With Riley's return to Mystic Falls, everyone assumed that she would quickly adjust back to her old life. Forgetting about the past six months was easier said than done. As much as Riley hoped to put all the fear and paranoia behind her, it was not that simple. The fact that witch spirits plagued her mind on a regular basis and some invisible force was attempting to take control of her from the inside made the adjustment even more difficult. She ate the herbs sent by Clare every morning and night but it only provided temporary relief. The day after the big reveal to her friends that she was alive, her parents were back in Mystic Falls. Elijah joined her when she greeted them at her house, standing in the kitchen. Her parents nearly squeezed the life out of her and at first, they did not want to know how she was alive after many months. After telling them the truth, enduring indignant stares and exclaims of outrage, her parents were torn between the urge to ground her for life or just appreciating that she was not dead.
Instead of staying in her home, she decided to stay in the Mikaelson mansion, fearful that her intense mood swings could cause serious harm to her parents. Unlike them, the Originals were able to survive potentially fatal injuries. The main problem of her being alive was how to explain her miraculous resurrection to the rest of the town. Her father suggested that Riley could claim she staged the car accident to avoid an obsessive stalker. Damon's ideas required far more time and luck, including ridding the town's supply of vervain and compelling each person to forget Riley was considered dead for months. While her friends bickered over the best solution, Riley proved just how powerful her magic had grown during her time away from Mystic Falls. Standing in the middle of town square and with a quick flick of her wrist, she altered the memory of every person in town, except for its supernatural residents. Her spell made them forget that Riley had ever died in the supposed car accident and it was as if she never left the town.
Hiding away for all that time was beneficial in some ways for her. When she was not assisting Katherine with her ridiculous plan involving the cure, she would sit in a hotel room, practicing her magic. Her strength grew so much that she rarely got nosebloods from casting challenging spells. Bonnie was also more powerful since their last encounter. Professor Shane, a professor at Whitmore College who had been the one to tell her friends about the cure for vampirism and Silas, taught her about Expression magic. Riley had seen multiple references to Expression in her grimoires. Her ancestors called it a very dangerous kind of magic that did not draw its power from nature. It was considered the beginning of witchcraft before witches created rules surrounding magic. Bonnie struggled to control her magic due to Expression being an overpowering force.
As Riley helped her to control it, they worked together to find answers to 'the darkness'. Riley had been spending a lot of time with Bonnie, researching the grimoires she collected while she was out of town. During her travels with Katherine, she found out that her ancestors had grimoires hidden in many cities. She first learned of the secret grimoires when she was in Colorado and heard a voice whispering in her ear, telling her to go to a very specific spot in the woods. Buried deep underground in a small clearing was a grimoire with the surname of her ancestors. She managed to recover ten grimoires and was curious if she could uncover more in other parts of the world. Each grimoired contained different spells and writings from her ancestors. The one thing they had in common was little blurbs about 'the darkness', warning of its dangers.
Riley was asleep in Bonnie's living room after a long night of research. Once again, they found no useful information, just ominous mentions of the darkness destroying her ancestors from the inside. Hearing a loud vibrating noise, she rolled off of the couch. She grabbed her ringing phone from the floor and drowsily walked into the kitchen.
"It's six in the morning. Why are you calling?"
"It's eleven o'clock, actually. Did I wake you up?" asked Elijah.
"My mind is running five hours behind so to me, it's only six and yes, you did wake me up. As punishment, I am going to destroy one of your suits"
"I was hoping you could help me mediate a meeting with Klaus and Rebekah about the cure. Unless that would intefere with your research…"
"My research that is going nowhere? No, I think I need a break anyway. Reading about how some creepy, invisible force made my ancestors kill themselves isn't very uplifting. I'll help you keep them from scratching each other's eyes out. Give me like ten minutes"
As she hung up her phone, she smelled smoke and a scent like burning wood. She hurried into the living room, finding the coffee table on fire. Waving her hand, she extinguished the flames. Seconds later, the flames reappeared, spreading to the couch and Bonnie's blanket. Each time that she removed the flames, Bonnie's magic conjured it again.
"Bonnie, wake up!" she said, shaking her shoulders.
Riley was moving her hand so quickly to stop the fire that it was about to fall from her wrist. Bonnie's eyes popped open and in a panic, she doused the fire. She looked at Riley, worried that she was injured by the flames. Riley conjured a cup of tea to calm her nerves. Drinking the tea, Bonnie explained that she was having a dream about visiting Jeremy's grave and he appeared behind her. The dreams were nothing new to her. She had been having them ever since she learned about Jeremy's death. After completing the Expression triangle, Bonnie's memories of what happened since she and Jeremy found the cure were wiped from her mind.
"I've had the dreams before but setting the couch on fire is a first"
"You haven't had time to mourn, Bon. It makes sense. When those witches were trying to save you, they messed with your head and got rid of some pretty important memories. I was supposed to help Elijah with something but I can stay with you in case you're worried about your magic losing control again"
"No, you can go. I'll be fine"
"Maybe you should take those herbs instead of me"
"Riley, you definitely need them more. You just started to get over those mood swings and the witch spirits in your head"
"With our problems, we could write a book. Call me if you accidentally conjure another fire. I'll meet you and Caroline at the dress boutique. She says that voices in my head are no reason to skip prom"
"I'm pretty sure you could be covered in burns and she'd still force you to go"
Riley packed her grimoires into her backpack and used magic to change into a new outfit. Tying her hair up in a ponytail, she drove over to the Mikaelson mansion. Elijah was sitting at the table in the living room.
"I'm glad those herbs are beginning to work. Clare sent another batch earlier this morning," he said, playing with a strand of her chestnut brown hair.
"So you didn't like me with my short blonde hair and raccoon eyes? I'm hurt," she joked.
"You'd always look beautiful to me"
He kissed her softly. Their few minutes of privacy were interrupted by a groan of disgust. Rebekah and Klaus entered the living room.
"Althought I've accepted this relationship, could you please refrain from doing that in front of me? At least lock the door" said Rebekah.
Klaus turned towards Riley. "Since you're here to keep us civil, then perhaps you could also lift the spell that keeps me ten feet away from your dear friend Jayden at all times"
"No"
"It makes it difficult to walk freely around Mystic Falls"
"When I can trust that you'll be mature and won't snap his neck, I'll lift the spell"
"You've gotten quite arrogant while you were gone"
"I'll take that as a compliment"
While Elijah discussed the terms of the meeting, allowing both Rebekah and Klaus to give their reasons for wanting the cure, Riley's phone vibrated in her pocket. She received a text from Damon, celebrating that nine days had passed since Elena killed a waitress in Willoughby. It was sad that he was cheering for Elena not murdering an innocent person. The Salvatore brothers decided to hold off on obtaining the cure for Elena, knowing that if they continued the pursuit, she would go on a killing spree. They switched their focus to making her want the cure for herself. Though Riley believed Elena should just embrace being a vampire, the brothers were not as willing to accept that change. Damon made Riley promise that she would not physically hurt Elena in an attempt to switch on her humanity.
She listened to Rebekah why she wanted to be human again. Rebekah considered it a fresh start, being able to have a family and bring meaning to her life. Klaus mocked her sweet speech, earning a kick in the leg under the table from Riley. His reasons for the cure were a bit more selfish. Without the cure, Silas swore to torment him for an eternity. He reminded them that Silas had the ability to impersonate any person and could create illusions in their minds. When Rebekah argued that Silas would bring down the veil to the Other Side, Klaus attempted to appeal to Elijah's compassionate side. Silas wanted the cure to reunite with his lost love. Riley and Rebekah both rolled their eyes when Klaus claimed that Elijah would have done anything to be reunited with his own love and with the veil down, Finn and Kol could return to the physical world, making their family whole.
