Niklaus retraced Marcellus' footsteps to his hideout beyond the river. Well, it was not exactly a hideout, since he knew that Marcellus and his cronies were here all along. Niklaus went through a lot of scenarios that his confrontation with Marcellus that could go wrong. But he knew his well enough to know that he would never hurt his baby girl. So, with that thought in mind, he entered the mansion. As he entered, all he saw was grayed vampire bodies. He could smell the Werewolf venom that took their lives everywhere. Niklaus swallowed hard, these where the vampires that stood beside Marcellus no matter what. He felt sorry for the younger vampire .
He brushed it aside. No, he was here for his daughter. Marcellus made his choice when he betrayed him. Even if he wanted to give him a chance, he didn't think that Marcellus would take it.
But every negative thought in his mind disappeared when he saw his daughter in the arms of his 'son'. Niklaus fought the tears that threatened to enter his eyes. The look Marcellus had as he looked down at his daughter, as if he would lay down the world for her, was enough to give him hope. Hope that he could have his son with him again.
He stood there looking at them for nearly fifteen minutes before Marcellus broke the silence. "I was too late. There should've been more time"
Niklaus looked around. He could see how hard it was for Marcellus. And he felt for him, but he tried to keep voice indifferent, "It looks like the wolves came back and finished what they've started" He looked at Marcellus, understanding dawned on him, "You took my daughter so I would heal you and your friends. Here" he held out his wrist for Marcellus.
Marcellus looked down at his daughter, "This bite. All this. I know I didn't come from nowhere. This is the last note of the song that I started a century ago." He looked up at Niklaus, "When I brought your dad to town," he swallowed as he continued, "And for that, I am sorry"
"No" Niklaus said and he knelt before Marcellus, "You saved my child's life. And for that you deserve this." Niklaus went to sit against the fountain and held his hand.
Marcellus bit into his wrist and took some blood, enough to heal his blood.
Niklaus rubbed the younger vampires back, just like he did when he was just a boy and said, "We will take down whoever brought this upon us. I swear it."
Marcellus nodded.
"But I want only one thing in return" Niklaus said.
Marcellus smiled humourlessly, "I have nothing to give you, Klaus"
"No" Niklaus said. "You have my children"
Marcellus looked at him. "I only have your daughter in my arms"
Niklaus shook his head, "What about you? You are my son as well, are you not?"
Marcellus had tears in his eyes as he looked at Niklaus.
"I want both my daughter and my son. Seeing her, here, with you," Niklaus brushed the little girl's head, "taught me that the bond we share could never be broken. I want my son back."
Marcellus hugged Niklaus in one hand, with the other holding onto the little girl, "I would like to be a part of the family again"
Niklaus was not one for hugs. But he was not going to complain, if it was from his children. He patted Marcellus' back. They pulled apart. "May I?" Niklaus asked, as he silently asked Marcellus to let his hold his daughter. Marcellus handed the little girl to Niklaus. And for the first time in his long life, the Original Hybrid cooed at the baby.
They then left the mansion, to Abattoir, together with the little securely in Niklaus' hand.
Elijah was pacing the living room of the Abattoir, waiting for his brother to return with his niece. He was more than scared to think what could have happened between his brother and Marcellus. But he knew better than anyone that not to stick his nose when those two were involved.
Handling the very hysteric Hayley was not an easy task. But he would forever be grateful that Miss Forbes was doing a very better job than he could have. Speaking of, he was still stunned by the blonde's confession. Did she really profess her love for his heartless brother? Oh God, if Kol were here, he would have had a field day. Was he really wrong about his brother?
Before he could ponder on it any further, two figures zoomed into the living room. As soon as they entered, Hayley and Miss Forbes came down to the living room as well. Hayley went straight to the baby, taking her from Niklaus' arms. Only then did they notice who the second person was. Elijah went to his Original mode and reached for the younger vampire. But Niklaus came between them and growled, "Kindly take your hands off my son, brother"
Elijah's expressionless mask nearly gave out. "Niklaus?"
Niklaus looked at him and said, "Marcellus and I reconciled. I welcomed him back into our family"
"Are you certain about this, brother?" Elijah asked, skeptically.
