"What atonement is there for blood spilt upon the earth?
-Aeschylu
Freya was sitting with Finn when he heard the voice. She had been visiting him secretly at night when no one was around. Rebekah and her other brothers seemed to forget he existed. Was he to rot down here another 900 years? He was the only one here besides their deranged mother that she knew when they were humans after all. Finn was not the Finn she knew from before. That Finn was but a child, her younger brother. Sometimes they talked, it was the same conversation over and over He never asked her to release him. He didn't seem to care. All he asked was that she go see Mother, she refused.
"She ceased to become my mother the day-," she started again.
"Aye, Sister, the day she gave you to our evil aunt. I wish it had been me that Dahlia had taken. After you were gone, Father came back and nothing was the same. A part of him died, the good part. Mother told me over and over again that you had died from plague, but I remembered. She promised me that I would see you again. I thought she meant in Valhalla, yet here we are. She is not the monster you wish her to be...," Finn drifted off.
"What is it, Finn?" Freya asked urgently. She felt something stir in the house.
"She wakes. She is calling me to come to her," Finn said tonelessly. Her could hear her with his vampire senses.
"Mother?" Freya cried.
"No, the other witch," Finn looked at Freya directly. "Don't let them take her."
"The young one? I blocked her from elemental magic, yet she can still do spells, I suppose. Come, help me," Freya said trying to unchain him.
Ester was dizzy and sick. Where was she? This air was stale and the room sterile. She thought she was in hell. She had been dreaming so long. The Vikings attacking the village, falling in love with Mikael, Freya...then falling in love Ansel, Niklaus' father. Henrik dying at the hands of Ansel's pack. Mikael's revenge. Run, children, run. Her son's hands on her throat.
"Ester, it is time for you and your children to die," Delphine exclaimed.
"What are you? What do you want? The ancestors said they would save my children if I destroyed the vampires I wrought on this earth. I need more time."
"You're out of time and so are your spawn. They are an abomination against nature. You know that," Delphine laughed.
"You're no little girl. I see the blood on your soul. How many did you slay for your own beauty and pleasure? My children were innocent!" Ester intoned with a quiet rage.
"They aren't innocent anymore, are they? The ancestors showed me their sins. The villages and cities laid to waste. Demons incarnate. You did not have the strength to do what you were sent her for. There was never any plan to put them into humans. That was just a lie you told yourself," Delphine said looking around the room. She had taken an antidote to the tea, yet it still wasn't in full effect. Delphine would have to stall.
Ester spat, "A mother would give a thousand lives for her babies. I would set this world on fire before I let you kill them."
"You did set this world on fire with your hell spawn. Those I killed in my human life were mine to do with as I pleased. I bought and paid for them. Their children belonged to me. They were my playthings. Not like the innocent souls your Originals sent to hell," Delphine flexed her fingers and lifted Ester slightly off the bed.
"If you are so powerful, why not body jump into a woman. I do not wish to fight a mere child, no matter your tricks. Tell me how you come to be here, a human in witch form. Hurry now, I do not have all night if I am soon to die," Ester scoffed, starting to gain her bearings. She still wore the shackles that prevented her from performing magic.
"I was born at the turn of the 19th century during slave days. My father bought me my first slave when I was 10. It was great fun. I suppose I started to go a little far. I liked to play games and I was curious as to how things worked. The bodies were pilling up dead or half dead in the attic. A kitchen slave, one I chained to the stove, started a fire. The house caught, the townsfolk came to help and saw my experiments and amusements. They hanged my family from the rafters. They hanged MY daughters by their necks for having ME for a mother. They were innocent. I escaped with one of my lovers, yet one of yours, the Voodoo Witch Queen Marie Laveau herself, damned me. To try to contain me, they body jumped me into a child, the only one powerful enough to contain my evil spirit. Now I come in this witch flesh to do the bidding of the ancestors that you failed to do. I am a slave now as I will be this child for eternity, yet I will enjoy my new task, destroying you," Delphine cackled and laughed.
24 hours before
The Regent knew something was wrong. The woman on the street was playing the very last tune she ever played on her violin before she was hexed fifty years earlier on this very street.
"It is you," she breathed. She knew this was her death. She had already seen it.
