(1/3)
Chapter 37
Hope and Sebastian went to every store in the mall looking for Izzy but she was nowhere to be found. They talked Hayley and Rebekah into staying until the mall closed just in case she came late but she never appeared.
Hope was silent as she got in the back seat of the car, her mind once again flooded with fearful thoughts of where Marcel could have been. She remembered Mikael and the almost innate, gutwrenching hate she felt the moment she saw him. Kol told them that Marcel's other vampire was killed but he didn't know what by and Hope couldn't help but think maybe it was Mikael. She promised Kol not to say anything about meeting Mikael or anything about them seeing Freya meet with the vampires of Klaus's sireline but as she stared at the empty passing storefronts, she wondered if not telling anyone was best. On one hand, she knew Mikael had to be the worst of the worst since everyone was so intent on telling her to stay away from him so if there was a chance that he did have Marcel then she was obligated to tell her parents. But on the other hand, she trusted her Aunt and Uncle immensely and didn't think they would ask her to keep a secret that could get her brother hurt.
Sebastian climbed into the backseat from the driver's side but then he continued scooting over on the seat until he was pressed leg-against-leg next to Hope and took her hand in his. Hope didn't pay any attention to Sebastian's gesture. They held hands all the time but usually only when there was a cute girl around that he was trying to make jealous.
"Mrs. Marshall-Kenner," Sebastian called into the front seat as Hayley started driving, Rebekah by her side still checking her phone for missed messages from Marcel. "Is it alright if Hope spent the night at my place?"
"Uh, I don't know, Sebastian. Did you ask your mom?"
"I did and I kinda already told her that you said it was okay so she's already expecting four for dinner and she's already made me make up the guest room and put fresh towels in the bathroom so if you say no, all that work would've been for nothing."
Both Hayley and Rebekah let out a small chuckle at Sebastian's little tale. Looking through the rearview mirror to see if Hope was laughing too, Hayley was dishearted to find the girl with her forehead pressed again the window, staring blankly out of it.
"Hope," Hayley said, drawing her daughter's attention. "What do you say, sweetie? Do you wanna spend the rest of your birthday with Sebastian tonight or do you wanna stay home with mom and dad?"
Sebastian looked back to Hope and for a split moment, he actually feared she might say no.
Hope rolled her eyes and teasingly said, "I want to go with Sebastian. As long as we stop and get earplugs on the way home. His room is right next to the guest room and I can hear him snoring all night."
"I have a sinus problem," Sebastian muttered as the three women laughed.
Glancing over in the mirror at Sebastian, Hayley's laughter tapered off as she said, "Sebastian, sweetheart, I know you're a witch but in this car, even the supernatural have to wear seatbelts."
Sebastian looked over at the seat belt lying on the seat next to him and rolled his eyes, which was not missed by Hayley. "I can't, Mrs. Marshall-Kenner. This shirt has a high wrinkle point."
With a smile on her face, Hayley replied,"Sebastian, seatbelt on or I pull over and we don't start this car again until it's on."
Sebastian sighed softly as he scooted over away from Hope to put his seatbelt on, all the while still holding her hand.
Hope watched with marvel as Sebastian struggled to get his phone out of the right front pocket of his pants with his left hand, his other hand still tightly squeezing her's.
"You could just let go of my hand," she laughed as he fumbled the phone into his lap. "It would make that a whole lot easier."
"No, trust me, I've got this." Sebastian successfully balanced his phone in his left hand and began strolling through it as if it were second nature to him. "I've logged in a lot of time using my phone with my left hand."
"That's disgusting," Hope scolded jokingly as she quickly pulled her hand out of his.
"I'm kidding," he laughed.
As she placed her hand back down on her knee, Sebastian reached out and took it back in his again.
Confused by his uncharacteristic neediness, Hope asked, "Why do you keep holding my hand?"
Sebastian shrugged and started going through his phone again as if a shrug was a good enough answer.
"Y'know, if my dad saw this he would probably literally rip your arm from its socket."
"Then good thing my mother's a good healer," Sebastian smirked.
"Seriously," Hope turned in her seat so that she was facing him directly. Raising their intertwined hands up to his eyes, she said, "What's with this?"
