Author's note: Thank you so much for re-reading this story with me! I've appreciated all of your kind reviews. This is the final chapter for the story and I hope you'll enjoy it!
Also, if you're interested, I wrote a sequel that's posted on here called 'Rituals and Romance'.
Warning: Graphic violence.
"The best way of keeping a secret is to pretend there isn't one."
― Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin
The land silently bore its scars. The path of destruction Hurricane Katrina had carved throughout the Lower Ninth Ward was still visible, from the too-quiet streets to the crumbling, weed-choked foundations where people couldn't or wouldn't rebuild. The crippling chaos from the storm had bled into the land, infusing the area with enormous energy, making it the ideal site for Dahlia's ritual.
Bonnie and Caroline silently waded through tall grass, the crickets singing a mournful song that echoed Caroline's guilt. They reached the battered basketball court and stood near the rusted chain link fence, waiting on Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah to join them. They'd left Caroline and Bonnie to prepare the potion Caroline needed to reclaim her powers from Dahlia and had agreed to meet them at the abandoned court which marked the perimeter of the Lower Ninth Ward.
"What's taking them so long?" Bonnie shook her head in irritation. "Sunrise is happening in the next hour and we have to be there to prevent Dahlia from starting the ritual," she hissed impatiently.
"They'll be here soon," Caroline soothed, squeezing Bonnie's hand. "They wanted to deliver Davina's body to Marcel. Regardless of what she did, she still deserves to be mourned properly." The women shared a look of anger tinged with sorrow for the girl they once thought of as a younger sister. "And Marcel is ensuring just that," Elijah announced, startling them with his sudden appearance along with Klaus and Rebekah.
Bonnie bowed her head and quietly asked, "How is he?"
"He refused to leave Davina's side. His grief is too painful to witness," Rebekah offered, her voice hoarse.
Wary of the approaching sunrise, Klaus interrupted Bonnie before she could press Rebekah for more details about Marcel. "The plan is simple — as we enter the house's ruins, Caroline will throw the potion, shattering the bottle and its contents will block Dahlia from using the necklace. Then, Caroline will be in possession of her powers once more, correct?"
Everyone nodded in agreement, proceeding quietly into the heart of the nearly abandoned neighborhood. In the center of a desolate strip of land stood the remains of a small home. The roof was perched precariously off-center, as though the slightest breeze would send it careening off to the side. Through the open doorway, an entire wall was lit by candles, casting sinister shadows.
Before the group could get any closer, Dahlia's high, cruel voice sliced through the tension, "I can smell the smoke from here. Come in, dear Caroline, and join us."
Hope's tiny cry followed her aunt's mocking invitation, causing the group to stiffen with dread. A painful longing flashed across Klaus' face when he heard his child's distress, and Caroline wanted more than anything to be able to comfort him. However, she couldn't be distracted now. She knew what was coming.
Suddenly, Caroline was pulled through the air, her body yanked into the house and pinned against a wall. With a resounding thud that sent multiple bricks tumbling, Elijah and Klaus joined her uncomfortable position against the wall. She held the tiny glass potion in her fist, trying to determine when would be the best time to throw it. She struggled against the invisible bonds on her wrists and ankles and noticed Elijah and Klaus were equally powerless.
In the center of the room stood the remnants of a fireplace; the broken red bricks reached Dahlia's waist as she stood behind it with a self-satisfied smile. A fire burned brightly within the confines of the crumbling structure, the orange and yellow flames whispering wickedly. Dahlia held the baby in her arms, her false tones of reassurance falling on deaf ears as Hope continued to squirm and fuss. A warped oak table served as a makeshift altar, and was littered with ritual objects meant to serve only the darkest of purposes. Tiny animal hearts, entrails and other meat had been left out to spoil in the humid night air. The foul stench assaulted Caroline's senses as she realized Dahlia was using her power to tap into some of the blackest pits on the other side.
Caroline spied the stone fertility idol of Freyr resting on the altar, its disproportionate phallus striking her as especially ridiculous given the situation. "You know, I've grown quite fond of my mortar and pestle, but it takes a special type of lonely to build an altar to your dildo, Dahlia."
Dahlia sneered, "Your crude words merely underscore how powerless you are to stop me. You and my family should be honored — you'll witness my sacred ascension."
"Bitch please, no one wants to see your o-face," Caroline retorted.