"You hated Kol and you kept Finn in a box for most of his life. Not to mention, the man who almost killed Riley would return and I doubt you wish to put her through that torture" said Rebekah.
"Riley's magic has grown considerably. I'm sure she could research a way to put the veil back up after Silas takes the cure"
"How noble of you to put such a weight on a teenage girl's shoulders. The witch spirits are already furious with her and you will add another reason for them to give her restless nights"
"You're being pessimistic, sister. Elijah, Riley…"
Elijah glanced over at her. Even without reading his thoughts, she knew that he came to a similar decision. Klaus's smile faltered when Elijah chose to give the cure to Rebekah. Descending into one of his bad moods, he threatened that when a human Rebekah was dying and begged for his blood, he would laugh in her face and refuse to heal her. He stormed out of the living room. Riley found him in the backyard, chucking rocks at a tree. The force of his throws created holes in its trunk. She stopped one of the rocks in mid-air.
"That tree didn't do anything to you. Don't take your anger out on it"
"You would rather I take it out on you?"
"Klaus, I know you're angry but even you can see the problem with taking down the Other Side. Sure, Silas gets to reunite with an old love but think of all the enemies you've sent there. All of them will come back too. Do you seriously think I can put the veil back up all by myself so you can escape Silas's torment and your enemies stay dead?"
"Yes"
"I'm serious"
"As am I, Riley. I can see how powerful you are and you've barely scratched the surface of your potential. It's why you frighten the other witches"
"I appreciate that vote of confidence but I'm not willing to take that risk"
Riley confessed that before she heard that Silas wanted him to obtain the cure, she planned on giving it to Klaus. Even if it would not gain Katherine's freedom, it would be safer in his hands. He told her that he intended to destroy the cure instead of using it on Elena to turn her human.
"I know"
Klaus looked at her, surprised. "You knew?"
"I know how you are, Klaus. You would destroy it so no one could use it against you to make you vulnerable. It's better if it's destroyed. If my friends never considered finding it, Silas would be asleep in that tomb. Forget about him and his lame threats. If anyone is going to torture you for an eternity, it's me. That shapeshifting weirdo can back off. I'm tiny but I'm vicious. I'm like a puffer fish...all adorable on the outside but provoke me and my poisonous spines pop out to stab you."
He chuckled as she puffed out her cheeks. "What you are is mental"
"All the best people are. Now stop being a grumpy face. I'm the one who's being forced to go to prom. I'm allowed to be upset"
"You'll easily get prom queen"
"I will set that tiara on fire if they pick me. I'm thinking of stuffing the ballot box so two guys win. Maybe Cameron and Jayden? That slow dance would be priceless. My prankster mastermind wheels are turning. This is better than my idea to pretend that I spiked the punch, tell everyone that I did, and then watch them act like they're drunk. Don't tell Elijah either of those. I'm pretty sure if I keep a straight face the whole night, I can see what he's like drunk too"
"I'm sure it will be a night to remember"
Walking back into the mansion, she spoke with Elijah about giving Rebekah the cure. She was uncertain that Rebekah would stick with her choice to become human. With her impulsive nature, she could waste the cure, persuading someone to turn her into a vampire after a few weeks. He made a deal with Rebekah to live as a human for the entire day. If she used any of her vampire abilities, such as compulsion, he would refuse her the cure. She agreed to help him keep an eye on her during prom. Checking her phone, she saw texts from Caroline, reminding her about their appointment at the dress boutique. She left her backpack filled with grimoires in the living room. Before she left, Elijah made sure that she ate a handful of herbs.
She drove down to the boutique. Bonnie and Caroline, who was tapping her foot impatiently, were waiting outside. As soon as Riley shut the door, Caroline grabbed her arm and dragged her into the boutique to try on dresses…
~Elijah~
Elijah was sitting in the living room, flipping through one of Riley's grimoires. She had been reading all of them for the past week, searching for an answer to this so-called darkness inside her. He did not enjoy being useless in the endeavor. Seeing her in pain, unable to stop the constant voices in her head, gave him an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach. Though the herbs were keeping the voices quiet for a short time, he knew that she needed a permanent solution. He heard the door open as he read a passage on animal sacrifices.
Elena was in the doorway, her purse slung over her shoulder. From upstairs, Rebekah shouted that she needed a minute to find a pair of boots. When he returned to Mystic Falls, he never expected a friendship between the two of them. He assumed that with her humanity off, Rebekah was the closest thing she had to a friend. Riley had been very adamant, even in her own fragile state, that Elena needed to turn on her humanity. She was never the kind to coddle a human Elena and would certainly not do that with her as a vampire. Unable to be around Elena and not push her to snap out of this emotionless phase, she asked Rebekah to watch over her. He could barely recognize the Elena standing before him.
"Hello Elena"
"Elijah. Are you reading your mother's grimoire?"
"No. It belongs to one of Riley's ancestors. It seems that they had a collection of books and hid them in different cities"
"I haven't seen her since she surprised everybody that she was alive. I think it has to do with a conversation between her and Damon. He doesn't want her to be alone with me because she'll pressure me to have my emotions. Are you worried?"
"That she may resort to physical violence to get your humanity back?"
"No, all those private conversations between them. She and Damon are really close. I mean, you spent so much time in a box while they were drinking buddies and dealing with Klaus. He used to visit her grave like every week, pretending that she was there. It was kind of pathetic. But then again, maybe Jayden's the real threat. She never told you about this elaborate plan to fake her death and you're her boyfriend. It must've hurt"
"I see what you are doing, Elena"
"What? I'm being honest with you, Elijah. My cousin may look like an innocent little angel but her past says otherwise. Has she told you about her past boyfriends? Judging by them, Damon's more her type. I kept waiting for them to hook up but maybe they did behind our backs"
Elijah was unfazed by her insinuations. He had lived long enough to see through all kinds of manipulations and Elena's was very common. She wished to place seeds of doubt in his mind to stir up trouble in his relationship with Riley. Rebekah descended down the staircase and they left the mansion together. Glancing at a page in the grimoire, he was intrigued by a passage scrawled in the margins…
~Riley~
Caroline and Bonnie already had their dresses picked out months ago, making it more important for Riley to get her dress for prom. The experience reminded her of the shopping for the Mikaelson ball. Caroline had her try on at least twenty dresses, ranging from short to floor-length. It seemed like hours before Riley settled on a strapless, floor-length, teal dress. The boned bodice had a sweetheart neckline with lavish beading accents. Caroline's excited clapping was a sign of approval. While Riley paid for her dress, Caroline tried hers on to make sure it fit properly. Bonnie told her about her strange dreams.
"You're grieving. That's normal" she said, checking her appearance in the mirror.
"When I woke up, the couch was on fire"
"Oh"
"I don't know if it's because I was emotional in my dream or if Shane was right. Without his help, I'll lose control of my magic"
"Let's not take a creepy professor's advice. I can make you a herbal mixture to get rid of those dreams. We have enough problems with Silas running around town" said Riley.
Caroline shook her head. "No more talk about immortal psychos who can get in our heads. What Bonnie needs is a night off from mourning and you and I are going to make sure that she has it"
Since Tyler was still on the run, Caroline, Bonnie, and Matt were going as each other's dates. Caroline, being her positive self, was excited about prom, despite her boyfriend not being around to enjoy it with her. She insisted that it would be a perfect night.
"You are part of that perfect night so no sneaking off with Elijah to make out in the teacher's lounge"
"Why would we go all the way to the teacher's lounge, Care? We'll be dry humping on the drinks table"
"That is not funny. Besides, Elijah is a gentleman. He wouldn't do that"
"Gentleman in the streets but an animal between the sheets" she replied with a wink.
