Bloodlines
Chapter 38: The Big Uneasy
Beta: PrincessOfSilence
Disclaimer: I own nothing of TVD or TO. I only own my characters and my story.
The corners of Klaus' lips upturned slightly while he watched his lover who was peacefully dreaming while wrapped up in his sheets on his bed. It was a pastime that he partook in when they would spend the nights together during the 1920s. She would curl up against his chest, her mused hair falling messily over her shoulders and the blankets would form a cocoon around her. When the morning sun would spill onto the sheets, she'd awaken to the feel of Klaus' eyes on her and she'd try to pretend that she was still asleep, but Klaus knew better. Giving up her playful ruse, she would open her eyes and the two would just look upon each other in comfortable silence. They had a funny way about them where they didn't have to speak at all. An understanding; was what she had called it during one of their late night talks.
He sat with a sketchbook in his lap and he continued to let the tip of his pencil glide across the page, but he would find himself becoming distracted with Audrey's presence so close to him. Time and time again, he broke away from his artwork to take in her form and he would soon realize that minutes had gone by and his sketch remained unfinished. He had been up since early this morning in hopes to complete a few pieces, but his wandering mind had been clouded with other thoughts. He watched as her chest grew, taking in a large breath and she let out the tiniest moan of protest against the sun that was practically shaking her awake. Sapphire eyes peeked open and she blinked away the sleep that had been resting there. Audrey yawned and stretched her pleasantly sore body, smirking feeling her muscles ache and her bones crackle.
"Good morning. You're up early," she greeted and positioned herself on her side to face him. "I figured after the very enjoyable night we had last night that you'd still be asleep."
Klaus grinned at her and continued flicking his pencil across the page. "Well, morning sun offers the best light."
"That light also gets in my eyes." She laid her arm over her squinted eyes and peeked at him through the shadows.
"Plus, I was doing some research about your little problem." He mentioned. What she didn't know was that when she fell asleep last night, he left her to dig around in the library and do some research about why her powers seemed to diminish at the party.
Audrey sat up, keeping the sheets tucked over her bare breasts and she frowned at him. "I thought I told you not to worry about it."
"When have I ever listened to anyone, love?" He shrugged and finished his last bit of shading before putting his artwork aside. He stood and picked up a thick, old book from his art table that was open to a certain page. He brought it back to the bed and held it out for Audrey to take, but she eyed it curiously.
"What's this?" She grasped the book and nearly dropped it, not expecting it to be that heavy. She crossed her legs underneath her and placed it in her lap.
"It's my mother's grimoire," he replied. "I have been looking at it all morning to see if there was anything written about your...predicament."
Audrey's blue gaze flicked between Klaus who had taken a seat on the edge of the bed and the book in her lap. She knew how important this book was to him and that he kept it under lock and key. Esther was a very powerful witch in her day and that book contained all of her spells, some so powerful that they could cause destruction if placed in the wrong hands. The witch ran her fingers along the faded words and she read through some of the pages, hopefully this book would be able to shed some light on things. As she moved to turn another page, she gave a bark of pain as the current shocked her. This time it seemed to be more intense and encased her whole hand, rather than just her fingers. She clutched her hand and held it tightly against her chest. Her body bowed forward and her hair made a curtain around her pained face. Klaus grasped her hand in an instant, examining the green current just before it dissipated. Her fingers shook and her hand twitched, the muscles spasaming uncontrollably until the feeling died down. He gently rubbed her skin and she winced at the contact, so he just held her hand in between his.
"It's getting worse." He murmured.
"Oh, you're a sharp one." She gritted and pulled her hand away. She flexed her fingers and rolled her wrist, hoping to alleviate some of the pressure.
Klaus ignored her comment and took the book from her lap, skipping through some pages until he found the ones he'd been studying all morning. "Here," he passed the book back to her and pointed to the writing. "Witches can sometimes place hexes on other witches. This kind of hex would limit power."
"You think another witch is doing this?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I can't say, but the witches are never happy with me, so they might be attacking you to spite me." He concluded.
"And how do we plan to figure out who is behind this?" She asked. "One of your famous witch hunts, perhaps?"
The Original hybrid chuckled heartily and kissed the back of her hand. "These French Quarter witches need to be put in their place; I will not have them attacking those who are most loyal to me."
Audrey's eyes twinkled in the bright sunlight, hues of ocean and sky blue sparkling brilliantly. "Good, so you'll understand that I'd decide punishment for my enemy once you catch them."
"Of course, love." He smirked.
She cradled the book close to her, her eyes flicking down at it and then back up at her hybrid lover. He didn't have to help her with any of this. He could have simply disregarded that her powers were diminishing and moved on with his life, but he didn't. She knew that Klaus helped those who were loyal to him, but she felt so much deeper in her heart.
The moment his eyes met hers, she glanced away and traipsed to the closet in an effort to hide her small moment of weakness from him. She pulled out her undergarments, shimmying them onto her body and proceeded to get herself dressed while the hybrid couldn't help but sneak a couple of peeks at her.
Once she was fully dressed, she turned to him. "Come. Let's get some fresh air."
"On the contrary, but I'd like to finish this piece and fresh air would hinder the timely completion of my work." His longwinded explanation made her roll her eyes.
"Hmm, well, if you're going to stay cooped up in here, I guess I'll have to go downstairs and ask Elijah why he is pulling up the birdbath in the courtyard." Klaus suddenly looked up to see Audrey at the window and he flashed to stand behind her. The view consisted of Elijah speaking to some construction workers while others were taking apart the courtyard he so enjoyed spending time in. Genevieve was there too, sitting at one of the tables and sipping from a steaming mug.
