Sophia's POV
I was getting real fed up with New Orleans and the drama that was continuing to come from us being here, Rebekah and Nik were ignoring each other's presence whenever she wasn't searching the entire city for Elijah's whereabouts since Marcel has yet to live up to his word to Nik by returning Elijah to us even though it's been days since Marcel's party and Hayley has been pretty quiet lately too meaning this house feels like one big ticking time bomb of quiet angst but as I came down this morning I was greeted by a new face.
One of the witches, an elder woman named Agnes had come knocking by this morning to keep Hayley company while we were all busy trying to find Elijah and I kind of felt bad since it was our fault that Hayley was even being dragged into this mess and I felt responsible for her but right now our priority had to be finding Elijah and getting him out of this little teen witches hands meaning Rebekah was constantly looking at arial photos of the city trying to find the attic while Nik had locked himself in the study this morning with Cami being some kind of stenographer for his memoirs much to my displeasure which is why I busied myself with helping Beks deciding to leave Klaus to his unhealthy emotional way to deal with things given that he was pretty much forcing Cami to do this for him by compelling her to be a spy against Marcel.
"I told you Agnes, I feel great" I hear Hayley say as I walked into the parlor room spotting her sitting on the couch, flipping through the pregnancy book I'd gotten her while Rebekah sits in the other sitting room typing away on her laptop clearly continuing the search so I headed over to help.
"You are overdue for a checkup" Agnes protested making me frown since what she said was true and that was kind of my fault since I should be insisting Hayley takes better care of herself but lately I've been so busy.
"What am I gonna do pop into the Quarter for a quick ultrasound, a pregnant werewolf escorted by a witch...nothing to see here!" I sniggered a little at Hayley's remark since she had a point.
"A lot of women would kill to have a child, it strikes me as odd that you're not taking better care of yours" Rebekah called out and I frowned looking down since it's one thing Rebekah and I had always shared, our desire to have children of our own and I could taste the envy in her words, hell I felt a sliver of envy towards Hayley since I had a miraculous chance to carry a baby of my own and it was stolen from me and given to Hayley, although it was my baby she was technically carrying it was still difficult to see her witness all the joy and hardships that I had wanted to experience ever since I was a kid.
"She's right Hayley" I nodded when I saw her looking towards me for my opinion.
"I know a doctor out in the bayou off the beaten path, now I took the liberty of making an appointment for you, tonight after-hours just us, vampires will never get word of it" I frowned looking up with some mixed feelings about that since I didn't trust these witches but Hayley was overdue and the health of the baby was more important right now.
"You should go" I nodded smiling at Hayley.
"Okay fine, bayou-baby-doctor it is" she sighs rolling her eyes standing up and I watch as she leaves with Agnes before I look down and focus on Rebekah seeing she is looking at satellite photos of the French Quarter.
"Any luck?" I asked sitting down across from her placing the book on local heritage buildings on the coffee table to help her look.
"No" she replied right as I saw Nik walk in.
"Please sister, tell me you're not still at it with the internet search" he asks and I roll my eyes at him. "How does one begin anyway, just type in 'anonymous attic'?" he adds as he pours himself a scotch.
"Someone has to find Elijah, even if I have to search every bloody attic in New Orleans" Bekah protest making me smile a little.
"Like looking for a needle in a rather large pile of needles" Nik smirked turning and took a sip while I just shook my head at his negativity.
"I remember details about the attic Marcel took me to, there were shutters on the windows behind Elijah's coffin"
"Well, that should narrow it down immensely" Nik laughed walking around the couches and took a seat next to me. "Myself, I prefer actual strategy as opposed to mind-numbing labor, Marcel's delay in returning our brother makes me suspect he's no longer in charge of the situation, if Davina's loyalty to Marcel is strained perhaps the young witch will be open to discussing a new alliance"
"As usual, your power grabs are more important than rescuing your brother" Rebekah remarks bitterly and I rolled my eyes wishing they would stop with the bickering.
"I prefer to think of it as killing two birds with one stone, rob Marcel of his secret weapon, bring our brother home" Nik argued and Rebekah merely looks at him with a tight smile before she decided to get up and leave, I followed her out with my eyes before she was out of sight and the room instantly filled with tension as I felt Nik's eyes turn towards me, I let out a sigh as I stood and started walking out of the room.
"Marcel recognized you the other night" he spoke up stopping me.
"Fantastic, you can tell him I said hi" I replied rolling my eyes.
