Chapter 12: Revenge

*****Not Where We Left Off*****

An armless Lucien ran from his penthouse, fear for his life pushing him to flee like a coward. The slayer—Elijah's lover—had actually cut off his arm with that weapon of hers. He knew that if he hadn't fled, she would've taken his head. His long-time allegiance to Klaus Mikaelson would not stay her hand—he could sense that. This woman might respect Klaus—even be a real friend to him—but Lucien did not think she took her orders from him. Kidnapping Cami had drawn the slayer's ire.

"She took my arm!" he shouted in anger as the wound sealed. Would it grow back? He did not know. Enraged, he went to the house where the power was.

A witch stronghold, the abandoned house was on the edge of town. Lucien had struck a deal with the witches. He entered the house, calling out to them.

"That slayer took my arm! How can I defeat my enemies without my arm?" he demanded. There was no physical form for him to see, but he could feel their magical presence. It reached out, wrapping around him. Warmth filled him as his arm began to reform.

"That's more like it," he said. There were whispers on the wind, reminding him of their deal. "I know. I'm ready. There's just one more thing left I have to do." The slayer would get hers, but first, he'd teach that slayer what happens when someone dares to cross him.

*****Willow*****

Willow went to the cemetery where she could feel Davina's presence. The coven was gathered. She could see Davina on the steps of the large crypt. Vincent was already there, so he must have headed right over after leaving the bar. Anger filled Willow at the man's arrogance. Sure, he was motivated by good intentions, thinking he was helping Davina. However, his hatred of vampires made him totally prejudice against the Mikaelsons. Of course, the witches of New Orleans had been through some challenges, so they had a reason to be angry. However, they were short-sighted. Getting along with the Mikaelsons was the only way the town would stay whole. The Mikaelsons were strong enough to protect them from any threats, and Willow knew just how dangerous the world really was.

The witches could sense Willow's presence because both her aura and her power were incredibly strong. The group parted to let her through.

"So you're having a party for witches, and I wasn't invited," Willow said mournfully.

"Hey, Willow," Davina said, smiling at the witch.

"This is for our coven. You're not in our coven," Vincent said to her.

"That's okay. I don't want to be in your coven," Willow said. "You guys think you can bully Davina, take away her power."

"What?" Davina asked in surprise.

"This doesn't concern you," Vincent said, grim.

"Abusing a witch—one I consider a friend—is a concern of mine," Willow said.

"No one is abusing anyone," Vincent said reasonably.

"Not yet," Willow replied. She moved to stand next to Davina. "Trust me, Davina. Your coven is looking to replace you because of your friendship with the Mikaelsons."

"I'm friends with Haley, not the Mikaelsons," Davina said. "Kol is dead."

"What about Freya?" Willow asked. "Isn't she part of this coven? She's a Mikaelson. Why wasn't she invited to this party?" She looked out at the assembled witches. Some looked angry at her presence, others afraid. A few heard of her power and were wary.

"I don't know. I didn't call this meeting," Davina admitted, feeling unsure of herself.

"Your pal Marcel thinks he knows what's best for you," Willow told her. "He thinks that you are going to be used in the fight with the sire lines. You're a pawn, easy for the plucking."

"What?" Davina asked, outraged.

"I think the witches of New Orleans need to understand who has the power in this town. It's not the Mikaelsons you should fear," Willow told the group. "It's me." She reached out and grabbed Vincent's hand. Chanting, she bound him to the others in front of her. Then she held up her hand and made a fist. The witches all bent over as the power was ripped from them.

Vincent looked at the woman in horror. With just a flick of her hand, she'd taken the entire group's powers.

"What are you doing?" Davina asked in confusion. Whatever she was doing to everyone else wasn't being done to her.

"I'm taking their powers like they were going to do to you," Willow informed her.

"That can't be right. I think you're mistaken," Davina insisted. "They weren't going to do that!"

"Ask Vincent," Willow said. "He and Marcel decided that he would be regent while you would have been stripped of your rank and power."

Davina shot Vincent a betrayed look. He was clutching his stomach but looking up at her. "Really, Vincent? I thought you were my friend," she said.

"I am," he said. "I was trying to protect you."

"Well, as you can see, Davina doesn't need your protection. She has mine, and she has Buffy's," Willow said. "When we raise Kol back from the dead, she will have him, too."

"Please," Vincent said, begging her. "Don't do this."

"I'm not a monster, Vincent. I just wanted your coven to get how much power I have. Even combined, you can't beat me," Willow said, her hair white with the glow of her power. She'd released her anger before walking over, so she wasn't tapping into dark magic. This wasn't the aggressive move it appeared to be—it was a lesson. One they better remember. "I grew my power on a hellmouth. While you all seek power in your political war with the vampires, mine grew out of necessity, a desire to save my friends and protect the world."

"What are you going to do to them?" Davina asked her.

"What would you like me to do?" Willow asked.

"Nothing," Davina asked. "If they really don't want me as regent, I will step down. Vincent can have the job. But they better not try to take my powers."

"If you're not regent, you won't have the full strength you have now," Willow warned.