"Elijah..." He grumbled under his breath.
"Oh, look, now he's telling them to..." A gust of wind chilled her body and she soon realized that she was alone. She gave a long sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. "Boys will be boys."
"Enough with all the racket!" Klaus barked loudly as he marched down the steps leading from the upper level of the Abattoir. Audrey followed close behind, her wide eyes taking in the state of shambles.
"Is there a problem, brother?" Elijah turned to the workers and ever-so-elegantly shooed them off. "Gentlemen, please."
Klaus didn't even wait for the workers to leave to start his tirade. "I agreed to a general sprucing up, not a bloody three-ring circus."
"Marcel and his minions abused our home for the better part of a century. Now, you might be content to live in squalor. I'm not." His brother spoke.
"I agree with your brother." Genevieve joined them. "It's a new era in the French Quarter. This place could use a makeover."
"And what business do you have with us, Genevieve?" Klaus wondered.
"Business with your brother, actually." The witch eyed both brother's, but turned her attention to Elijah. "I'm told our coven hasn't been able to celebrate feast days in the open since Marcel restricted the use of magic. Now with the new peace, I'd like that to change."
"Am I to assume that you have a certain feast day in mind?" He questioned.
"The Fête des Bénêdictions. Feast of the Blessings. In the past, members of the community offered witches gifts in exchange for blessings. We'd like to use it as a forum for introducing our young Harvest girls to society."
"So, your coven attempted to destroy my family and you yourself held my siblings in unspeakable torment. And you would like a party for the witches." His eyes narrowed while Klaus held back a chuckle.
"All I am asking for is an opportunity for the younger Harvest girls to be welcomed into society and for my coven to celebrate. This would be a chance for New Orleans to have some positive publicity rather than the backlash that it was getting when Marcel was running things." She explained and Audrey nudged Klaus' shoulder.
"She does have a point," she murmured.
"Yes, but you're forgetting that she is talking to my brother," Klaus droned.
"Why don't you think it over?" Genevieve left him with that thought and Audrey took her chance to follow her and leave the brothers alone to discuss the matter of the feast. They caught up to one another in the hallway and Audrey placed a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Oh, Audrey! You frightened me." The redhead jumped a bit.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you without having ears on us," she replied and moved them a bit farther down the corridor to make sure that they were alone.
Genevieve's face was creased with worry. "What is it?"
"I think someone has hexed me." The Blood Witch held out her palm and willed her powers to work, but she was met with the shock that hit her this morning. She bit her bottom lip, grimacing through the pain and Genevieve took up her hand.
"My God. How long has this been going on?" She squeezed her friend's hand firmly as the waves dissipated.
"Since the night of that gathering where the wolves nearly tore apart the vampires." Her hand clenched into a fist and then she relaxed her fingers. "It's been getting worse. I read through Esther's grimoire and it said that this kind of hex could put a hold on my power."
Audrey hadn't noticed it, but the moment she mentioned Esther Mikaelson's grimoire, Genevieve's eyes gleamed with intrigue. She knew how powerful that book was and had wanted to get her hands on it for quite some time. It irked her that her friend had managed to sleep her way to getting to take a peek at the famed grimoire, yet a part of her was surprised why Klaus would trust her so easily. Pushing that thought aside, she wanted that book and for the first time in a long time, she was close to having it.
"Is that all her grimoire says?" Genevieve asked.
"Yes, it doesn't say how to break it, but that's why I wanted to come to you. I know that you placed the hex on father Kieran and..."
"Audrey," the witch took her friend's hands in her own. "If you're going to say what I think you are, then I'd rather be burned at the stake. I would never do this to you; you're one of my best friends and I would do anything to help you. I don't want to see you suffer. I will track down who has done this to you and they will pay for their mistake."
It had occurred to Audrey that Genevieve had put the hex on her, but after hearing her compassion and sincerity, she immediately felt guilty for trying to place blame on her. Even in the 1920s, through all of the vampire drama, they'd always remained close with each other and would always offer help. She looked down at their joined hands in shame, but Genevieve unlocked their hands to embrace her tightly.
"Thank you, my friend." Audrey hugged her back.
"You would do the same for me." Genevieve pulled away and smiled warmly. "I will start working right away. Of course, it would help me if I had Esther's grimoire. I would need to see exactly what kind of a hex it is."
"I would have to ask Klaus. He keeps it under lock and key." Audrey told her friend who visibly frowned. "I was lucky enough to even glance at it earlier."
"Does he realize that this is causing you not only physical, but spiritual pain?" Her blue eyes flashed with anger. "You could be like poor Davina who was so depressed that she thought of giving up magic for good. We don't know how long this hex could last and we don't know what other damage it could do."
"I know and I'm scared, Genevieve." She sulked. "I've never felt so unsure of anything in my entire life."
"Please talk to Klaus about getting the book. I would only use it for as long as I needed to and not a minute longer. I know you love him, but remember, Klaus is only in this game for himself." The redhead could see the seeds of doubt she'd planted in Audrey's head begin to flourish and she hoped that it would make her friend question her loyalty to Klaus. Audrey simply nodded and Genevieve gave her one last embrace before exiting the compound. If she could get Elijah to agree to the feast and Audrey to get Klaus to bend into giving her his mother's grimoire, she'll have easily killed two birds with one stone.
"You want us to go to a witch event on bended knee and give them a gift? I'm sorry, but I just remembered. We're busy doing just about anything else that night." Diego grumbled.