Caroline threw her purse at Riley in disgust. Their fun moment was ruined by Elena and Rebekah entering the boutique. Bonnie pinched Riley's arm as a warning to not provoke Elena.
"Hey Bonnie. Heard you got your mind wiped. That sucks. Pretty dress, Caroline"
"I know. You helped me pick it out months ago when we were friends…before you tried to kill me"
"Very subtle" mouthed Riley.
"I thought it looked familiar" said Elena, crossing her arms.
Caroline told the owner of the boutique that she would pick up the dress later in the day. She walked into a dressing room.
"Hi Riley. How are you feeling?"
"You don't care"
She let out a fake gasp. "Of course I do. We're cousins. Are you still being punished by witch ghosts and going crazy?"
"I'm feeling better. My mom says it's good to channel my emotions through creative outlets"
Elena smacked herself in the face. A faint handprint covered her cheek. Bonnie put her head in her hands, peeking through her fingers to make sure Elena did not attack someone in the shop.
"What do you think, Bonnie? Was that creative?"
"You promised Damon not to hurt me" said Elena, snarling.
"I promised that I wouldn't hurt you. You hit yourself"
"I'll rip out your heart right here"
"Elena, are you feeling anger? Ooh, that's an emotion. Should I get a little more creative next time?"
"You better watch yourself at prom. I don't care if Elijah is your date. I'll kill you in front of him"
"Well, that will be an eventful prom"
Caroline left the dressing room, immediately sensing the tension between her and Elena. After handing her dress to the shop owner, they left the boutique and headed to the Mystic Grill for lunch. Both Bonnie and Caroline reprimanded her for using her magic against Elena. She felt no reason to apologize for using a tough strategy to get through to her emotionless cousin. When she drove back to the Mikaelson mansion and carried her dress up to Elijah's room, he was sitting on his bed, reading one of her grimoires. Other grimoires were scattered across the blanket.
"I may have found something useful to explain what happened when you used that spell to fake your death" he said, marking a page with a pen.
"I've stared at those pages for days but of course, you get answers in less than three hours"
"It's not a full answer, more of a connection. The passages about this…darkness have a common theme. Your ancestors write about it as though it's a person"
Riley sat beside him. "A person?"
"They all began to recognize the voice as someone they knew in their lives, usually a friend or lover. This familiar person had died before they experienced their own death. I believe that the darkness latched onto your ancestors as they traveled back to the physical world and once they committed suicide, it took on a new form"
"So I might have met it before as someone else? The voice isn't clear when I hear it"
"Perhaps it becomes clearer with time. The other pressing matter is that this darkness enticed them to find a beast to strengthen their magic"
"A beast? It must mean a vampire or a werewolf"
"I'm unsure. This is all speculation, Riley. You shouldn't fret over it until we understand it better"
Around eight o'clock, Riley got dressed for prom. Her hair was in loose curls, swept to one side. She stood in front of the mirror, putting on a pair of silver peep-toe heels. Eating the last couple herbs in the bottle, she grabbed her silver clutch and walked downstairs. Elijah was leaning against the railing, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo. He was silent as she reached the bottom step.
"The silence is making me think that I should've stayed hidden until after prom. I look stupid"
"How mesmerizing you look in that dress left me speechless"
"It's a stupid high school prom. You don't want to go to one of those. We can hang out here and—"
He slipped a silver and teal rose corsage around her wrist. "All that matters is that I get to spend time with you"
The theme of the prom was Pictures of You. Caroline worked tirelessly to create a photo yearbook. Along the walkway, screens were set up on either side, showing pictures from freshman to senior year. Riley stopped at a screen with a picture of her and Jeremy outside the school.
"Riley?"
"I never got to say goodbye and the last time he saw me, he thought I was dead"
"That wasn't your fault"
"No, it was a bunch of paranoid witches who were scared of a teenage girl. I guess I can never leave Mystic Falls"
"Riley, the witches are not aware of your resurrection. In their minds, you died that night with Alec. Soon enough, it will be safe for you to leave. Not every witch sees you as an enemy"
The dance hall was packed with seniors and their dates. She met up with Bonnie and Matt. Noticing that Caroline was strangely absent, Bonnie told her that she was searching for a new dress. When they left the boutique, Elena compelled the owner to give her Caroline's dress, an underhanded way to annoy her.
"Would you like a drink?" asked Elijah.
"Sure but be careful. I heard someone spiked the punch"
"I had my suspicions that you were behind it since Jayden just waved at you from the drinks table"
"You think I would do that?"
"In a heartbeat. Don't get in any trouble while I'm gone"
He pecked her cheek and moved through the crowd. As they talked, Jayden joining their group, she spotted Elena having a tense conversation with Damon. She groaned when Matt and Bonnie suggested speaking to Elena in an attempt to be friends like old times. It took less than a minute for their friendly approach to crash and burn in their faces. Elena doled out some harsh words, calling Bonnie a constant reminder of the terrible things that happened to her. Jayden stopped Riley from going after Elena. Bonnie, who looked upset, left the building.
"Don't get in the middle of it, Ri. You told Damon—"
"She needs her emotions. If they put us alone in a room, I'd get her to turn on her humanity"
"Let the Salvatores try it their way. Everyone fell for the punch trick. Half the football team is already acting tipsy"
Elijah returned with drinks. He whispered to her that he knew there was no alcohol in the punch. She was confused how he saw through their prank but was reassured by the seniors already wasted from the 'spiked' punch. He took her out onto the dance floor.
"How did you know?"
"You're far too intelligent to use such an old trick, Riley"
"Damn. I was hoping to see you drunk"
He smiled. "A good effort but I know you too well"
"Oh, it's not over. I'll get you when you least expect it"
An hour into prom, Riley had to admit that she was enjoying herself. It was mostly because she was with Elijah. Sometimes, it felt like they spent more time apart than together. Their relationship had its ups and downs, whether it was him getting daggered by a stubborn Klaus or her disappearing for months after faking her death. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she heard the witch spirits in her head. She tried to block them out, intending to have one good night. The voices got louder, pounding against her skull. She winced, letting out a small whimper.
"Riley? What's the matter?"
"Nothing"
"Are you hearing those voices? Focus on mine. You're safe with me"
The lights flickered on and off repeatedly and she could feel the floor rumbling beneath her feet. She was losing control of her magic.
"I—I need a minute alone"
Leaving the building, she opened her clutch. She pulled out a small knife and pressed it against her wrist. Making a single cut stopped the voices. She cut her wrist three more times and used magic to heal her wounds. Though the voices ceased, she still felt dizzy. Stumbling, she headed back to the dance hall. Elena had just slammed April against the wall, crushing her throat. She threatened that if Rebekah did not win prom queen, she would kill April. Riley rushed over to them and shoved Elena off of her.
"Riley, I wasn't—" started Rebekah.
"I saw what happened. You're not the one I'm about to stake. April, I'll watch the ballots. Go help out with the drinks"
Frightened, she nodded and walked towards the drinks table. "Do you have a problem, Riley?" asked Elena.
"Forget my promise to your boyfriend. If I have to kick the shit out of you to stop this bitchy act, I will so you can either start feeling some kind of emotion or I'll put you through hell"
"You're all talk"
Elena clutched her stomach, looking queasy. She vomited blood onto the floor.
"I'll do that until you dessicate. It should wear off in about ten minutes"
Veins began to protrude under her eyes. Fangs out, she reached for Riley's throat. Riley grabbed her wrist and felt a burst of energy flow through her body. It invigorated her as if she never experienced any dizziness. Rebekah led a puking Elena out of the dance hall while Elijah made his way over to the ballots table.
