Chapter 38
An Old Friend Calls
Klaus stepped into the room as K was in the middle of pulling her arm through the sleeve of her jacket.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
K nodded. She adjusted her clothing as he dipped down and lifted Hope into his arms. Together, the trio left the manor and began to wander through the streets to try and waste time. Klaus appreciated the time away from home. He needed to clear his head.
Walking the sun-drenched streets of the city was nice. It was quiet –despite being littered with people- and most importantly away from the house. Hope seemed to want to walk on her own the majority of the time. Both Klaus and K let the little one clamp down on one of their fingers and wobble under her own strength. It was sweet. At one point, each of them held her hand and swung her back and forth. Hope's loud, happy laughter drew attention from passersby who couldn't fight their own smile at the sight.
Eventually, Hope wanted to be lifted yet again. She couldn't seem to make up her mind, which was the purgative of every toddler. K held Hope on her hip. She felt something touch her hand and glanced down briefly to see Klaus threading his fingers through hers. She smiled and held his hand.
To those on the outside, they looked like a happy couple, like a family. She liked it, and so did he.
For about a block, they were happy. For about a block, they had nothing to remind them of the troubles that were always lingering in the shadows. For about a block, everything was fine.
Before they made it to the corner, Klaus felt something shoot down his spine, a familiar sensation of being watched. His pace stopped and in turn so did K and Hope. She looked at him and saw his eyes dance along the crowd. K watched him quietly. Without warning, electricity pulsed through her and she knew he must have seen something interesting.
K's eyes followed his line of sight. A man stood on the other side of the street. He was nothing special, but his smile… his smile was incredibly unnerving.
A bus drove by and the same instant it was gone, so was the stranger. Klaus searched through the people surrounding him, but knew deep down the other vampire was long gone.
"Nik," K said when he hadn't spoke for some time.
"We need to return home." He muttered. "Now."
Before any human noticed, K wrapped her arms tightly around Hope and vanished from sight with Klaus at her side. The two vampires were home within seconds.
K remained in the courtyard for a moment while Klaus began to bellow for his siblings. He needed them and she knew why. His mind was chaotic –something she was honestly surprised by- and it raced with a thousand thoughts a second. Her brows slowly pulled together as she watched him jog upstairs. She didn't like Klaus chaotic.
Shaking her head to herself, K walked at a casual pace to the nursery to put Hope down to play. She knew whatever they were about to be 'discussing', it was no place for a child.
"You see?! This is exactly what I was afraid of!" she heard Klaus yell as she set Hope in her playpen and closed the door a hint behind her. "All manner of devils are creeping from the shadows." His voice got louder as she approached. He'd gone silent for a moment before mumbling, "Speaking of which."
Before she made it to the door, Klaus sped passed her and downstairs. K took a deep breath and sighed. Freya and Elijah were following their brother and noticed her in the hall. They gave one another skeptical, yet worried glances. Still, they headed for the courtyard.
When the three made it to the courtyard below, they were surprised to find Klaus wasn't the only Mikaelson already there. He, Elijah and K stared at Kol in stunned silence. Freya was the only one who seemed a bit annoyed, which was odd to them, but no one noticed.
"You didn't bring any other Mikaelson men back, did you?" K felt herself asking.
Davina eyed her strangely, like she wasn't sure who K might have been asking. K dismissed the witch's confusion in favor of watching Klaus hug his little brother.
Elijah stepped forward when Klaus stepped back and stared at Kol.
"Hello Elijah." Kol said with a sarcastic smirk.
"You haven't aged a day." Elijah replied.
Kol smiled and nodded. His eyes shifted to Freya, who still stared at the vampire with a blank expression.
"And you,"
"Freya." She said.
"Ah, long lost sister." Kol nodded. "Speaking of the twists and turns of this family tree, where's Rebekah?"
"That's a long story," Klaus said. "And one reserved for family. Davina can see herself out."
"Are you-"
"As per usual," Klaus easily interrupted his younger sibling, "Our family faces a multitude of threats. The sooner you become acquainted with them, the better. I won't have you distracted."
"By Davina?" Kol shot back angrily. "And what of your little friend?" he pointed at K. "Last I checked, she's not a part of this family either."
"A lot has changed since you were here last." Klaus said with a tight jaw.
"And isn't she meant to be dead?" Kol continued his rant. K crossed her arms over her chest as she eyed the unruly 'child' while Klaus began to tense with rage. "Last I remember, Finn shoved a stake into her chest."
"It was removed." Elijah said with a sigh. He could feel the fight coming.
"How? That was a Cursed Object. You can't remove it until the vampire is dead."
"They didn't." K replied casually. Kol's brows came together and both he and Davina stared at her in confusion.
