My Soul to Keep

Chapter 6: Wheel Inside the Wheel

Beta: PrincessOfSilence

Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Originals. I only own my characters and story.


Giuliana's stomach churned sickly and she steeled herself as another scream echoed within the compound. She sat in an armchair against the wall, her fingernails between her teeth as Klaus interrogated yet another witch on Esther's whereabouts. He was in his drawing room while she waited for more information to be revealed, however this had been the fourth witch to be forcefully brought into the compound and none had given up anything. Her ears could pick up a disgruntled groan and the crunch of a heart being squeezed until the muscles collapsed. She swallowed the rising bile in her throat and willed herself to keep calm, but this waiting was driving her mad.

Esther's threat haunted her sleep and she hoped that Elijah was strong enough to endure whatever tortures she had in store for him. Just from their phone conversation days prior, she suspected Esther was trying to convince him to be reborn into a new body. Would Elijah break and take the deal? Would he really betray Klaus and his entire family for the chance to live a normal life? Her train of questions was derailed when Klaus emerged from his drawing room, covered in blood. Without a word, he stalked over to a standing sink and thrust his hands beneath the hot water. Giuliana could smell death wafting from the drawing room and she wrinkled her nose.

"Anything?" She had hoped he would have an answer for her.

"It turns out these witches are delicate creatures." He scrubbed his hands and let the blood swirl around the bowl of the sink before turning off the faucet. "No matter. I suspected my mother had Elijah captive, but none of the witches have been able to indulge me in where she is hiding."

Giuliana rose from her chair, excitement in her eyes. "Then, let's go find him and bring him home."

Klaus shook his head as he dried his hands. "Esther is too powerful; she won't be easily found. I need to draw her out."

"I'm not going to sit here and do nothing," she fought. "Let me come with you."

"I can't have you coming along with me. You said it yourself that my mother told you if you searched for Elijah that it wouldn't end well." He closed the door to the drawing room and passed her.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to change my shirt and then I'm going to find my brother." He smirked at her, but she zoomed to stand in front of him, blocking his path.

"Klaus...please." Her eyes were begging him to budge, but his mind had already been made up. He couldn't let anyone go with him, not even Audrey. He had yet to break that news to her.

"I know you want to help, Giuliana, but you can't," he sighed deeply. It had been the first time ever that Klaus actually approved of someone his brother had taken a liking to, which was why he wanted Giuliana to stay at the compound. He remembered what happened with the witches in St. Ann's. He could recall Elijah's broken expression so vividly that he could paint it with his eyes closed. Giuliana had been lucky to die with vampire blood in her, but Klaus knew that Esther would be tricky when targeting her, so it was best for everyone that he go alone.

"My mother has already warned you to not go looking for Elijah and when my mother makes a threat, it's best to heed it," he added and the young vampire stifled her protests.

"You take the fun out of everything, darling." Audrey slithered from the darkened doorway. She'd been listening the entire time. "At least let her take a crack at your mother; I know that I will."

"No, it's too dangerous." Klaus looked to her. "Which is why I plan to do this on my own."

Audrey seemed too stunned for words once Klaus' response was processed in her brain. She found it almost laughable at first that he would really go alone and leave her in compound to twiddle her thumbs, but judging by his serious demeanor, he wasn't joking. She crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out her hip, her lips pursed in contemplation.

"Oh really?" The witch raised her eyebrow at him and Giuliana shifted on her feet uncomfortably, knowing that the couple was going to argue over this point until they were both blue in the face and she didn't want to have any part in it.

"Uhm, I'm gonna go...you know, do something." She disappeared from the room, not wanting to listen in on their argument. As soon as the door shut, Klaus tried to explain himself, but Audrey was less than forgiving.

"I was going to tell you..."

"No need. I've received your message loud and clear." She narrowed her gaze at him. "I get in the way."

"That's not what I said," he growled.

"No, but you might as well have. I mean, after being snatched up by Mikael, you might as well lock me away."

In the blink of an eye, she was pressed to the bay window, Klaus' body trapping her there. His hands gripped her shoulders, holding her still and his gaze locked onto hers. Normally she wouldn't mind this sudden closeness, but she was angry at him for planning on seeing his mother without any kind of assistance. She was still shaken by the events that happened with Mikael, but she wouldn't let Klaus see that. She never wanted him to look at her and see someone weak and vulnerable, but Klaus' death scared her more than she cared to admit. Looking down at her now, he could see his own fears mirrored and he desperately tried to keep them hidden. Mikael had come too close to killing Audrey again and even though Klaus had sworn to never let it happen; it did and he hated himself for that.

