Together as one with you I lie awake
Alone, I suffer this relentless ache
Ecstasy and pain, all lovers have seen them
Bless Him that we know the difference between them
- Rumi, The Difference
January 1860
New Orleans, Louisiana
Elijah returned to New Orleans to deal with the little problems that had appeared in the meantime. Klaus was doing well on his own for now, which he deeply suspected, but was true. Marcellus was able enough to handle the proceedings in their absence.
As he looked at the naked figure beside him, his thoughts drifted to Adelia who had captured his heart after he had vowed to never love anyone after Celeste. Maybe he didn't want the same fate for her or he feared the pain it resulted after Klaus ruined his happiness repeatedly. She was young and wise beyond her years and she didn't deserve to be tarnished by the destruction the Mikaelsons always brought along with them.
A smile bloomed on his face as he thought about their encounters. It thawed his being on how he had started to associate her with warmth. Niklaus was clearly fond of her, a hard thing to come by due to his usual behaviour.
A set of fingers caressed his face and Elijah stopped his train of thoughts to look at Sofia, his current lover. He nuzzled into her neck, desperately craving the rose scent and the peace Adelia always guaranteed. With no remorse, he bit into her neck roughly, willing the fragrance to hit his nose.
He had a week here to introspect his priorities and clear his mind. He would not fall for another again. Adelia and he were not meant to be. Not in this lifetime.
When the cravings for something soft and innocent filled his heart, the Original left the bed, leaving an satiated lover behind, her brown tresses ironically resembling Adelia's.
A familiar sapphire hairpin lay over the nightstand, its jewel glinting under the candle light.
Elijah took out the blood bags from the chiller and closed the door when he saw Adelia walking across the hallway in her dressing gown, tiptoeing towards the table. He pulled out a chair for his wife as she sat down before pushing it in.
Jenna arrived with bags under her eyes and the Original pulled out a chair for her too. Ignoring the surprise at his gentlemanly gesture, she sat down grumpily.
"Good morning," he greeted, taking a seat beside Adelia.
"Morning," Jenna said and a yawn threatened to escape her mouth.
"Good Morning as well. Though I doubt it is going to be good," Adelia replied.
"So you guys really drink blood for breakfast?" The human asked curiously, but with a hint of a grimace.
"We prefer real nutrients." Adelia pointed towards the kitchen counter where two blood bags lay for Jenna to see.
"So why are you eating food?"
"When you live for so long, you come to desire normal things in your life. A normal meal is one of them," the witch said with a smile.
"Don't you get tired living the same life?"
"Not when you hope for much better circumstances," Elijah replied.
"Right. Klaus, who is currently possessing my boyfriend's body," Jenna rolled her eyes. "Whose idea was it?"
Adelia turned to look at Elijah and Jenna followed her action.
The Original cleared his throat. "I had nothing to do with that."
"Yeah, right," Jenna said with a sigh meeting Adelia's eyes who smiled. "I will be going back today."
"If that is what you wish. Do not hesitate to approach us," the witch told to reassure, squeezing Jenna's hand.
"I have a thesis presentation next month. I want you to attend it," Jenna demanded with a smirk.
"I believe I can make time for it."
"I do not like where this is heading," the Original said looking between the two. "Adelia might have more important matters to attend."
"So you are the reluctant one in the relationship. Why am I not surprised?" Jenna laughed seeing Elijah's pursed mouth.
"She is pulling your leg, Elijah," Adelia suggested with a smile and got up from her seat with her plate and looked at Jenna. "We are on for next month," she smiled and walked towards the kitchen as a high five echoed the room when she passed Jenna.
The human smiled and looked towards Elijah and smirked, "You're welcome, Mr. Smith."
"Elena!" Stefan called his girlfriend.
"Yeah?" Elena replied, coming down when they noticed Andie in the doorway, holding a cup of coffee.
"Hey," Stefan greeted the compelled human.
"Hello Andie," the doppelganger followed with a nod.
"Uh, hi," Andie said when Damon walked over to her.
