Chapter Eleven
"Lyah?" Aailyah paused, red rimmed eyes slowly lifting from the bed of wildflowers planted over her son's grave to meet her sister's worried brown eyes.
"Tati?" Aailyah blinked, confused, uncaring on the small tear trailing down her cheek. Her voice was hoarse from disuse, she'd barely said a word since they buried her baby boy two weeks ago. Her skin had lost its healthy glow since she'd remained in her hut, and her collarbones jutted out from hunger. Aailyah knew Elijah was worried, and it seemed her twin was as well, from the way her hands twitched at her sides while she bit at her lower lip.
Tatia had been trying to see her for the past week, coming by her home several times a day, bringing blankets and flowers and Aaliyah's favorite pumpkin soup. Sometimes Elijah let her in, sometimes he turned her away, but Aailyah remained the same, curled up on her and Elijah's bed, clutching her son's blanket to her chest, breathing in his slowly fading scent, lost entirely to the world around her.
Today was the first time she'd been out in a while. Elijah was out hunting, and Rebekah was called away by Esther. She was alone, and she found she couldn't stand another moment of stale silence where little feet and happy giggles used to be, and she found herself here, collapsed in the moist dirt under the gentle spray of a nearby waterfall, staring at wildflowers.
"What are you doing here?" Tatia hesitated, glancing down at the small bundle of dandelions in her hand, and Aailyah followed her gaze, a smile flitting across her face briefly. "Danny loved those. He called them little suns, he always got sad when they'd wilt so soon."
"You told him it was just like when the sun went down, that if you left them outside they'd bloom again in the morning." Tatia finished, biting her lip. "I used to watch you, he'd stick them in your braid."
"I never saw you."
"I didn't want you to. I didn't know how to… fix us. Make things right. Apologize." Tatia hesitated briefly before sinking down into the grass next to her. "I was jealous, and cruel, and I lost you because of it. I lost the chance to know him. And I am so, so sorry, Aailyah."
"I would've let you know him. I just wanted you to be there."
"I'm sorry. I wish I could change it, take back the time I lost with you." Her sister slowly placed her hand over Aailyah's, and Aailyah twined their fingers together silently. "If you'd let me, I'd like to be there for you now."
"I'd like that." Aailyah whispered, resting her head on Tatia's shoulder, tightening her fingers when Tatia leaned her head on top of hers.
"And I- I won't try for Elijah, anymore. I'm sorry that I did, I should've stopped the moment Father announced your betrothal. I just- I've been so empty since losing Adella, I just wanted to feel something."
"I can understand that."
"I never wanted you to, sister." Tatia kissed the top of her head. "Our loss is so different, but similar all the same. You will never stop missing your son, that kind of wound never heals. But eventually you learn to function again, you learn how to live, and someday you'll realize it hurts a little less." Tatia felt Aailyah shudder and wrapped her arms around her twin, holding her tight. "It will get better someday, and I will be with you every moment until then."
"Every moment? How will your suitors cope?" Aailyah rasped, and Tatias lips quirked up.
"Well, they'll have to move on soon enough anyway." Tatia grinned. "Esther has asked to see me, I believe she is trying to betroth Niklaus and I."
"You're going to accept?"
"I wasn't ready before. I couldn't play happy wife and start a family with some stranger like I didn't already have a daughter. But now… It feels right. I feel ready, to have a family, to be a mother. And Nik… I could love him, with time. He would treat me right."
"He's a good man, Tatia. You two will be happy together."
"So I have your blessing?"
"Don't you have Fathers?"
"Fathers doesn't mean a thing to me, he'd sell either of us for a silver coin. I care about you."
"You're my sister, Tati. Anything that brings you joy has my blessing." Tatia beamed, arms tightening around her older sister, and Aailyahs lips lifted into a more genuine smile. "When are you meeting Esther?"
"Tomorrow."
"Darling?" Aailyah blinked, coming back to herself suddenly, and found herself staring at her own reflection in their foggy bathroom mirror. Her hair was still dripping water from her shower, hanging straight around her waist, and Elijah gently moved it out of the way, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder, pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek. "Are you alright, Alli?"
"Mm." Aailyah hummed, leaning back against him, his bare chest pressing against her spine as his thumbs rubbed circled around her hip bones. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"The past. Missed opportunities."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not today." Aailyah smiled sadly, her hands falling over her husbands and twining their fingers together. Elijah brought her hand to his mouth, kissing over her wedding ring, before turning to press a slow, lingering kiss where her shoulder met her throat, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
"Would you like me to distract you?" Elijah whispers, lips trailing over her skin, parting slightly to drag his pointed canines over her jugular.
"Please." Aailyah breathed, eyes falling shut, and in the next second Elijah had turned her around and lifted her into his arms, carrying her towards their bed. Any thoughts of the past, or anything else, left her head quickly.
F&A
"Mother linked us all together." Finn announced the next morning.
