Chapter 89: The Originals
August 31, 2011
Katherine had always been one to look out for herself. It was a necessary thing that had kept her alive all this time. "Katherine, I think something's wrong." Ellie's panicked voice danced in her head. Something was very wrong. She'd been able to hear Ellie cry out in pain before silence followed. She had tried calling Ellie's name, but she'd gotten no response. She'd contemplated her options, but there was no other option than the very last thing that she wanted to do.
Swallowing her fear, Katherine made her way to the Mikaelson mansion and strode into the house with far more confidence than she felt. Klaus was upon her in an instant as her back slammed against the wall with his fingers digging into her throat. "Katerina." He drawled. "I see you've lost the will to live. What a shame after all of this time of you managing to run and hide so well."
"Stop, Klaus, stop." Katherine choked out as she clawed at his hand.
"And why should I?" He inquired with interest.
She managed to pull his hand away long enough to shout out, "Elijah! It's about Ellie!"
Klaus regained his grip on her throat. "Using Ellie to save your life? That's low, pet. Even for you."
Despite that, Elijah had appeared at the top of the stairs. "Niklaus." He warned. "Release her." Klaus rolled his eyes at Elijah's demand. It seemed, however, that he wasn't moving fast enough for Elijah's preferences. The older Mikaelson was beside the two of them in an instant and forcibly removed Klaus' hand from Katherine's neck. "What is this about Eleanor? Speak, Katerina."
She made no comment about him speaking to her like a dog. Instead, she told him, "She called me earlier. I don't know where she was but I could hear water near her and bugs. All she was able to tell me was that she thought that something was wrong. I was trying to talk to her to ask what was happening, but I heard her cry out, and then there was just silence." Katherine explained. Her worry for Ellie was overriding her fear of Klaus as she looked at Elijah intently. "I think that something is really, really wrong. I think something happened to her."
Elijah was on edge immediately. "How long ago was this?" He demanded.
"Less than an hour ago. I had talked to her earlier and she said that she and Hayley had been on the way to the bayou with some lead they'd gotten on Hayley's family by this woman Jane Anne. I'm going to New Orleans to find her, but I wanted to stop here first to let you know what was happening."
Klaus' murderous expression had faded, though he looked incredibly pissed off. "Are you saying someone has taken the little witch?"
"Either that or something really bad happened to her. But I would start with Jane Anne." Katherine replied.
"Gather your things and be ready to leave in an hour." Elijah instructed. "If someone has taken her they will learn very quickly that that was a very dangerous mistake to make."
Neither Klaus nor Katherine dared to disagree.
By the time it had been exactly an hour since Elijah's instruction, Katherine had returned to the Mikaelson mansion with a bag in hand. She had tried to swallow her disbelief and shock that she was willing working with the two Mikaelson brothers that had actively tried to kill her for a stupid ritual, especially when one of those brothers had slaughtered her family. Her precious, loving baby sister Malina's corpse flashed before her eyes. What had once been gleeful laughter now sounded like a haunted cry that dug at the dark depths of her mind.
But Malina's mangled form transformed before her eyes, leaving Ellie's brutalized body in her place. She shuddered at the thought of finding Ellie in such a state. But she was more afraid of what Elijah would do if that was what happened. She could remember a handful of occasions that she'd seen him grieve the loss of a lover while she watched them from afar. But they told her enough to know that he was a man to be feared when he was enraged.
Would he turn his rage on her? Would she be blamed? Why had Ellie even called her rather than Elijah? "But you're my family too, Kat." Ellie's voice once again floated around in her head. She knew it was true, but she still didn't like being so close to the Mikaelson men when Ellie wasn't around to mediate it. But this was for Ellie. And despite her best efforts, the little jerk had gotten under her skin and made a home there and Katherine didn't think she'd be able to get the witch out no matter how hard she tried.
If something had happened to Ellie in New Orleans, though, Katherine knew without a doubt that Elijah and Klaus, as well as Rebekah the moment she got wind of the news, would rain a hellfire down on that city like they had never seen. Quite frankly, even she was a bit scared to see exactly how far Elijah would go for Ellie.
Ellie had told her how enraged Elijah had been after she had called Elijah, dangerously drunk on the side of the road after being with Stefan. She had told Katherine how Elijah had nearly ripped Stefan's heart out, despite knowing that he was one of Ellie's best friends. What the hell would he do to someone that Ellie wasn't protecting? She was suddenly very glad that Ellie would get pissed off if they did anything permanent to her. "Katerina, I see you've made the decision to join us." Klaus commented as he and Elijah headed downstairs, bags in hand.
