Pairing: Mary/Ollie-Jackson (F/MM) hairbrush
Louisiana Bayou
Mary's House
Early Wednesday Morning
Jackson was tossing and turning and about to get out of bed when Ollie snapped. They shared a double bed as Emily and Chris were in Hayley's room.
"I swear to God if you don't stop moving and go to sleep I am going to knock you out!" Ollie growled.
"Oh really? Hayley is out there, in this damn storm, maybe cold, maybe hurt and I can't do jackshit about it," Jackson hissed roughly.
"I know, bro. But Marcel was pretty confident that something might happen in the morning. We gotta get some shut eye or we'll be useless in this fight," Ollie pointed out.
"Fuck you, Ollie. You don't know shit," Jackson snapped, turning his back to his best friend.
"That's it," Ollie grabbed Jackson by the throat and punched him a couple of times in the ribs. Jackson elbowed Ollie and the two wrestled in the bed, forcefully, but not as violently as they could off. They knocked the bedside table lamp to the floor and seconds later, Mary burst through.
"What in the heckfire are you two idiots doing? It's 1am," Mary hollered.
"He started it, Grandma," Ollie yelped.
"Fuck off, Ollie, you prick," Jackson replied as he pushed him away.
Mary's eyes flashed with anger, she pulled the flat, plastic hairbrush off of the dresser and came towards the boys.
"Unlucky night for y'all. Those new meds are working real good and my hands ain't swelled at all," Mary said. She indicated to Ollie to flip on his stomach. He groaned and obeyed. Mary yanked down his shorts to bare his behind.
"Grandma, we was just foolin' around," Ollie whined. Pat. Pat.
The brush felt cool and large to Ollie and he clench right before Mary brought it down on his bottom twice. Crack! Crack!
"Ah," he grasped.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
"Ohhhhhh, ouch," Ollie yelped as Mary paddled all over his bum.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
"Sorrrryyyyy," Ollie wailed as he started to squirm and bring his feet up.
"Feet down or I'm gonna get the strap," Mary warned. "You boys have been missing this, eh?"
"No, ma'ammmmmm," Ollie wailed.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
After only a moment or two or reddening Ollie's behind, Mary stopped and leaned over to tend to Jackson. He was already on his stomach with his hands under his chin. His pride wouldn't let him beg off the spanking or even gasp when Mary pulled down his boxer shorts.
Pat. Pat.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Jackson bit his lip and refused to make a sound as Mary paddled harder and faster.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
After eight repeated whacks on the same spot on each side, Jackson finally burst into bitter tears.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Mary swatted his sit spots and then stopped. She left the boys' bottoms bare and rubbed their backs in the darkness.
"Now, you two fools shut your eyes and go right to sleep or I will strap you until you do," Mary warned. "I hope ya didn't wake up Emily and Chris...Love you. Go to sleep."
Mary replaced the hairbrush and turned out the light on the way out.
"Happy now?" Ollie hissed.
Jackson sniffed and snickered, "That was your fault, fuck-face."
Ollie yawned, "Probably, but shut up and sleep or we'll get a good strapping on top of this."
Jackson thought about pulling up his shorts, but fell asleep a moment later before he could manage it.
Below Lafayette Cemetery
Hayley awoke with her hands tied with wolfsbane soaked ropes behind her back. Mason was slumped near her on the other rough marble wall. She scooted over and tried to kick him with her bound feet. The wolfsbane sizzled and seared her skin, but she finally stirred Mason.
"Dude, what the fuck?" Mason croaked. "Where are we?"
"I don't know but it smells like the swamp! And rot," Hayley said. "Can you move?"
Mason wiggled his hands and feet but felt the same burning from the treated ropes.
"Not really. God, we must be underground again. Listen, I can hear animals in their burrows...Maybe rats?" Mason shared, he could barely see Hayley in the darkness. "It must be raining. It smells like ozone...Damn, it's pouring."
"I usually love rain, but it's coming down hard. A little light is coming from somewhere. Someone light a torch or something? Maybe we aren't as far down?" Hayley said. "If you can turn into the Hulk again, do you think you could bust us out of here?"
"I don't know. I mean, vampire blood or hybrid blood usually triggers me fast. But maybe if you can cut yourself somehow, it would work? Or I get mad enough?" Mason suggested.