"Don't test me, Audrey," he warned.

"It's what you want to do, isn't it? To keep me away from every threat that comes our way. To protect me like a porcelain doll?" She asked him. "I'm not a damsel in distress, Klaus. Don't treat me like one."

Klaus shrugged innocently. "I'm not. What you're failing to see is that I am trying to protect you."

"From your mother? I can handle her," she countered.

"Audrey, I refuse to have Mikael or Esther take anything else from me again. Including you." His breath ghosted over her cheeks. He stared into her eyes and he could see they were filled with an emotion he couldn't quite place. It was anger mixed with something else. He didn't want her getting hurt, he didn't know if he could bare that thought. He placed his hands gently, yet firmly on her shoulders and took a step back.

"This fight is between Esther and I; I intend to finish it." He added and he felt her tensed shoulders relax in his hold. He was somewhat taken aback by her sudden change of heart, but he took it in stride, not wanting to question it.

"Fine." She nodded slowly and took his hands in hers. "Go. Just be careful."

Klaus brought their joined hands up to his mouth, his lips brushing against the back of hers and he smiled warmly at her. He then sidestepped her and walked out of the room, exiting the compound. Audrey watched his car pull out of the driveway and she rolled her eyes once he was out of sight.

"He thinks he can keep me here? He's got another thing coming." She tsked and stormed downstairs where Hayley and Giuliana were speaking in the dining room.

"Conversation with Klaus go well?" Hayley asked, a sly grin on her lips.

"Very funny. I'm sure you were able to hear every word," the witch droned.

"Hey, I can relate." She held her hands up. "Picture me pregnant and Klaus not wanting me to take a walk around the block on my own."

"I remember." Audrey sighed. "I hate when he's like this."

"He just wants to look out for you." Giuliana spoke up. "Gotta give the guy some credit."

"What do you say we go on a little rescue mission?" The hybrid and vampire's heads were spinning at Audrey's sudden change in conversation. "Just us girls?"

Hayley and Giuliana looked skeptically at one another. They were both thinking of doing something to find Elijah, but neither of them actually voiced it. Before Giuliana could reply, her phone buzzed in her pocket and she checked the message. Audrey's blue eyes passed between the girls as she waited for them to say something, anything.

"Well, I was planning on going after Oliver. Word has spread through the Quarter that he is going to be executed for going against the wolves." Hayley said.

"I'm game." Audrey smiled and Hayley blanched, her eyes going wide at the very thought of going with the witch. "What about you Giuliana?"

"Cami needs me. Some big emergency." She'd received a very vague text message from Cami asking to meet at her uncle's apartment, but no other information was given. "Besides, Esther threatened me if I went after Elijah."

"Hmm," Audrey hummed softly before clapping her hands. "Shall we?" The witch pranced from the compound, leaving Hayley to roll her eyes.

"Can we please switch? I'll go to Cami's if you go with Klaus' little witch." She offered Giuliana who giggled, shaking her head.

"Come on. You two will be fine," the vampire replied.

Hayley huffed and stood from her seat, disdain all over her face. "I'd just rather do this on my own."

"You're just saying that because you want to meet Jackson again."

"Well...you're not wrong." Hayley smirked slyly. Jackson had been on her mind for a while now and she practically jumped at the opportunity to see him again, but she really did not want to bring Audrey along.

"Like I said, you'll be fine," Giuliana sighed. "Consider it time for you two to get to know each other better. Some girl-time."


"Girl-time, my ass." Hayley huffed under her breath. Audrey held up the rear while Hayley trudged through the very familiar grounds of the deep bayou. Neither of them had said a word to one another since they left the compound and Hayley preferred it that way. After all, she had given birth to Klaus' baby and now she was on a mission to find Oliver with Klaus' lover. Needless to say it was a pretty awkward situation for the both of them. Hayley just found it best to steer clear of Audrey to avoid situations like these, but the witch practically invited herself on this rescue mission.

"My gosh, someone's a worrier." Audrey's voice made the hybrid's ears perk up. She stopped her pace and turned over her shoulder.

"Excuse me?"

"I can feel it. Your muscles tensing," she replied.

Hayley just brushed her off and continued walking forward. "Well, I'm a tense person."

