My Soul to Keep
Chapter 2: Alive and Kicking
Beta: PrincessOfSilence
Disclaimer: I own nothing of TO. I only own my characters and my story.
Scratch.
Pearly white teeth raked over a plump bottom lip at the very sound that fell on her ears like nails on a chalkboard. The very sound was unnerving and so unpleasant. An olive hand trembled, gripping the mascara wand so tightly it could snap at any moment. Slowly, it was brought underneath a set of already full lashes and the brush stroked against them.
Scratch.
Giuliana dropped the wand onto her vanity table, giving up the pursuit of lining her eyelashes with mascara. She was never normally one to get so shaken up, but this task had her nerves in knots. She loved putting on mascara purely to fan out her lashes and to make her eyes look open. As a vampire, her natural beauty had become more refined and she wouldn't need make-up if she truly didn't want it, but she did want it, and so, she decided to try it out. She'd gotten to the mascara and with the first stroke of the brush through her lashes, she was met with the most earsplitting sound she experienced since she turned.
She could actually hear the bristles gripping onto her eyelashes, the black formula coating the follicles and the brush combing through her hair. She didn't even know that such a simple motion would generate a sound, let alone an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. For a few lingering moments, she sat perched on the stool at her vanity table and her super sensitive ears picked up even the more muffled sounds from further away. In the library, Elijah was flipping a page in his book, Hayley was entering the compound with heavy steps, and Klaus was stealing a kiss from a giddy Audrey in their bedroom. Giuliana pressed her hands to her ears, trying to block out the sound, but it only amplified it. It had suddenly become so loud she felt as if she was suffocating in the sounds around her.
Crash.
Time had suddenly frozen, the noises had been silenced and Giuliana was now staring at her fractured reflection in the mirror. Shards of glass poked dangerously from the surface and the knuckles on her right hand ached dully. Blood oozed from the cuts and Giuliana watched in awe as the veins stopped bleeding and her skin heal all on its own. With her other hand, she lightly trailed her fingertips over her newly repaired skin, it was soft to the touch and there were no scars or evidence she'd hurt herself. This would all be so new to her; the very idea was overwhelming that she could feel the walls closing in on her.
In a flash, she zoomed out of her room, nearly knocking into the door frame in the process, and she jogged down the stairs of the compound. Immediately feeling freer, she hopped down the steps, skipping some because she was moving so quickly. A lot of things were new to her as a vampire, but the speed was something she enjoyed more than she'd care to admit. The initial rushing between rooms would make her head spin, but she grew accustomed to it and she actually liked the feeling of speeding around. She had yet to fully grasp controlling her speed and other qualities, but she'd get a handle on them soon enough, she was positive of that.
She'd reached the bottom floor of the compound and already had her mind made up that she'd stroll along the French Quarter to clear her head, but her body suddenly froze with immense tension. Her back was hunched and the hairs on the nape of her neck stood on edge as a very familiar scent assaulted her nostrils. Trails of blood decorated the floor in a morbid pattern and her eyes followed them to a dead body that was crumpled near the fountain. Giuliana covered her mouth, trying to stop the smell from getting to her, but it only got worse. Her grip on the railing tightened so hard that her knuckles turned milky white and she could feel the metal bending beneath her fingers.
Before anyone could arrive to see her in her panic, she was out of the compound and stomping down the nearest street towards the Quarter. She just had to get outside and away from that rotting body. She gulped down the fresh air, wishing to fill her nostrils with a scent other than blood. As she drew closer to the Quarter, the streets grew more crowded and she was now quickly dodging people coming out of shops. This was the part about vampirism she hated. The thirst. Sometimes it would be under control, but other times, it would have such a hold on her that she could feel herself suffocating. She knew she had more to go as far as gaining more control, but just when she felt like she had a handle on it, she would lose it.
Just as she rounded a corner, she was firmly pressed against the outer wall of a shop. The hands on her shoulders were strong, yet comforting and Giuliana's entire body nearly fell slack seeing who had come to her aide. Elijah's dark eyes were scanning her body language, gauging her emotion, and peering deep inside her soul. She suddenly became embarrassed that she had lost control in front of him; a man who was the epitome of control.
"Elijah...I'm sorry." She hushed, trying to look anywhere but him. She was ashamed that she was running and didn't want him to see her like this.
"Listen to me, it was not your fault." His soothing voice washed over her like a wave, cooling her fiery nerves. It was working, but seeing her so shaken reminded him what it was like to be a newly turned vampire. He had his own struggles after he was turned, but those were dark secrets that he liked to keep hidden away. Klaus was trying to assist Hayley with her grief by taking her out to hunt, but it had backfired and she drained witches and brought them back to the compound. Elijah was naturally annoyed that he'd have another mess to clean up, but he was more worried how Giuliana would handle it.
"Hayley is having a difficult time controlling herself." He added with a hint of disdain in his tone.
Her green eyes were frantically darting everywhere. "I saw the blood and...and I panicked. I had to get away from it."
