My Soul to Keep
Chapter 8: The Brothers that Care Forgot
Beta: PrincessOfSilence
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Originals. I only own my characters and story.
"We arrive into this world as innocents. Wide-eyed. Vulnerable. It is the job of our parents to nurture and protect us. Unfortunately, our own parents failed miserably at even the most basic of parental tasks, but we are not beholden to the past they created for us." Klaus spoke eloquently as he slowly paced behind the chairs at the Mikaelson dining room table. Compelled servants bustled around them, bringing in silver trays with all kinds of breakfast foods. Audrey was seated the closest to the head of the table where Klaus had occupied and Elijah sat beside her, his glaring gaze fixated on his brothers.
"Today, a new future awaits. Forget your animosity toward Elijah and myself. Instead, join us against she who truly deserves your ire-our mother." He continued. Kol rolled his eyes while his brother, Finn, sported a look of boredom on his face. Both brothers still sported the heavy manacles that prevented them from doing magic.
"Do this, and we will welcome you with open arms," Klaus offered a gleaming smile to his brothers.
Kol's devious eyes were glued to a tray of pastries that had been set down in front of him. With a shrug of his shoulders, he reached for the silver tray. "Well—"
The rest of his remark was halted once the tray was quickly pulled out of his reach. Klaus moved it closer to Audrey, a cheeky smile on his lips and she grinned before plucking a white powdered sugar pastry from the top of the pile. She popped it in her mouth with a smirk, watching as Kol glared at her from across the table. The witch threw Klaus a wink and took another pastry from the tray.
"But, if you continue to oppose us, a denial of pastries will be the least of your concerns." Klaus added.
"If all you wanted was my allegiance against Mother Dearest, you should have said so." Kol grumbled. "Save me a night shackled to the wall."
"Yes, this was Niklaus; my recommendation was to remove your limbs, one by one, until you comply," Elijah replied.
"And I seconded that." Audrey nodded her head in Elijah's direction before licking her lips of powdered sugar. "I would have enjoyed making your blood boil and watching you both melt from the inside out."
"Brother. Darling." The Original hybrid tsked at the devious pair and Audrey gave him a stern look that he was scolding her like a parent would a child. Elijah, on the other hand, was immune to Klaus' jesting. He was in no mood for childish games.
"We've no desire to torture you." Klaus turned his attention back to his brothers as he clasped a hand on each of his brother's shoulders. "Provided you vow to stand beside us."
"Brothers. Does that word even apply to us? After all these centuries of betrayal? And, has loyalty to you ever rewarded?" Finn shrugged from his brother's hold and met his gaze. "If so, tell me Niklaus—where is our sister, Rebekah?"
Audrey was sure Elijah's own blood would become lava at the very mention of his sister's name. She watched his fist which rested on the table clench so hard that his knuckles turned white. His jawline twitched and he inhaled sharply through his nose. She could still feel the hold of Esther's magic lingering around him like a low fog and she was concerned that the Original mother had truly left her mark on him after exposing his indecencies with Tatia in their home village. The added tension from his brothers, especially Finn, did nothing to ease his worries. Audrey then looked to Klaus who had turn his back on the entire table, shielding his face, but the witch could feel his emotions plucking at her soul. He was scared—for Rebekah and for Hope—but he refused to let his brothers have any inkling that he knew of his sister's whereabouts.
"She was blindly loyal to you for a thousand years, and now? Nowhere to be found," Finn continued. "Where did our sister go and how did she escape your vile machinations?"
"Ha! You think me vile? What, then, do you make of the one who cursed us?" Klaus whirled around, his air of confidence had returned.
"She was trying to make you mortal again!" Finn argued.
Elijah's clenched fist was now holding possession of a butter knife which he clutched tightly as Finn continued to speak. Small beads of sweat formed on his forehead at his brother's words about his dear Rebekah. Audrey quietly slid over a steak knife to the tense Original, hoping he'd take the hint that a serrated blade would do a lot more damage, but he kept his gaze locked on Finn.
"And you both refused her. It only proves how far you've fallen, but I expect Rebekah will have a different response to her proposal."
Audrey then felt a sharp pain at her right temple, a pain she hadn't received since Rebekah and Hope had gone into hiding. She winced, but swallowed any sound that would alert either brother that she knew Rebekah was facing turmoil. She pressed two fingers to her throbbing temple to ease it, but inside her head she was greeted by the sounds of singing birds and laughing children. Audrey tried to focus on other sounds, but the birds were quickly becoming the center of her vision. It sounded like there were thousands of them so close together, the beating of wings accompanying the ever-growing chirping. A comforting hand on her shoulder from Klaus suddenly stopped the noise, the vision being yanked from inside her mind. She peered up at him before placing her hand over his. Klaus remained behind her, worried that Esther was playing another trick on her, but a squeeze of his hand let him know that she was alright.
"See, unlike the two of you, she always did cling to her humanity." Finn's voice helped to clear the fog from the witch's mind.