"It's Ellie." She said simply. "I already risked my life coming here to tell you in the first place. Did you think that I wasn't going to see this through? I want to know what the hell happened to her." After a brief pause, she added, "Besides, I promised Jenna I'd find out what was going on because she didn't want to leave Jeremy here alone."
Elijah, to Katherine's extreme surprise, seemed a bit impressed with her. He hadn't looked at her in that way since she was a human that had been incredibly stubborn. For a moment, she was seventeen again and refusing to call for help when she'd gotten her foot stuck in a hole that had been dug by one of the dogs on the ground. He'd found her digging herself out of it with her bare hands and had given her that exact expression. "Very well." He told her politely. "We're leaving now. Come along." He seemed to have reigned in his rage, for now. Though it was more likely that he was letting it sit and simmer and grow, making his rage all the more deadly when he finally let it out.
Klaus did not pester nor threaten Katherine as they put their bags in the back of Elijah's car. The two Mikaelson brothers took the front seat as Katherine silently made her way into the back. If she had to guess, she would have assumed that Elijah either threatened Klaus, or Klaus had enough common sense to know that now was not the time to risk Elijah's ire. They were in for a long ride, but Katherine had a feeling that that would only be to the detriment of whoever it was that had gone after Ellie.
When they arrived in New Orleans, Elijah was quick to fall into the role of commander and leader. "Niklaus, go to the quarter and find a witch to find us this Jane Anne. Katerina, I want you to do some digging. If someone has taken Eleanor hostage, they have a reason and I want to know exactly what it is. I will go out to the bayou where she last spoke to you."
They both nodded in understanding. "I'll let you know the moment I find anything of use brother." Klaus assured him. Katherine said nothing, but she knew that Elijah knew that she would comply with his request. Well, it wasn't exactly a request but more a command. The three were quick to split up with Elijah taking the car while Katherine and Klaus traveled on foot toward the heart of the quarter. "Try to make yourself of use, love. It might keep you alive a while longer." Klaus suggested before he vanished.
Despite appearing seemingly amused, she could almost taste his anger. Elijah was not the only one that was furious about something potentially happening to Ellie. She was far from calm herself, but unlike the two Mikaelson brothers, apparently, she had successfully mastered the art of keeping her composure until it was time to strike. But maybe that was due to all the centuries she spent carefully playing the part of a helpless girl that had to play by societal rules of the time.
Now, she found herself roaming the streets of New Orleans, looking for a way to get information on Ellie. Fortunately, luck seemed to be on her side for once. A familiar face stood not too far away as they handed out something to small children. "Nova?" She questioned as she approached the other woman.
The woman, Nova, was a bit older than the last time Katherine had seen her, but for the most part she looked exactly the same. "Katherine? Oh my god!" Nova grinned at the vampire and pulled her into a tight hug as the kids that had been around them scattered. "What on earth are you doing here of all places?"
"I'm looking for someone. A girl named Ellie." Katherine explained. Under normal circumstances, Nova's first question would have been to ask who Ellie was. Instead, the blonde tensed. She should have known to not react that much if she was trying to keep a secret. Before Nova could react, Katherine had moved them to the back of an alleyway with her arm pinned against Nova's throat. "You know something. Out with it."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Katherine. What are you doing?" Nova said nervously.
Katherine gave her an unimpressed look. "Nova, you and I both know I can hear your heartbeat. And we both know it's telling me that you're full of shit. If you want to keep all of your body parts, you're going to tell me what you know."
Her calm and friendly demeanor had vanished as her eyes darkened in warning. "Katherine…" Nova tried. When Katherine only pressed into Nova's neck with more strength, Nova asked, "Who is she to you? Why is she important?"
"She's my sister." Katherine informed her bluntly.
The color drained from Nova's face at the revelation. "How is that possible? She's human. You've been alive for centuries."
"That doesn't really matter now does it? Not when I could so very easily remove your head. Who has her?"
"You don't want to get involved Katherine, this is bigger than you know." Nova tried to warn her.
It was clear that that was the wrong answer. "Who has her?" Katherine hissed.
"The New Orleans witches! The French Quarter coven… my… my coven." Nova confessed.
"Where do they have her? Why did they take her?"