With a sigh, he mumbled, "If you must know...it's just that..." Failing to think of a concise way to put his thoughts, Sebastian rambled out, "You're my best friend and as your best friend, I pretty much feel like I need to - No! - I am REQUIRED to make you feel better but the only way to make you feel better is to find Marcel and I can't do that. So I'm sitting here feeling pretty much useless because the only thing I'm good for is talking and you don't want to talk right now but that's okay because at least I can hold your hand so that you know that I'm right here when you decide you're ready to rant to somebody about this or we could just sit here holding hands and never say anything else about it all night. Whatever you want, Hope, that's what I'm here for."
Hope's lips curled into a small smile. She sat back in her seat and started staring out the window again, her hand tightly woven with Sebastian's as he got back on his phone.
Hayley took them back to the Compound so Hope could pick up a few things before she took them back to the Dupeaux resident. Hope quickly packed a bag with clothes, her toothbrush, and her grimoire to practice magic with Sebastian and his parents while she was there. She left the Compound without saying anything to Klaus. He was still in his studio painting, trying to take his mind off of Marcel and although they shared a common fear, Hope was still too upset about Izzy to say goodbye to him.
"Okay, sweetie," Hayley said as she opened Hope's door in front of the Dupeaux' home. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay."
Hope nodded her head softly as she climbed out of the car, Sebastian scooting out right behind her with her bag hanging from his shoulder.
"Call me before bed," Hayley asked, trying to not push her daughter to talk if she didn't want to.
Again, Hope nodded.
Hayley leaned down and kissed Hope's forehead as she squeezed her tightly in her arms. "Stop worrying, sweetie," she whispered. "Marcel's going to be fine."
"Call me," Hope finally spoke in a low mutter. "If Marcel shows up. Call me as soon as he shows up. It doesn't matter what time of night it is. Please."
"Of course," Hayley squeezed her tighter. "But promise me you'll stop worrying. It's your birthday. Try to be happy, okay."
"Okay mom," Hope agreed, finally wrapping her arms around Hayley.
Hayley walked Hope and Sebastian to the door where Sebastian's mom was waiting with a genial smile on her face.
"Have fun, sweetheart," Hayley called behind Hope as Sebastian dragged her to the back of the house. Turning to Mrs. Dupeaux, she said, "Hope's having a bit of a rough day. Could you...just try to take her mind off of it? She has her grimoire in her bag. Doing magic always makes her happy so, if it's not too much to ask-"
"Say no more," Mrs. Dupeaux said reassuringly. "We absolutely love having Hope over. She's such a gifted little witch. She even pushes Sebastian to take his studies more seriously. I'm sure my husband and I can think of a good spell to keep them distracted."
"Thanks," Hayley smiled, glancing back into the house hoping to catch a glimpse of Hope but she and Sebastian were already gone. With a sigh, she said her goodbye and went back to the car where Rebekah waited.
Hayley couldn't help but roll her eyes when she got in the car and saw Rebekah still staring down at her phone.
"Geez, Louise," she groaned. "How many times do I have to tell you guys that Marcel is fine for you to believe me?"
"A hundred more times should do the trick," Rebekah joked.
Hayley started the car and held her hand out to Rebekah. "Alright," she said. "Give it to me."
"Excuse me," Rebekah exclaimed.
"Your phone. Give it here. You and I are about to go to Rousseau's and drink until you forget about Marcel not calling and I don't want to see you checking your phone every five minutes."
"But...what if he calls while we're not paying attention?"
"Then you can call him back when we're sober. Now give it,"
Rebekah held her phone out to Hayley but held on tight to it as Hayley tried to take it out of her hand until she unwillingly gave up.
"That's better," Hayley sighed, exhausted from trying to pry the phone from her ancient friend's hand. She put Rebekah's phone in her pocket and started driving towards the bar. "Now, let's go be irresponsible adults for the first time in a long time."
-M-
Josh and Lora sat in Mrs. Fuentez's apartment patiently waiting for Marcel to call back. Mrs. Fuentez, a lonely widower who was always happy to have company over, didn't even need to be compelled to agree to let her two neighbors in her apartment. She stayed up with them all day, talking and cooking, until she made a dinner big enough for 12. It wasn't until the sun began to set and she went to bed that they could finally focus on Marcel in peace.