"Hi, sweetie. Oh, my coffee," the elder Salvatore hummed and proceeded to kiss her.
"Good morning," greeted Andie.
"Mm, good morning."
"Hey, how are you?" Stefan asked Elena when Caroline, Bonnie and Jeremy arrived.
"What's up? Bonnie said it was urgent," Caroline expressed.
"We didn't mention anything like that. Elena? Damon?" Stefan frowned.
"I don't know, Stefan. She's your girlfriend. Mine's right here," Damon quipped and looked at Andie, "Oh, and how's the shoulder? Got time for a bite? I'm so hungry."
"You really don't learn, do you?" A disgusted Caroline said and turned towards the Bennett witch. "When are we leaving?"
"Oh, it's really messy. Can you just use a blood bag today?" Andie informed Damon, ignoring the blonde vampire, "I'm already late for work."
"No!" Damon refused her request.
"Let her go," Caroline stepped forward.
"What a delightful mockery of consent," Adelia spoke from the doorway with Elijah beside her.
"What are two you doing here?" Stefan asked, surprised and then looked at his brother. "What are you doing? She's not a wind-up toy. Get her out of here."
"It's really none of your business, is it, Stefan?" Andie retorted.
"Yeah. What she said," Damon agreed, rolling his eyes.
"I have to go to work," she said and kissed him in farewell.
"Ugh! Bye."
"Thank you, Elijah and Adelia. Please come in," Elena diverted their attention before it got too heated.
"Now you've invited them in?" Damon glared.
"They have agreed to help us again. They are the only one who know Klaus," replied Elena.
"The two of you will come to no harm at my hands or Adelia's," Elijah said impassively.
"Unless your actions call for it," the Original's wife added.
"I only ask for one thing in return," he continued.
"What?" Damon asked.
"An apology."
"A what?" The Salvatore looked offended when Stefan walked closer to them.
"'An expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone.' Deaths, werewolf attacks, tried killing Elijah, forged out inconveniences at every step," Adelia started counting with her fingers.
Damon interrupted her angrily, "I know what an apology is."
"Doesn't seem so," the witch quipped with a glare.
"I'm sorry for the part that I played in plotting your death. I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena," Stefan yielded.
"I understand," the Original said with a nod.
"The sacrifice is going to happen, Damon. Bonnie will not be able to kill Klaus and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I would find another way. And I did," Elena requested.
"Is that true?" The elder Salvatore questioned.
"It is," Adelia smiled.
Damon looked at the doppelgänger, "And you're trusting them?"
"I am."
"You can all go to hell," he finished and stormed out.
"You are welcome, Mr. Salvatore!" The heretic hollered after him before mumbling to herself.
Stefan looked at Elijah and sighed, "He's angry with me right now. But he'll come around."
"Perhaps. Let's get seated, shall we? It's going to be a long day," the Original said and took a deep breath. "Where did you get the dagger?" Elijah unbuttoned his suit with his fingers before taking a seat on the couch next to his wife.
Caroline looked for a spot to sit and hesitated when she found one beside Adelia. The witch looked up at her and patted the seat with a smile. The blonde immediately sat down, keeping a distance from her, still unnerved by the things she said the last time they crossed paths. The harsh truth she said still prickled her nerves.
"John Gilbert. He gave it to Damon who was unaware of the dagger loophole," Elena answered sheepishly.
"So it's true? The dagger kills the vampire who uses it," Caroline asked curiously to get a nod from the Original's wife.
"He's taken over Alaric's body," Jeremy put in, looking troubled.
"Of course, he has. One of his favourite tricks," Elijah looked amused.
"I did not forget your contribution, dear," Adelia muttered.
"I have apologised already," the Original reasoned.
"Well, what are his other tricks?" Damon questioned, seating through this questionnaire reluctantly at the request of Elena.
"What is he going to do next? You're the only one who knows him," the doppelgänger hesitated just as Stefan's phone rang.
Stefan picked up his phone to find it's Jenna and frowned. He received the call. "Hello?"
"Hey, Stefan. It's Jenna." The occupants looked surprised.
"Jenna, hey."