Audrey sighed and quickened her stride, catching up to Hayley. "I mean, I don't blame you. You have a lot to be tense about."

The hybrid stopped again, this time so sharply that Audrey almost smashed into her. "Look, let's just cut the small talk and find Oliver. Got it?"

Witch and hybrid were staring one another down before the latter backed off. Hayley knew this idea would be horrible, but she bit her tongue, whirled on her feet and stomped forward. The quicker she found the Alpha, the less time she'd have to spend with Audrey.

"Just trying to make some conversation." Audrey sang as she kept up with the hybrid.

"Well, don't. We'll find what we need a lot faster by not talking." Hayley then slowed herself and turned left, making her way through the thicker brush. "Can't you help find the Alpha? You've got witchy powers."

"I could, but my powers wouldn't do much good. Besides, you're the best person to find an Alpha. These are your people." The witch moved some tree branches that were in her way. "Just...follow your nose."

Hayley rolled her eyes at Audrey's lame attempt to make a joke. "I can see why you and Klaus get along so well."

"You have to admit, that was a little funny." The witch chuckled to herself.

The pair had come to a clearing the bayou and the surrounding sounds had suddenly become silent around them. Hayley's fists clenched by her side while Audrey wobbled on the uneven ground below her. Looking down at her feet, she could see the faint imprints of a boot in the drying mud. It must have been made recently, she thought and bent down to the print. She placed her hand on it, her fingers feeling the ribs of the bottom of the shoe and Hayley walked over to meet her.

"Find something?"

"A middle-aged male...he isn't traveling alone." Audrey focused on the energy she was receiving from whomever left the boot print. The visions were fleeting and fading, like how lightning flashes across the sky but quickly disappears.

"Is he a friend or...?"

Suddenly, a whoosh cut through the air like a knife and the girls ducked just as an arrow raced by them. The point embedded itself in the trunk of an old tree and a figure emerged from where the arrow was fired. It was the man Audrey had seen in her fractured visions and his very presence left even more mystery to him. In his hands, a heavy crossbow was aimed at the pair and he seemed torn as to who to attack first. His face was careworn, a slight dusting of grey in his hair and wrinkles on his skin, however his sharp blue eyes told a different story of wisdom through experience.

"Well, judging by the fact he tried to skewer us clearly makes him an enemy," Audrey said.

In seconds, he reloaded his crossbow with another arrow from his quiver, but before he could pull the trigger, the metal beneath his fingers grew warm. Audrey's eyes now had a dark red hue to them and the crossbow was suddenly locked, so even if he wanted to fire another shot at them, he couldn't. The arrow in the chamber snapped in half and the man growled low in his chest. Hayley crouched down, readying herself to leap at him and Audrey's glowing hands stood at the ready. The man removed a knife from the sheath by his leg and held it close to him.

"Stop!" A loud voice broke into the clearing and both parties heeded it. Hayley knew that voice and immediately whipped around to match it to a familiar face.

"Jackson?"

The wolf stepped out from the brush and smiled warmly at Hayley who tried her best to hide her excitement. Audrey's magic dissipated, her eyes and hands returning to their resting state. The man that tried to attack them sheathed his knife and stepped back from the women, closer to Jackson.

"I see you've met my friend Ansel." Jackson nodded to the man who had looked up from his broken crossbow.

"Oh...you mean the guy that was trying to kill us?" Audrey grumbled.

"You know them?" Ansel questioned.

"Yeah, actually. I do." Jackson nodded, his eyes on Hayley the entire time. "Hayley was supposed to be my wife."


"Woah...what is all of this stuff?" Giuliana asked in wonderment as she fought the urge to touch everything on the packed shelves of Father Kieran's apartment. Dusty books and artifacts of all sorts were squeezed tightly together, the bottom of the shelves could hardly be seen because of all of the contents resting on them.

"All of it belonged to my uncle," Cami replied. "I don't even know where to start."

"Okay, just take a deep breath." Marcel's calm voice did little to help Cami who was still shaking from her encounter. "Tell us what happened."

"I was at Rousseau's this afternoon having a drink when I saw my grad school adviser there, Vincent. So, we started talking and then he was asking questions about Klaus, of all people. And then he ordered my favorite drink like he's been watching me."

"Creepy." The female vampire shivered.

"I bet you want a new adviser right about now," Marcel said.

"Who is he, Marcel? I mean, really?" Cami asked.

