Ch. 18 Here Comes the Sun
Bright rays of sunshine shone through Klaus Mikaelson's bedroom window. He stood on the other side of the pane of glass, his eyes narrowed at the glowing ball of light. At this very moment, Caroline Forbes would be arriving at The Hunter's Council gates. Inside those walls a band of merry men would be overseeing the fight of a woman they could not possibly understand. They were not worthy of judging a coat rack contest. However, Klaus was no stranger to men who believe they had a right to judge what they did not understand.
1402 Madrid, Spain:
Dripping water made Klaus awake. His heavy lids rose and he took in his surroundings. Heavy wooden door. Stone floor. No bed. Not even a pile of pillows and blankets. If he were human, he would begin to shiver from thr draft and the damp of this hole he'd awakened to.
"Kol!" Klaus shouted. This time, his younger brother truly intended to inspire Klaus' ire. His teeth clenched as he got up. His limbs felt heavy and Klaus discovered the reason why: He had been chained to a wall. How bloody ludicrous.
With a sneer, Klaus jerked the chains from the wall. He stomped over to stand by the tiny hole in the door. This would be the last time he fell asleep in a brothel. No doubt Kol thought that it be amusing to have Klaua locked in a dungeon for a night while he convinced the owners of this place that he was a prince from a far away land with a mad brother who Kol had the burden of caring for. Kol would soon reveal his true nature after boring himself and come down to check on Klaus. But Klaus would free himself and dagger Kol 'til doomsday!
"Kol!" Klaus thundered. He placed his hands on either side of the door. It felt heavy. Heavier than most of the doors that Klaus had encountered thus far. "Kol, if you come down here; I promise that I will not make this hard." That was a lie. Klaus planned on making this exceptionally painful. The punishment should fit the crime.
"Kol?" Klaus listened for sounds of his brother. He did not hear his brother. But he did hear something that left him with...not dread, but a certain unease.
Chanting. Chanting in Latin. Witches. Why did it always have to be witches? Had Kol gotten up to some mischief with witches, or had they found Klaus snd Kol and wanted to perform who knew what kind of evil. Well, Klaus was not in the mood to be cursed, again. At least not in this century.
Lifting a hand, Klaus formed a fist and punched the door. It did not give way as he had expected it to. Splinters shot about the room. With a growl, Klaus continued to punch at the door. Yes. Whoever it was who made this door was well aware of the strength of a vampire and Klaus was much stronger than your ordinary vamp. This captor knew who he was and what he was capable of.
Not for the first time, Klaus cursed his mother to the fiery pits of hell. If not for her machinations, he would have access to his full abilities and could free himself with ease. Thoughts of his mother fueled his anger. His hand punched the door until it began to give way.
Klaus' nostrils suddenly flared at the smell of incense. It was not far off. Nor was the sound of a soft tread coming towards Klaus' cell. Deciding to wait, to see who had captured him; Klaus restrained himself from continuing his work with the door.
An older man came to stand on the other side of the door. He held a candle and did not seem shocked or perturbed to see that Klaus had broken from his confines. "Klaus Mikaelson, you have awakened." This man might be in Spain but his accent was Italian. "I see you have torn yourself from your bindings." The old man seemed amused. He would not be so once Klaus wrapped one of these chains around his withered throat and the man choked on his own blood.
Klaus narrowed his eyes at the man. "Yes. And I have you to thank for these accommodations?" He waved a hand around him. "I've shared better quarters with rats. Why don't we share a cup of wine, Signor? And chat about why you felt the need to set me up in these fine quarters?" His lips titled up in a smile.
The man began to chuckle. "Ah. You think I desire to break bread with a monster who desires to feast on the blood of children?"
With a sigh, Klaus rolled his eyes. "Contrary to whatever myths you might have heard about me, I do not drink children's blood. Perhaps those young women of marriageable age. Young brides do so look foward to one last adventure. Who am I to deny them?" His eyes flicked over the man's garments. A bishop of the Holy Roman Order. Ah, yes. Now, Klaus knew who this fool was. Come to join The bloody Inquisition.
"You are a monster, Klaus Mikaelson, and you have been tried for your crimes before God. Soon, you shall find your release." With that the bishop turned and Klaus listened to him make his way back upstairs.
Feeling annoyed, Klaus truly hoped that Kol had grown bored with this city and had left, without telling Klaus. If this bloody fool laid a hand on a single hair of his idiot of a brother's head...
