No One's POV

"Just where do you think you're going, darling?" Niklaus comments as Brooklyn bounds down the stairs a few days later, keys to her Dodge Challenger Hellcat jingling in her hand, and her purse thrown over her shoulder. "Sneaking out?" Niklaus raises a brow.

"Sneaking? Hardly, Nik." Brooklyn snorts unlady like at her best friend, rolling her eyes at his comment as she detours into the living room where she finds Niklaus sketching in his book and Elijah reading by the fireplace. "I'm just heading to the mall."

"Is Rebekah going with you?" Niklaus asks, pausing to look up.

"No. Too busy. Terrorizing Caroline at school or something along those lines. Something about a Decades dance and cheer practice."

"Take Tony with you then." Niklaus says a bit too casually.

"What!? Why? No. Nik, I'm not taking one of your hybrids with me." Brooklyn promptly protests.

"Tony won't mind. Think of it as someone to carry all your many bags. And, you know, if the case so calls for it, Tony makes an excellent body guard." Niklaus says persuasively, the second part somewhat offhandedly.

"Uh. Yeah. No. I don't need a body guard. I'm an Alpha Wolf and an Emrys Witch. What do you think is going to possibly happen at the mall? What, heaven forbid I get a cramp in my leg from walking too much? Or I can't carry my own bags?"

"You do have a habit of handing me all your bags, complaining about your arm tiring or something ridiculous like that, love. But, beside the point, I'm not playing around with your safety, my Little Wolf. If you remember a certain Salvatore brother tried to poison you not but a few days ago." Niklaus reminds.

"I do remember as a matter of fact… And as I remember they failed at it and you all but blew up the entire fucking town for retribution." Brooklyn taps her foot.

"Despite that I'm not assured they won't try again. You are a target now. And if I know anything about the Salvatore brothers they will do anything to protect their beloved Elena. I'd rather not risk it with you, my precious Little Wolf." Niklaus points out.

"I'm not some priceless, fragile piece of glass you have to protect, Nik." Brooklyn points out. "I'm fine."

"Now that's where you're wrong, my darling Brooke. You in fact, are priceless, to me. And while you might not be a 'fragile piece of glass', as you put it, since I know you can certainly hold your own, you are still mortal and I would rather not lose my favorite, most precious treasure in the world, besides my family that is." Niklaus says charmingly.

"Oh, you're smooth. I almost fell for that." Brooklyn mocks. "But it's still not happening, Nik. Now… I'm leaving. Walking out of this door right this moment in a matter of fact." Brooklyn gestures, taking a step towards the door.

"And you say I'm the impossible one, love." Niklaus deadpans, suddenly at Brooklyn's side, a brush of wind the only indicator he had moved. "But, I won't budge on this either. And, you'll find I'm just as stubborn." His eyes stare intently into Brooklyn's.

"Niklaus has a point, Brooklyn..." Elijah voices breaks the sudden tension.

"Now this… Is just unfair…" Brooklyn turns to give Elijah a slight pout that nearly has Elijah caving to his mate's will.

"The Salvatore brothers, despite the fact they are vastly out of league and then many warnings and chances we have given them, are unpredictable and rash, they will not hesitate to try again. It would be safer. It would put us at ease." Elijah explains rationally.

"Fine," Brooklyn concedes begrudgingly.

"Good, I'm glad we've-" Niklaus begins smugly

"But, if you insist, then Elijah, since you're the deciding vote on the matter. You're coming with me. And no, you don't get a say in the matter. And, you will carry as many bags as I want you to. And, not complain about me dragging you through every store in the mall that I desire." Brooklyn all but grins like the cat that got the canary and the cream.

"Bye Nik!" Brooklyn chirps, dragging Elijah by the arm out of the Mikaelson mansion away from a still somewhat irate Niklaus, mostly just irritated he hadn't gotten the last word out of the argument.

It wasn't like Brooklyn had been trying to jinx her impromptu shopping day, but in all honesty, she had been expecting one of the members of the Scooby gang to track her down; they were inconvenient like that, particularly with the way her tyrant of a best friend had been relentlessly after their precious doppelganger, Elena. It really was no surprise that they would be looking into her, now that Brooklyn had arrived on the scene; scoping out the new "enemy" was practically a rite of passage.

What interested Brooklyn most was the Bennett Witch that Niklaus always went on and on about, of course, she was still no match for Brooklyn in the end; however, it didn't mean she wasn't formidable, after all, the Bennett line was a well-respected line of witches dating back to the Salem Witch Trials.

Brooklyn caught the Bennett Witch's gaze, Bonnie ducking into the nearest store as if to shop, a clear and obvious gesture that had Brooklyn mentally rolling her eyes.

"Hey 'Lijah, I want to go in here really quick." Brooklyn tells Elijah, hoping he hadn't seen the Bennett Witch; no doubt Elijah would not take kindly or be pleased by her sudden appearance and presence, especially in the wake of the most recent events.