Katherine let go of Nova now that she was compliant. Nova, despite looking like she wanted to be anywhere but there, continued. "Because we didn't have a choice. Her and that Hayley girl, the wolf she came around with, we needed them."
"Why?"
"We needed leverage to use against Klaus, ok? We're out of options. It would be better if you got the hell out of here before he gets here."
"I came with him to find Ellie." Katherine told her bluntly. "And right now, it's not Klaus you need to be afraid of, it's Elijah."
"Listen, it wasn't my idea ok, but I wasn't listened to. They made the decision and it's too late now to double back. They see it through, or we all die." Nova explained.
"See what through?"
Nova looked around nervously before she said, "Listen, we need Klaus to help us, but I really can't say much more."
"What about Jane Anne?"
"Jane Anne Deveraux? How do you know her?"
"I don't but Ellie had mentioned her. What Ellie didn't know, however, was her last name." Katherine replied. "Can this Jane Anne Deveraux tell me where the hell Ellie is?"
Nova looked over Katherine's shoulder and lost any remaining color in her face. "I've got to go. Good luck." Nova all but ran away from Katherine. She looked over her shoulder to see a man she didn't know staring at her intently. Her gaze dropped down to the Lapis Lazuli ring adorning his finger. Something big was brewing in New Orleans, especially if the witches were desperate enough to risk Klaus' wrath and Elijah's. It didn't take long to find Klaus when she sought him out. She'd been running from him long enough to be hyper aware of him.
"Klaus."
"Katerina."
"It was a coven that took Ellie and the wolf girl. They want something from you." Katherine told him. She caught the microexpressions as they danced across his face. There was guilt in his eyes. It was, as far as they now knew, his fault that Ellie was in danger. "The witch I was talking to all but ran away from me when she spotted some vampire with a daylight ring, though. She did give me a name though, Jane Anne Deveraux."
He sighed heavily before replying, "Then we shall simply find another witch." They made their way along a path that had a variety of tables set up offering various services. He spotted an older black woman and simply said, "Her." She followed without a word as he made his way to sit down before the witch. "Good afternoon. Time for one more?"
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Oh, now, that's not very amiable, is it? You don't even know me."
"I know what you are. Half-vampire, half-beast. You're the hybrid." She told him, entirely unimpressed.
"I'm the original hybrid, actually, but that's a long story for another time." He assured her. "I'm looking for someone, a witch. Perhaps you might be able to help me find her. Jane Anne Deveraux."
Much like the expression that had danced across Nova's face, there was a look of panic that danced across this witch's. "I'm sorry. I don't know."
Klaus didn't seem to be in the mood for lies as he leaned toward her. "Well now that's a fib isn't it? Now, you see, I know that you're a true witch amongst this sea of posers. So enough with the fabrications. I've quite a temper that my love company here can attest to."
The witch pulled her hand out of Klaus'. "Witches don't talk out of school in the quarter. The vampire won't allow it. Those are the rules. I don't break Marcel's rules."
The name was something of interest to Klaus. "Marcel's rules?" He repeated. "Where do you suppose I might find Marcel?" Fearfully, the witch informed Klaus where Marcel, whoever Marcel was, might be and with that the two vampires were on their way.
"Who's Marcel?" Katherine asked curiously, unable to help herself.
"None of your concern." Klaus replied shortly.
"That witch was scared of him and if that vampire with the daylight ring is associated with Marcel, he had the witch I was talking to scared as well. You know him don't you?"
Klaus whipped around, getting dangerously close to her face. "Mind your tongue, Katerina, lest you lose it." They made their way to some bar where a young black man was singing.
After he got off stand he'd gone over to his friends, but it was only a moment before he froze. "Klaus?" He asked as he turned to face them.
"Marcel."
"Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa." Marcel said with the confidence of a man that knew he would not be harmed by Klaus.
"Has it been that long?"
"The way I recall it, he ran you out of town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake."
"And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, I recently incinerated to dust."
The vampires in the room stood in warning as Klaus approached Marcel. "Well, if I'd known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads up-"
"What, Marcel? What would you have done?"
The tension was suffocating as the pause lingered between the two men. "I'd have thrown you a damn parade." Suddenly both men were laughing and hugging before Marcel said, "Niklaus Mikaelson! My mentor, my savior, my sire. Let's get you a drink." Katherine followed behind them as they sat at a table. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to be home. Although, please tell me the current state of Bourbon Street is not your doing."
Marcel laughed in amusement. "Something's gotta draw in the out-of-towners. Otherwise we'd all go hungry."
