Chapter 4

"Become the beast
We don't have to hide
Do I terrify you
Or do you feel alive?
Do you feel the hunger
Does it howl inside?
Does it terrify you?
Or do you feel alive?
Splinters of my soul
Cut through your skin
And burrow within
Burrow within"

~Become the Beast, Karliene

...

There was something so beautiful about watching something desiccate. Something poetic about the way it happened, the process of it. Especially if the thing in question was a vampire, watching the color drain from their skin slowly turning ashen. She loved it.

After a millennium of hunting his own children Mikael was dead. This fact pleased Moria greatly, because something so off course would surely draw the attention of at least one of them. They would not be happy. The thought alone made her giddy with anticipation. Moria was looking forward to seeing them again. All this waiting was making her bored and impatient. Never a good combo.

Once the desiccation had run its course she turned hauntingly knowing eyes on her partner. Looking at the relieved expression on his face etched into his very being she decides that regardless if they didn't reveal themselves to her that it had still been worth it. Now to call the almost hybrid to make a deal. She held her hand out to Elijah as they now stood outside of where his father had just met his final death. "Hand me your phone." He eyes her warily, not once in the entire time he's known her has he ever seen her look so giddy. It couldn't be a good thing.

Reluctantly he hands it over. She beamed at him smiling wickedly while scrolling through his contacts. Moria gives a satisfied grin when she comes across the one she's looking for and presses call. It rings longer than she expected but eventually they pick up.

"Well, to what do I owe this unexpected call too big brother." The tone is full of scorn and mockery which just seems to fuel her excitement even further. Elijah tries to take the phone from her hands once he realizes who she's just called. Moria just holds her other hand up, as she was not about to give him what he wanted.

"Hello Niklaus, it's been a long time." Her voice is sickly sweet, there is a dangerous undertone to it. The other end becomes deathly silent. She can hear the intake of his breath at the sound of her voice. Moria and Niklaus had a difficult history with one another.

"Moria, I wasn't aware you and my brother were on speaking terms again." Her name sounds like embers on his tongue as if it burned him to speak them, Moria rolled her eyes. She never understood why he must be so dramatic. Elijah just sighed at her antics, he regretted handing her his phone.

"Please. You know that you love me Niklaus." If Elijah could see his brother he was certain that Niklaus would be rolling his eyes or gritting his teeth depending on his mood. Moria never ceased to get under the younger Mikaelson's skin. Her kind had always gotten under all of his siblings skins. Those belonging to fate had such a different perspective on power and what was that it had never settled well with them.

"Why have you called Moria, does Elijah know you have stolen his phone." She loved her phone conversation with Niklaus, they were truly such a joy. Moria could practically hear the loathing and amusement in his voice. Endless amounts of entertainment for her. For the sheer fact that she knew better than anyone just how to push Niklaus' buttons. She always had, he was so easy to rile up.

"He's here with me but I unfortunately will not be letting you speak to him. We just killed Mikeal so he's a bit shaken up."Elijah smirked at her choice of reason, giving her this look. He was by no means shaken up, if anything he was relieved. Moria just proceeded with her theatrics as if she hadn't just revealed detrementing information to the hybrid.

Niklaus must have dropped his phone because it took a moment for him to respond which of course Moria decided was her que to continue speaking as if nothing had happened. Typical. Moria had no sense of what was acceptable behavior. She'd never cared to be delicate, why waste time on sentimentality.

"Anyway, if your still interested in breaking the curse I know where you can obtain the missing pieces. If you are willing to make a deal that is. Now I must be going -" She was cut off by a whooshing noise and suddenly a very upset Niklaus was in front of her. Elijah took a protective step towards the small woman but she just grinned wickedly up at his little brother reaching forward to pet his shoulder. Her manor meant to be condescending. Moria ended the call and then pouted at him.

"How did you get here so quickly? You were in New York." She gave him a confused look as he just gowered at her. Elijah seemed to be the only one who realized that she was just playing games with him. Moria knew once she called Niklaus on his phone he'd have a witch ping their location. It wouldn't take him long to get there at his speed.