"It's alright." He calmed her. "You are still a young vampire. You have yet to gain control over your senses."
Giuliana stopped her struggling against him, which she was unaware that she was doing, and she let her shoulders sag. "I just didn't want to hurt anyone."
Once Elijah could see that she had calmed herself down, he let go of her shoulders and took a step back to allow her some space. Their eyes met and he nodded slowly. "I know."
Unknown to the pair, a familiar face was watching them, however, his true face was hidden by a new mask, especially nowadays. A boyishly handsome young man leaned against a column outside a shop from across the street and a smirk crept upon his lips. He studied the pair carefully, knowing that they were too enthralled in one another to notice him and he crossed his arms over his chest. His new body was treating him quite well and he made a mental note to thank his mother for doing a nice job of seeking one out for him. He used to go by the name Kol Mikaelson, but since being in a different body, he'd have to hide his true identity. He called himself Kaleb now, but he was unsure if this was the name of his host body or one his darling mother, Esther, picked out for him.
"Well, well. Looks like pretty Giuliana is alive and kicking after all." He whistled low, his gaze still locked on his brother and the woman he was trying to comfort. The very woman that helped to put a stake in his heart and banish him to the Other Side for the remainder of his days. A lapis lazuli stone glinted brightly from the ring on her finger and he raised his eyebrow in contemplation. It had been some time since he wore one, but he would know that stone and its properties anywhere.
"Perhaps not alive, but still kicking." He clicked his teeth. So, it seemed that Giuliana was now a vampire, but it left Kaleb wondering who turned her. His money was set on Elijah judging by how he was attending to her. Now that she was in New Orleans, maybe he'd have some fun with that, but for now, he was eyeing a cute little brunette that had exited the record shop. Mommy dearest would have to wait until he figured out who she was, so he pushed himself off the pole and sauntered across the street, eager to pick the brain of this young woman.
The sun had just set over the Lafayette Cemetery when Klaus and Audrey entered past the metal gated. The shadows cast off the tops of the tombstones were like long fingers that were trying to crawl from under the ground. Klaus had received a tip that someone was making moonlight rings for a pack of wolves and he refused to let this go on any further. He stomped his boots into the earth, his jaw set and his eyes ablaze for any movements. Audrey had come with him as an insurance policy and to destroy the rings if need be, however she refused to be left at the compound to twiddle her thumbs. They weaved among the headstones and mausoleums, eager to get to the bottom of this.
"What happened to decorum?" Klaus called out into the night and was met with silence. "Does no one greet their guests anymore?"
"They're here." Audrey's fingers twitched by her side. "I can feel them."
Slowly, the rebel wolves came out of their hiding places. Some were so stupid as to take cover behind headstones while others were inside mausoleums. All of them had the same expression of loathing and their jaws practically snapped at the woman with him. The wolves approached them, but still kept their distance knowing that either of them could act if they felt like it. They'd all heard how the Mikaelsons took back the moonlight rings from the Guerreras and even though they had the numbers, they did not compare to Klaus' strength and Audrey's magic.
"Well, that's more like it." Klaus smirked to himself and brought himself to stand just slightly in front of Audrey. "Although, I am rather disappointed at how many of my once formidable brethren have been neutered by a sixteen year old girl." The wolves glowered at his insult, but they remained quiet. They passed glances between one another and Klaus stepped up to them.
"Where is she? Where is this witch who dares craft moonlight rings without my permission?" He asked them.
"Niklaus." A calm voice came from the shadows and Klaus turned to see the wolves parting ways as someone made their way through the throngs. Once the last of them moved, Klaus and Audrey were met with a small boned and short haired young girl. Audrey immediately recognized her from when she spied on Francesca the night they slaughtered the wolves for their rings. It was the witch who was looking for the white oak stake. Even from a vision, Audrey could sense something about this girl deep in her soul and that same nagging intuition came up again in person.
"I've been expecting you." Cassie's serene expression held her features as he met Niklaus face to face. She didn't break; not once. The hybrid even seemed a bit surprised on how well she carried herself. Audrey was put off by it, extremely put off, but she stepped up to stand beside Klaus.
"I see you've brought a guest." The young girl added after finally noticing Audrey and Klaus put a hand on her lower back.
"Well, I would not be so foolish to come alone to a meeting where I was unsure of what I would be faced with." Klaus told her. "This is Audrey Montgomery."
"I have heard many things about you." The younger witch regarded her civilly.
"All good things, I'm sure." Audrey grinned.
"Of course." Cassie's grin matched hers, but somehow it seemed as if she knew exactly who this woman really was. She did a once over of Audrey and then looked back to Klaus. "Shall we?"