Elijah had to compose himself from lashing out at Diego's comment, but he knew that the factions would take some time to exist cohesively. He just wished that the leaders would swallow their pride and agree on something for once. He gathered the leader of each faction in the foyer of the compound since he refused to have his guests see the courtyard in disarray and all, but one attended. Audrey's seat beside Diego remained vacant and the Original glanced down at his watch with pursed lips, unaware of the turmoil she was up against. Francesca, Jackson, Hayley and Oliver were seated at the long table as well, awaiting their turn to vote on the issue.
"Yeah, we're not going." Diego added and Elijah pulled the cuff on his sleeve down to hide his watch.
"Diego, this isn't a request. Your name is on that treaty. Now, if you have any difficulty whatsoever with your newfound position, I'd be more than willing to remove you."
The vampire gnashed his teeth in an effort to keep himself under control and then shook his head. "I never thought I'd see the day. Vampires bowing down to witches."
"I see it as a demonstration of strength; acknowledging a lesser faction." He smirked, gaining approval from one faction. Now he just had to work his charm with the others. His gaze turned to Francesca who was smiling at him.
"Ms. Correa?" He questioned.
"Please, call me Francesca." She grinned and Hayley's eyes narrowed. The wolf remembered her from the party and how she tried to outwardly flirt with the Original. As if she couldn't see how enamored Elijah was with Giuliana, Francesca continued to bat her eyes and it nearly made Hayley sick.
"Will you be attending the feast?"
"But you're not asking, are you?" She giggled and leaned back in her chair. "Oh, I see it's true what they say about you, Elijah. You make even strong-arming seem noble. You see, I—"
The double doors to the room swung open, causing everyone to look up and see Giuliana entering the room. Hayley was so happy to see her friend, but she was even happier to see how annoyed Francesca had become now that there was competition. Even Elijah was pleasantly surprised to see her as she took her seat in between Diego and Hayley. Francesca stared her down, recognizing her from the party and she adjusted herself in her seat.
"Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" She asked.
"Excuse me," Francesca blurted out rudely. "Who are you? If I recall, you aren't the leader of the Blood Witches."
"I'm Giuliana Ricci, a close friend of Audrey's and I am also a Blood Witch. She has informed me that she is unable to fulfill her duties as a faction leader at this time and has asked me to take her place until such time." She answered. Those present at the table looked around blankly, all of them had not one clue as to why Audrey had decided to step down. They then turned to Elijah who had a pensive look across his features.
"Here," Giuliana reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She handed it to Elijah and he read it over. "These are the terms she outlined and we both signed it."
Elijah's eyes grazed over the elegant cursive and the two signatures at the bottom. Even he was questioning why Audrey had stepped down, but he was thankful she'd chosen a more than suitable replacement. He tucked the paper into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and folded his hands in front of him.
"I will have to agree to these terms." He said and placed his hands on the table. "Does anyone have any objections?"
Hayley shook her head back and forth and so did Jackson. While Oliver wasn't too thrilled about having to see Giuliana more than he wanted to, he knew that she would be able to step into the position. Diego didn't reply, knowing that his silence would allow Giuliana a position as part of the faction leaders. He already knew that Elijah would fight him tooth and nail on the issue, so it was better to just agree. Lastly, all eyes were on Francesca who looked as if she was fighting with herself. She absolutely, positively did not want Giuliana as the leader of her respective faction, but she would be singled out and questioned should she vote against her. With great control, she shook her head.
"Good." Elijah smiled warmly. "We were just discussing the requested presence of each faction at the feast."
"Yes, Elijah. It was my turn to give my decision before we had our little interruption," Francesca noted, earning a glare from Giuliana, but she remained quiet.
"Please continue." Elijah gestured.
"Well, the tourists do read this stuff up. Can you imagine what they'd think if they suddenly found out it was all real?" She smirked. "I take it you want me at the public show and the private party afterward?"
"That is correct," he replied with a nod.
"I'd be happy to attend. And in return, you will owe the humans a favor." She added.
Elijah then looked to Giuliana who looked less than pleased with Francesca's presence, but she ignored her.
"I think the witches should be able to celebrate and it will be good publicity for the city." She spoke. "And I will be attending, of course."
The last to agree were the wolves, but Elijah was unsure of which direction they would swing. When it came down to it, Jackson was the faction leader, so his decision mattered the most, but his opinion could be swayed by Hayley and Oliver.
"Your people are uniquely poised to set an example for the rest of the French Quarter. Which is why it's important for the wolves to attend." Elijah implored.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Hayley growled.
Oliver sighed exaggeratedly. "Let's hear the man out."
"The witches are the ones that cursed your pack. And they've been nothing but crap to me since I first came to town." She elaborated and then looked to Elijah. "No. We're not going."
"It's a new day in the Quarter, Hayley," Jackson interjected. "I agree with Oliver. If we're gonna coexist, we have to play ball. We'll send a representative with a gift."
Elijah couldn't ask for the afternoon to go any smoother even if he tried. With patience and a bit of pushing, he successfully managed to get all of the factions to agree to attend the feast and to bring a gift. He dismissed everyone, but asked Giuliana to stay behind, much to Francesca's surprise. Once the room was cleared, he shut all of the doors, ensuring their privacy. Giuliana leaned against the table, waiting patiently for Elijah to bombard her with the questions that were eagerly waiting on his tongue.
"You did well today," he complimented. "Of course, I didn't expect any less from you."
Giuliana smiled widely, her heart filled with pride. "Thank you."
"But I have to ask why Audrey has decided to step down at this time." He placed his hands on the back of one of the tall chairs. "I figured that she would be able to handle the job, but I fear her infatuation with Niklaus has clouded her priorities."
