Katherine watched as he lay in bed. His skin was slowly gaining color and Katherine could hear the steady thump of his heart slowly gaining more momentum. He was beginning to wake. She turned and pulled the human closer.

Elijah woke with a gasp. His hand raced to his chest and he jumped upright in the bed. Katherine shushed him, placing her hand over his own. His eyes darted around the room of the bungalow they were in. Esther wanted to be somewhere hot. Katherine smiled at her love.

"Shhhh. Sweetheart. Here," Katherine said brining the wrist of the compelled human to his lips. He could not resist his bloodlust and blood filled his eyes and the grey veins of hunger lined his under eyes and cheeks. He bit down and the human did not even cry out. Katherine smiled as more color filled his cheeks and his lips became plumper. The human dropped to the ground and Elijah pulled away. She leaned over and wiped his lips and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Welcome back Elijah," Katherine said with a grin.

"Darling," Elijah breathed. He pulled her in close and their lips met. It was everything that it should have been electric and sweet. With the kiss a song rose inside of her uninhibited and sweet. It was a song that was familiar to her, but something that she welcomed in their time apart. They pulled away from one another with a gasp as though they forgot that they needed to breathe. "How is this possible?"

"I had some help from a witch," Katherine said. She rested back in her seat and watched as Elijah looked around the room. He took in the night sky and the cool breeze wafting off the ocean and smile before he turned to her the smile slipping off his face.

"Niklaus?" He asked.

It took everything in Katherine not to tense at the name. No, she was better than that. She had the upper hand now. She did and no one else. She was the one in control. Katherine rose and slipped into the bed beside Elijah and smiled again.

"That is something that I am going to have to tell you about." Elijah slipped down into the bed. They lay next to each other, so close that their breaths intermingled. Katherine missed this. She missed this closeness and the understanding that radiated between them. The love that she could feel coming off him in waves. Klaus have deprived her of this for so long. Well no longer. "We are planning to kill Klaus."

Elijah recoiled as though she had just slapped him. "Kill him?"

"Yes. Listen to me—"

"I know that Niklaus has done something to you Katherine but—"

"Somethings? Somethings? He murdered my whole family, took my best friend from me—"

"Niklaus has always been a bit temperamental but to kill him would be—"

"He took you away from me!" Katherine screamed the words, hoping that the volume would give them some weight. Elijah froze where he was, finger poised in the air. Katherine continued now that she had his attention.

"Elijah," Katherine said, softer now. "He took you away from me. For centuries we have had to live in the shadows. And our plan, the plan that we made to be together didn't work. Why because we do not matter to him."

Elijah opened his mouth to say something but Katherine grabbed his hand and cupped his cheek. "Any man who loved his brother would allow him some happiness. Would put aside any grudge for his brother to be happy with the one he loves. But Klaus did not do that for you. Klaus did not even consider giving us that chance together despite everything that we did. Can't you see. The only way that we can be together is if he is gone." As she song her voice wobbled. She was horrible when it came to emotions like this. The bone dead tired that ached in her bones made her feel her years. She felt every year that she had spent alive, ducking into the shadows and not luxuriating in the sun.

Elijah looked at her and she pressed a kiss to his lips. She felt the relationship between them like a tether, a tightrope that was stretched taut with this conversation. And she hoped that it did not fray.

"You should listen to her Elijah," a voice said from the doorframe. Both Elijah and Katherine turned and say Esther standing in the doorway. She was wrapped in a shawl and wearing modern clothing that leaned more on the conservative side, but it was still light enough that she would not boil in the tropical climate. "She is right about Niklaus."

"Mother?" Elijah said rising out of the bed and walking towards his mother. Esther smiled as she embraced her son and Katherine rose from the bed also.

"You see, Klaus has been keeping a lot from you. This is just one of the secrets," Katherine said behind the embracing family. Elijah pulled away from his mother and looked back at Katherine. "You know how Klaus said it was Mikael who killed your mother."

"Niklaus was the one who killed me," Esther finished. She did not look disturbed by the fact only amused when she said the words.

"No, Niklaus said that he saw Mikael—"

"Only myself, Mikael, and Niklaus were there. It would be easy for him to lie."

Elijah stumbled back and sat down on the bed, his head in his hands. Katherine slid close to him. Her hand rubbed his back and Katherine smiled as she looked down on him.

"If he lied about this," Elijah started.

"What else could he had lied about?" Katherine finished. She nodded to Esther and the woman walked out of the room.