Klaus let out a strangled cry of rage and ran at the door, kicking it across the hallway. Now, he felt more himself. Leaving the cell, he sped down the hall and down the stairs. He jerked the next door open and marched down another hallway. It seemed that the basement held a dungeon while the upstairs held marble flooring. Opulence that Klaus could enjoy under other circumstances. Right now, he had a bishop to hunt down.
More chanting came from down the hallway and Klaus made his way to stand outside a pair of gilt-edged, double doors. His hands went to the wrought iron handles and he jerked them open with a large grin. "Good morning, Inquisitioners, your prayers shall not be answered this morning, but some of your victims shall be!"
Then they knelt before a large cross rose with various weapons, ranging from swords to crossbows. One even had a pair of axes. The sight only made Klaus' smile widen. He'd been hoping for a good fight after his rude awakening. "Come along then, love. Show us no mercy!" He held out his arms, waiting for the attack.
They came all at once. Arrows went flying. One of thr men even managed to get the business end of his sword into Klaus before Klaus revealed his true nature. Fangs flashing, Klaus took the sword, Shoving it back and the hilt edged into its owner who looked shocked before falling down. An axe clipped Klaus' shoulder. He leapt into the air and behind the fool. Relieving the man of his axe, Klaus jammed it into the man's back and he took the remaining part of the axe and tossed it at another man with a sword.
By the time the fight was over, Klaus' clothes, hair and face were soaked in blood. He looked at the carnage. These men had fought well. And none of them seemed to be part of the church. No, they were hunters of some sort. However, there was a man of the cloth. He knelt before the cross. His forehead was pressed to it. Klaus could hear the man, sobbing.
"Por favor! Dios mio!" The man muttered, choking on his sobs as he cowered.
Making his way behind the priest, Klaus took the man by his collar and turned him around. "Lo siento, padre, but I am famished." He bent his head towards the man's carotid. "It will not hurt." His sunk hid fangs into the priest's neck. Drinking heavily, Klaus took a moment to realize that the priest had drunk not a small amount of vervain. This was a trap.
Disgusted, Klaus dropped the priest and attempted to spit out the blood, but he could already feel the burning in his own veins. The sounds of more footsteps entered the room. His eyes hsd begun to cloud with pain but he still saw the bishop. Not just one. Several. They had brought more hunters.
The bishop nodded and the men tossed a long, silver chain around Klaus' neck. He chocked. They had poured more vervain on it. More chains came around his wrists and ankles. They forced him to his feet, hauling him out of the room.
"Today, our God smiles. A great evil shall be sent back to hell from which it crawled!" The bishop intoned as Klaus was dragged down the hall and up a flight of stairs. They went into a large room before doors were opened abd Klaus was forced onto a balcony. He could see a large crowd of humans staring at him in awe and he smelled the rising sun.
Eyes closing, Klaus resigned himself to his fate as one of the men jerked Klaus' daylight ring off. Lids lifting, Klaus looked at the bishop who was to play his executionorer this day. He could die in worse places.
The bishop moved closer, a smug look on his face, his blue eyes shining like a man who had regained his vitality. "Today, monster, you find that you can laugh in the face of God by making those in your own image, but today, we correct your mistake and end your work. Today, the will of God is done."
Cocking his head to the side, Klaus saw the rising sun's light coming to bathe them all in it's brilliance. And Klaus Mikaelson had a sudden epiphany; he did not want to die. Even after centuries of life, he felt there was something out there that he had not found.
"Not today, father," he said. Eyes returning to the man of the cloth, a smirk appeared on Klaus' face. The bishop moved back, his eyes widening when Klaus let out an angered bellow. He jerked the chain attached to his right wrist, winding it 'round his wrist, and hauling the man who held end towards Klaus. Sidestepping, Klaus watched slammed him into the man who held the chain attached to his left ankle. The chains fell and Klaus turned to the man who thought to keep his left wrist bound. Taking hold of that chain, Klaua spun the man siting it's length strangled him. The man who held the last chain let go and made to attack Klaus who jammed hid hand inside the man's chest and ripped out his still beating heart.
Marching over to tthe two men who had kept hold of him, Klaus snapped their necks before he turned to thr bishops who ran from their leader, fleeing into the church. The bishop who had though this plan out with so little doubt that he could be thr one meeting his fate, backed against the balcony railing.
Klaus walked to the man. He took him by the throat. "You claim to believe in a God who thinks your deeds are righteous? Well then, meet him snd give him thr devil's regards!" Throwing the man at his crowd of worshippers, Klaus watched remember scatter as their leader's body cracked upon the cobblestones below.
