Bloodlines
Chapter 42: A Closer Walk with Thee
Beta: PrincessOfSilence
Disclaimer: I own nothing of TVD or TO. I only own my characters and my story.
This chapter is dedicated to Kevin Wallace. A dear friend that has been taken from us too soon.
"So, because we have one little argument, I'm no longer capable of making the moonlight rings for those mutts in the bayou?!" Audrey's voice rose in volume as she spoke each word. "Am I understanding that correctly?"
"Genevieve's magic is more equipped to perform the spell for the rings since she can pull from celestial events while you cannot," Klaus explained as calmly as possible, but Audrey's temper only manifested more.
"You know something? I would be okay with this if you asked some gutter witch from the Quarter, but you asked her of all people," the witch hissed angrily. "She hexed me. She nearly cost me my magic!"
"I need her as an ally, Audrey." Klaus gritted. "She is nothing more."
"Oh, go choke on a white oak stake!"
Giuliana rolled her bright green eyes as the fight above her continued on. Audrey and Klaus had been going back and forth all morning, the both of them at each other's throats. After the showdown with Father Kieran, Klaus had taken Audrey home to discover that her powers were in full force. She'd broken the hex that Genevieve had put on her, unleashing her magic that had been confined. She didn't even wait for Klaus to wake up before jumping down his throat about his behavior yesterday. She berated him, insulted him, and even smacked him hard across the face to try and get her point heard, but all Klaus could do was try to explain himself. The two of them fought for what seemed like hours until they moved onto yet another argument.
Klaus was originally going to have Audrey make the moonlight rings for the wolves in the bayou. She would draw on the blood of the pack to bind the rings, ensuring their power, but ever since she was hexed, Klaus was looking for a suitable alternative; his mind had wandered to Genevieve. At first it seemed like a bad idea, taking into consideration how angry Audrey was with her, but Klaus rethought his approach. If Genevieve thought that Klaus entrusted her with making the rings, he'd be making an impressive ally to protect his daughter. Audrey didn't take the news lightly, hence the sound of screaming and breaking glass coming from upstairs. Giuliana thought that simply closing the door to her room would block out the sound, but she was mistaken. Instead, she decided to sit in the newly renovated courtyard where she could get some peace.
"They're arguing again." The young witch sighed into the speaker of her cell phone. "They've been doing it all morning."
"I do not envy you." Hayley droned on the other line. She sat comfortably in a rocking chair on the front porch of one of the homes in the bayou. "It's nice and peaceful here."
"Lucky," Giuliana grumbled and crossed one leg over the other. "How are the wolves? I'm sure they're still upset from Eve's death."
"We're dealing with it as best as we can right now. It's hard for all of us," she told her friend.
A pang of guilt struck Giuliana and she frowned. "I'm sorry. I wish there was more that I could do to heal her."
"You did all that you could," Hayley said. "Don't blame yourself."
"It's hard not to. Eve was a great lady and she will be missed by her pack."
"I miss her already."
"I know you do." Giuliana's frown grew deeper as she looked around the desolate courtyard. "I should be there with you."
Hayley gave a small smile to Jackson as he walked past her and over to Oliver who was sitting by the river. "I'm fine. I have a lot of company here. But, you did leave the bayou in a hurry the other night."
"I had to. I needed to be back at the compound." She bit her bottom lip anxiously.
"Because you kissed Elijah?" Hayley's question made the young witch wince in response. She dreaded the moment in time when Hayley would bring up the kiss she shared with Elijah and as much as she prepared herself with a response, it was thrown out the window as soon as the question was asked.
"I don't know how it happened, Hayley. It just did," she said after a long pause. "One minute, he was helping me get bandaged up, the next I just kissed him."
"Have you seen him since?"
"No." Giuliana shook her head. "I've been avoiding him."
"You can't avoid him for the rest of your life." Hayley tsked.
"I can try," she breathed and rubbed her palm over her face. The memory of their kiss replayed over and over in her mind; it even kept her awake at night. How could she be able to look Elijah in the eye after their kiss? She was too embarrassed to even fathom what explanation she would stammer for her behavior, but as much as she hated to admit it, Hayley was right. Giuliana would have to see Elijah again and it would be an anxious conversation for them both to have.
"Yeah, well, maybe you're avoiding him, but what if Elijah wants to see you?" Hayley's remark made the green eyed witch inhale deeply. "I mean, surely he is as confused by it as you are."
"Then he'll know where to find me," she affirmed and held the phone closer to her ear. "No one needs to know about what happened. No one needs to know that I kissed him."
"Kissed who?" Audrey's sudden appearance from behind Giuliana made her nearly jump out of her skin. Her hand fumbled and she almost dropped the phone, but her knuckles turned white as she hung onto it for dear life.
"I've gotta go." The young witch muttered to her friend and ended the call. Audrey stood there expectantly with one hand on her hip while a large painting rested underneath her other arm. Her heel tapped impatiently on the floor and she pursed her lips.
"Hey," Giuliana stood and awkwardly twiddled her thumbs. "You're out of your room."
"I couldn't stand being upstairs with that brute and I needed some fresh air," she explained.
Giuliana's eyes trailed to the framed painting that was against Audrey's hip. "You're not leaving, are you?"
"No, I'm redecorating actually," she replied simply. "If Klaus thinks that he can cast me aside and thinks I'll just go along with it, he can go straight to hell."
"I heard what happened," she mentioned and Audrey rolled her eyes. "I can imagine that you're upset."
"Upset is an understatement." She set the painting down against the edge of the fountain and removed the Blood Dagger from its covering that hung around her hip. With one quick slash, the blade sliced through the canvas, severing her painted face. Giuliana watched as the paint and canvas began to melt before her eyes. The rich colors mixed together, sliding down the painting and ruining Klaus' masterpiece. Even the wooden framing was no match for her magic and it had begun to char. The entire painting and frame disintegrated and seeped into the ground of the compound, slithering between the cobblestones. Audrey sheathed the dagger and took a seat at one of the tables.
"Definitely an understatement," Giuliana murmured.
"I guess he'd want to lose me as an ally." She examined her fingernails. "A shame, really. Considering the witches want his baby dead."
Giuliana's stomach dropped hearing that. She looked over her shoulder to make sure that no ears were on them and she slid into the seat beside Audrey. "What?"
The Blood Witch nodded her head slowly. "Bastiana came to me when I was trying to help Father Kieran. She baited me by telling me to kill the child in order to keep a hold of Klaus' affection. She knows how I feel about him and knows that once this child is brought into the world, my life won't matter to him."
"So, what did you say?" She hushed softly.
"I told her that I couldn't do it, but now that I am thinking about it, I can see what Bastiana meant." Audrey sighed and sat back in her chair. "The moment I wasn't of use of him, I wasn't important. I was incapable of handling things."
"But he still helped you; he practically hunted down everyone to find out who had hexed you and was ready to hold a witch hunt," Giuliana defended.
"I know he did and I am thankful for that, but what I really needed him to do was to see that I was capable again," she said. "He won't back down on his deal with Genevieve and he knows how much our friendship has diminished. He has no idea how much he has hurt me."
"And because of that hurt you're feeling, you'd kill his baby just to spite him?" Her green eyes shot sharpened daggers at her.
