Black Star I am super happy that you really liked the last chapter! And I am glad that you have added The Dark World to your list to watch, I like it for Loki, so if you like him then I would recommend watching it. I am glad that you were satisfied with the dialogue about The Master, I wanted to give a little history from the cursed one's viewpoint and to catch Klaus up on it, but I also didn't want to go over something the readers already know about. Glad that I could find the balance to it without going to far over.
Thank you Guest for your review of my work! I am glad that you are enjoying it so far, and thank you for taking the time to review it! And don't worry some background will be coming soon. I also think that Elijah is perfect for her after the horror she has experienced. Glad you approve :D
A Touch Of Hope
She wanted to murder someone, or at least one of the two other occupants in the vehicle. Klaus was monologing to Cami about his mother's wish to destroy his family. It wasn't a bad speech per se, but after spending hours in the same vehicle with these two it almost made her want to bash her head in, repeatedly.
Thankfully her new master pulled to a stop in front of a beautiful country home, just when She was thinking of somehow breaking her own neck. Painful? Yes, but so effective in drowning out these two for a while.
She got out and walked around the vehicle, choosing to stand behind Cami while Klaus assured her of the safety of the house. She followed along behind them as they walked towards the house, her attention on the surrounding countryside.
When Hayley came out holding her daughter She finally realized what that strange little heartbeat that she had been hearing was. The baby that had supposedly been dead was alive and well, safe in her mother's arms.
She looked on with horror as Cami turned into what She considered an idiot, cooing at the young infant, and talking to her in a higher pitched voice. She wondered what is it about babies that turn people into such babbling fools?
Before Klaus and The Cursed One entered the house Klaus shot her a meaningful look, she remembered just what that look meant from last night's conversation. She gave him a short nod to let him know that she remembered. Satisfied he walked up the stares and into the house, She followed behind wondering just what exactly she was going to do with a baby in the house.
Walking into the living room after Klaus She decided not to take a seat, preferring to stand leaning against the wall.
For the most part Klaus and the others were content to discuss the problems they faced as if She wasn't there. Not that She had a problem with them doing that, in all honesty she was used to being treated like the servants of old, silent and unnoticed until needed. The Cursed One contented herself with looking out the window that was near her, paying attention to the scenery, trying to see if there were any spots that an enemy would exploit should they try to sneak up to the house. It was more reflex than anything else, to know where your current position was the most vulnerable.
It didn't take that long to spot areas that might be used, it seemed from this angle that there was not much for someone to use for cover. She allowed her attention to wander, still aware of approaching enemies, but otherwise not paying attention to what was happening in the room until they looked like they were done speaking.
After Klaus had finished filling in Elijah and Hayley the needed facts and after they had discussed that Cami would be staying, both for her safety and for Elijah's mental health, She thought that they were done and that she and Klaus would be out of there. Klaus, however, had one more thing to discuss.
"Elijah there is one more matter that must be settled before I leave."
"And just what would that be Niklaus?"
Klaus stood and took off the ring.
The Cursed One's attention immediately snapped to Klaus and the ring. Her former masters almost never took off the ring voluntarily.
"You take the She-Devil." He said, holding out the ring to Elijah.
"No brother." Elijah said, stepping back from Klaus. "She is needed in New Orleans with you to better handle Finn."
"On the contrary." Klaus said. "I have Marcel and his vampires, Hayley and her wolves, Kol, Rebekah, and possibly even Davina. No I have more than enough to do what needs to be done. You however need her here to help protect Hope."
"Do you think that I am no longer capable of defending your daughter." Elijah asked, narrowing one eye at his brother, almost daring him to say that he was not capable.
"Not at all, but Keira has informed me of her unending hatred of witches, and should Finn happen to find you here that hatred shall be a powerful asset. I need all the monsters I can to protect that which is most dear to me." He said, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder and stared intently into his eyes. "My family."
Elijah reluctantly nodded, took the ring from his brother and placed it on his finger, closing his eyes at the familiar wash of magic. The Cursed One left her spot by the window and stood in front of him. When he opened his eyes she bowed her head to him. "Master." She said
Cami was not happy to hear someone call another "master" in this day and age and demanded an answer, Klaus claiming urgent matters requiring his attention in New Orleans quickly left his brother to explain to the woman.
She held up the screaming baby in front of her with horror. "Just what am I supposed to do with you?" Give her armies to slaughter, masters to plot their ruin, even give her Originals and all of their drama. She could handle them all with a smile on her face, but what on earth was she supposed to do with a screaming baby?
Not sure just what to do She had shadowed Elijah around the house, until finally he asked her to find something else to occupy her time, which led her to walking past the baby's room. The baby had been screaming, and She had called out for Camille but there had been no answer. Listening for the woman had been impossible over the sheer volume of the baby. Finally out of desperation She had walked into the room and picked up the screaming infant. Not that that had actually helped matters
She looked around wildly, desperate for help from anything she could find. Finally, grimacing with distaste at the sheer volume of noise, she brought the baby closer and held it to her side. The baby stopped crying, instead Hope looked at her with fascination. Her attention was not caught for long however before the baby was off on another screaming fit.