"Black coffee please." Giuliana sat at the bar and placed her bag down beside her. She'd finally calmed down after the incident that happened earlier and she was happy to have a few quiet moments to herself. Elijah had left to meet with Marcel to discuss the white oak stake and its possible whereabouts. He did ask her to come along with him, but she figured to let the men handle their business. Hopefully they would find the stake soon since everyone was on edge that it was missing. Who could blame them? If any of the Originals were staked by it, their entire sire line would die along with them. It led Giuliana to wonder how people would react to bodies dropping all around them, but she pushed the morbid thought to the back of her mind when the bartender brought her coffee over.
"Thanks." She pulled a few bills from her purse and sipped from the mug. The liquid burned her tongue and she cursed herself for not waiting for it to cool down. She wondered if she'd ever get used to her new senses, but a part of her held the hope that she'd wake up one day she'd be okay. Her talk with Elijah earlier floated back into her head and he kept reinforcing that she needed to be patient with herself. At times she was patient, but at other times she rushed herself and it would end in disaster. She made a promise to herself that she would try her best despite everything going on around her. Her gaze caught a very familiar face, however it was one she hadn't seen in a long time. She hopped off the bar stool, coffee and purse in hand and she walked to meet the young witch.
"Davina?" The witch turned her head and greeted the vampire with a smile.
"Hey!" She greeted. "It's been a while."
"I know." Giuliana frowned at that and tried to hide it. "So, how have you been?"
"I'm good. I'm actually waiting for someone." She told her, a blush tinging her cheeks.
Giuliana's green eyes sparked with interest. "Oh?"
Davina shifted on her feet anxiously. "Yeah, it's this guy I met. He's...different."
"Good for you." Giuliana smiled widely. "Well, I won't keep you then." She turned to leave, but Davina's gentle hand on her forearm stopped her.
"Actually, would you mind waiting with me?" She asked meekly. "He's already a few minutes late, so if he doesn't show..."
"Say no more." The vampire nodded her head to a free table and the pair sat themselves down. Davina seemed to be more relaxed now, so Giuliana wanted to keep it that way. She could hear her heart beating loudly when she was talking about her mystery man and it was making her anxious.
"So, how have you been?" Davina's question made her squirm in her chair a little.
"I'm...okay, I guess." She replied. "I'm adjusting."
Davina's eyebrows rose and her forehead creased, not understanding what Giuliana was talking about. The vampire bit her bottom lip and lifted her right hand off her lap, perching it on the table's surface. At first, Davina was very much confused and she opened her mouth to retort, but Giuliana gave a wiggle of her fingers and the witch now knew what she had become. She was familiar with daylight rings—her best friend Josh wore one, so she could recognize it—but she was still bubbling with questions as to how Giuliana had become a creature of the night.
"When?" Her voice was as soft, as if almost afraid to ask.
"About four months ago." She replied.
"Are you...?"
"Hungry?" Davina nodded her head. "Oh, no. I made sure I ate before I came. Plus coffee helps with the cravings, you know?"
"I'm really sorry." The witch frowned.
Giuliana sipped from her mug and was going to answer, but the hairs at the back of her neck stood at a presence that was approaching them. A tall young man with alabaster skin and dark hair stepped up to the table and Giuliana caught Davina's smile. Ah, so this was her mystery date, she gathered. He was a cutie, complete with shining blue eyes that could hypnotize anyone with just a passing glance.
"Hi Kaleb." Davina greeted him.
"I'm sorry I'm late. Had a bit of trouble finding the place." He replied with a distinct Irish brogue. Cute and an accent. Lucky girl, Giuliana chuckled to herself.
"It's okay." Davina then gestured to the vampire. "This is my friend, Giuliana."
"Quite the pleasure, love." Kaleb shook her hand with a friendly grin. "Will you be joining us tonight?"
"Oh, no." Giuliana shook her head and gathered her purse. "You two have fun."
"Please?" Davina begged.
"Yeah, stay for a little while." Kaleb agreed with her. "The more the merrier, I always say."
As much as Giuliana wanted to leave, she was faced with the idea of being home alone at the compound. Everyone had left to handle their business, so if she was to go home, she'd have no one to talk to or spend time with. She decided it might be best to accept the invitation and stay. Besides, she did want to know more about Kaleb. She wasn't exactly sure of what it was about him, but there was a suspicion in the back of her mind that was nagging her. Pushing it aside, she placed her purse and coffee mug down.
"Sure, I'll stay for a little while." Her answer made Davina feel more at ease. Kaleb sat next to the witch and across from the vampire. Kaleb and Davina made some small talk while Giuliana sipped her coffee. She quickly checked her phone to see that no one had tried to reach her yet, so she cut her losses and decided to enjoy her laid back afternoon.
Klaus seated himself at one of the tables in the Lycée in a meeting room. Audrey sat next to him while Cassie made tea for them. The vines above them weaved along the ceiling like snakes and some had beautifully colored flowers resting on them. Candles of all shapes and sizes were placed around the room, the soft glow bringing a bit of peace to those inside. The wolves that were outside had stayed there, but Klaus knew that they hadn't got far. Like he had brought Audrey, Cassie had her own backup plan should things get nasty. He really didn't want to murder a sixteen year old, but if it came down to that, he'd gladly do it. Cassie busied herself with placing teacups on saucers and pouring the tea. She came back with Klaus', set it down, then went back to get hers and Audrey's.