"What?" he asked.
"They didn't." she repeated. "It pierced me heart."
"Then how-"
"Yet another thing that has yet to be discussed." Klaus said shortly. "Now, Davina, get out."
"Fine," Davina called from the background. Kol turned to her with a confused expression marring his features. "You can make it up to me."
He relaxed slightly, but only a hint as he told her he would. They made plans for later that night –which a few watching thought was ambitious all things considered- before Davina left the manor.
"Now then," Klaus said when Kol turned to face them all. "Story time."
~!~
"So,"
Hearing Kol's voice made K turn. She glanced at him over her shoulder before going back to pouring hot water into a bowl over her blood bag.
"You're immune to stakes." He continued until he stood beside her. "Does that mean you're one of us now?"
"No, not one of you." She finished pouring the hot liquid and set the pot back on the stove. She gave the young man her attention. "Nik."
He let out a light, almost sarcastic laugh. He waited for the punch line, but one never seemed to come. K was in the middle of reaching for a glass when the realization that she might not be lying began to sink in.
"You're kidding."
"Would you like some?" she offered. She didn't seem to hear him.
"How the bloody hell did that happen?"
"A multitude of situations, some shenanigans, and copious amounts of blood." She replied absently as she removed her blood bag from the water. "Are you sure you don't want any?"
"No," he said bluntly. "I'm fine." He was having trouble believing her. The glib way she spoke didn't help either.
She shrugged a single shoulder and went back to her task. She punched a hole into the bag with her thumb nail and poured it into her glass when she heard footsteps. K glanced again over her shoulder, but this time saw Klaus. He eyed her strangely, but she paid him passing attention as she finished filling her glass.
"Was there something you needed?" she asked him. K tossed the bag into the trash and turned to face him. It was then she noticed his odd stare. He looked like he was trying to figure something out as he looked at her, which was strange. "What's wrong?"
"May I speak with you, for a moment?" he muttered.
"Of course," K nodded. She narrowed her eyes as she followed Klaus out of the kitchen.
They walked until coming to one of the libraries on the bottom floor. Klaus let K walk passed him and closed the door behind him for what little privacy they could hope to have within a home occupied by vampires.
"What's wrong?"
"Cortez is a dangerous man." He said as he turned to face her.
K's expression immediately fell. She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she glowered at him.
"I'm not staying behind again." She told him darkly. "If you thought you were going to keep me out of-"
"Kali," he waved his hand dismissively to keep her from continuing. "I wasn't."
"Oh," she mumbled. "Then why did you pull me aside?"
He smiled lightly at her embarrassment as he closed some of the distance between them.
"You're six centuries his senior," he kept the smirk, "I'm not worried for your safety. But, he is a dangerous man, nonetheless. He and his family were ruthless in life, and because of my intervention, I believe he's worse in death."
"So you're just warning me?"
Klaus nodded softly. She felt better. K didn't want to have another argument about whether or not she was staying behind, because honestly, she wasn't. And he would lose.
~!~
The night didn't get any better. Elijah had to deal with his own troubles and Klaus and K didn't fair any better.
"So here's how this works," Cortez said smugly from his spot near the kitchen. "Everyone lives once you let me leave."
"So, you expect me to let you live knowing that you seek the White Oak?" he asked just as sarcastically. Cortez nodded. "Oh, it's such a shame knowing that some vampires dim with old age. Killing you will be a mercy."
Cortez's face darkened immediately.
"Kill me, and this quaint eatery turns into a slaughterhouse," He replied, "Shining a light on your towns more repulsive activities."
"Ya know," Klaus began to growl. "I really liked Balaga."
"Klaus!" Vincent cried out in a labored voice from the kitchen. He didn't want the innocent people to die. "No!"
Before Cortez could fathom the action, Klaus launched a stake forward. It sailed through the air and immediately embedded in his chest. The same instant, K suddenly appeared. She ran through the area knocking each of the humans on the back of the head.
Those with knives crumbled to the floor within a breath. She slid to a stop right beside Klaus. Both of them stared at the vampire cringing and gasping for air on the ground.
Cortez growled and cried out as he yanked the stake from his chest. He barely had time to begin healing from it before Klaus and K were at his side. K grabbed the vampire, lifted him high and threw him violently to the ground the same instant Klaus lifted a chair and shattered it. No sooner than Cortez hit the floor did Klaus slam the broken chair leg into his shoulder, pinning Cortez to the floor.
"Now then," Klaus said with a casual sigh, "Shall we compel the audience to leave?"
K nodded and together, they walked through the crowd compelling the patrons to leave and those with unconscious friends, to take them along and explain later how they'd fallen down drunk. Within a few short minutes, everyone was gone. Klaus stepped towards the door and locked it behind the last customer. He even flipped the sign to show Closed. K took a seat not far from the bleeding man on the floor.