Just as quickly as her smile appeared, it dissipated and was replaced by a deep frown. She hadn't expected him to hit below the belt. "I know you aren't fond of her, Elijah, but Audrey isn't well."
Elijah's eyebrows creased, suddenly intrigued to hear more. "Not well?"
"A hex has been placed on her and she can't do magic. She is in a lot of pain and I think the hex is making her ill. I thought that Klaus would have told you..."
"No, he has not shared this information with me." He shook his head. "What has been done to help her?"
"I've tried to break the hex, but it's too strong. Maybe Davina can help?"
"Davina has just re-acquired her powers and I highly doubt that she will be willing to help anyone Niklaus holds dear." He said.
"We're out of options, then." She pouted and crossed her arms over her shoulders. "But, Klaus went to see Genevieve. Maybe she can help with Audrey's and Father Kieran's hexes."
Elijah's hand ran over the wood finish on the arch of the chair, deep in thought. Genevieve was the one who placed the hex on Kieran, so it only seemed fitting that she would place a hex on Audrey too. He could have been jumping to conclusions, but his main suspect in the matter was Genevieve until she'd been proven innocent. For Klaus' sake, he hoped that Genevieve would have a favorable answer for him about both cases before the feast.
"Audrey has always been a strong woman. She will be fine." Elijah could see that Giuliana's resolve was crumbling, so he would at least try to comfort her.
"I hope so." The woman sighed. "I mean, she's taught me a lot and I don't know how else I'd learn if she doesn't get better."
"You've come this far." He mentioned and she had to agree. "Audrey could not have picked someone more suitable to take her place."
"You mean that?" she asked and Elijah moved from his spot to stand opposite her.
"Every single word." He nodded. "You've grown into your powers and not one person disagreed with having you step up to become the leader of the faction."
Giuliana let a short chuckle fall from her lips. "Well, Francesca didn't seem too happy with me. She's an entitled one."
"Is that jealousy, I hear?" Elijah smirked and Giuliana's mouth hung open.
"Me? Jealous of her?" She laughed out loud. "More like she's jealous of me."
"Well, there is a lot for her to be jealous of." A soft pink blush blossomed in her cheeks and she felt herself smiling at him like a damn fool. He always had a way of doing that to her, not that she minded it, of course. Giuliana suckled her bottom lip between her teeth when a loud clang made her jump back. Wide eyes stared back into one another's and Elijah threw open the double set of doors where the noise had come from. Not far down the hallway, the pair saw Audrey crippled in pain on the floor. She rocked back and forth, bracing herself against the wall with her back while both her hands were clenched tightly. Beside her, a shattered glass littered the floor and they assumed that she was coming downstairs to refill her cup from resting all day.
Giuliana swooped down and looped a hand around Audrey's waist, bringing her to her feet. With Elijah's help, they got her to the dining room and sat her down. The Original stripped off his jacket and placed it over Audrey's shaking shoulders. He glanced down to see a thin bolt of what looked like lightening encircle both of her hands. Her complexion was much paler than normal and her eyes seemed darker, less lively. Giuliana took up her cup from the other side of the table that was filled with water and held it to Audrey's lips, helping her to drink.
"See what I mean?" Her pointed gaze sharpened at Elijah. "She can't continue on like this."
Audrey took a few sips and waved Giuliana's hands away. "I'm fine."
Elijah grasped her hands to see that they had light, jagged scars that mimicked the electricity along her skin. "No, you are not fine."
"We need to find a cure for this hex now," Giuliana said urgently.
"Tell me something I don't know, love." Klaus stormed into the room like a whirlwind.
"What did Genevieve say?" Giuliana asked. "Will she help?"
"She refused." The hybrid hissed. He'd gone to Genevieve to ask for her help about Audrey's and Kieran's hexes, but she requested something that he was not willing to give up. Genevieve claimed that she required his mother's grimoire in order to fully understand both hexes and to find a cure, but Klaus would not grant her request. She then demanded to see the grimoire and called Klaus every rotten name in the book for not giving it to her. In return for not giving up the grimoire, she refused to help Audrey and Kieran.
Audrey looked down at her scarred hands. Why wouldn't Genevieve help her? She swore only days earlier that she would do anything cure her, but was she being so petty to abandon her just because Klaus wouldn't hand over the grimoire? Around her she could hear the distorted voices of Klaus, Giuliana and Elijah, but none of their words were sticking inside her brain which was already too preoccupied with thoughts. Genevieve was her friend, why would she let down her friend in a time of need? Audrey's back practically stung from where Genevieve had metaphorically stabbed her.
"Until such time, I won't be letting her out of my sight and she will not be attending the feast." Klaus' proclamation suddenly made Audrey look up and scoff.
"The hell I will. I will not be cooped up in my room like some kind of rabid animal." She growled.
"I would have to agree with my brother, Audrey. There is no telling what could happen to you in your state." Elijah spoke up. "You're much too weak and going to the feast might further aggravate the hex."
"Look, maybe a night out would be good for her." Giuliana suggested.
"Yes, a night out where she will be susceptible to any kind of enemies that may be lurking in the shadows. Perhaps the person that put the hex on her will show his face." Klaus gritted.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here." Audrey snapped at the three of them. With shaking hands, she braced herself on the table and rose to her feet. "Now, if you'll, excuse me, I am going upstairs to pick out what I will be wearing to the feast which I will be attending." With a huff, she stormed off and slammed the doors behind her. The trio stood in complete silence, their eyes on the doors that Audrey had just exited out of. Elijah gave an exaggerated sigh and adjusted his tie anxiously.