"Riley, are you—"
"I'm fine. I feel great"
"And yet minutes ago, you were ill"
"I touched Elena's wrist and I just felt better. You don't have to worry, Elijah"
"I'm not leaving your side the rest of the night"
Waving her hand, she conjured new ballot cards for Cameron and Jayden. Before she could switch them with the original cards, a hand slammed down on the table. Mrs. Halpern, the Trigonometry teacher, peered down at her. She was known as the strictest teacher in the school and never appreciated Riley and Jayden's pranks.
"Miss Gilbert, are you tampering with the ballots?"
"No. Just shuffling them into separate piles"
"You're lying. I already know you and Mr. White were involved in a prank to spike the punch. Several concerned students reported it to me. I've already kicked him out of prom. It seems you're next"
"You don't have proof that we did anything. We didn't actually do something to the punch, Mrs. Halpern. It was a joke"
"Am I laughing?"
"No offense but I think if you ever laughed, it's a sign of the apocalypse"
"I've had enough of your antics. You and your d—who is this man?" she said, looking at Elijah.
"Elijah. He's my date"
"How old is he? He's not a high school student"
"He happens to be 28/immortal"
Seeing the frustration in her teacher's eyes was a highlight of the night. Mrs. Halpern ordered Riley and Elijah to leave the prom. She muttered under her breath about Riley dating a man too old for her. Stifling a laugh, Riley followed Elijah out of the building.
"Riley, I apologi—"
"Did you see her face? Hilarious. Best prom ever"
"We were kicked out," he said, puzzled by her reaction.
"A lot later than I thought. If you weren't here, I would've been kicked out in less than an hour. I don't care about some dance. I wanted to be with you. We can keep having fun at the house. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey hidden under the ballots table by the football team. Rebekah was doing pretty well. I bet you'll be giving her the cure tonight"
"We shall see"
Heading back to the mansion, they saw Klaus in his studio, painting on a canvas and drinking scotch. Elijah assured her that she would keep her promise to Katherine to gain her freedom. He grabbed the white oak stake from underneath a loose floorboard. Klaus placed his glass on the table.
"Already done with your fun?"
"Got kicked out. Didn't get to watch Jayden have an awkward dance with another guy but I'll live" said Riley, taking a sip from the bottle of whiskey.
His eyes were on the white oak stake. Riley grabbed a brush and continued with the painting, coloring in the night sky. She nearly choked on the whiskey when Elijah handed the stake to him. Elijah reasoned that if Klaus had possession of the stake, he had nothing to fear, remaining invincible. Klaus countered that Silas would torment him for eternity.
"Well, you've survived endless torments throughout the centuries. You'll shake this…and if you can't, you'll outrun him"
Klaus chuckled. "Yes, it's that simple. Without the cure, what makes you think I'll spare Katerina?"
"You will spare her because Riley made a promise to her, as did I. As your family, as your only living brother, I would ask that you do this"
"That's all you think it takes, brother? Riley bats her innocent eyes at me and I will forget 500 years of revenge?"
"Elijah, he's not going to do it. I told Katherine that it was a stupid plan. Even if he had the cure, he wouldn't spare her. Let's not be shocked," said Riley.
Klaus looked visibly affected by her words. He stepped towards Elijah.
"She's right. You sided against me. If I do run, it'll be to chase Katerina. And as your only living brother, I will make it my cause that you never know a moment of happiness" he hissed, tapping the stake against Elijah's chest.
Putting down the brush, she noticed that his eyes were on her. Elijah pushed the stake aside.
"It is such a hollow, little life that you lead, Niklaus"
As she slid off of the stool, Klaus's eyes did not leave her. She walked with Elijah to his bedroom. He apologized for not honoring his promise to her and Katherine. She sat on his lap, holding the half-empty bottle of whiskey.
"Elijah, did you seriously think he'd agree? He hates Katherine"
"For a moment, yes"
"You need time away from him so you can see that he's not as forgiving as you. Let's get married and we can go on a honeymoon to the farthest place away from here. Klaus probably wouldn't bother us in Antarctica"
He laughed. "We'll keep that as an option in the future"
"Were you ever married?"
"No. I never found the right girl for such a commitment" he said, brushing his hand against her cheek.
"I almost did. It was during my rebellious phase when I was fifteen. Hey, no judging. When you were my age, girls got married at like thirteen and sold with a group of cows"
"Usually, cows and a few chickens…"
"Ha ha. He was eighteen, lead singer in a rock band, and kind of looked like a werewolf"
"I remember you telling me about this boy"
Snuggling into his chest, she told him about her ex-boyfriend Lukas. He was a warlock though he was not very adept at magic. It took a large amount of concentration for him to just levitate a pencil. Her parents despised Lukas, thinking he was not good enough for her. One day, after a terrible fight with her mother, Lukas proposed to her and they drove out of town to elope at the nearest chapel.
"What happened to this dangerous boyfriend?"
"That night, we had been drinking. He had a lot more than me. We got in a car accident just three miles out of town. The car flipped like ten times but I made it out of the accident without a scratch. I guess my magic healed me. He wasn't as lucky"
"I'm sorry, Riley. You must have cared for him greatly"
"He wasn't a terrible person but like I said, it was during a bad phase in my life. After him, my parents didn't want me dating anyone, especially if they were supernatural. I didn't think he counted because he was terrible at magic. The thing I liked most about him was his stories"
"His stories?"
"He knew about all these supernatural hotspots and legends. He kept saying that we had to visit Rome that summer so he could introduce me to a creature unlike any other. He said that it was the only one in existence"
"And this is when you were fifteen? Klaus was in Rome then"
"He wouldn't know that Klaus is a hybrid. No one knew until he broke the curse. It was probably a hoax to impress me. He was always going on about how I'd definitely be attracted to the creature when I met them"
"Attracted?"
"Maybe it was a succubus. I heard they could be real. Remembering Lukas, he would come up with an elaborate prank and dress up one of his friends as a monster to scare me"
Around midnight, they had finished the bottle of whiskey twice. Riley would magically refill it instead of searching for another bottle. Elijah left the room to check if Rebekah returned from the prom. Riley poured herself a glass of water in the kitchen. The house was unusually quiet and she could not find Klaus in any of the rooms. She worried that he would purposely sabotage Rebekah's night to get the cure for himself. Glancing out the window, she watched Elijah hand the cure to Rebekah. Riley opened the door.
"Hey" she said as Rebekah approached the door, smiling.
"Riley, hi. I was just going to get my coat. I accidentally left it in my room here"
Sensing something was wrong, she did not move from the doorway. "You did, huh? I thought you only left a box of shoes"
"And the coat"
"You're not her. You're Silas. El—"
Silas jammed a broken branch into her stomach. She fell to her knees.
"You won't get resurrected twice, little witch. Stay out of my way. It's very easy for me to reveal that you're alive and I bet you don't want that"
Riley slowly pulled the branch out of her. He was already gone when she healed her wound with magic. Elijah hurried to her side.
"Riley, are you hurt?"
"I'm okay. Silas was…"
"Disguised as Rebekah. He fooled me. Do you need my blood?"
"No. My stomach stings a little but it'll pass. We can track him if I use a locater spell"
"You're injured. Now is not the time"
"But he has the cure"
"He needs the veil to the Other Side down. That will not happen right away"
He picked her up bridal style and carried her into the house. The next morning, she was bombarded with texts from Damon. She had missed out on an eventful night at prom. Elena attempted to kill Bonnie twice, in the dance hall and in the parking lot. During the parking lot attack, Bonnie's Expression magic took control and she seriously injured Elena herself. There had been a flicker of fear in Elena's eyes. The brothers decided to go ahead with Plan C, which allowed Riley to use her own rough tactics. They locked her in the basement and denied her any blood.