Elijah was now leaning across the table, so close to his brother that he could reach out and slash them with his knife if he wanted to and oh, did he want to. "Rebekah is off-limits to you. You pursue her and you will suffer."
"Do not let him goad you, Elijah. Neither he, nor Esther, will find Rebekah unless she wants to be found." He glared at Finn. "And she does not."
"Esther is quite determined." Finn met his brother's glare with a sly smirk. "She's been searching for Rebekah since the day she returned. I imagine it's only a matter of time."
Before anyone at the table could open their mouths, Elijah surged forward, grabbing Finn by the collar and slamming his body onto the table. Both Audrey and Kol jumped back, bewildered by Elijah's sudden outburst. Plates and glasses shattered, the jagged pieces falling onto the floor. Without hesitation, Elijah buried his teeth in Finn's neck, feeding on him as to punish him for his threat to Rebekah and Hope's safety. Another pang in Audrey's head made her whimper and Klaus gently took her shoulder.
"Something's wrong," Audrey whispered more to herself than anyone, but Klaus heard her. The question formed in his head, but the ringing of his cell phone stopped it from leaving his lips. Glancing at the caller ID, he whisked Audrey out of the dining room and into an alcove in the compound.
"Rebekah?" He answered the phone without waiting another second longer.
"It's me. We have a problem." Rebekah's frantic, yet hushed voice came through the speaker.
"What is it?" Klaus asked.
"It's mother. She's found us or rather her starlings found us." She replied before casting a glance over her shoulder. On a telephone line over a children's playground sat a large flock of brown birds, intently staring in Rebekah's direction. The Original held a sleepy Hope tightly to her chest and went back into hiding. She had taken Hope to the park, wanting her to enjoy the crisp autumn air when the starlings came. At first, she chalked it up to coincidence because only a handful had perched themselves on the wire, but then they started showing up in flocks. Other parents marveled at the birds, yanking their phones from their pockets, but Rebekah was panic-stricken. She knew those birds all too well and what they meant.
"Where are you?" Klaus asked.
"At the park. I...I'm afraid to leave." She stammered. "They'll follow us wherever they go."
Klaus was at a loss. Audrey's magic that protected Rebekah must have been interrupted when Esther attacked her for trying to break Elijah from his nightmare prison and now his sister and child had been corner in a playground by his wicked mother. He gritted his teeth in frustration, his mind calculating every which way his sister could escape. If he was to step in, he'd be too late and the birds would have already alerted Esther to Rebekah's presence. If Rebekah left, the birds would not rest until they could get a solid location on her and Hope.
"You need to get back to Elijah." Audrey's tone was somber, yet firm. Klaus looked down at her to see the edges of her eyes turning black.
"Audrey...?"
"He'll drain Finn soon and we can't have that. Go." She replied and held out her hand for the phone. As though he was being beckoned into the dining room, Klaus handed her the phone and disappeared with a gust of wind. Audrey pressed the phone up to her ear and braced her other hand on the wall to keep herself grounded as the last bits of her vision was clouded by darkness.
"Rebekah." Audrey spoke.
"Audrey? Where is Klaus?"
"I need you to stay where you are until I tell you to move and keep Hope's eyes covered once you do. Do you understand me?"
The blonde Original remained quiet on the other line and Audrey took her silence as acceptance. Feeling her power swell from within her, she focused on the park's location where Rebekah and Hope were currently being held hostage. She remembered the sounds from her vision and singled out the singing birds. Behind her closed eyes, she could see them sitting on the cable, staring in Rebekah's direction. Audrey muttered, inaudible words fell from her lips and she repeated them over and over again, getting louder each time.
It felt as though an eternity passed as Rebekah waited. Months had gone by and she and Hope lived in peace only to have it suddenly shattered by her mother. She kept a sleepy Hope close to her chest, gently rocking her in the hopes of getting her to fall asleep. Rebekah then felt the winds pick up around her and she put up Hope's hood to protect her from the chill. She was then startled by the loud squawking of the starlings and was tempted to peek, but she would heed Audrey's warning and stay in her hiding place. Beneath the calls of the birds, which suddenly became louder, she could hear a slight crackling and people shouting.
"Go! Run and remember what I said," Audrey's voice came through the phone's speaker and Rebekah bolted, keeping Hope's eyes away from the playground. Pop! Pop! Pop! Rebekah reached her car, threw open the door and settled Hope in her car seat before getting herself in the driver's seat. She threw the car in reverse, keeping the phone clutched in her hand as she watched masses of feathers flutter to the ground and parents whisk their screaming children from the chaos.