Audrey stiffened and looked down at her hands. They had healed from the hex being broken, but it took getting used to seeing her skin without any scars. She was conflicted. On the one hand, she wanted her revenge to make Klaus feel as hurt as she was, but how could she bring herself to end the life of a child who was completely innocent and unaware of the war that was waging outside her mother's womb? The witch clenched her hand into a tight fist, so tight that her nails dug into her palm.
"I can't," she affirmed. "As angry as I am, I can't take that child away from her parents."
"Look, I'm no expert on love and relationships, but have you ever spoken to Klaus about this?" Giuliana wondered. "No, not yell about it. Actually sit and talk. I feel like you two are so defensive and guarded that you think you're both being attacked."
The blue eyed witch lifted her head in realization that Giuliana had a point. Her love with Klaus was a passionate one, sometimes so passionate that the simplest of conversations could turn into an argument of sorts. She didn't want to fight with him, in fact, she hated it. She came off strong and willing to beat fists with anyone who crossed her, but she despised arguing with people who meant something to her. Klaus was no exception and she really wanted to make things right between them. Whether or not he'd want to meet her halfway was his choice, but someone had to make the first move.
"I'll talk to him, but not now," she spoke up after a few moments of silence. "I think we both need time to cool off."
Giuliana sent her friend a warm smile. "Good."
Audrey copied her, but it then morphed into a curious grin as she leaned closer to the young witch. "Now that we have that settled. Just who were you kissing?"
Her cheeks grew red with a deep blush and she could feel her face heating up. Her bottom lip was being chewed by her teeth and she was trying not to be so embarrassed by what happened the other night, but it kept replaying in her mind. Audrey's gaze was calculating and she so subtly tilted her head to the side. Her eyes suddenly widened and she gasped under her breath.
"You didn't..."
Giuliana covered her flushed cheeks with her palms and nodded her head.
"You did." Audrey gaped. "You kissed Elijah!"
"Shh!" Giuliana shushed the witch. "Be quiet! I don't need Klaus knowing."
"I'm sorry, but I am so surprised." She grinned. "Thank God one of you made a move before the both of you exploded."
"Oh God..." She mumbled and held her head in her hands.
"So, did he kiss you back?" Audrey's question went unanswered for a few seconds, but she nearly jumped out of her seat when she saw Giuliana nodding her head again.
"Oh my! Elijah Mikaelson has finally fallen off his noble high horse." Once again, Audrey was begged to keep her voice down.
"Keep it down! It's not that big of a deal."
"Oh, honey, if you kiss a man and he kisses you back, it's a big deal."
Giuliana could feel her blush coming up again, this time down the sides of her neck which she desperately tried to cover with her hands. "What should I do?"
Audrey sent her a pensive stare. "What do you mean?"
"I guess you could say that I'm embarrassed. I just don't know what came over me. Before I knew it, it was happening and I couldn't stop myself." Nor did she want to. If Hayley hadn't come in, she wondered how far they would have continued.
"I know what happened," she spoke up. "You love him."
Giuliana was frozen, rooted to her spot and she knew with every fiber in her being that Audrey was right. "I know."
"And he loves you," Audrey added. "He's just too noble and is so worried about your wellbeing that he won't admit it."
"But why? He knows that I am fine on my own."
"Yes, he knows that, but that fear never goes away. He will worry about you till the day your soul leaves this earth." That gave Giuliana a cold chill up her back that someone could be so invested in her safety. "That's how these Mikaelson boys love. Fiercely and unrelenting."
"But what do I say to him?" Giuliana questioned.
"Who says you have to say anything?" Audrey countered. "You'll see him at Father Kieran's service today and you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. But if you do decide to talk to him, make sure it is something that conveys how you really feel."
That sounded a lot easier in her mind, but Giuliana was certain that if she was put in front of Elijah, she would have no idea what to say. She only hoped that she would be able to speak from her heart and that Elijah would not reject her which was something she always feared. "Okay."
"Good." Audrey pushed her chair out from under the table and stood. "Now, let's get to Father Kieran's wake. We have our respects to pay."
The crowd at Rousseau's was much larger than usual and housed some new faces for Father Kieran's wake. Many of his friends had gathered to respect him as they drank, ate, and reminisced about their dearly departed friend. As per Cami's wishes, Irish music was playing from the speakers to pay respect to his nationality, even though the normal crowds preferred a much different style of music. People were situated at tables, all huddled together and drinking themselves into a stupor while others traded stories at the bar. It was more of a celebration, rather than a wake and Cami preferred it that way as much as she wanted to lock herself in her room and cry for hours. She was busy bussing tables and grabbing drink orders to keep her mind off of the events that occurred in the previous days.
Tucked away at a table in the corner, Klaus sat alone and nursed his drink in his clenched hand. Dark rings circled his tired blue eyes as he stared down into his glass and swished the liquid around. Everyone in the bar was celebrating, laughing, telling stories, but he was no mood to indulge in the festivities. The past few nights, he'd been kept awake by nightmares of Mikael. He'd jolt up in his bed, screaming so loud that the Abattoir rumbled. At the time, Audrey would be there to comfort him, but as of late, she had taken up residence in a different room on the opposite side of the compound. Without her, the nightmares seem to come more frequently and they became more and more vivid with each night.
"Can I get you something?" A leggy, blonde waitress stood beside his table with her tray balanced in her hand. She'd been waiting on him since he'd arrived and would keep checking on him to see if he needed anything more.
Without looking up, he mumbled his reply. "No."
Not satisfied with him ignoring her, she positioned herself to stand in front of him in hopes that he'd grant her the privilege of glancing up at her. "Something the matter?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, dear." Again, he didn't look at her which made the blonde grind her teeth in her mouth. She turned on her heel and stomped back to the bar.
"It's a really nice service, Cami," Giuliana said. The two were helping clean up the bar and the glasses as waitresses came back with their trays.
The blonde tried to smile, but it came out as quickly as it disappeared. "Thanks. I think I'm just in shock now, you know?"
"I do." She rubbed her arm comfortingly along Cami's hand. "Klaus told me what happened with your uncle and Audrey."
"It was like he wasn't himself. He tried to attack me, but Audrey told me to run." She recalled the sick look in her uncle's eyes, one that she couldn't recognize. "If it wasn't for Audrey, I'd be dead."
"I'm just sorry that it had to happen like this. Your uncle was a good man and wanted nothing but the best for you and the city." Giuliana consoled and it brought a little bit of peace to Cami who squeezed her hand firmly.
"No truer words could have been said about Father Kieran." The girls turned to see Francesca waltzing up to them. While Giuliana silently scowled, Cami's eyebrows furrowed seeing the unfamiliar woman.
"Hello Francesca," the young witch greeted as civilly as she was able.
"Giuliana, so nice to see you; although, I wish it were under better circumstances." Even the fake tone in her voice made Giuliana want to call her out, but she stood her ground.
"I agree." She nodded simply. "This is Cami, Father Kieran's niece."
Francesca's face fell and she took up Cami's hand in hers, cradling it gently. "I am so sorry for your loss, Cami."
"Thank you for coming." The blonde removed her hand from Francesca's. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember my uncle ever mentioning you."
"Oh, how rude of me," she feigned embarrassment. "I'm Francesca Correa; I took over your uncle's position of Faction representative when his...mental faculties were compromised."
Cami's nostrils flared and she squared off against Francesca. "His faculties weren't compromised. He was hexed."
"Hexed by one of our enemies!" Francesca proclaimed. "Look, I'm invested in protecting the people of this city, and to do that, I need the key."