"Okay, can we try anger first? What really gets you? Traffic? People chewing loudly? Slow walkers when you are in a hurry? People who talk in elevators? When you ask someone to shut the door but they leave it open just a crack?" Hayley shot up in a rush.
Mason couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe I'm too chill but that stuff doesn't bother me. But betrayal from the woman I loved? That pissed me off."
"Okay, so think of this Kathy. When did you find out she screwed you over?" Hayley questioned.
Mason swallowed, "Shit, it just makes me sad when I think of her."
"Think Mason. I don't want to freak you out but did you notice this room is slowly filling up with water?" Hayley whispered, sitting up straighter and feeling the wolfsbane rugs burn again.
"Um, when I was a regular at this bar in Florida. There was always this one freakin' guy who would stand by the bartender and literally do nothing, like no matter how busy he was. That really ticked me off!" Mason confided.
"Okay, close your eyes and focus," Hayley demanded.
Mason tried, but slumped back in defeat. "Sorry, it's not working. Let me think..."
Hayley nodded and noticed the small marble cell filling up quicker.
"Mason, something is floating in the water there!" Hayley gasped. "Is that an arm bone? Are we in a tomb?"
Mason looked, "Yeah, and I think there are rats coming! Okay, another thing that gets me is trying to spread cold butter on bread. It's a nightmare!"
"Good. Stay with that," Hayley said eagerly.
Davilla Estate
Strix Headquarters
After Marcel shut the door of the limo and Elijah ordered the driver to go back to the Compound, Marcel sighed heavily.
"Sorry about that, but-," Marcel began.
Elijah patted him on the arm. "No apology is necessary. You are Davina's father now and you need not explain anything to me or that twit in there."
"Thanks, Uncle," Marcel exhaled. "I thought my ass was gonna be next on the chopping block."
Elijah now sighed, "No, Marcellus, you are right. You are a grown man with his own family. As long as you are acting in their best interests and not putting yourself in unnecessary danger, I have no call to interfere. I'm sorry if I get a little sharp with you sometimes."
"Thanks, it means a lot. Sorry if I'm a hothead sometimes...But damn, that guy is a pompous asshole!" Marcel laughed.
Elijah joined him in the laughter, "You should have meet him a thousand years ago when his father was the count. He was insufferable."
"I'm on his shit list now," Marcel added. "I told him to arrange the spell with the new Regent of the nine covens. Good luck with that."
"Ah yes, the witch Vincent Griffith. He will give Tristan a run for his money," Elijah noted. "A former member of the Tremé coven."
"Tremé coven does not play. I bet Tristan has to sign over his corrupted soul," Marcel said.
"Well, if he wants his spoiled, insane sister back, he'll play ball," Elijah said, looking out the window. How different everything looked. When they first moved here, this area had been a swampy no man's land.
"I'm gonna give Josh a call and let him gather everyone at the cemetery tomorrow. We'll also need the permission of the coven. Come to think of it, Vincent owes me a favor. More than one, actually. I'll give him a call and a head's up about Tristan," Marcel shared.
"That would be very helpful. Thank you for choosing me to come with you. I know you'd rather have your father here," Elijah noted.
"Nah, Papa would have probably already started a bloodbath. Josh has been busting his butt trying to keep the peace and it only takes one mistake to undo months of hard work," Marcel admitted. "Plus, I got to see you spank that little prick like he was a six year old. That was pure gold."
"He's lucky there wasn't a bench on that porch! Now, I'll leave you to make your calls," Elijah said, as he exited the limo to enter the Compound. He would try to get a few hours sleep before the dawn. Elijah was surprised to feel rain suddenly pouring down.
The Compound
French Quarter, New Orleans
Morning
Elijah was showered, shaved, and dressed in another impeccable suit before the dawn.
Marcel followed his own style and wore jeans, a t-shirt, and a hooded sweater. The rain was still falling outside, but lighter. Josh and Father Sean were going to meet outside the gates of Lafayette Cemetery, it was firmly witch territory, but everyone had someone they loved buried in there.
"Vincent called me back. He talked to the ancestors. The serratura is our best bet to restrain these angels, at least until we can get Hayley and Aurora back safely. There is a witch Vincent is interested in. Apparently, she is one of two very powerful sisters who got mixed up in the Strix. Get this, they are red-heads and possibly siphons," Marcel added.