In the compound, Klaus had successfully pried Elijah off Finn and had calmed him down enough to explain that keeping their brothers alive was imperative if they wanted to face Esther. As much as Elijah didn't want to believe it, he needed Kol and Finn despite the threats they made towards Rebekah. Klaus knew how protective Elijah was of his family, but he'd never seen him so feral and out of control. Audrey had warned Klaus that Elijah was still not back to normal after being under Esther's spell and today he saw that as clear as day. Elijah was always the trustworthy one, the brother that could keep calm in a turbulent situation, but that man had become shrouded in something Klaus could not place. It was difficult for him to take on the role of being the level-headed one in the family, but he knew he had to for Hope. Elijah adjusted his suit, yanking down at the collar of his shirt before seeing Audrey facing the brick wall.
Klaus then placed a soft hand on Audrey's shoulder, silently letting her know he had come back. The witch gave him a sideways glance which then passed to Elijah. Wisps of white circled the edges of her eyes and grew larger as the seconds ticked on.
"Audrey?" Klaus' eyes found hers and he could see her trying to shake the blackness from her eyes. Without a word, she handed him the phone back and he took it, pressing it back to his ear.
"Rebekah."
"We're okay." Her reply made him sigh in relief. "Although I can't say the children in the park will be okay. Most of them might need some therapy."
Both brothers looked to Audrey, curiosity painting their features.
"You wanted me to get rid of the starlings, so I got rid of the starlings." The witch answered, straightening her body to lean against the wall. Her eyes were back to normal now.
"Yes, but now there are crying, screaming children at a playground because they just witnessed a flock of birds explode."Rebekah huffed.
"Just be happy that those feather heads won't be getting back to Esther." Audrey countered.
"Nik, I don't know where to go." The blonde turned her attention back to her brother.
"Tell her to head west." Elijah suggested. "I will tell Hayley."
"Do not tell Hayley!" Rebekah shouted. "Esther's too smart for that. The only advantage that we have is that she thinks the baby died. Text me the plans."
The line went dead and Klaus pocketed his phone, his mind already contemplating where he could send Rebekah and Hope for them to be safe.
"Go. I'll take care of Kol and Finn," Elijah offered.
"Splendid," Klaus growled. "And, in your hands, I assume they'll be dead by nightfall."
"I will show restraint," his brother promised.
"You have none." Audrey spoke up and Elijah swallowed his pride. "Look at you. Esther's magic still has its claws hooked in you, Elijah; you're not yourself."
The suited Original looked down at his bloodstained and shaking hands. A few droplets had splattered themselves onto the cuffs of his shirt and he dove further into his own paranoia. The words of his mother echoed inside his brain and he desperately tried to shake her away, but Audrey was right. He was a man possessed by his dark past and it was now coming back to haunt him with a vengeance. Tatia. The Red Door. His mind was spinning out of control. He looked between his brother and the witch, sensing their uneasiness around him and that only made him crumble further. Taking a hold of himself, he pocketed his hands, as if to banish the blood from his sight and he took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Hope needs her father." Elijah's voice shook.
"What she needs...what we need are allies to help us defeat our mother. Finn and Kol must be turned to our side. Without their help, there will be nowhere left for Hope to run." Klaus continued.
"Niklaus, your child—"
"I have waited months to see my daughter." Klaus could feel anger burning inside him, but he took a hold of his composure, knowing he had to for Hope. "I can wait one more day."
"Brother, I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe," Elijah promised.
"Is this the place?" Giuliana asked as Elijah pulled his car to a slow stop in front of a small diner on the side of the road.
The Original didn't answer her. He merely killed the engine and climbed out of the car without even waiting for his driving companion. Giuliana fumbled with her seatbelt and rushed to catch up with him, her boots kicking up the dirt as she walked. He didn't speak one word to her the entire car ride and that hurt her more than anything. She could see that he still wasn't himself and that only made her want to kill Esther even more. She'd hoped Audrey would come up with some sort of a spell soon or she might burst. Either that or she'd smack the sense into Elijah.
"Hey, uhm...I know you're not thrilled to have me tag along, but—"
Elijah continued to walk ahead, ignoring her completely. He pushed open the door of the diner, slid inside and perused a booth for them to sit in. Giuliana had caught up with him and she gently took a hold of his arm. She immediately felt him stiffen, but she didn't relinquish her hold.
"Elijah—" When he heard her voice and met her pleading green eyes he was reminded of the very same eyes that begged for her life in his vision. For a split second, the diner was replaced with a dark hallway, her clothes were a white, bloodstained gown, and he had become the monster his mother had created.
"Excuse me?" Both vampires turned their attention to a waitress who had approached them. Elijah seemed to snap from his nightmare and Giuliana stepped in front of him to speak to the waitress.
"Is everything alright?" She asked.
"Yes." Giuliana replied too quickly for her liking. "My...boyfriend and I are tired from the long trip. Lots of driving, you know?"
The waitress' guard dropped and she gave the pair a warm smile. "Oh, yes. I understand. Please, take a seat wherever you'd like."
"Thank you." The green-eyed vampire smiled sweetly and the waitress was on her way back to the kitchen. She then ushered Elijah to a booth and he sat, still deep in thought.
