AN: Hello all, I hope that you have been well and are safe. A few things that I need to address. First I want to thank the guest that made me aware of a mistake with Bonnie's middle name. I have corrected the problem. Her full name is Bonnie Marie Bennett and Lucy is Lucinda Estelle Bennett. I apologize for the mix up.
A guest had a question about Gram's living status and rest assured that will be addressed.
In this universe the three supernatural species coexist with a very strained truce in place. Although most stay with their own, there are all types of interspecies relationships that transpire.
Witches tend to stay with their own due to their arrogant views and prejudicial ideas, but for their own gain some will have dealings with the other species. And in rare cases there have been witches that have been romantically involved with werewolves, humans and even vampires, although this coupling is highly frowned upon by witches.
The Bennett witches consist of men and women, although a highly matriarchal bloodline. They are a direct bloodline from the first witch and follow the old ways, much like all witches, they are supposed to protect the innocent and use their powers for good. But the Bennetts are also charged with keeping the magical balance of good and evil, thus the reason for the Bennett Witch….
I hope this little bit of information helps, more will be explained within the story.
Updated AN: I am so sorry it has taken so long to get this up, but I hope you enjoy it. Please review and let me know what you think. Stay safe and be good people...always. Oh and this chapter is Finn-Centric.
Chapter 8 - Paths
Romania - A month and 4 days ago
Finn Mikaelson had always been reserved and quiet, preferring the solitude of exploring nature alone, in the dense woods that surrounded the village where his family lived. Of course, that need for youthful freedom changed with the arrival of his baby sister, Freya.
In her he found all the mysteries, wonders and joys of life. With her birth, he was reborn as a bubbly happy child wanting to share the wonders of the world with his baby sister and when she was taken from them...for him...he was reborn yet again as a standoffish, brooding stranger to the siblings that followed.
He tried to be the boy he had once been but it was difficult because the light that was in his eye was forever gone. And to his siblings he was the outcast, the dark one, the quiet one, the not fun or jovial one.
Of course this didn't save him from Mikael's wrath, cruelness or bitterness, in fact, other than Niklaus he suffered the most, in truth, none of the children were immuned from Mikael's ill disposition and anger. Finn realized that Mikael had changed also, he was no longer the stern but approachable and loving father that he had been while Freya was with them.
Each child after Freya was a reminder of the little girl he lost and the failure he felt not protecting her so he took out his anger on them for not being her and Esther for allowing it to happen.
Finn was able to understand Mikael and to some extent forgive his behavior, but he couldn't excuse it and thus the only time that he really interacted with his siblings(when they were young) was when he was trying to shield them from Mikael's abuse.
His mother, on the other hand, seemed to have children to make up for the loss of her first born daughter, obsessing over them with her suffocating love and attention, yet not protecting them from Mikael. Finn could never understand this stance of hers, not until much later.
Finn loved his mother and he clung and catered to her because he felt the sorrow that seemed to envelop and weigh her down after Freya was taken. As a child he could only process that his mother was sad and all he could do is be a good boy for her. He became her companion, her protector, her trusted confidante, and her most staunch supporter. He became all those things and soon he stopped being just her son, he stopped seeing her shortcomings as a mother and a person, he stopped seeing the true Esther, but the fabrication of what he wanted to see in his mother, a facade that she manufactured and cultivated which blinded him. This started him to believe and listen to her, to take her side, to protect her. He knew of her secrets, but he kept them.
So it wasn't until he could no longer justify or tolerate his parents actions that he decided to stand up and fight for his siblings against their parents thus breaking the hold that bound him.
The sheer hypocrisy of their actions after that one monumental act is what he couldn't fathom. How they could go against nature to create them and then do everything in their power to kill them afterwards?
In truth, still after some many years he had welcomed death, but with Freya back in their fold and the repairing of the damage that was wrought on his relationship with his siblings, not so much these days. A peace that he had not known in a long time invaded him and yet he still needed time away from his family at times. Therefore he was glad to be able to assist Niklaus and his family in protecting the newest and most innocent Mikaelson, while taking some time for himself.
