Part 3

"Who's ready for the next course?" Kol asked cheerfully.

"You're all filthy gluttons," Finn snorted.

"And you remain ever the dullard," Kol retorted.

"Alright, enough," Elijah huffed and glanced at the bundle of blankets few feet away. Alina was asleep; she had barely slept at all last night. They had traveled the whole night, after Elijah and Niklaus had been forced to clean up Kol's mess.

"We need to get rid of the bodies before Alina wakes up."

"'We' should have never attacked this carriage in the first place," Finn stated, glancing at Kol.

Kol rolled his eyes.

"I was hungry." He paused and smirked at Niklaus. "And it seemed that I wasn't the only one."

Niklaus didn't say anything, he seemed tense. Elijah knew that he felt guilty. Rebekah was looking at the woman who was lying on the ground. She and four men had been traveling in the carriage.

"Such pretty clothes," Rebekah sighed. "What a shame they'll go to waste."

"Rebekah, we have discussed this endless…" Elijah started.

"No, you have discussed this," Rebekah cut in sharply. "None of us had any say in the matter."

Elijah sighed, not this again.

"This lot were traveling somewhere," Rebekah continued stubbornly. "Their cart is full of silks and finery. Five of them, five of us. Wherever they were off to, why can we not simply go in their stead?"

"Masquerade as nobles from a land we do not know and whose customs we cannot begin to understand. Ridiculous," Elijah replied firmly.

"You saw the castle down the road, it was practically a gala," Rebekah argued. "This bunch were headed there, they…" Rebekah paused and sighed. "Think about it, Elijah, we could live as they do, at least for a time. Think about Alina, she would have everything she could ever need, she wouldn't have to sleep outside anymore and…"

"Silence," Elijah cut in, he had just heard something. A heartbeat. It was coming from the carriage. All his siblings followed him as he walked over to the carriage and yanked away a blanket. There was a young man hiding under it, he seemed to be in panic. He got up as quickly as he could and tried desperately to run. Rebekah was in front of him immediately.

"Well, aren't you a handsome one," she hummed.

The man was terrified; he tried to look for a way to escape.

"He looks like dessert to me," Kol stated as he appeared next to Rebekah.

"Wait, wait, wait!" the man pleaded. "I can help you. I…I am the personal servant to the Count de Martel. Of the very estate you just mentioned. I was sent to escort these guests to his home for a lengthy stay. I know their customs as well as the Count's habits. If you mean to pose as the family you have slaughtered here, then you'll need my help to carry out your ruse."

Elijah and his siblings stared at the man for a moment before Rebekah spoke.

"Please can we keep him?"

"Rebekah, no," Elijah snorted. "What is our most important rule?"

Rebekah sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Never leave alive someone who has…"

"… seen what we are," they all finished.

"Thank you very much. A practice that has served us very well indeed," Elijah stated and took a step towards the man.

"She has a point," Finn argued, putting his hand on Elijah's shoulder. "He may be of use."

"Ah, a proper family squabble," Kol said cheerfully.

"Perhaps we should put it to a vote," Niklaus stated. "All those in favor of letting him live?"

Rebekah and Finn raised their hand.

"Those inclined to gut him?" Kol asked, raising his hand. Elijah did the same; he thought it would be way too risky to trust a stranger.

"Well, Nik," Kol hummed. "What shall it be?"

"Papa?" a sleepy voice murmured before Niklaus managed to say anything.

Elijah turned around as quickly as he could, for a brief moment he had forgotten that Alina was there. The bodies… He was more than relieved to see that there was no sight of them and gave Finn a grateful look. Finn responded with a brief nod. Alina was standing next to the carriage, rubbing her eyes.

"Hello, sweetheart," Elijah said warmly."Did you sleep well?"

"Uh huh," she murmured and looked at the man. "Who is that?"

"Well… He…"

Alina was already walking towards the man before Elijah managed to stop her.

"Hello," she said. "What is your name?"

The man stared at her disbelievingly. She tilted her head, looking concerned.

"Are you alright?"

The man cleared his throat before he managed to reply.

"Yes, I… Yes. My name is Lucien."

Alina smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Alina. Are you a friend of my papa?"

"Yes," Elijah cut in before the man managed to reply. "He is our friend, sweetheart. Isn't that right?"

Elijah was smiling, but he made sure that the man understood the meaning behind his words.

"Yes," the man said quickly and bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, little lady."

Alina's face brightened.

"You are sweet. It is an honor to meet you too."

She tried her best to mimic his bow.

"That was very good, sweetie," Rebekah said. "You are just like a real lady already."

Alina smiled at her.

"Really?"

"Absolutely. In fact…" she paused and picked Alina up. "You and I are going to be real ladies. This nice man is going to teach us. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"Uh huh. Can I be a princess?"

"Of course you can," Rebekah giggled and hugged her niece.

"You already are a princess, little darling," Kol said and patted Alina's head. He had wiped the blood off his face.

"Yes, you are, Niklaus added.

Elijah glanced at Finn who gave him the "you better accept your defeat" look. It seemed that he didn't have much choice. Apparently they were going to become nobles.