"Elijah." She sat across from him, trying to find the Original she knew was buried deep inside. "Please say something."
A long moment of silence passed and Giuliana decided it would be best to leave Elijah be especially when he was in this state. She took up a menu from the condiment rack and let her eyes wander the kinds of options she could eat. Hopefully they wouldn't have to wait too long for Rebekah to join them. Giuliana was excited to meet Hope only after briefly meeting her at the time of her birth.
"What would you have me say?" Elijah's low rumbling voice partly startled her, so much so that she was unsure that he was really speaking to her. She placed the menu down, giving him her full attention and hoped that he wouldn't clam up on her again.
"Well, this is a start." She smiled warmly at him, but it faded when he didn't return it.
"I lost control today with Finn," he spoke slowly. "I was so...blinded by his threats. I remember the word turning red and I didn't know what I had done until Niklaus brought me back to my sense."
Elijah's dark eyes found their way to his hands which rested on the table's surface. He examined his fingerprints and life lines which had been stained with blood earlier in the day. His hands shook and he saw that Giuliana noticed, so he clasped them together tightly in an effort to stop the tremors. The female vampire reached her hand across the table to gently brush her fingers against his closed hands, but he jerked away at the intimate contact. She retracted and placed her hands in her lap while Elijah did the same before continuing.
"I worry that Niklaus sent you with me to meet Rebekah because he doesn't trust me."
At that, Giuliana's eyes snapped up to meet his. "Of course he trusts you, Elijah. You're his brother."
"Then why are you here?" His question was scathing as he stared her down.
"I care about you," she said as the waitress came up to the table with a coffee pot. She poured the steaming, muddy liquid into the mugs and accidentally spilled some on the cuff of Elijah's sleeve and jacket.
"Oh! I am so sorry. Let me—"
"It's quite alright." Elijah shooed her away as quickly as possible. "Thank you."
"Here," Giuliana rose from her seat and scooted into the booth next to Elijah. She wiped down the table with her napkin and then patted down the fabric of his suit. Watching her dab the stain on his leave brought him back to his home in the forest, particularly the slaughterhouse where he brought Tatia's dead body.
"I told you to clean yourself up. If you were clean, no one would know what you are or what you've done." Esther's voice echoed inside his head as it had anytime he thought he was finally rid of her nightmares. The coffee looked more and more like blood to him the longer he stared at it. He watched the waitress scamper off behind the counter where she whispered to two people sitting there eating. The gentlemen turned to eye Elijah which only made the vampire more paranoid.
"See? No harm done." Giuliana said, placing the dirty napkin aside and to her dismay, Elijah gripped her wrist tightly. She whimpered softly and he drew her in closer.
"Giuliana," his voice was pained and he could feel another nightmare closing in on him.
"Elijah, you're hurting me." Tears stung her eyes as he tightened his hold on her wrist and she tried to tug away, but upon looking in his eyes she could see he slipped beneath the shadows of his mind.
In his head, she was on her knees, begging for her life, for mercy, but the beast inside him would not let her go. Her cheeks were stained with hot tears while his were stained with the fresh blood of his recent kills. She stared up in horror at his gleaming fangs that were sharp enough to tear through her skin and Elijah could hear her heartbeat rattling against her ribcage. He had her now; right where he wanted her and all he had to do was take what was his. He leaned in closer, his breath falling on her skin and he opened his mouth to make the final bite, but a sharp sting in his cheek brought him back to reality.
Once free of Elijah's hold, Giuliana scampered out of the booth and stood a few feet away from the Original who was massaging his reddened cheek. She cradled her bruised hand which paled in comparison to a punctured neck which would have been hers if she hadn't struck Elijah. He peered up at her and was immediately ashamed of what he had done. All eyes in the diner were suddenly on him and some even whispered to other patrons. He stood up, quite rigidly and the female vampire held her ground as much as she wanted to back away from him.
"Elijah..."
"Leave." He commanded. "Now."
Giuliana knew Elijah could not control his outbursts and it was true now more than ever that he needed help recovering from Esther's magic. She reached out to comfort him, knowing that was what he needed the most, but he took her in his arms instead.
"You have to go. I will not have you stay here and be placed in danger." He pleaded with her.
"It was an accident," she countered.
"No." He shook his head. "Audrey was right. I am not myself. I'm afraid I am beyond help now. You...you mean too much to me. I can't let you stay."
"Please," she whispered, but Elijah had made up his mind.
"You will leave this place and not come back." His pupils dilated and constricted, willing her to do his bidding.
"I will leave and not come back." She repeated as a single tear fell from the corner of her eye. Elijah unhanded Giuliana, who turned away from him, collected her purse from the booth and exited the diner. He leaned back against the table, his heart heavy from watching her walk away from him, however the darker corners of his mind were already working to undo him once more. He felt the stares of the patrons from the diner on him, practically burning holes through his expensive suit and in those moments he pondered all of the wicked ways to remove them.