A quick scan of the store tells Brooklyn that Bonnie is close, Brooklyn's magic shifting just below her skin, ready to react if needed; now all she needed to do is to pry Elijah away from her side since she doubted the Bennett Witch would approach her otherwise. Because fine, if she wanted to talk, they'd talk. And if she wanted a fight, well she'd get one.

"Niklaus would like to discuss something with me, Brooklyn. I'll be just outside?" Elijah questions, placing a light hand on Brooklyn's back to gain her attention; for a brief second Brooklyn wonders if Bonnie had done that on purpose, fabricated a call to get Elijah away from her, but the Bennett Witch wasn't that powerful, even Brooklyn knew that, so it was a convenient coincidence.

"Hmmm? Oh yes, of course. Go see what Nik wants. I'll be fine, 'Lijah."

"Alright. I'll be back."

"Brooklyn, right?" Bonnie questions, coming up not too long after.

"What's it to you?" Brooklyn replies, her tone curt, foot tapping a staccato beat, evidence of her annoyance and frustration of her pleasant day interrupted by the likes of the Scooby gang

Honestly, she was in no fucking mood to get into another confrontation or hear about how they could "help me" get free of "Klaus's hold" over her; because obviously he must have something over her if she was helping him.

They seriously had no earthly idea who and what they were messing with, all to save "poor, innocent" Elena Gilbert. Yeah, poor and innocent her ass, how about pathetic, selfish, bratty, and whiny.

Moreover, they had no idea what her job was and what they were messing with. Period. End of story.

"My name is Bonnie-" Bonnie begins.

"Cut the formality. I know who you are Bennett Witch. And, if you're here on behalf of the Salvatore brothers save your breath. Not interested." Brooklyn cuts straight to the chase.

"I'm not okay. I'm just here for myself. I'm not here to start a fight. I just want to talk. Can we talk?" Bonnie pleads.

"Fine. You have a lot of guts Bennett Witch, I'll give you that." Brooklyn concedes, her head tilting in acknowledgement.

"Did you know my ancestors?" She questions almost immediately.

"The Bennett line? Yes. I know of them. A very skilled, powerful line of witches." Brooklyn comments vaguely, side glancing at Elijah to see him still on the phone.

"Can you tell me anything about them? Please? I just- I need answers. My grams had them and she's gone now. I- I have all this power and- and I don't know what to do. I can't control it. At least not well." Bonnie asks.

"Ugh. Elijah's going to kill me." Brooklyn mumbles, her eyes flashing gold as she seals a barrier between her and him, preventing him from coming back into the store.

"What was that!?" Bonnie asks, her eyes wide.

"It was nothing. A simple barrier. I learned it practically before I could talk. Elijah won't be on the phone forever and he won't be happy when he finds that you are in here with me. Not after the recent events. So, if you want to talk he has to be kept out."

"They were right." Bonnie says faintly, her expression shocked.

"I take it the 'they' you are referring to are the Salvatore brothers and your other friends, yes?" I question.

"I- well- yes." Bonnie confesses.

"Well, obviously you have questions. And I'm in a generous mood at the moment, so ask, and I may just answer." Brooklyn offers offhandedly, continuing to flip through a few racks, Bonnie trailing behind.

"Why are you helping them? Does Klaus have something over you?" Bonnie asks.

And there was the million dollar question.

"You know, your friend Elena asked the same question. I muted her, then again my patience wasn't so great. I had just gotten staked in the ribs after all. But I'll answer you just the same. No, Niklaus doesn't have anything over me. I don't need help and if I did, I certainly wouldn't ask any of you." Brooklyn snarks, annoyance clear in her tone.

"Now, stop asking ridiculous, stupid questions." Brooklyn chastises.

"Can you help me? With my powers I mean? To subdue Klaus." Bonnie asks, quickly changing topics to something even more redundant and stupid.

"No." Brooklyn reply evenly, her gaze turning cold.

"I don't understand. Why? You're a witch! You're supposed to help me! You're supposed to be on the good side!" Bonnie protests, looking shocked and dumbfounded.

"Look Bonnie, I'll put this simply for you. In small words that maybe, your small, little, incompetent brain can comprehend…" Brooklyn's tone becomes sharp. "Because apparently you and your 'Scooby gang' are too damn dense and stuck up your own asses to understand any previous words. You assume that I am somehow deluded or forced into loyalty to Niklaus and the Mikaelsons, and by you giving me an offer I'd suddenly realize the light. Halleluiah. That I'd be free and willing to help you. Well, I assure you, you are wrong. In fact, you couldn't be further from the truth. I don't know what you planned on getting from this 'little conversation', but if your intent was to find a way to kill Niklaus or the rest of the Original family, you will not find the answers you want. And do not assume just because I'm a witch means we're kin. Because we are far from it." By that time, Brooklyn is nearly in Bonnie's face, her gaze practically steel cold.

"But- but, how can you side with them!? They're monsters!" Bonnie continues to protest.

