Bloodlines
Chapter 32: Le Grand Guignol
Beta: PrincessOfSilence
Disclaimer: I own nothing of TVD or TO. I only own my characters and my story.
"Well, this is a first. Werewolves, vampires, witches and dirty cops. All happy as clams and drunk as stoats." Klaus grinned to a group of partygoers who were clinking their glasses and hooraying loudly in a booth they were sharing in the back. In the coming months, the Original siblings banded together with Audrey to help keep the underground of New Orleans running smoothly. All had gone according to plan and business was never better.
"You gotta love this city." Audrey took a shot glass from Elijah, smiling at him.
Elijah returned her gesture of goodwill and raised his glass. "To a new era! Collaboration in the face of Prohibition!"
Audrey lifted her own and patted Klaus on the shoulder. "To your docks, their booze, and Charlie's bar to hide it under. Such a pleasure doing business with you, boys."
The trio clinked their glasses together and downed the shots like they were nothing. Looking over the bar, they couldn't help but feel accomplished at the product of their hard work. Smirking widely, Klaus snuck an arm around Audrey's thin waist and pulled her flush against him. Her smirk matched his and her fingers toyed with the collar of his suit jacket.
"Now, I shall have to think of a way to thank you personally, in a manner befitting a witch queen." His gaze passed between her sinfully painted red lips and her light blue eyes. His strong hands were tickled by the sequins and beading of her tight dress that hugged her body so deliciously.
"Ooh, 'witch queen.'" She mocked his nickname for her playfully. "Youmust reallybe trying to get on my good side. Their relationship had certain bloomed since the night they first met and it was obvious that they enjoyed each other's company. They were an interesting match for one another, managing to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.
"I'll be on the dance floor," She purred sensually and maneuvered her way through the patrons, soon disappearing in a sea of them. Elijah watched his brother look after Audrey and the corner of his lips twitched slightly upward.
"You two are thick as thieves," henoted casually. "Who would have thought that my brother would have fallen into bed with a witch?You would have scolded me for it."
"I like her, Elijah." Klaus spoke. "And she has been a great help to us as well."
Elijah moved to stand beside his brother so they could look out into the bar side by side. "Who would have thought it possible, the unification of New Orleans?"
Klaus reached his arm over Elijah's shoulders and grasped it, shaking him in a brotherly manner. "We did it, brother."
"Oh, certainly, we worked together, Niklaus." Elijah copied Klaus' gesture, squeezing his brother. "But this vision, this was all you."
Elijah Mikaelson's frown only grew deeper as he watched his brother gasp and groan in agony. After getting to the sanatorium, he found Klaus clutching Papa Tunde's knife, chasing after their little sister in an effort to punish her for her and Marcel's treachery. He understood how angry Klaus was, but there was no need to inflict pain and suffering on Rebekah. Once Klaus cornered Rebekah in the basement, Elijah was able to disarm Klaus of his weapon and stab the knife back into his chest where it had just been removed minutes prior. Klaus sunk back into the state he was in while with the two witches and Elijah informed Rebekah and Marcel that it would be in their best interest to run for it, which they did. Elijah took his brother to the compound and after checking the rooms, he learned that both Hayley and Giuliana were missing.
Klaus gave a low roar, the sound vibrating deep in his throat and chest, making Elijah shake his head shamefully. He swore to always stand by his family, but it was so painful to watch it crumble before his very eyes. He would continue to stay loyal to his family, but he would be given the task to mend the bonds that had been broken, a duty he's always felt compelled to perform. The door opened downstairs and that was soon followed by a woman's shoe climbing up the stairs which made Klaus' eyes shift slowly beneath his closed lids. Elijah had sent for Cami to come and he was pleased that she was right on time; a quality that was rare in a human being, but Elijah pushed his qualms with modern society aside.
"This was all you." Were his last words to his brother before turning himself to face Cami who was just upon entering the room. He knew that he could not leave his brother unattended and with him in his weakened state, Cami would be a wonderful help. With Klaus taken care of, Elijah could then devote his time to the two missing women.
Sabine's gaze shifted between her captors as she leaned herself against the thick trunk of a tree. She'd woken up in the bayou a few hours ago with lump on her head and a killer headache. The last thing she remembered was leaving the sanatorium feeling more than accomplished and then her world suddenly going black. She had a feeling that someone would catch her eventually, but the last two people she thought would be slick enough were Hayley and Giuliana. However, her wrists and ankles were bound tightly and she was staring at Hayley and Eve who were aiming their guns at her. Giuliana was close nearby with no gun, but the werewolf at her feet would make for a good weapon in a pinch. The animal was staring at the witch, growling threateningly and licking its lips in the thought of tearing into her. The wolf was not alone; other members of the pack were not far behind him, hiding within the brush of the bayou. All were on high alert and ready to step in if need be.
"So what's this? Payback? Look, I'm sorry I tricked you. I wasn't after you," Sabine hissed.
"What? And we were just collateral damage?" Eve took some steps forward, her gun still aimed. "You almost burned her and Jackson alive in that plantation fire." She nodded to Hayley and then to Giuliana. "You nearly drowned her too."
The witch strained against the tight ropes around her wrist, but Hayley fired a warning shot into the bark of the tree behind her head. Sabine immediately stopped struggling and returned to her position against the tree.
"Careful, Sabine, or Celeste or whatever you like to call yourself. Sudden moves make me jumpy." Hayley cocked the gun again, the noise echoing through the tranquil woods. "And homicidal."
"What. You're gonna kill me, honey?" The witch wondered.