"Yes, I'm sorry but the ancestors sent your grand daughter to kill my sister. I cannot allow that. You must die so I can find them," Dahlia said as she slit her throat from ear to ear.
"That's not my grand daughter," the Regent said as she bled out.
"Finn, run and get help. Or flee! I don't care, but don't come in here with me," Freya begged.
"She's my mother. I can't leave her, or you," Finn said.
"This witch isn't like others. I don't know what she can do. Please," Freya begged.
"Sister, it is time," Finn said, "Lead the way."
Freya pushed through the doors and entered the elevator to the other basement level. She checked her phone to see if she could text the others, but there was no service. They were on their own.
"Finn, you must feed from me to get your strength. I think I might have a plan," Freya whispered.
Delphine felt a chill. The cloaking spell was down. The regent was dead. This body was growing stronger and she would be able to cast her wild magic soon.
"Tell me one thing, witch. What did you think was going to happen when you failed? The ancestors have a lot worse planned for you. They want you to die slowly again and again. I would hate to be you right now," Delphine laughed flicking her bright red hair behind her. She had changed into a old fashioned white dress. It reminded her of when she was a human girl, burning ants for fun and knocking the heads off her dolls.
Finn vamped into the room and before Delphine could see him, he fed his mother his vampire blood.
He looked at the girl and said, "Now, if you kill her, she will be vampire."
Freya started casting a protection circle around Ester. Delphine lifted Finn and Ester up to the ceiling and cast them down. The force would have shattered Ester's spine but the blood strengthened her, it did break the chains of the shackles.
Delphine caught Freya on fire as Freya screamed in agony. Unknown to Delphine, she had also drank Finn's blood. She healed even as she burned. Finn vamped over and fed off of Delphine deeply. She chanted something and he fell back writhing in pain.
Rebekah was wondering why things were so quiet downstairs. She knew Tyler and Jeremy were out, but shouldn't the rest be around.
"Kol! Kol!" she screamed as she found him unconscious in his bathroom. He seemed to be in the midst of brushing his teeth. She yelled for Marcel.
"Something is wrong!"
Marcel found Klaus and Elijah slumped down on the floor.
"Delphine, are you okay?" he checked the little girl's room. He had felt a little guilty about passing her off to Elijah. Marcel had even had the doll she came with repaired. He wrapped it up to get to her when she started to improve her behavior. Was she kidnapped? If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.
"Rebekah, Klaus and Elijah are down, too. Delphine is missing," he screamed.
Rebekah said, "Matt is gone, too. I'll find Freya. She's probably downstairs working."
"I'll come with you," he said ever protective, although she was the Original.
"No, go look for the kids. Find them, Marcel. Something is wrong," Rebekah demanded.
Just then they heard a song, a sweet song like a lullaby. Dahlias began to grow in out of control vines along the walls.
"Ah, you must be my niece, Rebekah, you look just like her when we were girls. Did you mother ever tell you about her sister Dahlia who protected her when your father's viking tribe attacked our village? No, well, I've come for her. We promised to be there for each other. Always and forever. Now sleep."
Rebekah just had time to call out to Marcel before she passed out.
Freya wasn't sure how long she could hold off Delphine. Finn was down and Mother was now casting a protection spell on her. Soon, Freya felt the fire stop and then she heard the song. Was she dying?
It was Dahlia's song. Then, as Freya went under, she heard her aunt's voice again.
Delphine was enraged.
"Stay away, witch. You cannot save her. It is her time. I will wait until the cursed blood is out of her system and end her," Delphine said trying to burn Dahlia with her magic.
"If I haven't been burned by a legion of men, do you think a little thing like you can end me?" Dahlia laughed. She raised her hands and brought the red haired witch to her knees.
"I don't care what the ancestors want. I just want my sister and we will take our leave," Dahlia demanded.
"Sister, let my children come to no harm," Ester begged.
"Ester, I promised to protect you, always and forever. I will not let the ancestors take you away from me again," Dahlia promised.
Dahlia looked at her Freya, the ungrateful child, and then at her sister. She whispered a spell and Freya woke up and then she whispered something in Freya's ear.
"No!" Freya screamed.
"They must die," Freya heard the deranged child yell.
In a split second, Delphine ripped the necklace from around her neck and poured a white power from it. She held out her hands and a wooden shaft from the bed flew to her hands. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she chanted something. She smashed the powder on the tip of stake.