"Brother, I think you should try to persuade her into not going to the feast. It will be too dangerous for her."
"Elijah, if there is one thing I know about Audrey is that, you can tell her no till you're blue in the face, but she will do what she wants." Klaus replied.
"Kind of like you." Giuliana smirked and Elijah quirked a small smile.
The night of the feast had come a few days later and the streets were charged with enthusiastic tourists who had come to witness and partake in the festivities. The Harvest girls had been carried in on thrones, thrust high above the crowd and were paraded through the streets. They were now standing on a stage in the middle of the street, each dressed appropriately to honor the elements. Davina in bright reds and oranges, for fire, Monique in floral earthy tones for earth, and Abigail in angelic white for air. Genevieve then joined the girls on the stage and spoke to the audience.
"Now, in accordance with the Fête des Bénédictions, the witches of New Orleans bless you all!" She was met with thunderous applause and she stepped aside, allowing each of the Harvest girls to showcase their powers.
Shortly after the demonstration, the party was moved inside to offer a more intimate setting. Davina, Monique, and Abigail were standing apart from one another with a walkway set up between them for people to approach them and give their gifts. Guests held small boxes and gathered themselves into lines near the witches they wanted to give their gifts to. Davina could catch the glances of a few familiar faces, but for the most part, she felt as if she was a stranger in a crowded room. Plus, it didn't help that Monique found it appropriate to snicker every time she received a gift while Davina remained empty handed. The young witch charming smiled at those guests who walked past her, but it seemed like no one was willing to pay her any mind.
Elijah elegantly maneuvered his way passed people to stand beside Audrey who was leaning against a column for some extra support. Like she'd told them a couple days earlier, she would be attending the feast and she would be dressed for the occasion. A long, black gown brought out the paleness of her smooth skin. The straps of the dress hung just off her shoulders, exposing her collarbone and the swell of her breasts. It had some similarities to the dress she'd worn to the party for the factions, but this dress was a bit more modest. It had no slit up the side and a pair of short, black gloves encased her marked hands. Her hair was braided down her back, some wisps had come loose to frame her thin face. She did look beautiful, as always, but Elijah could tell by looking at her that she was exhausted and not well. She'd been by Klaus' side for a good portion of the night, but he excused himself to take care of some kind of business proposition.
"You look beautiful." Elijah whispered in her ear as he approached her.
Audrey's eyes lifted to the Original and she smiled weakly. "Thank you." She looked back to the Harvest girls and cleared her throat. "Now tell me how I really look."
He moved closer to her and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He knew that she wasn't stupid; she knew that her condition had deteriorated since the last time he saw her, but he would still pay her a compliment she deserved to hear.
"You look beautiful." He repeated.
"You've always been the sweet brother, Elijah. Audrey let out a short laugh. "Are you enjoying yourself?" When he didn't answer her, she followed his gaze to see that he was watching Giuliana who was standing on line to give a gift to Davina. She felt her eyes on him, so she raised her hand and wiggled her fingers in his direction. Elijah bowed his head respectfully and Audrey grinned wryly.
"I can see why you like her." Audrey's comment broke Elijah from his haze and settled back into his comfortable nobility that suited him so well.
"Our relationship is strictly platonic." The Original told the witch.
"Oh, come on, Elijah. There's no use hiding it and Giuliana likes you too." She moved herself so that she was facing him. "In fact, I think that it's about time you've fallen for a woman who isn't crazy and possessive."
Elijah pursed his lips. "Audrey, I care not to discuss my past relationships with you and I would appreciate if you didn't bring them up in conversation."
"How could I not when you wear them like a chip on your shoulder?" She pointed out. "You're a man burdened by time and lost love, Elijah. Don't you think it's time that you let all of that go?"
Yes, he thought to himself. It was too long he'd kept his demons beside him and while he did wish that he could bury them, he knew that it would sound much easier than it actually would be. At times, he felt like his entire eternity had been run by the shadows of his past and he desperately wanted to sever their ties to him and move on with his future. As long as he had been around, his past was still a wandering ghost that haunted him and would continue to haunt him even after coming to terms with it.
He'd always been the protector in his family. He would protect Niklaus from their father's beatings. He would protect his other siblings and his mother as well, along with a few other people in his life, but he found himself adding a certain brunette witch to that list. Giuliana had such a hold over him, like he'd been bewitched by her and nothing could break her spell. He didn't want anyone to touch her or to bring her harm. He swore that he would kill if it ever came to that.
He watched as Giuliana stepped up to Davina, ignoring an attendant who tried to make her present her gift to a different witch, and she presented Davina with a small black box. The witch opened it and her bright blue eyes grew wide with excitement. She lifted the gift from the box, a gold bracelet with a phoenix wrapping around the band with its outstretched wings. Her friend explained how she had managed to rise above all of her struggles like how a phoenix rises from the ashes and that it only seemed fitting to get her a gift with the mythical bird on it. Davina threw her arms around Giuliana, hugging her tightly and that brought a smile to Elijah's lips.
Audrey wanted to roll her eyes because Elijah was smiling like an idiot, but it was good to finally see him genuinely smile and to see that it had come from someone as kind as Giuliana made it even better. She had always secretly wished for Elijah to find some happiness in his life and she hoped that he'd find it with the young witch. But she knew the two of them were so stubborn to admit their feelings that she worried they would come to the realization that they cared for one another too late. Elijah had all the time in the world, but a witch like Giuliana would continue to age with each passing day. Unless...unless Elijah...