"Wait." Cami shook her head of the confusion that was currently swimming around in her brain. "What key?"
"I've been informed that Kieran's necklace is missing. The key that he always wore? I assume he left it for me," she said and Cami was seeing red at this point. How dare this woman come into a wake and ask for something of her uncle's meanwhile she hadn't even gone through his possessions.
"It must have fallen off during the events that led to his untimely death. I am so sorry." Cami spat rudely and stalked off to wait on some tables who had requested her. Even Giuliana was upset that Francesca could be so vapid and unsympathetic to Cami especially after what she'd had to endure during the past few days.
"She's taking this pretty hard." Giuliana spoke up. "She'll need some time to grieve."
"I understand, but I need that key," Francesca replied sourly.
"Funny, I haven't heard you say one word about what you will be doing to keep the human faction intact after Father Kieran's passing." That remark earned Giuliana a heated glare from Francesca, but she simply let it roll off her back.
"I have been doing my duties ever since I was asked to step in," she defended herself. "If you have any qualms about the way I do things, be sure to speak with Elijah about it, but I'm sure he would disagree."
Giuliana's eyebrows rose up to her hairline. "What makes you so sure of that?"
"Because that is what he told me last night." Francesca's smile was so big that Giuliana could see all of her teeth. It was like she was enjoying rubbing Giuliana's nose in the fact that she had spent time with Elijah. "He's been very proud of the progress that I've been making and wanted to make me aware of it."
"Is that so?" Giuliana was trying not to let this bother her, but it was slowly tugging at her aching heart. She turned back to the bar in an effort to distance herself from Francesca and get some empty glasses on the surface of the bar, but she insisted on talking further.
"Oh, yes. He is such a gentleman and a very handsome one at that." Giuliana's hand tightened around a glass so hard that it shattered in her hand and she cursed at the sharp pain her palm when some shards sliced her skin.
"Ah!" She hissed and tossed the broken shards away in the garbage.
"Was it something I said?" Francesca wondered cluelessly, but Giuliana could see right through her. The two women glared at one another, daring the other to blink, but their intense stare-down was stopped when Cami rushed to Giuliana's side after hearing the glass break.
"What happened?" She asked hurriedly.
"Oh, she was just careless with a glass. That's all." The woman smiled fakely and Cami's eyes widened at Giuliana's oozing cut.
"Woah." She gaped and lifted the tray. "You go get that cleaned up and I'll take over for now."
"Okay." Giuliana nodded and Cami bustled off. She took a rag from the bar and pressed it firmly to her palm to stop the bleeding. She closed her fingers around the cloth to add even more pressure while Francesca just watched her.
"That looks pretty bad," she observed.
Giuliana then moved herself to practically corner Francesca along the edge of the bar. She peered down at her with her gleaming emerald eyes and the muscle in her jaw flexed. "Let's get one thing straight, Francesca. You may come off like you're a goody two shoes, but I'm onto you. That guy that blew up the bayou owed money to your casino. When he died, so did his debt. I know that you're responsible for attacking the wolves."
Francesca smirked slyly, running her gaze up and down Giuliana's figure to size her up. "I absolved Jeff's debt out of the goodness of my heart. Feel free to sniff around if you don't believe me. My hands are clean."
"I somehow doubt that." She growled.
"Doubt all you want, but it's true. Trust me, if I wanted to go after the wolves in the bayou, Hayley would be my target."
"Careful, Francesca; you wouldn't want to give yourself away now." She warned and turned her back on her to leave, but Francesca gripped her upper arm. Giuliana flinched, her body suddenly tensing up as a vision of amber eyes and a howling wolf flashed before her. It burned brightly in her brain and then faded into nothing. Francesca pulled the witch back to her, keeping her lips at her ear.
"I can assure you of this, when I go after someone, I don't miss." Francesca whispered and loosened her grip on Giuliana, who rushed away without a second thought. She ran for the back door of Rousseau's, pushed it open, and slammed it behind her once she was outside. The witch leaned her back against the wall, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Giuliana knew that Francesca was trying to get on her case and for the most part, it was working. The things Francesca would say would get under her skin and fester inside her like an infected wound. Giuliana was especially angered by the things she said about Elijah praising her, as if that would clear her of any accusations of the bombing in the bayou. Judging by how confident she was that she was innocent and squeaky clean, that only meant that she was hiding something. Sure, she could have gone after Hayley as a target, but that would have been too easy for Francesca. Instead, she caused chaos and ruin within an entire pack of wolves who simply wanted to live their lives.
The vision of the wolf hit her again; much stronger this time and the howl seemed to echo in the alleyway. Giuliana shook her head to clear it and pressed her fingers to her temples. Why was there a wolf when Francesca touched her? Could it be that an unknown force was trying to tell her that Francesca was the one behind the bombings? Why else would a wolf decide to show itself? Francesca was the leader of the human faction and she hated the wolves. Perhaps someone was trying to show her that Francesca carried out the plan without getting her hands dirty. She had the power to call the shots and the connections to make herself practically invisible. Was she also threatening Giuliana by telling her that she never missed when it came to taking out a target? That sounded like a threat, but Francesca hadn't made any moves yet, unless the bayou was one and Giuliana just got lucky?
Giuliana peered down at her now healed hand; she'd healed it while having an internal conversation to herself about how much she hated Francesca and wiped the dried blood on the rag from the bar she'd taken outside with her. She traced the small white line that was left on her palm with her finger and let the rest of the skin heal over. She tucked the rag into the waistband of her jeans and grasped the handle of the door to reenter the bar, but the sound of a garbage pail being tipped over made her whip around. Empty beer bottles and half eaten food spilled onto the ground and Giuliana saw a shadow dart around the corner. Her instinct told her to just let it alone and go back inside, but she drew closer to the shadow that was pressed against the brick wall. Long, dark brown hair framed his handsome face and touched his broad shoulders. A dark grey tunic and pants dressed his built form and contrasted with his tanned skin. His hazel eyes stared into her green ones and she felt as if she stopped breathing.
"Alexander?" It came out as a hushed whisper and the man stood up straight, towering over her at a staggering 6'2.
"Ciao sorellina. È da un po."(Hello, little sister. It has been a while.) Even after all of these years he still looked and sounded the same. How was he appearing to her? He was killed in the eleven hundreds and buried in Italy. Was she dreaming?
The back door to the alley swung open, revealing Marcel who had been asked to check on Giuliana by Cami since she hadn't come back from taking care of her hand. Giuliana's heart clenched, worried that Alexander would act against Marcel since he had been taught to hate vampires ever since he knew how to speak. When she turned back, Alexander was gone, like he'd never even been in the alley with her. She blinked multiple times, but her beloved brother had vanished.
"Hey, Cami asked me to check up on you." Marcel joined her and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure," she wondered.
"Genevieve." Elijah greeted the witch cordially upon entering the courtyard in the compound. She'd been recruited by the brothers to find out some more information about the sightings of Mikael and Alexander. At first, they had accused her of making the ghostly visions, but she denied their claims and promised that she would do her best to get to the bottom of it. Giuliana had told the brothers about Alexander, but she hadn't seen him since which made her wonder if she had imagined the entire thing.
"I asked around. It's not just your father. The purgatory where supernatural souls are trapped is disintegrating." The red head replied.
"What do you mean, 'disintegrating?'" The Original asked unsurely.