With ease, Klaus hopped ovee the balcony. He dropped down in a crouch, spotted his daylight ring aabd picked it up. He slid the ring back on as the crowd stared in fear. "Don't worry, Madrid had lost it's shine for me." He stalked through the crowd under the sun's light. He thought he would seek out Elijah. They had work to do.
~0~
Elijah sat with a open book in his hand when Rebekah came in. Her hair was tossed and Elijah could guess at what she had been up to. However, he would rather not dwell on it. He had a pressing matter to speak with her about.
"Rebekah you're home." Rising to move to join his sister at their brother's door, Elijah watched Rebekah closely.
Nothing in his sister's gaze gave away what she was thinking. "I am."
"Niklaus said you and he spoke, last night, about a certain prophecy..." Again, Elijah waited to see any sign of Rebekah's feelings on the subject.
With a sigh, Rebekah shrugged out if her leather jacket and walked around Elijah. "Yes. We did discuss that idiot, Julian's, mad ramblings. What of it?" She flopped down on the couch, her legs crossing. She looked bored.
Elijah moved to stand beside Rebekah. "Let's not waste time playing games, Rebekah. What did you do?"
"Oh, I spent the night with Marcel. He's a lovely chap. Quiet knowledgeable about-"
"Rebekah!" Fingers pinching thr bridge of his nose, Elijah shook hid head. "You know that is not what I wish to know."
"Oh, you mean you want to know if I laid a hand on your precious, little pet project's head." Standing up, Rebekah smirked at him. "No. Brother, I did not. But do not believe she can be trusted. She is not family. And she is certainly not Caroline whose life hangs in the balance as we speak." She moved around Elijah. "I'm going to bed. I am simply exhausted."
Left with his own thoughts, Elijah focused on what Rebekah said. She was right: Caroline was at risk. She was also the the person who would be most likely to find where Julian was keeping this so-called prophecy.
If Elijah were to aquire the prophecy; he might be able to translate it, properly, and end this foolishness before it ended in a war...
The problem was how to get a message to Caroline without Julian tracing it back to The Originals. Thinking on it, the solution seemed obvious. He moved to the door. He needed to move quickly.
~0~
Standing outside the witch's door, Elijah relaxed his face into a pleasant expression. Bonnie's Grams might be the one to answer the door. His ears perked up to thr sound of two heartbeats. Yes. Bonnie was not alone. Perhaps Kol was with her. Or Freya.
Lifting his fist to knock on the door, Elijah found it opening. And it was bit who he expected to see standing before him.
"Elijah?" Hayley's round eyes shone with confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"Freya needs help with a spell." Elijah's lie came easily. When it came to family, he worried less about his image as the "noble brother."
"Oh..." Hayley slipped outside. "Well, your in luck, Bonnie's Grams is out-of-town." Her eyes went to her shoes. "I should probably take off. I have to... Um... I've got..."
"You're busy." Elijah nodded. He waited for the young slayer to leave. He wished to speak with Bonnie, alone.
Hayley did not seem to be aware of Elijah's feelings. Her arms curled around her middle. "Did you want to train? Sometime. I'm free tomorrow." Her eyes moved to Elijah's; they were hopeful. He wished she would not make this harder.
"I'm sorry, Hayley. I will be busy tomorrow."
"O-kay. Maybe later in the week?"
"Perhaps..."
Hayley looked at her shoes, again. Elijah sensed that something was bothering her. He even thought she sniffled. Then she nodded. "Bye." The girl took off down thr path to the house. Her long legs carrying her towards the sidewalk.
Right now, Elias had a mission. He could not concern himself with a girl he might have to kill to protect his family.
Hand rising, again, Elijah knocked on Bonnie's door. She opened the door less than two minutes later. "Elijah? Hi. What's going on?" He could see her concern.
"Everyone is alright. For now, Ms. Bennett. May I come in?" Elijah waited.
Bonnie moved to stand sideways. "Yes. You can come in."
Stepping inside, Elijah waited until Bonnie had closed the door behind him. "I need your help as a witch, abd as Ms, Forbes friend."
"Okay." Bonnie nodded, waiting.
"It appears that there is a prophecy that spells out the doom of all of the supernatural community. Caroline and Hayley are meant to be the architects of said destruction. I do not believe this interpretation, for an instant. Therefore it is imperative that I have thr original document. I believe that Caroline might be able to retrieve it."