"Where's Elena? And Jeremy? No one's answering their phones," the aunt asked and both the Gilbert siblings sighed in embarrassment.
"Ah, Elena's here at the moment, but her phone is not with her. Is, uh, is everything okay?" The Salvatore nodded at the Gilberts.
"She left me all these weird messages telling me to stay away from Ric. She wants to tell me something?"
"It's really hard to explain over the phone, but, um, she was hoping that you could stay on campus for a little while longer," Stefan requested.
"Oh, that's kinda hard to do from my kitchen," Jenna replied.
"Wait, you're home?" he frowned.
"Yeah. I had a very fulfilling breakfast at Elijah's place; he is a great cook. Did you know Adelia is his wife?" The aunt informed him when her doorbell rang. She opened the door and found Alaric outside. "It is Ric." She inconspicuously took out a pouch from her back pocket, fiddling with it behind her back.
"Jenna, listen to me carefully. Whatever you do, stay away from Alaric. We are going to come over right now and everything," Stefan rushed as he and Elena moved to go out.
Adelia and Elijah exchanged a look before he gave her a nod. "No need. I shall take care of it," the witch interrupted the two and got up instead, pulling out her phone to dial Klaus. She moved away from the group as he picked up.
"Hello, Maeve. Have you finally forgiven me?" Klaus smiled into the phone, looking at Jenna in front of him and Adelia rolled her eyes, hearing Alaric's voice through the phone.
The vampires heard Klaus calling her Maeve, confirming their suspicions.
"You have no shame. I told you to stay away from Jenna," Adelia demanded from the Original.
"Now why would I do that, love?" Klaus slyly waved at the human who was standing on the other side of the door, the powder clutched tightly within her palm.
"We have the moonstone. You want it, don't you?" She offered.
"You wouldn't dare," he harshly exclaimed.
"If you want the moonstone, you will keep your distance and I will know if you approach her."
Klaus replied after a moment, "You drive a hard bargain love. But moonstone over an afternoon of merriment."
"Thank you," Adelia said with a smile.
"Am I forgiven, then?"
"We will see, Nik. Tell Jenna I said hii," she quipped and rolled her eyes before hanging up.
Klaus looked at the human before him. "Adelia says hii, love."
"Tell Alaric I said we need to talk," Jenna said with a glare before blowing the powder on his face. The hunter stumbled before the powder took effect and he dropped on the porch with a thud. The human looked at the empty hands in wonder, "It does work." She took her phone out before sending out a text.
To: Lia
I may have used the powder on Ric. Send help.
p.s., it felt good.
"You have Klaus on speed-dial?" Damon questioned the witch as she retook her seat, reading the text.
"Not until recently," the witch replied firmly before texting Maddox to retrieve Klaus from the Gilbert porch.
"My aunt is safe now?" Jeremy inquired.
"She is. Klaus will not risk it. We heard about the Martin witches," Elijah answered.
"I'm sorry. We really didn't want that," Bonnie said, almost ashamed.
"Luka is under my protection. Try anything again and I will keep your head on my mantle as a souvenir," smirked Adelia looking towards the elder Salvatore.
"So he is alive," Damon ignored the threat, "and Katherine? Desiccated inside the tomb?"
"Klaus took her. Wanted to pay a visit and we had a deal."
"So she's dead?" Caroline almost jumped with happiness at the prospect of seeing the woman who killed her dead.
"Not Klaus' style. Death would be too easy for her after what she did," Elijah cleared.
"I don't understand. You are helping Klaus when you two have not been in contact with him for decades and you still handed over Katherine for betraying him. What is it?" The doppelgänger frowned.
"I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay. I'd do anything for Klaus even if we are a bit hostile towards one another at present," the Original sighed before explaining his relationship with the big bad Original of Mystic Falls.
"Klaus is Elijah's younger brother," Adelia dug, noticing the silence and shock permeating from every occupant of the room.
"What?" Stefan asked, wide-eyed still in shock.
"I heard that. I'm still processing," Elena blinked.