"Do you think our mother is even the least bit concerned for your well-being?" Klaus asked Finn as his nimble fingers danced over the assortment of knives he brought out to torture Finn with. The blades glimmered within the reflection of his bright blue eyes and his devious grin grew wider as he plucked a large knife from the table. He'd brought Finn back to the foyer and chained him back to the stairwell while Kol was upstairs with Marcel. Hoping to keep the heat on both of his brothers, Klaus was optimistic that either one of them would crack and betray their mother. If he could get them both to switch sides, it would be even better, but he would settle for one nonetheless.
"She knows I don't need rescuing," Finn replied weakly. He'd been given enough blood to heal his bite from Elijah, but his body had not yet recuperated from the loss of blood he endured.
Klaus held up the large knife and twirled it around between his fingers, letting the blade catch the light. He tested the point against the tip of his finger and made an approving sound with his lips. He held the knife up for Finn to see, making sure to showcase the length of the blade.
"Hmm?" Klaus looked at his brother expectantly, waiting for some kind of input or comment. He would even settle for some kind of snarky reply. Receiving silence, Klaus gave a shrug and placed the knife down among its comrades.
"You can toy with me all you want, Niklaus, but you've had innumerable opportunities to kill me." Finn replied.
"But, I didn't, did I?" Klaus pointed another object of torture in his brother's direction before placing it back down and waltzing over to him.
"Finn, I understand your devotion to her. She must have clung to you with desperate need after our sister Freya died, making you believe it was your responsibility to care for her. Always and forever, hmm? A burden which you accepted without question, because you were a good son." He explained while Finn wanted nothing more to be free from his chains and back with Esther. "Small children lack the capacity to question their parents, but you're a man, now, Finn."
"Is that the extent of your argument?" His brother questioned. "I'm a man, now, so I should join your wretched cause?"
"Is it not better to join me, then spend the remainder of your mortal life aligned to a woman who always manipulated you?" Klaus wondered aloud. "Brother, I offer you the opportunity to free yourself! Side with me, and I will give you the life she never once offered: a chance to choose your own path!"
Finn remained silent, but Klaus could not place his expression. He had hoped the harsh truths about their mother would make Finn reconsider, but the bond of mother and son was not so easily broken. Even when they were children, Finn was always by his mother's side, always taking up her attention, and always being close by when his other siblings needed their mother's care.
"The choice is yours, brother!" Klaus warned and exited the foyer.
Audrey Montgomery could practically hear Klaus' frustration through the walls while she sat in the open courtyard of the compound. Despite his throbbing anger, she kept herself focused on the spell she had been casting. After Rebekah had been given a location to go to, the witch got to work with putting a veil of protection over her and Hope. Audrey was sure Esther purposely attacked her to see if she had any information on Rebekah and she nearly succeeded with her starlings.
The witch watched Rebekah's car wind along the roads, her blue eyes constantly checking on Hope and the emergence of anymore starlings, however Audrey had taken care of all of them and they would not be bothering her again. The witch's light humming stopped once the door shut behind Klaus and she rested her hands against the surface of the table. Her eyes were closed as to not expose the blackness that had taken over her sockets.
"How goes the torture?" She asked him.
"I forgot how infuriatingly naive my brother is; Finn puts up a good front, but do not worry, I intend to break him," Klaus replied.
"Perhaps Marcel will do better with Kol." Audrey leaned her back against the chair and slowly opened her eyes to reveal them going back to their normal light blue. "He was always the more finicky brother."
"Kol is also a happy homicidal maniac, but we all have our flaws." The hybrid moved to stand behind the witch. He pressed his hands to her shoulders and gently squeezed them.
"Rebekah is out of harm's way. No other starlings have crossed her path." Audrey reported. "She should reach the location you sent her by nightfall."
Klaus let out a long sigh and prodded her shoulder blades with his thumbs. The tenseness of her muscles melted away beneath his calloused fingers. Audrey reveled in his touch, but was struck with the events that happened in the compound earlier.
"I'm sorry Esther got through." Her voice came out small and she wished she'd never said a word if it was going to come out that way. Unfortunately for her, Klaus heard her and his fingers stopped their motions.
"I should have had my guard up when she attacked me." She continued. "She could have hurt Rebekah or your daughter."
Klaus removed his hands from her shoulders and walked around to stand in front of her. He could see the doubt forming in her normally confident gaze and he bent down to be on level with her. He watched the gears grating and churning within her mind, analyzing everything she could have done.
