you betrayed me, you tried to kill my whole family."
"As I said; congratulations." Adriana snarled, remaining motionless in the chair.
"Do you want me to become cruel, gypsy girl?" Elijah asked calmly, the once affectionate nickname snapped out coldly. "Because I can do just that. You're nothing more than a baby in vampire years, it's not too late to discipline you."
Adriana fell silent, staring back at him darkly, the sneer on her face becoming more pronounced.
1215, Adriana alerted Mikael of the Mikaelsons residence.
She ended up calling Elijah up on his threat to discipline her, and Elijah bit back.
Now she looked back on it, Elijah never truly treated her the same after that.
Elijah, Adriana, Rebekah and Freya all gathered in the ballroom, Adriana watching Freya sprinkle herbs over a clay golem she was sure had come from Kols playhouse.
"Now, you're certain this will work?" Elijah asked, standing next to Adriana.
"Let's not toss around words like 'certain'." Rebekah stated nervously, Adrianas brown eyes flickering to her before going back to staring at the doll.
"Nonsense!" Freya said optimistically, still sprinkling herbs on the golem. "You grow more adept with magic each day, and this spell is flawless. Though, I might have preferred Elijah ask my permission before volunteering me as the bait."
"Yes," Elijah nodded, clearly amused. "I'm not in the habit of asking permission."
Adriana snorted loudly at this. "You're not in the habit at asking for anything, warrior."
"Ignore Adriana," Elijah continued pleasantly, not even flinching when the petite woman slammed a heel onto his foot. "She remains slightly bitter from past events."
"No matter." Freya smiled. "We have all that we need. Rebekah will perform the spell, using my heartbeat and the golem to craft the illusion of Hope's presence." With this she turned to Elijah. "Once Dahlia is lured into the killing ground, you will do what is necessary." Finally, she turned to Adriana. "You will help Elijah, and be the second distraction, Dahlia won't expect you to help us and will not be prepared for your presence."
"You're rather calm, which is odd, because there are a million ways this plan can fall to pieces." Rebekah stated.
Freya sighed, beginning to pace around the room. Examining the carefully painted portraits that hung upon the walls of the ballroom. Glancing at the painting of Elijah and Adriana and comparing to the two stoic figure that stood near here, before standing in front of Klaus' portrait.
"I admit..." She trailed of hesitantly. "First, I was upset when Elijah ignored my plan in favor of his own. You are all sodetermined to protect Hope at all cost. Perhaps I'm envious- no one ever fought so hard to protect me." Sje stopped staring at the portrait, and turned to Elijah. "Then, I recalled what I saw when I looked inside your mind. The day you all swore an oath to stand by one another- always and forever. The day you realised you loved a woman so much that you resented her, your vow to forever take care of her. No matter what. There's strength in such vows."
"I can assure you," Elijah said, glancing at a silent Adriana before turning towards his oldest sister, "it has not been free of consequence."
"That is an understatement." Rebekah scoffed. "Ask me, that vow has been more trouble than it's worth."
"And yet, here you are- proving my point." Freya said, walking over to Rebekah and squeezing her hands encouragingly. "Family and love defines you, even if it demands sacrifice. My entire life, I have longed for what you have. It is better to at least glimpse it, facing death, than run forever and know nothing of family."
"I take back what I said." Adriana said softly, all eyes turning to her in surprise. "You're not that bad after all."
Freya smiled back at her softly.
"You too, Adriana. You too."
Adriana crouched next to Elijah, both of them waiting in the shadows of the courtyard. Both of them watching carefully as Dahlia stepped closer to Freya and the fake Hope.
"You surprise me." Dahlia said, still not having made it into the killing ground. "Betraying the family you meant to coax to your side? How very ruthless of you."
"I had hoped that they would welcome me as a sister." Freya stated anxiously, Dahlia only nodding in understanding. "I was wrong."
"Of course you were, you poor little fool!" Dahlia exclaimed, feigning sympathy. "To think that Esther's wicked little progeny could ever care for you? They are known the world over for obscene acts of violence, and yet, you sought them out instead of staying where you belong. With me." Freya gulped nervously, as Dahlia continued to slowly walked towards her, trying to remain still as Dahlia had still not passed the portraits. "I offered to protect you for all time, and you left me. And now, it is you who is alone! But then- Who could love a deceitful little wretch?"
"Oh, no…" Adriana whispered quietly, as Dahlia stopped just outside the killing ground, not crossing past the front edge of the painting. The enchanted golem crumbled to dust in Freya's arms reveling to Dahlia that the whole scene was a trap, the old witches face quickly becoming enraged. Freya looked at the other woman with wide eyes full of fear, gasping for breath and obviously terrified.
"What have you done?" Dahlia asked, appalled.
Realising she was all out of options, Freya grabbed onto Dahlia and pulled her past the portraits and into the killing field.
"Elijah, now!" Freya bellowed out. Too shocked to move, Adriana watched Elijah vamp-speed into the courtyard with Mikael's knife in hand. Before he could reach Dahlia, Klais tackled him and forced him to drop the blade.