"Linked us?" Aailyah asked, popping a grape into her mouth.
"What happens to one of us, happens to all of us."
"How?"
"The champagne." Nik realized.
"Kol, can your witch friend undo it? Lydia?" Elijah asked.
"She's not advanced enough, especially for one of Mothers spells. Alli, do you have a witch?"
"A few, but it'll take at least a day to get them here. I get the feeling we won't have that long." Aailyah sighed.
"Then we need to stop her now and worry about the spell after. Do you know what her plan is?" Elijah asked.
"She plans to kill me tonight, which would end you all in the process."
"Brutal." Kol stated, making them all nod. "What now?"
"Where is she now? If she isn't ready to do this until tonight, now may be the best time to confront her." Elijah asked.
"And do… what? She's our mother." Rebekah asked, biting her lip.
"She wants us dead, Bekah." Klaus murmured , wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"She left. I don't think she trusts me, not really. She gave me a speech about righting our wrongs and correcting the balance of nature, but I didn't react the way she wanted. She said if I loved her, if I ever had any care for her suffering, that I would help her fix her mistakes." Finn murmured, obviously feeling a bit guilty.
"She's asking to end your life brother. Nothing is worth that." Klaus said firmly, and Finn's eyes widened as his siblings nodded in agreement. Aailyah hid a small smile behind her teacup, stepping in as Finn visibly struggled to find his footing.
"Finn, perhaps you and Sage should leave town for now. I get the feeling she won't take no for an answer." Aailyah suggested, making him nod.
"We'll leave now. What about you?"
"I'll take care of it." Elijah cut in. "Bekah, I'll need your help." Rebekah nodded, taking a deep breath, and Elijah turned to his siblings. "For now, just stay together, and stay in public where Mother can't do anything."
"What about you?" Aailyah asked.
"I'm going to talk to the Salvatores and Miss Gilbert. I get the feeling they know more than we do." Elijah kissed her forehead and then left with Rebekah.
"I'm gonna get Sage and start packing. Call me later." Finn shrugged awkwardly before leaving.
"Do you think he'll stay after this is over?" Klaus asked.
"I don't think so luv, he's not ready yet." Aailyah murmured , watching him leave.
"Who cares? We've got the day off, let's go drinking!" Kol intervened , making them both laugh.
F&A
"Aailyah."
"Damon." Aailyah greeted before throwing her last dart and stepping aside for Kol to take his turn.
"Elena's not answering her phone. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?" Damon asked, leaning over her, staring down at her with gorgeous icy blue eyes. Aailyah felt a pang of regret that he hadn't taken her up on her offer, and turned away, taking a drink and refilling her glass of whiskey.
"Perhaps she's with her other boyfriend."
"She's not." Stefan said simply, appearing beside his brother.
"Maybe she got tired of both of you and found a third." Kol chuckled.
"Three's a party." Aailyah drawled, eyes locking with Damon.
"Funny. Do you know where she is or not?" Stefan demanded.
"Don't know, don't care." Aailyah shrugged, turning to the board to retrieve her darts and scowling when Stefan blocked her path.
"You really expect me to believe that?" He demanded.
"They don't, but I do." Elijah announced, flashing into the bar, wrapping an arm around Aailyahs waist and kissing her hair.
"Where's Elena?"
"You both sound like broken records. There must be something more interesting in this town than her." Aailyah sighed, rolling her eyes.
"She is with Rebekah. As I'm sure you know, my sister isn't Ms. Gilbert's biggest fan. She'd have no problem tearing the girl's throat out should you two refuse to cooperate." Elijah said, swiping Kols drink and taking a sip. "So, if you want to save her life, I need you to help me stop my mother."
"I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but when it comes to killing thousand year old resurrected witches, I'm a little rusty." Damon said, sharing a look with Stefan.
"Yes, unfortunately even when killed, my mother doesn't seem to want to stay dead. Not with the spirits of nature at her side."
"So what are we supposed to do?" Stefan asked.
"The witches that released my mother, she's drawing her power from their bloodline. That line needs to be broken."
"Broken?"
"Yeah he means…" Damon trailed off, making a slicing motion across his throat.
"You want us to kill them?"
"You know I'd do it myself, but I have absolutely no idea where they are. Besides, seeing me, they'd immediately know my intent, they won't expect to be harmed by the likes of you. In any case, you have until six minutes after 9:00 to find them."
"Oh, how superspecific of you." Damon rolled his eyes.
"By 9:07 the moon will be full and my mother will have the power she needs to kill me and my family. If you do not stop her before then, Rebekah will kill Elena. So we all have our timeline. I suggest you get started." Elijah said with a smirk. Aailyah glanced between the two of them before grabbing his hand and dragging him away. The moment they found a somewhat quiet area she shoved him against a wall and slammed her lips to his, pulling him closer by his tie. Elijah let out a surprised sound but wove a hand through her hair and around her waist, maneuvering her the way he wanted and biting down on her lower lip, drawing blood. When they finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against her own. "What was that for?"