Klaus clocked the daylight ring on the fingers of Marcel's friends. "I see your friends are daywalkers."
"Yeah, yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight ring with a few buddies. Just the inner circle, though, the family."
"Tell me, how did you find a witch willing to make daylight rings?" As Klaus questioned Marcel, Katherine took in the men around them. She knew something was up and she did not trust the people they were currently surrounded by.
"I got the witches here wrapped around my finger."
Klaus laughed brightly at him. "Is that so? I'm looking for a witch… by the name of Jane Anne Deveraux. Has some business with me."
Katherine cataloged the expression of Marcel's face. He knew something about this Jane Anne. Had Klaus caught that expression too? He probably had. Klaus very rarely missed anything. Marcel shot a look to the man with the stupid hat before he replied, "You're looking for Jane Anne?" Klaus' smirk was confirmation enough for Marcel. "Then you probably ought to come with me. Your little… girlfriend can come too. She's your guest after all. Showtime!"
Both Klaus and Katherine made a face at the girlfriend comment, but she remained silent as she followed after the men. There had to be at least a hundred vampires surrounding them, running around like rambunctious children. They had no subtly to them. Elijah would despise it. "Come along, love. Don't want to get lost in the crowd." Klaus called to her as he noticed her falling behind slightly.
"Well, how's your family?" Marcel asked curiously.
"Those who live hate me more than ever."
"Well, forget 'em. If your blood relations let you down you make your own, huh? You taught me that." Marcel replied, grinning all the while. He was a handsome man, even Katherine could admit that. "And what's mine is yours, as always. Even my nightwalkers, the riff-raffs."
"They're hardly subtle, are they?"
"It's the quarter. Ain't no such thing as subtle, baby." He joked. Marcel whistled sharply and Katherine watched with interest as the vampires surrounding them began whoop and holler. To her confusion, a woman was brought forth with bound hands. "Jane Anne Deveraux!" Marcel cheered. "Give it up for Jane Anne!" The crowd whistled and shouted back in response. Katherine moved to stand beside Klaus as they watched in silence. "Jane Anne Deveraux… you have been accused of the practice of witchcraft beyond the bounds of the rules set forth, and enforced, by me. How do you plead?" He whipped around to Klaus to ask, "Was that convincing? I studied law back in the fifties. Hold that thought. Seriously, Jane, ticktock. You know the drill? How do you plead?"
Jane Anne held her head up high. "I didn't do anything."
"That's a lie." Marcel replied. "You know it. I know it, and you hate that I know it. It drives you witches crazy that I'm aware of your every move, that you can't do magic in this town without getting caught! So, why don't we just cut to the chase, huh?" Marcel was fiddling with some kind of vine in his hands. "You tell me what magic you're brewing. I mean, tell me. I'll grant you leniency. Hey, I am, after all, a merciful man."
She scoffed in his face. "Rot in hell, monster."
It seemed like Marcel was keeping himself from reacting to her comment. "I'll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance." He started to walk away before he snapped his wrist out, the vine snapping in response and slitting Jane Anne's throat. "Or not." He shrugged as her hands shot to her throat in surprise. The crowd erupted in excitement at the action and everyone began to follow Marcel.
Katherine, however, did not move from Klaus' side. He turned slowly to give her a look and she could see the rage just below the surface. She was glad it wasn't directed at her, but she still didn't like that they weren't any closer to finding Ellie. He turned and stalked toward Marcel, forcing the vampire to face him. "What was that?" Klaus demanded.
"Hey…" Marcel said gently. "Come walk with me." As they did, Marcel explained, "Witches aren't allowed to do magic here. She broke the rules."
"I told you I wanted to talk to her." Klaus reminded.
As Klaus began to storm off, Marcel caught up with him and said, "Hey, I'm sorry. I got caught up in the show. These witches, they think that they still have power in this town. I have to show them that they don't. I never waste an opportunity for a show of force. Another lesson that I learned from you. And besides, anything that you could've gotten out of her… I can find out for you, and I will. I promise."
After a beat, Klaus began to grin. "Well, whatever it was… doesn't matter anymore, does it?"
"Good, good. Then let's eat because all that spilled blood makes me hungry." Marcel laughed. He started to walk past Klaus, but before the hybrid turned, he sent a silent look to Katherine. This was far from over, his look promised her. They would tear the whole town apart if that was what it took to find Ellie. He changed course, instead walking toward the man with the stupid hat. "Hey, Thierry, isn't it? Any more Deveraux witches where she came from?"