It was also then that Josh decided to tell Lora about Zane. He expected to have to console her but her anger superseded her grief. All she wanted to do was get her hands on Mikael. It didn't matter if he was stronger than her. At the rate she was losing friends, it was only a matter of time before she died anyway.
A knock at the door startled both of them.
"Josh, man, if you're in there, open up." Vincent's voice came calling through the door.
Josh hurried to the door and opened it.
"What are you doing here," he asked confused when Vincent came right into the apartment carrying a large leather bag.
"I got a call from Marcel," Vincent answered a bit irritable. "He asked that I meet him here. Said you were hiding out at one of the neighbors. Inconsiderate of him to not tell me which neighbor. Had me looking like a fool knocking on random doors."
"Marcel called you," Josh asked, still hung up on the beginning of that story. "Why? Did he say where he was?"
"No, but he said he wasn't far away," Vincent flopped the bag down on the sofa.
"What does he need you for?"
Vincent stared Josh down. He was a bit shocked that Marcel hadn't told his closest friend about his plan but he realized it must have been for a reason and he figured he had no right to tell him anything Marcel didn't want him to know.
He shrugged and said, "He just asked me to bring him some things."
"What kind of things," Josh continued to badger. He walked over to the couch and went for Vincent's bag, curious about what he brought. "Like...magical artifacts or-"
Vincent grabbed Josh's hand before he could touch his bag. Staring him down with a cold stare, he said, "Trust me. You don't wanna know what's in there, man."
Josh had an idea but he hoped he was wrong. "Is it...is it something for Mikael? Is he going after Mikael?"
Lora scoffed loud enough to be heard across the room. "Armed with what? The Mikaelsons have the only weapons that can kill an Original."
A loud thud in the hallway brought their attention to the ajar door. Marcel stood in front of Josh's apartment with an obviously terrified man at his feet.
"I don't need to kill him," Marcel growled. "I just need to put him down."
Josh rushed out of the apartment over to the man lying on the floor, Lora close behind him. It took him a moment, but he soon recognized the man by his shabby beard and the track marks running down his arms.
"Davina's dad," he said surprised. "You found him? Just like that? In all of Florida? How?"
"You didn't think I'd let him exist without keeping tabs on him?"
Josh knelt beside the man and poked his cheek. When he felt the heat of his cheek, he knew that he was still alive. "What are you doing here? Kol has a way to use him to bring back Davina. You should've taken him to Kol."
"That's why I came here," Marcel stood back away from the man, motioning for Josh to pick him up. "I need you to take him to the Compound so Freya can finish her spell to bring Davina back."
"Me," Josh stood up, disbelief in his eyes. Marcel knew as well as him what Niklaus would do if he caught Josh or Lora in the Quarter. "Why me? Why can't you do it?"
"Because if I show my face at the Compound, Klaus is going to try to make me stay." Marcel took out his phone and flashed the screen at Josh. He was shocked by the number of unopened texts and missed calls Marcel had from Klaus, Rebekah, and Hope. "And I have some business to take care of, so I can't really be bothered with...Klaus right now."
Marcel shoved his phone back in his pants pocket, silently wondering what his family was doing right now. Since no one had found him yet, he assumed that Klaus hadn't gotten Freya to perform a locator spell on him...yet. In his distress, Marcel buried Zane's body in the bayou and went straight to Florida without a second thought. He didn't consider the possibility of Klaus finding him with a locator spell until he was halfway to his destination. He knew that once Klaus found out where he'd gone with Mikael on the loose he was going to be in a world of pain when he got home but that didn't matter at the moment. He had to focus on the task at hand.
Marcel nodded to Vincent and Vincent nodded back. Then he went back into the widow's home and grabbed his bag off the couch.
"Where are you going," Josh asked, stepping between Vincent and Marcel, irritated that Marcel would make a plan involving Vincent but not him.
Marcel considered not telling Josh the truth. He knew how cautious his friend was and he knew that what he was about to do was one of the most dangerous things he'd ever attempted but he needed to do it. Deciding that Josh deserved the truth if only because he considered him a close friend, Marcel said, "Vincent is going to perform a locator spell on Mikael for me. And then we're going to take him down before he can hurt anyone else I care about."