For three days straight, they worked to get Elena to switch on her humanity. Emotionless Elena was very resilient, not falling for any of their tricks. Riley and Damon had the role of 'bad cop', using violence, and Stefan had the role of 'good cop', being kind and sympathetic with her. Despite not having blood for days, Elena refused to beg for a blood bag. They were in the basement with Elena. She laid on the floor with chapped lips and a weary expression.
"Elena, are you hungry?" asked Stefan.
"No"
"You haven't eaten for three days"
"Then let me out so I can feed"
"Nope. Your turn, mini Gilbert" said Damon.
Riley placed her hands on either side of Elena's face. Elena was too weak to put up a fight. Closing her eyes, Riley cast a spell. Elena glanced at her arm, breathing heavily.
"What's wrong?"
"M—my arm is bleeding. The skin is—no, it's not real. You're using magic"
"Am I?"
She coughed up lumps of dirt. "I—I'm not falling for this. Stop it"
"Oh, we're not stopping. Do you feel anything? Fear because it feels like you're choking on dirt and your skin is slowly being peeled off? Anger that I'm hurting you?"
"Nothing"
"Then you won't mind this"
Elena's hands moved over her stomach. "Get it out. Take the stake out!"
"Nope"
"Stefan, it's going near my heart. Tell her to stop"
Damon stopped him from interfering with the spell. There was a loud knock at the door. Telling a fib to Elena, he claimed that Caroline was dropping off guns with wooden bullets from the police station. For a brief second, she looked anxious. Stefan locked the door to the cell. Standing in the far corner of the basement, he quietly asked her to tone down the violence.
"Coddling her is stupid. She needs tough love. This is why I was Plan C…because you have no other options. I'm not actually hurting her. It's all an illusion but if pretending to hurt her doesn't work, then we might have to resort to the real stuff. I get it. You don't like seeing her in pain but we need to snap her out of this"
He sighed. "Maybe there's another way"
"There's not. She never should've turned off her humanity. It's—"
Riley was cut off by the sound of glass breaking upstairs. She followed Stefan to the living room where Damon and Klaus were fighting. Klaus tossed him around like a rag doll. Riley flicked her wrist. Their feet were glued to the floor.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked, looking at both of them.
"Tell your hybrid buddy that it's not polite to barge into someone's house"
"I asked politely to speak with Riley and you refused. You people tend to respond better to violence"
"You're not talking to her. She can hang out with Fancy Pants all she wants. He's not a psychotic hybrid like someone else in this room"
"Damon, stop. There's nothing wrong with—"
"Oh, there's plenty wrong with him, Riley. I can make a list right now. You should sit down. It could take years to finish"
"It's bad enough that Silas has the cure. We don't need to be fighting each other. You two, go down to the basement"
Riley forced Klaus outside the boardinghouse. His car was parked in the driveway. She was confused by the sight of her backpack and two of her suitcases in the backseat. Reaching into his pocket, he showed her a letter. It was written by Katherine, informing him that Jane-Anne Devereaux, a witch Riley had met in New Orleans, was plotting against him. She alleged that Jane-Anne had startling information that would make him forget all about his hatred towards her.
"I received it on the night of your prom. I assume Katerina is hiding somewhere in this town"
"I met Jane-Anne. She's not the evil scheming witch type"
"You know her?" he asked, interested.
"We're not like best friends. She's a nice person"
Riley explained that she met Jane-Anne during her short trip to New Orleans. She doubted that she was plotting against Klaus. Skimming the letter, she suggested that Katherine made up a lie to distract Klaus from chasing her. There was no proof that the witches in New Orleans were conspiring to harm him.
"I intend to find out for myself and you will accompany me to New Orleans"
She giggled. "Please tell me you didn't say I'm going to New Orleans with you"
"Yes. You've met this witch before. Perhaps you could find out about her plans against me. I've already packed your things. You can tell the Salvatores and your other friends that you are joining your parents on their recent expedition to make up for lost time"
"I'm not leaving Mystic Falls. In case you forgot, the witches think that I'm dead"
"You can simply alter your appearance as you did for the past six months. I will protect you if they discover your true identity"
"Klaus, I am not going to New Orleans. That's final"
"I can easily compel the people of this town to remember your funeral. It would raise a lot of questions. Yes, you could alter their memories to forget but then I'll compel them and it will be a continuous cycle. We could make it a game. Which compulsion will last?"
"Are you blackmailing me?"
"Such a harsh word but yes. I swear that you will come to no harm in New Orleans. Decide quickly. Our flight leaves in an hour"
After minutes of shooting harsh glares, she agreed to accompany him to New Orleans. She could only imagine what chaos he would start if he was alone in the city. Along the way to the airport, she texted her friends and Elijah that her parents asked her to join them on their latest dig site. She had a feeling that Elijah would easily see through such a flimsy story. Klaus was not concerned about his older brother knowing that he kidnapped his girlfriend, making her question if bringing her was simply to irritate Elijah. She was not impressed that Klaus compelled a private jet for them and maintained her silence for the entire flight. Using magic, she altered her appearance to match her style in Willoughby, a blonde bob, freckles across her nose, heavy makeup, and several piercings. She was not risking her safety among the witches.
When they arrived in New Orleans, she kept up her silence. She received a text from Elijah, who, as she expected, did not believe that she was with her parents. Pretending to send a message to Caroline, she told him about the letter from Katherine and Klaus's paranoia with the witches. He urged her to be cautious around any supernaturals in the city, particularly the vampires. She had prepared herself by masking her scent with a herbal mixture. He already booked the next flight to New Orleans, concerned for her and Klaus's well-being.
"How long will you give me the silent treatment?" he asked as they passed by a tour group.
She stared at the ground. "Riley, I asked you to join me here because I trust you. This business with Jane-Anne Devereaux should not take long and then we will be back in Mystic Falls"
They neared the tables by Jackson Square where pretend psychics, mixed with actual witches, gave out fortunes to tourists. She tensed up, seeing Agnes. Their last encounter had not been very pleasant and if any witch in this city would spread the news of Riley being alive, it was her. Klaus had her wait by the fence while he spoke with Agnes privately. She eavesdropped on their conversation. Agnes refused to speak with Klaus about her fellow wiches because it would break Marcel's rules. Riley noticed a hint of shock pass over his face. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hiding her face away from Agnes who watched him suspiciously.
"We're going to visit an old friend. I turned Marcel myself. It seems in my absence, he's made a name for himself here"
She was surprised that Klaus had sired Marcel. The last time she spoke to Marcel, he mentioned that his sire taught him how to recognize witches.
"Why does he have control over the witches? Isn't that weird?"
"Ah, she speaks. It is quite interesting. Another question to ask him besides where Jane-Anne is hiding"
"You can get your arm off me. She can't see this far"
"It's for your protection. The witches won't harm you if they see you with me"
"I'm sure that's why you're doing it" she said, sarcastically.
He opened the door to a local jazz club. It was filled with regular people and vampires with daylight rings. Marcel was singing karaoke on a small stage. He jumped down from the stage, grabbing a shot glass from his friend Thierry, the guy who wore newsboy caps. Riley sat on an empty stool at the bar. Marcel noticed Klaus and there was a quiet tension between them. He noted how almost a hundred years ago, Mikael chased the Originals out of this city. When Klaus told him that he killed Mikael, the other vampires stood like guards around Marcel as though it was a threat. She scrunched her nose when Marcel embraced him in a brotherly hug.
"Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, my sire..."
Riley walked over to them. "Sorry to interrupt this bromantic moment. As adorable as watching you two hug it out is, I want a drink" she said, her eyes on Klaus.
Marcel smirked. "Hey there, doe eyes. I'm liking this new look"
"Hi Milton. I'd say it's nice to see you again but you're not that memorable"
"She plays this little game where she never gets my name right. Are you two together?"