"If it weren't for you, Rebekah and Hope would not have had a chance." His voice brought her wavering eyes to meet his. "You have continued to stand by my family without fault, a feat my own parents could not achieve. It is because of your magic that my sister and daughter are safe. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
His words penetrated deep inside her soul, sending warmth and appreciation through each fiber of her being. Audrey's small frown turned into a lopsided smile and Klaus leaned forward to press his lips to hers. She gently grasped the sides of his face, moving her lips fluidly over his. For the time being, thoughts of Esther had been temporarily knocked from her head. That is, until a shrill shout from upstairs made them break apart. Klaus kissed her once more, muttering having to get back to Finn and Audrey let her fingertips run over her lips as soon as Klaus left the courtyard. She had been worried that her relationship with Klaus would have crumbled with Hope's absence, but it only proved how much they both needed each other. Her bliss was sharply interrupted when she felt another presence inside the courtyard. This one was full of rage and perched about twenty feet behind her.
"Well, well." Audrey stood and turned herself to face Davina. Both witches stood in silence for a long moment, each sizing up the other. Then, a sudden gust of wind blew through the courtyard and the doors Davina had entered through were slammed shut behind her. The younger witch felt a pang of fear course through her veins as Audrey stood coolly, but she would not waver.
"To what do I owe this pleasure, Davina?" Audrey's arms crossed over her chest.
"Where is Klaus?" Davina mustered up the courage to speak.
"He's busy." The other witch snarled, but it slowly dissolved into a sly smirk. "Although, I'm sure Marcel can take a break from torturing your little boyfriend."
"Leave him alone." Davina glowered at her, a sour look strewing over her features. With a shout, she snapped out her hand and pushed her magic against Audrey who braced herself against the attack with both palms open. She held the magic there, testing its strength between her fingers before charging it and sending it back Davina's way. It hit her hard and she flew through the air. Her back hit the double doors she first entered from and she tumbled to the cement ground. Still knocked dizzy from the hit, Davina struggled to get to her feet as Audrey sauntered to her.
"Get up!" Audrey hissed through gritted teeth. "I'm getting sick of you trying to interfere."
The young witch used her pain and anger and flung her hand out in Audrey's direction. Her body was thrown up and back, crashing onto the surface of the table where she had been working. Glasses smashed and vials of herbs cluttered to the floor. Audrey huffed, not expecting such power from a pipsqueak like Davina, but she let that teach her to not underestimate her opponent. The witch brushed off her clothes and straightened herself to her full height. A low chuckle passed her lips as she examined the mess on the table.
"That was good, Davina." She applauded the young witch who kept her guard up. "That almost hurt."
"I promise you I can do a lot more damage," Davina threatened.
"If believing that helps you sleep better at night, then be my guest." Audrey laughed melodically. "You know you're just a scared little girl. I can feel your fear. It's pathetic."
Davina's teeth dug into her bottom lip and grated across it roughly. Her powers were weaker that Audrey's and she hated it. She hoped deep down that her secret weapon from Kol's clubhouse in the cemetery would help her win this fight.
"What's going on here?" Marcel appeared on the stairwell, his gaze shifting between the two witches.
"Marcel, just the vampire I wanted to see." Audrey sang. "I think it's time you sent Davina up to her room."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child." Davina hissed at the witch.
"Now, now, Davina. The grown-ups are talking." Audrey tsked, earning yet another glare from the young witch.
Davina lifted her hands, ready to strike Audrey down with magic, but it was Marcel's form sprinting down the steps that stopped her. He didn't want to get in between the two, but he knew that Audrey would crush Davina if she were given the chance.
"Whoa, D, today is not the day." Marcel told her calmly.
"Actually," she turned up her chin defiantly at him and glared. "I think it is." Davina held out her hand and twisted her wrist quickly. Marcel's neck snapped all the way to the right and he crumpled to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Ooh, you're so gonna be grounded when he wakes up." Audrey chuckled. "Is that what you came here to do? Snap necks?"
"I'm not leaving until Klaus is gone."
"Good luck with that one."
Davina had heard enough talking. She braced herself and sent waves of magic toward Audrey who was ready and waiting for her. Audrey's hands stopped the magic, holding it between her spaced out palms before directing it at the shattered glass that had littered the floor. The shards lifted, hovering at eye level in front of the witch for a moment. She then sent them flying towards Davina who had been too late to block herself from the hail of glass. The pieces embedded themselves into her skin and Audrey simply smirked seeing her bleed.
She then pushed onto Davina with her magic, making her knees buckle under the heavy weight. Davina struggled to stand, but managed to halt the weight from crushing her by emitting her own magic. Audrey bent her knees, allowing herself to lean into her powers as she felt Davina push back. Both witches continued to add more and more power, the mix of white and red auras building between them. Neither witch was backing down from this fight. When one pushed, the other pushed back even harder, refusing to waver.
Suddenly, the pressure that had built up between them exploded violently. The witches flew backwards from the force and the compound shook with the magic that pin balled off the walls. Windows were blown out, the glass raining down upon them and even the floor had begun to crack. Dust trickled down from the ceiling and the doors rattled on their hinges. Once the magic had evaporated, the entire compound went silent and the witches remained motionless on the floor.
