Guest – Thanks so much for your review, I admit that even though I cringed slightly whilst writing the scene between Aria and Kol, I found it rather sweet myself. And with Dahlia, that was the goal I was going for. Ya know, her words being hella manipulative yet kind of realistic at the same time. I can't even describe how much more I hate Dahlia than I initially did before writing this fic even though I'm technically the one making her do all the awful things to Aria. Thanks for understanding why I have Aria following Elijah around, I wasn't sure anyone actually would honestly. Wrapping this up, thanks for hoping I have a better week, my online lessons are slowly a little better.
Now let's get on with it! I own nothing.
~*•°•*~
It had been about one month since Aria had begun seeing Freya for lessons, and in that month, she'd learnt quite a few things about both the witch and the world she was in. The most important thing however, was that time ran on a different scale to the living world. For example, a week here could be a month there or vice versa, it was difficult to tell at times. Though, one thing did remain consistent, one year was one year in both worlds… Granted, Aria didn't exactly understand how that worked, but she also wasn't in a position to ask many questions.
The most jarring thing she'd learnt about Freya however, had been that she was a Mikaelson.
She'd almost fainted from shock.
Freya had explained how her mother Esther had bartered her away as a small child in order to be able to have children and she'd been with Dahlia ever since. It hadn't actually been that much of a surprise to Aria, it was just another thing to add onto the list of vile deeds Esther Mikaelson had committed. Maybe she'd make an actual list one day…
Freya had then explained how she and Dahlia had been put under what she called an Immortality Slumber Spell. It was a ritual Dahlia had created and then enacted on herself and Freya. Essentially, it allowed them to reach some form of pseudo-immortality whilst still having access to their magic. It placed them both into a deep sleep, wherein which they'd be guarded from all forms of harm, that would last a century. In that time, Freya had explained how they wouldn't age – wouldn't change at all in fact, bar their magic slowly growing. They'd then wake up and be allowed a single year of life before the cycle repeated itself.
'It was the next best thing to being immortal.' Freya had explained.
So, in turn, Aria had told Freya about her own life. How she'd been adopted by Marcel who was Freya's younger half-brother Klaus' adopted son. She'd said about how she'd formed a bond of sorts with both Rebekah and Elijah, said about how her and Klaus weren't on the best of terms – something Freya had said she didn't find surprising considering how 'similar' Aria and Klaus seemed.
Aria shivered even thinking about it.
After a while of building up trust, she had also decided to tell Freya that she could see Kol. Now that had caught her attention. But, as Aria had come to expect, the Mikaelson witch couldn't say how, "My best guess is that you two are both powerful beings." She'd said. Neither had commented further on the matter.
So, that was how Aria found herself walking back to the Abattoir with Freya by her side. In the past weeks, she had flat out refused to let Aria walk alone.
"If you think I'm just going to leave you. Alone. With her when I can actually do something about it, you're insane." She had said.
Arriving at the front doors to the Abattoir, Aria turned around to Freya, "You know… I don't think I've ever said thank you."
Freya furrowed her eyebrows and Aria continued, "For helping me. Training me, even."
Freya smiled in response, "It's been nice. Different, but nice. And soon enough, we'll both be able to have a nice day without the constant threat of Dahlia looming over our heads."
"You know, you shouldn't keep walking me back here. It could be dangerous."
"Yes. You never did learn about all the things that loom in the darkness, did you?" A cold voice said from behind them as all colour drained from both girl's faces. They slowly turned around and, once again, froze.
"Dahlia!" Freya muttered fearfully.
Dahlia gave her an eerie smile, "Tell me. What on earth are you two doing out here? Together, no less."
"Dahlia-"
Dahlia's smile dropped and she glared at Aria, "Enough. You sneak out of my house in the dead of night and think I won't notice? How dare you." She turned to Freya, "I look after you for centuries and this is the thanks I get?"