No, she bit her bottom lip. Elijah would never turn Giuliana; he was too noble for that. He understood that vampirism was a curse, so why would he be so selfish as to bestow the very same curse that changed his life forever? But would he turn Giuliana if she begged him? That would mean that she would lose her powers since one can't be both a witch and a vampire. Then again, she'd never met any Blood Witches who were brave enough to risk losing their powers by being turned.
"Audrey?"
The Blood Witch looked up, startled a bit by the voice that had suddenly introduced itself, but she placed her hand over her beating heart to see Giuliana had come to join them. Elijah had excused himself, but Audrey didn't even hear him.
"Are you alright? You looked a little pale." Worry creased her beautiful face.
"Oh, yes. I'm fine." She assured her. "Just getting a little tired, that's all."
"Well, let me take you home to rest."
"Nonsense." Audrey shook her head. "I am having a good time and I want to stay a little longer."
Giuliana sighed and opened up her bag. Audrey was so stubborn, just like Niklaus, but perhaps that's what made them work so well together. From her purse, she pulled out a box and handed it to Audrey who eyed it strangely.
"What's this?"
"A gift," she answered simply.
"I don't get gifts. I'm not a Harvest girl," Audrey replied.
"But you came back because of the Harvest, so it's only fitting that you receive a gift." With unsteady hands, Audrey clutched the box and opened it, revealing a dark green stone speckled with bright red on a gold chain. She took the necklace in her hand, nearly speechless of the gift she had received.
"It's a Bloodstone. It will help you regain your strength and it will help you heal. It was used in ancient times to help with blood disorders and circulation, along with helping the timid feel determined." Giuliana explained as Audrey ran her thumb over the precious stone. She could feel a strong vibration coming from within it and she peered up at Giuliana through tearful eyes, clearly touched by her sentimental gift.
Giuliana took the empty box from Audrey and placed it in her bag. She held onto the necklace and smiled warmly at her mentor. "I see that you haven't been yourself lately. I know that you're scared and vulnerable without your powers, but please wear this. It will make you brave."
Audrey swiped away the tears that threatened to escape and turned, so that Giuliana could clasp the necklace on her. When she was finished, Audrey gently touched the chain and stone, feeling a calming energy come to her. She whirled around and took Giuliana's hands.
"Thank you for this." Her voice wavered. "I...I really don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. Just get better soon. I miss my lessons." The girls both shared a laugh.
"Pretty soon, you won't need them anymore. You've learned all I can teach you." Audrey told her.
"Yeah, but there's never any harm in a few brush-up lessons." She grinned.
Suddenly, a large group of drummers marched into the party, banging on their drums and making a formation in the center of everything. A crowd drew around them, but those who were suspicious of their intentions, lingered behind the throngs of people. The drumming stopped as soon as each drummer was in place and the leader stepped forward.
"Happy Fête des Bénédictions. We have a message for all of you from Marcel Gerard." He announced, causing whispers to be heard among the crowd. The ones who knew of Marcel's exile grew more and more anxious with the passing seconds, knowing that this message could only bring bad things.
Each of the drummers dropped their sticks and pulled out straight razors from their pockets. They all slashed their wrists, making some guests gasp and shriek in horror. Blood pooled on the floor and the vampires in the room were getting antsy with the smell that had been propelled into their nostrils. Their faces had begun to change and they hissed lowly, revealing their pointed fangs.
"Control yourselves! This is a vulgar trick!" Elijah had managed to push himself through the crowds in an effort to stop the vampires from going on a feeding frenzy. "We do not violate our agreement!"
As if on cue, the lights in the room went out and the vampires pounced on the drummers as well as other humans that attended the party. Everything dissolved into chaos. People were screaming, pushing, and trampling one another to try and get out, but that only cause more panic.
In the darkness, Giuliana grasped Audrey's shoulders and pressed her body close to the wall in a dark corner of the room. She moved them until she felt the knob of a door and she tried it only to see that it was locked, using her powers, she melted the knob and lock into blood and pushed the door open, ushering Audrey outside.
"Get out of here!"
"And leave you?!"
"These vampires will tear you apart without your magic. Just go!" Giuliana commanded and shut the door behind her, hoping that Audrey would take her chances and run back to the compound.
Giuliana pressed herself tightly against the wall and focused on the vibrations of the vampires in the room. If she could zero her spell in on them, she could stop them from killing more people. She felt a lot of them in the room and once she had a lock on all of them, she concentrated her magic. Stepping away from the wall, she held out her hands, sending her powers along every corner to make sure she had encased every vampire within their own pain.
All but one.
He had shrouded himself in the shadows and was able to hide behind her shield of magic, going completely unnoticed by her. Thierry buried a hand in her hair and yanked hard, throwing her roughly to the floor. He watched her wide, confuse filled eyes dart around the room, looking for the person who had grabbed her, but she was blind in the dark. He bared his sharp fangs and jumped on her, pinning her down to the floor.
Elijah's heart rose up into his throat when he heard Giuliana screams pierce him from the inside out. They seemed to echo all throughout the room, mixing with the screams of the human who were being tortured by the vampire faction. He pushed his way through people, trying to find Giuliana in the swarming sea of chaos. He immediately stopped dead in his tracks when the smell of her blood invaded his nostrils, but he could detect a acidic scent mixed with it. Perhaps she'd been able to fight off her attacker by poisoning him with her blood, but that didn't slow his search to find her. The screams died down and all at once, the room grew quieter just as the lights turned back on.