"She's right; more or less." Klaus stalked into the courtyard with Giuliana following in tow. Elijah shifted uncomfortably on his feet; this had been the first time he'd seen Giuliana after their kiss in the bayou. "It's actually imploding. I made a call to a rather reluctant Bennett witch in Mystic Falls who said the same thing. The dead are being torn away into nothingness and they're not interested in going quietly."
"So, you're saying that our father, faced with permanent extinction, has decided to spend his remaining tormenting us?" Elijah countered and let out a long sigh. "How delightful."
"Well, on the plus side, we'll soon be rid of his abhorrent soul forever. What a good riddance that will be." Klaus smirked, knowing that the Other Side would fade away and take Mikael with it.
"And my brother?" Giuliana posed. "Why is he here?"
"My guess is that he is out for revenge. After all, I did rip out his tongue." Klaus's smirk grew even wider.
"Perhaps he'll rip out yours," the young witch countered smartly, earning a chuckle from Elijah.
"So, am I in the clear, Elijah? Or is there a new conspiracy you two would like to threaten me over?" Genevieve's question made Elijah chose his next words carefully.
"Nothing springs to mind at this precise moment," he told her.
Genevieve moved to stand in front of Klaus, batting her blue eyes at him as she looked him over. "I have to get back to the girls. Perhaps tomorrow, after the funeral, you and I could spend some time together. Alone?"
Klaus's nose wrinkled at her attempt to openly flirt with him. He admired her efforts, but she had done nothing to charm him. In fact, no woman who had approached him in recent days caught any interest in him. Normally he could move onto women like it was a second nature to him, but now his mentality remained captured by Audrey. He missed her, but he was much too stubborn to admit it.
"Is that a yes?" Genevieve grinned, thinking she had won Klaus over, but his response certainly changed her mood.
"No." It was gruff and callous, without a hint of cordial tone to be found in his voice. The red headed witch frowned deeply, her expression turning sour.
"Clearly you've got a bad case of the blues, Klaus," she remarked, pouting her lips. "Perhaps you need a bit of a distraction."
Genevieve's body was suddenly bowed forward and the tip of a dagger was poking through her front. A trickle of blood fell from her lips and she blindly groped for the dagger, but it melted into a pool of blood on the ground. Klaus peered over Genevieve's shoulder to see Audrey leaning against the wall. No one even heard her sneak into the compound, let alone the courtyard and she coyly waved at him.
"Planning another hex, Genevieve?" Audrey stormed forward, both arms extended. Elijah and Klaus both bolted for the Blood Witch, but they were shot away from her. Giuliana stayed where she was, not wanting to find herself in the fray of Audrey's powers. Besides, Audrey and Genevieve had their own score to settle.
With a flick of her wrist, Audrey's dagger came back to her and she extended her hand. Genevieve crumpled to the ground, wailing in pain and blood began to come up from her throat. She desperately tried to push the feeling down, but Audrey was unrelenting.
"You were supposed to be my friend. You told me that you would never do anything to hurt me." She was standing over the witch.
"Please, stop," Genevieve clawed at the floor beneath her.
"I trusted you." Tears pricked at her eyes. Never had Audrey felt more hurt and betrayed in her life. At the moment, she hated Klaus for sticking a metaphorical knife in her back, but Genevieve had done the unthinkable by causing harm to another witch.
"Audrey, I am sorry; so sorry." The red headed witch wept.
"Sorry won't cut it." She growled and flicked her wrist, making Genevieve convulse once more. "You will never cross me ever again because the next time you will, I'll skin you alive."
Elijah had managed to vamp to Audrey and throw her against the wall. His hand wrapped tightly around her throat, his body pinning hers down. Before he could open his mouth to tell her to leave Genevieve alone, he was knocked off the Blood Witch by Klaus who had tackled his brother. Audrey's fingers brushed against her bruised neck, keeping her gaze on Klaus as he growled down threateningly at Elijah. Klaus and Audrey hadn't spoken in days after their argument, so it seemed odd to her that he would step in to protect her from his brother. Perhaps Klaus was worried her magic would explode if Elijah held onto her a moment longer, so he decided to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible before the entire courtyard was obliterated.
"Are we done arguing like children?" Giuliana called to the trio. Elijah rose to his feet, as gracefully as ever while Audrey removed herself from the wall and Klaus flashed his fangs at Genevieve who cowered away.
"Leave." Klaus' growl made the ground tremble and Genevieve was up and out of the courtyard without a second thought.
"Are we done?" Giuliana repeated her question.
"Now we are." Audrey replied and sent a pointed glare to Elijah. "Although I would have much rather ended that little spat by slashing Genevieve's throat."
"Doing that would have crumbled the witch faction and waged yet another war." Elijah noted.
"Oh, noble Elijah; always trying to keep the peace." She mimicked him which made Klaus give a small laugh under his breath. Audrey whipped around to face him, a fire behind her eyes. "And don't think that just because you saved me from your brother brings you any sort of redemption, Niklaus."
"Would you rather I let him tear your head from your shoulders?" The Original hybrid was smirking now.
"As of late, yes. Especially since I have no use to you anymore other than to keep your bed warm." Ouch. Klaus felt that one sting and his once proud grin faltered. Audrey flicked her dark locks over her shoulder and sauntered out of the courtyard. No doubt she'd left to freshen up before the funeral parade.
"Niklaus—" Elijah tried to speak to his brother, but he had turned on his heel, walking in the opposite direction from Audrey. The Original brother could hear the distant sound of doors being slammed shut and sighed deeply. Those two were like children most, if not, all of the time.
"I think that went...better than expected." Giuliana spoke up, desperate to break the awkward silence between them.
"Yes, I agree." Elijah nodded and fixed the lapel on his suit jacket. Now that they were alone, it seemed like the right time to talk about what had happened in the bayou, but neither of them was eager to start the conversation first. Elijah could tell that Giuliana was nearly bursting at the seams, but she still remained quiet.
Though he would never show it, Elijah's internal battle was waging a war inside him he wished that no one would see. He was probably more affected by the kiss, mainly because he hadn't expected himself to kiss her back with such passion that it shook him to the core. Night after night she would wander into his dreams and press her soft lips against his. He would awake the following morning and brush his fingers along his lips, the sensation of their kiss still tingling his skin. He knew it was wrong to let this continue, but he felt awakened from a deep sleep. Even as he looked upon her now, it was as if he was seeing the world through a new set of eyes.
"Eli—" The clock tower at St. Anne's clanged in the distance, signaling that the funeral procession would begin soon. Giuliana wanted to yank her hair out and yell at the clock for being so persistent.
"I...we should go." She shifted on her feet.
"Yes, we should," he agreed. The two of them gave one last longing stare at each other before parting ways. Looks like they'd have to wait until after the funeral to talk.
Hundreds of people were marching down the streets for Father Kieran's funeral. Pallbearers led the front of the parade and carried Father Kieran's casket while others followed. Klaus, Audrey, Hayley, Giuliana, and Elijah were holding up the rear, all dressed in black. Francesca was a few yards ahead and dabbing her crocodile tears with a crumpled tissue.
"Ugh! She is so full of it." Giuliana scoffed under her breath.
"Tell me about it," Hayley huffed. "I went to her last night and I asked about the bombing."
"And?"
"She says she's innocent."
"Yeah, right," she grumbled. "She pretty much threatened me by telling me that when she goes after someone that she doesn't miss."
"She said that?" The wolf growled. "Do you think I was the target of those bombings?"