The stake then flew into Finn's heart.
Ester screamed and launched herself at Delphine.
Freya watched in horror as her brother caught fire and turned to ash. Her wails woke up the rest of the vampires where they lay.
Ester chanted something as she strangled Delphine.
"Daughter, forgive me. Tell the others I'm sorry. I destroyed the evil spirit of the human in this girl. I don't know where the real child is, I don't sense her. Oh Finn," Ester moaned looking upon his ashes.
As if in slow motion, she saw Delphine fall lifeless and Dahlia drag Ester out.
"Sister, we must go before your own children try to kill you and you are made vampire. Niece, remember what I said," Dahlia boomed.
Freya turned and they were gone. She collapsed. The pain from the burns pulled her deep under.
Earlier in the day/Mayor's Office
When Tyler's mother saw the flowers, she almost choked on her coffee.
"They are lovely, honey," Carol Lockwood said kissing her son hello.
They talked about the regular things, and then she decided she had to do this.
"Tyler, I think there is something you need to know," Carol said gently.
"That I have the werewolf gene? Mom, I already know that," Carol was surprised, but she had to tell him everything.
"Yes, that's true. The night your father died, the town council was doing a vampire sweep. They had a device that was supposed to show us who was supernatural. Your dad had no idea he had the werewolf gene and-" Carol stopped to wipe away tears.
"That's why he died? Because he was trying to hunt vampires? Mom, this is horrible. Are you on the council? I can't believe this!" Tyler exploded.
"Honey, the mayor is the leader of the council. I didn't know about you and your dad. It's always been like this in town. Your father's family has always had a mayor sitting in power. Do you know what this flower is that you gave me?" Carol asked pointing to the purple blossom.
"No, lavender?" Tyler asked dully.
"Vervain! The council started putting it in the water supply in huge amounts. I just found out. There are some members who went behind my back. Vervain can be very dangerous to vampires. You need to tell the Mikaelsons," Carol explained.
"You know?" Tyler said stunned.
"Of course, I do. I thought they could protect you from all this. These hunters are growing bolder. If you trigger your curse..." Carol began to cry openly.
"Mom, I'm not going to kill anyone," Tyler said getting up to hug his mom.
"They killed your Uncle Mason. Honey, I think they may be on to you," Carol wept clutching at her only son.
When the boys finally got home in three separate cars, they found the house in chaos.
Freya was laid out on the dining room table. Rebekah was the only one able to give her blood since Kol, Elijah, and Klaus were poisoned with vervain. Her hair was nearly gone and she had been severely burned. Kol was sitting on a dining room chair near her with his head in his hand. Rebekah was beside him assuring, "She'll wake up soon. She's strong." They could see her skin healing in front of them. They was just so much that needed healed that it was taking a while.
On the couch nearby lay Delphine's still body. Marcel was sitting on the couch staring at her. Her white dress was streaked with ashes.
"Are they dead?" Jeremy yelled out.
Klaus came over and said, "Come here, boys. We have to talk to you."
"While you were out, we were attacked. It seems that not only has the town water supply been infected with vervain, but our Aunt Dahlia came back to get our mother. Finn is gone. Those are his ashes. Freya is healing. We don't know what is wrong with Delphine yet. She is breathing, but the problem seems magical," Elijah faltered.
Klaus started, "For all of our safety, no one is coming in or out until we know who we can trust. Perhaps we should call Bonnie Bennett."
Tyler said, "My mom said she didn't know the town council was going to put vervain in the water supply. She thinks hunters killed my uncle and are on to me."
"This is not the first time they have tampered with the water supply. We have back up tanks. Please don't take long showers though because we will have to have them refilled," Klaus said putting his hand on Tyler's shoulder.
"Damn, Jeremy, you're gonna have to find another hobby," Matt snickered.
Elijah glared at him, "I don't think this is the time for crude joke, young man. We'll discuss this later."
"Read the room, man," Jeremy whispered.
Klaus put his arm around Matt, "I think it is time for bed. Say, I seem to recall grounding you to your room today."
Matt's face turned red and he looked down. He had no excuse. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"No matter. We shall chat about it later. Be glad that I am not thrashing you in front of everyone right now, though I am sorely tempted. Yet my brother died tonight so you will get a bit of a postponement."