"I must offer my condolences on the tragic loss of your child." She spoke as she came back with the other two saucers.
"Wasn't it your coven who threatened her life?" His icy gaze stayed trained on her as she placed the cups down. Audrey eyed the tea suspiciously, not sure if this little girl planned on poisoning her, but she did hope that she was smarter than that.
"Is that tea your idea of a peace offering?" Klaus added and leaned back in his chair.
Cassie took a long sip of her tea, a smile coming to her lips at the earthy flavor. "Chamomile has lots of healing properties. Did you know that it is also a flowering plant?"
"I did. The plants grew wild near my boyhood home." He said and placed his hands on the table. "But, neither the tea, nor your botanical musings explain the reason why you've taken it upon yourself to forge new moonlight rings."
"I assumed that was obvious. An alliance between the wolves and the witches would restore balance to our home." She told him.
"You've got your goals set pretty high." Audrey gave her a pointed glare.
"Long ago, the witches and the wolves were at peace. Then came the vampires-a plague made flesh, a curse on this earth." Cassie was looking at Klaus now, a murderous expression on her face. "You have no humanity and so you punish those who do. Witches have a coven, werewolves have a pack, and so we are a constant reminder of everything that you have forsaken. Creatures such as you will always hate the living, and so we will always have to defend ourselves. The rings level the playing field. If we are united, nothing can stand against us."
Klaus marveled at the amount of anger stored within this young girl, but he was even more enamored at how well she kept it at bay. "It's an ambitious strategy. But, allow me to offer a few words of advice, if I may be so bold?" Cassie's silence gave Klaus the go ahead and so he leaned forward, getting into her face. "New Orleans is a vicious place and your enemies are everywhere. Behind your back, before your eyes. You will need to remain vigilant against those who would seek to destroy you, some of whom you may never see coming."
Once again, Cassie held the same calmness she possessed since she greeted Klaus and Audrey outside the Lycée. She gracefully lifted the cup to her lips, took a sip, and set it down in the saucer. "I've already begun to take precautions. In fact, I'm taking them as we speak."
"My family? Oh, no. They're all crazy as loons." Kaleb chuckled. "How about your family?"
"Not much to say. Only child. My dad was distant, which is a lot better than my mom." Davina replied.
"Mommy issues, eh? Bet she's a control freak, right?" He wondered and the witch nodded her head. "Yeah, same as mine. She's the reason I stopped practicing magic for so long."
Both Davina and Giuliana looked up from their drinks, suddenly intrigued by what Kaleb had told them. So, he's a witch, Giuliana gathered. Ever so subtly, she switched the hand that was holding her mug with the other and tucked her hand with the daylight ring on it in her lap. If Kaleb was a witch, that meant he was no amateur when it came to supernatural beings. She hoped that he didn't see her ring, but she had to account for some small percentage that he already knew what she was. Still, she meant Kaleb no harm, so the rest of the evening should go as smoothly as it was before.
"You're a witch?" Davina hushed excitedly.
"Don't look so surprised, love. I didn't just ask you out because you're gorgeous." The warlock's compliment made Davina blush. "No, we're, uh... we're kindred souls."
"What do you mean?" She asked him.
"I know your story, Davina. I mean, you're practically famous. You're the Harvest girl who told them all to shove it." He smirked. "I'm a lot like you. Don't really believe in rules and authority. Your courage...it should be celebrated."
Davina's blush crept up into her cheeks and she smiled like a kid on Christmas morning. That smile faded, however when her phone rang from beside her. She checked the caller ID and wrinkled her nose seeing it was Marcel. As much as she hated to stop her date with Kaleb, she knew that Marcel wouldn't be happy if she ignored her call.
"I'm so sorry, he'll just keep calling until I answer. I'll make it quick." She pushed her chair out from the table and darted out of the bar, leaving Giuliana and Kaleb to themselves. The two looked at one another from over the rims of their glasses and Kaleb let out a long sigh.
"So, Kaleb. How long have you been in New Orleans for?"
Kaleb gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Not too long. Still getting used to it. You?"
"About a year." She replied. "I came with a friend of mine and I've come to really like it here."
"I'm sure I will too." He said. Giuliana grasped her glass with her right hand and he smirked seeing her ring now in plain sight. It wasn't until after she put the glass down did he reach out and take her wrist in his hand.
"That's a lovely ring you have." His sudden compliment and touch made Giuliana shift in her seat. She didn't want to be rude and yank her hand away, but at the same time she wanted to yank Kaleb's tongue out of his mouth.
"Thank you."
"I know this stone very well." He continued, still holding onto her hand. "It can be spelled to help vampires walk in the sunlight."