"Yes, I'm a little behind on the times, but I believe the term you're searching for is O.M.G.," Elijah sassed, getting swiftly elbowed by his wife.
"Wow," the youngest Gilbert breathed deeply, "he is your brother."
"My closest friend I'd call him," a fond smile overtook Adelia's features.
"How can you be friends with him?" Bonnie accused.
"I could ask you the same thing since you are friends with the elder Salvatore," Adelia swiftly replied, seeing many people stiffen in the room, "and besides Niklaus is family."
"There's a whole family of Originals?" Stefan took it upon himself to divert the topic.
"Only if the compulsion wore off," Adelia muttered under her breath and Elijah sent her a playful glance.
"My father was a wealthy landowner in a village in Eastern Europe. Our mother bore seven children," the Original explained.
"So your parents were human?" Elena asked.
"Our whole family was. Our origin as vampires is a very long story, Elena. Just know... we are the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family, and from us, all vampires were created."
"Right, Klaus is your brother. You have a family, meaning other siblings too. Great, as if two Originals weren't enough, we have a whole bunch," Damon said, annoyed.
"So as you've seen, nothing can kill an Original. Not sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree the family made sure burned," Elijah replied, ignoring the Salvatore altogether.
"So get off the 'Kill Klaus' train. If a scratch even mars his skin, I will give you a scar to last a lifetime. Consider this a last warning," Adelia informed heatedly.
"That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from," inferred the Bennett witch.
"Yes. The witches will not allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain the balance," Elijah answered.
"So the Sun can't kill an Original. Why is Klaus so obsessed with breaking the Sun and Moon curse?" The younger Salvatore came straight to the point.
"Right. The curse of the sun and the moon. It's all so... biblical-sounding, don't you think?" Elijah humoured as he and Adelia looked at each other.
"What's so funny?" Caroline eyed the Original and his wife.
"You two know something," Jeremy watched them with suspicion.
"I don't understand. So Klaus drew the Aztec sketches about the curse?" The doppelganger queried in confusion.
"Roman scrolls, African tribal etchings, and any other culture or continent we felt like planting in it," the Original answered.
"But why?" A frown marred Stefan's features.
"Easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelgänger or to get your hands on some long, lost moonstone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout."
"It was a brilliant idea. Ingenious," Adelia complimented.
"So it's not Aztec at all?" Jeremy hummed.
"The curse of the Sun and the Moon... is fake. It doesn't exist," revealed Elijah, shocking the occupants once again.
"What!" Elena's breath hitched in contemplation.
"So we have been after a thing that is fake? The curse is fake," Damon clicked his tongue with a roll of eyes.
"Mm-hmm. Courtesy of the Originals," agreed Adelia.
"Can I now say O.M.G.?" An impressed Caroline said.
"Klaus and I faked the sun and moon curse dating back over a thousand years."
"But if there's no curse..." Elena started.
Elijah interrupted her mid-sentence, "There's a curse. Just not that one. The real one's much worse. It's a curse placed on Klaus."
"What are you talking about?" Stefan questioned.
"Klaus has been trying to break it for the last thousand years. And the doppelganger is his only hope," Adelia confessed.
"What is this curse?"
"Tell us. What is Klaus's curse?" A disturbed Elena asked.
"My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well," Elijah contemplated sharing the detail.
"Everybody has a father fiasco here," the elder Salvatore scoffed.
Adelia raised her hand, "My father and I were very close, he doted on me." A fond smile graced her face and Elijah kissed her fingers.
"When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages to this day," the Original explained.
"A war between the species?" Caroline was confused.
"The vampires and the werewolves. You yourself were a victim to that hostility," Adelia answered.
"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline? What does that make Klaus? A werewolf? Or a vampire?" Elena asked further.
"He's both. A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire," Elijah sighed.
Jeremy pointed at Adelia, "You're a hybrid yourself. Vampire-witch."
The Original remarked, "Something I hadn't seen nor ever heard of when she transitioned. Even Adelia has her limits as she cannot perform certain types of magic. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore, in a similar way the witches, the servants of nature saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."