"Watch it, Bennett Witch. Get one thing straight, okay? You and your little 'Scooby gang' are not the 'good' side. You wouldn't know right from wrong if it hit you in the damn face with a brick or a monster if it tried to kill you. You're a bunch of naïve, selfish, whiny teenagers and arrogant, adolescent vampires who think you know every damn thing, but know nothing." Brooklyn growls, nearly baring her teeth at the witch.

"You owe far more to the Originals than you will ever understand. The only monster I see is the doppelganger. Elena is a selfish bitch, no better than the original doppelganger Tatia or even Katerina. They are all the same. They destroy and they divide. But at least Katerina knows she's a conniving bitch instead of hiding behind both her Salvatore lapdogs and her 'perfect, sweet, innocent' Gilbert façade. News flash, the world doesn't revolve around one person. So get over yourself. And wake up to reality."

Brooklyn felt sympathy for Bonnie, she did; her mother was a vampire all due to the Salvatore brothers breaking the generational line to prevent Esther from drawing power, yet, that was all to save Elena, and her grandmother was dead also indirectly due to Elena. Bonnie had no mentor, no guide, no one to help her with her powers or teach her right from wrong; Brooklyn knew how hard that was to have no one and to have to figure things out by yourself.

Brooklyn and her brother, Aaron, had been lucky; their grandfather on their mother's side took them in, and although he was not gifted, it was their grandmother who had been the Emrys Descendant and therefore they had the resources to be guided.

"Els- Brooklyn!" Elijah calls, looking nearly panicked, now realizing that he could not get past the barrier Brooklyn had put up.

"I just- I don't understand. You're supposed to be on our side!" Bonnie huffs upset.

"Sorry to disappoint." Brooklyn offers dryly.

"You know I'll have to fight you." Bonnie replies as Brooklyn heads towards the door and a still enrage Elijah.

"Oh- I'm sorry. Did I just hear you- You- you think you can actually fight me?" Brooklyn scoffs snarkily, turning to face Bonnie, her eyes flashing in annoyance; apparently the witch knew exactly what to say to piss her off.

"Yes. I'm a Bennett Witch. I will protect my friends. I will save Elena. No matter the cost. You've picked your side. I've picked mine." Bonnie says firmly, attempting to appear brave, as if that's supposed to scare her or something; like a kitten challenging a lion, or a puppy attempting to yap at the postman, how cute.

"There are no sides, Bonnie. There is no you against them. Your Scooby gang has created this. And I want no part in it. I'm on no one's side. I am balance. Without the Originals you're life as you know it would crumble. Without the Originals vampires wouldn't exist. So I wouldn't be so quick to revenge or short sided gratification. I'm warning you once. Do not mess with things you cannot even begin to understand. But, if you insist I pick a side, it won't be yours. Elena means nothing to me, 'Team Save Elena' or whatever the hell you want to call it, will lose. There is no competition. I will always chose them. Because before there were vampires, there were the Originals." Brooklyn warns.

Inside, Brooklyn's wolf growls in dominance, the magic beneath her skin stirs, shifts in waves, and flames with anger, both begging to be released, to declare absolute authority and power.

Outside the store front, Elijah suddenly drops to the ground, hands clutching the side of his face as pain twists his features; the aneurysm spell. How basic and quaint. Used to create multiple, reoccurring aneurysms in a vampire's brain it was simple and crude, but effective. Obviously. Though on an Original, Brooklyn would admit it had to take a fair amount of skill and power to penetrate their mind, at least for a regular witch.

"Big mistake." Brooklyn growls, her magic and wolf reacting nearly as one as her eyes flare gold, shattering her concentration and power and removing the barrier to allow Elijah to move.

Stunned, Bonnie raises her hand again, determination and concentration clear in her expression and features, but before another spell could be used, Brooklyn is already on the offensive, barely flicking her hand and throwing Bonnie to the ground.

"Brooklyn." Elijah breathes, his body taunt as the remnants of the pain linger, his entire body tense and ready to be set off at the slightest trigger or command.

"I'm okay, Elijah. I'm okay. I'm here. I'm safe. Please, relax." Brooklyn soothes, placing her hands on either side of his head to erase the spell from his mind. "Better?"

"Yes." Elijah nods, though his body remains tense and on guard, his inner instinct furious at himself that he allowed his mate to be unguarded with what he perceived as a hostile enemy.

"Good. We should go then. Let's just go home. I'm done shopping for today." Brooklyn tells Elijah, gently pushing him towards the door and exit of the mall.

"Very well." Elijah grinds out, his jaw clenching in anger and restraint.

Brooklyn's magic spikes again, eyes blazing gold as her stops whatever spell Bonnie had just attempted to hurl towards her, forcing Bonnie back towards the ground.

"Okay, now, you've just made an enemy." Brooklyn growls, turning back around to face the Bennett Witch, eyes darkening in fury. "Don't think you can out power me, Bennett Witch. I have power far greater than you could even hope to have."