Elijah smiled as he noticed Klaus's silent session of prayers, his eyes fixed on Camille's body and yet focused at the alter, Klaus didn't even flinch when Elijah sat beside him "I didn't think you were the praying type brother" he joked with ease casing his voice, Klaus let go of a long huff then shook his head "on the contrary brother, I was contemplating how I would kill every living witch, her child, her distant relatives, how I'll take pleasure in the smell of the ashes of their bodies if she dies" Klaus stopped then turned his head to Elijah "I figure you've found her, where is she?" Elijah could swore the rigid anger that was coming from Klaus's eyes was never witnessed before, yet he put his hand on his brother's elbow "she's on her way Niklaus, but I beg you don't kill her before the poor girl is saved…promise me!", "I assure you brother, I have no intent of killing her if I found that the poison is reversible… but I can't vouch for torturing her…" the church door flung open; then couple of Klaus's minions showed up gripping Sabine's wrists, who seemed rather prepared for what's to come.
"Let go of me!" Sabine scuffed when the grip of the minions tightened around her wrists, Klaus gestured approval then approached Sabine with slow steps "Sabine is it! Tell me, didn't your ancestors lecture you on my lethal supremacy, how I would rip anything in my path if am crossed, or weren't you there for that piece of information…" Klaus danced around her in circles, as if memorizing every detail of this despised being, she shivered seeing Camille's body on the alter, nonetheless with a satisfied grin she replied "I guess you've found my warning" her smile didn't last long as Kieran fiercely enveloped her throat for answers "what did you target my niece of all people, she's just an innocent and nice girl" he let go when realizing that he almost killed her, he backed away then waited for her to react "she's not that innocent! She's the absolute embodiment of sleeping with the enemy, I've seen her with Klaus on multiple occasions getting… cozy, even after she knew what vile things he represents", Kieran turned to Camille's body searching her face, then turned to Klaus "what!", Klaus seemed out of thoughts at the revolted stare coming into his path from all directions, except Elijah who seemed to sympathize with him at the deepest level.
Elijah crept closer to Sabine reasoning with her "what do you want for exchange! We want that antidote now, we will do anything as soon as that girl recovers", his subtle and calm approach gave the impression of a compromise, which Sabine acknowledged "I have the antidote with me, it will eradicate the traces of the poison in her system, but after I'll get out of here, safe and sound, plus with my demands, I'll remove the spell", "fine you have your wish, now where's the damn antidote" Klaus agreed in urgency demanding the cure, Sabine pulled a small vile of black fluid from her jacket pocket, then she opted to give it to Klaus, when Kieran's hand snagged it before "I think you did enough!" Klaus made no objection as he suggested to his minions to escort the witch safely out of the church, he then twisted his head to see father Kieran drop the liquid in Camille's throat, her lips started to recover slowly as they returned to their rosy shade, her blood flow returned to normal, and her heartbeats continued their superb rhythm, Father Kieran then elevated Camille's body, and aimed for the currently vacant attic.
"Am glad she's in good health now Niklaus, am also pleased that you controlled your temper around the witch, if I didn't know better, I'll say you've finally changed…to some extent anyhow!" Elijah joked, tenderly resting a hand on Klaus's shoulder, "thank you brother, I would've wrecked the entire city for this, I guess we both changed" Klaus whole heartedly admitted, raising his own hand to touch his brother's "what are you going to do next? Don't do something you'll regret doing later" Elijah pleaded before he left, "this time I'll do the right things for all of us" Klaus returned to his seat, still focusing on the alter, now he knows what to do, he's not sure if it's selfish of him or plain irrational, he's accustomed now to this weird surges of pain in his heart, he just didn't realize it would hurt this much after so long, every battle he enters lately, he comes out as the loser, maybe it's a way of punishment of the horrible sins he once committed, and still doing, only this time it was the final drop.
He entered the room calmly so he wouldn't wake her reflective sleep; he noticed how she kept turning back and forth around the bed, though still in deep hibernation, her gold locks were sprawled beautifully on the pillow, while her cheeks were painted with murky red shadow, nonetheless she looked as an angel mirroring her inner beauty, her sense of right and wrong made her shine from afar, if she ever knew his whole story, she wouldn't even be able to look at him again, yes, he made her write only polished details about his over-experienced life, he knew that confessing to sins he didn't regret doing, is just as evil she won't admit of existing, people maybe are inherently good, but he was born the opposite, he struggled with pain and suffering all his life, he can't recognize the good and the shallow anymore, there's no coming back and erasing what's done, his never-ending enemies are scheming in the shadows for his demise, the demise of everything he holds precious in his dim heart.
"Klaus, Did I faint earlier?" she questioned after opening her eyes to find him staring at a distance, "oh! My body must have crumbled at those sleepless nights of studying" she retorted, deducing the reason for herself, "it must be… is your headache gone?" Klaus inquired still at distance, "yeah, I feel all better…wow your care must do wonders" Camille joked before noticing the unfamiliar room, yet she didn't get scared knowing Klaus might have taken her to her Uncle's house. "that's what I've been told… you're in the church, your uncle got frightened so he sought to watch over you" Klaus felt relief as he saw Camille's usual gleam, he approached her meeting her blue eyes that shone with excitement and eagerness, then he started talking "you're uncle knows about us, he figured it out when I brought you here, I didn't deny either". Camille first reaction intermixed with relief and wonder; she touched Klaus's hand which seemed colder than usual, she didn't make anything of it, instead she comfortably took it in her warmer ones, "am glad he knows… I know what I am getting myself into, I know what kind of man you were…are" she smiled correcting herself then reprised "it doesn't bother me if the whole world hates you, I took comfort in what kind of man you could be, someone worthy of redemption, of salvation… yes you're a lot older than me, but that doesn't make you any more wiser, you must think I have a girl crush on you, but I don't…don't get me wrong it's more than that, I just don't want to hold you up for things you're not ready for" she glanced over to him, he was meditating in his own thoughts, he probably didn't catch what was her intention of all of this.
Klaus kissed her faintly on the lips, before she pulled away and hugged him forcibly appreciating his concern "am proud of you Klaus…for not disappointing me" she ran her fingers on the back of his head lovingly remembering how in hell she found herself caring for a murderous man, "enough with the sentimental crap, see you tomorrow!" she said still holding on to him for life, she let go and waved goodbye.
Wearing his jacket on his way down, he glimpsed Sophie entering the church with a soup container, he apprehensively stared at her bag then joked "I hope this time it will taste better than the former" he exceeded her when he heard her asking "are you sure about this? I don't know if it'll do but I'll try…" Klaus stopped then shortly hesitated.
"Yes" the door of the church slammed shut behind him.
Note: OK congratulations are in order, one chapter left and were done, I hope you're ready, am still not sure if they deserve a happy ending together or separately, all I know is this ship is my devotion in life, I mean writing…LOL, anyway I thought "when I was younger by Liz Lawrence" would make a beautiful song for their final scene. Hope you enjoy, and be kind and review! Peace 3