The double doors swung open and Klaus sauntered in, his gaze flitting about the disheveled room. He then saw Audrey who had been lying closest to the door. At first he panicked, but upon approaching her, he could feel her heartbeat as he cradled her in his arms. He watched her eyes move back and forth behind her closed lids as she began to awaken. A groan from the other end of the room made his head snap up and he saw a struggling Davina trying to get herself to stand.
"What did you do?" He asked her gruffly, eyeing the drooling cuts and swelling bruises on her skin that already started to form.
"She came for you." Audrey's weak voice reached his ears.
Klaus glanced down at her before swooping her up and gently placing her down on her feet. "I leave for two minutes and you're trying to blow the compound down."
"It's not all my fault." The witch smirked.
"I'm glad you two are enjoying your moment," Davina growled. "Because it's about to be your last."
Audrey moved to rush at her, but Klaus firmly held her back. She didn't fight him, her attack on Davina left her weak. The Original hybrid squared off in front of Davina, a gleaming smirk painted his lips as his fangs protruded from his mouth.
"Let's end this, shall we?"
Rebekah braced her hands against the counter top of the diner's bathroom. Her breath came out in short pants and her mind was a tangled mess of questions and panic while Hope sat comfortably in her baby carrier, completely unaware of her aunt's horror. She'd finally made it to the location Klaus had given her after what seemed like an endless drive. True to Klaus' word, Elijah had been waiting there for them, however Giuliana was missing. When asked what happened, Elijah quickly dismissed the issue, fabricating some story about how she was needed at the compound. Rebekah knew that was a lie. Klaus swore that Giuliana would be with Elijah given the circumstance of their mother's cruel magic and it didn't make sense that she would just abandon him to go back to the compound. It also didn't make sense that Elijah's car was still in the parking lot of the diner.
Pushing that aside, Rebekah continued to hold a conversation with Elijah when she began to notice something odd. A dribble of blood was splattered along Elijah's collar. That was so unlike him. Elijah always made sure he looked presentable and the blood stain was out of character. Rebekah also noticed a smear of blood on the wall to the right of the door. Upon entering the diner she hadn't seen it, but now sitting in the booth it was clear as day. She then politely excused herself, claiming that Hope needed a diaper change and the scooped up the toddler in her arms. Swinging the diaper bag over her shoulder, she scurried to the bathroom and was greeted with more bloodstains on the wall by the kitchen door. Elijah's back had been facing her, so she gently kicked the kitchen door open with her toe to reveal a pile of bodies strewn on the floor. It was Elijah's handiwork and before she would let herself get caught by him, she disappeared into the bathroom.
The blonde Original was unsure of how to approach this. All she knew was that she had to get out of the diner with Hope in one piece. She furiously texted Giuliana, Klaus, and even Audrey, but of course none of them had replied back. Rebekah looked down at a sleepy Hope and shook the fear that was clutching at her heart. She'd risk her life to keep Hope safe, even if that meant going toe-to-toe with her brother. Taking a calming breath, she placed the diaper bag on her shoulder and gripped the handle of the carrier with the other hand. She pushed open the bathroom door with her elbow and walked back up to the table as if nothing had happened.
"Well, she is all sorted and ready for an adventure!" She announced cheerfully as she approached the table. "Aren't you, my love?"
Elijah smiled and stood hearing her. He helped her to place the carrier down in the booth along with the diaper bag. He looked down at Hope who was now fast asleep. Rebekah swallowed deeply as she watched him tuck her pink blanket up higher on her.
"It's difficult to believe we were this innocent once." He sighed deeply. "We mustn't let the world ever hurt her."
Rebekah nodded understandingly, keeping her careful eyes on her brother's form. "You're right. We mustn't."
Suddenly, from behind Elijah came two olive-skinned hands. They gripped Elijah's neck and snapped it roughly to the right. A loud crack erupted and he collapsed onto the floor of the diner. Rebekah's mouth hung open as Giuliana bent down to pick up Elijah's body and place him into the booth. The brunette vampire gave a sigh of relief and wiped her hands on her jeans.
"Sorry I'm late." She said to Rebekah.
"You should be saying sorry for not answering my texts." The blonde Original countered.
Giuliana shook her head. "I couldn't have him know I was on my way back here."
"On your way back?"
"It's a long story." Her reply came with a frown that Rebekah didn't like. "Come on. I'll get him in the car. You get the baby."
"Where the hell are we supposed to go with a body and a baby in the car?" Rebekah hissed.
"I don't know. Just follow me." Giuliana hoisted Elijah's form over her shoulder and made her way outside while Rebekah fumbled in her purse for her phone. She quickly dialed the number she needed and clutched it to her ear.
"Rebekah?"
"Nik, it's me. Something's wrong. Elijah slaughtered a dozen people, whose only sin was their terrible taste in food. I mean, when have you known him to kill when he could otherwise compel? It's the kind of act that will draw our mother's attention." She rambled.