Josh was stunned silent for a moment. Then he started nervously laughing. He looked between Vincent and Marcel, waiting for one of them to break character and reveal that it was just a joke but neither did.
"You can't be serious," he muttered, his laugh ending and his face dropping. "Marcel, you can't take down Mikael. He's Klaus...but worse because he doesn't care about not killing you."
"And that's the problem," Marcel growled. The memory of Zane's tortured body flashed back in his mind and he quickly forced it away.
He buried Zane on his own so Josh and Lora wouldn't have to witness the same terrible sight of their friend that he did. But that memory had been his driving force for twelve hours. Zane was the reason he'd kept out of contact with anyone else. He didn't want anyone to try to talk him out of his plan. He made a promise to protect his people at all costs and he had failed too many times before. He needed to do what was right this time.
Josh looked back at Vincent, his bag slung over his shoulder and ready to go at Marcel's request. "At least..." he paused, only just brave enough to say, "At least let me come with you. We're partners and if you're willing to risk it all, so am I."
"No," Marcel stated obstinately. "All of this was for Davina. Kol allowed Freya to bring Mikael back to life for Davina. I drove all the way to Florida to get this guy so we could bring her back. I need you to make sure he gets to Freya so all of this wouldn't have been in vain."
"No, Marcel." Josh shook his head and stepped closer to Marcel. "I'm not letting you go against that guy on your own. It's suicide. He can't die."
"He can still be put down." Marcel looked over to Vincent still standing in the widow's apartment. "Do you have everything?"
Vincent slapped the side of his packed bag and said, "Everything I need for both spells."
"What's all that for," Josh asked, nervous by his friend's secrecy. "What are you planning to do?"
"We're gonna find Mikael," said Marcel, his voice unreassuringly flat. "And desiccate him using magic."
Josh was stunned silent for seconds. "A-are you sure about that? Mikael's like...an Original. Not to mention he has a reputation for killing vampires."
"I don't care. I'm not losing any more of my guys to the Mikaelsons. I'm putting him down even if I have to die to do it."
"Marcel, this won't bring them back," Josh cautioned, fear for his friend's life causing him to anxiously flail his hands around as he spoke. "Think about what you're doing. You-you're walking to your death." Marcel scoffed and tried to brush past Josh into his apartment when Josh grabbed his arm. "Zane wouldn't have wanted this."
Marcel snatched his arm out of Josh's hold and growled, "We don't know what Zane would've wanted because he's not here to tell us."
"This is stupid," Josh shouted. He turned to each of the other people in the hall hoping for someone to agree with him but everyone just looked at him as if he was the one insane. "Do you people not understand that you could die? I didn't survive with you and-and fight by your side for this long just so you could die doing something so incredibly stupid."
"It's not stupid," Lora spat. Josh spun around at the sound of her voice. "Marcel's right. I'd rather die avenging Zane than live knowing his murderer faces no consequences for what he did."
"Oh," Josh exaggerated flung his arms up. "So now you have a death wish too. That's great. That's just great. My closest living friends are all going to die, one by one, by the same man. That's just...great."
"You're too worked up over this," Vincent spoke up. "I'm not going to let anything happen to them. I want that menace out of my city as much as the next guy, that's why I agreed to be the witch for this spell."
"And Lora isn't coming," Marcel stated firmly.
Lora stamp her foot and barked, "But Marcel-"
"This isn't up for discussion," he bit. He cut his eyes sharply at her and Lora ended her fit immediately. "I know that you're angry but you're still just a young vampire and you're too inexperienced for a fight like this. I'm not going to lose you too."
"Then I'm going," Josh stated. "I'm not going to let you face that monster alone."
"No, you're not," Marcel repeated, growing annoyed by Josh's persistence. "For the same reason. I'm sorry to say this but my chances against Mikael aren't any better with you at my side. If things go wrong, I could lose you too. But...there is something you can do."
Josh waited intently for Marcel to tell him whatever you go do to help him.
"I need you to take Davina's father to the Compound. Let Freya get whatever blood she needs from him to do the spell and then bring him back here."
"What for," Josh questioned.
Marcel turned to Vincent and Vincent explained, "We need a human heart to stop in order to perform the desiccation spell. Marcel has volunteered this lucky man for the job."