"Was everything that we shared a lie? Always and forever? Was that a lie also?" Elijah said, never once looking up.

"You know what you have to do," Katherine said.

Elijah's back trembled underneath her hand for a moment. And then, it stilled. Elijah rose from his hunched over position. He straightened his suit jacket and looked at her.

"I know," was all he said.

There was a certain magic to New Orleans. One that could not be understated. It lingered over your skin and sunk into your bones. Klaus loved every bit of the city that he helped build. And he knew that he had left it in the right hands considering how in control everything was. Klaus walked into Abattoir, his old home was in good hands.

He could see the denizens of the city partying in the main floor and walked his way up the stairs. There on the stairs, some vampires feasted on drunk partygoers. New Orleans was a city that was meant for vampires. It was a city meant for the dead. He smiled as he slid into his old office.

Sitting there laughing and joking, having a good time with his men was Marcel. The man's did not look a day over twenty and the vampires around him looked to be young also. The laughter stopped the moment that Klaus entered but he smiled as he looked around.

"Now, don't stop on my account. I would like to hear the joke too," Klaus said with a grin. One vampire stepped forwards and puffed out his chest. He wore a cap and his face was clean shaven. Klaus loved the bold ones. The ones who did not think before they threw themselves into a situation. And he could tell that this was one of those ones.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" the man asked with a gruff tone. He had lowered his voice some in order to sound intimidating, but Klaus smiled and tilted his head. What would this vampire think of having his innards splattered against the wall. Looking at the wallpaper it was kind of drab and maybe a splash of color would really lighten up the mood.

"Thierry, stand down. This is my man, my sire," Marcel said from the desk. The way to Marcel parted for him and Klaus could not help but think that he had done a good job in raising Marcel. Look at the way people moved for him, listened to him. Klaus smiled and he strode forward to speak to his adoptive son.

"It has been a while Marcel," Klaus said as he poured himself a drink. He tilted his cup towards Marcel before downing his drip and poured himself another glass. Marcel smiled, the action lighting up his whole face.

"Yes, it has been a while since you left the city to me. What brings you back?" Marcel asked. Klaus sighed and dropped himself into one of the chairs in front of the desk. Klaus looked over the room. Good this room was garish, but it was in style for the time that Caroline and him had been living there. So he supposed you could say that the room was vintage. He sighed and leaned back.

"Sad to say that this is not a social call. We have a problem," Klaus said. He took another sip of his drink.

Marcel looked to his vampires and they began to slowly filter out of the room. One by one they left, leaving just Klaus with Marcel. The dark skinned vampire leaned closer and put down his drink. Without a coaster, Klaus noted, that would have sent Caroline fuming.

"Does this have to do with the mutterings I hear about a new witch rising?" Marcel asked.

"The very same."

"I knew that this was going to be a problem, I just did not know for how long I could hold this off."

"Well the witch is on the move. She already attacked me back in my home in Greece. I need the forces of New Orleans behind me," Klaus said. If they had witches that was fine because Klaus could have witches too. If they wanted fire than Klaus could have fire too. He operated on an eye for an eye mentality and he was not going to lose out to some witch that was barely worth her salt. "I need to make sure that my side is ready. I need witches."

"You know vampires, I got you. But witches. They have been shifty. I have them under control but convincing them to work with vampires—"

"Then you don't have the witches under control like you think you do." Klaus said. Marcel shot him a look, one that said not to undermine him. Oh? Was this the burgeoning of rebellion in his eyes. Was Klaus finally going to have to educate a wayward child? As soon as the look was there it was gone and Marcel sagged into his seat.

"It has nothing to do with control. I make sure that they do not do magic, but getting them to work with a vampire… That is something else entirely," Marcel said with a sigh. Klaus nodded his head.

"And if this had to do with expression magic?" Klaus said. Marcel's head shot up. Yes. "You know how dangerous that magic is and just how bad it is when it gets into the hands of the wrong witch or warlock. You understand the danger. Tell the witches that this has to do with the balance of nature or whatever it is that they are always prattling on about. Tell them that this has to do with their lives." Klaus rose from his seat and looked down at his son.

"I will relocate by here and this shall be our base of operations. I'll see you and the witches in two weeks." Klaus then turned and walked out of the room. He knew that he had put a lot of pressure on Marcel, but it was nothing the man could not handle. Telling the witches that this had something to do with Expression would get them moving and if not… well he had trained Marcel. A little threat would get them moving. Klaus walked down and walked as vampires feasted on the living.