"That's okay," Davina said. "Just give them back their powers."

"I was going to do that anyway," Willow assured her, smiling. Reaching out again, she grabbed Vincent's hand. Then she released her fist, the channeled power, flowing back into him and spreading back to the coven.

"You witches need to get it together," Willow said to the group. "Your ancestors presume too much. They keep meddling in the affairs of the living. If they think I can't figure out how to get to the Other Side, they're wrong."

"You know we can't control the ancestors," Vincent said. Her actions had rattled, and he knew he didn't want her as an enemy.

"You better warn them," Willow said. "Buffy is going to marry Elijah Mikaelson." Her announcement caused a reaction as the witches who knew who she was looked even more afraid. "She is the longest living vampire slayer. She has died and been to heaven—not the Other Side. I was the bad friend that ripped her out of heaven and brought her back. I am the witch that used her weapon to call all potential slayers. I know the moment they are called, and I can bring them to this city any time. In fact, many will be here for Thanksgiving. The Mikaelsons aren't your concern. They're mine, and they're Buffy's. Trust that she will always do what's best for humanity—that includes witches. She is a friend to witches and even vampires with souls. Her power, like mine, grows daily. The more slayers that live, the greater her power. This sire line war will end soon, and your city will be safe again." She looked at Vincent. "Don't meddle in the Mikaelsons business, and I won't mettle in yours. Do I make myself clear?"

Vincent knew when he was beat and nodded. "Yes," he assured her.

"Come on, Davina," Willow said, holding out her hand to the young witch. "We have a Mikaelson to raise."

Vincent watched the two witches leaving, foreboding filling him. The woman had too much power.

"How can a witch like that be allowed in this city?" someone asked.

"I don't think there's much we can do about Willow," Vincent said. "She is too powerful and not evil. Unless we move against her friends, she won't bother us."

"How can you be sure?" another asked.

"Because I was killing vampires earlier today with Faith, one of her slayer friends," Vincent shared. "They are a complicated group. We must tread carefully. If you accept me as regent, I will form an alliance with Willow. If she is our ally, she cannot be our enemy."

The witches murmured to each other, several nodding in agreement. Losing their powers like that had been terrifying. Others not present might not understand, but they all did.

"Yes," they all said.

"Be regent. Protect us from that woman!" Henry called out. Her power instilled much greater fear in them than Klaus Mikaelson or Marcel Gerard ever had.

Vincent smiled. "I will. I promise," he vowed. He and Marcel miscalculated this time, but his momma didn't raise a fool. It wouldn't happen again.

*****Where Chapter 11 Left Off******

Faith listened to the sibling give their ultimatums in disbelief. They kidnapped Rebekah in order to strong arm them. "Do these clowns actually think they can strong arm us?" she asked, looking at Buffy and Elijah.

"Careful," Elijah cautioned.

"F*** that! I don't do careful. That's B," Faith said. "But I'll beat the shit out of that vamp."

Faith moved toward Aurora, who moved behind her brother.

"This would be a mistake," Tristan said, giving Elijah a look.

"You are under the mistaken impression that I control Buffy or her slayers," Elijah said with an indifferent shrug.

"I say we let Faith rip out her red hair," Buffy said with a cheerful grin.

Faith hit Tristan hard in the face. He tried to grab his sister and run off, but Freya had sealed the room before following after Willow. Only by her brothers' words would the siblings be free to leave.

"You aren't going anywhere, nor will you be rescued by your Strix," Klaus said smugly.

"Stop this, Nik!" Aurora begged as her brother took a hard hit.

"You can stop it. Give me the coordinates," Klaus said.

Tristan got angry and grabbed Faith's arm before it could hit him again. "That's enough," he announced. Then he broke her arm. Faith yelled out in pain. Enraged herself, she began hitting him hard in the face with the unbroken arm.

"I will end this," Klaus said. It didn't sit right with him that Faith should fight his battles. Unlike he, she was mortal. He moved to Aurora, putting his hands on her head and stabbing into her mind. Flashes of her talking to the men with a boat where there. Grinning, he saw them hand her a piece of paper with the coordinates. As she looked down at the paper, he had the location.

"I got her half," he announced. Then he broke her neck, putting her out of the fight—in his own way, protecting her. Slayers were almost as bloody as he, and there was no telling what one of them would do if she pissed them off. Although she was angry with Aurora, a part of him will never forget the great love he once felt for her.

"Stop the fight," Buffy murmured to Elijah. Faith was holding her broken harm against her as she exchanged blows with Tristan with her other arm. Knowing Faith like she did, she wouldn't stop until she was seriously incapacitated.

Elijah nodded and moved to knock Faith back from Tristan. Then he punched his hand into Tristan's chest, his hand around the heart. "Give me your coordinates, or I will end your existence. It's as simple as that," he told him.

"If I'm dead, you'll never find your sister," Tristan gasped.

"You grossly underestimate Willow's magical abilities. She's busy resurrecting our brother Kol—a feat that is not beyond her. She will find Rebekah if need be, but I don't want to distract her from what she is doing now," Elijah said. He squeezed Tristan's heart, making him gasp in pain.