"Of course you were the target. Were I to wage a war on the wolves, you'd be my first kill." Klaus announced and Hayley glared at him. "I would string you up for all your worshipers to see."
"Nice. Very classy." Giuliana spat.
"I believe that was my brother's way of telling you he'd like you to return home with us." Elijah jumped in to rectify the situation. "Perhaps try a different approach, Niklaus, with fewer references to murder?"
"As much as I would hate to throw you over my shoulder and drag you kicking and screaming to the compound, for the sake of my child." Klaus smirked.
"One bad dream, and suddenly, you want to be a responsible daddy." Hayley rolled her eyes.
"Let me put this into perspective: my father lived to torment me. It is not my intention to become him. This cycle of misery ends with my child." He spoke to her and Hayley nodded slowly.
"Mmm, but you forgot one thing in your little attempt to plead your case—she's not your child. She's ours." She hissed and broke away from the group to give her condolences to Cami.
"Very heartfelt, Niklaus." Elijah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I bloody hate funerals." His brother shoved his hands in the pockets of his suit jacket.
"Don't be such a stiff, Niklaus," Audrey chided and looped her arm around Elijah's. "We're here to honor a great man."
"I still hate funerals." He repeated with a frown and glared as his brother walked a bit in front of them with Audrey on his arm. Not wanting to be alone, he wrapped his arm around Giuliana's waist and walked with her.
"I'm sorry, was there something you needed from me?" She questioned.
"Just in need of some company, dear," he replied simply.
"Afraid that Mikael will come ruin the party?" Her question made his hand tightened painfully on her waist, his nails digging into her side.
"You have no idea who you'd be dealing with," he warned. "He would snap your spine like a twig before you could utter your first spell."
"Alright, I get it. He has anger issues like you," Giuliana acknowledged. "But I know another thing. You're afraid."
"Afraid of my father? You must be mistaken." He laughed off her accusation like it was nothing.
"No, you're afraid of being like your father." She corrected herself and could automatically see a change in Klaus' demeanor. "You're so scared that you'll inflict the same pain and torture on your daughter that your father did to you."
Klaus slowed down their pace to lag a bit behind from the parade and so that no vampires could hear them. "How very Freudian of you. I thought that Cami was the resident psychoanalyst."
"Do you mind? I'm trying to make a point." She glared.
"Well, then make it. You're trying my patience." He countered.
"You are nothing like your father because he is not your father," she said. "Your mother had an affair with another man; a man you never knew. Mikael was never your father, so there is no way that you could ever be like him. Your daughter will be in the best possible hands, especially if you and Hayley are protecting her."
The Original hybrid took in her entire explanation, but it did little to comfort his jumpy nerves. Cami had told him that he was fearful of fatherhood that was fast approaching and that was also weighing heavily on his brain. Fatherhood and babies were never meant to be in his life, but now that they were closer than ever, he was actually scared to death. If anyone really knew, he'd be laughed out of New Orleans with his tail tucked between his legs. It also didn't help that Mikael was coming to torment him from the Other Side. Hopefully the supernatural purgatory would crumble before the baby was born.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Audrey looked back over her shoulder to see Klaus and Giuliana almost stopped at the end of the procession.
"It is rude to eavesdrop, Audrey." Elijah continued his pace, so that Klaus and Giuliana could have their privacy.
"You're no fun." She pouted and kept up with him even though she was quite interested in what the pair was talking about. "Perhaps fatherhood is finally closing its hands around his neck."
"Do you doubt Niklaus' ability to care for the child?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"No, not at all, Elijah. I can see a change in him, that's all. I know he's afraid," she noted and peered at Klaus over her shoulder again. "You forget, I am very good at reading people."
"So I've heard." He sighed.
"Is Francesca Correa a human?" Giuliana was eager to change the topic of conversation and Klaus was only too eager to follow.
"As far as I know, yes," he responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, we were at the bar the other night when she grabbed my arm and I saw a vision of a howling wolf," she explained and his confused expression matched her own. "I know. I don't get it either."
"Perhaps it was someone from the Other Side?"
"But who? The only person who came to me was my brother."
"Ah, yes. Alexander." He grinned. "Wonder what he could want. Probably making sure his little sister isn't playing with vampires, but he's too late."
Giuliana rolled her bright green eyes. "Be quiet."
"In fact, Elijah better watch his back before he finds a sword in it." Klaus was chuckling now and the witch elbowed his ribs.
"Shut up," she grumbled.
"And what if Genevieve is wrong about what is happening on the Other Side?" Audrey questioned.
"Then she is wrong." Elijah spoke. "I did not want to come to her with the information, but Niklaus was quite upset to see Mikael."
"Hell, if I saw my father, I'd be more than upset." She gave a short laugh. "I think I'd die of fear."
"Well, then you understand why my brother wants to get to the bottom of this."
"I understand, but what I don't understand is why you've been looking at my friend for the entire funeral and you haven't said a word to her."
The Original vampire quirked an eyebrow at Audrey before glancing at Giuliana who met his gaze, but then quickly looked away. She tucked a flyaway lock of hair behind her ear and kept walking with Klaus.
"I'm assuming you heard about what happened?" He questioned.
"Hey, my lips are sealed, Elijah." She pretended to lock her lips closed. "But I'm pleasantly surprised that you took my advice to go after what you want."
"Oh?"
"Mmhmm, we had a wager going."
Elijah hated to ask, but he did. "And what was the wager?"
"You don't need to worry about the terms, but I'm now a thousand dollars richer." Audrey beamed brightly. "Surprised he gave me the money after we fought this morning."
"My brother is a man of his word," he spoke up. "I understand you two have been on the outs lately. I know a lot of it has to do with him trusting Genevieve."
"It has everything to do with trusting that wench," she frowned deeply.
"But he doesn't trust her."
"Pardon?"
"He wants Genevieve to think we trust her. Give her a responsibility, such as making the rings and she feels that she has an ally," he elaborated.
"That's a stupid plan." Audrey scoffed. "And you just went along with it."
"If it meant keeping you out of harms way, then yes."
The Blood Witch stopped in her tracks and pulled Elijah aside, weaving them in and out of the maze of people to stand under an awning. "I don't follow."
"By Klaus keeping Genevieve under a watchful eye, he's keeping you safe from her hexes. He knows that Genevieve wouldn't dare hex you right under his nose."
Audrey's arms crossed protectively in front of her chest and she jutted out her hip. It seemed like Giuliana was right about Klaus wanting to protect her. All this time she thought he was putting her life in danger, but in its own way, he was keeping his enemies close in order to have a watchful eye on them. She hated to admit it, but that brute was making it hard for her to hate him.
She gave Elijah a grateful smile which he returned and they stepped off the front porch under the awning to join the parade again. A couple feet down, a chill ran up Audrey's spine, like a long pointed fingernail was scratching at her skin. Her grip on Elijah's arm tightened and when she halted her steps, she could feel like someone was strangling her heart.
"Audrey?" Elijah took her aside again. "Audrey, what is it?"
"Where's Hayley?" Her breath sounded labored and raspy. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."
"Elijah!" Cami's frantic voice met their ears and they ran ahead towards the sound of her calls, nudging people out of their way as politely as possible. When they finally reached Cami, she was knelt beside Hayley who was unconscious on the ground.
"I-I don't know what happened," the blonde whimpered. "One minute she was fine and the next she was on the ground."
Audrey supported Hayley's head in her lap and pressed her two fingers to the side of her neck. "No pulse."