The road was long and hard to repair the sibling relationships that were the battered and bruised casualties of having fucked up parents and a dysfunctional family. And while the others had a stronger connection to each other, he was trying to bridge the gap; having Freya helped, but even they had some bonding to do as well.
But Finn was glad that Klaus saw he was attempting to repair the foundations of their relationship to make them stronger . And in some ways they were kindred spirits, where Niklaus manifested his inner feelings through possessiveness, pettiness and anger, he used stoicism, silence and passivity to display his feelings.
Yet, Finn fiercely loved his siblings even if they didn't think so and he knew that Niklaus loved them even when he was daggering or torturing them in some horrible manner. Finn cursed his parents for their selfish and deplorable ways. He hoped they were suffering wherever they were.
...
Finn briskly walked through the eerily bright town of Sighisoara in the region of Transylvania, Romania. Europe's last remaining medieval-esque town unencumbered by today's high technology and fast paced lifestyle, although technology is present, it seems out of place; futuristic trappings snatched out of time and placed in a time of long ago.
Avoiding the crowds of tourists excitedly walking through the town hoping to visit the home of Vlad the Impaler, Finn ducked into a shadowy alleyway then down a long winding cobblestone stairwell leading to his destination.
The apothecary shop was small and there seemed to be a darkness about it. The wooden sign over the door was written in old English letters, but was in Hungarian. If Finn wasn't a vampire and prone to imaginations of spirits and supernatural creatures, he might not have gone into the building for fear of never being seen or heard of again.
As it was, Finn found himself walking swiftly and cautiously into the shop. The stench of dust, mold and stale cigar smoke assaulted his senses and he stopped breathing as he walked further into the small space, grateful that he didn't have to breathe.
He approached the old man behind the counter, speaking to him in Hungarian. With dark beady eyes the old man watched the stranger as he walked up to him. He acknowledged that this was no man but a creature of legend.
He held the crucifix tightly in his hand that was tucked away in his pocket as he unconsciously stepped back from the counter. Finn noticed and smirked, clearly amused by the action.
"I have come for the five stars amulet of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes," Finn declared with all the authority and regal presence of a Mikaelson.
"I don't know what..what you are talking about. Now you must leave." The old man stammered.
"Don't play games with me old man. I know you have it. I was told to retrieve it and I will, with or without your help, with your head attached to your body or not." Finn threatened with laser focused eyes that bore right into the old man.
"You think a foul creature like yourself can come in here and take a sacred and holy relic such as the amulet," he scoffed, "You are a cursed evil thing and will die before you ever get your unholy hands on it."
Finn allowed his fangs to descend and smiled, "I will have what I came here for, let's not do this the hard way."
Quickly the old man withdrew his hand from his pocket, revealing the crucifix, waiving it in front of Finn with shaking hands, as he muttered a prayer under his breath. Finn grinned widely, his fangs clearly visible.
"You are a fool to think that will work on me. Your feeble attempt at faith is wasted on a being that has seen the true face of evil and I can assure you it lives in the hearts of men," he said as he grabbed the religious relic with his hand, bending it.
The old man saw that the crucifix did nothing, not even burning the hand that grabbed it, he averted his eyes in fear and defeat as he waited for his fate, which he was sure would be his death.
"Now that we have come to an understanding, please stop wasting my time and hand the amulet over, before I indulge in my more baser nature, which I am loathed to do."
The old man wiped his brow, bowed his head and muttered, "Follow me." He directed Finn to come around the counter, then he led him down a narrow corridor, to a closed door. Beyond the door wooden stairs lead downward, seemingly into a cave.
What had been a basement, part of an old building was now, as they walked, a dark cave. The apothecary was built upon the cave, Finn realized. The old man lit a torch and they proceeded further into the cave. In a small offshoot cavern stood an alter illuminated by a supernatural pale light. Finn was struck by a calming peace that seemed to permeate the small space. He was in awe of the power that he felt reaching out to him, but the power wasn't destructive or malevolent but warm and welcoming, which was quite different from the feeling he got from the actual building. A mystery indeed, he thought.
