Author's note: Thanks for reading and sending me such kind reviews! Also, the KC Awards are happening soon on tumblr (kcawards), and I hope you'll consider nominating my writing!
Warning: Violence, gore, angst. So much angst.
It was the head that took the longest to sever. But Genevieve's stubborn spinal cord was no match for three wolves who were fresh out of fucks. Once Genevieve refused to tell them how to break the curse, Caroline kept her promise. 'Either you'll tell me, or your body will. I don't need you alive to learn your secrets.' Caroline, Bonnie and Tyler worked in the shadows of the cemetery, dismembering their enemy to smuggle the pieces back through the city. Katherine's spies were everywhere, and they needed to delay revealing Genevieve had been killed as long as possible.
Despite her plan being smoothly carried out by various pack members discreetly stationed throughout the city to act as package runners and diversions when necessary, the alpha still breathed a sigh of relief once everyone returned to the Mikaelson estate.
Caroline believed it was her smile that unnerved Elijah the most. Clearly, he was a rigid man too reliant on the rules of propriety to ever see the larger picture. He watched her carry in the last of Genevieve, a note of disapproval in his voice as he said, "I see you didn't bother with diplomacy. Did it not occur to you that Genevieve would be an invaluable resource to interrogate?"
"That ginger bitch was dead the first time she disrespected my pack; I just like to play with my food."
Elijah let out a long-suffering sigh, grimly revealing, "Niklaus has been restrained as you requested. It cost Rebekah a rather expensive and frivolous pair of shoes that she won't stop harping on about." Straightening his tie, he added warily, "The spell you gave our witches handily immobilized my brother long enough for us to shackle him. With that kind of power, it's baffling that you didn't use it sooner when Niklaus became an obvious threat."
"It's not to be used lightly; with that kind of power, you give up too much of yourself. Magic is a balance and should be respected," Caroline replied sternly, nodding to Hayley and Bonnie as they brought in the ceremonial obsidian blades and dried herbs for what undoubtedly would be a complicated experiment.
When Anna trailed behind, carrying the purified rose rocks and feathered rope lattices, Elijah raised a concerned eyebrow as he asked, "What ritual is this?"
"An elaborate experiment — and hopefully not a waste of our weaving skills. Vultures get moody when you try to snatch a few feathers. And owls and ravens hold onto a grudge even longer than a bitter divorcée." She rolled her eyes at his impatient expression, gesturing toward the herbs to explain, "The sage will exorcise dark intent, and the star anise heightens psychic awareness. The owl feathers represent wisdom while the vulture and raven are creatures that glide between worlds and can whisper the secrets of the dead. My pack will unravel Genevieve's curse by divining the magic hidden in her blood and bones."
He seemed skeptical as he glanced around the library, no doubt also worried about the expensive carved walnut panels and priceless antique books that lined the walls. "This seems like a complicated ritual — shouldn't you also engage the talents of my family's witches? For instance, Sophie and Davina are quite accomplished and have served us well over the years."
Bonnie looked up from grinding spices, trading a significant look with her alpha. Caroline quickly spoke up as Hayley started to growl a warning in the back of her throat. "My pack is taking the lead — we're understandably wary of your witches considering the loyalty Genevieve has shown to our side in this war."
With an irritated harrumph, Klaus' brother told her, "It's important that we trust each other. Without trust, we have nothing."
Caroline eyed the clean lines of his suit; being in the presence of such perfect tailoring when she still had Genevieve's innards underneath her nails pissed her off. "Looks like you have a closet full of fancy suits — that's not nothing." She headed out the door where Tyler waited for her, calling over her shoulder to her pack, "Keep at it; I'm going to go have a chat with Klaus."
Elijah grabbed her arm, concern coloring his tone as he asked, "To what end? In his cursed state, Niklaus will say only the foulest of words to hurt you."