"Sophia" he called stopping me from leaving and I felt the air of his quick movement blow my hair as he sped up behind me. "Can we please talk?" I raised an eye at the 'please' as I turned to face him.
"Talk about what Nik, what else do we need to talk about that hasn't already been said a thousand times, I think all the talking has been done between us so just run off with Marcel, take control of the city, it's all you really care about" I started to walk away but he caught my hand and I felt us move before my back slammed against the wall.
"That is not all I care about" I glared at him for the manhandling treatment but one look in his eyes and I felt my resolve slip for just a moment since if there was one thing I loved most about Nik it was his crystal blue eyes and right now they were looking at me with deep care and I quickly rolled my eyes for the fact he was able to draw me in.
"Let me go Niklaus" I finally managed to say something.
"And if I said no?" he questioned running his hand over my cheek and I let out a sigh as I leant slightly into it.
"Nik...don't" I pleaded since I couldn't deal with this right now. "I need time" I reminded him before I stepped out of his grasp and he surprisingly didn't put up any further fuss and let me go.
I headed into the Quarter figuring it was time I allowed myself to reacquaint with Marcel seeing as he knew I was back and I walked along main street figuring I'd head towards the Abattoir but was surprised when I spotted him surrounded by his vampires looking like he was giving them orders so I stopped hiding from sight a little as I listened in.
"Big event tonight a lot of people drinking, a lot of eyes watching, I don't want any trouble which means no witches, send word through the Cauldron any witches come here we kill them and while you're at it, no Originals" I bit back a scoff. "I don't like how Rebekah's been snooping around, I got my girl Cami coming, her and a little friend of hers, I want eyes on them at all times...eyes only alright?" he made sure they understood. "I don't want anyone getting anywhere near either of them, everybody's got a post, everybody keeps an eye out, you cool?" they all look at Marcel in agreement for a moment before walking away and I smiled briefly as I turned to walk away only to come face to face with Marcel.
"Marcel long time no see" I smirked crossing my arms and I lent against a street sign pole.
"I could say the same Soph" he smiled back before we chuckled and hugged since despite everything going on it was great to see him. "I saw you at my little masquerade party, should've said hi"
"Where's the fun in that, it was a masquerade after all and you seemed pretty distracted with your little bartender"
"Yeah well you seemed pretty distracted with Klaus, you two still going strong although he did mention it's been complicated, what's been going on with you two?" he asked and I frowned hesitating as we started walking side by side.
"Well I uh...I found my brothers" I admitted and saw his eyes widen. "They're vampires, turned by the doppelganger Katherine and a lot has happened ever since"
"Wow so they were alive this whole time?" I nodded my head. "Damn, I can't imagine how hard that've been for you to find out" I chuckled a little nodding my head.
"Yeah it was a huge shock and there was a whole lot of drama that came from it as you could imagine but I took my anger out especially at my twin but were in a better place now and I came to forgive them"
"So where are they?" he questioned.
"Mystic Falls" he raised an eye knowing that's where I'd come from. "It's a long story but they returned there a couple years ago, both seeking out the newest doppelganger and as you could imagine history repeated itself"
"Sounds complicated" he nodded and I nodded back.
"Isn't everything" I chuckled before finding ourselves outside the Abattoir. "Well I guess I should be getting back to the Palace Royal"
"Klaus still keep you close by?" he chuckled referring to Nik and I practically being attached at the hip back in the good old days and I laughed a little.
"You know how possessive he can be, especially with me being back from travelling" I replied before I started walking away.
"Well don't be a stranger Sophia, your welcome here anytime"
"Thanks Marcel" I winked back at him before walking down the street looking back to see him still watching me before he finally turned and walked into the Abattoir and I let out a sigh before I pulled out my phone and texted Rebekah figuring I'd join back up and we'd continue to look for this attic and she texted back telling me to meet her at the church so that's where I headed and met up with her as we both walked in seeing the priest tidying up even though I doubted it would change anything since this church was run down...abandoned almost.
"Church is closed, if you girls want your horror fix, go take a ghost tour" he said when he noticed us.
"We don't much care for ghosts" I spoke up recalling my previous encounter with some very vengeful spirits...one of them being my best friend but I squashed those thoughts quickly.
"I am however fascinated by window shutters, I've been on a town tour of them all day" Rebekah added as we continued to walk down the aisle. "I noticed the windows of your attic have shutters"
"Are you really interested in shutters?" he asks sounding suspicious of us.