"Oh my God." Giuliana arrived with Klaus beside her. "What's wrong?"
"She's not breathing either." Audrey confirmed the worst of her suspicions and looked to the two brothers. "Get her inside. Now!"
Back at the compound, Klaus and Elijah placed Hayley's body on a table that Audrey and Giuliana had cleared off. Genevieve had come with them in hopes to help since she was at the funeral. Again, Audrey tested Hayley's pulse only to find none and she held a hand under her nose to find out that she was not breathing. It was now a race against time to figure out what had happened to Hayley and how to fix it.
"What do we do?" Giuliana asked Audrey.
"I don't even know what caused this," she admitted. "But I can try to reverse it."
"I can help—" Genevieve stepped closer to the table to put her hand on Hayley's arm, but she was incapacitated by Audrey and Giuliana's magic.
"You want to help?" Audrey hissed and Genevieve painfully nodded. "Then get some chamomile from the pantry and don't touch her."
Genevieve skulked off once she was released from their magic and Audrey touched Hayley's skin. It was cold and she was trembling on the table. "Elijah, wrap your jacket around her. She's freezing."
The Original did what he was told without question while Klaus paced back and forth anxiously. "I can hear the baby's heartbeat, but not hers."
Genevieve came back with the herb and a wet cloth. Audrey pressed the cloth to Hayley's forehead and she crushed the chamomile into a fine dust. With her forehead damp, she lifted the cloth and placed the chamomile underneath before pressing the cloth back down again. Audrey touched the sides of Hayley's head, her index fingers rubbing her temples and she concentrated on pushing into her mind. It didn't take long before a light blue aura surrounded her and she opened her eyes to see the courtyard in the compound completely empty; even Hayley's body was not on the table. Her gaze scanned the room and she walked around, calling out for anyone who might hear her.
"Welcome, little witch." The taunting voice in her ear made her shiver and she slowly turned to face the man who had staked her through the heart all those years ago at the opera.
"No," she stepped back from him and shook her head in disbelief. Mikael laughed loudly, the sound reverberating through his chest and out into the room. Suddenly, Audrey removed her hands from Hayley's head; her face grew pale as if she'd seen a ghost. Her eyes shown with fear and she hesitated to touch Hayley again.
"What is it?" Klaus hissed impatiently.
"It was Mikael," her voice shook weakly and Klaus' jaw clenched.
"What do we do now?" Giuliana questioned.
Elijah stepped forward, moving to pick up Hayley from the table. "I'm taking her to a hospital."
Audrey placed a hand on his. "If you do that, my spell will break and she will be worse off than she already is. We won't be able to get to a hospital in time."
"And we can't exactly tell them that a dead Original vampire is haunting her," Giuliana added. "What if I help you?"
"It's worth a try." She reached out for Giuliana's hands, clasping them together above Hayley's body.
"And if that doesn't work?" Klaus growled and met the witches. "Will the baby survive if delivered now? If so, I'll rip it out myself."
Giuliana flicked her wrist, sending an indescribable flare of pain through Klaus' body before he could even think about touching Hayley. "Hayley will bleed out. You won't touch her!"
"I won't lose that baby!" The hybrid fought against her magic.
"And I won't lose either of them!" She challenged, a fire in her dark green eyes. "Stand back, Klaus, and let us work."
Begrudgingly, the Original hybrid stepped aside and the girls grasped hands once more. They closed their eyes and began to chant together over Hayley's still body. The brother paced nervously while Genevieve stood nearby in case anyone needed help. The spells and chants went on for a few moments, but Hayley's condition hardly improved. She still was not breathing and had no heartbeat. Genevieve suddenly jumped up, a hand over her lips as the strands of a clouded vision cleared her eyes.
"I know who is doing this," she announced and both witches halted their spells. "Get my bag. I know what to do."
Shaky glances were shared amongst the witches, unsure if they could trust Genevieve, but when Audrey looked to Klaus and Elijah, she knew that they were desperate to save Hayley's life and the baby's. Audrey dropped her hands, allowing Genevieve to step forward and Giuliana jogged to grab her bag from the opposite side of the compound.
"I can't do this alone." Genevieve told the witches. "Continue your spell and keep Hayley as stable as possible."
Both girls nodded and took up each other's hands again. They began chanting, the ancient spells taking their hold over Hayley like they'd done before and Elijah and Klaus watched on anxiously. Giuliana could feel a tugging, nagging sensation in her brain, but she shoved it away, keeping her mind on the spell at hand. The sensation grew more and more incessant and Giuliana's eyes flew open, revealing a blue aura encompassing her.
The compound was vacant and she let her hands fall to her sides. Hayley and Audrey were gone and so were the Mikaelson brothers and Genevieve. Not a sound could be heard in the courtyard and it made Giuliana feel very uneasy. She called out into the room, but received no answer. What is this place, she asked herself.
"Hello?"
"Giuliana." She whipped around to see Alexander standing up on the balcony above her.
"Alexander, what is this?"
"You're on the Other Side."
Now it made sense to her. Everyone else was still in the room, but she couldn't see them because she had passed through a portal of some kind. She only hoped that her body in reality was still standing and working on the spell to help Hayley.
"I am not supposed to be here. You have to let me go back and help my friend." She told him.
Alexander jumped down from the balcony and landed on his feet without falter. He sauntered to her, moving slowly like a panther. "I cannot."
Her green eyes flashed with confusion and her nose wrinkled. "Alexander, my friend and her baby will die if I don't go back."
"I cannot let you leave." He growled and Giuliana's eyebrows creased. "If you go back, then I failed at protecting you."
"What do you mean?"
"Whispers in this realm say that Elijah will give you his teeth." Alexander's voice was tinged with disdain.
"Give me his teeth?" She questioned. "I don't understand. You're not making any sense."
"You have become a disgrace to this family." He continued, now pacing in front of her. "Per la madre e il padre. A nostro modo di vivere." (To mother and father. To our way of life.)
Giuliana knew what he meant. Ever since the first threat of vampires made itself present, she was taught to hate them with every fiber of her being. Alexander spearheaded the hunt and persecution of vampires, keeping the village safe from harm. For most of her life, she thought vampires were the enemy, but that was until the Mikaelsons had come to their village. Everyone took to them like bees to honey and they were welcomed with open arms. Little did anyone know that they would terrorize the Brotherhood of the Five and anyone else who stood in their way.
After Giuliana's long slumber, she awakened with nothing but revenge on her brain, but those plans quickly diminished. Being in a new world, she learned that not all vampires were bad. Some wanted to help humanity, while others fiercely protected their friends and loved ones. Vampires were burdened with eternity and watching everyone around them die, a fear that was forever looming inside them. It was wrong to accuse all vampires of being bad, she didn't know any better when she was a human, but now she had an open mind about the ones who used to haunt her dreams.
"They are my friends." She tried to tell him.
"Simpatizzante!" (Sympathizer!) He roared so loudly that she jumped back from him. "Those creatures—"
"They aren't creatures!" His little sister snapped. "They are people just like you and me!"
"People who feed on blood! They are demons!"
"Demons who breathe the same air I breathe," she added. "They have beating hearts just like I do. They feel everything humans do, Alexander. Their emotions are just ten-fold. They feel love, grief, joy, and heartache just like us."
Alexander shook his head back and forth furiously. "No, you've become tainted by their ways."