Hayley shook her head back and forth. "No, I know better." The wolf at Giuliana's feet barked loudly, snapping its teeth at Sabine while its pack mates growled low. "See, I know all about you. I know that you like to off yourself and then jump into other people's bodies. Well, that's not gonna happen here. I know I can't kill you, but try hexing me, and my friend Eve here will kneecap you. Go for her, and then, well, I'll really make it hurt."
"And you?" Sabine looked to Giuliana who had been quiet the entire time she'd been there. She simply stood with her arms crossed and a stone faced expression. "Oh, I forgot. You're powers are nothing."
The moment Sabine finished her jab, she felt her body seize up. Her muscles tensed and she let out a loud scream as pain gripped her entire being. Giuliana's eye narrowed, moving Sabine's agony to her head. The witch rocked back and forth, clenching her teeth and squirming about in an effort to take the pain away. Hayley gently placed her hand on Giuliana's forearm and the pressure around Sabine's head dissipated.
"Say that a little louder next time," Giuliana smirked at the bound witch who sneered angrily.
"So, what do you want?" Her eyes passed between her captors.
"Back in the 90's, you inhabited a witch named Brynne Deveraux, remember? Marcel had her—you—put a curse on a lot of werewolves so they'd only turn human on a full moon." Hayley explained.
"I see." Sabine clicked her teeth and nodded. "Yes. That was me. Let me guess. You want revenge."
"I want you to undo the curse." The pregnant wolf demanded while Sabine smiled smugly, making Eve and Giuliana uneasy.
"Wow. I never thought I'd be doing...feeding a vampire. My 16 year old self would think I'm really cool right now." Cami muttered to herself before offering her wrist to Klaus. Even though he was weak, he mustered enough strength to lean up slightly, grasp her wrist with his hand and pierce the skin with his sharp fangs. The famished hybrid sucked down her blood quickly, enjoying the taste, except for the kick of vervain which burned his throat. However, being a century old, the petty herb hardly bothered him.
"Ah! Slow down." The blonde's voice jarred him from his feeding and at her request, he unhanded her. Still feeling very weak, he flopped down onto the bed, his body resting against the propped up pillows. Cami looked down at her wrist which was bleeding only a little bit and raised her eyebrow at him.
"Doesn't the vervain burn?" She asked.
"As you may have yet to realize, Cami, the line between what brings us pain and what sustains us is far thinner than one imagines." Klaus told her softly.
"You talking about my blood or your need to hunt down the people you love most?" Her countering remark made him roll his eyes and scowl.
"I'm too weak for one of your talks right now."
"She's your sister. How can you hate her?"
"Because she has done what no one else has managed to do to me for 1,000 years. Rip my heart out." Klaus growled.
"Klaus, please. I'm trying to enjoy my drink." Audrey giggled as Klaus nibbled at her earlobe. He bit down and pulled at it playfully, growling as he did which made her gasp and spill her drink onto the table. They were spending another enjoyable night at the Ice Box at a table away from the rest of the patrons. Elijah was sitting with them as well, but the two were much too enthralled with one another to notice his presence. Rebekah was at the Ice Box too, but she wasn't sitting with her two brothers. Instead, she was standing at the bar with Marcel, engaging in small talk while sharing some drinks. They knew that Klaus didn't approve of their relationship
"You insatiable brute." Audrey reached over, took the pocket square from Elijah's pocket and began wiping off the table. That earned her a look from Elijah and a chuckle from his brother. She narrowed her eyes at Klaus who was still laughing.
"Don't blame me, darling. That dress looks a little too good on you." He was smirking at her while tracing her figure with his eyes. A powder blue dress hugged her curves in all the right places and the front was cut down quite low, showing more skin to his prying gaze. A black sequined headband rested on her head with a feather standing up out of the side. Klaus wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing her close so that his lips were at her ear again.
"It would look even better off you." He added with a kiss on the cheek. Audrey smiled brightly and Elijah couldn't help but admire their relationship. Normally when Klaus would spend time with woman, it would be because he needed something from her or for a one night stand. Audrey was different. She'd managed to enchant him from their first meeting and the two were rarely apart. They were both aware of each other's power and prowess, but it was not a hindrance in their relationship whatsoever. If anything it made them stronger, more passionate for one another. Elijah longed for some kind of companionship like his brother had, but he would never admit it to anyone.
Klaus' attention strayed from the beauty beside him when he caught sight of Marcel and Rebekah up by the bar and he untangled himself from Audrey to mention it to his brother. "Look at these two; pretending to be apart while so clearly a pair."
"Leave them be," Audrey purred soothingly and ran her hand over his thigh. "They deserve to be happy just like anyone else."Ignoring Audrey's pleas, he stood up, making his way out of the booth, but Elijah put a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Niklaus, not now. Why must you cause trouble?" Elijah scolded lightly in an effort to make his brother rethink his actions and sit down, but Klaus wouldn't be so easily swayed. He snatched two glasses from off the table and clinked them together, effectively getting everyone's attention. At the wave of his hand, the band was silenced and the entire bar was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to draw attention to two people who have been sneaking around behind my back together." Klaus started and Rebekah and Marcel's faces paled visibly. The cordial smiles that they were once wearing were suddenly expressions of shock and embarrassment as all eyes turned to look upon them.
"Oh God..." Audrey muttered and palmed her face with her hands before smacking Elijah's shoulder. "Don't just sit there gaping! Do something!"
"As much as I would like to, I have a feeling that my actions would do nothing to stop Niklaus from doing what he wants." He explained to her just as Klaus continued his speech.