Marcel sighed heavily. "Long story short is...impossible."

"Yeah...like really impossible." Giuliana added.

"I checked the school website. Vincent Griffith has no other academic credentials. And, according to my Uncle Kieran's big book of New Orleans's bloodlines, Griffith is a family of witches."

"Trust me, it gets much worse." Giuliana spoke. "Vincent isn't actually who he says he is. Sure, he's a witch, but he's got a thousand year old dead vampire inside of him. Finn Mikaelson."

"My adviser is Klaus' brother?!" Cami blanched, incapable to comprehend what Giuliana had told her. "Oh God! What? Then why was he talking to me of all people?"

Marcel shrugged his shoulders. "Probably to get the scoop on Klaus. Or maybe to use you as bait for a trap. I don't know; it doesn't matter. Either way, you're done with that guy."

Cami shook her head back and forth furiously. "Oh no. I'm just getting started."


"After Francesca Guerrera took over the wolves, she offered me a moonlight ring as long as I'd call her Alpha. I declined," Jackson explained. The four of them sat around a warm crackling fire under the clear black sky. Ansel was the furthest away from the group and was sharpening his knife since his crossbow was broken. Audrey curled her arms around her body, a chill in the air making goosebumps rise over her skin.

"So, a couple of her brothers dragged me out here and left me for dead. By the time I healed up, word had spread about what happened to you, and to your baby." He added.

Hayley's eyes met her feet and a frown painted her lips. Jackson didn't know that Hope was in hiding; only the Mikaelsons knew and as much as she wanted to keep it that way, she felt that Jackson had a right to know what really happened all those months ago.

"So, I knew it was over and I just drifted. That's when I met Ansel. See, he's been teaching me the old ways, the traditions. What it means to be a wolf," he said.

"You mean by living out in the ass-end of nowhere?" Hayley chuckled in an effort to break the awkward silence, but Ansel didn't look up from his knife.

"And trying to kill anything that moves?" Audrey narrowed her gaze at Ansel, but he was no amused by either comment.

"Hey, easy. Your kind makes him ornery." Jackson defended.

The witch clenched her fists and ground her teeth. "Look, I get Esther took one of your boys, but we're here to get him back. More so Hayley, I just came along because my boyfriend of an Original hybrid doesn't want me to get so much as a paper cut."

While her reply was not directed towards Ansel, he still shifted uneasily. He continued to fiddle with his knife, trying not to pay the conversation any mind. Audrey noticed his suddenly reprieve and eyed him curiously. Ansel was a strange character; she knew that even before meeting him. When she picked up his energy in the woods, she could hardly see him because of the shadows that had surrounded him. Hayley now stood from her trunk, looming over Jackson.

"Jack, whatever you and your friend think of me, my kind is the wolves." Hayley's frown grew deeper. "Even if they did pledge allegiance to a witch. All that means is they need an Alpha. Ollie needs one, too."

Jackson stood too. "Yeah, I heard about that. The thing is, Ollie betrayed me. He plotted with the Guerreras. He spilled his own people's blood."

"He was trying to make up for that." Hayley sighed.

"It doesn't matter. The witches have him—he's dead. Not that I care."

"You don't want to be the Alpha? Fine. I'll save Ollie myself." She turned on her heel and started to walk from the campfire, but Ansel packing up his gear made her shift uneasily. He slung his quiver of arrows on his back, sheathed his knife and took up his crossbow.

"Hey, you got a problem, old man?" She glared daggers at him.

"I have no love of vampires, but I will not allow a wolf to be killed by witches."

Hayley cast a glance at Jackson who was surprised by Ansel's decision. "At least someone is interested."

"Finally," Audrey rose from beside the fire and stretched her arms over her head. "I was getting antsy just sitting here on my ass."


"Whew!" Cami placed her drink down on the table with a clunk and was quick to refill it. "So, how would you diagnose my friend Klaus, if I may ask?"

"Well, he's clearly depressive. Low self-esteem, paranoia," Finn chuckled. "Impulse control. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Marcel, why do we think we can do this?" Giuliana whispered to him. "We're amateurs."

"Come on." He chuckled. "Don't tell me your transition to a vampire means you lost your optimism."

"I'm not trying to be a pessimist, but we're dealing with a thousand year old vampire who is in the body of a witch," she pointed out. "We're kind of going up against the impossible."