Dead and bloodied bodies were strewn everywhere. Some people were still alive, but just barely as they wriggled in the pools of their own blood. The room was in shambles. Furniture overturned, glass lamps were smashed and paintings that hung on the walls were ruined. Klaus had managed to get Hayley out of harm's way, but Davina and Genevieve were missing as well. Hopefully they were lucky enough to escape the slaughter that happened here tonight. This was mean to be a happy occasion for the witches, but Marcel had crossed the line and made it a night of murder and horror. A bloodied message was written on the wall and it dripped down eerily.
There Will Be No Peace
After tonight, there would be no peace between the vampires and the witches. What Marcel had done was unforgivable and the witches would never forget this betrayal of the terms in his agreement for peace.
"Giuliana!" He called out as he looked for her. Was she one of the lucky ones after she had been attacked?
He maneuvered his way through the room to see a young woman laying on her side with her back towards him just off to the side of where the rest of the bodies were left. Rushing to her, he gently eased her onto her back and let out a sigh seeing her chest move up and down. Blood from the bite wound on her neck soaked through her clothes and a little trickle ran down from her forehead. She weakly blinked up at him and with his help, she sat herself up.
"Elijah," she breathed.
"It's okay. It's alright." He assured her and he gently touched her head where she was bleeding. She winced, drawing a breath through her teeth and he braced an arm behind her back, so that she could put her weight on him to stand. She wobbled a bit, falling against him, but he was there for her to lean on.
Hearing a scuffle from the other side of the room, Elijah's gaze snapped up to see a young man who was half-kneeling on the floor, heaving sickly and trying to stumble to the back door. This must have been the vampire Giuliana had infected with her blood. Anger boiled deep within him, nearly spilling over and burning all what was around him.
"Elijah," he turned at the sound of his brother calling him from the other side of the room. "Take her home. I will deal with this."
"No, brother." Elijah's words were harsh and unforgiving. "This is something I will deal with."
"What the hell, man?! I told you to leave her alone!" Marcel growled as he watched his friend vomit his guts up into a bucket. While Thierry wretched, he couldn't help but feel pride that his plan had been executed so well. He wanted to send Klaus a message and tonight, he did just that.
Thierry looked up at his friend and wiped the blood off his lips. "Just couldn't help myself, Marcel. That little witch has Elijah wrapped around her finger. What better way to send a message than by taking a bite out of the ones he cares for the most? It's too bad I couldn't get to the wench that Klaus is with, but she must have slipped away before the fireworks started."
"Look, I told you to do one thing and that was to get Davina out of there." He gritted.
"And I did just that. So, stake me if I wanted to have some fun." He joked.
"That won't be necessary." Both men whirled around to see Elijah standing behind them. In seconds, Thierry was knocked off his feet and his spine was embedded into the side of a building. The Original sped to Marcel and shoved him back.
"I warned you." He gripped the young vampire's throat tightly. "And yet still, you return to the French Quarter."
"You gonna kill me, Elijah? Go ahead." He baited.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure."
"Klaus will never forgive you if you killed me."
"Oh, whatever shall I do?" Elijah sneered. "Niklaus knows that you and your band of degenerate vampires were behind this."
"Yeah, and make sure he tells you all about the secret meetings with the werewolves." Marcel breathed, trying to loosen Elijah's grip on his neck. Elijah's jaw tensed at Marcel's accusations about the wolves, but it all seemed to come together as to why he'd been receiving phone calls from Jackson and Oliver. If he were in his right mind, he would have calmly asked his brother about it, but tonight, he was out for blood.
Out of the corner of his eye, Elijah could see Thierry picking himself up off the ground and he smirked knowingly at Marcel.
"Do you not know me?" He asked right before shoving his hand into Marcel's chest. Just as he suspected, Thierry jumped in to help Marcel, but he was then met with Elijah's strong fingers curling around his beating heart. Thierry groaned in pain and Elijah squeezed their hearts roughly.
"A stake through your heart would be too kind." The Original said to Thierry and then looked to Marcel. "For your violation."
In one swift jerk, Thierry's heart was ripped from his chest and Marcel was let free. Thierry's body crumpled to the floor and Marcel kneeled beside him, his eyes watching as he friend died.
"No! No, no!" He cried.
Elijah bent down and held Thierry's heart in Marcel's face, mocking him. "You live or you die according to my will. Try to remember that." He tossed the heart aside and stormed out of Marcel's hideaway with fresh blood on his hands. Marcel rocked back and forth, holding the cold, limp body of his friend and crying into the night.
Klaus shut the doors to the compound behind him and sighed deeply. Tonight had been a doozy. Marcel's message had been received and he knew that the ball was now in his court. He was certain that Elijah had taken care of things, but his brother said not one word as he stood on the level above him. Neither of them spoke, not a single word. The circle of those he could trust was now growing smaller. Genevieve had sent a witch into his home to steal Esther's grimoire, but Klaus put an end to that by gifting the witch's severed hands to Genevieve. In turn, she revealed that Cami's act of kindness at the feast made her rethink giving her help, but Klaus' actions ruined any chances of her helping anyone, including Audrey. Klaus had made sure his witch was comfortable upstairs before wandering about the compound and he just so happened to stumble upon Elijah who was deep in thought.
"Well, I see that you've already avenged Giuliana. But judging by your look, you're still out for blood." Klaus noted as he peered at his brother's blood encrusted hands.
Elijah finally looked up at him, betrayal. "If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results, then surely my quest for your salvation ranks me as one of the maddest of men."
"Come on, then. What horrible deed has the bastard done this time?" He hissed.
"Do you know, in the past, I actually appreciated the methods to your manipulations? However, now, here we are, poised on the brink of a new era which will benefit not only your home but your child and you go behind my back to conspire with wolves." He growled.