"And they called me a demon." She said, making a face at the baby. To her surprise the baby stopped crying and giggled. Huh. Looking at the baby warily She made another face and the baby laughed this time. Well that's different. She thought. After a moment of looking at the baby still warily She said. "You know, you aren't so bad when you aren't screaming your head off."
The baby seemed to take offense to that and started screaming bloody murder again.
"What did I do?" She asked it helplessly, staring at the baby in her arms.
Cami came into the room in a hurry "It's ok she probably just needs feed. Here." Cami said, gesturing for the child, which She was all to happy to hand over the screaming infant.
It seemed that was exactly what the baby needed, and it was not too long before Cami was rocking the now content baby.
"Well, seeing as you have everthing under control then I shall leave you to it." She said, edging towards the door.
"Oh no." Cami said, her voice firm. "Get back here! I need to work with Elijah so that leaves you to take care of Hope."
"What am I supposed to do with the little beast?" Asked The Cursed One, staring at said 'beast' in horror.
"I don't know, maybe take her outside for a while."
"Have you seen me with this child?" She asked incredulously.
"Relax, you'll do fine." She said, placing the baby back into The Cursed One's arms and started to walk out. At the sound of her name being called she turned back.
"How do you know I won't hurt the child?" She asked, her voice surprisingly vulnurable.
"I have yet to see you be anything other than careful around her. "She said, looking pointedly at the careful grip The Cursed One had on the baby.
"Besides Klaus would not have let you anywhere near his daughter if he thought you were a threat, and I don't know, I guess I just have this feeling that I can trust you around her." Cami couldn't help but leave a warning though. "Don't let mine, or Klaus' trust in you with this child be wrong." She said, giving her a reassuring smile before leaving the room.
She stared at Cami as she left the room, surprised that the human would trust her with such a delicate thing. She stared at the baby in wonder, not sure how to react to the trust given to her.
Deciding to put it to the side to think on later she got the baby ready to go outside then almost hesitantly headed outside, certain that any moment the baby would declair its dislike of the outdoors in the form of another screaming fit. Surprisingly though Hope seemed to enjoy it, staring at the trees and the birds flying overhead with utter fascination.
The Cursed One herself was fascinated by the child in her arms. She could still hear the echoes of wailing infants as she cut through villages, hear the echoes of voices as mothers pleaded for mercy for their child they clutched to their chest. She had not hesitated to slaughter them together, their blood mixing together to stain her hands, and seemingly into her very soul. When she looked in Hope's eyes she could see the innocence in her eyes as she took in the world around her. The Cursed One remembered that innocence in countless other eyes that she had mercilessly killed, and that looked had disappeared as their eyes dimmed, and the life left them.
Her hands that were once so covered in blood that she was not sure if it would ever wash away, now tenderly brushed a little bug off of the child. Men and women alike had cursed her for her savagery as she cut through towns and armies withought mercy, and for the first time She felt a touch of regret that she was the instrument used to rid the earth of such innocence that was now resting so trustingly in her arms.
She didn't know that while she was watching Hope, Elijah was watching her through a window. He had been looking for Hope before hearing the sound of Keira's voice and the babble of the baby. He had went to the window to investigate and was astonished at the sight to see such a hardened warrior that was this woman entranced by the baby in her arms. He had been worried first at seeing his niece in the hands of someone so dangerous as Keira, but at seeing the tenderness and the look of wonder upon her face he decided to just watch for a bit longer. A small smile grew across his face as he watched the two of them, exploring the world together, lost in their own little adventure.
He spent longer then he thought just watching the beautiful sight of the woman and the child outside, before gathering his thoughts and deciding that he better call Rebekah before Cami caught him so distracted.
The Cursed One was surprised at the amount of time she spent outside with Hope. The baby was content to explore the world, held securely in the arms of the woman who was at one point one of the most feared beings in Europe.
When Hope started to get sleepy She decided that enough time had been spent outdoors so she carried Hope into the house. On the way to the baby's room she overheard Cami and Elijah playing a game, though it appeared to have moved beyond its original intent and moved to Cami trying to find a card, any card, where Elijah did not know the answer to. She rolled her eyes at Cami's antics and went upstairs to place Hope in her bed. Gently placing Hope in her crib She sat on the chair that was close to the bed and just observed the little child. Francesca had sent her on a mission during the whole fiasco that was centered around Hope's brith, and until now She thought that child was dead by the witches' hands. For all that the witches had feared with the coming of this child, Hope seemed like any other ordinary child.
