Chapter Seven

Mythical? Harvest

"We think we can change people. We see something broken and we want to put it back together, but instead we end up cutting ourselves with their broken pieces."
Anonymous||

Stiles woke up early, before anyone else, with a pleased smile on his face. He'd slept peacefully, after a long time. In his happiness he made some breakfast for all of them, ate his portion, and kept the rest aside for the others, before he left, to go see his family. He wrote down a note telling he was leaving, and stuck it on one of the breakfast dishes he'd prepared.

As he walked down the familiar streets of the Quarter, he pulled out his phone to check his messages. He'd gotten a few calls from both Nik and Becks, and million texts from her, asking him to come home, from yesterday night, which got him worried. He chided himself for enjoying himself when Hayley was in danger, yesterday night. He walked faster towards the plantation house his family was staying at, reaching it within a few minutes. As he reached the door he could hear Nik's angry voice.

Klaus was angry for many reasons, that morning. Mainly at the witches, what he wanted to do was kill them all for kidnapping his child's mother, from right under his nose. He was angry that Stiles was nowhere to be found when Hayley had disappeared. He was angry at himself for not taking Stiles' warning, of Davina Claire. He'd been hasty with his decision, but still believed that the young witch would come around, and form an alliance with him.

After pacing for what seemed like ages, he decided he needed more answers, and ran at vampire speed to Rousseau's, where he saw Sophie working. Without giving her any warning, he grabbed her, covered her mouth and vampire-sped her to the plantation house, and pushed her into an armchair. Sophie struggled to catch her breath and catch up with what was going on, while Nik was pacing angrily in front of her. He suddenly turned towards her, pointing an angry finger.

"We had a deal. You protect my unborn child, I dismantle Marcel's army. And whilst I've been busy fulfilling my part of the bargain, you allowed Hayley to be attacked and almost killed by a gaggle of lunatic witches." He sat down opposite her, looking at Sophie with accusing and angry eyes.

Sophie's eyes bulged in protest and hastily said, "I had nothing to do with it, I swear. Hayley and I are linked, remember? She dies, I die."

Rebekah, who was standing off to the side silently spoke up. "Then who were they?"

"They are a faction of extremists. Sabine stupidly told them about some vision she had about the baby."

"What kind of vision?" asked Nik, curiously.

"She has them all the time. They're totally open for interpretation. I'm guessing she's wrong on this one."

"Well, how, may I ask, was this particular vision interpreted?" he asked, glaring at her.

Sophie hesitates, before she says, "Pretty much that your baby would bring death to all witches."

Nik who looked amused at the words spill out of Sophie's mouth, said, "Ah, well, I grow fonder of this child by the second."

Rebekah walks around from behind the sofa and takes a seat next to Klaus, gives Sophie a serious look before saying, "Sophie, look. I promised Elijah that I would protect the Mikaelson miracle baby whilst he tries to win your witch, Davina's loyalty. Why don't you tell me just how extreme this faction is?"

Sophie looks surprised at that, "Elijah's talking to Davina?"

Rebekah confused at the witch, "Yeah, as we speak, I imagine." She leans back and crosses her leg.

"I'm guessing she'll have plenty to say about that crowd." said Sophie with a faraway look, but snaps out of it as the door opens and Stiles walks in, and says, "I believe I might have an idea about our current predicament, but please continue." he nodded at Sophie to continue.

Klaus looks up angrily, "And where in the world were you, when Hayley got attacked?"

"With my friends? I believe she's alright?" Stiles asked guiltily.

Before Nik could snark at Stiles, Rebekah, cleared her throat loudly, "Yes. Now let's listen to the witch." looking pointedly at Sophie to continue.

Stiles sighed in relief, threw Rebekah a smile thank you and sat down next to her, looking at Sophie, "Well, do tell."

Sophie stutters in embarrassment, "I wasn't always an advocate for the witches. My sister was devoted like our parents, and our upbringing was very strict, which drove me nuts. The minute I turned 21, I left the Quarter to travel and play. But I wanted to be a chef, so I came back to Rousseau's. I met my sister there that day. She wanted to let me know that the elders had come to a vote. They'd decided to move forward with the Harvest."