The pair pressed themselves close to the back door of Rousseau's and listened in on the conversation between Cami and Finn. Ignoring Marcel's warnings, Cami had come up with a plan to try and found out Finn's real motive and the vampire decided to enlist Giuliana's help. The bar was awfully crowded for a Saturday night and the extra noise made it difficult for them to eavesdrop, but by staying by the back door, they could swoop in if things got really bad, really fast.

"A lot of it is beyond me. Too much history...I don't know, like all the stuff with his siblings." Cami continued. "You know, the resentment. How do you manage it?"

"I beg your pardon?" Finn asked, confusion laced in his voice.

"Dammit. She's gonna blow it." Giuliana smacked a hand to her forehead.

"Relax." Marcel cooed.

"In, uh, one of our first sessions, you mentioned that you don't get along very well with your brothers." Cami hoped her quick thinking would be enough to throw Finn off her scent. "Do you stay in touch with them?" She asked.

"In a manner of speaking; we're not particularly close." Finn replied, seeming to be quelled by Cami's response.

"Hey," Gia crept closer to Marcel and Giuliana. "Anything yet?"

"No," Marcel replied. "Make sure your post stays clear."

"Sure." She nodded.

"Just don't try to compel anyone." Giuliana smirked and Gia flipped her off with a teasing grin before returning back to the side alleyway of the bar.

"And your parents, are they still around?" Cami's next question left Finn silent once again and Marcel frowned. "Am I prying? I'm totally prying." The blonde laughed uncomfortably.

"All this talk about my family, when you so recently scolded me about boundaries." Finn sounded less than pleased.

"Just searching for coping methods. Trying to learn from the master." She giggled nervously.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Crap! She's a sitting duck!" Giuliana hushed and moved for the door. "I'm going in there."

"Giuliana, wait!" Marcel gripped onto her arm in an effort to stop her.

"I can't leave her in there." With her free arm, she opened up the back door when the two felt a shadow creeping up behind them. They whipped around and were greeted by the stench of wolf wafting in the air and stepped away from him, letting the door fall shut.

"You must be lost. Vampires caught in the Quarter are to be killed on sight." He growled at them. Marcel stepped in front of Giuliana, gently shooing her away.

"Marcel..." She knew what he was going to tell her, but she didn't want to hear it.

"Go. Run," he said to her. "As fast as you can."

"But—" Giuliana was cut off by the wolf lunging for her, but Marcel was quicker. Both men tumbled to the ground, wrestling one another for dominance. The female vampire did what Marcel had told her and ran, even though she doubted every single step she took.


"Go with Ansel, they said," Audrey huffed under her breath. She crept behind a large crypt and stayed low to the ground, stifling a giggle as the high grass tickled her knees. "It will be fun, they said."

The four of them had entered the cemetery and it was Ansel's idea to split up once inside. Hayley and a hesitant Jackson were a pair while Ansel was with Audrey. The grounds were eerily silent and it made Audrey shiver. She listened for Klaus' voice and could not find him, but perhaps her magic could find him. Ansel had not joined her yet, but it wasn't like she missed his company. Shaking her head clear of the mysterious man, she placed her hand on the cold stone wall and let her magic do the work. Her eyes remained fixed black orbs while her aura weaved in between the tombstones and mausoleums. She could hear a very low heartbeat drumming in her ears, so she followed it until it led her to the open grate of a crypt. Her aura stepped inside and was nearly shocked back to her physical body seeing Elijah's unconscious form hanging in chains.

Her black irises were hardly clear before she hit the ground running. She followed the path her aura made clear for her and soon she was in the very same crypt where Elijah was. His eyes were open, staring at nothing and they were almost lifeless inside. She would make jokes about how Elijah could be as dull as dishwater, but seeing him in this state was frightening. Her eyes followed the links upward to see a doll sitting at the top of them, no doubt a charm to keep him there.

"Oh my god..."

"Don't be alarmed. He is simply dreaming." A cryptic reply made the witch whirl around in a panic.

"Esther."

"I figured you would find him soon enough," she said. "Now, I told Niklaus that I will return Elijah to him when the time is right, but Niklaus is still learning about his past. He should be joining us shortly."

Audrey's steely gaze hardened. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing that he won't recover from." She shrugged and tilted her head to the side. "I wonder...I'm sure my son has told you that I am evil, but yet, here you are against his wishes."

The witch's shoulders deflated and a frown tugged at her lips. "But, I—"

"A brave girl. Perhaps that is why Niklaus is so taken with you." Esther smiled warmly.