"Pfft, no. Only in his own delusional mind"
She grabbed Klaus's wallet from his pocket. "I never got your name during your first visit, doe eyes"
"And you're still not getting it. Goodbye, Milo"
Sitting down at the bar, she ordered a rum and coke. Klaus headed to an upstairs room with Marcel and a couple vampires. Elijah sent a text that his flight was delayed but he would be in New Orleans that night. The sky began to darken and she could sense the vampires running around, feeding off of innocent people. A hand rested on her shoulder. Klaus was standing behind her. He was unable to figure out Marcel's secret to controlling the witches but Marcel offered to bring him to Jane-Anne. His inner circle of daywalking vampires left the club, eagerly.
"He said that it was a vampire only affair but he's allowing you to join. He's quite fond of you"
"It's supposed to be only vampires? That doesn't sound good for me"
"Just stay close to me, Riley"
They followed Marcel down the street. The vampires were hardly subtle, jumping on top of cars and across buildings. She wondered how they roamed so freely among the humans.
"Consider this a lesson for your kind, witch" Diego whispered in her ear.
At least fifty vampires were standing around in a circle. They cheered loudly as Marcel joined them. Klaus kept his arm around her protectively. He gave her a reassuring look that she was safe with him. In the middle of the circle, Thierry was holding Jane-Anne, her hands tied together with rope. Marcel played with a torn branch. He seemed to be mocking her, asking for applause. She locked eyes with Riley and though she easily recognized her, she stayed silent. There was a quiet pleading in her eyes like a warning to run far away from this gathering.
"Jane-Anne Devereaux, you have been accused of the practice of withcraft beyond the bounds of the rules set forth and enforced by me. How do you plead?"
He questioned Klaus if he sounded authentic, having practiced law in the fifties. Riley glared when he winked at her.
"Seriously, Jane, tick-tock. You know the drill. How do you plead?"
"I didn't do anything"
The surrounding vampires sniggered. "Mm, that's a lie. You know it, I know it, and you hate that I know it. It drives you witches crazy that I'm aware of your every move. That you can't do magic in this town without getting caught. So, why don't we just cut to the chase, huh? You tell me what magic you're brewing. I mean, tell me. I'll grant you leniency. Hey, I am, after all, a merciful man"
Jane-Anne scoffed. "Rot in hell, monster"
"I'll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance"
Suddenly, he swung the branch quickly, slicing her throat. Riley's eyes widened, watching Jane-Anne collapse to the ground, bleeding to the death. The vampires cheered and she could feel anger rising deep inside her. Klaus confronted Marcel, furious that he killed Jane-Anne. Marcel defended his actions, telling Klaus that she broke his rules. Disgusted by his blasé attitude, she kneeled down beside Jane-Anne. She thought of cleaning off the blood with magic. One of the vampires, a guy a couple years older than her, grabbed her wrist tightly. Within seconds, Klaus was behind him, clutching his throat.
"I'd get your hands off her, mate. She's with me"
"She was going to use magic"
"I doubt that. My friend doesn't have much magic. She struggles to just move a feather. She was paying her respects to a fellow witch. If I see your hands on her again, I'll tear your heart from your chest. Understood?"
"Yes"
"Good"
The guy let go of her wrist. Klaus led her through the crowd of vampires. Neither of them said a word until they turned the corner.
"Klaus, we need to leave"
"Not yet. There's another Devereaux witch, her younger sister Sophie. She could have answers"
"I don't like it here. Your friend Marcel is shady. You told him that you wanted to talk to Jane-Anne and he just happened to kill her? Something else is going on and I don't think it has to do with the witches"
"Just one little chat with the sister"
He brought her into Rousseau's, the bar where she met Jane-Anne. A girl in her early twenties, who looked very similar to Jane-Anne, was in the kitchen, chopping vegetables. She sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes. Seeing Klaus, she gasped in shock. Klaus offered his sympathies for her sister's death. He questioned why Marcel killed her. Sophie refused to say anything because two of Marcel's vampires were sitting at the bar. In Riley's mind, it just proved that Marcel was untrustworthy if he had his men tracking Klaus's whereabouts.
"I know you built this town but this is his town now. He killed my sister because she broke the rules. So I talk to you in front of them? I'm next"
She grabbed her coat and left the kitchen through a steel door. "You handle those two idiots. Let me talk to her, witch to witch"
"Be careful"
Sophie was lighting candles on a small wooden table as a vigil for her sister. She placed the candles in a circle.
"I'm sorry about your sister. I'm Mae"
"You're with Klaus"
"It's a long story. If I had a choice, I wouldn't be in New Orleans. I met your sister a while ago. She was really nice and friendly. She helped me with a problem"
"You're a witch?"
"Yea. Maybe you could tell me what she was doing that got her killed. What do you want with Klaus?"
"We can't talk here"
"Then where can we talk? I'm definitely not your enemy, Sophie. Klaus thinks you and the other witches are plotting against him but I think it's something else"
The door to the kitchen slammed shut. Both vampires from the bar appeared in the alley, suspecting that they were practicing magic. Sophie indicated the candles on the table, insisting that they were praying for her recently dead sister. The shorter of the two vampires, with some scruff, moved towards them.
"Don't make this a thing, Sophie. The hybrid was looking for Jane-Anne. Marcel wants to know why"
"Leave her alone" said Riley.
"You're not from here, little girl. You don't know the rules"
"What I do know is that if you don't back off from my new friend, I will make you rot from the inside out. I'm not intimidated by Marcel's lackeys. If he's so interested in Klaus's business, he can ask himself…or is he a scared little puppy around his sire?"
Growling, he grabbed her roughly. A quick blur passed by them and he vanished from the alley. Hearing a loud plop, she turned around and spotted a heart on the ground. Elijah appeared behind the other vampire and threw him into the air, impaling him on a sign high on the wall. Riley jumped up and hugged him. He cradled her head in his hand.
"Took you long enough" she whispered.
"You're safe"
Sophie was staring at them with a mixed expression of confusion and fear. He kissed the top of Riley's head.
"I'm Elijah. You heard of me?"
"Y—yes. You're Klaus's brother. I've heard of all of you"
Elijah wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief. "Well, I'm an Original and I could kill you before you even make a move. So, why don't you tell me what business your family has with my brother?"
"C—come with me"
As they walked with Sophie, Riley took out her phone. She called Klaus, checking if he was inside Rousseau's. He had left a few minutes ago to visit Marcel's home.
"Please don't do anything stupid"
"I won't"
"That didn't sound very assuring. I'm with Sophie. I'll call you back if you get any answers"
"You didn't mention that I was in the city?" asked Elijah as she placed her phone in her pocket.
"And make him angrier? Bad idea. Fingers crossed that he's on his best behavior"
Sophie opened the gate to Lafayette Cemetery. Since it was sacred ground, vampires needed an invitation. She invited Elijah inside, desperate for his help. He was curious why Jane-Anne wanted Klaus in New Orleans. Sophie explained that the city had a massive vampire problem. With Marcel's army of vampires, it was impossible for the witches to fight against him. Days before her death, Jane-Anne met a werewolf girl from a small town in Virginia. The girl was pregnant with Klaus's child. Riley argued that vampires could not procreate but according to Sophie, it was a magical loophole. Magic turned him into a vampire but he had been born a werewolf.
"This werewolf can't be the first girl he's…hooked up with over the centuries. He's never gotten anyone pregnant" said Riley.
"Because he hadn't broken the hybrid curse. With the curse broken, his werewolf side is no longer dormant"
"You must be joking. Klaus couldn't—Elijah, you know this sounds crazy"
"Yes, it does"
"Bring her out" shouted Sophie.