"As we move into a new era, we require more progressive attitudes to match. So, to my loving sister and my right-hand man and best friend Marcel, may they find joy in each other." Everyone raised their glasses to toast while Marcel and Rebekah were equally startled by Klaus' sudden change of heart. Even Audrey and Elijah were stunned, staring open-mouthed at Klaus who had commanded the band to start playing again before going to his little sister.
"Did you expect that?" The woman asked.
Elijah shook his head, still dumbfounded and a bit confused. "I did not. You've only known my brother for a short while Audrey, but you will learn that there is more to Niklaus than he lets on."
Audrey watched as Klaus congratulated his sister who was smiling so hard she thought her face might crack. She knew how much he didn't approve of Marcel and Rebekah, but to put aside his own displeasure so that his little sister could be happy was a very selfless act. Audrey never had a brother, but she understood why Klaus was so protective of Rebekah; he didn't want her to get hurt.
"I'm learning that now." Her voice was soft and low, but Elijah heard every word. Just as Klaus had come back to slide into the booth, his brother left to greet his sister and Marcel. The Original hybrid went back to sipping his drink, but was distracted by Audrey who was looking adoringly at him.
"What is that look for?" He asked her.
"Klaus Mikaelson, you devil, you." She grinned widely. "That was very sweet and endearing. You told me you didn't have a compassionate bone in your body."
He shrugged a bit, a smirk playing on his lips. "I want to see my sister happy."
"And now she is." Audrey confirmed. She jumped when she heard a bottle of champagne being opened to celebrate Rebekah and Marcel and that was when she took Klaus by the hand and led him out of the booth.
"Come on, I say we should celebrate with them."
"Or we could do some more enjoyable activities." His hands found her waist.
"Like what?" She tilted her head slightly to the side and Klaus brushed his lips against hers.
"Like getting that dress off you."
With Cami's help, Klaus was now sitting up on the edge of the bed and buttoning his shirt while he continued to speak to her. She listened to his story and was eager to find out what despicable thing Rebekah and Marcel had done to set Klaus off.
"Turns out, they'd already betrayed me, and brought to town the one thing I'd been running from for centuries." Klaus finished the last button and rubbed at his chest where he'd been stabbed. "My father."
"Oh." Cami sighed.
"Yes. Oh." With a huff, he angled himself to lie back down in the bed and Cami moved herself to sit on the edge.
"So, you're consumed by revenge you'll never achieve. Elijah implied Rebekah and Marcel could be anywhere in the world by now." She pointed out, but Klaus smirked to himself.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that. They'll need a cloaking spell, and for that, they'll need a witch. So, there's only one place they can go." He could see it now. They two of them driving down the road, but one of them decides to stop as they bicker about what they should do when it comes to running away. One of them will most definitely bring up a cloaking spell, but the other would point out that in order to have a cloaking spell done, they would need a witch. And that witch would be back in New Orleans where they just left from. They'd have to make a choice and if they wanted to live happily ever after, they needed to turn around.
"Home."
With much difficulty, Sabine had managed to whip up a potion of some sorts while having her wrists tied together. She tried to bargain with her captors to untie her just so that she could make the potion, but they denied her request in the fear that she might try something or run off. Giuliana and her wolf friend had found the desired herbs and other ingredients for the mixture along with a Mason jar from one of the camps. After combing the ingredients together, it had become a thick paste and Sabine extended her bound wrists to the pregnant wolf.
"Here." Hayley took the jar from her hand examined it carefully. "It's herbs ground into paste. It'll act as a conduit for the spell. On the next full moon, your people become human. Feed it to them; the curse will be broken."
Hayley scoffed and shook the bottle around. "Great way to poison us all at once."
"Look, I know you have no reason to trust me, but-"
"You're damn right we don't." Giuliana interrupted her. "How do we know that this isn't some trick?"
"I want to help. I was you caring for Elijah when he cared more for his brother. I ended up dead and so did a lot of others." Sabine said. "If you follow the instructions, your people will be free."
Eve shifted anxiously on her feet with her gun still in her hands. "You believe her?
The wolf beside Giuliana growled loudly, its fur standing up on edge and the woman patted his head. "Good boy."
"Whatever she's promised you, it's a lie." They all whipped around to see Elijah approaching them. He weaved through the trees and Giuliana bit her bottom lip nervously.
"Oh crap. Now we're in trouble." She breathed before facing the Original. "Elijah, it's-"
His pointed finger at her stopped her words and she backed away a bit, shying into herself. "We will talk about this," he gestured to Sabine and the wolves. "Later."
"Lovely of you to join us." Sabine grinned.
It was now Elijah's turn to point at the witch. "She cannot be trusted."
"She's the only one that can help my pack," Hayley fought.
"Do you have any idea what she has done to our family?" He asked her.
"I know you want revenge and come the next full moon, when I'm sure her cure works, she's all yours." She told him.
"Are you suggesting that we hold her captive for an entire month? It would take an army." Elijah argued.
"And I've got one." The wolves all howled collectively, creating a chorus of sound that made Hayley's pride swell. Her entire pack was behind her and there was no better feeling in the world. "So, help me or get out of my way."
Elijah's fist clenched at his side and his jaw visibly tightened at Hayley's ultimatum. He didn't trust Celeste, not one bit and he knew that if Hayley trusted her that it would be detrimental to her pack. In seconds, he flashed to Sabine and then to Hayley before disappearing off into the woods. The wolves all looked around, whimpering and whining between one another and Hayley cursed aloud upon discovering that Elijah had taken Sabine and the jar of herbs with him.