"What the bloody hell is the Harvest? Asked a confused Rebekah.

Stiles spoke up before Sophie, "It's a ritual their coven does every three centuries so that the bond to their ancestral magic is restored."

Sophie looks at him confused, as to how he knew that, before shrugging, "Yeah, he's right. We appease our ancestors, they keep our ancestral power flowing."

"And why haven't I heard of this?" asked Nik, annoyed.

Stiles rolled his eyes at his brother, before turning towards him, "Because the Harvest always seemed like a myth, a story passed down through generations."

"Then how are you so versed about this, Harvest, brother?" asked Nik, challenging.

Stiles gave Nik a look before he said just one word, "Augustine."

Nik looked down guiltily, while Sophie just looks at everyone awkwardly and continues, "Like Noah's ark or the Buddha walking on water. The kind some people take literally and some people don't."

She told them about how eight girls initiated the ceremony, with all the elders present, how she had tried to stop them, because her niece was one among the girls.

"They had the girls of our community preparing for months. Four would be chosen for the Harvest. They said that it was an honor, that they were special. I thought it was a myth."

"Was it?" asked Rebekah, curiosity lacing her voice.

But before Sophie could answer, Nik's phone rings, snapping them all out of their musings.

"Marcel. Bit early in the day for you, isn't it?"

Klaus then proceeds to talk to Marcel, about meeting in the Bayou, and agrees to go. On hearing about the dead witches in the bayou, Sophie straightens, "You can't go out there now."

Hayley, just then walks in with a mug, when Sophie continued, "I need to gather the witches' remains and consecrate them. If I don't get them before sundown, we lose the link to their magic."

Klaus turns towards her, an angry expression on his face, "Those witches tried to kill Hayley. I prefer for Marcel's informant not to find anything that would lead him back to us, to her or to, you know, that." pointing awkwardly to the baby.

Hayley just looks at him exasperated, "You are all class."

Klaus ignores Hayley, looks at Sophie, warning her, "Stay put and save the rest of the story 'til I return." and then walks out.

Rebekah had gone out, to follow Hayley who'd snuck out to find more answers about the wolves, who'd protected her. Klaus had gone over to the Big Aggies Bayou Bar, to meet with Marcel. Stiles was walking over to the St. Anne's Church, to talk to Father Kieran and Davina, if he could.

As he entered the church, he remembered that the last time he'd visited he had felt death, a lot of death. That was the reason for his visit, to know what had happened, because he had had a vague idea that it had to do something with the witches.

He saw Father Kieran standing at the altar, leaning onto the table, seeming deep in thought. Stiles walked up behind the Father, and cleared his throat, to make his presence known. The Father turned, just as a tear slipped from his eyes, which he wiped away immediately.

Stiles noticing this, asked, "Are you alright, Father?"

Father Kieran just nodded stiffly at Stiles, "Yes. What are you doing here, again?" asked distantly.

"You know, the last time I came here, I sensed a darkness, that shouldn't exist in a church, unless it had something to do with a witch?"

The Father looked at Stiles, stiffly, but not before Stiles caught a glimpse of understanding and deep sadness in his eyes.

So he continued, "And by the look on your face and by your silence, what I'd assumed was right."

"What do you want, Stiles?" sighed Kieran, defeated, knowing that the young Mikaelson wouldn't go until he gave him something.

"What I want to know, is what happened here, to bring so much darkness?"

Stiles had read the stories about how a seminary student had gone rouge and killed all his fellow seminaries. But Stiles didn't for a minute believe that the kid had just snapped and had done an investigation, of his own and had come to a startling conclusion that a hex had been placed on the kid. He'd come to the Father to confirm his conclusions.

Father Kieran took a deep breath and let it out slowly, knowing that he would be telling the Original, what happened on that fateful night and the events preceding it.

Hayley, Stiles and Rebekah were standing near the piano, Rebekah pouring scotch into three glasses. She hands one to Stiles who downs it in one go and offers the other one to Hayley, who gave her a look, at which she shrugged and downed them both.