Dahlia's wild eyes darkened as she screeched, "Enough!" She cast a glare at the open doorway and Rebekah and Bonnie came hurtling into the room, noses bleeding from the force of Dahlia's power. "I will command your respect," she hissed through clenched teeth as she stared down at Rebekah and Bonnie's bent forms. The girls cried out in agony, the veins bulging in their skin as whatever evil spell Dahlia had cast painfully seared through their bodies. This was why she'd brought them into the house last — they were the warm-up act before the ritual. Dahlia wanted to wring as much pain from them as possible before she committed the ultimate betrayal of sacrificing her blood.
"Release them," Klaus shouted, still struggling to move from the wall where he was pinned next to Caroline. "I'll send you to hell, witch," he growled menacingly.
"Not if I send you first, Niklaus," Dahlia promised.
The rosy-pink hues of first light peeked through the broken window and Caroline realized she was almost out of time. Fighting against the force of Dahlia's power, she flexed her fingers and dropped the potion at her feet, the glass shattering. With the potion released, the relief and optimism on the group's faces broke Caroline's heart and she turned her head in shame. They all seemed to hold their breath as they waited for Caroline to reclaim her power. Even Dahlia appeared uncertain as she stared at the viscous brown potion that slowly spread onto the floor.
Time appeared to stand still in that moment and as Caroline failed to free herself from the wall where Dahlia's magic had trapped her, Klaus' shoulders sagged as he hoarsely called out, "Caroline?"
With tears building, Caroline shook her head and said mournfully, "It's not working."
Caroline's revelation infused a desperate, renewed energy within Klaus and Elijah as they once again threw themselves against the invisible barrier that kept them against the wall beside Caroline. "No," they bellowed as Dahlia's dark eyes glittered maliciously and she glanced down at Rebekah and Bonnie's trembling forms once more.
"It appears your witch will not be your salvation. However, dawn is upon us and it's time to begin the ritual," Dahlia spat at the women who struggled to sit upright as her hold over them lessened slightly. She sat Hope upon the altar and began adding the spoiled meat and henbane to a copper bowl.
Removing a gore-covered silver arm-ring from the concoction, she cuffed the twisted metal around one of Hope's chubby arms. "Witness your failure, Caroline," Dahlia haughtily called out. "I've marked the sacrifice as mine with the arm-ring of my kinsmen. I will spill the life force of my bloodline," she taunted with a wicked smile.
Refusing to acknowledge Dahlia's megalomania, Caroline focused her energy on the spilled potion between her and Klaus. As she inhaled the vapors, she could feel the potion start to work. Catching her hybrid's fearful gray eyes, she reached out to him with her mind. 'Klaus, can you hear me?'
His eyes widened as he silently answered, 'Yes, how is this possible? I thought the potion failed to restore your powers?'
'The potion was never meant to restore my powers. It was designed for this moment so I could tell you the real plan,' Caroline replied.
"What do you mean?' Klaus asked, confused.
'When Abby appeared to me, she said that in order to defeat Dahlia, I had to allow her to complete the first part of her ritual.' Caroline closed her eyes as she cursed herself for what she was about to say. 'Dahlia must add some of Hope's blood to the potion.'
'No!' Klaus' strained voice growled in her mind, and her heart ached as she could detect his feelings of helplessness. 'I don't want my child to be hurt. Find another way to stop this!'
'We have no choice,' Caroline replied weakly. 'Dahlia must believe that the potion is complete so that she'll drink it. The moment that she drinks the potion, you'll be able to make your move.'
'How is that possible,' he asked skeptically.
'Because the potion won't work for her.' Caroline's wide blue eyes sought Klaus', silently begging him to have faith in her. 'Once Dahlia drinks the potion, she'll be weakened and we won't be bound to the wall. You must flash over to her and take Abby's necklace. This will restore my powers and then we can defeat Dahlia.'
'Will my daughter be safe,' Klaus asked, desperately searching her face for answers.
'Yes,' She vowed, a tear falling down her cheek. 'I need you to trust me, Klaus. I love you and I swear that Hope will be free from Dahlia.'
His gray eyes widened at her confession. 'Caroline, you have my heart. And you have my trust. Always.' He gave her a smile that she returned numbly, still in awe of the tender moment that had transpired between them.
Caroline could feel the remnants of her potion fading as she lost the remaining traces of her connection with Klaus. The reassuring warmth she'd felt while she and Klaus had been temporarily sheltered from Dahlia's madness was suddenly ripped away. Her attention was captured by Dahlia who held one of Hope's arms aloft and her heart clenched painfully as the deranged witch violently slashed into the baby's skin with the iron knife. Hope's wails tore the air as her blood steadily flowed into the copper bowl to mingle with the other ingredients.