Sabine grunted as Elijah shoved her body against the trunk of a tree and he held the jar in between them. He was nearly seething at her, but she kept her composure which only made Elijah lose his more. He wanted to talk to her alone without Hayley's or Giuliana's influence and he wanted to know of Celeste's true intentions.
"You tricked her."
"It's no trick." Sabine denied. "You're holding the cure for Hayley's clan in your hand. If her wolves take that elixir, the curse is no more. They're free.
"You condemned her people to decades of agony and now you just break the curse without so much as a whimper." He pressed his hand to her throat and leaned in close. "Why?"
"Because it's the best thing I could do for her and it's the worst possible thing I could do to you."
Elijah's eyebrows furrowed. "What are you saying?"
"If you destroy that jar, you kill me, Hayley will hate you for snatching her family from her. Or if you give her the jar, we both know that she'll leave your sight to be with them." She explained and craned her neck a bit higher to alleviate the crushing force of the vampire's grip.
"Hayley is a grown woman, Celeste. She can make her own choices." He talked down to her.
"But you're more concerned about Giuliana, who you know will want to be with her friend. So, perhaps you're scared to give Hayley the jar because you know that if she leaves, Giuliana will be right behind her. You don't want to lose her, Elijah. You care about her too much." Sabine grinned up at the Original who was cracking slowly and she knew that she had gotten under his skin just like she was so good at doing.
Klaus braced his arms against the bed and with much effort; he managed to push himself up to stand on his wobbly legs. Cami was right beside him, her arms out ready to catch him if need be and that chance came when he took a step and fell right into her. She immediately wrapped one of her arms around his waist and the other gripped his shoulder before he could fall to the ground and she very carefully lowered him back onto the bed.
"You're still weak."
"I'm still hungry." He countered and moved to get up again. "There's a fresh blood supply in the kitchen."
Cami held up her hands, pressing them against Klaus' chest and he stole an odd look down at them. "You won't make it that far. So, be a good little boy and get back into bed."
Klaus' lips upturned to a smirk and due to the human's orders, he sat back down in bed. "If I had a quid for every time a woman has tried that line on me."
"You'd have, like, no money." Cami pointed out.
"I beg to differ. Some women actually find me quite charming," He chuckled.
"Mmm, yes!" Audrey's loud moan only spurred Klaus on more, his thrusts increasing in speed and strength. His hands held her hips down to the mattress as he pounded her and her legs were hiked up around his trim waist. Her nails left small puncture wounds in his skin and that only made Klaus growl in her ear.
The sound of the door slamming loudly made the couple in bed stop what they were doing and Elijah was greeted by their heads popping up from under the blankets. They situated themselves, covering their naked bodies with the sheets.
"So nice to see that I was not disturbing you." The Original brother smirked and Audrey rolled her eyes as she moved herself to sit against the headboard with the sheet tuckedunder her arms.
"Please, by all means," she waved her hand around the room and then crossed her arms over her chest. "Make yourself at home."
"I shall." Elijah smiled. "Since this is my home."
"Don't patronize her, Elijah." Klaus defended. "We were just having a little fun, weren't we, sweetheart?"
"Yes, we were." Audrey nodded. "And if I wasn't so nice, I wouldn't be giving you these." She leaned over to reach for the bedside table where some tickets sat and she held them up to show Elijah.
Klaus took the tickets from her and smirked at his brother. "As a gesture of goodwill from our favorite witch; tickets to tonight's opera, 'Le Grand Guignol.'"
"Well, that is very kind of you." Elijah took the tickets from his brother and looked them over.
"They have a soprano to die for. I'll introduce you if you promise not to eat her." The woman poked at Klaus' naked chest.
"Oh, Audrey, a good soprano is never dinner." Elijah tsked and tucked the tickets in the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
"It should be a marvelous production." Audreylayback down in bed with her body facing away from Klaus and he couldn't help but notice how the blankets stretched and dipped over the silhouette of her body.
"Tell Rebekah to bring Marcel. Feel free to tell her now, big brother. I have some business I need to discuss with our new ally." Klaus' hand smacked Audrey's behind quite hard and she jumped up in response, glaring at him.
"Niklaus," she growled.
"Once again, I cannot keep my hands to myself." The hybrid held up his hands in surrender.
"If that is all, I shall take my leave." Elijah replied and vanished from the room before either of them could answer.
"Your brother hates me." Audrey sighed heavily, but smiled feeling Klaus' fingertips trace the long scars that ran up and down the length of her back.
"Nonsense." He kissed along the back of her neck. "Elijah is a fickle thing."
"A fickle thing who hates me." She countered and his lips curved against her skin. His hands grasped the blanket and pulled it down, exposing more of the scars on her back. Some ran parallel to each other while other's twisted together like the naked branches of trees in wintertime. A frown painted his lips and his eyes lost the previous glimmer that they held from before.
"I wish you would let me heal them." He told her in a hushed tone as if he wanted the conversation to stay between the two of them.
Audrey didn't say a word; she simply turned in his hold and scooted closer to his warm body. A hand reached up to cup his cheek and she gently stroked him in such an affectionate manner that Klaus drew nearer.
"You know that even if you feed me your blood, the memories of them will still stay." She reminded him, but he didn't look pleased with her response. "Our scars make us who we are. Because of mine, I am stronger."
Klaus ground his teeth together, his gaze turning from one of adoration to anger. "Still, a father has no right to put his hands on his children."