The old man hurriedly scurried to the altar where an ornate wooden chest sat, he bowed before it, saying a few mumbled words then unlocked it and ran from the small room to hide behind a cave wall.
Finn smirked and approached the chest, but cautiously, for a blinding swirling light of blue and red glowed from the chest. Finn couldn't say he was scared but the feeling that he felt was akin to fear, maybe trepidation and that was something he hadn't felt for centuries.
He stood in front of the chest almost mesmerized by the light when he heard the gentle disembodied voice of a woman. "Only the righteous may seek to claim what lies within."
Finn sighed, "I am not a righteous man, but I have need of the amulet," he said sadly for he was far from righteous and the pendulum swayed heavily on the evil side, at times, if he was honest. But he would give his all, even his life to protect his family and that had to count for something.
"Only a just cause may ask for protection," the voice said.
"The life of a child is not just enough? I am no man but a monster made through no fault of my own, but I love my family. I have maimed, murdered and pillaged, my hands are stained with the blood of the wicked as well as the innocent and my leger can never be cleared, but whatever test I must face, whatever challenge I must meet...I would gladly endure to protect the most innocent of my family," Finn swore.
"You have spoken the truth. And I have been waiting for you, Finn Mikaelson. Your redemption lies in your love for and loyalty to your family. It is time to take up your arms and embrace who and what you are, for a war is brewing and you all will be tested and you must not be found wanting. You carry the burden of your family, in particular your mother but I tell you this day...carry it no more. Take the amulet and protect the child and do not give in to despair for you are not alone. The love of your brother is yours, Klaus loves you and you will see it before this is over."
"Remember Finn Mikaelson, everything happens for a reason, choose to live with no regrets, you are who and what you are. You and your siblings will learn that in times of great darkness, it is the so-called monsters that tip the scale and even the balance for good and light."
Finn waited for the voice to continue to speak more but nothing else was said so he hesitantly put his right hand into the chest and took hold of the amulet. As he lifted it up out of the chest the light illuminating the room died as beams of flames burst out the box like fireworks. The different beams of fire danced around each other in the air then crashed into each other making one medium sized ball of fire.
Tendrils of flames shot from the ball of fire to burn a message on the wall of the cave. The message was in Old Norse, his mother tongue, Finn read it, smiled and then turned to leave. He saw the old man come from behind a wall.
"Not the outcome you expected, I'm sure," he said sarcastically as he walked up to the scared man. "I wonder if I should be angry with you for thinking you were leading me into a trap and a fiery demise," Finn said as he tilted his head.
The old man was about to say something but was interrupted by the shaking of the ground as the small room shook and the ceiling started to crash down around them. The rock altar cracked in two, crashing to the ground followed by a large piece of the cave. Finn grabbed the man by his jacket and with vampiric speed ran out of the small room and back the way they had come. He stopped halfway up the stairs to look behind him, only to see rumble, dirt and dust, the whole entrance of the cave was buried.
After making their way back to the counter of the apothecary, Finn took out a handful of money and laid it down, " For your trouble. He said and promptly walked out the door.
...
Two days later as Finn sat in his seat, waiting for the private jet to prepare for take off he continued thinking about what was told to him. He never thought he would embrace the monster he was, but maybe it was truly time to move on and to see the fortunate side effects of what his parents did to them. He didn't want to call being turned into vampires a blessing but if he was being honest and fair, it did come with perks.
It was time to start fresh, they all had been trying and doing as well as any set of dysfunctional siblings could, but now he had a bit of hope that maybe just maybe they were not the monsters they once were and they could make right so many of the wrongs they had committed.
He was sure that it was Saint Bernadette that had spoken to him and he was grateful and humbled by the interaction. He smiled again as he thought about what was etched upon the wall of the now crumbled cave…"Always and Forever."