Giuliana swallowed thickly, her emerald orbs jumping all around the bar. It had become crowded since they first sat down, so it would be hard to act without being unnoticed. She could always compel him; he didn't look like he had any vervain on him, but there was always that small percentage that he drank it every day. The vampire cleared her throat and wiggled her hand from his hold, shielding it close to her chest.
"Well, well." Kaleb pursed his lips. "Your friend, Davina, really breaks the rules. Hanging out with vampires? I never thought I'd see the day."
The vampire was quick to jump back to being calm again, not wanting to give Kaleb any indication that she had been uncomfortable. "Have a bad run-in with vampires, Kaleb?"
"I just know that they can be a nasty breed," he said. "My mother, the loon, thinks the whole world would be better off without them."
"Hmm, I know someone who has that same attitude." Giuliana pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. "Funny enough, they are also crazy. They want to completely wipe out every vampire on the planet."
"That kind of crazy runs deep, I suppose." Kaleb wanted to say something more, but a stranger had come up to the table. It was a burly gentleman with a permanent frown painted on his face.
"You two. Get up." He ordered.
"What for?" Giuliana asked him.
"Private party." His gruff reply rumbled in his chest. "Find someplace else to party."
"Fine." The vampire stood and slung her purse over her shoulder just as Davina came back inside. She then noticed that the entire bar had emptied out except for a group of young men who eyed Davina when she walked in.
"Guys? What's happening?" Davina asked worriedly.
"Some fellow just announced they were closing for a private party." Kaleb told her.
"We should leave now." The witch said.
"I agree. I don't like this." Giuliana turned on her heel to exit the bar, but she bumped chests with a burly man. His scent wafted into her nostrils and she knew he was a wolf.
"Woah, easy there, doll-body." He grinned widely at her. "Stay a while and party with us."
"We'd rather not." She narrowed her gaze at him. When he stepped up to her, he suddenly fell back. He clutched his head and whimpered in pain. Davina had used a spell to intimidate him.
"Get out of our way. Now." Davina growled. The trio was then surrounded by the other werewolves who had monopolized the bar. They growled at the small cluster and Kaleb swallowed thickly.
"Can you do that with the rest of them, or...?"
"Not all at once." She replied meekly.
"Great." Giuliana deadpanned just before a wolf charged at her. She swung her fist at him, blowing out his jawline with one punch and the bar erupted. Kaleb tried to push a wolf away from Davina, but that only resulted in him being thrown backwards. He crashed behind the bar, breaking a bunch of bottles in his wake.
Giuliana managed to get a few wolves down, but a bigger one descended on her. His fangs crunched dangerously close to her and she let her own fangs free, a threatening hiss passing from them. He dove for her, but she was slightly quicker. She ducked his advance and elbowed him in the side, grinning when his ribs cracked. The wolf howled and his eyes turned amber before he pounced on her, knocking her down to the floor. Her hands held his forearms, keeping his sharp claws from digging into her skin and she turned her head away from jaw which was snapping awfully close to her neck.
"Jwen mwen vennez ça maintenant." Davina chanted and twisted the bracelet around her wrist. She hated to do this, but her friends were in trouble. In seconds, another wolf took hold of her from behind and fisted her hair, exposing one side of her neck. He went to bite her, but was thrown off by the only person who could save her in this moment. The newcomer growled and picked up the wolf on top of Giuliana by his scruff and smashed his skull into the wall. The vampire quickly bolted behind the bar to cover herself from more wolf threats, but she craned her head up, anxious to see who had come to her rescue. Davina was much too tiny to lift up a wolf and Kaleb was still cowering behind the bar. When her savior turned around, she was suddenly at a loss for words at who Davina had summoned.
"You filthy dogs." Mikael hissed at the wolves.
"Oh crap..." Giuliana ducked her head back behind the bar as Mikael began fighting the werewolves. Mikael was back?! What the hell was happening in New Orleans?! Giuliana had hoped that since Genevieve and her band of misfits were dead that things would go back to normal, but she was mistaken. She crawled to the edge of the bar and took up an empty beer bottle. She smashed it against the corner and handed it to Kaleb who looked as if he'd seen a ghost.
"You know how to use this?" She asked him as he took it up in his hand.
"Uh...no."
"Well, you better learn." She said and armed herself with a jagged bottle as well. Kaleb looked as if Giuliana asked him to kill a man and he held to bottle wordlessly. Peeking over the bar, she saw the corpses of the wolves at Mikael's feet. He'd disposed of them like they were nothing, all killed by removal of their hearts or having their necks snapped.
She hid herself behind the bar again, but was suddenly aware of the overwhelming scent of blood that filled the bar. Even if it was wolf blood, it made Giuliana's mouth water. A wet, warm sensation touched her hand and she drew it back to see that it was doused in blood. The crimson liquid stained her fingertips and was smeared deliciously on the palm of her hand. She could feel her hunger growing, eating away at her sanity as it pushed her to feed. Her fangs poked at her bottom lip and the veins beneath her eyes became noticeable. Kaleb watched on, now completely certain that she was a creature of the night.