"It seems your father and mine were cut from the same cloth." She added and relaxed herself into the bed. Their abusive fatherswerea topic they had it common and it was something that brought them closer together. Before Audrey had come to New Orleans, she lived out west on a farm with her father. Audrey's mother had died when she was a young girl of seven and all she saw for the coming years was her father's wrath. He'd drink too much, he'd get angry and he'd take it out in his child who would cry herself to sleep and pray for a way out.
"But you were able to confront yours and succeed." He admitted shamefully. "My siblings and I have been running for years in fear."
"Do you want to know what I think?" She wondered aloud and he nodded warily. "I think you and your siblings are doing the best you can to make your own lives. You're all strong and refuse to give up. To me, that makes you very brave."
"A coward." He spat and she shook her head.
"No," her hands cupped his cheeks, her fingers playing gently over his smooth features. She stared into his eyes, piercing his very soul in a way that only she could do. "You are brave, Klaus."
She'd been told the horrors of his childhood and about his wretched father one night when the two of them were drunk as skunks and stumbled into her apartment. As hot kisses were shared and clothes were being shed, Klaus immediately stopped when he felt the indentations and scar tissue along her back with his fingers. She flinched a bit out of instinct and when she tried to continue their affair, but he seemed strangely off put by her scars. In a moment of weakness, she confessed to him who had given them to her and that ended up having him open up completely to her. The entire night, they shared their darkest secrets, dancing within the shadows of one another before falling asleep together.
"Why am I not surprised you like opera?" Cami's question brought him from his memories.
"I always had a particular soft spot for Le Grand Guignol. I like the story. It was a tale of forbidden love, a "Romeo and Juliet" of sorts. On the day they are to marry, family and long-festering hatred intervene. Thousands are massacred. A father even kills his own child in the final act. I can almost appreciate the irony." As he explained the opera, Cami sat back and listened, but she was quite curious about Audrey.
"So, this Audrey girl." Cami pursed her lips. "Who was she? A friend with benefits? Although you reminisce about her like she was more than that."
"Strange bedfellows, we were." Klaus admitted. "I hadn't realized how alike we were."
"How so?" The girl wondered curiously.
"She never got along with her father."
"I see, so the two of you have daddy issues?"
Klaus' gaze hardened and he clenched his teeth, making Cami wish she would have kept her mouth shut in the first place. "A father should never lay his hands on his daughter, no matter how angry or drunk he is. There is no excuse for it."
"He beat her?" She questioned in a much softer tone.
"Nearly killed her on some nights." He spoke and Cami felt bad for what she had said about Audrey.
"So...what eventually happened?"
"She killed him."
Cami's blue eyes grew wide with disbelief. "She, what?!"
"For years she took the beatings from her father, but one night, she cracked. He held her against the wall, plunging his fist into her skull when she couldn't take it anymore. She unleashed her magic and it led to his undoing."
"Magic? She was a witch."
Klaus was out of bed now and making his way to the end table where a bottle of alcohol sat. He poured himself a generous glass full before continuing. "A very powerful one at that. She practiced Blood Magic. It is a discipline that can manipulate blood."
"What did she do to her father then?" She asked.
"Not sure you want to hear it, love. It's quite graphic." He downed the amber liquid, hoping that Cami would take the hint and beat it, but she was as eager as ever.
"I want to know." She vacated the bed and stood beside him. "Tell me."
Klaus filled his glass again and took a long sip before turning to the young blonde and looking down at her. "Blood Magic is a very dangerous form of magic that should not be tampered with. It can be fueled by emotions such as anger or despair. That night, Audrey was so blinded by rage that she couldn't control her own magic."
Cami shifted uneasily on her feet, but she quickly stopped seeing that Klaus was becoming annoyed by it. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze unsurely. "Tell me."
"She used a spell called a Blood Boil which is exactly how it sounds. She rose the temperature of her father's blood to such a height, that his entire body exploded right before her eyes. Blood spattered everywhere and pieces of his mangled body littered the floor." While he spoke, Cami felt her stomach twist and turn sickly as her imagination ran amuck of that man's final night. She swore that she was going to be ill, but she swallowed her nausea and let Klaus finish. "She knew what she had done and realized that even though she was free, she had to start over. The house was torched, staging her own death before running off to New Orleans to start a new life."
"My God..." She hushed, her hands shaking with fear. "That's..."
"That's bravery." He finished for her even though he knew that it wasn't the answer Cami would have given.
"You envy her. I get it, but-"
"Come, Camille." He then took her lightly by the arm, stopping her train of thought and whisking her across the room. "You say you know about the history of this city. Let's see how much you know."
Giuliana stroked the fur on the scruff of Jackson's neck and the wolf's tail wagged back and forth. He leaned into her, laying his head on her lap while she sat on a log. Eve had taken some of the wolves back to camp, but a few had remained with Hayley in case Sabine would come back. The pregnant hybrid huffed as she sat down beside her friend and Jackson's ears perked up, removing himself from Giuliana to trot over to Hayley, demanding a pat on the head by giving short barks. Hayley eventually cracked a smile and scratched behind the wolf's ears, earning a low howl of approval. Giuliana ran a hand down Jackson's back and looked out into the woods, anxiousness setting in. Elijah and Sabine had been gone for a bit too long for her liking and she worried that Sabine could have tried to pull a fast one on the Original.
"He'll be alright." Hayley said softly. "He's an Original, after all."
"Hmm," she hummed in agreement and tapped the heel of her boot nervously against the log she was sitting on. "So, how much trouble do you think we'll get in for kidnapping that witch?"
"We'll?" The girl stressed. "It was your idea. You'll be the one getting in trouble."