A group of people left a mausoleum. Among them was a tall girl, not much older than Riley, with hazel green eyes and wavy dark brown hair. Elijah was staring at the girl, shocked. Riley quietly cast a spell that enhanced her hearing. She could hear a soft heartbeat coming from the girl's stomach. He asked for a minute alone with the girl. The witches allowed them into the mausoleum. Riley sat with the girl on a stone bench. She did not recognize her from Mystic Falls. The girl had been visiting the French Quarter for information on her werewolf ancestors. Jane-Anne lured her out to the bayou and the witches snatched her. She had been stuck in this mausoleum for the past three days. Elijah decided to show her his family history. Touching the side of her head, he implanted images from her past, including how the Originals became vampires, Klaus triggered his werewolf side, and their mother cast the hybrid curse on him.
"I'm Hayley"
Riley remembered that name. When she was helping Katherine with her plan to obtain the cure, she mentioned meeting a werewolf girl named Hayley Marshall. Hayley had been working with Professor Shane to create the expression triangle in Mystic Falls. Katherine sent a vampire to kill her after stealing the cure from the island.
"Elijah and this is M—"
"Riley Gilbert"
"You know me?" asked Riley, confused.
"I helped Tyler break his sire bond up in the mountains. He had pictures of his friends. You look a little different now and you're supposed to be dead"
"It's a long story. Everyone thinks I'm dead so to keep it that way, you should call me Mae"
"Got it"
Elijah hoped that this baby would be the key to Klaus's happiness. Sophie interrupted their conversation. The witches wanted to use Klaus to get rid of Marcel and his vampires. Marcel learned all of his tricks from Klaus and trusted him, meaning he would not expect a betrayal. She suggested that if Marcel discovered Hayley's hybrid baby, he would kill it without hesitation because the werewolves had been driven out of the city decades ago by his reign. While Elijah searched for Klaus, he asked Riley to stay in the mausoleum. She and Hayley traded stories about their pasts. Hayley was an orphan and her only clue to her family was a crescent shaped birthmark on her shoulder. Feeling a chill in the air, Riley conjured a blanket for her.
"Thanks"
"Let's keep my magic quiet too. It's better if these witches think I'm terrible at it"
"According to Tyler, you're not. Is he still on the run from Klaus?"
"Yea. Klaus is not the forgiving type. He's held a grudge against Katherine for like 500 years. You're the werewolf who worked with Professor Shane to get the cure"
"He promised that if I unsired twelve hybrids, he'd tell me about my parents. They're dead but he said I could see them again"
"Through Silas. Not worth waking him up"
"How do you think Klaus will react to the baby?"
"Denial then rage…possibly some laughter in between. Even with a magical loophole, this sounds unreal. Elijah and I will make sure that he takes care of the baby. You won't handle this alone"
Two of the witches stood in the doorway and ordered the girls to follow them. They were taken to a different part of the cemetery. Sophie was speaking to Klaus about the witches' plan. He rejected her plea to overthrow Marcel and called Hayley nothing more than a 'liquor-fueled one night stand'. Riley crossed her arms, glancing over at Elijah.
"Give him time" he mouthed.
Predictably, Klaus laughed when Sophie revealed the pregnancy. He denied that he was the father because it was impossible for vampires to procreate and thought it was a hoax. The loophole idea only worsened his anger. As he angrily accused Hayley of passing off someone else's child as his, Riley stepped in front of her.
"Klaus, this isn't a trick"
"My sister gave her life to perform the spell she needed to confirm this pregnancy. Because of Jane-Anne's sacrifice, the lives of this girl and her baby are now controlled by us. We can keep them safe…or we can kill them"
"Wait, what?"
"If you don't help us take down Marcel, so help me. Hayley won't live long enough to see her first maternity dress"
Elijah suggested that he could kill Marcel himself. Sophie shook her head, telling him that the witches had a very specific plan. He encouraged Klaus to simply listen to prove that it was not a deception. Klaus, his nostrils flaring, glanced down at Hayley's stomach. Riley could see the realization dawning on his face. Watching the scene before her, Riley was reminded of the prophecy she heard during her first trip to New Orleans. Part of the reason that the witches feared her was because if she had a baby with Klaus, it would bring chaos and destruction. She could not even think of being in Hayley's situation.
"Kill her and the baby. What do I care?" he said, storming out of the cemetery.
"Screw this. I'm out of here" said Hayley.
The witches did not move out of her way. Riley swore that they would change Klaus's mind.
"No one touches the girl"
Leaving the cemetery, they scouted the city for Klaus. He was walking past a series of restaurants. Without looking at them, he asserted that the witches were playing tricks on them. Elijah disagreed, considering the baby a gift and a chance to start over, taking back all that they lost over the centuries.
"Is it so important for you to quake with fear at the sound of your name?"
"People quake with fear because I have the power to make them afraid. All this child offers me…will it guarantee me power?"
"Family is power, Niklaus. Love, loyalty…it's power"
Appealing to Klaus, he assured him that he would stay in New Orleans to build a new home. Klaus, being pigheaded, rejected him and vanished from the street. Riley told Elijah to take care of Hayley while she dealt with Klaus and his stubbornness. She cast a locater spell. It led her to an enormous mansion named The Abbatoir and served as Marcel's home. Loud music blared through the windows. Klaus was leaning against the doorway.
"Klaus"
"Go away, Riley. I will not be manipulated by witches"
"For one second, stop being stubborn and listen to me"
"I'm going to find out what Marcel has over the witches then use it to destroy them"
Looking murderous, he walked into the mansion. Her phone vibrated in her pocket.
"Elijah, we have a problem"
"Make that multiple problems. Sophie is linked to Hayley. If anything happens to Sophie, it happens to her. The witches are blackmailing to harm her and the child if we don't convince Klaus to cooperate"
"Which brings us back to my problem. He's at Marcel's place and in a terrible mood. Get here as fast as you can. I have a feeling that he's not here for tea and cookies"
"Riley, do not go inside"
"Someone has to stop your brother from murdering a bunch of people close to the so-called King of the Quarter. I'll keep him under control"
Riley quickly regretted entering Marcel's home. It was packed from wall to wall with people. She hid her disgust at the sight of a vampire feeding on a human and pushing up her dress. Two girls grinding against each other winked at her. Klaus and Marcel were in the middle of the crowd. Marcel would not share his secret of how he subjugated the witches. As Klaus spoke loudly about Marcel having nothing a hundred years ago, it drew attention.
"Master of your domain. Prince of the City. I'd like to know how"
"Why? Jealous?"
Riley pushed through the crowd and grabbed his arm. She laughed awkwardly.
"Klaus, here you are. Let's go back to the hotel room. No reason to get in any fights"
"Hey, I get it. Three hundred years ago, you helped build a backwater penal colony into something. You started it but then you left. Actually, you ran from it. I saw it through…"
Klaus's fists clenched. "Klaus, if you walk away with me right now, we can make out and maybe you can even get to second base. Elijah won't mind if it's one time. Please just leave with me" she whispered.
"Look around. Vampires rule this city now. We don't have to live in the shadows like rats. he locals know their place. They look the other way. I got rid of the werewolves. I even found a way to shut down the witches. The blood never stops flowing and the party never ends. You wanna pass on through? You wanna stay a while? Great. What's mine is yours, but it is mine. My home, my family, my rules"
"And if someone breaks those rules?" asked Klaus.
"They die. Mercy is for the weak. You taught me that, too. And I'm not the prince of the Quarter, friend. I'm the king! Show me some respect"
For a moment, Riley thought Klaus avoid a confrontation. Instead, he sped over to Thierry and bit his neck viciously. Blood dripped from his mouth. The bite would kill Thierry by the weekend. Showing his dominance over Marcel, he emphasized that he was truly immortal and despite breaking one of Marcel's rules, he could not be killed like other vampires. As he left the house, Riley conjured a ball of golden light.
