No Pairing
"Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews."
-Book of Esther 4: 13
Mikaelson Estate
Mystic Falls, Virginia
September 1855
Wine Cellar
"You are right, she does look just like you," a woman said, entering the cellar. She held a black dahlia, but let it fall to the ground as she looked at the three people from the estate.
"Are you not Rebekah's maid servant? Becky?" Elena gasped, her sore backside forgotten. Then, she looked behind the portly servant and saw Kathy.
The heavyset maid's eyes grew white.
"I am not Becky, I think you know who I am," the possessed woman hissed. "But not what I want."
Kathy reached over and snapped her neck as Sage sucked in her breath and uttered a prayer. Sage stepped in front of Elena and Damon protectively. "In the name of God, leave us be. Your quarrel is not with us," Sage protested.
Kathy laughed, "Save your prayers, 'lady.' I remember now. My name is Katherine Pierce. I am not like you, precious little Elena. But she, the witch, said she would make me human again. Actually, I think I should just take your body. For who would know nor care?"
Sage backed away as Katherine's face drew dark and her fangs came out.
Damon stepped forward, "I would. You would not kill me, would you, Kathy?"
"Of course not. I aim to marry you," Katherine hissed. She vamped over and grasped Sage around the neck. Before she could hurt her, Damon uttered a spell and Kathy fell to the ground.
"Run!" Damon yelled. Her pushed Elena out of the cellar and grabbed Sage's arm.
"That was...was a v-vampire," Sage choked out.
"Yes, and we need to go now," Damon yelled over the blustery winds.
"You are right. There is no time to waste," Sage agreed, getting back her senses. They tore through the still howling wind and made it back to the house.
Damon held Elena's hand tightly and reassured her that they would be fine.
"But the boys? What if...?" Elena ventured, terrified of the thought of losing her brother, like she lost her parents.
"They are with the others," Damon said with confidence. "They are safe."
Mikaelson Mansion
Kitchen
By the time the shaken trio had gotten back to the house, the winds had died and everything seemed fine. No one on the estate had any inkling that something was wrong.
"Even the sun is out," Sage gasped. "Let us get in and tell the others. Damon, you saved us. Let us forget about your indiscretions."
Sage called for Finn and the others came running. They explained what happened quickly.
"It tis called keening," Freya explained. "Dahlia cannot only sense magic, she can take control of people. She told me about but I did not know she could actually do it. She is linking with someone with powerful magic."
"Keening?" Kol said, his punishment lines forgotten. "I may have heard of it. She can inhabit a human and see through their eyes from a vantage point of safety. Tis only a very special kind of witch that can do that."
"Aye," Klaus said. Finn had taken Sage and the teens to their room to get them calmed down.
"And Dahlia can sense magic in others. Tis how she found me with Mother so many years ago," Freya explained. "She later told me I was easy for her to locate with her gift. I have us cloaked here, but Mystic Falls has other supernaturals and a dark history."
"1790? There is a rumor that there was a great burning of witches at a forsaken lodge on the edge of town. Harriet told me about it," Kol said. "She also said that the locals avoid it, considering it a place of power. Almost like it tis haunted."
Freya nodded, "Something like that could draw her. She prefers to be by a nexus of power. Usually, supernaturals gravitate to this areas and she can use them to link with. I did not thing she, even with her boldness, would attack us here."
"Unless she does not know all we have here," Elijah said, splaying his fingers. "She may now know that Damon is of witch blood, but who else would suspect? Katerina Petrova knows of us, but not that we have wolves here. Only Emily would know that...Good gods, where is Solomon?"
Klaus said, "With the children. Rebekah and Marcel are with them. Are they not?"
Before he could finish, Elijah vamped upstairs.
"The others are there, but they said he went to the privy," Elijah said. Kol raced outside with Klaus behind him. They came back with the news that he was gone. They set several trusted staff to search for him.