Cami's heart skyrocketing interrupted her thoughts on the child and alerted her that something was wrong, She threw a final glance at Hope before speeding to see what the problem was. She found Cami, sitting down in a chair as if all the strength had left her body, the woman was shaking like a leaf.
She didn't know what to do. Comforting humans was not something that had happened in her long existance. She figured that it wouldn't hurt to prepare something that had always comforted her. She went to the kitched and prepared a cup of tea, listening all the while to see if Cami or Hope would need her. Tea prepared she took the cup to Cami and set it in front of her, not knowing how to comfort Cami She was gone before Cami even looked up to say thanks. She had her own cup of tea which she took upstairs to Hope's room. Sitting in the chair next to Hope's bed she sipped her tea and enjoyed the silence. Taking the time to think about the past few days. She wondered if it was already time to let Keira out, despite what Klaus had said. He was no longer her master so his words no longer had the affect of a command anymore.
Esther was taken care of, and Elijah was not so bad for a master. She looked at the baby, sleeping so peacefully and She felt a touch of wonder at the vulnurability of the child before her, and the sheer innocence of this new human, untouched yet by the evil of the world around her.
Who could be better to protect this child entrusted to her for protection? Keira was her softer side, who still kept a touch of kindness and empathy, but The Cursed One was the stronger protecter. Willing to do whatever it took to win, to survive.
Finn was still out there, and while he didn't know of Hope yet, it was only logical to figure that he would eventually figure it out. Once he did he would come for the child, uncaring of who stood in his way.
Cami also would be vulnurable, despite her being annoying and bent on pushing Hope at her, yet Cami was under her protection per Elijah's orders. Elijah as her master had first priority, yet he had ordered her to guard Hope as well. She didn't think that he wouldn't be able to handle himself against Finn, but one never knew just what would happen. Cami and Hope would be the ideal prey for Finn, soft and vulnurable, he would certainly be able to get past Cami. Once he did so Hope would be his, and She felt a strange reluctance to allow that to happen to the vulnerable Hope.
She leaned forward and gently ran her finger down Hope's face, hoping that it wouldln't wake her. Hope woke up anyway, opening her eyes and staring at The Cursed One with an intelligence that was far more than kids her own age.
They both stared at each other, taking the other's measure. Great, I am being weighed and measured by a baby She thought. Hope seemed satisfied with what she saw for she smilled and kicked her feet.
"You are certainly not an ordinary baby." She said, picking up Hope and bringing her to her breast. "Come on, lets go see if you can cheer up Cami."
The baby seemed happy enough with this idea so She set off to check up on Cami.
Cami had moved to the living room, the game still out exactly as it was before. Cami had poured herself a drink and was staring at the glass as if had all the answers to the universe. The Cursed One could see that she hadn't really touched any of the alcohal so she plopped Hope on her lap.
"Here you take her!"
When Cami went to protest She said. "Nope, you got baby duty, I have to go on patrol. Bye!"
She left before Cami could voice any protest, knowing that Cami needed the baby more than the bottle at this point to cheer her up, which She had grabbed the bottle and glass on the way out and set them in the kitchen. Of course she couldn't refrain from drinking what was in the glass, just so that Cami wouldn't be tempted, don't let Cami say She didn't do anything nice for her.
She shifted before she went out and once outside she shook herself, glad to be in wolf form again. She spent a while out there, establishing where the borderline was, familierizing herself with the various scents, and checking signs for anything human related. She also took the time to just be free, knowing that with the rarity of peace in her life she should enjoy it while it lasts. After one last patrol She went back into the house, padding past a startled Elijah on her way, and finding her own room shifted back to human.
Elijah stared at her retreating form in surprise. He knew that Keira was a hybrid, but being only around her human form he had forgotten that she could also turn into a wolf. He noticed a difference in her in this form. With Keira's human form she seemed to always carry a sadness around her, almost to the point of hopelessness, but in this form she seemed happy. The wolf had padded down the hall with a slight skip to its steps, and he had caught the canine grin that it gave at his start of surprise. Still, as beautiful as the wolf was, he still preferred the beautiful human form to this one.
He shook his head trying to figure out just where that thought had come from, putting it out of his mind for now, he went outside to the porch to make a phone call with Klaus. Hoping that Klaus would have kept his intention of forgiving him of his vile deed against Tatia.
A baby in the arms, works every time
I know my reviewers have said that they wanted to see more interaction with Kol and Klaus, but I couldn't resist going with this way, hope you are not too disappointed!
And before you ask, that conversation between Klaus and Keira will happen in a flashback, just be patient please!
I changed it a bit, in the episode Klaus said that Rebekah was going to be making her way to the country home, but for the sake of my story I decided that Klaus was going to keep her around him.
Please let me know what you think of this chapter! Do you think you know what will happen next? Let me know if you have a guess of where this might lead with Elijah having the ring once again.