Marcel glared at the terrified human with his back pressed against the wall, trying to get as far away from them as he could but unsuccessful thanks to Marcel compelling him to not run away. "It's about time he did something useful for his daughter. When you get there, Josh, find Kol and bring him back here. After everything he's done, he owes me his help on this."
Marcel spat Kol's name out like a bad taste. It was his anger at Kol's advice in the car on their way to Josh's apartment that helped Marcel realize what he had to do. He had lost two of his new vampires to Klaus and Kol respectively and he did nothing in retaliation.
He blamed himself for Drew's death. If he had told Klaus the truth about the vampires sooner, he wouldn't have killed him. He should've known that Klaus wouldn't hesitate to kill a strange vampire if it meant keeping the city safe for Hope. Kol killed Gwen in a fit of rage and hatred to get back at Marcel but Marcel still hated himself because of it. He hated himself for not retaliating against Kol for what he did. At least, not successfully. Klaus had stopped him before he could get back at Kol but he wasn't going to let Klaus stop him from getting Mikael. He was going to avenge Zane if it was the last thing he did.
"What if Klaus sees me," Josh asked.
"Don't let him see you," Marcel responded firmly. "But if he does...I know he won't kill you. He wouldn't do that to me...or Kol. But if I go and he catches me, he'll try to stop me, and I can't have that."
"But...Marcel...," Josh felt no fear for his own safety. Every Mikaelson could have greeted him at the Compound doors with their fangs ready to rip him to shreds and all he would've cared about was what was happening to Marcel at that moment. "You could die."
Marcel nodded to Vincent. "It'll be worth it," he said. "As long as Mikael goes down with me. Now go." Marcel clasped his hands around Josh's shoulders. "And stay safe, brother. Keep your eye out for Mikael, and promise me, if you see him, run."
Josh stared down at Davian's father and nodded his head. He was going to get the man to Freya to bring Davina back even if he didn't do anything else.
"And Josh," Marcel's rumbled voice urged Josh to look him in the eyes. "If you do see Klaus, don't tell him anything."
Josh's mouth tightened and obstinate line. "Marcel...he could help you."
"He will stop me," Marcel stated. "So would Rebekah. That's why you can't tell either of them. Promise me."
Josh fought with every ounce of common sense urging him to say no but then his mouth opened and he said, "Okay. I promise."
-M-
The night drew on at the Mikaelson Compound. Soon it was time for bed but no one could sleep.
As Niklaus painted in his studio, Elijah sat in an armchair keeping his brother company as he read a book of his own. The gong of the grandfather clock in the courtyard could be heard even in the studio.
"It's midnight," Klaus announced as he slapped his paintbrush roughly down on the easel. "He's been missing twelve hours, Elijah. Now, something must be done."
"You're overreacting, brother," Elijah spoke calmly. "Marcellus will come home when he's ready to come home."
"If he's able to come home," Klaus bellowed. "You don't know where he is, Elijah. He could be somewhere holdup by one of my enemies and we're all just sitting around as if life could never be more grand."
"Niklaus I can assure you no one under this roof is thinking that. I too have my anxieties about where Marcel may be at his moment but we must keep our wits about us and remember that Marcel is perfectly capable of taking care of himself."
"Not against everyone," Klaus slammed his hands down on the table in front of Elijah and Elijah finally turned from his book to face his brother. "He is just a..."
"A what," Elijah shut his book and stood to face Klaus. "He is not a child in need of your protection anymore, Niklaus. I allowed this domineering control over his life at first because there was still the looming fear that he may have been plotting to take this family down again but Niklaus...at some point we are going to have to loosen the reins. In wake of his friend dying is a nice start."
"I've given him twelve hours to grieve alone," Klaus retorted heatedly. "Now it's time for him to be with his family!"
"You're over-"
"Don't you dare say I'm overreacting, Elijah. Our brother finds a dead vampire in Algiers missing a heart and you dare think I'm overreacting for not wanting my very-killable son out there when there is a hunter on the loose. Or worse, an ancient vampire with a grudge to settle with me and is willing to go through my family to do it."
Elijah opened his mouth to retort when they both heard the sound of footsteps coming into the Courtyard.