"Giuliana!" He called her name sharply and it seemed to shake her from her haze. She peered back at him, her eyes tinged with red, but they slowly subsided to the fresh green they'd been before. She wiped her hand on the leg of her pants, as to not get distracted again and she gripped the bottle tightly.
Davina struggled with the only werewolf left standing in the bar and Mikael planned to add him to the list of deceased. The two scuffled until the wolf pushed Davina to the floor, her bracelet coming off her wrist in the chaos. The witch was woozy from hitting her head and hadn't realized about her missing bracelet which she had used to keep Mikael a prisoner in the attic of St. Ann's chapel. Once the bracelet was off her wrist, Mikael noticed a change in the air, like the invisible shackles on his wrists had been cut loose and he was free.
"Well, now. What an interesting turn of events." Mikael stalked to the wolf, ripped his heart out in one motion and picked up Davina off the floor by the front of her shirt.
"I'm going to enjoy this, girl." He shook her, reveling in the fear that gripped her and bent down to take a bite out of her neck.
"Don't you touch her!" Giuliana flew in and shoved Davina out of Mikael's hold. She tumbled to the ground and out of the way while Giuliana squared off with the Original. The younger vampire opened her mouth, exposing her fangs and hissed at Mikael.
"Well, well. A progeny of one of my sons, I imagine." He came towards her and she slashed at him with the beer bottle. It cut along his cheek and neck, but that would hardly stop him. She moved to hit him again, but he blocked the bottle and took hold of her wrist. He whipped her around so her back was pressed against his chest, locking her arm behind her so hard that the bones snapped like a toothpick. Giuliana cried out loudly and clenched her teeth, her entire arm in absolute agony and it didn't help that Mikael continued to bend it. She could feel his fangs at the base of her neck and he yanked at her arm again just to make her scream.
"You are weak." Mikael tossed her away from him and she crashed into some chairs by the bar. The wood slashed her skin, sharp splinters clawed her like the wolves that had bothered her before. She was slow to get to her feet, but the mere effort made Mikael chuckle.
"You were once a hunter and now you have become the hunted." He grasped a beer bottle from off a table and launched it at her. She sped to hide behind a portion of wall, the bits of broken glass barely missing her. Once she was under cover, she yanked out a plank of wood that was stuck in her leg. The point was a bit dulled, but she kept it on her person for good measure. Perhaps it would slow Mikael down, a delusional thought, but a thought nonetheless. She pressed her back into the wall and closed her eyes tightly, fear gripping every nerve in her body. She tried to calm herself down, but she was shaking with terror.
"Come out, little vampire." He taunted her, clearly amused that a baby vampire had come to challenge him. In a flash, she zoomed from her hiding place, jumped on Mikael's back, and bit down on his neck hard. She clawed onto his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist to get a good hold on him as she drank.
Mikael then reached back, fisting his hand in her long locks, and hurled her off him. She hit the floor with a loud thud and quickly maneuvered herself on her back. He reached for her, but she lifted her foot and kicked him in the face, smirking hearing his nose break with a crack. Mikael took a hold of her foot, twisted the ankle till it broke and propelled her through the air. She hit the wall she had taken cover behind, her body putting a nice dent in it and she crashed to the floor.
This time, she didn't get up. Her entire body was riddled with pain, her every nerve and bone had been bruised, broken, or beaten. It hurt to move, it hurt to breathe, it hurt to blink. Giuliana tried to get herself off the ground, but she accepted that this fight was over and she was the loser. She had just enough strength to focus her gaze as the Original stood over her. Mikael was slightly impressed by her will to fight, but in the end, he knew she wouldn't stand a chance against him. He took the white oak stake from the waistband of his pants and bent down to her level, crouching before her like a tiger ready to devour his prey. He pressed the tip of the stake against her throat, enjoying her gasps of pain that fell from her throat.
"Any last words?" He asked her with a crooked smile.
Giuliana spat in his face, hitting his right eye and she snatched her stake from inside her jacket and thrust it upwards. Granted, it didn't hit his heart, but Mikael gave a loud howl. He quickly recovered and removed the stake from him before stabbing it into Giuliana's chest. Her mouth hung open, pained whimpers falling from her lips.
Suddenly, Mikael was tackled away from the young vampire by Elijah. The Original bent down beside her and pulled the stake out of her chest, earning a low groan from her. She prodded the healing wound and Elijah dropped the stake to the ground. Worry creased his features, but when the young vampire gazed up at him, his fears were calmed.
"He...missed." Giuliana rasped with a wry grin, but it was quickly dissolved seeing Mikael creep up behind Elijah.
"Look out!" She shouted and Elijah ducked out of the way. Giuliana got to her feet, using a chair to help her and she sped to where Davina was unconscious on the floor. Elijah finally had a good look of the attacker and was frozen in shock. His mouth fell open, gaping at the man who was standing opposite him.
"Father?"