"Oh my, like Dana and Rachael. Are they Geminis?" Elijah pondered.
"No, and they aren't even twins...Extremely rare and dangerous," Marcel noted.
"Listen, Marcel. You know I am trying to treat you as an adult, but I mean it, no major heroics out there. If something happens to you, I can't go back and tell Rebekah or Niklaus...," Elijah said in a low voice.
"Hey, you won't have to. I have few kids to look out for and if I screw up this wedding by dying, Rebekah will bring me back, just to kill me again," Marcel stated dryly.
"That is not an exaggeration," Elijah smiled. "We should go."
A half hour later, Marcel and Elijah met with Josh, Father Sean, a witch representative from all nine covens, Vincent, and an array of Crescent wolves.
Marcel embraced Aiden and gave him the same safety speech that Elijah had given him.
"Marcel, I get it. Hey, this is Emily, she's the one you asked about," Aiden said, introducing the stylish vampire to the slim, pale tween.
"H-Hi," Emily stammered nervously. She was happy to be invited by nervous as to why she was here.
"Hi Emily, it's nice to meet you. Um, I'm not sure how much they told you but the seer suggested you be here. Did you bring that herb?" Marcel asked.
Emily produced the false mermaid herbs from her pocket. "Y-Yes, s-sir, it's right here."
Marcel gave her his most charming smile, "Honey, you call me Marcel. Hayley is real lucky to have such good friends. This might be dangerous so if we tell you to run or do something. You have to listen."
"Y-Yes, sir. I mean, M-Marcel," Emily nodded.
Tristan and the other Strix were there but staying out of view.
Marcel went up and shook Vincent's hand.
"Thanks, man. Sorry you are getting wrapped up in this, but Hayley is like a daughter to me," Marcel shared. "She's good people."
"Yeah, she's got a lot of friends and we all have a stake in this fight," Vincent said. "Once I get a hold of the serratura, you get the girls and get out of here. This cult was stupid to put Hayley in our place of power. I am sure they are planning something big, but we might know a few tricks they don't know."
"Never mess with a Tremé witch," Marcel laughed. "Okay, Sean is ready to start."
Alexis, the seer, came over, "Your werewolf is close, but in water...The priest need to start now!"
Father Sean O'Connell waited until the witches opened the gate and the procession went to where Alexis directed them.
Elijah whispered to Marcel, "The Claire tomb, this used to be what we called Kol's playhouse. He practically lived here a century ago."
"I remember," Marcel grunted.
Father Sean, raised his arms, and in a strong voice recited, "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."
A light began to emit from the Claire tomb. The witches formed a semi-circle with Vincent in the center. They chanted, "Phasmatos Obscuram, Ex Luces Estnes Qua Umbres. Natus Ignavum Evitem. Phasmatos Obscuram, Ex Luces Estnes Qua Umbres."
"What are they doing?" Emily whispered to Aiden.
Elijah overheard and answered, "They are making any invisible spirits manifest. We can't trap them if we can't see them."
Soon, the saffron colored figures in robes appeared, standing just in front of the tomb.
"We already got what we wanted mortals. Be careful to get what you wish for, for it may not be the thing that you think it is," one figure said in an eerie voice.
"Isn't that a song by the Rolling Stones?" Ollie whispered to Jackson.
He elbowed him. "Shut up. Hayley is close. Stay alert."
A trembling came from the Earth and the stone walls of the tomb shook. The beast form of Mason came out, dragging Aurora.
"Isn't that Mason Lockwood?" Marcel grasped.
"Yes! I'll get Aurora. See that they don't harm him, he's Tyler's kin," Elijah said before vamping over to get the red-haired vampire. Elijah also needed the serratura.
The seer looked at Emily, "Take the herb in your mouth. Enter the tomb and fish out the wolf girl. I know you are afraid, but you must do this."
Jackson looked at the Seer and nodded, "Come on. I'll go with you!"
Some other Crescents, including Ollie, followed him. Anyone with a moonlight right could transform, but only Jackson and Ollie had them on.
Jackson and Emily ran to the still shaking tomb. It was smoky and dusty inside. Emily shoved the herb in her mouth shakily.
Josh and Aiden also followed and fought off any witch attackers they could. They fought off several cult members in robes who were human. A red-hair witch threw them all to the ground.