Giuliana ran a hand over her face. She had to get Alexander to understand her, but she knew it would be no easy task. Alexander was always stubborn, even as a young boy and he always thought himself to be right all the time. On many occasions, his pride would get him into trouble, but he proved to be a fierce ruler of the Brotherhood of the Five.
"Please try to understand. They protect me in ways that you can't right now. They would put their lives on the line for me and I would do the same."
"Your blindness will only lead to your death, Giuliana."
"You were just as trusting to the Originals when they came to Italy." She argued. "You welcomed them into our home. You called them friends."
"They deceived me." Alexander growled. "They deceived us all and they will do the same to you, but it will be too late for you to realize it."
"I am not the same girl you once knew," she said softly.
"Because your mind has been poisoned by them."
"No," she fought.
In one swift motion, Alexander unsheathed his sword and slashed just below his sister's ribs. Hot blood poured from the wound, staining her shirt a crimson color. Giuliana held her side and tried to keep her tears from spilling over from the pain.
"Alexander, what are you doing?" She asked through clenched teeth.
"His blood runs through your veins." His hazel eyes watched the blood trickle over her hand and onto the floor. "He is the one who has changed you into a person I don't know."
Giuliana pushed aside the throbbing pain and straightened herself to speak eye to eye with her brother. "Time has changed me; not the Originals. I have had to change with the time and open my mind; something you could never do."
Elijah was the first to smell the fresh blood that was leaking from Giuliana's side, followed by Klaus who had made a sound of displeasure at her bleeding wound. Giuliana's eyes snapped open and she was suddenly aware of the burning pain from where Alexander cut her. Audrey kept a tight grip on Giuliana's hands, but even she grew fearful of what was going on.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Klaus asked.
"It's Alexander," Giuliana rasped. "I was on the Other Side with him and he doesn't want me to return here."
"He is simply a figment of your imagination." Audrey spoke in deep concentration. Giuliana peered over at her and could see a bruise forming around her eye and a bit of blood oozing from her bottom lip. "Mikael is trying to do the same to me, but I am holding him back. You must do the same with your brother.
With a tearful nod, Giuliana's eyes fell closed again and she was instantly taken to the Other Side where her brother was waiting patiently for her. He was using the extra fabric of his tunic to clean the blood off his sword.
"So, this is what you'll do then? Let me bleed out here?" She asked him.
"I'd rather you die here than spend another moment with those demons." Alexander sheathed his sword and walked to his sister who had fallen to her knees in pain.
"I'm not like you, Alexander. I don't see them the way that you do." She rasped weakly, her body weakening from the blood loss.
"I don't know what I have to do in order to get you to understand that they have no regard for human life." He stood over her quivering form.
"That's not true." Her long waves fell over her slumped shoulders. She looked up to meet her brother's dark gaze. "Because I love Elijah."
The tip of his sword pierced the ground right beside the hand that was bracing herself. She could see her own reflection in the shining blade and she flinched back when Alexander bent down to her level. His jaw was clenched tightly, the muscles shifting beneath his skin.
"What did you say?" His breath hit her face and she gritted her teeth.
"I love him, Alexander." She repeated, her heart full of pride. She was afraid of saying it out loud, but as soon as the words left her lips, she wasn't scared anymore. She was never so sure of anything in her entire life.
"You don't mean what you say." His expression faltered at her sister's confession.
"But I do. I love him." She was smiling now and Alexander had staggered back from her, completely stunned and shocked.
"I have failed you, Giuliana." She could see the faintest trace of tears in his eyes. "I am sorry."
The blue aura around them started to fade away and the sounds of chanting could be heard. Giuliana braced herself on the side of a chair to stand up. Alexander's face was beginning to vanish and she moved to go after him, but her feet were glued to the floor.
"Alexander! Alexander, come back!" She begged, but he was unresponsive to her calls.
In seconds, she was back in reality and chanting again. Her side still burned, but she ignored it to take care of Hayley who was still unconscious. Audrey's hands were clammy in hers and her body had some visible black and blues. Looks like Mikael had done a number on her. Hayley's mouth had a bit of blood on it and Giuliana guessed that Klaus or Elijah tried to feed her their blood in case she didn't survive this.
Suddenly, Hayley's upper body lifted from the table. Her eyes popped open and she inhaled a huge breath. Everyone in the room was frozen, holding their breaths and waiting for Hayley to say something. Giuliana and Audrey dropped their hands and looked to one another. Each of them had gone through their own battles, Giuliana with her brother and Audrey with Mikael. Audrey wiped her bloodied mouth with the back of her hand and groaned quietly at the bruise that was forming underneath her left eye.
"It was Mikael," Hayley finally said and glanced at Klaus. "He-he was trying to kill our baby."
Klaus let out a long sigh, his entire body nearly concaving on itself and he met Hayley. He took up her hand and rubbed the back of it. "You're alright, Hayley. You're safe now."
Audrey shut the door to her room on the upstairs level of the compound and leaned against the wood. Her shoulders slumped as she closed her eyes and let herself relax for the first time all day. To say that today was filled with roadblocks was an understatement. Having the Other Side disintegrating was a mess that they managed to clean up just before things got bad. Hayley was back in her room resting while Giuliana was asleep after her encounter with her brother. She hadn't said much; she just ascended the stairs and slammed the door with Elijah looking longingly after her.
The Blood Witch pushed herself off the door and traipsed into her adjoining bathroom. She grasped a washcloth from the cabinet underneath the sink and turned the faucet on. She let the water get warm and soaked the cloth beneath the faucet, wringing it out to get rid of the excess water. Audrey looked through the cabinet behind the mirror for a cream to put on the cuts on her lip and closed the mirror. Her battered reflection stared back at her and for a moment, she was transformed back into that scared girl who had to work up the courage to tell her father she was going to leave.
Her lip was busted and her left eye was swollen. Some cuts speckled her face and purple bruises curled around her neck where Mikael had strangled her. She brought the washcloth up to her face, dabbing and lightly rubbing away the blood that had dried on her skin. Mikael not only tortured her with his hands, he haunted her with words. He'd taunt her, telling her that the baby would be a thorn in her side or that Klaus would easily save the baby's life over hers. She did try to ignore him, but it was quite difficult when he had his hands around her throat. She knew the kind of good that this baby could do and she was curious to see how the Mikaelson family would adjust to having a newborn at home. While she was cleaning herself off, she caught the sense of presence in her room and it was making its way closer to her. It wasn't a threatening presence, in fact, it made her sit back and wait for it to make itself known.
"You know, for an immortal hybrid, you do a horrible job at sneaking up on people." Her gaze met Klaus's form that was lingering in the doorway. His expression was unreadable, which was unusual for Audrey since she always knew what he was thinking.
"I see my father gave you quite a scare," he spoke softly and moved to lean against the bathroom counter across from her. He'd never seen her so banged up before, it was almost unimaginable, but there she was. Broken and beaten and battered to a pulp.
"Nothing I haven't handled before." She gestured to her beaten face and body. Klaus grew even more somber, knowing that she was referring to her own father who had been known to smack her around. As she brought the rinsed out washcloth to her face, Klaus gently stopped her by gently grasping her wrist.
"Let me." Only when her hand loosened from the cloth did he take it from her. He folded it over to a clean side and pressed it against her split lip. She visibly winced, but tried to hide it. Klaus knew better, though. He was far from the young boy who would take his father's beatings, but that never meant he forgot the pain he felt. As gently as he could, he patted the spot, cleaning up the blood and rinsing the cut clean.