There was something to be said about the dead feeding off the living, but Klaus was an artist not a poet. So he left the dead to do their feeding. He had a war to win.

It was in the beaches of Tortuga that he found her. She knew that this was one of his favorite places and that is why she chose to hide there. Who would expect a fugitive to hide in your favorite place. Rose sighed as he blocked her lighting. There standing before her was Kol. He was bare chested, with a white button down draped across his shoulders like a cape. He was wearing beige swimming trunks.

The first thing that Rose did was look around to see if his family had come along after him. When they did not show up she relaxed and leaned back in her chaise.

"You are blocking my light," Rose said. Kol chuckled and then slid into the lounging chair next to her own. He leaned back and enjoyed the light from the sun. Her ring glittered in the light and Kol looked down at it.

"See you found yourself a daylight ring," Kol said.

"Poached it off the body of a self absorbed arsehole. He didn't need it anymore so I thought that it would be better to make sure it went to a better home," Rose said.

"That better home being you?"

"Of course. I was the one in need."

"You see that is what I like about you, Rose. You always look out for number one." Something in Rose tightened at his words. She was not always like this. There was a time when she had someone to look out for her. Someone that cared for her. The thought of Trevor made her throat itch. She held back the tears like she had for centuries.

Trevor had long since passed and it was time for her to pass on from this sadness too. She smiled and dared a glance at her new tanning partner.

"So why have you come to find me? You never make pleasant calls."

Kol took the sun glasses off his nose and looked at her. She looked into the sun and sky. She did not want to look into his eyes. Those eyes that were assessing every part of her, measuring her against whatever roster he had for what he needed. Rose hoped she came up short this time. But if Kol went out of his way to find her, then there was no way that she would not fir his criteria.

But she could dream.

"Things have changed. And Kol is not the one that is in control anymore, poppet," Kol said.

Rose turned. She knew that nickname. She knew it better than she knew other things. Rose leaned forward, the glasses slipping off her face as she looked into the eyes of…

"Darius?" Rose said leaning in closer. She wanted to believe that he Traveler lover was in the body, but she could not help the small part of her that wished he was not.

"In the flesh," Darius said with Kol's face.

"Prove it to me. What happened in Monaco," she said. She crossed her arms. If this were true…

"Traveler gathering. A storm came in and ruined the Monaco Grand Prix. Six Travelers died. Including—"

"Lisbet," the both said at the same time. Rose clapped her hands over her mouth. So it was true. Darius was inside Kol.

"But how?" she breathed. Darius smirked at her.

"A little magic and I was in Kol's body. Had to hide out in the body of a witch and that was not easy. Woman fought me the whole time."

"And now? What are you doing now?" Rose asked.

"I am working with a witch. A witch that wants to bring down the Originals and break the curse on Travelers. Soon all Travelers will be free from the curse and will be able to openly practice their magic."

"That sounds all good but what is the catch," Rose said.

"The catch is that I have to spy on the Originals and inhabit this body for a little while."

The words had Rose wheeling. There was a faction that was standing up against the Originals. And they seemed to be doing a good job if the fact that Darius had not been caught yet was any evidence. Rose took a deep breath in.

"Okay and what happens next?" Rose asked.

"I am supposed to be recruiting allies, but I'm actually spying the next phase of the plan takes place when we reach New Orleans."

"We?"

"You are coming to New Orleans with me aren't you, poppet?"

Rose went over the plan in her head. This new witch was leading a faction against the Originals. They were spying and making plans and they were actually being successful. They were making headway against the Originals. Who knew when they would get another chance like this. This could be the revenge that she sought. For Trevor.

But a part of her, a large part of her were still scared. The Originals had ruled the supernatural world with an iron fist for centuries for a reason. They were crafty and sly. They were strong and brutal. Nobody crossed them and survived to tell the tale. Well, unless you were Katherine, but look at the life she was living.

She sighed and shook her head. No, there was no reason to live in fear anymore. The witch had a plan and it was working so far. They would get back the Originals for everything that they had ever done. They would remind them way the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few. She smiled at her lover.

"We will need to gather a few more people, but I will come with you to New Orleans… Kol." He smiled when she used his alias and leaned in. Their kiss was brief but it warmed something inside of her. Her and Trevor were never romantic. They were friends plan and simple but you never let a friend die unavenged. There was something wrong with that.

Well, now Rose had the means to avenge her friend. And she would do so with impunity.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I wrote a lot yesterday so I'm taking a little bit of a break today. But there is a lot more drama to come.