"You're bloody gorgeous when you get mad." Aailyah laughed breathlessly, kissing him again.
"Don't start something you can't finish, Alli." Elijah warned, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Oh trust me, I intend to finish this."
"Tonight." Elijah promised. "I've got a couple things to check on, keep Kol and Niklaus out of trouble." He kissed her goodbye and she made her way back to where Damon was talking to an annoyed looking Klaus.
"You're really gonna let him kill her? What about your hybrids?" Damon snapped.
"My hybrids don't matter if we're all dead. Now if you'll excuse me, I was busy." Klaus said with a roguish grin.
"Still trying to get into Merideths pant's Nik?" Aailyah nodded at the pretty brunette sitting at the bar, the same one he'd danced with at the ball.
"Making good progress too." Klaus bragged.
"You're hopeless." Aailyah laughed.
"The sex hair you've got means you don't get to judge, Alli." Klaus smirked and Aailyah huffed, throwing her curly hair into a high ponytail before going back to her game of darts with Kol while Klaus returned to Merideth.
"What about you? Isn't Elena your great niece or something?" Damon asked.
"Didn't you kill your great nephew last year?" Aailyah asked, grinning when his eyes widened.
"How did you-"
"I know everything."
"Do you know you're losing at darts?" Kol drawled, and Aailyah whipped around, eyes narrowing at the board.
"Did you- Kol! You can't move my darts!"
"You have no proof."
"Nik! Stop flirting and come play referee!" Aailyah shouted, rolling her eyes when all she got in return was a 'Sod off, Alli!' "Go away, Damon, I'm busy."
"Busy losing."
"Kol I swear-"
F&A
"Eli?"
"Yes, Darling?"
"Where are you?" Aailyah demanded, blood rushing in her ears making her grin wildly, the music Kol had blasting making it hard for even her to hear. She wondered how the humans could stand it, considering Kol had compelled anyone who worked here not to touch the speaker.
"Looking for Esther." He drawled, and Aailyah hummed, twirling idly in the middle of the makeshift dance floor, all tables shoved out of the way. "Does the Grill have any alcohol left?"
"I see… a few bottles left." Aailyah giggled, squinting at the slightly blurry bar.
"I'm stunned." Elijah chuckled, and Aailyah grinned as a familiar song came on.
"Come dance with me." She demanded.
"Soon, darling. I'm almost done."
"Eli…" Aailyah whined, pouting when he laughed again.
"One hour, Alli. If Stefan and Damon haven't stopped her, we'll kill her once her chance has passed. Then I'm all yours."
"Fine." Aailyah groaned dramatically, perking up when Kol appeared next to her, bottle in hand, screaming the lyrics to Last Friday Night. "Gimme." She ordered, and Kol handed it over willingly, bouncing around her in wild circles, not caring when he knocked some girl over.
"Take care of her, Kol. Stay together." Elijah ordered, but heard nothing in response besides Aailyah joining in Kol's off pitch screaming, so after a moment he hung up. Aailyah danced for a few more songs before someone else caught her attention.
"Aailyah!" A voice called, and the brunette twirled, stumbling slightly and catching herself on a drunk seventeen year olds shoulder, before her eyes caught on a familiar blonde.
"Caroline!" Aailyah beamed, slipping across the room faster than humanly possible to pull the seventeen year old into a tight, clumsy hug.
"Woah." Caroline stumbled, steadying her. "Aailyah, someone could see! How much have you had to drink?" She asked, eyes catching on the dozen of empty bottles stacked in a precarious pyramid by the bar.
"What'll they do? Kill me? Aailyah cackled, grinning wildly as she pulled back to meet Caroline's eyes. "C'mon, you look like you need a drink, and my so called brothers have abandoned me so they can get their cocks wet."
"Alli! Oh my god!" Caroline laughed, pink staining her cheeks as Aailyah pressed a glass into her hand. "Oh my- what did you do?" She asked, looking around the grill with wide eyes. Music was blasting from several speakers, Kol had run out and came back to install them, while Klaus, the more sober of the trio but no less bored, compelled everyone inside to leave them be, while dragging a keg out of the back while Aailyah shoved tables out of the way. Word had gotten out, and the place was packed with young people wanting to get drunk and dance, and Aailyah was having the time of her life since Kol recognized her bad mood and egged her on into a drinking contest.
"Redecorated. It was so boring here, but we can't leave town to go somewhere more fun, so Kol and I decided improvements were in order. And it's not a party, so Elijah can't get mad!"
"Why can't you leave town?"
"Same shit, different day. Someone else thinks after a thousand years of others trying and failing, they're the special snowflake who can end the 'Original Family'." Aailyah mocked shamelessly.
"So you're sitting here, drinking."