"Thank you for being so patient." Klaus said as he returned. "Now that your victims are gone and compelled to remember nothing of this night, you and I," Klaus gripped the chair leg, "Can catch up." He twisted it angrily before yanking it out of Cortez. The vampire screamed in pain.
As Klaus lifted him again –this time pushing him against the bar- K noticed slight movement in the kitchen. She stood and headed for Vincent while Klaus dealt with the vampire.
K threaded her arms beneath Vincent and gently helped him to his chair.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly as Klaus argued with Cortez in the background.
"Did you kill those people?"
K smiled softly. She shook her head as she reached for a nearby piece of cloth.
"No," she replied. K handed him the cloth so he could wipe his face. "They're just unconscious. Vampire compulsions die with the vampire. They won't hurt anyone when they wake up."
Vincent nodded. His eyes, along with K's, shifted back towards the scene. Klaus let out a loud roar as he swiped at Cortez. The vampire's head popped from his shoulders and bounced uselessly against the wooden floor.
"I guess it means the party's over." He muttered.
"You can say that." K agreed. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," Vincent nodded again. "Thanks."
K gave him another soft smile before standing and heading towards Klaus. He bent down and lifted Cortez's head by his hair. He glared hatefully at the face.
"We should go." She told him.
"Yes," Klaus growled, "Perhaps we should."
K lifted the body and threw him over her shoulder like a duffle bag. Together, the pair left the bar as though nothing had ever happened, leaving behind only a small pool of blood and a bit of broken furniture.
~!~
Back at the manor, everyone stood over the map staring at the droplets of blood that slowly moved towards New Orleans, each harboring a horrifying intent. K's heart sank.
"The only people devoted to keeping you safe," Elijah said, "Are standing in this room." K noticed Klaus' shoulders slump. She felt his sadness. "But as you know, Niklaus, there is another way."
Klaus looked at his brother through his lashes. It was a stare the others saw easily.
"You're going to run." Freya declared with a hint of sadness.
"There was a time," he began, "When the name Klaus Mikaelson was little more than a rumor, a shadowy figure who cast fear into the hearts of anyone who heard whisper of him. I don't run, sister. I disappear." Klaus reached for a sack at his feet and raised it high, "And tonight, all of you, are going to make that possible."
K's arms were crossed over her chest. The elbow of one was propped on the other as she chewed on her thumbnail. She watched and listened to everything, but her mind was frantic. Her mind wouldn't focus.
Klaus had set the head down on the nearest table. Elijah began to talk about a plan he had. He knew what to do with the head, but Klaus had trouble focusing on them. Something was itching in the back of his mind. Something wanted to come to the foreground and he wasn't sure he could ignore it. It started quietly, but soon echoed as loudly as his own thoughts.
"He's going to leave me again." She thought to herself. "He's going to disappear and I'm going to be left behind." She felt her eyes begin to well with the promise of tears. She chewed harder on her nail. "He cannot leave me behind, not now, not after everything that's happened."
Klaus' attention shot to K, but she was looking at the map, ignoring everything else around her.
"I'm going to be forced to stay here while he vanishes from sight. He'll probably compel me to forget again, just like last time." When she blinked, a single tear glided down her cheek. "I don't want to forget, not again. I don't want to forget Hope, or anything that's happened… Oh god, I'm going to have to forget."
"Never."
The random word spoken without regard to any conversation drew odd stares. Elijah had been in the middle of speaking to Marcel on the phone before Klaus spoke. His voice drew everyone's attention, including K's. She looked up at him through her lashes as he stared back with a remorseful expression.
"I'd never take those memories from you." He said.
Her brows came together. K lowered her hand.
"How did you hear that?"
"You said-"
"Not out loud." She said before he could divulge her fears to the others. As she looked at him, a realization crossed her mind the same instant it did Freya. "Oh," she mumbled.
"What?" Kol asked. He was as lost as Elijah. "What's happening?"
"It seems," Freya began as Klaus and K stared silently at one another, "That the bond between you two now goes both ways."
"How is this possible?" K muttered. She'd never had someone pick thoughts out of her mind before and she found it –rightfully- unsettling.
"When I strengthened the connection," Freya did her best to explain her theory, "Niklaus' spirit was in another plane. I… believe I tied you together, in order to push you into that realm."
No one spoke for a moment as they tried to process her explanation.
"So," K's voice was still relatively quiet. "We can read each others' minds?" she couldn't hide the discomfort she felt at the thought.
"If they are strong enough, it seems so." Freya nodded.
"How?" Elijah asked.