"I'm going to say this once. Don't really give a damn about your rules either and I'm not a fan of your huge ego. If any of your lackeys try to follow us for petty revenge, I will shove this down their throat. Believe me when I say that you don't want to swallow it because it will hurt like a bitch. You might think I can't take on all of you at one but you are sadly mistaken. Enjoy the rest of your party"
The vampires did not look pleased by her overconfidence. She took one step out of the house when she was lifted off of the ground. Elijah brought her to a nearby park. Standing beside her, he called Rebekah. She showed no concern for Klaus, wanting Elijah and Riley to return to Mystic Falls. He had seen a glimmer of happiness in Klaus's eyes as he heard the baby's heartbeat. The witches gave him an ultimatum that if he did not gain Klaus's cooperation, they would kill Hayley and the baby. It was already half past eleven. Rebekah saw no reason to care about saving Hayley. Elijah devised a plan to retrieve Jane-Anne's body. If they managed to get it, the witches could grant them more time in their pursuit to change Klaus's mind. Casting another locater spell, Riley tracked Marcel's location to a pub. He was speaking to one of his lackeys on the phone, telling them to call if they spotted Klaus. As she walked into the pub, he put down his phone.
"You might be a little too confident for your own good, doe eyes. It's not smart to come in here when I know that you're friends with Klaus and could use you to get to him"
"True but my boyfriend won't let that happen"
Elijah appeared at her side. Hearing his name, the other vampires stood up from their seats, prepared to attack them. Marcel calmed them down. Elijah and Riley sat across from him in the booth.
"Your girl's got an attitude. You know she threatened my guys?"
"I apologize for Mae's temper. She's had some terrible experiences with vampires in the past. She will not harm you or any other vampires in this city. Isn't that right, Mae?"
"Of course" she said, feigning a smile.
He apologized for what happened to Thierry. Marcel did not show much interest until Elijah mentioned that Klaus's blood could heal a hybrid bite. In exchange for Klaus's blood, Elijah requested Jane-Anne's body. Marcel questioned why he cared about a dead witch. Lying very well, he said that Riley sympathized with the witches, being one herself, and thought they deserved to lay Jane-Anne to rest. Elijah left with Marcel to retrieve Jane-Anne. Riley walked around the city, hoping to find Klaus before Marcel's lackeys. He was sitting on a bench, drinking from a bottle of whiskey.
"How many times do I have to run off before you understand I want to be left alone?"
"Too bad. You keep dodging my pep talks but now you're going to listen. I get it, okay? Having a baby freaks you out but this is your baby. You need to protect it"
"You give me too much credit. I have no reason to care"
"What if it was mine? Would you still feel that way? If the witches had me instead of Hayley, would you ditch me too?"
"Of course not"
"You're not the first guy to knock up a girl who wasn't his soulmate. These things happen…in your case, it's some magical miracle but it's all the same. Maybe you don't care that much about Hayley but I don't believe that you don't feel something about that baby. Maybe you're scared of being a father. You didn't have the best role model. It won't be just you taking care of him or her. You have Elijah, Rebekah…well, she might take a while because she's mad at you but she'll come around. Give it a chance"
She placed his hand against his chest. "Behind this whole tough exterior is someone decent. Being feared only gets you so far. Don't turn your back…don't run. Promise me that you'll at least try"
"Would that make you happy?"
"I'm sure it would make Hayley happy since it'll keep her alive"
"I asked if it would make you happy"
"Yes"
"Then I will"
Elijah joined them by the bench. Klaus remarked that Marcel had everything, including power, loyalty, and family. He wanted all of that for himself. In regards to the baby, he noted that every king needed an heir. Riley was glad that he cared for the baby in some way. He agreed to work with the witches to overthrow Marcel. The next morning, he ingratiated himself in Marcel's inner circle by healing Thierry. Riley was helping Hayley brush dust off of the furniture in an old plantation house, her new home. Sophie carried in a box of clothes.
"Thank you for getting through to Klaus" she said to Riley.
"It wasn't easy. Hey, you probably know all the witches in the Quarter. Do you know Davina?"
For a second, she looked tense. "Davina? I uh think she's out of town. I didn't realize you knew other witches here besides my sister"
"We met when she was taking lessons with the other younger witches"
"If I see her, I'll tell her that you said hi, Mae"
Riley grabbed a box of blankets and pillows and walked up the staircase. Elijah was cleaning the master bedroom. He took the box from her.
"How is the cleaning going?"
"This place is almost good enough for people to live in," she replied, placing the blankets on the bed.
Under the mattress, she noticed an old photo. It was taken in 1820, showing a group of aristocrats. Klaus, Elijah, Kol, Rebekah, and her ancestors Anastasia and Esme Lacroix were scattered among the group.
"You look very dapper in this picture. Whose house was this?"
"The governor's. Anastasia and her daughter lived here as well. After Anastasia lost her husband, she married the governor. She had the real power in the relationship. He was never aware that she was a witch. She was hardly faithful to him. She enjoyed wrapping men around her finger"
Her smile faltered, glancing at the guy beside Anastasia. He was no older than eighteen with tousled ebony hair, pale blue eyes, golden tanned skin, and a slight muscular build. Like the others, he wore sophisticated clothes.
"Elijah, who's this?"
He glanced at the photo. "Louis Beaumont. He was a member of her coven and one of her many…lovers. They were rarely seen out of each other's company. If anyone had the power to control, it was him. There were rumors that she planned to leave the governor for him but he died in a tragic fire. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious"
She hid the photo in her coat pocket. After an hour of cleaning the house, they left for the airport. Elijah planned to persuade Rebekah to join him in New Orleans. Rebekah refused to leave Mystic Falls, her grudge towards Klaus overshadowing any desire to be a family.
"Elijah, maybe you shouldn't go either"
"He needs me there. Without my guidance, he'll destroy himself…and no, you cannot come with me yet. Graduate and then you can join me in New Orleans"
"I just feel like every time we're apart, something bad happens to one of us. We get in a fight after he broke his curse and he daggered you. Then just as we get back together, I had to fake my death and now—"
He cupped her cheek. "We will not lose each other. It's one month. You need to care for Elena. After graduation, we'll be together and nothing will tear us apart. You can stay in this house until you are feeling completely better. Keep taking those herbs. I promise that any time you call me, I will always answer"
"Do me a favor. When you get back, see if you can find a girl named Davina. She's a witch, a year younger than me. I asked Sophie about her and she got a little tense. What if she's hurt or worse?"
"There's no reason to worry. I will find her"
"If you get hurt, I don't care about school. I'll destroy that entire town and beat Marcel into a coma"
"Be safe, Riley"
His lips brushed gently against hers. As he left the house to return to the airport for his flight back to New Orleans, Riley walked up to Elijah's room. She reached under the bed, taking out a cardboard box filled with her belongings. Digging through the box, she grabbed her photo album. She flipped through the pages, stopping towards the end of the album. Her eyes rested on a photo of her and Lukas at an amusement park. Placing the photo from the plantation house beside it, she could not deny that he and Louis Beaumont, her ancestor's lover, had a striking resemblance, looking exactly alike down to the last detail…
A/N: Thanks for reading. The next chapter is going to finish off the season 4 storyline and while she's in Mystic Falls, Klaus and Elijah will be in New Orleans. She won't be around for what happened in The Originals pilot towards the end so she won't know about what happened to Elijah though she will have her suspicions. She is going to think that he is fine, even when she calls him, for a reason that will put her at odds with someone she considered an ally when she returns to New Orleans herself. The connection between Lukas and his "look-alike" from the 1800s will also be explained in the next chapter, making Riley question if she can fight so-called fate.