"Elijahs handling it, as I'm sure you know."
"Still, it's just… not like you to sit things out."
"I'm having a bad day."
"Why?"
"Y'know, I am doing my very best to forget that. Drink!" Caroline did as she was told before Aailyah dragged the blonde out onto the dancefloor, dragging her through several songs and finishing half a bottle of vodka together.
"Seriously, how much have you had?" Caroline asked, several shots later, eyes trailing to her brothers nervously, not that Aailyah noticed.
"That is a good question. Kol seems to think he can outdrink me, I proved him wrong." Aailyah laughed.
"I've never seen you drunk before."
"It doesn't happen often. Bad things happen when Kol and I drink together, but Nik left us unsupervised, so it's mostly his fault." Aailyah said with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, will you go outside with me? I need some air." Caroline said suddenly.
"Of course, darling." Aailyah followed Caroline easily, stepping outside into a cool breeze, music sounding fainter as the doors shut behind them. They walked across the street and Aailyah sprawled over a park bench with none of her usual grace while Caroline perched awkwardly next to her. "The stars used to be so much brighter." Aailyah sighed, staring up at them wistfully.
"They're not anymore?"
"Not now, with all your lights and pollution. When the only light at night came from bonfires, there were so many of them. When I couldn't sleep, my sister had me count them. I'd fall asleep before I reached a hundred." Aailyah hummed, smiling slightly. "When that didn't work, she'd make up stories."
"What kind of stories?"
"She told me that the sun and the moon were sisters, twins, like us."
"Did they have names?"
"Tati and Alli." Aailyah said with a wry smile. "We weren't the most creative at eight years old. She said the sun and the moon loved each other, and couldn't bear to be apart, and that's why you can see the moon during daylight. But every night, the sun had to leave the moon. The moon was afraid of the dark, so the sun made the stars, to keep the moon company. To chase away the dark, so the moon wouldn't be afraid."
"That's a sweet story." Caroline said with a small smile. "Is that why…" She gestured slightly at the delicate tattoo just above the inside of Aailyah's elbow, a thin black lined half sun.
"Yeah." Aailyah hummed, the buzz from alcohol fading slowly.
"I thought it was a joke. Ironic, with the whole vampire thing." Aailyah chuckled at the thought, but shook her head.
"No, I got it a few years ago. I was missing her." She shrugged delicately, before turning to face Caroline. "C'mon, I'm trying to forget my demons. Ready to go back in?"
"I-" Caroline paused and buried her face in her hands. "I can't do this." She whispered to herself.
"Can't do what?" Caroline shook her head and refused to answer. "Caroline?" A twig snapped somewhere behind her and she turned to look, but let out a pained yell when Caroline moved suddenly, plunging two syringes into her neck and pressed the plunger, pushing concentrated vervain into her system. She slumped forward, vision growing hazy as her limbs became heavy, and Caroline caught her by the arms.
"Sorry, I'm sorry, Aailyah." Caroline murmured as Stafan and Damon approached as Alaric drove over and parked nearby. "You- I have to help Elena. I'm sorry."
"Nice job Blondie, let's get her to Esther." Damon grunted, taking her from Caroline as Alaric put thick metal shackles on her wrists and ankles, before stabbing two more needles into her neck, forcing more vervain into her veins. Aailyah groaned in pain when he did, fading from consciousness slowly.
"I don't know about this Damon." Caroline said as they carried her to the car.
"We don't have time for this Caroline. Esther needs a sacrifice and we need to get another hostage so they don't kill Elena. We're doing this. Go Stef." Stefan nodded and got into the car, quickly speeding away as Kol stumbled out of the bar, yelling for Aailyah. Aailyah phased in and out during the ride, distantly noting it was becoming harder and harder to open her eyes.
"You know Elijah will kill you for this, right? You and Elena." Aailyah croaked, shifting slightly.
"Not if they want you back alive."
"Esther can't touch me until 9:07, member? Rebekah is with Elena now. I'm betting she'll be more than willing to start her work early. So unless you've got a backup plan, you just signed your little girlfriend's death warrant."
"I don't care about Elena, All I want is to see Klaus dead."
"Oh please, we all know your switch is fried. You feel a lot more than you want and it's pissing you off, which is why you're pissing everyone else off. 'S getting old Stefan." Aailyah slurred, eyes closing. Stefans mouth tightened but he refused to answer. Moments later, she was out.
"Tati?" Aailyah called, hovering in the doorway of the cabin their father had built when they'd moved here, the one Tatia had inherited when he died the year before. She didn't try to step inside, having learned with her husband that that was impossible unless invited in. "Tatia?" There was nothing but cold silence, the night making it difficult to see much, even with her newly heightened vision. The hearth was dark and cold, the bed empty. Stomach twisting slightly with unease, she stepped forward automatically, confused when she was able to step over the threshold into the cabin.
"Tati?"
"What is this?"
