No One's POV
Sunlight streamed slowly through the blinds of the guest room in the Mikaelson mansion, Brooklyn shifting ever so slightly in the formal wear she had fallen asleep in the night before as she fumbled for her phone that lie on the nightstand only a few feet away.
10 am and several miscalls and texts from her twin, Aaron, worried no doubt by her lack of answer and about last night's incident with the dark magic.
"There's the Sleeping Beauty," Niklaus says mildly, looking up from his sketch pad. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to wake." Niklaus finishes his sentence as his best friend walks down the steps and into the living room once showered and feeling less like death warmed over.
"Morning Nik." Brooklyn chirps, ruffling his blond hair and looking over his shoulder at the picture he was working on.
"Is that my shirt?" Niklaus questions, his eyebrow raising and lips curving into a smirk.
"Maybe?"
"Somethings stay the same I see," Niklaus drags his best friend over the side of the couch to sit beside him.
"Owe, Nik! You butt!" Brooklyn complains half-heartedly, landing awkwardly next to him, nearly on his lap.
"You love me." Niklaus replies smoothly, simply shifting his sketch pad and putting an arm around his Little Wolf.
"Unfortunately. Now I'm starving. Please tell me you have food in your house." Brooklyn begs a little, giving Niklaus a 'feed me I'm adorable' look as she curls up next to him, head on his shoulder.
"I had a few servants get you some of your favorites this morning." Niklaus offers casually, refocusing on his drawing.
"Nik!"
"And I'm guessing that means you want me to go prepare you something." Niklaus sighs, placing his sketch pad down.
"Please and thank you." Brooklyn grins happily, kissing his slight stubble on his jaw.
"Of course, my Little Wolf." Niklaus rolls his eyes at Brooklyn's antics before affectionately kissing her cheek and heading into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Brooklyn. Are you feeling okay this morning? Did you rest well?" Elijah's voice asks, coming into the living room just as the tv flicks on, Brooklyn curling further into the couch.
"Morning 'Lijah. I'm feeling fine. And I did sleep well. Thank you for carrying me to my room last night."
"You're welcome." Elijah replies, seating himself a respectful distance away in an arm chair.
"Here, love. Breakfast. One of your favorites." Niklaus interrupts, placing the plate in front of Brooklyn.
"Thanks, Nik."
"Mmmhmm." Niklaus simply hums, sitting back down with his sketch pad.
"Well, well, well, there's our girl." Kol voice carries, coming down the stairs, apparently deciding to also sleep in late, Rebekah making her way in, her heels clicking on the marble floor of the foyer.
"Get out of my way, Kol." Rebekah snarks.
"Out all night. What a scandal! I trust you did better than that commoner? Matt, was it?" Kol taunts.
"If you don't shut your mouth, the next thing to come out of it will be your teeth." Rebekah growls with a fierce glare.
Niklaus simply snorts in amusement at the bickering of his younger siblings only to get a slap in the arm from Brooklyn, Elijah simply sighing at his younger siblings constant inability to get along for even a few moments.
"Don't start, Nik!" Rebekah shouts, glaring in our direction.
"I didn't do anything." Niklaus defends, getting a hard look from Brooklyn as if to say "yes, you did do something".
"I'm bored. Our sister is a strumpet, but at least she's having fun. I need entertainment." Kol whines like the child he is.
"What are you waiting for? Go on, have at it." Niklaus replies dryly.
"It's not fun to go alone. Join me, Nik! It's the least you can do after sticking a dagger in my heart." Kol complains.
"Go on, Nik. Have fun with your brother." Brooklyn encourages.
"Are you sure?" Niklaus asks.
"Totally sure. We can hang out later. Movie marathon tonight with snacks." Brooklyn smiles. "Besides, I have a meeting with the pack."
"Okay. Why not? I didn't have nearly enough to drink last night, what with you trying to murder Rebekah's date." Niklaus sighs, giving Kol snark at the end.
"Yes, please go, this house has enough men rolling around it in." Rebekah replies with an epic eye roll.
"Just like you, Bekah." Kol quips, only to have Rebekah aim a well thrown high heel at him.