Giuliana's jaw dropped drastically, making Hayley laugh. "Oh, come on! You went right along with me! Way to throw me under the bus." She huffed and nudged her friend's shoulder. "At least admit that you had fun."
"Yeah, I did have fun." She smirked. "You always make things interesting."
"Hey," the girl shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's the point if we can't enjoy the little things that make us happy, right?"
"Like kidnapping a witch?" Hayley guessed and the girls shared a laugh. "We're both going to hell."
"At least we can keep having fun down there." Giuliana muttered when Elijah had come back into the clearing with Sabine. His hand was wrapped tightly around her upper arm and Giuliana caught a flinch of pain in the witch's eyes. Sabine was still clutching the jar she'd offered to Hayley and Elijah, thankfully, looked unharmed. Perturbed, but unharmed.
"You came back." Giuliana stood to meet him and he let go of Sabine to gently take her in his arms.
"I'll always come back." He looked into her eyes longingly before taking the jar from Sabine and giving it to Hayley. "Take it. It will work."
Hayley clutched the jar for dear life; finally, something to free her family from their wretched curse. "Eve and I will round up as many of our people as we can. Come full moon, I can finally free my family."
"I'll see you later, Hayl." Giuliana murmured to her friend who had started off to find Eve with Jackson by her side. Elijah hadn't moved from his spot, his jaw was clenched tightly and Giuliana's stomach dropped. She knew that he was angry and it was time to take the heat for what she'd done. "Look, I'm sorry that we-"
"Are you hurt?" His question caught her off guard and she raised an eyebrow at him.
"I...no..." She trailed off unsurely. "But," she was suddenly speechless when Elijah's hands cupped her cheeks ever so gently. She softly sucked in a breath when Elijah's warm gaze met her earthy one and she could feel herself leaning into him. Her lips parted, letting whispers of the words she wanted to say be carried by the soft winds that blew around them. His hands felt so warm on her chilled skin and his thumbs brushed along her cheekbones.
Elijah placed a chaste, yet sensual kiss on her forehead, holding it a bit longer than he should have. His lips lingered on her skin, spreading his warmth throughout her veins and she let out the softest sigh. Her eyes fell closed for a few moments, soaking in the very essence of his presence and the feel of his kiss, secretly wishing it was upon her lips rather than her forehead, but Giuliana's mind was a pink haze which was numbing her from head to toe. She nearly gave a grunt of dissatisfaction when he pulled away, but she was quickly drawn back in by how close their faces were.
"Giuliana, my main concern was your well being. Words cannot express how elated I am to see that you are alright." His voice put her in a trance, making her wobble a bit on her feet, but she kept her composure enough to reply back to him.
"I'm sorry that I worried you." She hoped that her words weren't tongue tied.
Elijah smiled down at her and passed a thumb back and forth beneath her bottom lip. "I wonder if they have any idea how lucky they are to have you."
Once again she was stunned by his words and all she could do was smile back at him. Sabine cleared her throat loudly from her place by one of the trees and Giuliana took it as her cue to leave. She walked off, following Hayley's path and disappearing within the dense forest. All the while, she wondered if Elijah felt the same way that she felt about him.
"When will the show start? I'm bored." Audrey whined as she leaned over the edge of the private box that had been reserved for the Originals. Most of the people below her were already in their seats, but there were some latecomers who were rushing about while there were others who were leisurely gossiping with people in the rows behind them. The sparkles from women's dresses glowed dimly from the crystals that donned the chandeliers and the men were crisp suits with rigid creases. Going to the opera was a luxury and Audrey was all too happy to attend one since she had never gone before.
"Be patient, my dear." Klaus' hand rested on her lower back and Audrey propped her fist underneath her chin.
"I am simply too excited to be patient." She countered and sat back in her seat, fiddling with her program. Her eyes darted to the curtain by the entrance of the box and her nose scrunched up. "Elijah, Rebekah, and Marcel aren't here?"
"Rebekah went off to find Marcel and I have not seen Elijah yet." He replied and Audrey hummed quietly to herself.
"It isn't like Elijah to be late." That was completely true. Rebekah and Marcel could have easily found each other in the library and decided to fulfill their carnal needs sooner rather than later, but hearing the words "Elijah" and "late" in the same sentence was nearly impossible. "Maybe he found himself a nice girl in the lobby."
Klaus let out a puff of air and a chuckle. "If that may be the case, she is probably bored to death of him."
Audrey's lips turned up into a smirk. "Well, I think it would be nice if Elijah found a lady friend. He needs a good lay. Then he might actually smile."
"You little devil," he grinned playfully at her and the lights above them grew darker, signaling that the show was almost ready to start. Audrey turned her attention to the stage while Klaus' attention was on her and no one else. It was a strange happening how the two of them had become quite the pair and it still baffled him now and again. Not only was she beautiful, but she had managed to coax the darkest parts of him out from the shadows and into the light. He never shared his past with anyone but his siblings, but when Audrey stepped into his life, that all changed. There were even times when they shared a bed together and she was fast asleep when he pondered on the very fear of not having her in his life anymore. It scared him and Niklaus Mikaelson wasn't scared of anyone or anything.
The dark haired girl could feel his gaze on her and she turned to see him staring at her, his gaze unwavering. "What is it?"
Klaus smiled and stroked his hand along her cheek. "Nothing."
Audrey then leaned back in her seat and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips. As she pulled away, she whispered against his lips, "Next time, take a picture. It will last longer."