"You said you needed one of them, didn't you? To kill the others."
"Tatia, where are you?"
"She hasn't been home." Aailyah whipped around, finding one of the village boys, around Kols age, standing at the doorway, clutching a bouquet of small white flowers in his hand. He stepped past her, and the leaves of the flowers brushed her skin, making Aailyah hiss in pain as she jumped back, staring down at the small pink burn on her forearm. She held it close, watching wearily as the young boy approached the carved wooden table on the side of the hut, setting his bouquet down next to… seven other bouquets, all in various stages of wilting, a couple already dried out.
"What-" Aailyah breathed, staring at the flowers, before shifting her eyes to the redheaded boy, the one she vaguely remembered Nik complaining about before Mikael… before. "Callen, where is she? How long has she-"
"Seven days. No one has seen her since she went to meet Esther and Mikael." He raked a hand over his face, turning to her with tired, red rimmed eyes. "If you're looking for her, that means she's not with them."
"No."
"I told you to bring me one of my children!"
"You said you bound them! Why does it matter which one you have!"
"I begged her not to go. I told her Esther and Mikael- I knew something was wrong." Callen breathed, green eyes flooding with tears. "I begged her, I told her I would treat her right, I'd keep her safe- What did they do to her?! Why isn't she back yet?!" Callen demanded, and Aailyah stumbled back, turning abruptly and sprinting out of the house. She needed to find her sister. Now.
"My children are bound by my blood! She doesn't carry my blood, killing her would mean her death alone! Niklaus and the others would live, all of them."
"Tati!" Aailyah shouted
"And what was your plan when all of them were dead and Aailyah still lived? You didn't tell us that part, what, were you gonna run while Aailyah ripped us to shreds?"
"I can handle my daughter in law."
"I haven't seen her out for blood, and I don't want to do it again. She'll kill us all!"
Aailyah sprinted back towards Esther and Mikaels cottage, moving far faster than any human ever could, before pausing suddenly. She turned slowly, trying to figure out what it was that had caught her attention, before her eyes caught on the caves they hid in during full moons. Her eyes trailed across the runes carved into the stone entrance, the ones Ayana had carved to protect them. Symbols that blocked your sense of smell, that muffled sound, so that nothing could find you there. Gut churning, she slipped inside creeping through the darkening tunnels, eyes adjusting quickly. She turned a corner, walking farther in, before stumbling as the overwhelming scent of blood hit her, nearly hiding the slightest stench of rot.
"No!" She screamed when she realized what she was looking at, sprinting toward the dark haired figure sprawled across the stone floor, a witches symbol painted beneath it, nearly covered by dried blood pooled around the body. Most of it originated from deep slashes carved from wrist to elbow on both arms, though there was a large, bloodied wound on the back of her head. "Tatia! No, no, no. Tati, please!" Aailyah sobbed, dragging her sister's stuff, cold body into her arms, holding her close. "Please, please don't leave me, please." She begged, choking on her sobs and the overwhelming smell of death. "Please… I'm scared."
"They'll kill us all if you don't go get me one of my children! Go! Now!"
Aailyah sat there for hours, clutching her twins body to her, shaking, rocking back and forth, begging a soul long gone to come back to her. When she finally came back to herself, she gently laid Tatia down, before curling up, knees pressed tight to her chest, staring at her sisters unseeing chocolate brown eyes. Slowly, so, so slowly, the pieces came together, and something caught her eye. Aailyah turned slowly, heart stopping as her eyes caught on a grimoire.
Esther's grimoire.
F&A
At the Grill
"Where is she?" Kol snarled, slamming Damon against the alley wall with a forearm to his throat.
"Let him go!" Caroline snapped from where Klaus was restraining her.
"Hush luv, you'll get your turn. Where's Aailyah?" Klaus demanded.
"On her way to Esther. Apparently your brother bailed so…" Damon choked out.
"Kol." Elijah snapped, appearing in the alleyway. "Let him go."
"What? 'Lijah, they took Alli!" Elijah's face darkened dangerously but he gestured to let him go. Kol snarled angrily but did as he was told, and Klaus released Caroline, who stumbled back, staring at them fearfully.
"The only reason you still walk the earth is because you know where he took my wife. You tell me where they are or I will have my sister kill Elena right now."
"You told me we had til after nine." Damon said, glancing up at the clock tower.
"You took Aailyah. I'm sure my sister won't mind starting her work early."
F&A
"It's for a noble cause, Aailyah. You'll understand someday." Esther assured.
"What I don't understand is how you could willingly kill your children Esther. What kind of a mother are you? Then again, you've done it before." Aailyah glared at the women with disgust. Esther's mouth tightened and she knelt by the bound woman, shackled on the ground within a large chalk outline, surrounded by five lit torches.
"You of all people should understand why I did what I did Aailyah. But I've spent the last thousand years feeling the pain of each and every one of your victims-"
"So?"