"Hello, son. I'd hoped to see your brother first, but we have some unfinished business as well." Mikael seethed. Elijah was the first to attack and the two began to fight. Mikael gripped the stake tightly in his hand and was able to push Elijah against the wall, aiming the wood at his heart. While Elijah was strong, he knew that he could not overpower his father.
Giuliana helped Davina to sit upright and she lightly pressed against the open wound at her temple. The witch was now aware of her surroundings, but panic gripped her when she realized that her bracelet was gone. Suddenly, Marcel appeared beside them and hoisted Davina to her feet.
"We're getting out of here." He told her.
"No! Marcel, I need my bracelet." She told him frantically. "I can use it to control him."
Both sets of eyes caught sight of the bracelet beside a dead body and Giuliana rushed to grab it while Elijah struggled with Mikael. Just as the cool metal touched her fingertips, she heard Elijah give a shout as Mikael impaled the very tip of the stake in his chest. Giuliana tossed the bracelet to Davina which caught Mikael's attention and he sped for her, but it was too late.
"STOP!" Davina ordered with her hand raised and Mikael obeyed her command. The bracelet hung on her wrist, taunting the Original like an animal in a cage. He gritted his teeth, wanting to challenge her, but he knew there was no winning this fight.
"Go back. Now!" With a reluctant sigh, Mikael disappeared from the bar. Giuliana then moved to Elijah who had healed, but he was more concerned about Davina's newly revealed secret. Her bracelet meant that she could control Mikael's every move and because he had the stake, it made Davina the most powerful person in the room. Marcel tried to say something to the young witch, but she shied away from him and walked out of the bar.
The sound of shuffling from behind the bar made the vampires stiffen, but they were quick to let their guards down seeing that it was Kaleb who had come out from behind the bar. He looked shaken and very spooked by what he'd seen, but the other three vampires had no idea how frightened he was to see his own father in the flesh. The only one that shared his fear was Elijah who stepped up to Kaleb.
"Something to say?" Elijah asked him.
Kaleb shook his head and blinked a few times. "Not me, mate. Not a bloody thing."
Audrey watched as Klaus took a long sip of his tea while her own cup remained untouched. She just didn't feel right being in the witch's presence. Something about Cassie did not sit well with her and it clearly showed because Cassie was none too pleased that Audrey hadn't touched her tea. The Blood Witch sat back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other, pursing her lips together tightly.
Klaus placed his cup down on top of his saucer. "Chamomile. It's the same tea my mother made. How I loathed it."
"Would you have preferred mint?" Cassie was mildly amused at his insult.
"You know, she was insane, my mother." He told her. Cassie raised her eyebrows, clearly a bit skeptical about his sudden confession about his mother.
"I haven't met the woman, but I've heard the stories." Audrey added. "She's off her rocker."
"Is she now?" The young witch wondered.
"She believed we were abominations. "A curse on this earth, stretched out over generations," is how she put it. But she was the true monster. She changed her children, stole our innocence, made us vampires, condemned us to an eternity of blood lust, and then acted as if we were to blame." Klaus hissed lowly.
"She sounds awful. Are you building to a question, Niklaus?"
The hybrid narrowed his gaze at her, pointing like sharpened daggers. "You use my full name, as though we are familiars. I find it insulting." Cassie sat back in her chair, keeping her tongue pressed tightly behind her teeth. "Before she died, a witch revealed that your coven was under my mother's influence. Does she speak to you now?"
"She doesn't have to. I know exactly what she would say." Cassie told him calmly, but her expression quickly shifted to one of annoyance. "She would tell you to go to your room for being so rude."
Klaus snapped.
He slammed his hands on the small table, making it shake and tea spilled over the sides of the cups. Audrey jumped back, her eyes wide at Klaus' sudden actions and she moved to brush her hand against his back to calm him, but he was beyond soothing. She watched carefully as Klaus stared into the eyes of the young witch and she could feel a sudden change in his aura. It hit her hard in the stomach, as if she was experiencing his emotional shift. She couldn't pinpoint his exact emotion since there was so many all at once, but she was curious as to why she could register panic and realization in the air around him.
The same group of wolves from earlier was now surrounding them. They came in as soon as Klaus had his tantrum and they glared warningly at the pair who was threatening Cassie. Audrey stood, keeping herself close to Klaus in case things got ugly. Her eyes and the tips of her fingers glowed dark red, challenging the wolves to step forward and a few wanted to, but Cassie held up her hand.
"It's okay." She told them. "Niklaus was just leaving."
"I will happily kill them all!" Klaus roared, but Cassie remained unmoved by his rage.
"Then, you will have murdered members of the very pack you still hope to someday lead. Besides, there's no need for bloodshed. We can always resume this discussion another day." She said.
"Not likely." Audrey spoke up.
"Oh, it will be sooner than you think, Audrey. I certainly intend on it." Cassie's gaze was locked on Audrey's hands, somewhat cautious as to what she could do with her powers when provoked. Her eyes flicked up to Klaus and she gave him a soft smile.