As soon as Dahlia began to advance on them, Aria instinctively threw her hands out, a furious wind throwing Dahlia back into a wall. A small glimpse of a hopeful smile on Freya's face vanished instantly at the positively murderous glare Dahlia sent them as she stood once more,
"You stupid, ungrateful girls! You really think that you can beat me? What a foolishly misguided notion. Show me a little courtesy. I taught you. Both of you, do you really think I'd be thoughtless enough to let either of you have a chance of overpowering me?" Dahlia scoffed before pausing, eyes flickering between the duo, "I can only imagine you two are even more insufferable together than when apart."
Aria's eyes narrowed dangerously, "I'm not as stupid as you think, Dahlia, nor are my loyalties so easily brought."
Screw acting loyal.
She'd had enough time alone with this bitch.
Dahlia stayed stoic for a moment before the tiniest hint of a smirk appeared on her face, "I knew you were smart, Girl. But there's one flaw to you, one that you'll never be able to rid yourself of. You're alone."
Aria jerked back as if struck.
Dahlia continued, "You're terrified of your family turning against you and even then, the only witch you have in your life is little Davina. She's mortal and of little use to me, I could kill her in seconds."
Aria's jaw clenched and her eyes flashed.
"Then, you'll be alone. Surrounded by vampires who can't even hope to understand you." She said, walking up to them.
Aria's eyes flashed again and, momentarily, she forgot the plan her and Freya had come up with weeks ago for Dahlia. Draw her into a false sense of security, and then strike at her weakness before physically striking. She forgot it all.
For a moment.
As soon as Dahlia was close enough, a slow, brilliant grin stretched across Aria's lips, her sapphire eyes blazing with light, "You're afraid." She breathed, her voice so quiet yet so certain.
Dahlia jerked back as if struck, just as Aria had moments ago.
"Because, see, I don't want to stay dead. And something tells me, that now I know how to make contact with the living world, I'll be able to get Davina to resurrect me. Leaving you here."
"While that may indeed be true, I think you also know that if you do that, your lovely Freya will still be trapped here with me and I'll be able to torment her as I have you for the past months. Can you really live with that? Are you really that selfish?"
Her voice was a dare, a challenge.
She didn't think that Aria would do it. Seconds of silence passed as the two stared each other down. Neither were willing to budge. But Dahlia didn't take into account just how much Aria wanted to live again. Or that Freya and Aria had already struck a bargain. Or that she'd been raised by someone who had in turn been raised by the Klaus Mikaelson and his family.
She wasn't a good person.
Aria slowly lent forward, a dark smirk on her face, "Yes." She whispered.
Disbelieving shock was etched across Dahlia's face as she realised the truth of Aria's words. It wasn't long before downright murderous rage took its place.
"If you dare-"
"Oh, I dare. But, Dahlia, you'll have to make a choice sooner or later. Keep Freya and let me go, or vice versa. The power that I know you've been channelling from me since day one combined with Freya's will grow to be too much, even for you. So, either let me go, or let Freya go. Or spend the next however many years of your existence desperately clinging onto the hope that the power won't just destroy you. Eventually you'll be forced to release it and, if you do cling onto it, you'll have to release it all at once – freeing both myself and Freya in the process as well as destroying you."
Freya then took over speaking, voice so cold that it surprised Aria for a moment, "Don't you see Dahlia? Either way, Aria and I win. If you let her go, she lives again because she's already lived up to her end of the bargain and then she'll try to help release me. If you let me go, I'll try to release her from your control and if you cling to the power, after a while you'll let us both go and we'll still be rid of you."
"You forget yourself, girl."
Aria rolled her eyes, waving her hand and watching with barely concealed glee as Dahlia fell to the ground, unconscious.
"That's enough of that." She murmured, turning to Freya whose expression was flickering between surprise, slightly manic glee and utter terror.
The Mikaelson witch turned to her, "I'm not sure if you're clever or mad."
"Likewise. And perhaps a little of both."
Freya smiled at her, "Now, shall we find your witch friend? The sooner you and I live, the sooner Dahlia's plans are foiled."