"So?"
"If it meant my son could live, I'd endure that for eternity. You knew the consequences of dark magic. If you couldn't commit, you shouldn't have done it in the first place. None of us wanted it anyway."
"I didn't want to see my children die."
"You're trying to kill them."
"It's the right thing to do!"
"No! The right thing to do would've been to let us live out our lives as humans! We were happy! You did this to us! The spirits had every right to make you suffer for what you created, but once again we're being punished for your mistakes! You have no right to do this to us!"
"She's right mother." Aailyah glanced up and smiled seeing Nik, Elijah, and Kol emerging from the forest. "You knew the consequences of dark magic and you used it anyway, the spirits had every right to punish you." Kol continued.
"My sons, come forward." Esther greeted, lifting her chin definitely. Her sons approached but were stopped by the barrier around the five pointed star that Esther had created. The torches flared higher forcing them to step back or be burned.
"Whatever you think of us, killing your own children would be an atrocity." Elijah stated, locking eyes with Aailyah.
"My only regret is that I didn't let you die a thousand years ago."
"Enough. All this talk is boring me. End this now, mother, or I'll send you back to hell."
"For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim, suffered while you shed blood. Even you Elijah, with your claim of nobility, you're no better. All of you… you're a curse on this earth, stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life, I'm sorry. You wasted your time." The torches flared higher out and Esther let out a surprised yell as the earth seemed to shake around them. "No! Sisters, do not leave me!" Esther begged as the flames surged even higher. She tried to run, but the moment she was out of the barrier she was caught by Klaus, who quickly knocked her out. Elijah rushed to Aailyah and tried to remove her shackles, hissing in pain when the vervain burned him.
"Are you okay?" Aailyah asked worriedly.
"I should be asking you that, love." Elijah sighed, examining the blistered red skin around the shackles.
"I'll be fine, as soon as we can get these off." Aailyah hummed.
"Niklaus!" Elijah called. Nik passed off Esther to Kol and quickly came to their side, breaking and removing the shackles easily.
"Thank you, Nik." Aailyah kissed his cheek as Elijah helped her to her feet.
"You gave us a scare, Alli."
"You were scared? I was trapped with my psychotic mother in law." Aailyah laughed.
"Speaking of, what do we do with her?" Kol asked, shifting his hold on her. Their smiles left their faces as they stared at the unconscious woman.
"Whatever we have to."
F&A
Esther woke in a cell underneath the Mikaelson mansion. She jumped to her feet quickly and found four of her children and her daughter in law staring at her from the other side of the bars. She immediately tried to summon her magic, but because her bond with the Bennet bloodline was severed, none came.
"My children." She said desperately, stumbling towards the bars. "Please, I only did what I thought was right."
"And you'd do it again, wouldn't you?" Rebekah snapped, blue eyes flooded with tears. Klaus wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close while Aailyah squeezed her free hand tightly.
"No-"
"We're vampires, mother." Kol sighed. "We can hear your heartbeat jump when you lie."
"It's the right thing to do! Vampires are an abomination-"
"One that you created, Mother." Elijah reminded.
"What will you do? Keep me down here forever?"
"No, you have no power now, but given the chance, you'd escape and find another way to kill us. I won't let you do that to us."
"So what, Niklaus? Will you kill me again?" Esther snarled.
"No, he won't." Aailyah answered, locking eyes with Esther. Esther's eyes widened and she turned to her children for help.
"Rebekah, please-" Rebekah stepped back, shaking her head.
"Goodbye, mother." She turned to leave with Klaus, Kol following closely.
"Elijah, you can't let her do this."
"I can, and do you know why? In the aftermath of the spell you created, our family was left shattered. Aailyah and I have spent the last thousand years trying to keep our family together, and we've succeeded. I won't let you ruin us." Elijah swore, locking eyes with his mother. "Good bye mother." He kissed Aailyah on the forehead and left. Aailyah unlocked the cell door and stepped inside.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." Esther said, wiping her eyes. "You've never liked me."
"I never liked that you let Mikael beat Nik senseless."
"What could I have done?"
"Anything. Literally anything but nothing. Beyond that, I didn't care much until you made us vampires. That's when I started hating you. To be honest, I was jealous when Nik admitted he'd killed you." Aailyah said with a sardonic smirk.
"I turned you into vampires so I wouldn't have to watch my family die-"
"And you killed mine in the process. My sister." The young woman murmured, leaning back against the bars.
"You hated Tatia."
"She was my sister. I could never hate her, regardless of what she did to me."
"She tried to steal your husband."
"Elijah stayed true to me. It hurt that she'd try, but I was never worried that she'd succeed. She was my sister, and I loved her."
"So you're here to avenge her."
"Not exactly. I will be avenging Tati, but that's not why I'm killing you. That is why I'm going to enjoy it, but that's not why I'm killing you."
"Then why?"