Thierry paused before confessing, "Just her sister, Sophie. They both worked at Rousseau's. Why?"
"No reason of importance. Just curiosity. Move along." Klaus dismissed.
He and Katherine moved without a word. Once they were out of earshot of the other vampires, Katherine said, "I think he knows something about Jane Anne that he didn't want you to know. Do you think he's part of the reason they took Ellie?"
"Perhaps, but we'll need to speak with this Sophie girl to find out." Klaus told her.
They were able to find the restaurant with ease and followed the sound of soft sobbing. A woman that was definitely a few years younger than Jane Anne was crying quietly as she chopped up some vegetables. She turned around and choked on a gasp. "You're Klaus."
"I am. And you're upset. Sophie, isn't it? I assume this is because of what we just witnessed with your sister on the corner of Royal and Saint Ann."
"Did you enjoy the show?" Sophie asked sarcastically.
"It was a little melodramatic for my tastes. What did your sister want with me? Why did Marcel kill her?" Klaus questioned.
Before Sophie could answer, she glanced behind them and paused. "I see you brought friends." She opted to say instead.
"They're not with us." Katherine assured her.
"They're with Marcel. That's all that matters. I know you built this town, Klaus, but this is his town now. He killed my sister because she broke the rules. So I talk to you in front of them, I'm next."
Klaus, surprisingly, did not force Sophie to speak. He turned and grabbed a tight hold of the back of both vampires' necks. "Are you two gentlemen following us?"
"Marcel said we're your guides."
"Oh, he did, did he? He did? Well, let me be exceedingly clear about something. If either of you follow either of us again you'll do so without the benefit of a spine." Klaus warned them.
A blonde woman walked up to the three men and said, "Sorry for the wait. If you're here for the gumbo, I'm about to break your heart. We just ran out."
Klaus slapped down a hundred dollar bill on the table. "A bottle of your oldest scotch for my two friends here, love."
She picked up his money and started to move to walk away before she caught sight of Katherine behind the three men and lit up. "Ellie! I was wondering where and Hayley were. I was starting to think that you guys left without saying goodbye." The woman said brightly.
Katherine's switch was instantaneous. "I'm actually not Ellie." She explained. At the woman's utterly confused expression Katherine told her, "She's my twin. I'm Katherine. I was supposed to meet her here, but I don't know where she is exactly."
"Oh! Ellie's a twin too? She mentioned her sister but she didn't say she was a twin. I'm Cami, it's nice to meet you." Cami said as she extended her hand to the vampire.
Recognition washed over Katherine's face. "Oh! Cami! Yeah, Ellie was telling me about you. She said you kind of reminded her of our Aunt Jenna, at least personality wise." She replied as she shook the bartender's hand. "I should probably head out to meet Ellie, but I'll make sure that we have time to say a proper goodbye before we go."
"It was nice to meet you, Katherine." Cami said kindly. "And I hope you guys do. She and Hayley have practically become regulars and I'd like the chance to see them off before they leave."
"Will do." Katherine promised.
Elijah seemed to be having the best luck out of the three of them in finding Ellie and her friend. The young woman Sophie had led him to an old cemetery, but when he tried to enter he was met with resistance similar to that of trying to enter a house that he had not been invited into. "This is sacred ground, which means vampires have to be invited in. But since I'm desperate, come on in." As he walked into the cemetery, she added, "We can talk freely here."
"Then I suggest you start talking." He told her. He needed to remain calm long enough with this witch to get to Ellie. But if she had been hurt by them… he made no promises of keeping his hands clean. "What did your sister want with Niklaus?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Sophie asked as she stopped walking. "We have a vampire problem, and we need help. Marcel has an army backing him. The witches have been trying to fight back. We haven't had much luck until my sister, Jane Anne, met two girls. A werewolf and witch passing through the quarter from a small town in Virginia. The werewolf had a special connection to your brother. Apparently, they had spent some time together. One thing led to another, and now this special werewolf girl, she's pregnant, and the father of the child she's carrying is your brother Klaus."
"It's impossible."
"Nothing's impossible, especially not when it comes to your brother. Think about it. They call him the hybrid, right?" Sophie asked.
Despite feeling caught off guard, Elijah asked, "And what of the witch? What purpose does she serve for your plot?"