In Freya's workshop, Kol and Freya were hiding from the other Mikaelsons they were keeping secrets from when the alarms she set to alert her if anyone came over the threshold went haywire.
"Mikael," Kol asked attempting to mask his fretfulness with contempt.
Freya, fearing the same, said nothing as she hurried out of the workshop to the balcony overlooking the courtyard, Kol hurrying along right behind her. She had been so focused on helping Kol find Davina's father that she forgot to complete the tracking spell she was working on to find Mikael. Now he could be coming right through their doors.
The four Mikaelsons stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where Josh stood dragging Davina's father behind him.
"You," Klaus growled. "I suppose you're finally ready to die, otherwise you wouldn't be here."
"Ignore him," Kol said, calmly looking down at his friend. "He's upset because Marcel is still gone."
Josh stood Davina's father in front of him and pushed him forward as if he was making an offering to the Mikaelsons. "Well, I actually come bearing gifts. Marcel said you might need him?"
"And who is he," Klaus demanded.
Nervous by Klaus's growing anger, Josh said, "D-Davina's father."
"What," Kol and Freya exclaimed.
Kol jumped from the balcony down to the stunned man. "You found him?"
"Um...no. I didn't, Marcel did."
"You've seen Marcel," Klaus jumped from the balcony down beside his brother. "Is he alright?"
"Y-yeah," Josh muttered, forcing himself to bite his tongue. He knew that Klaus would stand a better chance against Mikael so every fiber of his body was urging him to tell Klaus what Marcel and Vincent were doing but his loyalty to Marcel fought against it. "He...he was totally okay when I left him."
"Where is he?"
"Oh...y'know, around."
"Joshua," Klaus growled, taking slow deliberate steps towards Josh. "I have not seen or heard from Marcel since he left this morning. If you have any idea where he might be right now, you should tell me before I get it out of you the fun way."
Josh looked at Kol hoping he would come to his rescue but Kol's attention was focused on the man standing beside him. Josh had compelled the man to stay quiet and go willingly wherever he's taken so all he could do was stare in amazement at these men who could jump from balconies and not get hurt.
"I-I can't tell you," Josh stammered. "B-because...I don't know. He left right after he dropped this guy at my doorstep. Said you needed him to bring Davina back."
Klaus spun around to Freya, glaring up at her. "You...were the witch Marcel was using to bring Davina back," he asked softly. Then realizing that Freya had a spell to resurrect the dead all along and didn't tell him he barked, "You know how to bring her back?"
"I found a spell in an old grimoire," Freya admitted. "If you wanna question me about it later, I'll be happy to stand under your scrutiny, but for right now, Kol,"
Kol looked up to the balcony at his sister's booming voice.
"Bring him up here. Hurry, we have work to do."
"No," Klaus held his hand out to Kol, pausing him. "No one's doing anything else until I know where Marcel is. I'm tired of waiting. Freya, perform a locator spell on Marcel right now. And if he is hurt in any way when I find him," Klaus turned to Josh and slammed his hand down on his shoulder, squeezing it until Josh fell to his knees in pain. "I am going to take my time killing this one."
"He didn't have anything to do with it," Kol came to Josh's defense. "If Marcel didn't tell you where he was going, what makes you think he would tell Josh."
Grabbing Josh by his collar and hoisting him in the air, Klaus growled in a dangerously low voice,"Because this one is his most loyal ally and Marcel knows that it would take a lot for dear Joshua to turn on him. That is why," Klaus brought Josh's face closer to his. "I'm willing to do anything short of killing you to find out the truth."
"Klaus," Kol yelled. "Put him down!" When Klaus wouldn't budge, Kol turned his pleading eyes up to Elijah. "Make him stop, Elijah. Please!"
Elijah knew that Klaus was only trying to scare the truth out of Josh because he wouldn't have wanted to do anything to make Marcel angry with him when he already had Hope refusing to speak to him. But he was moved by Kol's teary eyes. "Klaus," he called from his perch. "Let him go."
"He knows where Marcel is, Elijah," Klaus stated plainly. "I'll relieve him from the burden of carrying his head on his shoulders before I let him go without telling me."
Through choked breath, Josh said, "I...can't...tell you. I...promised...Marcel."