"So they don't have to. We all know you have to die so we can live, but they shouldn't have to live with the guilt of killing their own mother for all of eternity."
"I suppose you're right." Esther murmured. Aailyah stared at her for a moment before straightening and walking towards her. Esther tensed but didn't fight back.
"Goodbye Esther." Aailyah snapped her neck.
F&A
"You bitch." Esther choked, fingers clawing at Aailyah's hand frantically as she tried to inhale, Aaliyah's hand wrapped tight around her throat, holding her several inches off the ground against the wall. Esther wheezed, choking out the beginnings of a spell, before Aailyah slammed her fist into her stomach, forcing out any remaining air in a pained sob. "You fucking bitch, you killed her!" Aailyah screamed in her face, ignoring Rebekah's sobs, pleading for her mothers life, and Elijah shouting for everyone to stop as he blocked Finn from attacking his wife. Kol just watched, a cruel, amused grin spreading across his face at his mothers pain, while Klaus hunched back against the wall, frightened.
"Enough!" A voice roared, and Aailyah was ripped away from Esther, thrown across the hut before slamming into the wall a few feet away from Niklaus. Aailyah was on her feet in second, pushing past Elijah with an enraged snarl, lunging at a cowering Esther. "I said, enough!" Mikael threw her back again, and this time Elijah caught her, holding her tight against his chest, not letting her go.
"She killed Tatia!" Aailyah screeched, fighting against her husbands grip, not noticing Niklaus' horrified 'No!' "She killed her!"
"Your father still lives, if you want it to stay that way, you'll stop now!"
"I don't care!" Aailyah screamed, breaking out of Elijah's grip and lunging at Esther. Mikael caught her by her throat, flashing across the cottage and slamming her into the opposite wall, choking her viciously, just like she'd done to Esther.
"Adella then! If you touch her, I'll kill that little girl. What is she, six now? I'll find her, and I'll rip her throat out!"
Tati's baby
Aailyah forced herself to stop her fighting, her frantic movements slowing to a stop as she met Mikaels eyes defiantly, nothing but hatred left. After a moment, he released her, and she fell to her knees, hand rising to clutch her throat. Finn released his grip on Elijah, and he was there a moment later, hovering over his wife, terrified. Aailyah shrugged him off, her rage filled eyes slipping past Mikael to his wife, who was in the same position she was in, a teary Rebekah trying to pull her to her feet.
"I'll kill you for this someday. I promise you that." Aailyah rasped, forcing herself to her feet and shrugging of his hand. "I'll kill you."
F&A
"It's done." Aailyah announced, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Elijah.
"Her body?" Klaus asked, running his thumb over Rebekahs knuckles.
"Back in her coffin. Sophie's flight arrives tomorrow, I'll have her seal the coffin after she unlinks us. Finn is on his way back as well."
"Good, the moment we're unlinked I say we get the hell out of this ridiculous town before it tries to kill us again." Kol suggested.
"We might be too late." Rebekah cut in.
"You're kidding." Aailyah groaned.
"I'm not. Elena ran. She made it to a room in the caves where vampires can't get in, it's where they hid mothers coffin. It's one of the ones we used to play in when we were children, and when I was throwing matches at Elena, I noticed this on the wall." Rebekah passed the phone to Elijah and Aailyah and Kol examined it over his shoulder.
"Is that-"
"A White Oak Tree. It was drawn three hundred years after we fled back to the old world, there must've been a sapling we didn't know about." Rebekah said as Elijah passed the phone to Niklaus.
"Fucking Mystic Falls." Aailyah groaned.
"What do we do?" Rebekah asked.
"Deal with it in the morning." Elijah decided, tracing his hand up and down Aailyah's spine. "It's been a long day, I think we deserve a night to rest."
"I have a couple things to do first." Aailyah sighed, kissing his cheek.
F&A
"Vervain, really?" Caroline swore, whipping around to face her, and Aailyah arched an eyebrow from her place across the porch, half hidden in the shadows, leading back against the white gate.
"Aailyah." Caroline breathed, eyeing her wearily, her fingers tightening around her keys.
"Disappointed? Yes, unfortunately for you, I'm still breathing. So is my family, by the way. And Abby Bennett. Really, those Salvatore's can be clever. You know, sometimes. Then they go and piss off people they can't kill. Kind of like you." A moment later, Aailyah was there, hand wrapped around Caroline's throat, forcing her back against the door. "You stabbed me twice Caroline. It hurt."
"Aailyah-" Caroline choked, and Aailyah tightened her grip, watching her struggle for a moment before releasing her, turning away and leaning back against the gate of the wrap around porch. She watched Caroline struggle with her keys, amused, before the blonde managed to unlock her front door, practically leaping across the threshold before whipping around to face Aailyah.
"Oh no, how did I not see that coming?" She mocked, her eyebrow arching. "Really, Caroline, if I wanted to rip your throat out, I wouldn't have let you go."
