Hello everyone!

Okay, so this is now the longest chapter so far, LOL. 11,420 words.

We got over 300 reviews over the first night that last chapter was up and I am so bloody thankful to all of you! Your love for this story has continued to blow my mind week after week!

This chapter has direct scenes from The Originals 1x08 reworked to fit the story, including direct lines.

Also please understand that the effect of the vervain as explained below also explains Bella's behaviour in this chapter. Her mind is unclouded from their mind control, etc. and as such she is able to respond in this way.

I am actually so nervous about this chapter because things change from here on in… and I don't know how everyone is going to react. Hopefully well? Hopefully? But yeah, either way you're in for a big shock you never saw coming… I'm sorry if you don't like it… sorry.

Also… cliffy again, yes… but don't worry… next chapter there won't be one, my loves. :D

Heavily edited (only for clarification): 13/05/2018

Chapter 8 – Hell To Pay

Klaus made it to his older brother's side, both of them sending glances at one another before looking out ahead of them. The wards had worked, thankfully, and they'd been warned of an intrusion, given enough time to ensure Bella's safety in their sister's hands. It left him free to join the front line.

The fight began and he leisurely killed, taking his time in toying with the ones who dared to cross him. Looking up at the sound of a particular walk, however, his eyes connected with ones he had not seen in so long, had grieved over the loss of...

Anger and pain he'd felt hours ago after finding out that the man in front of him was alive and had not told him so returned full throttle and he lost it.

A roar left his lips and he flung himself through the room, his hybrid visage showing itself as he gave himself over to the pain and the fury, the lust for revenge and bloodshed in the name of his mate.

His brothers were involved in their own fights as he threw his arm out and through a chest cavity. He gripped the heart of the vampire in front of him, ripping it out and throwing it to the ground before surging forward again. This time, it was decapitation, and then the hybrid's bite, where he allowed the pain to sink in as his eyes connected with Marcel's pained ones as he was forced to watch the death of his progeny. The poetry of the moment was not lost on him and his fury rose at the reminder of yet another betrayal from someone he loved. He shredded the vampire in his hands to bits.

Dripping with blood, he sauntered forward, intent on ending his "son's" life... only for Marcel to swallow and flee, leaving the blond standing there in a cloudy haze of confusion and anguish. The fact that the source of his pain had disappeared caused him to snarl and he was just about to follow when he heard a scream that made his chest tighten and blood curdle. It was from the floor above and it was unmistakable.

Rebekah.

His eyes lifted to the ceiling above for but a moment, though it was enough. When he looked down once more, the vampires around them, having stormed their home aggressively, had disappeared quietly, leaving behind the mutilated bodies of their fallen.

"They've retreated," Kol muttered with disappointment and confusion, covered in blood much like his two other brothers, looking around at the bodies of dead vampires strewn throughout the house.

"Something is wrong," Klaus growled, flashing inside, making for his room. He roared at the sight of his sister daggered on the ground, the bathroom door kicked in, his mate missing. Scenting the air, his Hybrid visage, already out, glowed harder as the puzzle pieces fit together.

They had been duped; Marcel and his army were a distraction from the real agenda—a cold one, Demetri of the Volturi if his senses were not deceiving him, had been here, had daggered his sister, and had left with his mate. Fury renewed, he scorned himself for not staying with Bella as he knelt by Rebekah's side and ripped the blade from her chest. His brothers, having arrived on the scene, both snarled at the sight of their sister before Elijah whooshed en route to the kitchen for blood and Kol came to stand beside them.

"We were played," he murmured.

"Indeed," Klaus muttered back, distracted amidst the fury singing in his veins and the pain and rising panic in his chest. His mate was in danger and too far away for him to protect her. "Bella has been taken and is completely vulnerable."

"Not completely," Kol answered, making Klaus look up at him. "Rebekah and I fed her vervain for some protection at least. That will help her defenses against their mind games and also make her invulnerable to their bite. They can't have gotten her far. We will find her, Nik." He placed his hand upon his brother's shoulder, and felt him sigh under his touch.

"Thank you," the distraught Hybrid whispered.

Elijah returned and the three Originals waited for their sister to wake, who was all tears and remorse when she did—"I'm so sorry, Nik, I wasn't expecting a cold one with a dagger!"—but Nik was not angry at her; he was angry at himself. Bekah drank the blood she was given and pulled herself up to her feet before all four of them left the house for the Abattoir.

With every step, Kol felt it—the pull to his mate dragging him forward, beckoning him to run. But for now he had to ignore it... for now he had to stand by his family and avenge one sister's daggering and another's kidnapping. And he did so with a wicked grin on his face.

At the same time, Niklaus was fueling himself with self-hatred, transforming it into anger. His eyes glowed liquid gold and his fangs hung out of his opened mouth, the veins in his eyes the darkest black as he entered the building, calling his siblings off and signaling for them to wait.

"Marcellus!" he bellowed as he walked on through to the open courtyard. "Come and finish this!"

You best believe, boy, there's hell to pay.

~TPOL~

Bella closed her eyes as the man carrying her ran through the night. She could already feel new bruises developing from the tight hold and the way he'd knocked her around leaving the compound. Tears were welling in her eyes and choking her throat, but she blocked them and tried to breathe, needing to keep calm as best she could. She knew Rebekah would be okay but seeing her daggered, hearing her scream as she went grey, had been overwhelming. Her mind kept playing it over and over but as time went on, Nik took his sister's place.

She shivered and took another breath, forcing nice thoughts of her mate, calming herself down as she concentrated on their bond. It had become quite the soothing method.

Eventually, the cold one holding her slowed and she sighed with relief. It had been perhaps a fifteen minute run at what she presumed was full speed, so it was obvious they were no longer in the Quarter. She was not yet feeling the effects of being away from Nik and hoped it stayed that way long enough for him to find her. Which he would, she assured herself.

He would.

Her family would come for her.

She gasped as the air in her lungs left in a rush when she made impact with the cold and hard floor she'd been thrown down onto, her back taking the brunt with a throb. She stared up into the eyes of the one who had kidnapped her as he smirked down at her but she cataloged what she was seeing, her eyes moving over his for. He was cloaked in all black and a long robe with a hood, also of the deepest black she'd ever seen. But it was when her eyes fell upon the emblem around his neck, resting against his chest with pride, that her heart skipped a beat.

The Volturi.

A small smirk spread upon her lips as she realized what that meant. Boy, were the Volturi in for a shock when the Mikaelsons got to them. Betrayal was not something any of them were all that fond of after all and the Volturi had assured they'd keep out of the interspecies conflict as long as possible. They'd delayed for but a few weeks which was a poor attempt at best.

The guard member spoke, interrupting her thoughts. "Do you know who I am, girl?" He crouched down in front of her and Bella took a deep breath, forcing herself to stand her ground—a surprisingly easy feat for her despite the fact that she lay prone on the stone floor, too sore to lift herself from it. She glared right back at him.

"Volturi," she answered confidently, with an air of nonchalance. Her eyes again wandered his uniform again, picking up on little tells she remembered being told of by Edward. "Pretty high up, too, if my memory serves me best. What, inner circle?" A lofty eyebrow rose and her head cocked as she stared up at him.

The European smirked, huffing a breath. "I am Demetri, a tracker. Your mate is looking for you."

Bella smirked herself then. She knew who it was that Demetri was speaking of, but thought a warning would be best instead. Her voice was sarcastic and aloof when she spoke, so alike Nik's. "Indeed, he will be. And he won't be happy with the Volturi going back on their promise."

Demetri rolled his eyes. "You speak of the Original, girl. I speak of Edward Cullen."

Bella's eyes narrowed. "That boy is not my mate; I refuse to give into the connection. I choose the Original Hybrid," she said, and she enjoyed the floundering of fear she found in the guard member's eyes, a look he was hasty to hide when he saw her still staring. "I see you've heard of him. That's great. You'll be sure to understand then that your people sent you on a suicide mission. Nik's not all that happy about betrayal and his family think of me as one of them. They protect their own. They'll come for me and you'll be cowering like the pathetic wimp I can see you really are. Heed the warning; it's the only one you'll get, you doomed fucker."

A low growl vibrated in the tracker's chest as he glared down at her. Bella's keen eyes could see his palm twitching as if to hit her and all she did was smirk up at him, goading him with her eyes. She wanted him to hit her, she wanted him to hurt the way she knew he would for laying a hand on her. Something dark inside was begging her to take care of it herself, though, even as he got up from his crouch and looked to the other woman in the room, lying unconscious, whom Bella had not yet taken notice of. Her eyes followed his gaze and she swallowed a gasp at the poor image the girl made, a broken mangle of blood and awkwardly placed limbs, her blonde hair soaked with dirt and blood which was also strewn across her face. She was struck out cold and trembling.

"Careful you do not try my patience, Isabella Swan," Demetri said with a smirk, making Bella look back at him, "or you will find yourself quite in the same position as her." With that, he left the room in a blur, the weight of the situation striking Bella in the throat as she stared after him, listening to the door being slammed shut and then locked.

Oh my god.

~TPOL~

Marcel appeared at the bottom of the compound, right in the center with what was left of his nightwalkers and daywalkers standing all round, awaiting his signal. "Klaus—"

The Hybrid cut him right off, growling as he continued to stalk forward until he was standing mere meters away from his 'son'. "You have something of mine; I want it back."

Marcel swallowed. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that," he said with a dark need, desperation flowing in his eyes. Klaus recognized it and felt a glimmer of hesitation, realizing the gravity of the situation, but that was gone when Marcel whistled and another two dozen vampires came out from the building to fill the empty balconies above.

Klaus chuckled and shook his head, amused. His features had been schooled once he'd entered but his visage wasn't far off from coming out again, as volatile as he was feeling at this current moment. "So this is it? The evil bastard Klaus must be punished? For what, dare I ask? And by his own son, nonetheless. How positively biblical. Is this," he swung his hand around, pointing at all the vampires, raising his voice, "your idea of a hit? I taught you better than this paltry excuse for a takedown. Do you think you can subdue me with this?!" he roared and Marcel took another step back.

He forced himself to smirk, sounding smug as he called: "No... but I think I can with this." He whistled again and another twelve dozens worth of vampires appeared to fill the courtyard and the balconies.

Klaus looked around, shuffling on his feet, pretending to be intimidated as he re-evaluated the situation, a slow, sardonic smirk developing upon his lips. He turned back to the traitor, his own desperation reflected in the dark-skinned man's eyes but he locked away his sympathy, his own need for his mate easily trampling it. He spread his arms and smirked as his siblings appeared at his side, the four of them looking around with amusement, which rose further when they took in the fear filling their opponents' faces at the realization that they were facing far more than just Klaus.

"Don't start without us, Nik," Rebekah said with a grin. "You know how I love to kill things."

"Of course not, dear sister," Klaus replied with the same menacing smirk on his face. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Elijah and Kol shared a smirk of their own, Elijah looking around as he fixed his cufflinks. His voice was low, not quite the booming intimidation of Niklaus's, but it was still dark and playing with the psyche of the two hundred or so vampires surrounding them, commanding their absolute attention. "How many times do I have to say 'no one hurts my family and lives' before I am to be believed?" he asked his audience, only to glance to Kol when he answered.

"Perhaps if we kill enough of them the point will get across," he mused, mirth in his eyes, a smirk appearing on his lips. "After all, you are a man of your word."

An identical smirk appeared on Elijah's face. "Perhaps," was his dead answer, given with an air of nonchalance, and Klaus scowled, tired of it.

"Let's end this charade, shall we?" he asked his siblings, barely sparing them a glance. Every second made Bella more and more vulnerable to Edward's whims. He turned to their surrounding opposition. "Vampires of New Orleans! Do recall that we are Originals and that I am a Hybrid. I cannot be killed," he said, a smirk on his face as he spoke, tone aloof but fueled by fury. "Eternity is an awfully long time. How long do you think my siblings will allow Marcel to live if something were to happen to me—or me if something happened to them? How long do you think Marcel will live if a hair is touched on my mate's head? What if one of you," his hand outstretched, finger pointing to each of them as he swiveled on the spot, "were to tell me where my mate is? You would be forever in my debt. Oh, how I do pity those of you who dared to cross this family. I can assure you, your ends will be spectacular." His Hybrid visage glimpsed again, giving them all a hint of what was to come, and he delighted in the fear that rose and caused the wall of vampires around them to shiver and step back. He longed to bring them all—bring Marcel, his 'son'—to their knees for what they'd done. But alas, a single look from Elijah and he gave one last chance with a roll of his eyes, taking the coin from his brother's fingers and ignoring the protesting look Kol sent him, Bekah studying her nails as she let her brother do his thing. "To borrow a trick from an old friend. Whoever picks up this coin gets to live." He spun again, allowing them all to see it before dropping it to the ground. The sound pierced through the silence and, with a wolfish grin, he spread his arms again, eyebrows raised. "Now which of you magnificent bastards wants to join me?" The perfect picture of calm, he waited for an answer, eyebrow cocked and smirk affixed upon his lips.

Kol growled, stepping forward. He was feeling uneasy here, the call to his mate somehow stronger tonight—she was close, he could tell. Was she one of the vampires his siblings and he were to kill tonight? He pushed the thought away with a hiss, stepping forward. "Let's just kill them all, Nik. Forget this! They have Bella!"

Klaus held up a finger in a silent motion of beckoning patience and silence, looking around still with a smirk on his face.

Marcel rolled his eyes, but he felt the same uneasiness as the two Originals in front of him. His eyes leveled with Niklaus's as he spoke, addressing his vampires. "Anyone wants that coin, pledge allegiance to the Mikaelsons... take it now. Go ahead. The choice is yours."

The Mikaelson brothers looked around, not expecting anyone to step forward. Marcel was always one who could inspire loyalty—a hundred years away from a untrusting Hybrid's shadow, packing away the reputation as his surrogate, adopted son, and they were not surprised by how many allies he'd made. Rebekah continued studying her nails, her face tense as she waited for it but for the ghost of a sly smirk on her lips.

Marcel gave just a hint of a smirk as well. "Take them," he said with a twitch of his head.

The Mikaelsons were ready, though. In a blink, Bekah's hair was in a bun atop her head and she had leapt up onto the balcony. She, too, was tired of the charade and merely wanted her sister back, safe and sound, and for Marcel's—and indeed that cold bastard's sake—hopefully unharmed.

Elijah had begun ripping hearts out left and right, eyes glowing red and fangs parting his lips as he worked his way through the crowd to join his sister. His suit was a lost hope by now, blood droplets staining his crisp white shirt a deep crimson, the color splattered on his shoes and coating his hands.

All this and Kol was standing there, playing with the ones who were brave enough to lunge for him, taking his time, ducking away from hits before ending them. But he was unsure still of how to proceed. He was aching to give in and go to his mate, but felt duty-bound to stand by his family. He had already discerned that indeed his mate was not among the ones fighting; a relief, to be sure.

But it was Klaus who was the sight to behold. He was doing things the messy way; he'd taken care of the first vampires who came at him, spreading his arms with a smug grin of satisfaction as he stared into Marcel's eyes. But as soon as he did that, they took him just as they'd been told to, wrapping him in chains and yanking him back. They pulled him into a small passageway, a barrier forming as perhaps fifty to ninety of them crowded to see the event—a number rapidly thinning due to Elijah. One slashed at his cheek and Klaus'd had enough. He lifted his head just a bit and raised his eyes to stare at them all as he growled low in his chest, teeth descending, veins popping, and blue eyes glowing gold. This made every young vampire in the compound freeze, a wicked grin on Kol's face as he watched for a moment then used the distraction to wipe out another thirty or so. In the next moment, Klaus was on his feet and had broken the binds as if slicing through butter with a knife. Lightning fast, he gained the upper hand, using the chains to wipe out a few and pull another in. He ripped into the vampire's neck with savage passion, his head falling back with a roar as blood coated his chin. He wiped it away with the back of his hand then licked his lips, sauntering forward. He dealt with the lessened throng of vampires surrounding him, stalking forward for Marcel, when it hit him and the rest of the vampires in the compound.

Clutching his head at the pain, all four Mikaelsons looked at the babies around them as they fought to stand to their feet. But it was Kol who looked up first upon the newcomer. His eyes widened, staggering back. The pain of the magical aneurysm left him as the little witch's eyes connected with his, and he took it as the sign he needed.

His mate; he'd found her at last.

His eyes found the rest of his siblings as they, too, stood. Rebekah, closest to the brunette beauty, made for her but with a roar, Kol was standing in between them. His sister looked on in confusion before her eyes widened and she recognized the situation for what it was.

"Get her out of here, Kol," she warned him in a low voice. The teenage witch's power had long since been removed from the equation, her surprise showing at what was going on. But then slowly, she begun to understand it. This being in front of her, defending her from the blonde Original, was responsible for the draw she had felt the past few weeks, the same presence she'd felt outside the church just a week ago…

Kol nodded, looking toward his other siblings—Elijah was looking on, his suit jacket now on the floor, sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he gripped hearts in bloodied hands. He spared a nod before going back to his task, taking on both his and Bekah's share as their sister was still preoccupied with the development. On the other hand, Klaus had taken no notice, it seemed, as he continued on for Marcel, head low and a wicked smirk upon his lips as he, without a blink, reached out to deal with oncoming vampires, letting them fall at his feet along the way, their hearts beside them as they slipped from his hands.

The newly mated Mikaelson turned to the witch, a light smirk on his lips as he cupped her cheek, peering into her eyes. "Best we get you out of here, I think, darling," he muttered. The he grabbed her and whisked her off before she could say a word. It was time they got acquainted and getting her away from his unstable brother sounded like the best idea for now. He'd sated his bloodlust for a while, now it was his mate who was top priority.

Klaus threw another heart down before resuming his paces toward Marcel, the younger vampire merely meeting the impassive stare with a solemn look of his own. He'd say nothing, not yet. He didn't want to fight the man he called father, but he would if he had to—to subdue until he could explain. For her.

"If you wish to live, Marcellus, you should take the coin now!" Elijah shouted, having also recognized in Marcel what he had experienced before and indeed what Klaus was experiencing for the first time now. He ripped through the next two enemies' chests; he and Rebekah had depleted now over three quarters of the about-two hundred vampires who'd been their opposition.

"He won't stop until everyone is dead," Rebekah stated, pushing a vampire to the ground, balancing a stiletto heel on their chest as she ripped a piece of wood from the floorboards, shredding it before driving it through his chest. She glanced up at Marcel as she started throwing more makeshift stakes with perfect precision. "He'll kill you as well for this. If you want to live, end this now and pick up the bloody coin!"

Marcel considered this. He wanted his mate, he needed her, and he had promised her he'd be safe. His original plan already had to be scrapped; obviously he had no way of getting Klaus chained up in the Garden to get his mate and then steal Klaus's back for him. To hell with that, he needed Klaus's help. If this was the way to get it, he would do it. He'd do anything for Camille. Decision made, he lunged forward and dropped to his knees, picking up the symbol of forfeiture.

"Enough!"

The fighting stopped, silence reigning. Klaus walked forward in a slow swagger, triumphant and smug, visage now gone. "Well, well, well. Bowing before me, self-professed King of New Orleans?"

Marcel looked down, swallowing. "Please," he whispered, his voice hoarse and Klaus's interest was piqued, eyes narrowing as he looked down upon his fallen son.

"What is this?" he asked, making Marcel look up at him.

"I didn't have a choice. They have her, too," Marcel whispered. "They have my mate, too."

Please help me.

~TPOL~

Bella didn't know how much time had passed as her eyes stayed riveted to the girl sharing her cell, lying prone and unconscious across the room. The one thing she was sure of was that the girl was breathing and that she'd been put through quite the heavy beating. She'd probably been here for days, she would wager.

Her eyes trailed from the girl's form when the door slid open to reveal the tracker, Demetri, again. Bella rolled her eyes and sighed, but turned to watch him from her spot on the ground. The two engaged in a staring contest until the human got tired of it and cocked an eyebrow. "Are you going to stare at me all day or are you going to speak? I, for one, would love to know exactly what is going to happen from here. You've got me where you want me, what next? I take it you will undoubtedly return me to Edward's custody—me being a prize, an object, for two grown men to have a pissing contest over—but is he coming here or are we going to Italy? Because just so you know, I don't have my passport handy." She clicked her teeth against the inside of her cheek and did a face, shrugging.

Demetri was unimpressed. He made no move toward her, smirking. "That is something you have no need to worry about, pet—"

Bella moaned facetiously and flopped an arm over her head, sliding sideways to the floor. "No," she groaned, "not the 'pet' nickname. It's so overused, you know?" She removed the arm from her face and smirked up at him cheekily. "I mean, I get that you cold ones need to stroke your ego as much as you need to stroke your cock, be all macho-man and superior, but can't you figure out with that spacious, wide-thinking brain of yours ways to do so without being such a pretentious, predictable dick? Because that shit gets old quickly, Demetri, and I tell you now no woman can respect a man like that."

The tracker growled and stepped forward just as the girl on the other side of the room let out a quiet moan and shifted, grasping at her head in pain before sitting up. She looked around the room, groggy and disoriented, trying to make sense of her surroundings when her eyes fell on the man standing in the middle of the room and then the brunette on the floor smirking up at him. "What the hell?" she exclaimed before it all caught up to her. She looked down at herself, almost every inch of her covered in blood, then at the culprit before finally looking at the reason behind her capture.

"Not another word, little Camille," the European accent rang out as he turned his attention on her, a threatening gleam in his eye making her shiver and try to move back, but she slumped to the ground and screamed in pain when she tried to move—a hand was shattered, a rib and a shoulder out of place. "You wouldn't want that tongue of yours getting you in more trouble, would you?"

The blonde glared up at him, making the guard chuckle. "Such lovely looking girls, such terrible tempers. I should sell you both to the highest bidder regardless of my orders and watch as the vampires of our kind—the superior race—break you in." Bella sneered but said nothing and he goaded her, leaning in, "Cat got your tongue, little girl?"

She spit in his face.

He flinched back then snarled and surged forward, grabbing her by the neck and lifting her against the cement wall. She didn't flail, not wanting to give in to him, but her gaze had widened slightly as she struggled to gasp in air. Even still...

Do it, her eyes begged of him, go on… fucking do it!

But he didn't. All he did was unclench his hand from around her throat and let her fall to the floor like a limpet. He lingered, breathing in slowly then releasing it through parted lips, his breath fanning over her. Then he stood and walked out of the room, locking the door again. Bruises like the ones already formed on her arms were developing around her throat and it hurt a little to breathe but she wasn't upset or shaken, not really. She was excited; every mark on her body was one Demetri would pay for with his life—it just mattered how drawn out his death would be. And she wanted him begging for death long before it was ever granted.

She sucked in a deep breath, gagging as all that filled her senses was that bastard's smell. But his sickly sweet scent did something to her and in the next second she was shaking as she felt sharp jolts like electric shots throughout her body, her head back as she choked for breath, mouth foaming and frothing. She just felt the girl's presence come closer in the haze of it all before darkness consumed her and she fell into the bleak, cold arms of nothingness.

You might make it, boy, but by the skin of your teeth.

~TPOL~

Kol set the protesting witch down on the floor and grinned at her. She was a true sight to behold, gorgeous in her own right with beautiful round eyes, gorgeous lips, luscious brown hair and an amazing body all held together by grit, power, and determination—at a fragile teenage age. She was perfect for him.

"Stop looking at me like that!" she shouted, if anything more freaked out by the look on his face as she backed away from him, the understanding she had been feeling quickly leaving her. "Look, I don't know who you are—"

"Kol Mikaelson," he interrupted her, a hand out in greeting as he ducked his head, an attractive, smoldering look in his eyes and a playful smirk on his lips. "An honor to meet you, darling. I must say, you are quite the powerful witch for one so young." He cocked his head to the side, eyes brightening as he made the connection but a second later. "You are the Harvest absconder, aren't you?" He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that; on the one hand, his mate was powerful—had the power of three other girls, in fact… on quite another, she was wanted by all the witches in the Quarter. Not exactly what they needed at the moment, but she was his and that meant she was under his protection, of course. He'd protect her from the pesky bloody witches.

"Davina Claire," she said, placing her hand in his. Her heart skipped a beat, fluttering in her chest, as he bent down and pulled her hand up to brush a kiss to the back of it, all the while maintaining eye contact with her. "And yeah, I am. Still not quite sure who you are, though?"

His eyes widened. "I am shocked my nephew didn't inform you. I am Marcel's… uncle, I suppose you could say. My brother, Nik, saved him from the Mayor of the town a few centuries back. You've probably heard of him as Klaus: the Original Hybrid."

"You're an Original."

"Indeed I am, darling," he said, matching her step back by taking one forward. "And you, Davina Claire, are the reason I am here and alive again."

"What do you mean?" she asked, working to keep the tremble out of her voice. "I don't understand."

"When I was killed and on the Other Side, I was told that the only reason I was allowed to go back when my siblings were trying to revive me was because my journey on this Side was not yet complete. I still had something waiting for me… a destiny I had left unfulfilled. Or should I say someone I had left incomplete, who was waiting for me still." He sent her a grin, the tips of his fingers again reaching out to glimpse her face and Davina found herself leaning into his touch, the spark of their connection weaving tighter, strengthening the longer they were together. "You are my mate, darling, and the very reason I am here now in the flesh instead of rotting on the Other Side."

"I've felt you for days," Davina whispered, beginning to calm as she looked up into his eyes. "For weeks—ever since you entered the Quarter, I guess. I felt you stronger about a week ago outside the church where Marcel keeps me hidden from the witches… and again tonight. I couldn't take it any longer, I had to come out and find what was beckoning me." Her eyes slid to his chest and she swallowed, her happiness subdued as she remembered just how they'd met... and what they had left behind. She took a step back, out of his arms and out of his reach, turning away from his gorgeous face. She needed to think, to be rational, instead of getting wrapped up in this bewitching connection she could feel forming between the two of them. She needed answers.

"You and your family were attacking Marcel… why?"

"Marcel attacked my family and I tonight. In the process, my brother's mate was captured and taken away," he informed her. Incapable of resisting the call that was his mate, he took a step forward then another and another before he was standing against her back and drawing her into him. With his arms closing around her waist, his lips glimpsed her cheek as he whispered the story, trailing down her neck to her shoulder as she shivered in his arms and her eyes fluttered closed, a soft hum leaving her parted lips. "Mates are very important to us vampires, darling, and my brother is a hybrid with a dual connection to a very vulnerable, very human other half. Plus, she's being threatened by a cold one—another type of vampire. He's understandably protective and willing to do anything to get her back. He stormed in here tonight, the lot of us did, with the intention of getting her back no matter the cost."

"There has to be an explanation," she breathed, frowning slightly as she turned in his arms and looked up at him. She took a deep, settling breath to calm down from his ministrations but she could no longer bring herself to vacate his safe embrace. "Marcel wouldn't do that for no reason, and he wouldn't take away Klaus's mate like that. He loves him like a father; he's always talking about old, fond memories. He's been so happy recently, knowing you were back in town, until about a week ago when his mate, Camille, disappeared."

Kol's eyes glimmered at the new information, his eyes drawn up and away as he thought. Chin resting atop his mate's head, the Original's eyes narrowed. "His mate must have been taken for collateral by the same cold one who took Bella." His jaw locked as his thoughts took a turn, a low growl built up in his chest before he looked back down at a questioning Davina. "A vampire would do anything for their mate including betray those they love the most. For her, you'd do anything. Family, morals—they no longer matter if your mate is in danger." His hands clenched around the girl's waist, nostrils flaring, head cocked just a little as he thought of those bloody witches coming for her. He'd kill them all if he had to, to hell with Nik's bloody agenda. For her.

He looked down at the sweet girl in front of him, his girl, his destiny—for that was what she was. He'd found her now and he wouldn't let her go. She had taken priority, had usurped him for the throne as most important in his life. She was everything to him and likewise he would give her everything of himself.

Take what's left of me.

~TPOL~

Bella gasped in air and, when she opened her eyes, she had to blink a few times to clear the blur. She was on her side, held by someone warm, so it was sure to be Camille, her cell mate. Her eyes looked blearily around to determine that they were in the exact same room they had been in before.

"How long was I out?" she whispered, swallowing and wincing at the dryness of her throat. The first seizure she had experienced in full had taken a lot out of her.

"Not sure, can't really tell in this room. Not long though, I think," Camille whispered back, gingerly helping Bella up into a seated position.

The brunette looked around, rubbing her arms for warmth. "We need to get out of here," she said, getting up with a groan as her weak muscles protested. "I can't take this much longer—soon enough, Klaus's protection and the vervain will rub off and then I'll be back to the dumb fish I was with Edward. We need to get out of here and back to my mate before that happens." She paused, turning toward the blonde. "Why are you here?"

Camille shrugged from her spot on the ground. "Beats me. As far as I know, Marcel has nothing to do with cold ones and Demetri won't tell me anything."

Bella blinked. "Marcel? Klaus's adopted son, Marcel?"

"Yeah," she said slowly. "How do you know that?"

Bella paced the floor, head down as she spoke, mind turning the information over rapidly. "I'm Klaus's mate, Bella. Klaus has told me about him... he really loves him as the son he sees him as... I think that he was happy, underneath the hurt and betrayal, when he found out he was alive today." Bella stopped mid-stride, then shook that away, focusing on the other prisoner instead. Her eyes widened as it came to her. "Was there anyone weird around? How were you taken?"

Camille sighed and looked down as she thought. "There was. Marcel added a new recruit about a month ago, he's been watching me… I told Marcel. He had words with him and the issue went away but then I went out a week ago... just in the Quarter. The same guy grabbed me and then, the next minute, I'm here and Demetri is standing over me." She shuddered.

Bella frowned, silent for a while as she paced and tried to think of a plausible explanation. The ideas were limitless, but then things kind of clicked. Marcel's position… Camille's involvement... "Marcel is in charge of the Quarter, so he has that really powerful witch who can sense when witches do magic. They're freaked out, refuse to do it and are still hesitant even with the promise of protection from the Mikaelsons, the Original family. That means there was a chance that our plantation wouldn't be protected, that they'd be able to get in and get out with no warning at all. But this is the Mikaelsons we're talking about here—the oldest vampires alive... powerful, untouchable; especially when united. No one would go up against them without the proper incentive and vampires would do anything for their mates." She looked up at the blonde, pointing at her. "You were collateral damage, you were taken to drive Marcel so crazy that he would risk anything just to get you back—he would betray the man he calls father, knowing the odds are high that he'd be killed in seconds flat. Then he and his army—which he'd have to have as the ruler of the French Quarter of New Orleans, the biggest hotspot for supernaturals in at least America... they would act as a diversion for Nik and his family while Demetri got in and abducted me. Cold ones are the weaker species; an older, better fighter could take on an Original but not all four of them and the Volturi are well-versed on their 'family above all' attitude. They know that threatening one means facing all."

Camille blinked and sat back against the wall, her brow furrowed and mouth open. "That… actually makes sense… but why wouldn't Marcel just go to Klaus?"

Bella thought for a moment, eyes widening as the last piece falling into place. "The new recruit—he was a spy to make sure Marcel was doing as he was told. He was first told to scope out the situation, how willing Marcel would be plus your involvement and your importance to Marcel. That's why he was so interested and only backed off after Marcel forced his hand. That gave him all the information he needed—take care of you, and they had Marcel on his knees, willing to do anything they asked of him. And after you were taken, Marcel would have to keep to his word and not deviate because of the spy. Sure, he could have figured out who it was but he'd be so completely focused on you that he wouldn't think clearly; he'd just do it."

Camille sighed and nodded. "You're right. Okay, so now we get what we're both doing here… but how the hell do we get out? There's a cold one out there and just the two of us—human and vulnerable."

Bella smirked. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. All we need to do is play the game." She marched to the door and banged on it with her fist. "Hey, some of us have to eat, you know! Food would be much appreciated, thank you!" And then she threw herself back down on the ground, sitting against the wall and waiting. "I distract, you run," she murmured. "Demetri is all talk with me; he can't do much if he doesn't want to become chopped liver after the Cullens get their hands on me." She sneered. "Which they won't, because we'll get out of here. You run and find a way to get Marcel... he must have a phone or something you could use. I'll hold him off from coming after you—just lock the door on your way out, okay?"

Camille nodded and steeled herself. Minutes later, Demetri entered the room with a tray of food which he let drop to the floor as he looked between the two of them. "Your food, ladies," he said, voice haughty as he glared down at Bella. "I'm sure you'll be most satisfied. Now if that is all?"

Bella took hold of the tray, taking off the lid and looking down at the soiled fruit. "Are you kidding me? It's spoiled, you idiot. We can't eat that, we'll get sick. Neither of my mates will be happy with you if you give me that."

"I can't say I care, pet," he sneered, taking hold of her and looking into her eyes. He only let go when his phone beeped and he took it out of his pocket, reading the message and grinning a Cheshire grin. He missed the pointed look Bella gave Camille, who swallowed but nodded. "Ah, excellent." He turned back to Bella. "Well, little thing, it appears it's time."

Bella's eyebrows rose. "Time for what?" Demetri reached into his pocket to pull out a plant and she looked up at him. "Is this supposed to be some weird gift from Edward? Tell him thanks but no thanks; gifts won't help him get away with the fact that he's a manipulative, controling, abusive ass."

Demetri chuckled. "This is indeed from Edward, but I'm afraid it's not a gift." And then, in a flash, he'd shoved it in her mouth. She choked, heaving as her body's natural defense mechanism kicked in, trying to drive the plant out of her, some part knowing it to be of threat but not knowing how. But the cold one was relentless and in seconds she'd swallowed it anyway. She was slumped on the ground as she panted for air, glaring up at him. Her eyes connected with Camille's for but a second before she launched herself at Demetri.

"Change of plans—gimme the lighter!" she shouted and she caught the silver object the girl had taken from Demetri's back pocket, Camille right him. Bella flicked it open and the flame licked at her finger momentarily before she threw it at a grinning Demetri—perhaps what should have been the first sign that something was amiss.

It was a few seconds after this, as she stared at his burning body, that it began—the sharp snap resounding in her ears and a scream flooding the room, followed by many other snaps and one continuous scream as her body bowed to the floor in pain. As she looked down to her hands she heard a howl as she saw paws and it took her a moment realize the sounds were coming from her. Hearing someone's breath hitch, she looked up, smelling the fear and flesh and blood of the human in front of her, seeing a blonde girl she felt she knew somehow but under the haze wasn't quite sure… She got up to go to her but was struck down by two pains—a burning inside of her that was growing worse by the second (more howls released as a result from this new unknown form) and a sharp pain in her abdomen. She whined and looked down to see a silver object jutting out of her body, unsure of how it got there. A growl trembled in her throat as she glared up again at the girl, wanting to lunge for her but she couldn't. She was feeling weak, and getting more so by the second.

What the hell was happening? What was this?

A haze of unconsciousness befell her again as she heard the door slam closed, the sliding of metal on metal as it was locked. The scent of fear, of human, was fading now as she gave into the pain weakening her by the second, this time craving the bleak abyss she found herself falling into just to get away from this... whatever it was.

I'm all alone and the fire grows.

~TPOL~

Elijah and Rebekah covered the dead vampires in white shrouds, placing them in rows on the stone floor in the courtyard and a connecting room. A vampire named Diego and several others poured alcohol over them before taking swigs of the bottle for themselves, eyeing the two Originals watching them like hawks. They fled the scene.

Marcel stood a level above, Klaus coming to stand beside him. "Look at what you've wrought?" Klaus said, angry. "Why not simply come to me for help?" He had to admit, it hurt that his 'son' didn't think he could lean on him for support—that he would betray him instead to get his mate back. That hurt almost as much as the fact that he'd lived for a hundred years, allowing him to think he was dead even after they'd arrived back in their city... It had been his brother to tell him that he still lived, off of the word of a witch. Not him. Why? Did his son hate him that much?

Marcel had no clue of the turn in his sire's thoughts as he sighed, feeling tired as he looked down below. His voice was just as withdrawn and defeated when he spoke. "Look, if you're gonna kill me, let's get this over with."

Klaus tilted his head back as he regarded the man before him, tone again lofty. "Why would I kill you? You picked up the coin. There are rules of engagement in battle, Marcel. Without them, you'd have anarchy. I would, however, like to talk about accommodations." His eyes glazed over the walls around them and a glimpse of a smile settled upon his lips. The Abattoir was to be back in the hands of its rightful owner, he would see to it. So many happy memories already in these walls, and so many more to come once he had his mate back. The smile on his face fell off and he focused back upon Marcel. "Your living quarters, for example; I believe they used to be ours."

Marcel waved him away. "You own this? Fine. It's yours. You can put me on the street for all I care. Just help me, I beg of you." He reached forward and grasped his father figure's hand, looking into his eyes. "As long as I have my mate, I don't care."

Klaus pushed him away, a growl building in his chest as he stepped forward. His voice lowered to a menacing murmur as he met his son's gaze. "Why should I when it was you who distracted us so they could take mine?"

Marcel threw his hands up in the air, turning away and then back again. This time when he spoke, his voice was loud and filled with exasperation or desperation, Klaus wasn't sure which. "Because I was double-crossing them. I was gonna bring her back after I subdued you. I didn't have a choice, they have eyes everywhere—eyes that are now among my dead guys!" he shouted, arm gesturing to the bodies and ash below. "I will do whatever you want, Klaus, just help me. Camille is human; she is innocent in all of this!"

Klaus growled and came forward again. "So is my mate and yet here you are!"

Marcel shook his head. "I wasn't thinking clearly! Surely you can understand that, Klaus," he said with a pointed look, "they have her and they were more than willing to kill her if I didn't comply. She doesn't have a cold one mate wanting her unharmed!"

Klaus's eyes narrowed for a moment but he forced himself to calm, breathing harshly, jaw clenching and unclenching. When he spoke again his voice was low and calm as he stood side by side with Marcel. "I ask again: why not come to me for help? There are other ways to ensure the spy would not be watching. Send them all out to complete a task and then come to me!"

Marcel shook his head. Too much time had passed and so much had happened; they were not the same as they had been a hundred years ago before things went sour in 1919 because of Mikael. "How was I supposed to know you would help?" he whispered with a little shame, not looking at the man, averting his gaze downward before closing them to escape from the sight of the bodies below. But he growled as he saw Camille's face behind his eyelids instead. At every point, he was being tormented by his choices. He opened them and looked up at the rooms straight ahead, voice quiet and weary. "I think you can relate when I say I wasn't thinking right."

Klaus gritted his teeth, nodding as he looked around. His eyes tracked his siblings for distraction and he wondered absently where Kol was. But the tightening of his chest and the distraction frustrated him, his tone cold once more as he pushed away emotion and thought, focusing on the problem at hand. "I concede to your point. Now, do you know where they have them?"

"I know where they have Bella… if we are lucky, Camille is there, too."

Klaus sighed hard, running a frustrated hand over his face before gripping the bannister so hard it cracked beneath his hand. "I taught you better than this, Marcellus." He knew better than this, too. He was so bloody ashamed of himself tonight—being played so easily, being proven weak again.

Marcel glared at him, mood swinging back to anger as he turned on him and shouted in desperation: "My mate was taken from me, just gone! In the blink of an eye! That was how I found out about the spy but I couldn't risk it since I haven't been able to find out who it is and believe me, I was looking! One word was all it would take for her body to turn up somewhere and by now my blood is long gone out of her system even if she took the vial I tucked into all her jean pockets. She would have had no. chance. Can you really say you wouldn't have felt the same, have done the same? You were easy tonight, Klaus and your mate is to blame!"

Fury mounted in his veins, Klaus's eyes glowed gold as his visage took over again and a loud growl broke from his throat as he stepped forward, intent on ripping Marcel to pieces. But in that second, Elijah was there in front of him, a hand braced on his chest. They shared a look, Klaus begging him to move and Elijah begging him to stand down. After a moment, Elijah felt Niklaus relax under his touch and he turned his head to Marcellus, still blocking the dark-skinned man from his volatile brother's view. "How did you know when to attack? And where?" That was what he wanted to know. He'd been so careful this afternoon and he didn't know how else it was possible.

Marcel sighed, backing away a step and visibly relaxing. "I didn't know when. After I sent away the eyes I had on you today in town, I watched you myself from a further away distance, far enough that you didn't notice. I saw you talking on the phone with someone," he said with a meaningful look and Elijah's jaw locked, eyes narrowing. "As soon as you were done, I followed you back to the plantation before I came back here. There was obviously nothing to gain from watching you. Either way, you were being too careful to take any chances. When I got back, I received a call from Demetri, the Volturi's best tracker." Elijah's jaw locked at this, and a growl of his own mirrored his younger brother's but Marcel continued. "He told me to move forward tonight, to attack you guys so he could get the girl, your mate," he said, moving into Klaus's eye line to look in his eyes. "I was able to talk to Camille. She was hurt but for the most part she was okay. I couldn't take any chances so I took what he said and ran with it. I had the plantation double-checked for a magical signature today by Davina. I was more than a little desperate by then." His tone strengthened. "But as I said, I was gonna double-cross them."

Klaus and Elijah looked at one another, both of them with their jaws locked and thinking the same thing. When Klaus spoke what they were both thinking, he spoke through clenched teeth. "We were not informed of Demetri's gift."

Elijah nodded but laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, making the younger meet his gaze. He tried to soothe him even as he was aflame with anger himself. "Patience, brother. The Volturi will get what is coming to them. They know our stance on betrayal and it appears that despite warning, they've grown rather confident. A little too confident, if you ask me; that will be... remedied."

Rebekah appeared beside them, eyes on her former lover. "How were you going to double-cross them if they have eyes on everyone? They have your mate, how can you honestly say you were going to take the risk?" She, herself, could without a doubt confirm that she would not be taking chances. Forget anyone else, her mate was most important.

Marcel nodded toward Klaus. "I was gonna lock Klaus in a place I call the Garden... I use it to punish vampires. They desiccate because they can't get out. You'd be there long enough for me to go get my mate and then get yours to bring back to you. From there, I'd let you get your revenge after I'd wrought my own." He looked down at the covered bodies below. "Seeing as you've killed nearly all my guys, however, and everyone else fled when they had the chance, I'd say we're safe. Plus, there is obviously no way I could detain all four of you. So here we are. Take it or leave it, but I know where she is. What do you say?"

It's mine to give, but it's yours to choose.

~TPOL~

Her head tossed from side to side, resting on mahogany paws as a low whine filled the room. The scent of the human was gone by now, but with every clawing breath, which felt like boiling water being poured down her throat, she was weakening. As she slipped in and out of consciousness, she dreamed of a time gone by, forgotten memories unlocked.

The little girl of five years old looked up at the full moon, unable to understand at her tender age that the fascination held in those big doe eyes had everything to do with what was buried in her heritage. She knew not about the wolf in the shadows watching her, not attacking because it recognized her as kin.

The girl, Bells, wondered where her father was. She looked around outside then, with a small, cheeky grin, leapt from the porch and into the trees surrounding her home. Her momma was upstairs having a bath, her Gran in the kitchen, cooking. She was supposed to be playing with her dollies but her Gran had told her dinner was almost ready and her daddy still wasn't home.

She snuck behind a tree, looking back with a wide-open mouth toward the house. She giggled quietly and in the next moment turned around at the snapping of a twig, backing up against the tree as she stared into the amber eyes of the wolf in front of her.

She cocked her head to the side and took a step forward, watching as the animal whined and stepped back, scared. She grinned at it and reached forward still, wanting to pet it. She was spellbound and awe-inspired; it was so pretty, drawing her in like the draw of the moon.

"Isabella!" she heard and she flinched back, her hair swinging around as she did to look at the door leading back inside. It was her Gran at the back door, white hair pulled back tight in a bun. She was surrounded in a glowing halo but, as lovely as that looked, Bells wanted to stay out here with the wolf. "Isabella, come on, now! It's time for dinner, sweetheart!"

The girl sighed and pouted, looking back at the wolf. "You stay therew, okay? Gwan says I have to have dinner but I'll come back out afterw, kay?" The animal immediately sat on its hind legs and she giggled, running back to her Gran who greeted her with an admonishment as she closed the door, sighing as she looked out into the woods. She spotted her son who watched on from behind a tree.

Later that night, Bells lay in her bed as she waited for her Gran to come in and tell her a story. She would have preferred her daddy, but he'd at last called and said he was busy at work. She hadn't spoken to him, which had made her cry, but Gran said he promised to be there in the morning to give her lots of hugs and kisses if she was a good girl and went straight to bed—though the elder knew he'd be there to do so regardless. Her son did love his daughter.

The little girl's grin was wide as her Gran entered the room and came to sit by her bed, but there was no book in her hand. The younger frowned, her big brown eyes filling with tears as her chin wobbled and she sucked on her lip, immediately thinking she was being punished for going outside. She couldn't help it... the moon was so pretty, and the wolf was her friend. "I'm sowwy, Gwan! I won't go outside again, I pwomise!"

Marie Swan smiled and rested her hand over the young child's. Her eyes the same as her granddaughters, she told her in a sweet, gentle voice: "Don't worry, little one. Everything is fine. You shouldn't have gone outside, but you were already told and everything is forgiven. I thought for tonight I'd tell you a story about our family. Would you like that?"

"Yes," the girl said quietly, and she lay back when her Gran prompted her to do so, sleepy eyes closing as her Gran started to tell her the tale.

"A thousand years ago, our family was still here in America in a town known these days as Mystic Falls," she began, her tone soft as she stroked the child's hair. "We were a family part of a larger community that many of the town feared—the men and some women, too, turned into beasts when the moon was full and high in the sky…"

No questions met the beginning of her story and the older lady smiled and rose quietly, realizing that the child was already asleep. She pulled the covers up over here and then went to the window, smiling down at the man outside in wolf form watching from the same tree. "Good night, son," she whispered before she turned in for the night.

The wolf outside let out a soft howl, leaning his head back to the moon where he would stay until morning, where his mother and his wife would greet him with clothes before he joined his little wolf to fulfill the promise he'd made. For now, however, he was bound to the moon. He could just hope his little Bell never had to experience a torture as horrible as this.

The wolf whined again. Amidst the burning of the wolfsbane in her belly, the silver embedded, and the fire of the cold one Edward's venom flowing through her veins… she was coming to realize just what was happening to her.

She was a werewolf… and she was dying because of it.

You're gonna sink or swim, you're gonna learn the truth.

~TPOL~

Klaus looked upon the man he'd saved so long ago and sighed. "Fine," he acquiesced, his jaw locking. "We will discuss terms and conditions of all this later, but fine. If what you are saying is true, if you do know where my mate is, then let's get on with it. She doesn't have long until Edward's control takes over even with the aid of vervain in her system."

Marcel nodded. He motioned with his head for the three of them to follow him and all four flashed into a room that Klaus had always thought of as a war room. It was where they had all negotiations during times such as these where they had to be vigilant and prepared at all times for anything. Marcel continued around the room as the three Originals stood in the room in silence watching him. A few minutes later and the dark-skinned surrogate son came to stand beside Klaus again with a map in his hands. "Bella's here," he said, gesturing to a spot a ways out of the city as he glanced at them all. "It's about a ten minute run for me, so…"

"About seven for the rest of us, or five for Nik," Kol confirmed as he entered the room, his mate on his arm.

The four looked toward the pair, Kol standing with a grin on his face by the door as Davina looked at them—paying special attention to the three Mikaelsons—with a faint blush on her cheeks. Marcel's brow furrowed. "What's going on? Davina, what are you doing with him?"

"We are mates, nephew," Kol informed him, pulling Davina alongside him as he snatched the map out of the man's hands and laid it down on the table. He examined it then glanced fleetingly at Davina. His gaze settled on Marcel. "How do we know that she is really there? Do you not think it would be easier to ask Davina to perform a spell to make sure? It would save us the precious time we are in dire need of."

Marcel shook his head. "I tried that already; Camille is cloaked… You could try it for Bella, though?" He looked at Klaus who nodded.

Kol turned to Davina with a soft smile. "Do you think you could do a quick spell for us, darling? Just to make sure our sister is really being kept where Marcel says she is? We don't have a lot of time and every second counts, seconds none of us would rather waste trying to find her if we can do this instead."

Davina looked at the map and nodded, her nerves showing in the flutter of her heartbeat as she turned to the hybrid. "Um, I would need something of hers," she said.

The Originals looked between one another, before Klaus sighed and pulled out a trinket he'd taken from their room before leaving. He threw it to Davina who deftly caught it and took a quick look, thumbing the engraving of Bella's name on the locket. "It was her Grandmother's," Klaus murmured as he looked, uneasy, around the room.

No one said anything as Davina used the trinket over the map, chanting to find the girl's location. A few minutes later and she nodded, looking up at first Kol then the rest of them. "She's in that warehouse," she confirmed, pointing to its position on the map.

Klaus ran out of the room, leaving the others to look at one another before they all left, Kol grabbing Davina up in his arms to run with her. They ran as fast as they could, knowing they wouldn't be able to catch up to Klaus who was running like a man on a mission, which of course he was.

Klaus's hybrid visage was out again as he ripped the metal barrier away with ease and threw it aside to stalk into the building. He could hear her, smell her, and it calmed the ravaged beast inside him, but he also knew that something was very wrong and it pushed him harder and faster as he disappeared in a blur up the stairs, appearing in front of a thick metal door.

Standing outside of it with a phone clutched in her hand was a blonde woman but he paid her no mind as he ripped the metal lock off and dropped it, making the girl flinch and move away as he wrenched the door open… only to stop short at the sight in front of him. In the next second, a howl-like roar of rage left his mouth as his mind sped up to comprehend what his eyes could scarcely believe they were seeing: his mate unconscious and surrounded by ash... as a mahogany wolf.

A new beginning or is this the end?

Okay, so take a breath and let me know what you thought of what happened. Were you expecting anything? How was my first go at Hybrid-out Klaus? And what about Davina and Kol, huh? Some of you still had your doubts, but I'm glad they are now finally bloody together.

As for Bella... yes... I am so nervous about the reception I'm going to receive for that. I hope it was okay? Again, let me know, guys!

See you next chapter next Monday! I really don't think that chapter will be as long though apparently they can just keep going and going.

Okay... I'm going now. I think I'm just typing at this stage to prolong this given how worried I am about everyone's thoughts. But I have to bite the bullet and give it to you guys now! Here...

Please review,

ncbexie25