Moving to sit down, Bonnie looked somewhat overwhelmed. "You want me to contact her?"
"Yes. You have been bond together since childhood and must have created systems to communicate in code?"
Bonnie nodded wordlessly.
"Good. Then you can send her a message, undetected?" Elijah waited for an answer.
Again, Bonnie nodded. "Yes."
"Good." Elijah added, "This is dangerous. Be careful, Bonnie."
Nodding, Bonnie looked dazed as Elijah went to her door and then left. He felt confident she would be fine. He just wished he felt as confident about preventing Julian's plans.
~0~
The doorbell rang and Bonnie sat her steaming cup of chamomile tea down on the coffee table. Pushing the throw blanket on her knees aside, she rose and went to answer the door.
"You texted me." Freya said and her brows rose as Bonnie darted forward to throw herself into Freya's arms Are you okay?" Freya asked, wrapping her arms around the younger witch, rubbing Bonnie's back.
Collecting herself, Bonnie pulled back. She turned her back to Freya and returned to her position on the couch. "Your brother stopped by." Leaning over, she licked up her mug while Freya locked the door.
The blonde came over to sit close to Bonnie. She placed a gentle hand on Bonnie's knee. "Kol?" Freya searched Bonnie's eyes and Bonnie shook her head.
"Elijah. He told me about the prophecy..." Now, Freya looked away. On that instant, Bonnie knew that Freya had known and had not told her. It hurt more than Bonnie cared to admit to herself. Distracting herself, Bonnie sipped her tea before saying, "Can I make you some?" She held the mug up, her expression closed off.
Freya nodded. "Yes. Please." She seemed to be lost in thought as Bonnie made her way into the kitchen. Opening a cabinet door, she removed a box with the tea inside. Her movements were made on autopilot. Barely feeling the kettle as she poured fresh water inside it.
"Bonnie?" Freya stood in thr doorway now while Bonnie turned the burner on, setting the kettle on top of it.
Turning, Bonnie stated at Freya. "Yes?"
"What did Elijah ask you to do?"
"What makes you think Elijah asked me to do anything?"
The two witches stared at each other for a long time. "Bonnie..." Freya crossed the room. Her hands went down on Bonnie's shoulders. Bonnie felt her breath catch as Freya's hands slid down her arms and took Bonnie's hands, holding them tight. "Tell me what he asked of you? Please!" The concern etched into the older witch's face made Bonnie's heart pound.
About to speak, Bonnie heard the kettle begin to whistle. "I have to get that..." Snapping out of her trance, Bonnie turned and twisted the knob. Her hand shook slightly as she placed the kettle on a new burner.
Hands going around Bonnie's waist, Freya placed her chin on Bonnie's shoulder. "Tell me what my brother expects from you. I will make him see reason."
Closing her eyes, Bonnie tried to push the feelings that Freya holding her like this were creating. "Freya..."
"Tell me..." Freya placed a hand on Bonnie's cheek.
"Come with me." Bonnie broke from Freya abd left the kitchen. She was not allowing her brain to work through what was happening here.
Freya followed Bonnie back to Bonnie's room. Pulling back the covers, Bonnie laid down and then she looked to Freya. They did not speak before Freya laid down. Her arms curled around Bonnie who close her eyes. She just needed to rest.
Thoughts of Kol erupted as she lay in his sister's embrace. He wpuld hate then for this. No matter how many times Bonnie tried to tell him she did not go looking for what she had begun to feel. It began st that dinner in the desert. There was just something nameless and intoxicating whenever she was with Freya. It grew stronger each day. And it was not fair.
Falling asleep, Bonnie decided to put guilt aside, for now...
~0~
Upon waking, Bonnie slipped away from Freya and went to her desk. She picked up a piece of paper. Thinking about what to say, Bonnie wrote a simple note to Caroline:
I'm sorry about our last fight. Please, remember I am putting our friendship above all other things like when you wanted to be professor of certainty.
This was as close Bonnie could get to sending a coded message. Caroline would just have to work through splitting the words into pro-f-c-y.
Eyes on a candle, Bonnie watched it light up. She placed thr paper over the flame and watched it burn.
"Doing magic without me?" Freya called from the bed.
Lips twisting in a half-smile, Bonnie shrugged. "Sending a message to a friend." She got up and moved to curl up next to Freya, taking the other witch's hand and hoping that Caroline was safe. That they would all be.