"Fine," Tristan said. "It is inside my jacket."

Elijah looked at his brother. Klaus nodded and reached inside Tristan's jacket and pulled out the envelope. After looking inside, he grinned. "We have it," he said.

Elijah pulled out his hand and used his other to get his handkerchief. As he wiped his hand clean, he looked at Tristan. "You are under the mistaken impression that my family is vulnerable," he said.

"You lost a brother, Elijah, when Finn was killed. An entire sire line was destroyed. Then Kol died and another followed," Tristan said. "The remaining lines are in a panic. If you die, so does your entire line. Don't we have a right to ensure our existence?"

"So what's your plan?" Buffy asked, stepping forward. "Lock the siblings away somewhere, so you can live out your lives without fear?" When Tristan said nothing, Buffy had her answer. She stepped directly in front of Tristan. "Elijah and I are to be married. He will join his family with mine. If you have done your research, you should know exactly how powerful I am—how powerful my friends are. You might have your Strix, but I have an army of slayers. Your line is safe because I plan on living out my immortal existence with Elijah."

Tristan's mind raced as he considered the slayer's word. He did research her, learning all about the legendary Buffy Summers. Her act of activating all the slayers had changed her from human to immortal. Like a vampire, her powers grew the longer she lived. However, she was a killing machine, designed and trained with the sole purpose of killing monsters. How she could love Elijah and befriend Klaus was not something he understood, but his research had uncovered her past vampire lovers. She may be a vampire slayer, but she didn't see the world in black and white. Nor did she kill indiscriminately.

Tristan glanced at Klaus, who looked smug and bored. Could the slayer keep the hybrid in check? When his eyes rested on Faith, he realized that an army of women like her would be formidable indeed.

Nodding, he said, "I believe you might be right."

"So you will leave town, taking the Strix with you?" Elijah asked.

"I see another one, I will kill it," Faith said, glaring at the vampire as her arm throbbed painfully.

"I could send out word to my slayer houses," Buffy said. "Have them target your Strix across the globe."

"That won't be necessary," Tristan said. "We will leave and end the fight."

"Can you control your sister?" Buffy asked, looking down at Aurora who was stirring again.

"I will," he said, faking his confidence. His sister was difficult.

"What about Lucien?" Elijah asked.

"We will deal with him," Klaus said. Lucien would never take orders from Tristan. "However, I want one concession from Tristan. Marcellus. You wanted him, you have him. He will be my eyes and ears—a revered and welcomed member of your rank. He will tell me if you ever conspire against us again."

"You think a spy will be able to manipulate my Strix?" Tristan asked.

"I trust that Marcellus can win you over," Klaus said with confidence. "He is my protege in ways not even Lucien was. I taught him all he knows. He will be loyal to you in all ways except if you conspire against me and mine. If you do not, you will find him a suitable replacement for your recently departed Aya."

Tristan considered his words and then nodded. "Fine. We will welcome him," he said.

"Shouldn't you ask Marcel?" Buffy said, frowning. "He's not your lackey."

"He will see the wisdom of this," Klaus said.

"You want him to leave his home?" Buffy countered, clearly disapproving.

"This will always be his home," Klaus said.

"He won't want to leave," Buffy said.

"I will leave him to Rebekah. She will convince him of the wisdom of this," Klaus said.

"Shall we go get our sister?" Elijah asked.

"I will," Klaus said. "You stay here and plan the party. Our sister will want to celebrate your engagement when she returns."

Tristan picked up his sister and departed as Elijah led him out.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked Faith.

"Five by five," she said, wincing as she tried to move her arm.

"Let me heal you," Klaus said, biting into his wrist.

"What?" Faith asked, disturbed by the blood dripping off his wrist.

"Their blood heals, remember?" Buffy said. "Drink just a bit, and your arm will heal instantly. We need you whole in case Lucien has something else planned." Elijah stepped back into the room and moved to the liquor storage to pour a drink.

"Fine," Faith said, taking a sip. She grimaced and took the drink Elijah thoughtfully handed her to wash the taste out. But when her arm stopped throbbing, she smiled. "That is better than slayer healing!"

"I will see you all soon," Klaus said. "Time to get our sister."

"Faith, do you think you should go with him? Watch his back?" Buffy suggested.

"I will be fine. I'd rather she stay here in case Lucien decides to be stupid," he said. It pleased him, though, that Buffy felt so protective of him.

Once she married his brother, no one would ever stand against his family again.

*****Rousseau's*****

Cami wiped down the bar, trying to ignore the sense of unease she felt. Maybe should've went home instead of to work.

"Hello, Cami," a voice said.

She looked up and groaned. "I knew I should've gone home," she muttered.

"Yes, you should've," Lucien said, grinning. He grabbed her before she could run.

Cami didn't have time to scream, but his healed arm registered. How did he get it back so quickly? That thought was the last one she had before everything went black.

*****Chapter End*****

As you can see, Aurora has been neutralized, so it's a change from the show. This will not go on as long as it did during season 3. I just can't see the sire lines taking that long to defeat with the combined powers of the Scoobies and the Mikaelsons.