"What do you mean Mikeal is dead!" He growled, she rolled her eyes completely. She just told him that he could break the curse and that was what he was choosing to focus on. How mondane of him. Human.

"I killed him, he's existence annoyed me so now he's dead. He's in there if you would like to see for yourself." Just as she was starting to motion to the small mausoleum behind her Niklaus had already speed inside to see for himself. Elijah doesn't miss the irritated mumbling under her breath about his brother's poor manners. It was rather amusing.

Niklaus came back moments later it looked like a little bit of color had returned to his skin, more lively. Which was just a hilarious thought to consider since he was technically dead. He gave Moria an uncertain glance as he rejoined them. "Why?" She offers him a small sincere smile.

"Because I hate him, because he hurt you both, because his existence is a threat to my family, take your pick doesn't change the facts that he's now no longer a threat to you. Now we have some more pressing matters to discuss then why I killed your father. Come along boys I desire substance and coffee." And they followed because Moria always got what she wanted. At the moment she wanted coffee and to scheme.

At the small coffee parlor they found themselves in Moria had them settle in a booth in a secluded corner. Elijah on one side with her and Niklaus faced them. She took a long calculated sip of her coffee watching then subtle dark glances the brothers kept throwing at each other. "Do you still desire to break the curse Niklaus?" She finally questions once the deep silence starts to bore her, setting her cup down gently. And just like that whatever trance he'd fallen into once discovering his brother and this woman had killed their father was gone.

His eyes locked dangerously on her then. She didn't appear threatening sitting across from him as if she hadn't a care in the world. Staring at him through thick eyelashes with milky opaline eyes, curiosity and amusement dancing in their depths. "Because I know where you can find the doppelganger and the moonstone is currently in my possession. " Moria had taken it from Katerina the moment she could, there was no way she was going to let some self serving vampire be the deciding factor of her family's fate. Honestly only she was allowed to mangle with their fates.

"What's the catch. You wouldn't offer me such a tempting thing unless there was a catch moirai." Moria grinned at him, she did absolutely love when someone almost called her by the right title. Spinner, moirai, servant of fate, they were all so close to but yet not at all really. Elijah gave her a curious look, she could feel his eyes boring into the side of her head. Of course she ignored him. She would never actually let them know of her true title, of what she really was.

"I need the doppleganger to live. One because I know it will be beneficial in the art of making more hybrids, also because I think she's interesting. Furthermore I expect you to undagger your siblings and suggest you permanently get rid of the thing you keep in the fifth coffin." And she was bored, and could never actually admit to caring about the human who was technically her niece. Not out loud at least and especially not to Niklaus. Instead of trying to pick apart that statement made because even Niklaus knew not to argue with a spinner when they claimed knowledge he turned his eyes to look at his brother.

Elijah wasn't looking at him, instead his brothers gaze was focused on the side of Moria's face. There was a sense of knowing in them that didn't sit well with him but for the moment he let it slide. "And what do you take of all of this. I thought you had no desire to help me anymore brother." That seemed to warrant his attention and the second oldest turned to look at him then.

"Always and forever brother. Moria has ensured to me that our siblings are actually safe and that if I were to assist her in this endeavor you would return them." He states calmly. Moria takes another sip of her coffee.

"Why should I make a deal with you? I could just follow you and take what I want." She actually looks displeased by that statement. Fortunately she had expected that sort of reaction from him and she had her response ready in seconds.

"If you try to force my hand Niklaus, no matter my fondness for Elijah you would be dead. I will take my doppelganger, and the moonstone and I can promise if you thought Katerina was slippery you would never find either of them again." Because she would just take Elena to an entire different world, or just create one for her. The schematics didn't matter to her in the slightest. Moria was not above creating new realms, especially if it would piss her brothers off. She could and would be that petty if it suited her.

Both men seemed to reel back from her then surprise etching its way across either of their faces. Fondness. She had actually admitted it out loud. Moria doesn't allow them to reveal in their shock long. "Will you accept my offer Niklaus?" Obviously growing tired of these games. The hybrid turned his full attention back to her taking a moment to decide. It was such a tempting offer, a nicely wrapped present presented on a silver platter.