"I can assure you it's my current life obsession" Beks replied making me smile a little. "What's your name?" she then asked him.
"Father Kieran and you two are?"
"Mildly curious" I replied looking over at a red stain on the nearby wall that looked remarkably like blood splatters. "What happened here?" I asked and he let out a sigh.
"St. Ann's used to be the heart of the neighborhood, it's been abandoned for a while now since the night of the massacre" I frowned noticing a few more splatters of dried blood. "Nine seminary students were killed...by one of their own, you're standing on blood" he added and I looked down at my feet seeing a dark red patch right below Bekah and I's feet.
"I'm not squeamish, where's the attic?" Rebekah asked sounding impatient.
"Like I said, the church is closed" the priest protested so Rebekah moves herself right in front of his face.
"Where is the attic?" she asks him again only this time she compels him.
"Past the sacristy, up the stairs" he replied in a dazed voice.
"Thank you, now forget we were here" she adds before we walk away heading up the stairs finding the attic and open the door. "I knew it!" Beks beams before she tries to enter the room, but she can't stopped by a barrier spell which clearly needed an invitation.
However from the doorway, we looked over and saw Elijah laying in his open coffin before his eyes suddenly open and look toward Rebekah and I hear her almost silent gasp as he clearly infiltrates her mind leaving me standing in wait while he is clearly speaking with Rebekah in her head.
"I swear" Rebekah suddenly says after a silent minute and I frown noticing she was back aware before turns towards me.
"So what'd he say?"
"He's going to try and talk to Davina, he's coming back soon" I nodded looking back at Elijah briefly seeing his eyes still open and looking at us and I heard his distant voice in my head.
"Forgive Niklaus, Sophia...he needs you and the family needs to be united" I smiled a little nodding my head at Elijah.
"He also asks that we protect Hayley and the baby" Rebekah adds as we turn leaving the church.
"No argument there" I replied pulling out my phone since I should actually check in on Hayley seeing as he was out with that witch Agnes.
Where are you – Sophia
Bayou clinic with doctor – Hayley, I frowned at her text since they had left almost two hours ago and something just seemed off to me so I turned sharing a look with Rebekah before we set off to meet her out there.
As we got close to the bayou clinic using our sense of smell to pin it down to a specific location we quickly heard a different sound and after a panicked look between Bekah and I we picked up our pace speeding towards the sounds of a fight seeing a man approaching Hayley and I wasted no time in speeding over and snapped his neck letting him drop to the ground.
"I have to say, I'm impressed" Rebekah remarked as we look around as see three other men all dead or knocked out.
"How did you find me?" Hayley asks standing upright from her crouch.
"Your text got us halfway, vamp hearing did the rest" I replied before looking down at the guy I had killed. "Who are they?"
"Witches, warlocks, whatever" Hayley replies right as I hear running steps coming from behind us and turn towards the sound noticing Rebekah doing the same, clearly we were both hearing it meaning there were definitely more of them on the way.
"There're more of them" Beks says before looking towards me and Hayley. "Run!" she insisted and Hayley reluctantly heeds her warning while I hesitate seeing as I should help but they guys were out here with wooden stake crossbows and one hit to the heart I was dead, Rebekah not so much. "Go!" she told me more insistnat and I sighed.
"Be careful Beks" I muttered before running after Hayley.
"If I had a dollar for every mess my family has got me into..." I hear Rebekah say right before there is a whistling sound of an arrow being shot and she groans out in pain making me stop seeing her go down with two arrows in her heart, which temporarily neutralize her and she falls to the ground.
"Rebekah!" I hear Hayley yell out and turn back seeing her stop.
"Hayley go!" I yelled right before I yelled out as an arrow shot through my shoulder and instantly I felt dizzy but not before I saw Hayley also get shot in the shoulder with an arrow, which seems to be coated in something that causes her to pass out and fall to the ground as well. "Hayley" I whispered out before feeling my eyes roll back and fall...
Third Person's POV
Rebekah awakens from passing out after being shot in the heart with an arrow and she immediately pulls out the arrows from her chest with a groan before she sits up to find five or more bodies, all dead and bloodied.