"And so the wheel of betrayal circles 'round once more." Klaus snarled furiously, pulling Elijah to his feet and throwing him against the wall, causing Elijah to crack the wall.
"You treacherous little shrew!" Dahlia sneered, both her and Freya stumbling to her feet. Using her telekinesis Dahlia threw Freya across the courtyard.
"Not today, crazy lady." Adriana snarled, dragging Dahlia further away from Freya, the blonde female landing near the entrance hall.
"What-" Dahlia blinked in confusion, staring into the dark eyes of Adriana Mafiay.
"Hi." Adriana smirked, interrupting the powerful witch. "Adriana Mafiay, I heard I'm your favourite."
Using Dahlias momentary confusion to her advantage, Adriana kicked her to the floor. Only to shrink back, and fall to her own knees when every blood vessel in her body seemed to burst at the same time. Gasping for breath and refusing to scream, Adriana threw Dahlia a dirty look when the witch rose to her feet.
"It's a shame Ms. Mikaelson." Dahlia snarled, forcing Adriana fully to the floor. "You reminded me of myself, but it appears I was wrong. Maybe after this is done, I'll pay your own children a visit."
"My names Mafiay." Adriana managed to snarl back in between her gasps of pain. "Not Mikaelson."
Dahlia only walked away, starting to advance on Freya. Adriana watched helpless as Klaus jumped up to the balcony Elijah had landed on and picked up his older brother into a chokehold and pushing him so he was half dangling over the balcony.
"She's controlling you." Adriana could hear Elijah rasp out. "You have to fight her."
"The only thing she did is pull out the dagger you stuck in my heart!" Klaus snapped back furiously.
Elijah broke free of Klaus' grip, elbowing him in the face and following it up with a punch to the jaw. Klaus, quickly losing his temper after being shoved against the wall, threw Elijah backwards. Scrunching her eyebrows together, Adriana shakily rose to her feet. Her whole body trembling as she forced herself to stand up straight despite the pain that thrummed through her body. In front of her, Freya was desperately crawling backwards away from a furious Dahlia as the woman approached her. Stepping forward, the whole room spun around Adrianaas she tried to take a step forward, forcing her to her knees once more.
"After all I've given you, this is how you repay me?" Dahlia snarled at Freya, continuing to advance on her niece. "A death trap? Rendered by those elements that compose my sole weakness? And even in this, you fail. What do I sense? Sacred soil? Viking ash? The blood of a witch I loved?" Freya once again tried to crawl away, but stopped when Dahlia crouched in front of her and looked her in the eyes. "Not the witch I loved most, though." Dahlia sighed, once more feigning sympathy as she propped her chin on her hand. "Oh, Freya. Did you think that your blood was the key to my demise?"
"I only wanted to be free." Freya gasped out tears filling her eyes.
"You pathetic girl." Dahlia sighed, rising to her feet. Freya beginning to whimper in fear. "How shall I punish you? Oh, I know- I'll send you to bed early."
Growling, Adriana stumbled to her feet once more. Dahlia knocking Freya unconscious before she could fully reach them.
"Alright, crazy lady." She snarled, roundhouse kicking Dahlia in the stomach, knocking the woman backwards. "Now you're starting to annoy me. Freya and I just started liking each other. It would be a shame if our newfound friendship ended suddenly."
"A parent must always punish their child accordingly." Dahlia smirked, regaining her balance. "You should know."
"Please." Adriana scoffed, digging her heels into the floor when Dahlia tried to use her telekinesis to throw her back. "A bit of advice, crazy-to-crazy, you don't know the first thing about being a parent. I should know."
Meanwhile, Klaus and Elijah were still viciously fighting each other on the courtyard's balcony, holding each other in a choke hold.
"She will take-" Elijah gasped out. "-everything from us."
"You took everything when you broke our vow!" Klaus snapped angrily. "Perhaps I'll take something from you."
Elijah screamed in agony as Klais twisted his arm backwards, the sound of multiple broken bones reaching Adrianas ears as she was thrown backwards by Dahlias magic. Klaus spun Elijah around and pinned his face to the balcony railing so he's forced to watch the scene that was about to happen.
"Elijah?" Gia called out as she entered the courtyard, clearly terrified and compelled to stay there.
"Oh, no…" Adriana groaned kicking at Dahlia while the woman used her magic to keep her in place. "Elijah! Elijah, he's going to kill her!"
Adriana may not like Elijah or his multiple mistresses but she wasn't as cold hearted as everyone seemed to think.
"Gia, be a sweetheart and take off your daylight ring?" Klaus asked politely.
"No!" Elijah screamed, struggling against Klaus' grip.
"I can't stop myself..." Gia trailed off, starting to pull the ring off of her finger as Elijah still screamed in protest. The ring dropped to the floor, Adriana looking away from the scene as Gias screams filled the courtyard. Her burning
"You seem vexed, brother." Klaus smirked almost gleefully. "Wait until you see what I've got in store for little Adriana."