"The child was troubled today. I congratulated him on his win at the spelling bee and he only mentioned his mother," Freya said. "He said she would be very pleased."
"That was no dream he had last night then," Kol said. "Nik, is there another entrance into those caves? A hidden one perhaps?"
Niklaus frowned, "Aye, there was one but I blocked it off with rocks...Only a small animal or a very small boy could slip through."
Freya sniffed, "I should have watched him better. Dammit. I think we need to do the spells now. Get the Smith woman. Elijah, can you fetch the wolves and Ilayda, it has to be now."
"But what of Hayley? Can you make the moonlight rings now, without the power of the full moon?" Elijah pressed.
"I would have to link them to something powerful," Freya said, looking at Klaus. "Like you, Niklaus, but it could weaken you on the full moon."
"Do we have another choice?" Klaus said.
"I cannot think of one now," Freya said. "And without Solomon's connection to his kin, I will only have Ilayda and Damon to help me anchor the spells. If Dahlia is near, I could fall back into my sleep early. She did it before when she killed Matthias and my child died..."
Elijah patted her on the arm, "I will get them and then go into town to get Hayley. With Katerina out there, she could have already harmed her."
"And poor Harriet," Kol said quietly. "We should not have left them in town."
Freya's Attic
Freya, Ilayda, and Damon linked hands as Freya began the spell. She had Klaus in the middle of the sacred circle surrounded by salt, candles, and herbs.
"Should we not wait for Elijah to come back?" Klaus said. He knew Freya could only do the spell for the moonlight rings once. The black kyanite lay in an earthenware bowl gleaming. They looked as if they were morphing in the candlelight.
Sammy muttered, "So we can turn whenever we want then? Like Niklaus?"
Dragomir nodded, "Tis the idea. But each turn would weaken him so it would only be when we need to."
"I twas looking forward to hunting with you next week, Brother," Sammy grimaced. "Not that Halina would ever join."
Halina had not triggered her curse, as either had Croiá. But she disapproved of her brothers turning under the light of the full moon each moth. If she had turned, she claimed she would have chained herself up, as had been the custom in their pack for many generations. If not, they would find their herds of livestock decimated, but here it was different, the brothers argued.
"I am scared," Croiá breathed. "Where do you think Solomon is?"
Halina's eyes were riveted on Freya, so Kol answered, "We shall find him. Croiá, this spell would free you from ever having to turn, should the day come."
Croiá's pretty face darkened a moment, "I am not a killer, like you and my brothers."
"I hope you shall never have to be," Kol said, taking her hand. "Gods be damned, I wish Elijah was back. I am going to go see if he is near."
"No, stay," Croiá begged. "Please."
"Only for you," Kol smiled, he was anxious about Hayley and Harriet. Though the teacher had taken her paddle to him a few times, he did respect and care about her. And Harriet, she had no idea of the chaos about to descend on the normally sleepy town.
Whitmore Boarding House
Earlier
Hayley took the tray up to Mrs. Whitmore's room quickly. She knew something was wrong by the smell. As she saw the older woman's face and blank, open eyes, she dropped the tray to the floor.
"Mrs. Whitmore?" Hayley said, rushing to the bed. She was dead. Drained.
Harriet rushed in, "What happened?"
"Oh Harriet, she is gone! There is something I need tell you," Hayley choked. "But we need to leave this place. Tis not safe."
"Miss, your necklace! It tis glowing red," Harriet said, tearing her eyes from the dead woman in the bed. Pale and oddly white.
Hayley's hand felt the alexandrite pendant and she shrieked. It was white hot and singed her hand.
"Oh, you burned yourself," Harriet said, grasping for a rag to wrap the blistered fingers in.
As they both watched, Hayley's seared flesh healed. Harriet backed away in fear.
"You ain't human, ma'am," Harriet said. "I always knowned this town had some queer beings, but I did not think you was one of them."