Klaus remained silent for a few long seconds before speaking. "Her torture must have affected him more deeply than I'd realized. Where is he now?"
"Giuliana broke his neck to keep him down, but I have no clue what to do next."
"Do you recall where we dined the Christmas after we fled Mikael?" He asked her.
Rebekah wracked her brain. They spent so many Christmases together after fleeing from Mikael, but one in particular stood out. "Of course-"
"Go there. Now."
Without waiting for confirmation, Klaus hung up the phone and winced as Audrey pressed a sharp, clear crystal against the skin of his palm. It hummed with energy and Klaus could feel his own returning to him. Davina had been a sneaky one. She'd poisoned her blood with dark magic to neutralize Klaus as soon as he fed from her; just like she had planned. With Klaus incapacitated, she and Kol, who'd managed to free himself from his manacles, were ready to get rid of the Original hybrid for good. Marcel had woken up in time to hold Audrey back from tearing Davina and Kol to shreds for what they'd done. Just as Marcel was at his wits end arguing with both women in between him, his salvation came in the form of a blonde bartender. Cami entered the compound with strange puncture marks running along the length of her spine. Kol knew the marks, Esther had prepared Cami to be make her a vessel for Rebekah should she chose to live life reborn as a witch.
Everyone in the room was in agreement that Klaus was needed to take on Esther except for Davina. Even Kol had seen the light and realized his bastard of a brother would be able to take down their mother. With all eyes on her, Davina regrettably removed the poison from Klaus' veins and grumbled about how he'd live another day. Audrey immediately ushered everyone from the room and used her crystals to further purify his blood. He could feel his strength returning, in no time he'd back on his feet. The witch placed the last of the crystals in a pouch and removed the one on his skin.
"I could kill her for what she did." Her body thrummed with anger as she busied herself with gathering her herbs and crystals.
"There's no sense in that love." He tsked and rose slowly from his chair. "She is merely a Harvest girl and wouldn't stand a chance."
"I'd still want to." She mumbled and busied herself at the table. Klaus walked to stand behind her and watched her for a moment. He then placed his hands over her shaking ones. She was angry, he could feel it rushing through her veins. He hugged her close to him, hoping to keep her from exploding.
"You're trembling." He whispered in her ear. As though his words were a drug, she relaxed in his hold and let out a shaky breath.
"What can I say," she hummed. "I don't like being challenged."
Klaus smirked against her ear and pressed his lips to the shell of it. "And people shouldn't if they know what is good for them."
Audrey laced her fingers through his and lifted them to her lips. She gently kissed the backs of his hands and leaned her head back into his shoulder. Her anger dissipated into nothing and they soaked in the silence of just being in each other's arms. A moment that was seldom had in New Orleans.
"Klaus, have you seen Elijah?" Hayley's voice shattered their quiet moment and the couple unwrapped themselves from one another. "There's something I need to tell you both."
"You can tell me on the way." Klaus' hand gripped Audrey's and he led her to the door, past Hayley.
"What?" The werewolf followed them. "Where are we going?"
Klaus turned to face her, a smile on his lips. "To see our daughter."
Hayley's confused expression melted away and she was now beaming with joy. After four long months she'd finally be able to hold her little girl in her arms. She rushed to meet Klaus and the two headed for the door, but Audrey released herself from Klaus' hand. He looked back at her, a frown upon his features, but she silenced him with a smile.
"Go ahead. I'll catch up." She gestured back to the table as if she needed to gather her things and Klaus nodded before leaving with Hayley.
While Audrey was over the moon that Klaus and Hayley would be able to see Hope, a worry she'd kept at the back of mind was now clawing its way forward. With Hope now very prominently in the picture, that meant more dangers would come out of the woodwork. One thing she knew for certain, she'd kill anyone who would harm the little girl she'd been protecting for four months. Audrey didn't like children by any means, but she was Klaus' daughter and she had to be kept safe no matter the cost. She knew that she was not Hope's biological mother, but she felt a strong connection to her without even meeting her. Gathering her things, Audrey took one last look at the compound and left it behind. At least until they were needed back in town again. And with New Orleans, she knew that time would be soon.
Hello everyone! I hope everyone has been doing well :) Please give this story some love ;) Have a Happy Easter and Passover to those who celebrate xoxo
BrittStar1199: Thank you so much for reviewing! Yes, gurl! Audrey did need to teach Klaus a lesson, but I think the events in the previous chapter needed to happen in order for Audrey and Klaus to become stronger than ever. They are both on the same page, more or less. Elijah and Giuliana will get smut, I promise ;) It will be soon! Hold out a little bit longer, love. Hope you enjoyed the newest update!
grapejuice101: Thank you, thank you! Hope will definitely be in the next chapter. I love writing Mikaelson family moments :)
NicoleR85: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you enjoyed this update!
CarlyLynn: I'm glad Elijah is awake too, but I am sad that he is still not himself :( Thank you so much for reviewing :)