Klaus took a few steps toward his brother. "Conspire is hardly the word I would use for a family council. Lest you forget, Elijah, they are my family as much as any Mikaelson. A name, in truth, I cannot even call my own."
Elijah sped from the balcony down to the first floor and sauntered to Klaus. "How casually you disavow 1,000 years of allegiance towards you."
"And now that I've found the remnants of my other family. Am I to ignore their plight? I would've thought you'd support my desire to help them, when in doing so, I help Hayley and the child." He pointed out.
"Do not question my allegiance towards that child." Elijah warned.
"Oh, and I suppose your affection for Giuliana has nothing to do with your tireless dedication." He saw his brother's confidence falter and he took his chance to poke at the one vulnerable spot Elijah had. "Yes, you see, I saw how you cared for her tonight. Called her name in the dark. The zeal with which you destroy those who would harm her."
Elijah charged at Klaus pushing him back, but his brother was quick to shove him. The two scuffled for a bit until Elijah held his brother against the wall. "I have denied every single impulse I have ever had for that woman out of some misbegotten respect for intentions that you don't even have."
Klaus pointed a finger at his brother. "I'm warning you..."
"I'm warning you." Elijah held his brother's throat and jabbed a finger at his face. "I've forgiven you. I have stood by you. I've forsaken every single one of my desires in the name of your ridiculous redemption."
Elijah leaned in closer, letting his brother go, but Klaus remained still. "No more. If I want something I'll take it. And nothing, nothing will stand in my way."
Oh my, assertive Elijah does things to me ;) Hi all! Hope everyone is doing well. Those of you who are buried in the snow, please be safe and warm! Happy belated Valentine's Day to all of you who celebrate it :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please leave a review!
grapejuice101: Yes, Damon is very protective of Cass and his daughter. Imagine how protective the both of them will be when she is born! I really think that it would be awesome if she and Hope would have a playdate! Thanks for reviewing :)
Guest: Hi there, lostgirllove! Nice to hear from you again :) Thank you so, so much for reviewing and I am so happy that you are enjoying this story!
Lovinurbuks: No worries, dear! I am always happy whenever my readers get the chance to review and thank you so much for dropping a review my way :) Yeah, some people don't read the Originals part of my story, but that is okay. When this story is finished, I will split up the stories when I start writing the new seasons.
SomebodyWhoCares: Corny Day is the best, isn't he? ;) Thanks for reviewing!
Momsen-xxxx: YES YES YES! This review made me get up and shout that hahaa! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Harshita94: Hi dear! By all means, dance away! I dance whenever a favorite author of mine updates! Sometimes I really do wish that Cassandra was a real character on the show, but I guess I am living out my fantasy of being on the show hehe ;) I am gearing up for the end of season 5 of TVD because it will be a very emotional ending. I am not giving anything away, but it will probably be one of the hardest things I'll have to write. Thank you so much for reviewing! Keep dancing!
Guest: Thanks for reviewing! I am so happy you liked reading the dreams/nightmares. Those were interesting to write. The baby is coming soon and I am so excited for readers to meet her :)
binks13: Hello my dear! Thank you for reviewing :) You always put a smile on my face! I enjoy writing chapters that are a little more Cassandra and Damon centered because I really do love their relationship. It is amazing how they manage to stay together through everything. I find that a lot of people aren't comfortable with Audrey since she still is a new character and that it totally okay. I want my readers to really get to know her and root for her and Klaus, you know? But that will take time which is inevitable. Yes! I am SO excited for Atlanta! I hope I get to meet some of the stars, but even if I don't, I have been so blessed with the opportunity to go. I will be sure to take tons of pictures! Thank you again for being a faithful reviewer! Hugs and kisses!
NicoleR85: Thanks so much for reviewing, Nicole! Glad you liked this update!
Guest: Thank you for reviewing! Hehe, I'm gonna start calling Damon and Cassandra OTP. Yes, Cassandra was a virgin when she died, but since the dreams were created by Markos, it was one in a series of Damon's dreams/nightmares.
Bella Lugosi: Thank you so much for reviewing, Bella. I agree with you! Damon and Cassandra have been through a lot together, but they always manage to find their way back to each other. I have my plans for the season finale, but I won't be giving anything away. The baby is coming soon and I can't wait for readers to meet her :)
twin of a sister: Hi, my dear! Yes, I have updated and thank you so, so much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the dreams/nightmares. They were quite difficult to write, but I feel like they turned out exactly how I wanted them to. And thank you for tagging me in all those TVD/TO posts on Instagram – you're the best! I hope you enjoyed this chapter update. Now, let's get your story up and running ;)
elisesellas: Hello, my dear! Please don't apologize for reviewing late. I hope you enjoyed your time out of the country. Thank you so much for reviewing :) I really liked writing the dreams out even though I cried like a baby while writing them. Eeeee, your quote at the end made me squeal! I shared it with my beta because she really helps me with my stories and I would be nowhere without her. So, thank you, from the both of us. Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day!
Kim: Hi Kim! WOO HOO! Thanks for the compliments! I wanted to make a totally different character from Elena and I feel that I have succeeded with Cassandra. It's not that I don't like Elena either, but she can kinda get on people's nerves. I feel like I am fed up with her in season 6, but I will continue to watch the show for the sake of this story. I can't wait for my readers to meet the baby – I really think everyone will love her. Thank you so, so much for reviewing and I hope you continue to read my story :)
Guest: Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, Cassandra and Damon have been through a lot and the season finale will be a very emotional chapter to write. Hope you enjoyed this update!