He leaned back and closed his eyes as he waited and mused...maybe, just maybe there was hope for them all. That thought brought a sincere smile to his face, brightening up his face, easing away his worries. Truth be told, ever since he had the amulet in his possession he felt lighter and dare he say...righteous for now he knew his purpose and he knew he and his siblings were not evil.
The Abattoir - Present Time
"I hardly see the point of whining about it now Kol, you lost fair and square and now it's time to ante up," Lucy said in a whimsical manner as she lounged lazily on the sette in the study, legs crossed and nonplussed. She reminded Klaus of a lioness just before she pounced on her prey.
"That is bollocks for sure, you cheated," he accused as he walked over to the bar to pour a drink, then turned to look at everyone else in the room. "You all know I'm right. She cheated, she's a witch and she cheated." He whined as he continued to sulk.
Freya chuckled, "I take great offense in that statement. And the fact that you are daff enough to call a witch a cheater just proves that you deserve to lose." She looked at Lucy and winked.
"Oh stop being a baby Kol for bloody sake and pay up. I'm sure it can't be that bad." Klaus said with a grin even though he was tired of hearing Kol's bellyaching.
Kol hadn't learned in the month that Lucy had been there that not only was she competitive, but she rarely said she could do something if she couldn't. That extended to drinking, which Klaus had first-hand knowledge of.
"So dear brother what was the wager, pretell," Elijah asked, sitting on the desk with a glass of bourbon in his left hand.
Lucy swung her legs over and in a graceful move and stood up, speaking before Kol could. She smiled a sickening sweet smile as she informed the Mikaelson siblings of the conditions of the wager.
"Dear young Kol, here, has offered to be my pet for the next week, doing whatever I want, whenever I want it or he could hand over the keys and the deed to his house in Mykonos, she purred as she walked over to him rubbing his back as if he was a baby needing soothing.
"She tricked me, I'm sure she used an enchantment or something. No way she could out drink me. No way." Kol insisted, not wanting to admit defeat.
"Stop your whining and man up or I'll put a hex on you that no witch will ever be able to take off." She playfully threatened, although she wasn't above doing it just to prove a point. She could be petty and he did call her a cheat.
Kol gulped down his drink, "Alright, alright...one week, I will be your "do boy", but don't think I'll be doing anything that is beneath a Mikaelson to do." He said trying to maintain his dignity.
The room erupted in laughter as everyone took amusement in his failed attempt at bravado. After the merriment ended and everyone seemed to settle Lucy's brows knitted together and she frowned. Her magic lit up, almost humming with electricity, causing the hairs on her arms and neck to stand, in an instant Klaus was by her side.
"What is it?" He questioned, tension being to invade his body. He didn't sense a threat, neither did his sibling by the looks on their faces, however they all tensed readying for some unseen threat.
"No...nothing...I..just felt...something." She replied lamely as she smiled to herself.
"Are you sure," Klaus inquired again, getting the feeling that she was keeping something from him. He intently searched her eyes waiting for her to give him a silent sign, but she gave none, save a slight movement of her head so impericible a movement that only someone watching her astutely as he was would have noticed.
After a short time and Klaus was satisfied that she was okay, everyone relaxed and the carefree atmosphere returned, but there was still an underlying air of unease just under the surface.
"I hate to bring up the elephant in the room, but are we certain that Bonnie will come to our aid?" Elijah inquired of Lucy, watching her keenly as she used her magic to pour herself a drink. Everyone had been wondering the same thing but hadn't been brave enough to ask, so they all waited to hear what she had to say.
After the show was over and the tumbler of bourbon floated to her and she grabbed it, she replied, "Well dear Elijah there are many things that I am certain of; red looks stunning on me, Rebekah and I are twins separated at birth when it comes to shopping and you don't have to worry your pretty little head over whether or not she is coming," she had a wickedly playful smile on her red lips and she gave Klaus a wink.
She took a sip of her drink, "Oh and one more thing...Things are about to get interesting."