Aria paused for a moment, "You're scared of Dahlia. And rightly so, she's crazy powerful. Why do you seem so calm now?"
Freya smiled, "Because whether you believe it or not so are you. Your power is on par with her own. She's trained you, taught you her tactics and spells, helped you gain control over your power that you never had before. She's the creator of her own destruction."
"Creator of her own destruction…" Aria murmured before smirking at Freya, "I like the sound of that."
~*•°•*~
"Alright, you'll be able to use the spell one last time as long as I draw the power we both need from Dahlia. It'll let us get you to the Cemetery where you'll be able to get… Davina, is it?" Aria nodded, "We'll get her to resurrect you."
"Are we going to get Davina to help you too?"
Freya smiled sadly, "No. I'm not dead, just asleep. I can't be resurrected."
"I'll try my best to find your body, Freya. I promise."
"I know you will. I'm only sorry that I can't help. I'm afraid even I don't know where it is. Now, we need to go. I can't tell how long I'll be able to keep Dahlia down for."
With a thankful glance to her friend, Aria grabbed Freya's hands and began chanting, her surroundings spinning before they both found themselves back in the living world.
Heading directly to the Cemetery, the duo only made it half way before Aria felt someone grab her wrist. Panic vanishing after seeing who it was, she sighed, "Kol."
Freya's panic also stopped instantly at the name and she looked at Kol with something akin to wonder. Kol didn't notice her.
"Where the hell have you been, Little witch? I've been worried sick." He demanded.
"Dahlia." Aria sighed.
Kol, closing his eyes in frustration, sighed before looking over to Freya, eyes narrowed distrustfully, "And you? Who the hell are you?"
"I wouldn't expect you to know me." Freya settled on, a small frown on her face, "But I'm Freya."
Aria would've laughed at the expression on Kol's face if not for their limited time.
"We'll explain on the way there, Kol." She said as she and Freya set out for the Cemetery, Kol following beside Aria.
"F-Freya? I don't understand."
"Dahlia's kept me trapped for the past thousand years." Freya said simply, "And whilst I would love to finally have the chance to talk to you, brother, we have to get Aria to the Cemetery before Dahlia wakes."
Entering the gates, the trio eventually found the tomb that Davina was in.
"How did you manage to get her here?" Aria asked, glancing over to Freya in curiosity.
"Dahlia truly needs to stop teaching others her own tricks." She smiled, mischief shining in her eyes.
Aria smiled before turning back to the tomb, her emotions running haywire now that she could see her pseudo sister again.
"I can't believe she's really here. That I'm about to do this." Aria whispered, awed before she turned to Kol, "Everything can go back to normal."
"Little witch, I doubt you know what the repercussions of this will be but… Chances are you won't be able to see me anymore." Kol replied as Aria's expression dropped.
"Nor me." Freya added.
"What? But-but Celeste was able to see me. The other witches-"
"Celeste had never died completely. The other witches were all with her when they saw you." Kol murmured.
She made to speak before she heard footsteps coming her way, "Hide, hide!" She hissed as Kol did just that.
Dahlia appeared from the other side of the tomb stone and glared at Aria and Freya, her eyes filled with anger. Almost insanity, even.
"You have made a grave mistake, children." She hissed.
"No. You have made a mistake. Because you see, Dahlia, I've been thinking. Marcel saved me from French Quarter witches when I was a baby but there was always something I found off about it. And when you resurrected me, it made me think harder. Why would three random witches be sent out to dispose of a baby? Why didn't the ones who created me do it themselves? So again, like I have already said many times, I did some more digging and do you know what I found? Three Elders created me. I never knew who. Until the other day. I was created for the Harvest by: Bastianna, Agnes and another witch. Now, I'd never really cared about who else created me considering they all want me dead. However, have you ever heard the name Evanna Boudreaux?" Aria asked innocently as Dahlia actually froze in shock. Not fear. Shock. Interesting.
"What have you done?" She asked, voice almost silent.