Marcellus stepped forward and said, "You can compel me, if you want"
Elijah looked at his brother and then at Marcellus. He stepped forward and started to compel Marcellus, "Do you really want to be a part of our family?"
"Yes"
"Do you swear to be loyal to our family?"
"Yes"
"Will you do everything in your ability to keep the baby safe?"
"Yes"
"Do you swear not to betray us again?"
"Yes"
Elijah then released him from his compelling and looked at Niklaus, "Very well then," he then looked at Marcellus, "Welcome back to the family, Marcellus"
The three male vampires went to the bedroom where Caroline and Hayley were with the baby. It took them sometime to convince Hayley to complete the transition, since she didn't want to hurt her daughter. Hayley and Caroline sat on the bed with the baby laid down on the bed between them, while the three men were sitting around in chairs.
"We confronted Genevieve while you were gone" Elijah said.
"What did she say?" Niklaus asked.
Fifteen Minutes Earlier…..
Hayley found the redhead hiding around. They pulled her to a tomb and chained her. "Why?" Hayley asked.
"The ancestors left me no choice" the redhead cried.
Caroline scoffed, while Hayley asked, "You were willing to sacrifice an innocent baby for power"
The redhead laughed humourlessly, "Oh, not just power. It was the ancestors' decree. It was her decree"
Elijah squeezed her throat, "It was whose decree?"
"I am surprised you have to ask" she said, coughing. "After all, it was you who convinced you siblings to consecrate in New Orleans soil"
"Ester" Hayley murmured.
"So, not even death can stop my mother from seeking the annihilation of her own flesh and blood." Elijah said as he rubbed his temples.
"This isn't the end," the red head said, "As long as the child is alive, the witches of New Orleans will never stop coming for it. Ester will not stop coming for it. It has been decreed. Your baby will be consecrated among her ancestors. She will not live"
Hayley clutched onto Caroline's hand, who squeezed hers in a silent support.
"They are coming for me. I can feel it." The redhead said. He eyes were bleeding, "I have failed them. Please understand, I just wanted to live. Tell Klaus," she said, coughing, "that I am sorry"
Hayley stepped forward to the coughing witch, "Well, I am not" and stabbed her in the heart.
Niklaus squeezed his hands, "We should've felt our mother's hand in this. We should have known that she would not be bound by anything as obvious as death, and now she has the control of the witches. They will never stop."
"No" Elijah replied.
"Nor would I expect Guerrera wolves to back down. Hayley and the child are wolf royalty. And as such, they are a threat to Francesca's claim of leadership. They will never be safe." Niklaus said, "What was it you said to me earlier, that I have made enemies every day of my miserable life? Well, the worst of them are within these borders, brother. I have brought into the world a weapon that they can use against me."
"Then we will arm ourselves" Caroline said for the first time.
Niklaus looked at her with a raised his eyebrows, for which Caroline just rolled her eyes.
"She's right" Elijah said, "Brother, we've fought every adversary in this town and we have won, and we'll fight them again, no matter who they are. We will make this home a fortress."
"I will not have her live her life like a prisoner" Niklaus said.
"Then we leave her together, all of us" Elijah said.
"Wherever we go, however far we run, those who seek power and revenge will hunt us. They will hunt her" Niklaus said, "She has inherited all our enemies, with none of our defenses"
"So whether we stay or we leave, we condemn her" Elijah said.
"There is a third option" Hayley said, "I grew up in a war zone. My parents thought they could protect me, but in the end, they were slaughtered, and I spent my childhood alone and unloved. I made a promise to my baby and to myself that she would not grow up like I did. That she would grow up safe and loved, and yet here she is on her first day in this world with a grandmother that is bent on sacrificing her and a mother that has to drink the blood of her own baby to survive transitioning into a hybrid, and I'm the one that loves her the most." Hayley sobbed, "I think the only thing to do is send her away while we stay behind and clean up the mess that we've made"
"No, this is insane" Elijah said, "You heard Genevieve. So long as she lives, the baby will be hunted"
"Who said anyone has to know that she's alive?" Caroline said.
"She's right" Marcellus said, "We can fake her death and send her away"
"Brother" Elijah said.
"They are right. No one can hurt her if no one knows she lives" Niklaus said.
Elijah shook his head, "What is it that you intend to do, brother?"
"Whatever it takes to save our family" Niklaus replied.