Bonnie cleared her throat, "That's the curse that Klaus wants to break?"
"He wants to trigger that part of him that's a werewolf. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race."
"But you are helping him?" Elena tilted her head.
"I am because I love him. He's my brother."
"I wish there was a dagger," Damon mumbled to himself, but Elijah very clearly heard it.
"When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original cannot be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. Therefore, you see the conundrum. The dagger does not work," the Original replied with a smile and Damon's mood faltered even more.
"The curse must be broken during the full moon, which is tomorrow," Adelia said.
"How can you save my sister?" Jeremy got nervous at the prospect of his sister's demise.
"So you really found a way to save the life of the doppelgänger?" Damon raised his brow.
"Yes, I did. But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out," Elijah replied.
"You cared about her, didn't you?" The doppelgänger noticed.
Elijah did not answer but squeezed his wife's hand who smiled softly. He knew Adelia would never resent him for his past and his heart fluttered at her acceptance.
"Katherine Pierce strikes again," Damon huffed.
"You said resemblance," pointed Stefan.
"It's a story for another time," humoured Adelia, hiding her discomfort at the notion of Tatia, the doppelganger of Silas' lover. "We will get you to the means to save Elena tomorrow."
"We have an appointment to upkeep," Elijah told, getting up and held out his hand for Adelia to take. The Original was aware of how she feared the dead more than the living. He might not be able to change how he felt for Tatia and Celeste in the past, something Adelia never even tried to change but she accepted that he had a long life and it was not her right to tarnish his memories of earlier loves with revulsion and envy. She respected him too much and he loved her just the same-more than anyone in his life.
"It was a pleasure," Adelia said with a smile as they both walked out the next second, leaving the occupants reeling with the revelation.
Damon and Stefan stood in the library looking at Maeve's portrait painted by Klaus or what they knew her to be, Adelia.
"I still do not trust them," Damon muttered.
"Why do you say that?" Stefan said with a frown.
"Don't lie to me, I know you very well. You just agreed for Elena," the elder brother quipped rolling his eyes.
"If that's what she wants..."
Damon interrupted him, "If we cannot defeat them, then we delay them."
"You want more time? For what?" Stefan asked.
"For an answer. A weapon or anything. Let's find a powerful witch and kill him."
"All this will have its consequences, Damon."
"I am willing to take a risk. We need allies and I will get them," the impulsive Salvatore got his phone out and dialled a number, "John, what was your crazy plan again?"
Maddox and Greta were on their knees, casting a spell with candles around them. Katherine warily looked out at the procession as Alaric stood next to the box, his head bowed and eyes closed.
The witch and warlock stopped and looked at Alaric expectantly, who suddenly opened his eyes to look at the doppelgänger. "Elena?" He called out to his stepdaughter's lookalike and collapsed.
Maddox stood up to open the box and a dark-blonde vampire walked out of it, staring down at the unconscious vampire hunter. "Now that's more like it," Klaus said with a smirk on his face.
February 1860
Cloverville Louisiana
"You are too easily goaded, love," Klaus said, going for the attack but his sword was blocked easily by another.
"You do not challenge me to a duel when you are not prepared to accept your defeat," Adelia replied, lifting her gown over her ankle with one hand and started commencing her footwork to draw him into a corner. "You should have given me time to get out of this bulky gown, Nik. It is going to make me trip."
"An enemy never ceases to use his opponent's weakness for his gain," he smirked and slashed his weapon at her as the witch bent down to kick his foot with her leather boot making him stumble.
He advanced towards her levelling his sword at every given opportunity while she blocked them, moving backward with his every draw.
"Do not consider me any less in these wear, Mr. Mikaelson. You know better," Adelia said with a grin on her face and turned his attack against him hurriedly testing his reflexes as her weapon clashed with his unbelievably fast.
"I have known since we met at the ball that your footwork is ought to be appreciated. You managed to run away from me after all," Klaus complimented as she did not give him an opportunity for offence, once again being cornered.
"I am supposed to go to the plantations and not spar with you, Niklaus," she smiled as her boots made a clang with each step she took forward in the empty gardens of the Laurentis estate.