"Good riddance, both of you!" She huffs, storming upstairs, slamming her door all the while.
"Excuse me, Brooklyn. I need to speak with my sister and have a few things I need to finish." Elijah offers almost too formally, standing up almost abruptly.
"Okay. Well… I'll just be… Here…" Brooklyn mutters lamely as suddenly the living room was empty like rats fleeing from a sinking ship.
"Brooke-" Aaron immediately stands from his seat as he hears the key click in the lock of the hotel room, relief clear in his expression. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Did you sleep well? Did the dark magic leave any affects?" Her brother immediately pesters, his arms wrapping around her to give her a hug.
"I'm fine, Aaron. Really. Nothing to worry about. It's completely gone. Niklaus and Elijah made sure I was safe." Brooklyn sooths, her voice calm and reassuring, giving an extra tight squeeze back.
"I'm glad you're okay." Aaron finally sighs, the tension and worry leaving his body as he rests his head on top of his sister's.
They were more than siblings, more than just twins; they were best friends, each other's rock, and Aaron was also Brooklyn's beta. Moreover, the tragedy that occurred when they were only seven making their bond just that much stronger.
"I'm safe, Aaron. I promise. You don't need to worry okay?"
"Okay, now that Brooklyn is here we can begin." Aaron facilitates, as always, the composed and assured beta that he needed to be.
If the balanced had been disrupted by Esther, Original Witch, then it needed to be stopped; the influx of dark magic could not be allowed to stay in the present, physical world.
"Aaron," Brooklyn abruptly alerts only a few short hours later.
"What is it, Brooke?" Aaron immediately snaps into alert.
"Something- The balance is being disrupted. Darkness. I can feel it in the air like ripples. Something is wrong. Gather the pack."
Without waiting for Aaron's response Brooklyn is already on the move, her inner wolf senses peaking and alert, magic swelling up and ready to be used on command.
"I should have killed you months ago." Niklaus growl as she trace his familiar scent to an alleyway.
"Do it. It's not going to stop Esther from killing you." An unfamiliar voice threatens, though it was definitely a vampire, that much Brooklyn could tell, the scent distinctly different than that of human, less alive; within a split second Brooklyn is shifting, hack rising and teeth bared as she slinks around the corner in the darkness.
"What did you say about my mother?" Niklaus threatens with a low growl.
"You didn't know I was friends with your mummy? Yeah, we have a lot in common. She hates you as much as I do." The other male vampire continues to taunts, and without second thought Brooklyn lunges, growling loudly in defense and bowling over the unknown male, also noting the presence of two others, one clearly vampire and the other definitely human.
Screaming loudly in surprise the younger vampire struggles underneath the weight that had just toppled him over, cussing loudly and hissing, but unable to get away.
"Now, now, darling. Get off of the Salvatore. I know you're mad. It's alright. His threats mean nothing." Niklaus soothes, walking over to drag his best friend, now in her more furry form, off of Damon Salvatore.
Growling in protest, Brooklyn swings head back to nip at Niklaus' hand, not hard enough to actually hurt him but to get her point across; she was offended and wanted to kill the offending vampire and Niklaus was ruining it and distracting her from her goal.
"Ouch, love. That was rude!" Niklaus reprimands, nudging her hard in the rib.
Snorting at him, Brooklyn brushes against his leg in slight apology and show of support, sitting down on his left side, still glaring menacingly at the Salvatore and company.
"Having your pet wolf do your dirty work, how charming." The Salvatore spits out, giving a heated glare, which is gladly return along with a low growl.
"I'd be careful if I were you. My pet, as you call her, has a nasty temper. You don't want to get on her bad side. Besides, this isn't any ordinary wolf." Niklaus warns darkly, resting his hand on top Brooklyn's head.
"Leave him! We still need them, Niklaus." Elijah's voice suddenly commands, Elijah appearing out of nowhere.
"What did mother do? What did she do, Elijah?" Niklaus urges, but getting no reply from his brother.
"You tell me where the witches are-" Elijah demands, but before he could finish Brooklyn was already running.