"Goodnight, Niklaus. We will speak again soon."
When Elijah and Giuliana returned to the compound, they found Klaus nearly drowning in a barrel of wine down in the cellar. Audrey was there too, selecting a bottle of wine for herself and Elijah had only guess that their meeting with the witch hadn't gone well. She yanked the cork from the bottle with her teeth, spat it out, and closed her lips around the rim of the bottle. After a few swigs, she passed it to Klaus who broke off the bottle's neck and drank it down.
"Wow..." Giuliana trailed off. "Bad night?"
"You don't even know." Audrey slurred. "I thought that tonight would have been an easy fix. Kill the witch, destroy the rings; everyone's happy."
"I'm afraid I don't follow." Elijah's eyebrows creased.
"It is worse than we thought." Klaus finally spoke. "I met the witch, Cassie. I studied her. Her presence, the way she carried herself, the fervor with which she voiced her hatred of our kind. I looked into that girl's eyes, and, I swear to you, Elijah, she's not just guided by our mother. She is our mother."
Elijah felt the air leave his lungs for the second time that evening. His mother? His mother?! It seemed impossible, but after seeing his father tonight, nothing seemed impossible anymore. Giuliana stiffened too, her worried gaze passing between the two panicked brothers. Even Audrey looked uneasy after having a run-in with Esther.
"What is happening?" The question wasn't meant for anyone and it hung in the air.
"I'm going to kill her! I will boil her bones and feed them to the dogs, if that's what it takes." His brother seethed.
"Niklaus—" Elijah cleared his throat.
"What?!" Klaus snapped. "What could possibly be more important than the return of our mother?"
Elijah sighed heavily as if trying to prepare himself for the next words that were tingling on his tongue. "Our father."
Klaus and Audrey were suddenly frozen in time, a look of absolute fear etched on their faces. The witch slumped in her chair, her hand gripping onto the edge of the chair. Klaus sat in complete silence, mulling over the horror of both his mother and father being very much alive. Elijah and Giuliana drew closer to the stunned pair, hoping to offer them comfort if they needed it.
"I saw him standing there in the flesh as you do now. He was enslaved with some spell cast by Davina." Elijah continued.
"Davina Claire? How did she manage to harvest enough power to control Mikael?" Audrey found her voice again.
"That's not important." Giuliana spoke up. "Mikael...he has the stake."
"Oh God..." The witch palmed her face in her hands. "That means Davina has the upper hand."
Klaus remained silent, but he listened to every words that passed between his brother and the two women in the room with him. He pressed his feet into the floor and pushed himself up from his seat. Three sets of eyes were focused on him, waiting with bated breath to hear what was going through his head. With both mother and father back from the dead, this could mean putting his daughter in danger and he would sooner die than let that happen.
"Well, then there's only one question we need to ask, isn't there?" He peered at his brother who was just as anxious as he was after learning that their mother had blew into town. Both were concerned about baby Hope and they swore from the moment Hayley had given birth to protect her, no matter the threat.
"Which of our parents do we kill first?"
Mommy Dearest and Papa Original are already causing trouble in New Orleans. What plans could they have up their sleeves? Please review!
grapejuice101: Thanks so much for reviewing!
Seraphis88: I was going through Giulijah and Klaudrey withdrawals too! Ps, I love those ship names :) Thank you so much for your kind words! It's readers like you who make it such a pleasure to write!
heytay1: Thank you for reviewing! I hope this chapter had the desired amount of Elijah/Giuliana ;) I have some interesting plans for them in the future of this story.
awanderingreader: Hello there! You certainly don't come off as bitchy or complaining. You're simply stating your opinion and I want to thank you for being honest with me. When it comes to this story, I want to make it more about both original characters fitting into the Mikaelson family dynamic. There will definitely be more moments with Elijah and Giuliana in the chapters to come. I enjoy writing the two of them together, but at times it frustrates me because I want them to get much closer, but I think the slow burn of their relationship really keeps readers engaged. Now that Giuliana is a vampire, she will have to adjust to it and there will be moments where Elijah will be able to help her. I feel as if Audrey has taken more of a front seat in the story because her and Klaus had an ongoing relationship and it has picked up where it left off, making it a bit easier for her to fit in. I want to thank you so much for your continued support, for your suggestions, and for reviewing :)
NicoleR85: Thank you so much for reviewing! Hope you enjoyed this update!
CarlyLynn: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the start of this story and I hope you enjoyed this update :)
Guest: Thank you for reviewing! Hope you liked this update!
Guest: Thanks! Glad you are enjoying this story so far :)
Guest: Thanks so much! Enjoy the update!
Hannah: Thank you for reviewing, Hannah!
Guest: Thanks for reading and reviewing :)
Guest: Hmm, Elijah and Giuliana are not together…yet. They still have a ways to go and there will be a lot of things that will stand in their way. Be patient and enjoy the ride :)