Elijah, too enraged for words, elbowed Klaus and the two began fighting again. Only this time more viciously than before. Elijah tackled Klaus, the two of them tumbling down the stairs and into the courtyard, Klaus immediately getting to his feet. Adriana knocking Dahlia away, moving to help Elijah, only to be forced to her knees once more, the older witch concentrating on her with her arm slightly outstretched. Elijah immediately got into a defensive position, black veins appearing around his eyes as he bared his fangs at Klaus.
"Is that a hint of the fabled beast behind the red door? Coming out only to defend its favourite." Klaus chuckled, Elijah continuing to glare at him. "Come on, brother- let him out to play." Elijah leaped forward, punching Klaus in the head. Klaus easily spinning and wrapping an arm around him, quickly stabbing Papa Tunde's blade into Elijahs chest before he can react. "You should know better than to fight me in anger, for my anger is unending."
"No!" Adriana screamed, the word leaving her mouth before she could control it.
Elijah tried to break free from Klais' grip, only to be overwhelmed by agony as the blade magically embedded itself into his chest. The Original left screaming in agony.
"Klaus!" Cami screamed, horrified at the sight before her as she entered the courtyard. The male in question giving her an annoyed look and dropping Elijahs body.
"Elijah!" Adriana shouted her eyes widening in horror as the blade sank into her makers chest, her worried eyes meeting Cami's from across the room before turning back to the Original "You idiot!"
"Look at that." Dahlia smirked, seeing Adriana run forward, moving to dig the blade out of Elijahs chest. The female vampires hands still trembling violently from the torturous use of magic on her body. "Some things never do change. You were my favourite Ms. Mikaelson, and that's the only reason I'm leaving you alive."
With a simple flick of Dahlia's wrist, Adriana neck shifted to an awkward and the small female fell forward. Her body landing heavily next to Elijahs.
"Adriana." The concerned voice filled her eyes, Adriana moaning lowly. "Adriana!"
The last piece of her shattered neck clicked back into place, the female shooting up into a sitting position with a strangled gasp. Blinking rapidly as her eyes regained focus, brown eyes finally seeing a concerned Cami crouched in front of her, Mikaels knife in her hands.
"You're not planning to kill me with that are you?" She asked, eyeing the knife carefully. Cami's relieved laugh filled the courtyard, both of their eyes turning to the incapacitated Elijah. "How about we just leave him like this?"
"Adriana." Cami scolded playfully, though worry still shone in her eyes. "We have to help him."
"Correction, you have to help him."
"Adriana, you're seriously not tempted to just leave him here in agony?"
"But I am…"
"This probably isn't the right time," Cami started, kneeling down next to the writhing Elijah. Grimacing for a moment before forcefully stabbing the knife into his chest. "But why do you hate each other so much?"
"We…" Adriana trailed off for a moment, watching Cami slowly slice his chest open. "We don't exactly have the best relationship. We've each messed up too much to trust each other again."
"Right, Elijah I can sort of believe, with all those lovers" Cami nodded, continuing to slice into Elijahs chest. "But what did you do?"
"I was a brat of a newborn." Adriana admitted, having no idea why she was suddenly spilling her guts to the blonde. "I got into fights, came close to death too many times, called Mikael. I did anything I knew that would keep Elijahs attention on me."
"You were worried he would leave you." Cami realised, starting to see the edge of Papa Tunde's blade. "So you made sure his attention never left you. You were worried no one else would love you."
"Yeah." Adriana nodded, coughing awkwardly. "By the time I realised I didn't need all of his attention, it was far too late. Elijahs red door had convinced him that I couldn't do anything without him, that I needed to be kept by his side. At whatever cost. The tables turned, and Elijah made sure he always had my attention. That's why I forced myself away from him, because what we were wasn't healthy."
"Have you ever considered that's why he takes so many mistresses?" Cami asked, frowning when she couldn't go any further into Elijahs chest. "Because it keeps your attention?"
Adriana was silent, quietly reaching forward and ripping the rest of the way into Elijahs chest with her nails, pulling out the blade from his chest. After a moment, Elijah recovered enough to jerk into a sitting position, Cami helping him up.
"Elijah?" Cami asked, the male gasping in shock and pain. "Elijah, you have to listen to me. He got in my head, he spoke to me. This, all of this, it's a trick!"
"What?" Adriana asked, her head snapping to the blonde.
"You've lost your mind." Elijah panted, still recovering from the blade. "He's lost his mind."
"It wouldn't be anything new." Adriana commented, sitting down with her legs crossed.
"He needs her to trust him, so he can do what he needs to do." Cami continued. "He had to make it look convincing."
"What?" Elijah asked, clearly baffled. "To... to... to what possible end?"
"Elijah." Adriana said, her voice soft. "Calm down. Take a deep breath."
Elijah did as she said, breathing heavily.
"He told me her secret." Camp started once more. "I know how we can kill Dahlia."
"Lovely." Adriana said sarcastically, laying down on the floor with her eyes closed. Exhaustion finally catching up to her. "You can go kill the crazy lady and I'll just stay here, guarding the compound."
Well, at least she wasn't bored anymore.