"Harriet, listen to me. Your mind was bewitched. Kathy is not human either. She is a vampire," Hayley explained, pulling the young black girl out of the room. "Now, grab your valuables and I will get a satchel. We need leave now."
"But where we gonna go? Tis fearsome outside," Harriet groaned. "It tis an ill omen."
"Yes, but the Mikaelsons will keep us safe. If we can but get there in one piece. Do you not trust me?" Hayley asked gently.
"Yes, Miss," Harriet said. "Not that I have much choice...What about the missus?"
Hayley went and pulled the bed sheet over Mrs. Whitmore, as she uttered a prayer she had learned at school.
"There is nothing more we can do for her," Hayley said sadly. "I believe Kathy now recalls she is a vampire. Come, hurry, before she comes back for us."
The two hurried to gather a few things. The stench of death already was seeping out of the bedroom. Hayley did not plan to come back here.
Outside the Mikaelson Estate
Elijah nearly got to town when he felt the barrier. It was like a crackling field of energy. He turned his horse quickly, nearly causing it to rear.
Elijah's sharp vampire vision allowed him to see a shimmering blur that he sensed, he better not cross. Elijah jumped down from the horse, holding her reins. He put his hands up to his temple to think.
"Hayley, come on," Elijah whispered. Louder, in frustration, he screamed, "HAYLEY!"
"Elijah?" a voiced called out. "Tis it you?"
"Yes, hurry!" Elijah shouted in relief. He realized that he could not see beyond the wavering light. A moment later, Hayley and Harriet rushed through, holding bundles and looked ragged.
"Oh, I knew you would come for me," Hayley said, breaking down in tears. She rushed into Elijah's arms and then broke away to check the necklace. Green again. "Mrs. Smith is dead! Kathy drained her and absconded. Something is wrong."
"We know. Damon, Elena, and Sage were near attacked," Elijah said. "It seems our Aunt Dahlia can enter human minds. And there is worse, she somehow lured Solomon...Marcel is searching for him now. Rebekah is with the-."
Harriet's bundles dropped to the ground and her eyes grew white.
"Nephew, I am near," Harriet's voice said in a hollow tone. "Do not fear me. Tis not you I need. Only your hybrid brother, the abomination and that nasty little witch, Freya. I vow to leave the rest of you to your follies..."
Hayley gripped Elijah tightly, he stared at Harriet, unsure of what to do.
"Do not hurt her, she is innocent," Hayley begged.
"I know," Elijah said, as he reached out and caught Harriet as she fainted.
"Let us put her on the horse," Hayley said. "We should get back to your home. I promised I would pay you a visit, I just did not realize tis would be like this."
Elijah managed a smile for his love, saying, "Me, either. But it is only fate that joined us tonight. This barrier is something I cannot cross. I am not sure what dark magic it is, but I fear, it would strip my magic away leaving me to die."
Hayley looked, not seeing anything. "Elijah, do not tarry. We needs go. Look at my necklace."
The stone was blood red again. Elijah got the women on the horse and led it back to the estate. There was an odd smell in the air. Neither supernatural noticed the dahlias decaying on the way home.
Freya's Attic
Elijah got Harriet settled in the kitchen and rushed Hayley up to the attic. She was almost finished sealing the moonlight rings, but started to add Hayley. The attic was crowded, but the furniture was pushed to the corners to make room.
Klaus felt a slight pang with each ring, but said nothing. Dragomir nodded to him from afar in thanks. He was tall enough that his head was almost bumping the ceiling. He rubbed the black kyanite ring now on his finger, eager to turn into his wolf self, but restraining the urge.
But before the spell could include Hayley, Marcel rushed in.
"Did you find Solomon?" Kol inquired urgently.
"Nay, but there was a flock of sparrows, they accosted me. She is here," Marcel said breathlessly.
Klaus said, "Freya, I will get the woman. Tis time."
Elijah stopped him as he broke the circle. "Brother, give Hayley your blood. Please, if she cannot have the ring, this will be some insurance of her survival."