"I accept your terms." She nodded, smiling wildly at him. Startling him even further. Moria clapped her hands together. Pulling him from his shock.

"Great, glad we all came to this agreement. Now as much as I have enjoyed my time in your warm company I have things to do so let's say in two weeks just before the full moon we will meet again to discuss the details." And as if she just couldn't help herself she disappeared completely from the spot. Providing to anyone who was actually paying attention that she was more than just a simple spinner. Elijah was paying attention, he always paid attention to her.

…

"Niklaus was not happy that you left." Moria looks over to her window to find Elijah leaning against the wall arms crossed over his chest. He was giving her this mirthful look. She rolled her eyes at him. Surely he knew better than to believe she cared about such things.

"Niklaus' happiness is no concern of mine. I'm only helping him because it gets me what I want." She tells him coothyly turning her attention back to the book in front her. Elijah studied her expression for a moment taking in the meat of her words. Suddenly he's in front of her, book set aside forgotten, tilting her chin up to look him in the eye. He wasn't about to be ignored by her.

"And what is it that you want Moria?" He murmurs darkly bringing their faces close together, before nuzzling against the side of her face. Hot breath hitting her neck. A soft barely audible moan presses past tightly drawn lips. She doesn't answer, but it doesn't matter because her reaction to him was enough of one.

She wanted him.

A soft knock on the closed door pulls him away from her before there is a chance to go farther. Moria sighed pushing herself out of the chair. She doesn't tell him to leave as she doesn't particularly care to what he does and heads over to the door. Moria opens the door to her room slowly to reveal Elena, she smiles gently at the teen. Who looks uncertain when she realizes that Elijah is in the room with her aunt. Not at all sure how to feel about their apparent relationship.

"I just came to see how your meeting went? I didn't realize you had company." She mutters embarrassedly. Moria offered her a rather amused smile.

"Klaus has agreed to my terms in two weeks this will all be settled. Everything will work out." Moria reached forward running a hand over Elena's cheek in what is meant to be a comforting motion. Regardless of the fact that comforting wasn't her thing. The teen leaned into the touch, drawing her own hand up settling it over Moria's. Elena let go after a moment her eyes drifted back to where Elijah was still standing watching the scene unfold curiously.

It only unsettled her slightly. "Also Aunt Jenna wanted to know if you were going to the grill with us tonight?" Moria shakes her head, but it had been expected. Elena didn't let the silent refusal hurt her. Her aunt never joined them when they ate out, she'd much rather stay home.

"Not tonight, I have some work I need to finish." Is what she tells the teen, only a half lie. Moria had things to do but she wouldn't actually consider them to be much of work. Elena nodded making a face at her aunt that seemed like that statement had meant something else.

"I'll leave you too it then. Good night Aunt Moria." Moria closed the bedroom door behind the girl turning on her heel to look over at the quiet original. She rolled her eyes at his mirthful expression, his eyes lit with an amused light. As if he found something about the situation hilarious.

"Work?" He asked quirking his brow at her.

"Contrary to what everyone seems to think, I do have a job." She tells him, taking calculated steps in his direction. Elijah snorts at the answer. Moria was just so predictable.

"Ah, so then you would be opposed to my offer of dinner then." He muses, it's her turn to quirk a brow at him.

"If you intend to bed me Elijah you'll have to do better than dinner. We're well past the point of kissing and making up." She tells him, because no matter how much she wanted him. And she did. She'd never really stopped. It didn't change the facts. He'd hurt her.

Moria had never been the forgiving type. Fate never forgot, it never forgave.

XOXOX

Short chapter I know. Sorry bout that but it is what it is. Been busy working on my other stories and wanted to wrap what i had for this chapter up. What do you think of Moria? Of her character? Have we figured out just who she is yet? Or should I say what. Let me know what you think!

Thank you so much for reading!

Sincerely, La'Rae