"I don't care if we have to get you a leash. That was your last trip to the bayou. What is it with you and those wolves, anyway?" said Rebekah, annoyed slightly at Hayley for running out into the bayou.

Hayley sighs, looking lost, "I feel like we're connected somehow. I don't know. Maybe it's just some pipe dream that I have of finding any real family out there, but sometimes when I feel like it's me against the world, keeps me going."

Stiles who'd grown fond of Hayley, quietly assured her, "You know, I do consider you family Hayley, like the other wolves in the Pack."

"Well, if you ask me," said Rebekah, nonchalantly, "family is a pain in the behind. And as for being in it alone, how dare you? I don't ruin a perfectly fabulous pair of boots traipsing through the Bayou for just anyone."

Stiles laughs at his sisters childish nature, fondly, knowing well enough behind her tough-girl exterior, Rebekah was a caring and loving person. Hayley smiled softly at them both. Before anyone could say anything, the front door opens up and Klaus walks in hurry and looks at them all, his expression somewhere along happiness and slight fear.

Rebekah sighs in relief, "Nik. Finally. What...?"

She gets interrupted as Elijah walks in, startling them all for an instant, before they all smile at him with happiness. Rebekah stares at him for a moment before she jumps and tackles him into a bone crushing hug.

"Oh, Elijah. You're safe."

Elijah looks at Stiles, with surprise etched on his face, smiles at him, let's go of Rebekah and grabs Stiles in a hug.

"Little brother, it is a pleasure to finally see you, after so long."

"I know."

Elijah then notices Hayley, who smiles at him and walks away, letting the family have their little reunion.

"Now that you're home, is your first plan to kill Niklaus?" asked Rebekah, excited.

Stiles laughs and shakes his head at his sister.

But Elijah looked completely distracted, "Excuse me, just a moment." He kissed Rebekah on the cheek and walked away, to follow Hayley.

Rebekah looks at him confused, "Where's he going?" she asked the others.

Klaus and Stiles chuckle at their sister's ignorance.

Later in the evening, the Mikaelson's and Hayley met up in Elijah's office, to talk about what he'd found. Rebekah and Klaus were sitting on armchairs opposite to where Elijah was standing, leaning against the bookshelf, behind the chair. Hayley and Stiles, standing next to each other beside the table leaning onto the fireplace.

"Everything that brought us here to New Orleans was a lie. The story that Sophie Deveraux fabricated, this struggle for control of the French Quarter, this war between vampires and witches, wasn't over territory at all. This was over Davina."

Stiles nodded at them, before, he said, "It is true. Eight months ago, Sophie Deveraux and her sister Jane-Anne lost everything. Now, four months after that, a young, pregnant girl wanders into their restaurant. Suddenly, all hope is renewed. Jane-Anne actually sacrificed her life so that her sister could use you to find Davina."

Elijah nodded at Stiles, agreeing with him, continued, "If Sophie Deveraux is successful in capturing Davina, she can return Jane-Anne's daughter back to life. We thought we'd come here to wage a war for power. This is about family. In order to return her niece to life, Sophie Deveraux will fight to the death. That makes her more dangerous than anyone."

Stiles shook his head, but paused before he said, "No. Maybe it does, but Davina has to be sacrificed."

The others looked at Stiles with startled, questioning eyes.

"I'll explain. Elijah you said that Davina couldn't sometimes control her power, right?" Elijah nods at that, confused. "That is because, when the Reaping is almost upon us, she will lose control. The elements will act against her. She will destroy the Quarter, if the power doesn't go back into the earth. And if she keeps it she'll die, taking us with her. Its death and destruction for everyone if she isn't sacrificed. And before you ask, no, she wouldn't die, she will be brought back after the Reaping."

This revelation made everyone stop wondering about the why and started on wondering about the consequences. Stiles sat silent, giving them time to contemplate.

"Well, then, what are we waiting for, let us go finish the job the witches started." said Klaus, nonchalantly, getting up off his seat, but before he could fully stand Stiles was pushing him back down in his chair.

"No. We aren't doing the killing today, we are going to wait for the opportune moment. And we do not kill children." said Stiles, staring down at Klaus, with his hands crossed over his chest. "Oh. And before we adjourn, I would like to know what happened to my daughter."