They were going at it for almost half an hour and she was getting tired. Adelia neither had the recovery rate of an Original vampire nor the strength, but she refused to think that the vampire was going easy on her.
"Is that an excuse I hear, Maeve?" He hummed giving her a smile.
"Niklaus," Elijah's voice boomed from directly behind Adelia, startling her as she turned around abruptly, giving Klaus a chance to disarm her and she sighed in defeat.
"I win, love," the younger Original announced with a grin. "You're back brother."
"You choused your way to this, Niklaus," she reprimanded Klaus before turning to look at the noble Original, "Good evening, Elijah. I do hope your journey fared better."
"It did. Niklaus, may I have a word?" He replied impassively, looking at his brother.
"I shall see you two at dinner. I enjoyed myself, Klaus, thank you," she informed them with a soft smile and proceeded to leave for the plantation.
"So brother, anything new?" Klaus inquired, watching her retreating figure board the carriage.
"When will Sharel return from her trip?" Elijah asked Adelia as they sat for dinner at night.
"She is out looking for monasteries to bring peace into her life," Klaus replied with a chuckle.
"She wouldn't mind if you are to join her. You need it more than anybody else," she stated, taking offence to the Original's insinuation.
"Are you making me out to be a terror, Maeve?"
"Why don't you ask Elijah?"
"You have your grandmother's sense of humour," Klaus said, playfully glaring at her.
"Because you lack any. You are a terror indeed," she replied.
"Now I must agree with Miss Laurentis here," Elijah quipped, the glare from his brother redirected to him instead.
"What is the secret to getting him in control, Elijah? You must share, for the sake of humanity," asked Adelia.
"Pinch of scolding, fear of repercussions, an emotional preaching with a dash of luck and you have a tamed Niklaus."
"Brother..." Klaus started.
"Scolding? You are a good brother," she humoured taking a glance at Klaus, who had his mouth pursed.
"I consider myself above such childish tactics," Elijah said, looking at her.
"If he weren't such a child, he wouldn't need a brother. You should thank him for keeping you preoccupied all these centuries."
"Must I?" The Original raised his brow.
"Call it an endeavour of goodwill."
Elijah and Adelia's eyes met for a second before the Original looked away.
"I must take my leave. Grandmother has demanded I visit the archives," Adelia said, sending an apologetic smile towards the men. She got up and the men followed.
"I could accompany you," Klaus offered before Elijah could say anything.
"Some time away from you might restore my sanity," she laughed.
"My condolences to the drunken horse," he smiled and the witch returned it before walking away.
Elijah smiled and switched off the lights. Retrieving their coats, he put his on and walked over to Adelia, making her wear it as she looked on impassively. Pulling her up, he placed a chaste kiss to her cheek.
"Will you go out in your sleepwear?" Adelia questioned with a frown, staring at him in confusion.
"I think I can handle a bit of public criticism at two at night for my wife," the Original humoured.
"And? Am I supposed to enjoy roaming the streets in a nightwear underneath a coat?"
"It is not a coat, it's Yves Saint Laurent," said Elijah, sliding her footwear onto her feet before buckling it up.
"Are you questioning my fashion choices? I should set your $9K suits on fire," the witch contended and he smiled before he dragged her out of the house.
"No more questions. Close your eyes," he ordered and the witch complied. A millisecond later, she was in his arms as he sped up to his destination.
Adelia opened her eyes as her feet touched the ground and she looked around, finding it to be a forest. She glanced at her husband who was staring ahead and then smiled at her.
Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist, guiding her along. "It is my honour to present you my home," he gestured to the forest and she looked on in confusion." This land was our home back when we were humans, my love." Adelia appeared shocked and equally intrigued. "Our house was built to your right there," he pointed at the canopy and moved her a little, "Niklaus and I used to train under that tree."
"Things must have changed a lot since then," she softly murmured.
"It did."
"I wish to see your home," requested Adelia.
"You only need ask, Adelia. I will give you everything I have," he replied before touching his forehead with her as the world around them changed.