"What the hell?" she asks shocked as she gasps for breath pulling herself to her feet. "Sophia, Hayley?" she yells looking for the two girls. "HAYLEY?!" she yells out before she notices a body lying face first into the dirt a couple meters away and recognizes them. "Sophia!" she vamps over to her sister-in-law noticing the arrow sticking through her left shoulder and immediately yanks it out before turning her over sighing in relief when she sees that she is alive. "Sophia" she shakes her trying to rouse Sophia but she is out cold and knows she has no choice but to call Niklaus to get his help in locating the werewolf that his carrying his wife's and his child.
"What do you mean, 'she's missing' and Sophia's unconscious?'" Klaus asks sounding angry over the phone.
"What do you think I mean, there's blood and bodies everywhere, someone's ripped this lot to shreds and there's no smart-aleck pregnant girl and Sophia's been shot with an arrow, probably laced with vervain" Rebekah explains to her brother.
"Keep looking and trying to wake Sophia, I'm on my way" he insists before hanging up and where he is he lets out a worried groan for the fact that his wife is in trouble and the girl carrying their child is missing.
Rebekah picks up her sister in law and returns to the bayou clinic that they had passed on their search for Hayley before they were shot and lays her down on the table before she looks around for clues as to where Hayley could be seeing the doctor passed out on the floor next to the used syringe before she suddenly feels a presence and turns seeing Klaus in the doorway, his eyes locked on Sophia's unconscious body on the table.
"Wow, you abandoned your quest for power to help out your family, having an off day?" she remarks watching him as he approached Sophia and quickly cups her cheeks.
"Who took her, Rebekah?" he asks clearly referring to Hayley before he bites down on his own wrist and forces it against his wife's mouth.
"I don't know" Rebekah frowns staring at her brother lovingly trying to wake her sister-in-law with a care and devotion she hadn't seen in quite some time.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" he demanded looking up at her. "And who killed her attackers if my wife is unconscious?"
"I don't know, I had an arrow in my heart and Sophia was shot in the shoulder, if it wasn't Hayley who killed them, then–" she is cut off by wolves howling in the distance and Klaus looks at her and raises his eyebrows. "Lovely, maybe her cousins will know where she is" she adds right as there is a gasp from the table and they turn seeing Sophia's eyes wide open as she hastily tries to stand.
Sophia's POV
I gasp loudly when I feel myself coming back into the land of consciousness, my eyes immediately shooting open wide looking up at a sterile ceiling before I try to stand as I remembered being in danger before I passed out so I quickly looked around to assess where I was surprised to come face to face with Nik as he quickly reaches out to steady me before I find Rebekah moving forwards as well.
"What happened?" I asked looking between them before I noticed the lack of Hayley. "Where's Hayley?" I asked seeing them share a look. "Where is she?" I demanded more forcibly.
"Easy love, you were shot with vervain, you should take it easy" I frowned and Nik before shaking my head.
"We have to find her" I insisted and although I still felt slightly weak I stood as straight as I could and walked outside hearing them follow but before we even thought about where to look I saw Hayley walking towards usher clothes tattered and dirty. She looks dazed and exhausted. "Hayley!" I called and she looked up but before I could question her on what happened Nik moved past me towards her.
"What happened, tell me what happened?" he asked her and I raised an eyebrow sharing a surprised look with Rebekah at the tone of his voice, he sounded actually concerned.
"I can't remember" she replies while Nik examines her for wounds and even from where I stood she seemed to be okay, no sign of blood anywhere.
"You've completely healed, there's not a scratch on you" Nik pointed out.
"One of the perks of being a werewolf, remember?" she reminded him but I frowned since werewolves didn't heal this fast although I did let out a small sigh of relief that she was okay and so was the baby as I could still hear the heartbeat.
"No, not that fast" Nik argues and I sigh walking over to Hayley and wrap an arm around her.
"Leave her alone Nik" I scolded him as I lead Hayley towards the patio and got her to sit down since she seemed to be in shock while I think for a moment since the only thing that could have healed her this fast was... "It's the baby" I pointed out seeing them all look at me. "The vampire blood in your system, it can heal any wound" I saw Nik turn and stares at us incredulously.
"Sophia and Nik's child healed you" Rebekah nodded in understanding while I see Nik actually smile at the thought.
"How did you escape?" I asked turning back towards Hayley. "You were outnumbered, unarmed?"
"Those men were ripped to shreds" Beks added making me frown a little.
"I think it was the wolf, I think it's trying to protect me" Hayley replies and my frown deepens with confusion since what wolf.
"The witches were supposed to protect you!" Nik suddenly exclaims, anger taking over him and I turned towards him with a look. "When I get my hands on Sophie Deveraux–"
"It wasn't Sophie, it was Agnes" Hayley argued cutting him off.