Sophie gave him a look, but he wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to mean. "We both know she's not just some witch, Elijah. She caught me more off guard than the werewolf, at least with the hybrid we don't really know what's possible. But then I met Ellie…"
Elijah was on high alert. "What about her?"
"I have a special gift, one that doesn't require a spell or active magic for me to use." Sophie explained. "I can sense when a woman is pregnant."
Had Elijah not been immortal, his heart might have stopped beating entirely at what she was suggesting. "What are you saying?"
She almost looked sorry for him. "With digging, we found that the werewolf had slept with Klaus and resulted in her pregnancy, but somehow, she's not the only girl that's gotten pregnant." He must have looked to be in shock, because she added a bit more softly, "I've never been wrong about sensing when a girl is pregnant, and Ellie is pregnant just like the werewolf is. Bring them out!"
Several women appeared, leading Hayley and Ellie out from wherever they'd been keeping them. Elijah's eyes immediately sought Ellie out. She was pale and quite frankly looked terrified. Her frantic heartbeat only served as a confirmation. She was afraid. "Elijah?" She said softly, though she didn't dare move away from Hayley's side.
His eyes did not leave her. He did not even glance in the direction of the wolf. "Give us a moment, please." He requested of Sophie.
"Of course. There's several crypts you can take them in to talk, but they can't leave the cemetery." Sophie told him.
Elijah simply nodded before walking toward both girls silently. He led them away from the witches and into one of the larger crypts. He released his gentle hold of the werewolf's arm closer to the entrance. "Would you give Eleanor and I a moment?" He asked.
"Yeah, no problem." Hayley replied, though she was watching Ellie's expression carefully.
He led his lover into the deeper recesses of the crypt, giving them a small amount of privacy, though thankfully the space was still lit well. When he released Ellie, her heart rate skyrocketed as she backed away from him. All the rage he'd felt trying to get to her disappeared in that moment. She was terrified and he didn't know why. "Eleanor?"
"I didn't sleep with anyone else, Elijah. I swear. I don't know how this is happening."
That caught his full attention. She had thought that his assumption would be that she had cheated? No wonder she was so panicked. Without saying a word, he strode over to her and pulled her into his arms. It took her a moment to process the action before she carefully hugged him back. "My love, that thought never even crossed my mind. I know you and I know that you would never do such a thing. Nor would I." She was shaking like a leaf in his hold. He pulled back slightly and cupped her cheek in his hand. "Eleanor, are you alright?"
That was when the tears began. She choked on a quiet sob before burying her face in his neck. He held her as she cried and walked backward to sit on a bench that was in the room. She curled up into him like she were a child. For a long while, he said nothing and neither did she. They were simply letting her let go of the emotions that were overwhelming her. After a while, she managed to calm her tears to look up at him. "Elijah, how is this happening?" She asked quietly.
He wiped away her tears as he said, "I don't know. Even with this story that Hayley simply sleeping with Klaus got her pregnant I'm not sure I believe that there was no third party involvement. But I know these witches are desperate, and I'm not sure what they are capable of."
She stood up and started to pace slightly as she began to explain. "When Hayley and I came here, we were just looking for her birth family and we'd met Jane Anne who had given us a lot of good advice on where to look. We'd been going out to the bayou on her suggestion when we were basically jumped by these witches. They've done all sorts of tests on us, Elijah. I don't know how, but every single test they did on both me and Hayley confirmed that we were pregnant."
Pregnant
It was something that he'd never thought he'd hear his lover say. Given, it was supposed to be impossible. But here she stood, held hostage and pregnant with that very pregnancy being used against him as a weapon to be manipulated. But he knew Eleanor. He knew he was the only person she'd ever been with, and he knew she would have never cheated. He stood and pressed a firm kiss to her hairline. "I will figure out how this has happened to you, but I need to keep you safe first and I do not trust these witches." He spoke softly, just above her ear to prevent from being overheard.
He was not processing the fact that might actually end up a father. It was a want that he had suppressed the day he died. But the love of his life stood before him, pregnant with his child, and he did not have the freedom to allow himself to process it with however many witches that were in this coven lingered about. "We're ok?" She asked gently.
"You have done nothing wrong, my darling. Of course we are." He assured her. She didn't speak, but he was glad for the moment of silence because it was in that silence that he heard it. The soft, but steady thumping of another heart. It was quick, with a funny pattern, but it was very clearly a small heart beating.
When his eyes watered slightly, she tentatively asked, "Elijah, are you alright?"