"Thank you for that little nugget of wisdom, but we're leaving now." Audrey turned back around to Elijah and reached for his chains. A bright spark emitted from the links and Audrey drew her hands back as if she placed them on a hot stove. She could feel the skin on her hands burning and she clutched them close to her chest.

"Bitch..." She muttered as she used her magic to heal her blistering skin.

"I've been called far worse." Esther assured her, earning a glare from Audrey. "I do not wish to fight within my family any longer. I want nothing more than to bring everyone together."

"Don't you get it? No one wants a part of your deal."

"Give them time, they will change their minds. Elijah has already begun to see the light." She looked to her sleeping son in adoration. "It's a shame that such good children have grown to be monsters."

While she spoke, Audrey kept her glowing hands by her sides. She needed to get Elijah home, preferably before Klaus showed up because she knew he would have her head if he saw her out and about. She'd explain her later, of course, but for right now she needed to work quickly. Esther was the oldest witch in creation and Audrey knew not to underestimate her power, but with her back turned, it made for an easy target. Audrey clenched her fists and shot two glowing orbs at Esther, but they were quickly deflected in a blinding light and a force so strong that it knocked Audrey out of the mausoleum. She tumbled over herself, her open skin scraping against the ground and she finally stopped when her body smacked into a tombstone. She growled low and settled herself on her hands and knees, her breath coming out in labored pants.

"Oh, no. We won't be having any of that." Esther joined her outside in the open air.

Audrey shakily climbed to her feet and dusted herself off. "That was a good trick. I've got some up my sleeve too."

Just as she lifted her glowing hands, she was swept off her feet and pinned to the outside of a mausoleum with a strong hand around her neck. Klaus' angry eyes stared her down and she could feel his energy as he pressed his body against hers. Esther had vanished and now only Audrey would be there to take the brunt of Klaus' rage. She was internally kicking herself; knowing before she left that Klaus would find out eventually, but she couldn't sit back and let Esther run the show.

"Was I not clear of my instructions this morning?" He growled.

Audrey's reply was cut off by the sound of an arrow being released from it's bow and Klaus had barely caught it in his opposite hand. The witch could see Ansel advancing on them, another arrow already drawn and loaded, but what she couldn't see was the shock and fear in Klaus' gaze.

"Unhand her!" Ansel's voice boomed, but as he drew closer, his threatening demeanor changed drastically. His shoulders slumped and he brought his weapon down to his side.

"You." Klaus hushed before removing his hand from Audrey. She held her neck, but kept herself pressed to the mausoleum, unsure of what to make of the staring contest between the two men.

"Niklaus?" Ansel raised an eyebrow.

The hybrid was panicking now, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "No, no! You're not real!"

"Niklaus!"

"No! You're a phantom, conjured by Esther, that's all that you are!" He roared then stomped past Ansel who rushed to Audrey, but she waved him away from her.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She sighed, prodding her neck. Ansel stepped back from her, but she gripped his wrist tightly. She fell deep into his memories which were clouded in shadows. She saw flashes of his life, of Esther, of him receiving the news of the birth of his baby boy and ultimately his death by Mikael's hands. Audrey drew away from Ansel as if she'd been shocked by lightning and she stared upon the face of Klaus' real father.

"Mother! Stop this charade! I know that thing is not real!" Klaus shouted into the darkness, but Esther did not answer him.

"Look at me, Niklaus." Ansel commanded and Klaus slowly turned to face him with a fear in his eyes that Audrey had never seen before. "I am flesh and blood. Your flesh and blood."

"You've been dead a thousand years!"

"And through that time, I lingered on the Other Side, watching you let the world fall apart, until I woke, four moons past, in the land of wolves like myself."

"Lies!" He hissed. "I refuse to believe them!"

"Klaus," Audrey called to him softly. "He's telling the truth."

Anger flooded Klaus like wildfire. It seemed to him that Audrey had been tainted by Esther's lies and he would not stand for it. He was already upset enough that Audrey disobeyed him. He strode towards her, rage in his eyes, but halted his steps when Ansel drew his sword and gently nudged Audrey behind him.

"You will not touch her." Ansel warned, the tip of his sword dangerously close to Klaus' chest.

"Step aside, old man." Klaus growled.

"I expected more from you. However I am not surprised that Mikael never taught you manners when it comes to women."

"You're just in my head!" He pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're an illusion, meant by my mother to sway me to accept her bargain!"