Alexis followed them in and incapacitated her and dragged her out. A stream of witches followed and helped clear the path to the stairwell. It was almost completely filled with water.
"I-I think I n-need to t-turn into my m-mermaid form," Emily announced.
"Be careful, Em," Jackson yelled as he dodged a club blow to his back. Ollie snapped the attackers neck, but another one took its' place.
Emily stripped out of her rain jacket and slipped off her shoes before diving in. From the recess of her memory, she remembered a song her mother used to sing when they took baths together in the large bath tub.
"Legs disappear, mighty tail emerge, dolphins and fishes guide me through the deep."
The water was murky, but as Emily dove in taking a deep breath before, glowing fishes lit her way.
She swam through the passages and felt nothing happen. As her lungs began to scream and she thought she would die, it happened. Her legs turned into a great fin and as water entered her lungs, she could breath. She swam faster until she found Hayley's unconscious form. She grabbed her and breathed oxygen into her lungs. Hayley's eyes widened in shock and she indicated her tied arms and legs.
Speak to Hayley, Emily said, "Touch me so you can breath. I'll untie you."
Hayley grabbed Emily and realized she could breath and speak.
"Mason, the wolf guy, did he make it to the surface?" Hayley asked.
"Yeah, it's a battle up there. We need to hurry," Emily said, as she struggled to loosen the ropes. She finally did and she pulled Hayley with her the way they came.
Hayley yelled, "Not that way. I think they are waiting for us. Try that way."
Emily did and they came out another exit. Hayley staggered out on her feet, but Emily was still in her mermaid form.
"Pull me out into the stone, I think I will change back soon. Leave me, I'll be okay," Emily said.
"I'm not leaving you like this," Hayley said, breathing heavily.
A robed figure appeared, "This was our plan all along. We need you on our side and this one here is special."
"I have angel blood, too. Back away from us or you'll regret it," Emily warned, finding sudden strength.
Hayley realize that Emily wasn't stuttering. This wasn't the girl she had known before.
"Hayley, believe you can, and smite that jerk!" Emily roared.
Hayley was confused, "But I'm only a wolf."
A red-haired witch in the black robe appeared.
"Your actions were pure. You an angel by default. You can end this," Clarice said. "I need to find my sister."
The yellow robed figure backed up, suddenly understanding something.
"No, if you smite me...it still won't stop anything!" the figure cursed.
Hayley's mind reeled, she felt wet and cold, but also elated. They had taken her moonlight ring, but she felt like she was transforming. Her skin lit from within. She reached out and grabbed the figure.
"Go back to where you came from!" Hayley roared. The figure sparked and then dissolved.
"I-It worked," Hayley said, she helped Emily up from the floor and gave her the flannel she had on over her t-shirt. "Here, wear this. We can win this."
As the two girls emerged on the other side of the tomb, they saw the remnants of the battle.
Aurora was being restrained by Elijah, Vincent had the disc and was speaking the words over the tomb.
Jackson ran over to Hayley and picked her up.
"You're here. It worked," Jackson said, covered in blood and rain.
"Only with Emily's help," Hayley said.
"Come on, let's get you out of her. They are going to seal off the tomb with the rest of the angels in it," Jackson said.
Elijah dragged Aurora to outside the gate where Tristan and Lucien were waiting to get her.
"No! No! I want to be with my friends," Aurora shrieked. "I don't want to go back to the monastery!"
Marcel, Josh, and Aiden greeted Hayley and tried to get her into the SUV.
"No, I can't. Where is Mason?" Hayley asked, looking around.
"I'm sorry, Hayley. The witches couldn't subdue him. He was incinerated," Marcel answered. "We'll gather up the ashes and get them back to Tyler."
"No!" Hayley yelled. "He's the only reason I got this far..."
Jackson picked her up and carried her out.
Marcel stayed and watched as Vincent activated the Serratura. The barrier was invisible and the yellow robed figures stood still, frozen by the magic of the ancestors. As one they spoke in unison, "This will not stop anything."
"Yeah, well, we'll see," Marcel muttered.
As the barrier went up, everything beyond it blurred and became invisible, except for the ruined tomb.
Vincent was spent and on his knees. "That should hold them for a while."
"Let's hope," Marcel said."Come on, party at the Compound! Three of the witches would keep watch to monitor to make sure that nothing escaped.