"I can hear it."
"Hear what?"
"The baby's heartbeat."
Her eyes watered instantly. "What? You can?"
He nodded softly as his hand reached out, as if of its own accord, to rest on her stomach. He wasn't sure if he could actually feel the thumping against his finger tips or if it was in his head, but he could hear the baby's heart. "I can." He confirmed. "It's soft but it's there."
"We should go back to Hayley, we've left her alone long enough." Ellie said as she tried to keep her emotions from overwhelming her. She was still nervous, and feeling sick. It felt like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to get angry with her but also wanted nothing more than to crawl up into bed with him and have him hold her as she processed what the hell was happening. She still didn't understand how this was possible. It wasn't natural. She shouldn't have been able to get pregnant by him, but she was.
When they returned to where Hayley was waiting, she scanned Ellie over as if looking for signs of distress. "You ok?"
"I'm fine." Ellie replied, though no one in the room seemed to be fully convinced.
Elijah, for the sake of his own sanity, seemed to have switched into a problem solving mode. "So they have been holding you both here against your will. How did that happen?" He asked first.
"They lured us out to the bayou and grabbed us." Hayley explained. "Then they did all these weird, witchy tests, now that either of us understand how this could happen. I mean, vampires are dead. They can't have children and now, somehow, both me and Ellie have gotten knocked up."
"And you, Eleanor? Why were you unable to escape?" He questioned.
"They're using some kind of fucked up witchy drugs on me, like Bonnie's mom did to her. I can't access my magic right now and they keep freaking doing it." She huffed as Hayley gently bumped their shoulders together as a subtle attempt to comfort the other girl.
He noted then how close the two girls were sitting to one another. What had they endured in the time that they had been taken? "Another problem for us to solve. As for you Hayley, perhaps, at least in your case, if you knew my brother's story, it might explain how this is possible. Here, if I may…"
To his surprise, and concern, both Hayley and Ellie pulled away when he reached out. "What are you doing?" Hayley asked suspiciously.
"Relax. If the two of you open your minds to me, I can show you." Elijah told them. He brought a hand up to each of them. The three of them closed their eyes as he explained, "In the beginning, our family was human. A thousand years ago now."
Before Ellie's eyes, she was transported back in time. Somehow, she saw Rebekah before her, bright eyed and beaming. "Come on, Henrik! Our brothers are fighting again!" Ellie had never seen Henrik before. In her opinion, he looked astonishingly like Kol.
"Although our mother dabbled in the dark arts, we were largely just a family trying to survive at a time when it was quite difficult to do so." Elijah's voice drifted through her mind as she watched the scene before her. Elijah and Klaus were sword fighting and she tried to not react with the way. They looked like they were having so much fun. "And, for better or worse, we were happy. That is, however, until one night. Our youngest brother was killed by our village's greatest threat."
The scene changed ever so slightly and before her, Klaus came running with Henrik's bloodied body in his arms. "Mother!" Klaus screamed at the top of his lungs before he lowered Henrik's body down. She had never seen him so distraught.
Rebekah was running to get to the two of them as Elijah continued to speak. "Men that could transform themselves into wolves during a full moon. Our family was devastated, none more than Niklaus." The scene shifted slightly and Ellie felt her eyes water at the sight of Klaus sobbing openly. "Desperate to protect the rest of us, our father forced our mother to call upon her black magic in order to make us stronger."
Again, it changed and Mikael was shouting at Rebekah. "Drink!" She was crying as he forced her face down to another woman's slit wrist.
"Thus the first vampires were born, but with this speed, this strength, this immortality came a terrible hunger and no one felt this hunger more than Niklaus. When he killed for the first time, we knew what he truly was." Ellie flinched at the sound of Klaus' pained screams.
"Niklaus!" The memory version of Elijah screamed back in panic.
"What is happening to me?"
Elijah tried to rush to help Klaus, but he was held back by Mikael. "No! Don't. Don't."
"Father! It hurts!" Klaus was sobbing again as his bones broke.
"He's a beast, an abomination." Mikael declared.
"He wasn't just a vampire." Elijah said as he pulled himself out of their minds.
"He was a werewolf. That's how the werewolf curse works." Hayley replied. "It isn't activated until you take a life."
Elijah wasn't looking at either of them as he said, "Niklaus was the result of an indiscretion our mother had hidden from us all, an affair with a werewolf like yourself. Infuriated by this betrayal, my father forced our mother to cast a spell that would suppress Klaus' werewolf side, denying him any connection with his true self."