Immediately, Klaus dropped him. "You promised him what?"
Holding his aching throat, Josh said, "I...promised him...that I wouldn't tell you...where he was going."
"Where is he going," Klaus demanded. When Josh stayed silent, he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and forced him back to his feet. Staring into Josh's eyes, he began to compel him. "You will answer me and you will answer me truthfully. Where is Marcel going?"
Josh felt a weight of relief being lifted from his shoulders. He was trying to get Klaus would compel him so he could tell him the truth without actually betraying Marcel.
"He's going to fight Mikael," Josh stated. "He and Vincent are gonna try to desiccate him with magic."
Klaus dropped Josh to the ground again, this time staring straight ahead at the wall, unwilling to believe what he'd just heard.
"What did he say," Elijah asked, running gracelessly down the staircase. "Did he say...Mikael? Mikael's back?"
Kol bit his lip and looked nervously up to Freya but Freya seemed just as calm as ever.
When Elijah made it to Josh, he pulled him back to his feet and said, "Where are they?"
"At my place," Josh muttered. "Waiting for me to bring Davina's dad back so they can use him in the desiccation spell."
"How did Mikael come back," Elijah growled, shoving Josh away from him. Josh backed away from the Mikaelsons, irritated by their constant manhandling of him, but too worried about Marcel to leave. "When did he get back? Who would want..."
The answer suddenly hitting him like a brick, Elijah turned his eyes up to the only witch he knew with any ties to Mikael and a resurrection spell at her disposal.
"You...you wouldn't. Not him...not after all this."
Freya's eyes were unwavering. She stood on the balcony, staring straight down at Elijah with the same intensity. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her like he did their siblings. "He's my father, Elijah," she answered evenly. "I did what any loving daughter would do if given the chance."
She was somewhat happy that they knew. Now she could finish her locator spell on Mikael without anyone trying to interrupt her because she hadn't been at peace since he left.
Klaus slowly turned to Freya, fear evident in his eyes. The sight of her once proud brother suddenly with the eyes of a frightened child broke Freya's heart.
"You brought him back," Klaus asked barely above a mutter. "Wh...why? What did I do? I...I thought I was doing everything right. I thought we were all...all of us...happy. What did I do this time...t-to my sister to make you... J-just...tell me where I went wrong?" With tears fighting for escape, he bellowed, "What did I do?!"
Freya felt her heart sink at Niklaus's scream. Like Elijah, she had been privy to many of Klaus's violent nightmares so she knew the torment Mikael caused him. And twelve years with Tunde's blade in him only twisted Klaus's view of Mikael into an even more heinous creature.
That's why she was hoping she would have time to change Mikael before anyone found out. When she first resurrected him, she hoped that she could keep him at the edge of the city, somewhere Klaus never went, and after years of bonding with his long-lost daughter, she thought maybe Mikael would realize his mistake in mistreating his children. She hoped that he would change and make amends with Klaus and the others and then, like a fool, she thought they would just be one big happy family. And if she brought Davina back as well, Kol and Marcel would be happy. Everything was going to be perfect.
Seeing the distress painted on Klaus's face, she began to hate herself for ever being so naive.
"You didn't do anything, Niklaus," She said softly. "I did not bring him back to punish you. I just...I love him. I know that none of you do and you probably think me crazy for doing it but I do. He's...he's my..." Her voice cracked as a tear trailed down her cheek.
She couldn't bear to look Klaus in the eyes. She was torn between her loyalty to the only parent who'd ever loved her and her loyalty to the siblings he persecuted for a thousand years.
She backed away from the balcony, gently patting her tears away. "I'm sorry, Niklaus. I'm...I'm going to go perform a locator spell on Mikael right now. I'm going to find out where he is and I'm never going to let him near you again, brother. I give you my word."
As Freya disappeared back down the hall, Klaus stayed staring at the spot she once stood.
Seeing Klaus in a state of fear that he hadn't seen in a thousand years made Kol's stomach constrict. It was a tight, painful constriction that hurt him to his core. The pain of guilt that he hated more than anything.
"Elijah," he muttered.