"Fine Agnes, Sophie, it's all the same to me, I'll slaughter the lot of them!"
"Not if Elijah gets there first" Rebekah cut him off.
"Elijah?" Hayley asks turning towards her. "Did you find him?"
"He's been in touch and he has a plan" she replies with a nod looking up at Nik before she turns back to Hayley. "All he asks is that we take care of you" she adds and I smile when I see Hayley do so, she seemed to really like Elijah.
"Hey, so...can we go home now?" she asks us. "I'd really like to sleep for a few days" she goes to stand up but when she goes to walk, she stumbles and starts to fall and before I could even catch her Nik had vamped over to catch her and picks her up cradling her in his arms making me smile a little.
"I've got you love. I've got you" he tells her as we walk toward the car, Hayley still in Klaus' arms making my smile widen since perhaps he was finally starting to come around to the idea that she was carrying our child and actually wanted it.
Back at the mansion I watched over Hayley as she slept since I almost lost everything tonight and I felt utterly helpless to protect Hayley and protect my baby that she carried feeling angry at the witches since this wasn't how it was supposed to be, I'd always wanted to be a mother but I had wanted to carry my own child and feel them inside me...I wanted to feel all of it and because of them it was stolen from me.
I frowned as I left Hayley's room quietly so that I didn't wake her shutting the door behind me before I turned and found myself looking into Niklaus' eyes before I let out a sigh and sank into his arms which seemed ready to console me despite us fighting, he was always here when I needed him and I found myself remembering Elijah's words to me, that I should forgive him and stand united as a family instead of apart but his actions tonight also spoke to me since it was clear that he did care about our child and that in itself spoke to me in ways.
"Thank you for everything tonight" I spoke up against his chest before I let out another sigh and leant back so that I could look up into his face. "I'm sorry I've been so distant and angry at you"
"You deserved to be, I haven't exactly been husband of the year lately" he replied making me smile.
"I wouldn't have you any other way Niklaus, while you may irritate me and make me so angry by your actions, your always there when I need you the most and that's the most important thing in the world to me"
"I'll always be here for you Sophia" he sighed moving his hand to cup my cheek brushing him thumb over it.
"I know which is why I'm ready to forgive you, I can't keep holding grudges...not now we have something more precious to think about, we were so busy fighting against each other when we should have been united and maybe Hayley wouldn't have been attacked, I need her to be safe since I can't lose this baby...it's everything I've ever wanted"
"No harm will come to Hayley while she carries the child Sophia, I promise" he insisted and I looked up at him.
"And after, she's giving us the most precious of gifts Nik, she's practically family and it seems like her and Elijah are becoming quite close" he frowned making me smile just a little. "It's not just about us, my lover" his frown turned upside down.
"Its nice to hear you call me that again"
"I told you, I'm willing to forgive you...so long as you promise not to do anything that'll piss me off again"
"I'll try" he nods before he leans down pressing his forehead against mine closing his eyes as he sucked in a breath. "I love you, more than I can bare Sophia" I smiled since those were the very words he'd used when he first admitted that he loved me.
"I love you Nik" I whispered, our lips so close to touching but I wasn't quite ready to jump back into bed with him so I pulled away opening my eyes to see his staring into mine. "Baby steps Niklaus, I'm willing to forgive you but I think we need to take it slow"
"Whatever you need my love" he smiled and I smiled back since he was pulling out all the good memories since when we admitted our feelings for each other and began our courtship I had said that I wanted to take it slow and those were the exact same words he'd used back then as well and the beginning of him calling me 'my love' instead of just 'love' like he calls everyone else.
"Thank you, my lover" I smiled seeing his eyes light up with recognition as those as the words that I had said to reply to that and the start of me calling him 'my lover', I stepped back to put distance since although I wanted space...it was hard when he still looked as handsome as ever. "Goodnight Niklaus"
"Goodnight Sophia" he smiled back allowing me to step back further as we both smiled and one another before I turned and walked to my room...this was almost exactly how that day had gone and it made my smile widen especially when I suddenly felt him move in front of me and I was pushed into the wall with his lips on mine...a slow tantalizing kiss being shared between us before he pulled away. "Sleep well" I nodded and stepped away from him again before I went into my room and shut the door unable to wipe the smile from my face as I touched a finger to my lips feeling like a giddy teenager again.