Klaus bit into his wrist and looked at Hayley, asking, "Do you understand what this would mean? If you should die..."
Elijah had spoken to Hayley about this before, she nodded, "I would be like you. Half vampire and half wolf. I would need drink blood to survive."
"That tis but a small part," Klaus said, offering her his bloody wrist. "I pray you need not find out the rest."
Hayley fed from Klaus' wrist as much as she could bear, his blood was warm. She gagged and stopped. Elijah gathered her in his arms.
"I love you no matter what," Elijah said. "Now please, go to Rebekah and the children. She will keep you safe. Our aunt has no fight with you."
As soon as the Smith woman was brought up in chains, snarling, Freya started.
"Are you feeling strong enough?" Freya asked the teen. His beautiful blue eyes filled with fear.
"I do not know," Damon said.
Ilayda grabbed his hand, "You are, Son. Believe in yourself. Feel the magic in the earth course through you. Nature has bequeathed her power on you and we are the guardians of a great power."
"I wish I knew m-more...," Damon stammered.
Kol left Croiá, who was going to take shelter with the others, and said, "Damon, you can do this. I believe in you. Remember all we practiced...and if you burn this house to the ground, we shall build another."
Damon laughed and nodded, leave it to Kol to bring levy to the situation.
"Brother, let them work," Finn said, coming up to check the progress. "The others are going down to the cellar level. Freya, do you need anything?"
"Fasten the woman to the chair," Freya directed. She picked up the magical dagger. "I am going to transfer my sleeping spell to her. If it works, I will be freed and unlinked from Dahlia. Then, I can find the link in Harriet that Dahlia established when she entered her mind. I will bring her here so we can slew her and end her evil reign of power."
It was growing dark now, the wind was picking up outside. Freya did not know if it was her magic or Dahlia's but she needed to hurry. She was confident that their aunt could not breach her defenses, but she had fought Dahlia before and paid dearly.
"Phasmatos Inta Grum Callus. Cosom Naben Dox. Phasmatos Inta Grum Vin Callus Amalon Callagius Accodum. Cosom Naben Dox Callagius Amalon Gaeda Callagius. Ceremum Descendium Vinum," Freya began to chant. Damon and Ilayda linked with her and joined.
Mrs. Smith was tied up with her mouth bound, on a wooden chair in the center of the circle. As she writhed the chanting grew louder. Then, a surge of light lit up the candle lit room. Moments later, a crack of thunder sounded.
Elijah, Finn, and Klaus exchanged looks. A flock of sparrows crashed through the circular window a moment later, materializing in a human form.
"She is here," Klaus growled. His eyes turned yellow, then orange and his fangs emerged.
"They cannot stop now," Elijah said, vamping to the form and trying to grasp it. The form broke up in birds that breeched the circle. They descended on Mrs. Smith and tore her apart.
Finn shouted, "No!"
A dark haired woman with a strong nose and cold black eyes appeared.
"Ah, my family," Dahlia purred. "How long have I waited to lay my eyes on my sister's children. And here is Freya, the one who escaped. But not for long."
Freya stopped her chanting, the spell not completed.
"Dahlia, your battle is with me. Leave my siblings alone and I will go back with you," Freya announced. "Where is Solomon?"
"With his mother," Dahlia laughed. She raised her arm and the attic hatch opened, Emily emerged. She looked beaten and crazed.
"I am sorry. She found me and...," Emily started. "Solomon has gifts I did not even know about. He siphoned the spells. I am not sure how. She said if I did not obey her, she would slay him."
"He tis not the first child I have mastered," Dahlia said proudly. "Niece, when we used to link, you felt how powerful we were. And yet, you choose a mortal man. I let you, but then you were going to leave. And when I prevented that, you murdered your own baby. Even I was never so cruel."