Ansel shook his head and lowered his weapon, but still kept his stance. "I do not speak for Esther. I know nothing of her bargains, but you are my son."

"And, if what you say is real, you are nothing to me. For all I care, you can crawl back to hell." In seconds, Klaus disappeared, a gust of wind in his wake. Ansel sheathed his sword, hurt playing over his features. Audrey stood stone still for a few moments, still unsure of the events that played out really happened. She touched her neck again, her fingertips skimming over the bruises that had begun to form there.

"I'm sorry he hurt you." Ansel's voice woke her from her thoughts.

"He didn't mean it. He was angry," she said. "I should have listened to him."

"That is no excuse," he replied gruffly and she knew it. She stepped closer to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and he looked to her.

"Thank you." She gave him a smile, warm smile and Ansel returned it. Not wanting to be in the cemetery anymore, Audrey nodded to Ansel before turning on her heel and leaving. As Ansel watched her go, his gaze shifted between her and the opposite direction Klaus has gone in. He watched his son for a long time from the Other Side and never had seen his Klaus care for a woman as much as he did Audrey. He hoped deep down that Klaus would not let her walk out of his life as easily as she left Lafayette cemetery.


Marcel's body crashed into the wall of the alleyway and he let out another loud groan. He'd been fighting a losing battle with the wolf who was now looming over him. Marcel did well for himself, however he managed to get bitten and that only slowed him down. He tried to get up quickly, but the wolf was quicker, delivering a hard kick to his ribs. They snapped and cracked, making Marcel wince in pain. The wolf bared his sharp teeth and bent down to bite Marcel again, but he was knocked in side of the head with a lead pipe and he fell to the floor with a clunk.

Marcel's look of surprise made Giuliana smirk at him, but it wasn't long before the wolf was back on his feet again. She lunged at the wolf, swinging the pipe at him and managed to clip his side. Becoming enraged, the wolf growled and his nostrils flared before he charged Giuliana so hard that she crashed to the ground. The beast sat atop her thrashing his fangs anywhere he could break skin, but Giuliana was resilient. She whacked him with the pipe a few times while dodging his lethal bite. The vampire then hooked her legs around the wolf's waist and propelled him over her and into the window of a parked car. Glass shattered, making a plinking noise along the concrete.

Giuliana got up, strode to the wolf and prepared herself to rip his heart out like Elijah taught her, but the wolf wasn't finished with her just yet. As soon as her hand punctured his chest, he bent down and buried his teeth into her forearm. Giuliana yelped, instantly feeling the venom become injected into her veins, but she held tight to the wolf's heart before ripping it out. His body collapsed in a heap onto the floor and Giuliana removed her bloodied hand from his chest. Her skin glistened from the street light above her head and she found herself entranced by it. The blood felt warm and comforting, like an embrace on a winter evening. She rubbed her fingers together, relishing in the soft feel of it against her skin.

However her enjoyment was cut short when her arm throbbed with pain and a moan left her lips. Marcel was slow to join her, his own bite wound pulsing angrily on the side of his neck. He looked to the young vampire who was examining her arm and cringing at the black veins that surrounded the broken and bleeding skin.

"Man, that hurt like a mother," she groaned.

"I thought I told you to run." Marcel's tone was laced with disappointment.

"Please, like I'd leave you alone?" Giuliana grinned knowingly at him. "And besides, that wolf was kicking your ass. You needed my help."

Marcel let out a chuckle and flashed his bright smile. "Come on. I've got the perfect remedy for us."

"That remedy better be a stiff drink."


Hello all! Sorry for the late update, but I was playing in the most magical place on Earth :) It looks as if Klaus and Audrey are at odds and Elijah is finally back home. Please give some love to this story. Much love 3


Guest: Thank you so much for reviewing! I do plan on following the shows events because it acts as a framework for my writing. I will try to deviate from the show slightly, however I often stray away from that because I like to see how the show itself plays out.

NicoleR85: Thanks so much for reviewing!

BrittStar1199: Here's an update for you! Thank you very much for reviewing :) I've got some smut planned here and there for our two OCs and their respective love interests. Don't worry, it's coming ;)

CarlyLynn: Thanks for reviewing my friend! I do feel terrible for Elijah when Esther tortures him :( Giuliana will certainly try to help him in her own way, but she will soon realize that Esther's magic is hard to combat.

Cory: Here is your update :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter.