Prologue:
Mystic Falls, Virginia
The pencil moved expertly over the sketchbook, drawing the familiar face of his little sister. He added the details with special care, never stopping or pausing his movements while the one of the vampire's in his service was giving him a report. Considering his next sentence, it had been a good thing he had chosen to hold the meeting close to the quarry, the solitude ensuring that his mother would not overhear.
"Finally, there are rumors that an Original Vampire has been living somewhere in California."
His hand stopped in the middle of the final stroke. Slowly he lifted his gaze from his sketch to the vampire in front of him. "California?" Niklaus repeated carefully, an old longing and some regret raising inside of him at the thought of his runaway sibling.
"The rumors themselves are around 16 years old but we're combing through the area anyway." The vampire was smart enough to tag on the last bit, probably sensing the danger he was in.
Niklaus did snarl at that. His sister's actions had hurt then and it still hurt now, 94 years later. There was a lot he had thought to do to make it up to her, because no matter what, it had been his own actions that forced his sister away, but making it up to her required finding Kaja first.
"Find her then bring the information to me immediately." He ordered, returning his attention to his previous tasks, waiting until the vampire was out of earshot.
Elijah Mikaelson heard his phone ring from across the room and moved to answer it, putting the book down on the coffee table to his side.
"Spell some sage, don't want anyone hearing about our Mischief." the voice on the other end said causing the usually unflappable original to freeze. The only one to ever be referred to as Mischief was their younger sister and it had been a nickname their parents hadn't known about.
"Very well." Elijah replied before hanging up, his younger brother seemed nervous. Understandable really, Nik and Kaja didn't leave matters on a good note. Putting the phone in his jacket pocket, he walked down to the living room, extending his hearing to locate his mother in her own room, far away from the living room.
He payed no attention to his siblings as Rebekah looked up from her magazine, Kol from his phone and Finn from his book, instead gathering some sage and burning it while sitting down and grabbing his own book.
The other three originals followed his que, all of them going back to their previous activities, but keeping an ear out for Niklaus who came in about an hour later. Their mother oblivious to her children's actions and discussion.
"There are 16 year old rumors about an Original Vampire somewhere in California. My vampires have gone to check it, see if there's any truth to them." Elijah could almost taste their collective excitement and hope. They'd been searching for her for nearly a century now.
"16 years?" Rebekah asked incredulously, the sentiment echoed on all of their faces as Niklaus grimaced but nodded.
"How do we know she's still there?" Kol followed, being entirely serious and knowing not to joke about this particular topic.
"We don't." Niklaus sighed, Mischief had always been good at hide and seek when they were kids but this really was taking it to another level. The thought seemed to be shared between all the siblings as they traded looks of fond annoyance and pride.
"We may have found Mischief." The sentiment was echoed by Finn and excited looks were exchanged between the siblings as well as an unspoken agreement to leave their mother out of it. If she found out, then the entire ruse they had been working on for close to a century would be for nothing.
Beacon Hills, California
Getting the loft had been a good decision on Derek's part, it was a constant thought that filtered through Kaja's head, and mouth because she had absolutely no control over her babbling, especially in times like when the entire pack needed to get together to plan, or rather she pretended that she didn't.
Scott was curled up beside Allison in a corner of the couch, lost in their own world, Erica and Boyd were too busy making out on the other end of the couch and Lydia was curled up on top of Jackson, watching the movie playing in the background. Isaac and Danny were cuddled at their feet and Cora and Malia were laying down on the carpet, heads pillowed on their thighs. Peter was helping Derek and Kaja plan on how to deal with the Alpha Pack, or rather Peter and the rest of the pack were stealing glances or outright watching Kaja suggest rambling plans and Derek shoot them down, mostly because Kaja was actively involved in those plans, during the action.
Honestly, Derek was lucky Kaja had better control of her temper then her siblings or the way Sourwolf was growling and interrupting her at every turn, he definitely would have ended up dead. It was times like this she was tempted to prove that she was actually stronger and faster than the pack but personal pride is not a good enough reason to out her secret, especially when on the run.
Kaja didn't reply to Derek's latest shoot down, attention having been caught by something outside. Dialing her hearing up, she heard 5 heartbeats approaching the loft. They weren't quite close enough to be heard by the wolves or rather were being quiet enough to not be heard but her hearing was far more sensitive than that of werewolves, not to mention more well-honed due to centuries of practice. Although, with the pack thinking she was human, there wasn't much she could do to act on that. Realizing it was the Alpha Pack let her relax, the ever-present anxiety that her siblings, particularly Nik, or father had found her, but it made several questions run through her mind at the same time.
"Hey, anyone else hear that?" she questioned out loud, hoping that at least they would try to listen even if it was just to prove her wrong, but no dice. They were all to overconfident, this was the downside of turning people who couldn't fight for themselves before. They were too used to not being powerful in some ways that with the new found supernatural abilities they took it all for granted thinking they could fight everything, because there was nothing stronger than them. Even now, the pack still hadn't had a one-on-one confrontation that went beyond words with the Alpha Pack to prove them wrong and Gerard or the Kanima hadn't done much either.
The original nearly laughed at the looks but the door flew open before she could. Kali immediately moved first, going straight for Derek who after a momentary second of being caught off guard recovered and rushed forward to protect his den and pack, joined by Peter, Cora and Malia. The twins went straight for Scott, Isaac, and Danny while Erica, Boyd and Jackson pushed Kaja, Allison and Lydia behind them when Ennis came forward. The so-called Alpha of Alphas stood in the doorway observing all the separate fights with a smug look that made Kaja ich to race over and snap his neck, but the pack were however badly holding their own, that is to say not in active danger to dying anytime soon although that changed when Kali and Ennis teamed up when Deucalion took over the fight with the Hales.
All thoughts of keeping her secret flew out of her head when she watched Erica's eyes widen as Kali's claws cut through the air going straight for the kill. Ignoring Lydia and Allison's calls for her to stop, she sped forward grabbing Kalli's hand mid swing.
"Now, that is no way to treat a lady." She said, shoving her hand into the werewolf's chest cavity and ripping out her heart, watching the body drop at her feet. The dripping organ still held in her left hand. "I do hate bad manners."
Spinning around and pining her gaze straight on to the twins, Ennis and Deucalion, sending them a chilling look that had them freezing where they stood with a resounding silence. The remaining Alphas had tried to get the upper hand in the moment of distraction but not getting close as Kaja revealed herself.
"Nobody attacks me or mine. The Hale Pack of Beacon Hills is worthy. Now leave." She watched Deucalion raise an eyebrow and step forward, titling his head.
"Nobody told me the Hale pack was involved with a vampire. Why waste time with children when you could have so much more, Miss…" He tempted, ignoring the stunned and confused looks of everyone else, and the disbelief and wariness of his own pack.
"Did I forget to introduce myself? " Kaja questioned amused despite herself; she had already blown her secret so she might as well go full out. " Well, I can't have that, my older brother would be horrified to learn that I've forsaken my manners as well as my morals. You may refer to me as Lady Mikaelson."
"Your Rebekah Mikaelson, an Original." Deucalion paled, swallowing as he realized just how big of a mess, he had landed in.
"So, you've heard of my family. Fantastic." Kaja ignored the misidentification, simply smiled in response. "You will leave Beacon Hills and never come back, or I will rip you to shreds and use your pelt as a rug. Am I clear?" Raising an eyebrow and giving a pointed look at Kali's heart still held in her hands, Deucalion paled, receiving the message as he hurriedly nodded.
"We apologize for giving you trouble, we'll be out of Beacon Hills by night fall" the room reeked of fear as the Alpha Pack realized just what they had pissed off, collecting the body and heading to the door.
"Oh and Deucalion," She smiled at the smell of fear permeating the loft. "Should I discover that this is yet another cock-eyed scheme to take over the Hale Territory as your own." Before they could leave the loft, Kaja sped in front of them, coming face to face with the so-called Demon Wolf. "The paltry remains of your beloved wolf pack will be sniffing at your entrails come morning."
She waited until he nodded before continuing, "Now leave, before I change my mind and rip out your heart." Emphasizing the point by taking the still dripping organ in her hand, placing it in Deucalion's palm and closing his fingers around it in a fist. Kaja patted the side of his face, leaving a bloody imprint of her hand on his cheek, before leisurely strolling away from him.
Kaja grabbed a bottle of Derek's beer from the fridge, ignoring the rest of the pack as she stood in front of the big window listening for the Alpha Pack to finally leave. Once they had left, she took a deep breathe, knowing that the pack had seen the entire showdown and would have questions, gathered up the courage to face them, turning first to Erica.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, scanning her then the rest of the pack for any life-threatening injuries. She shook her head, clearly shell shocked as she watched Kaja with wide eyes.
"Stiles, he said vampire, but vampires don't exist, you're human, so how did you do that?" it was Scott who spoke first, and Kaja nearly smiled at the way he ignored her own admittance.
"Vampires do exist and Stiles is, apparently one. An Original at that. Or should I say Lady Rebekah." It was Peter who answered Scott, approaching with a wary look in his eye and a towel in his hand.
"What's an Original?" Lydia was next as Kaja glanced at Derek, trying to get a read on the surprisingly quiet Alpha but not getting a que on how to act.
"It's a long story, you probably want to get cleaned up and comfortable first, then I'll explain everything. That and I need to get out of this god-forsaken plaid."