"I much prefer the real thing." He took a nip at her bottom lip and he saw her eyes ignite with desire.
"If you're going to continue to speak, I suggest finding somewhere else to converse." A voice from the row behind them cause two completely different reactions from the both of them. Audrey, for one, scowled and readied herself to bite back at the man who had made such a rude comment. While Klaus was frozen in fear.
He knew that voice. It was all too familiar. He and his siblings have tried so hard to make their own lives, but Mikael had somehow found them in New Orleans. He was now suddenly worried about Elijah and Rebekah since they still had not come to the box yet. Perhaps Mikael had already driven the white oak stake into their chests and left them for dead. Or was Mikael here to do what he always wanted and kill his bastard of a son once and for all?
"I suggest that you move, mister. There are plenty of other seats in this place." Audrey's sharp tongue snapped Klaus from his wonderings, but he still couldn't even part his lips to say something.
"You are quite rude, dear girl. But then I expect nothing less from a bastard who calls me father." Mikael replied and within seconds, Audrey knew exactly who she'd managed to anger and she wished she'd kept her big mouth shut.
Thinking quickly, Klaus rose to his feet and grasped Audrey's arm to hoist her up and run out of the box, but Mikael was already two steps ahead of them. Before Klaus could even process what had happened, Mikael had Audrey in a headlock, his arm pressing hard into her throat and he held her tightly against him. Klaus' fists clenched and he stepped forward to fight his father, but a whimper of pain from Audrey's lips made him halt.
"Take one more step and her pretty little head will be ripped off her shoulders." Mikael threatened darkly and Klaus stepped down, placing his hands up in surrender.
"Leave her be, father. Your fight is with me, not her." He spoke warily, keeping his gaze on Audrey who was trying to inch away from Mikael.
""Father"? Ha ha! Still clinging to that word after all these years, a bastard desperate for a daddy?" The Original mocked. "I wonder if your real father would be as embarrassed as I was of you before I discovered you were not mine. Most likely."
"Let her go, Mikael." Klaus growled lowly.
"In time. Easy, boy. Death will come, but we need to have a little chat before you shuffle off your immortal coil." He said and huffed under his breath, turning to Audrey who was shaking in his hold. "What is a pretty thing like you doing getting involved with vampires? We are a deadly breed."
Mikael the bared his sharp fangs at Audrey, making Klaus gulp nervously, but the Original then shoved her away. Klaus caught her in his arms, steadying her and examining her neck which was bruised from Mikael's hold. He gently touched them, but she flinched, hissing through her teeth.
"Are you alright?" He asked her and she nodded.
"Isn't that touching?" Mikael spat disgustedly. "A beauty and a beast." Klaus' hold on Audrey tightened and he was trying his hardest not to fight back at Mikael who had taken the white oak stake from inside his jacket and pointed the tip at the two of them.
"I would advise against trying to flee, boy. I can drive this into your heart before you can even think of escaping, and I don't want you to die yet." He added.
Klaus moved Audrey to stand behind him so that he could shield her from Mikael's wrath. "Any words we have for each other have been spoken long ago, but know this. I am no longer the animal begging for scraps of your affection. I will die knowing my hatred for you was just. I will fall proud of all I have achieved here. So, Mikael, if you're going to kill me, then get on with it."
"Au contraire, Niklaus. Some things remain unsaid." Mikael chuckled and walked forward, causing Klaus to push Audrey back a little bit more. "For instance, you were right to be proud of your achievement here. As I walked the streets, your name was spoken of in reverent tones by the city's finest. So, after I kill you, I will remain here in New Orleans until every last person who remembers you is dead. The deeds of the mighty Klaus will be remembered by no one And you, boy, will simply never have existed."
The orchestra began to tune, the melodious sounds quickly quieting the musings of everyone in the theater. Klaus and Audrey cast a glance to the stage and Mikael tucked the stake back in his jacket.
"Ah, the grand show." Mikael gestured for the two of them to sit in their seats and Klaus ushered Audrey to her seat before sitting down beside her. Mikael took his own seat behind them and clapped his hand on Klaus' shoulder. "Oh, I made some alterations in your honor. You'll love it."
The conductor tapped his baton against his music stand and the orchestra went quiet along with the audience. The curtain was drawn open, revealing the garish scene that was on the stage. Audrey gasped, holding a hand to her mouth to prevent herself from screaming while Klaus sat in complete silence. Marcel had stakes through his palms which held him to a wooden X and he was barely conscious. Lana, Audrey's friend from the bar was dead, staked through the chest with tape over her mouth while being propped up on a swing. The audience erupted in laughter and applause as if it was the most humorous of comedies while the couple in the balcony were horrified.
Klaus was able to take Audrey's hand and vamp themselves down to the stage to try and help their friends, but Lana had already been dead for too long to be saved. They then moved to Marcel and worked to pull the stakes out, but Mikael had yanked Audrey away by her hair. He threw her to the ground and went for Klaus, but he stopped feeling Audrey's magic taking a hold of him. Audrey got to her feet, holding her hands out towards him and she intensified her magic ten-fold. With Mikael incapacitated, Klaus was able to remove only one of the stakes from Marcel's hands. The Original father lunged at the witch knocking her to the floor once again and biting into her neck.