Dahlia lifted the bowl and greedily licked her lips, allowing her dark gaze to capture Caroline's once more. She quickly drank down the liquid, tipping the bowl to capture the final drops of potion. She set the bowl down unsteadily and clasped a hand to her chest as her triumphant smile vanished.
Klaus glanced at Caroline long enough for her to signal him with a nod, and then he flashed forward quickly, reaching out a clawed hand and yanking Abby's locket from Dahlia's neck. The thin silver chain twinkled in the morning rays, emanating a small glow as Caroline felt a resurgence of strength invigorate her. Klaus threw the locket to her and as it touched her fingers, she almost could hear Abby's sweet voice once more. You live on for me with all the blessings I can give.
"No!" Dahlia uselessly pawed at the ritual objects on the altar. "I don't understand," she gasped.
"And you never will," Caroline swore, waving an arm and sending Dahlia's body toward a wall, effectively pinning her there.
Rebekah and Bonnie shakily stood up from the floor after Elijah fed them some of his blood. They ran toward the crying infant, but Klaus scooped her up to heal her with his blood. He cradled her gently in his arms, kissing the top of her head as she quieted.
Elijah calmly unbuttoned his suit jacket. "Bonnie," he asked, "Would you be so kind as to step outside with Hope? I would rather her not witness what transpires next."
"Wait," Caroline called out. She focused on the blood-streaked metal clasped around Hope's arm, and clenching her fist, it evaporated into tendrils of foul black smoke. After a reassuring nod from Caroline, Bonnie carefully held Hope to her chest as she quickly went outside.
"That can't be," Dahlia weakly protested. "I marked the sacrifice as mine!"
"She was never yours," Caroline faced her, the fury etched onto her ivory face. She stepped closer to Dahlia, savoring her enemy's fear. "The failed ritual irrevocably weakened you." She spied a trickle of blood running down Dahlia's thin neck where Klaus had yanked away Abby's locket. It was a marvel in his anger that the hybrid hadn't decapitated her. As she glanced at Klaus, Rebekah and Elijah who now formed a half-circle behind her, the predatory gleam in the siblings' eyes informed her that they had no interest in a swift death. "Take your vengeance," Caroline told them, stepping out of their way. "Then I'll take mine," she vowed darkly.
The siblings advanced to Dahlia, who attempted not to cower before their palpable rage. "You've betrayed your blood, Dahlia," Elijah's harsh words cut through the air as Dahlia trembled.
"A blood betrayal is the worst offense among our people," Rebekah continued, her tone colored by her hatred of the woman before her.
"And as such, its punishment requires the deepest of cuts," Klaus ended with a malicious smile. "Children, please," Dahlia whimpered in defeat. "Surely we can reach an accord. I could be a useful ally."
Klaus laughed darkly at her suggestion. "Dear aunt, this is our accord." His lips twisted into a wicked grin. "A Mikaelson family peace summit."
Rebekah held aloft the iron knife from Dahlia's altar and said, "For daring to touch my niece, you must pay." She skillfully sliced the blade through Dahlia's right wrist, exerting just enough pressure to cut to the bone before dropping the knife and grasping the bloody arm with both of her hands. She gazed at the screaming witch as she snapped off the wrist with an unsettling crunch. Keeping her grip on the severed hand, she stepped back, allowing her brothers their justice.
"For daring to gaze upon my niece with dark intentions, you must pay," Elijah swore, his fingers reaching out to lightly tap Dahlia's eyelid.
"Elijah," Caroline interrupted. "Only take one, please."
"Very well," Elijah agreed reluctantly, violently plunged his fingers deeply into Dahlia's eye socket. He withdrew his hand just as quickly with the bloody remnants of her eye. Dahlia shrieked in agony as the blood poured out of her ruined socket and bloody stump. Only the power of Caroline's magic continued to hold her upright against the wall.
Leaning forward, Klaus decreed, "For speaking nothing but lies to your blood, you must pay." Ignoring Dahlia's cries, he wrenched open her mouth and grasped her tongue, severing it messily with his claws. Dahlia coughed and sputtered as the blood flowed down her jaw and she gazed at her self-appointed jury and executioners in fear.
Caroline raised her arms, stepping into the brilliant morning rays. Summoning her powers, she channeled the sun's energy and sent a wall of fire to consume Dahlia's broken form. She thought she'd feel more as she took her vengeance, but the only emotion that settled in her heart was a sense of completion. She'd saved the child from a terrible fate and put down a dangerous foe. As she caught Dahlia's hate-filled stare, she viciously reminded her, "I swore I'd see you burn, witch. I keep my promises."