"They were already physically connected. I suppose it isn't too unbelievable." She looked at K. "I told you there may be side effects."
"Yeah, ya did." She muttered. Telepathy though, hadn't been a side effect K assumed was possible.
~!~
K sat on her bed in her room looking over the pictures within her red book, the newest ones that were taken, while everyone went about preparing for what they planned to do. She didn't have the heart or the strength to be around them at the moment because she didn't know what was going to happen. When the Mikaelson siblings were in danger, they only ever watched out for themselves and she knew that… she knew that meant she could be left behind.
"Sweetheart," Klaus' voice drew her eye, but she didn't linger on him as he walked slowly into the room. He came closer and around the edge of the bed to her side. He saw her staring at the pictures and felt his stomach sink. "I've a favor to ask."
"Are you going to make me forget?" she asked softly. K tentatively looked up and it was clear she'd been crying. "That's what happened last time, in Arles. Your family was in danger, and I was a liability. Is that going to happen again?"
Her reaction to hearing his plan to disappear suddenly made more sense than before. Klaus' brows came together.
"After everything that's happened, how can you ask me that?" he asked in a voice as quiet as hers.
"Because that's always what happens." She tried to keep her voice tight, but it was difficult.
"No, darling," he replied, "I had planned for you to join me. You're stuck with me, I'm afraid." K let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She felt immediately better. A light smile touched his lips. "But I have come for your blood." She looked at him in confusion as he held up a glass in one hand and a knife in the other. "For Freya's spell." He sat on the bed beside her and gently took K's hand. "Any witch with the slightest intelligence, will perform a locator spell on you as well." He set the blade in her palm and helped close it around the metal, "And they could easily find the both of us if they did."
She understood and nodded her agreement. When she had, Klaus dragged the blade over her skin and bled her into the glass he'd brought. It didn't take long to fill. When he had enough blood, Klaus removed the blade and let her hand heal. After her skin stitched itself back together, Klaus tenderly kissed the phantom wound making her laugh lightly and shake her head at him. He smiled in response.
"I'll let you pack." He said. "We'll be leaving soon."
K nodded. Klaus leaned forward and kissed her before disappearing to give his sister K's blood. She felt better, immediately. While she knew that she wouldn't miss the memories if he took them, K felt she'd somehow miss Hope. She knew, in her bones, that she'd miss the little girl. It never donned on her that her and Klaus' connection was too strong for him to compel her to forget him. They were so entwined now, it was virtually impossible.
~!~
Klaus said his farewells to both his siblings. K stood behind him and waited for him to finish before she did.
K set down her bag and hugged Freya as tightly as she dared without harming the witch.
"Please watch over them." Freya whispered sadly.
"I will." They parted and K gave Freya a peck on the cheek like she would an old friend. After everything, she couldn't help but consider her one. She forced a smile like the blond did. "Be careful here."
Freya nodded.
"You should easily be able to break the seal on the house." K handed Freya a key to her home like she'd planned to. "Rebekah is in the basement." She knew they would likely choose to move the young woman now that no one would be stopping by K's house.
Freya nodded once more and clutched the key in her closed palm. K moved to Elijah and hugged him firmly. They didn't have to be as timid when neither could hurt the other, and squeezed each other tightly as a result.
"Protect our family." He told her.
"Always."
They parted and kissed one another on the cheek. He gave her the same sad smile he had his brother.
"And forever." Elijah replied.
K smiled and gave a light laugh before picking up her bag. Klaus reached for her hand and she took it.
"Come along, darling." He said.
Together, they left the mansion and headed for the car out front.
He loaded their bags into the back along with Hayley's and Hope's things. Klaus –still holding K's hand- tenderly kissed her knuckles. He looked up after he had on instinct and saw his remaining family looking back. Klaus could do little more than nod to them as he got into the car along with the others.
Hayley was sitting in the front seat already when K and Klaus joined her. Klaus took the wheel while K happily sat in the back with Hope. She slipped in beside the car seat and smiled to the little girl tucked into her blanket. K paid no attention to the two talking in the front seat.
"Hello, sweetheart," she whispered to the little girl.
Hope was tired and her eyes were starting to close. It was late and passed her bedtime.
K noticed the new knight resting in a fold of the child's blanket at her feet. She picked it up and showed it to Hope. Despite being tired, Hope still took the offered toy. K smiled adoringly, rested her hand on the armrest to the car seat and looked ahead as they began to drive. She caught sight of Klaus glancing at her through the rear-view mirror. He gave her a wink before giving the road his attention again.
AN: I don't have another chapter after this, so I'll have to wait for the next episode. Hopefully, I'll be able to put it up on Friday. If not, it'll be up Saturday. Hope you enjoyed this!