Audrey gave a scream that could wake the dead and Klaus immediately threw his father off her. Her neck bled all over her dress and stained her pale skin a dark red color. Klaus helped her to her feet, pressing his hand to her neck to stop the bleeding. Armed with the stake, Mikael drew closer to the couple, the point aimed at Klaus' back and just as he was about to strike, Audrey threw herself in the way. The stake pierced her chest, the sound of it driving through her skin and muscle was enough to make Klaus sick and Mikael laughed long and hard as he drove the stake in deeper. Audrey's lips hung open, but only short gasps of breath left them as she felt her own life slipping from her fingers. Hot tears streaked Klaus' cheeks and he gave a loud roar that shook the opera house. Mikael yanked the stake from Audrey and her body crumpled onto the wooden stage in a pool of blood. He stalked over to Klaus, but both Elijah and Rebekah had swooped in to stop their father.
Klaus propped Audrey's head in his lap and he begged her to stay alive, but she was already gone. The life and passion in her eyes that excited him had vanished, leaving only a dull blue gaze that stared vacantly up at him. He passed a thumb over her silent lips, the very lips that had kissed him and shared her darkest secrets, wishing he could feel them again. The laughter and applause from the audience only seemed to grow louder as if it was mocking him for giving his heart to someone who was so easily disposed of. Klaus let out a sob and he cradled her dead body to him, rocking back and forth just as Elijah had come to him. Elijah frowned deeply, watching his brother become so emotional, but it was not the time to grieve. They had to run and they had to run now.
"Klaus, we must go." Elijah implored, but all Klaus could do was cry. "Brother, please-"
"Leave me, Elijah!" Klaus hissed, but his brother wouldn't have it. Elijah grabbed Klaus by his collar and shook him roughly.
"I will not leave you here. We must flee the city if we want to live to see another day." That struck a chord with Klaus and he was quickly beginning to realize that their home in New Orleans had to be left behind if they wanted to continue living. With much hesitation, Klaus laid Audrey's body on the floor and Elijah clapped him on the shoulder. "Come, brother."
"I lived, but all that we had built died, as did the last shred of me that felt human. That is what my father took from me that night." Klaus recounted his tale and Cami stood in silence. She peered up at the newly built opera house from Klaus' memory and she could only feel a fraction of the pain and suffering that he had felt throughout his long lifetime."
"I'm sorry, Klaus." Those were the only words that she could muster, but she knew they wouldn't help much. "Well, we know that Marcel had survived, but...what about Audrey?"
Klaus swallowed the lump in his throat, pushing his pain back off his tongue. "She burned; became one with the flames. I never told Elijah this, but after we had made a run for it, I went back."
"To bury her?" Cami guessed and Klaus nodded solemnly.
"By the time I had gotten to her, I almost couldn't recognize her charred corpse." He said and pocketed his hands.
"But your father still could have been there. He could have killed you." She added and Klaus remained quiet.
"It seemed like the right thing to do." He said after a few long moments. "I assure you, Camille, I will not terrorize my sister and her lover for centuries. Nor will I humiliate and torment or dehumanize them. No, none of that. I will simply and quickly end them."
Before Cami could even ask what he had meant, he was gone. Vanished in the blink of an eye and she was left staring dumbly at the spot he was once standing in. He'd gone to take care of Rebekah and Marcel for singlehandedly ruining his life here in New Orleans all those years ago. Cami dug around in her purse, cursing herself all along the way and she thumbed around for a phone number to call.
"Crap, Elijah's gonna kill me."
Uh oh, Cami! You're in troouuubbllee. Hi everyone! I hope you had a wonderful and safe Halloween :) What do you think of Audrey's character now that her background has been revealed a bit? With Rebekah, Klaus, and Elijah all trapped in the cemetery, who do you think will come to rescue them? Please review with any questions/comments :)
grapejuice101: Hehe, yeah I kinda had to make Cass get infected with the ripper virus ;) I personally thought TVD got off to a slow start, but the past few episodes have really picked up which I am super happy about. TO is AWESOME and I am really enjoying watching it!
Marlene: Here is the next chapter! Glad you liked the ending :)
elisesellas: Thank you so much, my dear! *blows kisses back* Yeah, I've got my plans for the rest of the TVD and TO seasons, it's just a matter of writing up the chapters and uploading them. You always give such awesome reviews and it is so wonderful that you're looking forward to my stories :) You send a lot a positive energy and I LOVE IT!
Lostgirllove: I hate when Damon and Cassandra are fighting too! I much prefer when they work things out. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank so much for reviewing :)
SomebodyWhoCares: Yeeeaaahhhh, that happened to Cass. Don't worry, things will be cleared up soon :) Thank you for reviewing!
NicoleR85: Thank you, girl! Here is your update :)
Guest: Hmm, I won't reveal too much about the baby, but she certainly will not be a vampire because vampirism cannot be passed down from parents to children. Still debating on doing a full chapter with a baby shower or just having a mention in a later chapter. Thank you for reviewing!
twin of a sister: Thanks so much for reviewing, girl! So glad to hear that you enjoyed the last chapter! Yeah, Cassandra never gets a break, but at least she and Damon are in this fight together since they are both infected. Talk to you soon, honey!
binks13: Thank you, babe :) Yeah, Katherine has a way about her and I love writing the Damon and Cassandra moments too! Your reviews are always so helpful and I love hearing from you!
Guest: Thanks for reviewing! More about the baby's health will be revealed in the next TVD chapter.
Harshita94: The sexy lovin' is coming, my dear. Don't you worry ;) Thank you for reviewing!
Guest: Ooh, that is a good idea to have their wedding anniversary in a chapter. Thanks for reviewing and for the idea :)
Guest: You'll have to read on to see if Damon and Cassandra will be cured, but thank you so much for reviewing!
Guest: Thanks, dear! Cassandra's maiden name is Emerson. Thanks for reviewing!