Klaus stood beside her, squeezing her hand as they silently watched the raging fire. As the flames consumed their enemy, Caroline called out, "You still owe me a car, bitch!" Chuckling, they waited until Dahlia had been reduced to ashes before Caroline allowed the flames to die.
They stepped outside of the broken-down cottage to join Bonnie who anxiously was comforting a crying Hope. "Is it finished," Bonnie asked warily.
"Almost," Caroline said cryptically.
Klaus pulled Hope into his arms, gently rocking her as he turned toward Caroline to ask, "Sweetheart, how did you know that Dahlia's ritual would fail?"
Everyone stared at her expectantly, waiting for an explanation. Taking a deep breath, she finally released the last secret she'd been keeping. "When Abby came to me while I was unconscious, she not only told me what would happen here, but she also revealed why the ritual wouldn't work." She stared at Hope, her tiny head tucked firmly under Klaus' chin, blissfully unaware of the life-changing moment that was taking place. "The ritual didn't work for Dahlia because the main ingredient had to be the blood of a first-born Mikaelson. Klaus is not Hope's biological father."
"What," Rebekah asked shrilly. "But you said that Dahlia created a fertility spell to ensure Klaus would impregnate the first werewolf he slept with once his curse was broken?!"
Caroline noticed how Klaus clutched Hope tightly to him as though afraid some unknown force would appear and try to take her away. "Yes," Caroline patiently explained, "however, Dahlia couldn't have predicted that the first werewolf Klaus slept with after the curse was broken was one that already was pregnant."
"Already pregnant," Elijah murmured. "Did Hayley know? Did she willingly try to pass off another man's child as my brother's?"
"That I don't know," she replied, shaking her head.
Rebekah looked thoughtfully at Hope, as though an idea suddenly struck her. "Did Abby know who had gotten Hayley pregnant?"
Caroline bowed her head and reluctantly said, "Yes. It was Marcel."
Bonnie gasped, "No, that's not possible!"
Caroline recalled when Rebekah first introduced her to Hope and how she'd assumed that Hope's dark, curly hair and wide brown eyes came from Hayley. But now she clearly could see how Marcel's mischievous countenance was alive and well within the tiny girl. "Actually, it is possible when Marcel counts a jealous witch as one of his lovers and she occasionally curses him with temporary humanity as punishment for his man-whoring ways."
Bonnie's eyes widened. "Oh God. I-I didn't think something like this would happen! I just wanted to teach him a lesson." She shook her head sadly as tears gathered in her eyes.
Rebekah also seemed to struggle with Caroline's revelation. She hesitantly looked at Hope who had fallen asleep in Klaus' arms. "What-what happens now," she asked uncertainly.
Elijah carefully looked between his brother and Caroline, noticing the heavy silence between them. He nodded to his sister and Bonnie. "I say we take this day for what it is — a victory. The rest can be sorted out later. Let's head back to our home and make plans to celebrate, shall we?" With a brief nod in Klaus' direction, he flashed away with Rebekah and Bonnie.
Caroline tried to read the faraway look in Klaus' steel gray eyes, but found it impossible to decipher. Was he furious with her for holding onto the secret of Hope's paternity? Did he feel that she'd put Hope in danger by not revealing the entire plan beforehand? She bit her lip, summoning her courage to speak. "So…that happened."
"Yes."
"Now what," She asked apprehensively, glancing at Hope who was peacefully slumbering against his chest.
"Well," Klaus began slowly, gazing at Hope carefully. "I believe I'll take my daughter home now." As he clutched Hope tightly, he held out his other hand to Caroline. "Do you happen to know any good bedtime stories?"
Caroline smiled brightly, relief flooding her entire body as she realized that the revelation about Hope's paternity hadn't changed Klaus' perception of the child. Nor did it appear that he was angry with her for keeping it a secret. Of course, there would be lingering questions such as if Hayley knew she was pregnant before sleeping with Klaus, and if so, why would she keep Hope's true paternity a secret, not to mention what role Marcel would play within the child's life, but those were questions for another day.
She squeezed his hand, relieved that he was still willing to be Hope's protector. She looked up at him, wanting to burn into her memory the look of peaceful contentment on his handsome face. "Yes, I know some excellent bedtime stories. Enough to take up tonight's bedtime, and tomorrow's, and the next day's and the next…" she trailed off happily.
He smirked, "Actually love, tomorrow night I think I'll be in the mood to hear some blues."
Caroline winked at Klaus and replied, "I know just the place."