Freya yelled, "You were cruel, every bone in your bone is free from human compassion and love. Your dark magic has corrupted you. Leave us and go back to Hell where you belong."
Dahlia caused Freya to collapse and clutch her stomach in pain.
Klaus snarled and stepped into the circle. Freya shouted, "Niklaus, do not!"
Dahlia laughed and the hybrid crumbled to the floor in agony.
"You look so much like my Esther, Nephew," Dahlia laughed. "I gave up my freedom for her and she betrayed me for your Viking father. What a shame!"
Dahlia lowered her hand and Klaus winced out, "Take me, Witch. You have done enough with Freya. I am the one who slew your precious sister. Take your revenge!"
Dahlia looked surprised and chuckled again. "You are of our blood. A betrayer, a murdered, but so powerful. It is comical that you are not of the Viking's blood, yet so similar. You even look like him."
"I am nothing like him!" Klaus shouted, trying to stand, but staggering.
"Oh, but the poisoned apple falls not far from the tree," Dahlia said, gathering her black skirts and stepping closer to Damon.
"And you, I have met your father," Dahlia said lightly. "I removed all the spells clouding his mind. He knows about your mother and her witch blood. He told me about your fancy for the doppelgänger. Too bad the vampire shall take her place. I made her a deal for her help. If you go now, you may be able to save her."
Damon balked and looked up in panic.
Freya gasped, "Damon, she is a liar. She is trying to separate us."
Damon whispered, "I am sorry."
Damon left and Finn went with him, afraid of what they would find in the cellar.
Ilayda had remained quiet, but took the distraction to cast a pain spell on Dahlia. It bounced back and caused the older witch to howl.
Dahlia laughed, "I cannot be harmed, you fool. I will smite you and your kin if you do not pledge to me."
Ilayda looked up and spat, "Never, Demon!"
Dahlia raised her hands and snapped the witch's neck with a loud crack. Freya wailed, "No more. What do you want from us?"
"You know," Dahlia said, leaning down to touch her niece's face. "I want to bring back the witch I loved best."
"I said I would go with you," Freya said, bitterly.
Dahlia cackled, "Not you, wench."
Elijah stepped forward, "You want Mother back."
"Of course, tell me where her bones lay," Dahlia said, suddenly grabbing Freya around the neck. "Or I will kill this one. Your eldest sister."
Klaus finally managed to stand up. "I will take you there. I hid them."
Elijah looked at Klaus in surprise. "But we buried her together?"
Klaus bit his lip. "That twas Martin the baker. I ate him before I killed Mother. I am glad you never opened up that coffin."
"Damnit, Niklaus. You and your lies," Elijah spat.
"I will take Elijah with me to get them," Dahlia said. "Tell us where to find them."
Hayley came up, through the attic.
Elijah gasped, "No, my love."
"She shall not have you," Hayley said. There was blood on her collar and her eyes turned yellow. "We now have eternity together."
Hayley had cut her throat, but not fed yet. Her transition was not complete.
"No!" Elijah said, approaching Dahlia, stepping over Mrs. Smith's corpse.
As Dahlia started to dematerialize, Freya cast a spell.
"Brothers, I have no choice! Hayley, take care of the others. I will get you out when it is safe," Freya promised. She elbowed Dahlia and slipped the cursed dagger under her chin. "You once told me I would be the death of you!"
Freya slipped the blade into Dahlia while casting a powerful spell and the witch roared, the candles flared and then went out. As Dahlia's life force slipped out, all the vampires fell, as if dead.
Freya roared in frustration and dropped Dahlia's body. She leaned over and felt for Ilayda's pulse, finding none.
"What happened?" Hayley asked in panic.
"I put them all in a Chambre de Chasse," Freya said hollowly. "It is a location that will keep them safe. You have not fed yet so it did not take you. They will be fine until I figure out how to get them out. It was the only way I had enough power to kill Dahlia."
"Oh God, people are outside," Hayley breathed. Townsfolk with torches stormed the house.