"Your dad was a dick." Hayley said bluntly.
Ellie snorted in amusement. "Be glad he's dead." She told the other girl. "He was literally awful. I had the misfortune of meeting him."
Even Elijah grinned slightly before he said, "I cannot excuse Klaus' behavior, which I'm sure you know of, but you must understand that our father hunted him, hunted us for centuries." He stood and began to pace. "Every time we found a moment of happiness, we were forced to flee, even here in New Orleans, where we were happiest of all. Not long after Niklaus broke the spell which prevented him from becoming a hybrid, he defeated our father with the help of Eleanor. I thought this would make him happy. He was angrier than ever. I wonder if, perhaps, this baby of yours might be a way for my brother to find happiness, a way to save himself."
"And what about your own baby?" Hayley asked curiously as she nodded toward Ellie. "She's been trying to figure out for days what the hell happened to her for her to get knocked up by you. Will your own baby bring you happiness?"
Elijah was caught off guard by her question, but he could hear Ellie's heart rate increase as she waited for his answer. He'd not given himself time to even think about it. Subtly, he saw Hayley grip Ellie's hand in reassurance, almost completely hidden away with the way they were sitting together, but not quite. "When I was human, I wanted to be a father." He said carefully. Ellie's heart started to beat faster. "My family is everything to me." He glanced down at Ellie's still flat stomach "Even those that are not yet born." Her heart rate stuttered and then began to slow in what he hoped was relief.
"I'm glad you feel that way. Because we need your help." Sophie said as she walked back into the room.
Elijah's tone was far colder as he asked, "What precisely is it that you want, and what does it have to do with the two of these young women?"
"We want to run Marcel and his vampires out of town. Klaus is the key, but you are definitely a bonus. Everything Marcel knows about being a vampire he learned from Klaus. Marcel trusts him, looks up to him. He won't see the betrayal coming."
"Yes. Well, as I'm sure you're aware, my brother Niklaus doesn't like to be told what to do."
"It's why I brought you here." Sophie said with far too much confidence.
"Marcel drove the werewolves out of town decades ago." Ellie immediately looked over to Hayley as the other girl tensed. Did that have something to do with why Hayley was given up as a baby? "Do you really think he's going to welcome a hybrid baby to the neighborhood? Convince Klaus to help us, and no one has to know about the newest members of the Original family."
Just under the surface, Elijah was seething. On the outside, he remained as calm and collected as ever. "That sounds remarkably like blackmail."
"Like I said. I'm desperate."
Sophie's deadly serious expression made Ellie uncomfortable. Why did she need to get rid of Marcel so badly? Elijah took a deep breath before saying, "Well, then, I have my work cut out for me, don't I?"
Author's Note:
Oh my gosh I'm so nervous to y'all reaction to this I think I might die lol. Please be kind with whatever it is that you're thinking. And while some of you might not like it, this is one of the first plot lines I wanted to do when I first came up with the idea of this story. There will be an explanation for the how later on, it's not just going to get swept under the rug, but just have a little faith me. I'm so nervous about this chapter lol. This is also like half of the first episode of TO because I combined the originals episode of TVD with the pilot of TO. As always leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. Also! I know some of you guys really dislike Hayley, and I'd love to know your specific reasons so I know what to tweak since she will be a central figure through the story.
To Chusii: Honestly I'm so glad, because I lot of people don't like her but I think she has a lot of potential.
To Leah0329: If I wanted to make her like fully immortal, I think she wouldn't be able to do that alone despite how powerful she is... with a coven though... that might just be doable.
To Daddy's LiL HeartBreaker: Yes, we live for honest communication. Her and the Forbes women have my heart. Lmfao, do you think it's someone else if not Stefan? They will rain down hell, but they're gonna keep their cards close to their chest until they can make the right moves at the right time. Surprise! Hayley's not the only one pregnant, and Ellie's pregnancy is stressing me because I'm afraid of how you guys will take it even though it was one of the first plot lines that I planned out literally years ago lol.
To smilin steph: I'm sorry! I love you though!
To UnknownReaderHasJoined: Lol I didn't know you also had a account. Maybe it's Silas, maybe it's Stefan with weird feelings... who knows? If it makes you feel any better, it's intentionally confusing to figure out who it is.
To NaRuKo-InuTaiSHo: You got it!
-Madame Magic
Posted: 4/23/22