The alpha was touched by Elijah's worry. However, the way her beta's eyes flashed told her that Elijah was about to lose some fingers if she didn't shake off his grip. "It's fine, Elijah. I'm taking backup," she explained, nodding at Tyler who growled protectively. "I know some part of my chosen is still in there, and Klaus should know I haven't abandoned him."
You and your wolf pack of Oklahoma trash are too stupid to see what's in front of you. Genevieve's words still infuriated Caroline, but as she descended the steps to the Originals' creepy dungeon, she couldn't help but wonder if it was something more. A warning. Tyler interrupted her dark thoughts as he pushed open the door to the dungeon, telling her gently, "Remember, I'm right beside you."
Caroline smiled at him gratefully before they stepped inside, but her smile twisted into something painful as Klaus' curly head snapped up from the shadowy corner where he was shackled.
"How thoughtful. Such an obedient little pup — doing his master's bidding. Tell me — how long has this pup been doing your bidding?"
She had to hold Tyler back at Klaus' ugly words, telling her beta firmly, "Wait outside. This will be brief."
Once they were alone, Klaus flashed her a cruel smirk. "If memory serves, it was never brief between us. As I recall, long, sweaty, and hard was the way you liked it best as you desperately clung to me. Such a lost little girl you are."
"Stop it," Caroline hissed, "I'm not doing this with you. I just came to tell you that I haven't given up and my pack is working to break Genevieve's curse. We've carved out every piece of that ginger bitch. You'll be restored, my chosen."
The steel in Klaus' eyes momentarily softened as he hoarsely whispered, "Sweetheart? Is that you? I feel..." he trailed off in confusion, fists clenched as he rattled the chains. "Something's wrong. I can't...I can't feel you."
She briefly forgot herself as she stepped closer, barely controlling her wolf who ached to roll in her mate's scent. Just one more step and she could rub her cheek against his, banishing the loss that weighed on her heart.
Suddenly, the curse snapped back into place, Klaus' fangs shredding his lips as he snarled and spit at Caroline. "Weak thing — letting your guard down in the presence of your enemy."
Caroline calmed herself, resisting the urge to gnash her teeth. Keeping her tone carefully devoid of emotion, she replied, "I'm not in the presence of an enemy. Right now, all I see is a would-be god-king clinging to the remnants of a pathetic fiefdom. One that I could claim whenever I choose." She took a final glance into Klaus' eyes, searching in vain for remnants of her mate. But the dark spell had taken hold once more, refusing to let the real Klaus surface again.
His curses rang in her ears as she all but fled the dungeon, but she put on a brave face for Tyler, knowing that her pack needed her to be strong. Klaus needed her to be strong.
Bonnie and Hayley wordlessly threw themselves at Caroline when she returned to the library, hugging her tightly as they wordlessly gave their support. Maybe she didn't always have to be brave. When she pulled away, her eyes were damp, but she nodded to her gathered pack members to provide an update on their progress.
Bonnie seemed to hesitate, but then took determined steps toward the threshold, firmly shutting the door and summoning a privacy spell of white sage and belladonna. Caroline felt the first stirrings of worry as she watched Bonnie's movements — why did her pack's healer need to add protection wards to a simple privacy spell?
Bonnie gestured toward the intricate circles drawn in Genevieve's blood along the parchment scrolls. "We divined Genevieve's curse and the secret to breaking her hold on Klaus. We felt the spell begin to crumble; Klaus likely fought off her influence for a brief moment while you were with him."
"Yes," she whispered, thinking back to that brief moment when her wolf recognized his. Heart racing, she asked, "You can free him from the curse?"
Bonnie nodded, exchanging a worried glance with the others before she added, "Klaus will be himself momentarily. But we have a bigger problem now." She gestured toward a feathered rope lattice, flecked with Genevieve's blood. "Touch."
A cold certainty came over Caroline, and she knew what she would find even as she hoped Bonnie was wrong. The soft feathers were like creeping spiders, and her wolf shied away from the feel. The ultimate betrayal.
Wolf silver flashed in Caroline's eyes as she growled, "The magic that bound Genevieve's curse has ties to another traitor."