"Wait, feed from me first," Freya demanded. She offered her neck to Hayley.
By the time, Hayley and Freya raced downstairs. Katherine was gone and the townspeople had taken Emily. Damon had dragged Solomon into a closet and put his hand over the little boy's mouth to silence him. He finally put him into a sleep spell lest they take Emily's son, too.
Giuseppe Salvatore yelled, "Mikaelsons, give me my boys! I know they are here! We will burn this place to the ground."
Elena peered out and said, "The Lockwoods, Fells, and even Sheriff Forbes are out there. What are we going to do?"
"Father is there?" Stefan yelped. "Damon, come out."
Damon left Solomon in the closet after gently laying him down.
"I do not know, Stef," Damon said.
Another voice cried out, "And the Gilbert children must come, too. They are my kin."
A thin man with a beard and three piece suit stood by Giuseppe.
"Uncle Johnathan? He was overseas," Elena hissed. "We thought he was dead."
Damon picked up Stefan and took Elena's hand. She grabbed Jeremy.
"We have little choice," Elena said. "I pray we return here soon."
"When have our prayers ever been answered," Jeremy grumbled. He know not this uncle that Elena had said was dead.
Sage kissed the children.
"We will get you back. Hurry, they are lighting more torches," Sage worried.
The four children stepped through the doors. Giuseppe Salvatore let out a cry and embraced his sons.
"I am so sorry," Giuseppe wept. "Some foul demons filled my mind. I only today came to my senses. I pledge to you both, I will not stop until this town is purged of all darkness. We will start by burning the witch!"
The townsfolk yelled, "Save Mystic Falls! Burn the witch!"
Jonathan Gilbert approached his niece and nephew tentatively.
"Oh children, I came back as soon as I got word. Grayson and I had parted on bad terms and...," Jonathan knelt down. "Can you forgive me?"
Jonathan held his arms open and Jeremy came forward to hug his paternal uncle that he did not remember.
Elena looked back at the house and waved to Sage from the curtain.
"Tis fine, Uncle," Elena said. "Let us go."
She wanted to clear out the townsfolk so they could get Solomon to safety, if such a thing existed.
Chambre de Chasse
French Quarter, New Orleans
The Compound
Seven Years Later (1862)
Elijah opened his Webster's dictionary and wrote down some words to test Marcel, Rebekah, and Kol.
"Nay, Brother, we have memorized the whole bloody thing," Kol whined. Rebekah and Marcel were laughing at the piano as she tortured him playing that ditty about Arkansas.
"What else have we to do here? Niklaus is writing his memoirs, though I am not sure what the point of that tis. I preferred his drunken paintings more. At least we could laugh at those. He will not even let me peek at what he is writing," Elijah said. "We need to keep busy."
"I am busy trying to find ways to get out of here," Kol said, "though I am appreciate Freya replicated our old house. I have missed the place. How do you think she did it?"
Elijah shrugged, "She must have entered one of our minds. Every detail is just the same as it twas the day we brought Marcellus home in 1810. I try not to think of it, though. The children must be half grown by now."
Kol stood and lit a cigar, he knew like the blood they drank, that it was not real. He patted Elijah's shoulder.
"Hayley will be fine," Kol assured him. "She will never look a day over 25."
Elijah grimaced, "I hate to think of her learning how to be a hybrid alone."
Kol sighed, "She tis not alone. She has the others now. I am sure they will stick together. Like us, always and forever. And Dahlia is dead. God, can you imagine if she brought Mother back?"
"Nay, I cannot. Now, let us do your lessons. My old ruler is still handy. You do not want another whipping, do you?" Elijah teased.
"Bekah, Marcel, it tis time for more torture," Kol called out. "Though a hiding would break up the monotony."
"Get your pen ready. I will dictate," Elijah said, reading a long list of words to his brother. They would wait here.
After all, they had no other choice.
End of Part 1