"No, what have you done Dahlia? You see, Evanna Boudreaux was a French Quarter witch up until she was shunned. Seventeen or so years ago. Such a coincidence that it was on the date I was born, isn't it?"
"You foolish girl."
"You can keep insulting me all you want, Dahlia. But the truth is, that this witch Evanna didn't want me to get killed. And your shock answered all the questions I had. Either she's powerful too, or she knows something about me that you don't want me to know. So, I am going to find her, and convince her to help me. And you won't be able to do a damn thing about it."
"You are meddling with powers that are beyond you!"
Aria sighed impatiently, "Oh don't start with that crap again."
She raised her hand and with a simple flick of her wrist, Dahlia was once again lying on the floor unconscious.
"Sorry if that bothered either of you." Aria said mildly, "But I've been wanting to do that for months."
"Actually it doesn't bother me as much as you would think." Freya replied, Kol nodding in agreement as he took a spot next to her again, "You should get into the tomb. We'll wait here. Stop her if she wakes up." Freya said softly.
"No, please. Leave instead. It's too dangerous. Dahlia-"
"My aunt can't be that powerful, Darling, don't worry about us." Kol said softly.
He was putting on fake bravado and they both knew it.
"I can't let you two do this! There's no telling what she'll do to you both when she wakes up."
Kol gave her a hint of a smile, "If we don't do this now, you'll be dead for good. What kind of friend would I be if I let that happen?" He sighed as the look on her face didn't waver and walked up closer to her, taking her hands in his own, "This way, you'll owe me one, Aria. And don't think for a second I won't collect."
"Kol…"
Kol sighed, clearly thinking she'd continue trying to dissuade him but finding himself surprised when she embraced him, arms wrapping around his neck as she buried her face into his shoulder, "Thank you."
A small smile bloomed on Kol's face and he gently hugged her back, "There's not a day that'll go by that I won't think of you." He muttered, smile widening at her next words.
"Good."
Kol's smile slipped as Aria pulled back, Freya embracing her before speaking, "Listen, I don't know what'll happen when you come back to life. I also don't know what Dahlia will do. So in a moment, I am going to let you go, and you are going to turn around and walk into that crypt without looking back at us. Do you hear me?"
Kol took over, "Promise, Little witch. One final thing. Without looking back." He murmured. Freya waited until she felt a gentle nod against her shoulder before taking a deep breath and pushing her away, turning her around in the process. Aria visibly hesitated for a second before taking forced steps into the crypt and towards Davina just as they had asked her to.
Kol waited and looked up to the sky, the moon shining brightly and waited until Davina's chanting reached his ears and, despite himself, he smiled.
Freya smiled too.
Over the past few months, whatever… relationship that was between Aria and Kol had shifted. First, she had hated him, then tolerated him and finally, in one way or another, they'd both fallen into a highly complicated friendship. From his point of view, he now realised that he had grown to care for her wellbeing. Which, he supposed, was why he was risking his technically dead yet undead life to save her own.
And for Freya, Aria had initially acted as a distraction, a reprieve from the living hell that was her life with Dahlia before she actually grew to care for the teenager. She'd, for the first time in centuries, been given hope that Dahlia wouldn't be the end of everything. Given hope that perhaps, there were more important things than holding bitterness and resentment inside of herself. The teenager had been able to rapidly adjust her way of thinking for the better.
"If only Nik could see me now…" Kol murmured to himself, suppressing a bitter laugh from rising.
Freya turned as she and Kol heard a slight groan from Dahlia before she scrambled to her feet as if her life depended on it.
Hang on, it did. Freya thought with a smirk. Both she and Kol left her line of sight and stood in the shadows of the entrance to the crypt just as she jumped up and attempted to run towards it, still shaky on her feet just as Davina's chanting stopped. Kol's smile widened when he heard his aunt yell out in pure undiluted anger, eyes locking with his apparent older sister's as they had an unspoken conversation.
Now all they had to do was keep her away from Aria.
Because their closest friend was now very human.
And very alive.
~*•°•*~
As Always, SecretMidnightRose