"I'm sorry, Aailyah. I had to protect Elena."
"Honestly, it astounds me, how far the entirety of this stupid little town will bend over backwards for that stupid girl."
"You were going to kill her."
"First of all, I wasn't, Bekah was. Second, we would've happily let her go if Stefan and Damon had done what they were told in the first place instead of waiting until the very last minute, as per fucking usual. Why do people never do what they're told?"
"You told them to kill Bonnie or her mother."
"Bonnie doesn't even like her mom, Abby abandoned her."
"It's still her mom! You have issues with your dad too-" Aailyahs hand slammed into the invisible barrier between her and Caroline, and the blonde jumped back, terrified.
"Don't. I made the mistake of trusting you, despite knowing anything I told you was getting back to all of your little friends. You do not get to throw things I confided in you when I was vulnerable in my face after you screwed me over. May I remind you that I haven't done shit to hurt you."
"You hurt Elena, over and over again. She doesn't deserve that."
"Maybe not. Elena didn't deserve the shit we did at the beginning, but you know what? We made it as easy as possible for her. It could've been a hell of a lot worse, and after that, all we did was react when you tried to kill us."
"You weren't gonna leave her alone."
"No we weren't, and you know what? It's not fair. It's not fair that she has to suffer for the Salvatore's screw ups, and it's not fair that she's going to have a target on her back for the rest of her life because doppelgängers blood is valuable. She got a shit deal, but she wasn't the only one who did. Maybe instead of relying on everyone else to save her, she should do what the rest of us did, and do something about it." She met Caroline's wide blue eyes steadily, before pausing, tilting her head to the side as headlights turned onto Caroline's street, a police cruiser driving down the road. "Mommy's home." She singsonged, and Caroline's eyes went wide.
"Don't- Aailyah, please, she has nothing to do with this!"
"No she doesn't, maybe you should stop pissing powerful people off, because sooner or later, someone is going to get hurt. Probably her. Or Matt, or Elena. They're human, you know. Fragile."
"Aailyah-"
"Relax. I'm not a cliche, I'm not going to rip you or mommy dearest limb from limb. I believe in Karma, Caroline. Don't get me wrong, I help it along sometimes, but honestly? You and your friends aren't worth the energy." Caroline's lips pursed, and Aailyah grinned leaning forward, only an inch away. "You shouldn't throw away powerful allies Caroline. Someday you'll need them. Someday, you'll need hybrid blood, or you're going to piss someone off, someone you and your little friends can't handle. And you'll come to me, begging for help. And I'm going to laugh."
"Aailyah…"
"I don't take kindly to being betrayed, Caroline. Remember that, when you're crying over how unfair it all is."
F&A
Aailyah trekked through the woods in the middle of the night, all alone. The only sound she heard was the soft chirping of crickets, the rustling of the tissue paper wrapped around the bouquets in her arms, and faintly, the sound of rushing water. She reached the peak of the hill without difficulty, smiling slightly when she came upon the waterfall. She walked toward the tranquil lake beneath it, letting the mist spray her gently, and walked towards the base of the waterfall til she found two large, flat, polished black stones, darker than any others near them. She paused at the first one, kneeling and tracing her fingers over the faded Nordic runes painstakingly carved into the stone that spelled out her son's first name.
"Hey baby." She whispered, pressing two fingers to her lips before brushing it over the stone, closing her eyes for a moment. "Mama misses you, sweetheart. Every day." She was quiet for a moment, taking a deep breath before setting the first bundle of sunflowers on top. "I brought you some little suns. I know these are different than your favorites, but yours go away when the weather gets cold. They'll come back in the spring, I hope you get to see them, wherever you are. I hope it's always springtime there. I hope- I hope your Aunt Tatia's with you there. I don't know if doppelgängers can go to the other side, or if they- I don't know. But I hope she's with you. I know she's taking care of you." Aailyah swallows roughly before rising to her feet. "I love you Danny. Forever and Always." She whispered, before turning to sit in front of Tatias grave.
"Hey Tati. It's been a few decades. I know I should come visit more. It's just hard finding the time. Which is funny, for an immortal. It seemed to slip through my fingers sometimes, but others it's like- a day lasts a thousand years, and I just want it to be over. Today was like that. Today sucked." She was quiet for a while, playing with the stems of her sunflowers before laying them carefully on top of her grave. "I'm still scared, Tati. I thought I wouldn't be, a thousand years later, but I am. I'm terrified of losing more people. I'm scared I'm gonna live forever, and I'm never going to see you again. I'm scared I'm not. You were always the brave one, out of the two of us." There was no response, and Aailyah sighed, leaning back on her hands and staring up at the sky. "The world keeps changing, Tatia. I wish you were here to see it. You would love it." There was no response, as per usual, and Aailyah closed her eyes. "Happy Birthday, Tatia."
I'm not mentally okay so neither are my OC's today :)