Klaus swatted his backside hard as he went up the stairs. Matt couldn't help but gasp as he was propelled forward. He didn't dare rub.
Elijah gripped Klaus' shoulder and said, "We'll get through this."
Klaus nodded but the guilt of Finn's death was on him.
After a long night, Freya started to stir, but she was still moaning in pain.
After comforting Kol the best that she could, Rebekah went over to sit by Marcel.
"I can't stand to see kids hurt, Rebekah. Even if it just the body of a kid," Marcel said his eyes filling up with tears.
"Marcel, Bonnie will come in the morning and figure out what is wrong with her. It's not your fault," Rebekah soothed.
"You know, when she first got here and knocked the head off her doll, I had it fixed. I thought maybe someday she would like to have something from home. I know when Klaus took me, I came to your house with nothing. Just the name he gave me," Marcel said. He unwrapped the repaired doll and put it in Delphine's arms.
Rebekah yelled out, "Look!"
Delphine seemed to thrash and writhe on the couch. The doll was fused tightly in her arms.
Elijah vamped over, "What in the world is happening?"
After a few minutes of this, Delphine's bright blue eyes opened.
"Delphine, you're awake!" Marcel announced.
"Who is Delphine? I'm Marie," the little girl whispered.
"Bloody hell, Marie Laveau? The voodoo queen?" Rebekah asked looking up at everyone.
"No, I'm Marie Serafine La Rue. Where's my grand-mere?"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Tyler had nightmares all night that hunters were chasing them in the woods. His father was in the dreams and his Uncle Mason. They were trying to tell him something but he couldn't understand what.
Jeremy wasn't speaking to Matt. He was embarrassed about the joke he made last night and that Matt threatened to get him in trouble about the cable bill. Neither one told Tyler anything, but he could sense the tension in the room. Jeremy and Tyler went down to breakfast. Matt was too miserable to have an appetite.
Kol spent all night by Freya's side. Rebekah had just fed her more blood and it seemed to be working a little faster. The kid had been been to bed in the same bedroom. She seemed nicer than the other one, but still a bit sassy. None of them really would know the full story of last night until Freya woke up. Kol feel numb about Finn. He knew he should feel something but there was nothing left.
As Kol was walking past Matt's room, he saw him slumped over on the couch just sitting there.
"What's wrong, mate? Got in a bit of a row?" Kol asked.
"I don't know what that means, but if it means everyone hates me and I'm going to get my ass beat, then yeah," Matt fumed.
"Oh aye, I saw Nik whack you last night. What'd ya do?" Kol wondered curious.
"Ugh, did everyone see that? It's so embarrassing. So I hate school and didn't want to do all this useless math. I thought I would take a break and go get lunch at the Grill after Dad told me to stay in and study. Then, I kind of was having fun and lost track of time...It seemed like a good idea at the time," Matt groused.
Kol snorted, "Been nice knowing ya, mate. And one time Nik whipped Marcel on the dock of New Orleans when he tried to run away from home, with a pirate or something."
"Thanks, I guess that would be a lot worse. Do you think he's really pissed at me, though?" Matt said worried.
"Nik? Aye, I think he's going to give you a pretty good lathering, if I'm being honest. But then, it will be over. You're have a sore arse, but hopefully, the next time you won't be so thick," Kol assured him patting his arm awkwardly.
"Thanks, Kol. Hey, I'm sorry about your brother. I know what that's like," Matt said sincerely. Matt saw Vicky as she had been before the drugs-young and beautiful. Always so alive.
"Thank you. Your sister passed last year didn't?" Kol asked quietly.
"Yeah, she got hooked on drugs and...I miss her. She was wild, but you know, fun. I think you would have liked her," Matt remarked realizing it was true.
"Sounds like it. I wish that I had gotten to meet her. Well, you know Finn was a dull son of a bitch. I had 900 years to get to know him better and all he did was annoy me. I guess if I could take it all back now I would. Too late for that, yeah?" Kol was embarrassed to find himself being emotional.
Matt stood up and went to hug Kol. Kol surprised himself by hugging Matt back as a few tears slipped down his face.
If he could just have one more chance...he would try to make things right.