Elijah's eyes were focused on Niklaus. The way his brother's shoulders slumped and his head hung, Elijah knew Klaus was hurting and it took every ounce of self-restraint in him to not run over and immediately console him. As Kol muttered his name, Elijah welcomed the respite from his worry, only to see Kol with a similar look of distress on his face.
"I...I'm sorry, Elijah but I...need to come clean." Kol looked over to Klaus and he was afraid to speak. If Klaus knew what he'd done he was sure he'd get the dagger. Freya could get away with it because she was still mortal but he was not granted such privilege. But he needed the pain of his guilty conscience to stop.
Walking to Elijah, he put his hands on the side of his head and began showing him all the memories he had of knowing about Freya's plan to bring Mikael back to the last moment he saw Mikael standing in the apartment with Finn.
When he pulled away from Kol's hands, Elijah was speechless. Then Kol watched as his eyes filled with anger.
Afraid Elijah would blurt out his secret, Kol whispered, "Please, don't tell Niklaus. He will never forgive me."
As angry as Elijah was, his concern for his little brother's fear of Niklaus still fought it's way to the surface and he obliged him by not speaking the atrocity aloud.
"Kol," Elijah spoke, a hint of anger still in his voice. "Call the Dupeauxs and tell them to keep an eye on Hope tonight and to not let her go anywhere tomorrow until we tell them otherwise. Then call Hayley and Rebekah and tell them what's going on. Klaus."
When Klaus didn't turn around to face him, Elijah knew that his brother was going back to that dark place again. He hurried in front of him and put his hands on both sides of Klaus's face. Klaus's eyes immediately adverted to the ground.
"Look at me," he demanded. Klaus dragged his sight weakly up to his brother's face. "Can you hear me, brother? You need to snap out of this. We have to go get Marcel before something happens to him. He's out there right now and he's about to go face Mikael by himself. Do you hear me, Niklaus? Marcel needs you."
Klaus's lifeless eyes suddenly held a sharp gleam. Elijah moved his hands down to Klaus's shoulders and gave them a firm squeeze before releasing him.
Klaus looked cautiously around at the others in the courtyard, embarrassed by his episode. His eyes fell to Davina's father, still standing by the courtyard entrance with a frightened, confused look on his face.
"Joshua," Klaus barked, his old self-returning. "Take this...'potion ingredient', upstairs to Freya. After she performs the location spell, tell her to bring Davina back."
"S-sure thing," Josh happily grabbed the man by the arm and started dragging him upstairs.
"I called the Dupeauxs'," Kol said, once again hanging up his phone. "And Hayley and Rebekah are on their way."
"Good," Klaus said. "Now go to the Dupeaux's and stand guard over Hope just in case Mikael tries some kind of trick to get inside."
"The Dupeaux's are strong witches," Kol dismissed Klau's fears, his eyes focused on the balcony where Josh was now dragging Davina's father to Freya's lab. "I'm sure they can guard off Mikael if she shows up."
"No," Klaus's growled deeply. "You will go now."
Kol turned sharply to his angry brother. "I have to be here when Davina comes back."
"She will be here when you return," Klaus bit. "The safety of this family comes before anything. Now do as you are told."
Kol chanced one more glance up at the balcony just as Josh and Davina's father disappeared behind the wall. Then he sped out of the Compound, deciding that he would go get Hope and bring her back to the Compound so he could be there when Davina came back.
"It's good to have you back brother," Elijah said once the Courtyard was clear. "Shall I go get the White Oak so we can hunt our father down once again?"
"Yes," Klaus uttered, a shame suddenly setting in on him. "When Rebekah returns, you and she will go after Mikael...but I'm afraid I will have to set this battle out."
Elijah nodded. He had hoped Klaus would come to that realization on his own without Elijah having to convince him. The way Klaus froze at the very mention of Mikael's resurrection showed them both that Klaus's nightmares were gravely affecting him. He was more afraid of Mikael now than he ever was before and Klaus didn't trust himself not to freeze in front of Mikael like he did in front of his siblings.
"But," Klaus said more confidently. "There's somewhere I need you to escort me first."
"Of course," Elijah agreed, knowing where Klaus wanted to go. Then his mind went back to the memory Kol showed him. The pain on Marcel's face as he carried his dead friend's body was wretched. "There's something else you should know, brother. About Kol."