Stiles asked his siblings, staring them down, who all looked down guiltily, not meeting his eyes. Stiles, noticing this, said in a defeated tone, "Oh. So you all know, but didn't bother to tell me what happened to my own daughter. Elijah, even you."

"I deeply am sorry, brother. I will let Niklaus tell you, what happened after the fire." said Elijah, his eyes conveying how truly sorry he was for not telling him.

Klaus sighed, cleared his throat as he started his story.

New Orleans, 1798

Klaus had compelled a human man who was walking down the street, to start a fire at the Maybell farm, over an hour ago. He had already lured Stiles in and daggered him. He walked over to the little cottage, being eaten up by the raging fire that was consuming everything in its wake. He was thinking about how the Maybell witch had spoken sweet words to his kind and loving brother, trapping him in her web of lies, how he'd thought he lost his beloved brother to the witch.

He stood in front of the little cottage on the farm, enjoying and savoring his victory, when he saw the said witch running out of the house.

The woman clutched at her womb, running out of the burning house, and collapsed onto the ground, her breath, coming up in small sobs, her chest heaving as she took hard deep breaths.

Klaus looked on in anger at the witch, deciding to finally kill her with his bare hands, he moved toward her, in anger.

The woman, Klaus had learned was named Augustine, looked up at him in relief, which turned to horror as she saw his face.

She kept a protective hand on her womb, muttering under her breath rapidly. As she finished she looked up at Klaus with pleading eyes, "Please, save my daughter, before she dies with me. Please." She had begged him with tears running down her face.

Klaus just laughed at her. He just picked her up, his hands on her throat, choking her, when she choked and spluttered out, "She is your niece, a Mikaelson, your blood. Please. Save her. Stiles would never forgive you if you don't."

Klaus' grip on her throat loosened a bit, hesitating for a minute before, he squeezed tighter, said, "You are lying, you filthy witch. You took my brother from me. And for that I am going to kill you and that spawn of yours."

Elijah came out of nowhere and threw Klaus against a tree, keeping him pinned there. "You will not harm Augustine, Niklaus. Like she said Mischief would never forgive you. And the child is Stiles', he had confided in me a day ago. You can leave now."

Klaus looked at Elijah in anger, but left without a fight. Elijah ran over to the witch, bit into his wrist and gave her his blood, healing her.

Augustine sighed in relief, she looked at Elijah with a small tired smile, "Thank you. I-" Before she could continue, she let out a sharp gasp of pain. "The baby, Alexandria." she gasped out, before she lost consciousness.

Elijah had stopped talking as he saw his brother's pained expression.

"What...? How did she die?" asked Stiles, stuttering, his voice cracking with emotion, as a tear ran down his face, which he wiped off quickly.

"I took her to an elder witch, where she gave birth to Alexandria, a beautiful baby girl. Augustine died soon after she gave birth, placing the baby in my care. She died, not before asking for you, but you had already been daggered, she told me to tell you to forgive Niklaus and that she had performed your spell. I took baby Alex to the Claire witches, who took care of her, until she was old enough, to move out. I had convinced the Claire's to not say anything about us, Mikaelson's, but somehow she did find out, and came to me. I told her about you, how you were daggered. She ran away soon after, but kept correspondence with me over the years. She took her mother's name, Maybell. I always kept my word to Augustine to take care of her family, and to this day I have kept my word. After Marcel freed you, I tried to tell you, but had already run away; we never did find you later."

Stiles looked lost, as Elijah continued, "Almost a century after Alex had disappeared, and her grandson, Daniel came back with his family, and settled down. I helped him, anonymously of course, to rebuild his farm house. The Maybell's have stayed here, ever since. The last Maybell died a few years ago, from old age. I believe there aren't any more Maybells."

Stiles looked at Elijah, "Thank you." he then looked at Klaus, who was looking down guiltily, "I forgive you, brother." He got up after that to leave, when Elijah stopped him.

"I have a few journals and letters from Alex. She left it in my care. I can leave it on your table."

Stiles, who'd stopped, nodded without turning back, and walked out.

Do review!
21 April 2k17
~aag