"I want to talk to you." He began and Audrey sighed deeply.
"Are you sure I want to hear this?"
The outer corners of Klaus' lips quirked upwards in a smart smirk, one that she could always put on his face even after going through the ringer. "Genevieve is nothing more than a pawn; I need her to protect my child."
"Well, you're late to the party." She chuckled softly and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Elijah already told me all of this. Having Genevieve make the moonlight rings and making it seem like you trusted her. It was all a charade to keep her close so that she couldn't use magic against me from under your nose."
Klaus grumbled under his breath, sticking out his chin with a sour attitude. "Oh, noble Elijah."
"Indeed." Audrey gazed up at him and recalled everything Elijah had told her during the parade. She wanted to kick herself for being such a brat, but she'd seen Klaus' true motives. "You make it very hard for me to hate you, Klaus. Everything you've done for me, it was because you wanted to protect me. Now, how could I be angry at you for that?"
"You know that I don't like fighting with you, love. But I did have to make it convincing." He continued the same pattern with any part of her skin that had blood on it until her face was completely clear, minus the bruises.
"And you did." She sent a small smile his way which he copied as he dabbed beneath her left eye. Audrey drew back, her face screwed up and she hissed through her teeth. Klaus apologized and lightened his touch significantly. He held the cloth there for a few moments and by chance, their eyes happened to meet.
The gentle sounds of a gentleman playing his trumpet on the streets below only added to the mood of the moment. Audrey's hand took his wrist, much like he'd done to her before and brought it down to rest in his lap. She slowly stood so that she was just below his eye level and she placed the cloth aside. She could hear Bastiana taunting her to get rid of the baby before she'd become cast aside like nothing, but it now seemed like Audrey would never have that fear. Klaus had managed to come up with a plan that would protect his daughter and Audrey. Once the necessary pieces were put into place, he set the plan in motion and it had worked out to his favor.
Audrey cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb against his stubbly chin. "Klaus, I can't speak for Genevieve or anyone else in this compound, but I will do anything to protect Hayley and your daughter. They are part of your life now and I want to keep them safe. You have my word."
The Original hybrid was moved by the power of words and how they sunk into him like how rain soaks into the ground to nourish nature. He moved closer to her, pressing his forehead to hers and kissed her lips. Audrey immediately opened her mouth to him and kissed him back. Her arms wound around his neck and Klaus held her waist, pulling her body to his. Her fingers toyed with his hair and her nails lightly scratched along his scalp, making him growl into her mouth. His hands wandered all over her body, grasping at her hips and thighs.
He knew it would be a battle to get Audrey's support, but tonight he'd earned it and unbeknownst to Audrey, she earned his trust. The pair was always hesitant to let other people in, including each other, but the events of today had certainly changed that. Audrey had gone up against Mikael, a vampire who could kill her with his stare and she refused to back down from him. She fought for Klaus and his unborn child, promising to protect them no matter what. On the other hand, Klaus had put his conquest for glory aside to make sure the lives of his lover and child had taken priority. They now trusted one another fully, an act that neither of them thought could be done.
Audrey's bare back hit the mattress and she wrapped her legs around Klaus' naked waist as he kissed down the column of her neck and to her breasts. Their clothes lay strewn all over the room, a mess that they would worry about tomorrow. Tonight they just worried about bringing themselves even closer than they already felt. His amber eyes scanned over her face which was encased in pure pleasure and he continued pushing himself inside her. Moans were pulled from her lungs, such delicious sounds that made him increase his movements and shift his pace to bring her even higher. His lips were smashed onto hers again and she subtly detected the smallest hint of blood in her mouth, but she was too enthralled in ecstasy to ask what it was. Not soon after, a heat worked its way from the top of her head to the very tips of her toes and she whimpered from beneath their fused lips. His blood was healing her wounds and her soul from the inside out.
His hands curled around her hips and he soon found his back against the mattress. He stared up in awe at the witch who managed to get him to drop his guard, even if it was for a few moments. She smirked down at him, biting her bottom lip coyly and he leaned up, eyeing the piece of flesh that was between her teeth. Klaus rocked his hips back and forth, his heated gaze holding hers and she let out a whimper before letting her head fall back over her shoulders. His hand twisted in her dark locks, yanking lightly to expose more of her neck so that he could pepper kisses on her flushed skin. Audrey's back arched and she bucked her hips to meet his as they thrust into her. His arm snaked around her back, moulding their bodies closer together and his nails raked into her skin. The witch's toes curled and she let out a lust filled moan, making the hybrid snicker in the crook of her neck. She took his face in her hands and pressed a hot kiss to his lips, nibbling and sucking roughly at them.
Perhaps this time around, they'd be able to trust one another and not fall apart when the going got tough.
Because they both knew that the Battle of New Orleans was only just beginning.
Hello everyone! Hope you're all doing well and that you enjoyed this chapter! Will Elijah and Giuliana stop avoiding each other? Will Klaus and Audrey finally be able to trust each other? How will our favorite characters make it through the Battle of New Orleans? Dun, dun, dun! Please review :)
Shining Ruby: Hello there! Thank you so much for reviewing and please don't apologize for not being consistent with reviewing. I am just so happy and thankful for your support :) I don't Cassandra will ever get a break, but she is a very strong character and she will continue to fight. Things will get harder for her and Damon, but they are not going down without a fight!
SomebodyWhoCares: Oh yes! Thanks for reviewing!
lovinurbuks: Hello, my friend! A lot will happen in the next two chapters that I can't reveal. You'll just have to wait and see ;) Thanks for revewing!
bekkahjayne95: Yeah, Cassandra has had a pretty hectic pregnancy :/ More Damon and Cassandra coming your way in the next chapter! Thanks so much for reviewing!
CarlyLynn: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it and I hope you enjoyed this update :)
NicoleR85: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks so much for reviewing :)
Guest: I agree with you! Damon and Cassandra have wonderful friends and a great support system which helps them get through a lot of what has been happening in Mystic Falls. We'll have to wait and see if Cassandra, Stefan and Elena escape Markos' clutches. Thank you so much for reviewing!
grapejuice101: Thank you for reviewing! You'll have to wait and see what the Travelers want with Cassandra ;) It will be a very interesting development!
Lostgirllove: You know what? I am surprised that this baby hasn't come sooner because of all of the stress Cassandra has been put through, LOL! The baby is coming though very soon! The next chapter of "Love Like This" is in the works, so please continue to be patient with my sporadic updates. Thank you so much for reviewing!
twin of a sister: You can say the word "really" as many times as you'd like, girly ;) I love the sweet moments between Damon and Cassandra too! I love writing them/squeezing them in even when the show doesn't allow for sweet moments. Thank you soooooo much for reviewing! Love ya xoxo
Guest: Thanks for reviewing! Hmm, I am not sure if the baby will have a nickname. Maybe after I reveal the baby's name, you guys can come up with one ;)
elisesellas: Hello, my dear! Hope you've been well and I am so happy to hear that you've enjoyed my last chapter :) Someone always interrupts the sweet Damon and Cassandra moments, right? They just never get a break, LOL! Markos will make his intentions very clear in the next chapter and it will be quite a bomb for everyone involved. I hope Elijah and Giuliana were awkward enough in this chapter because they will have to face each other eventually ;) Thank you! When I was younger, I never liked my name because it was so different, but now that I am older – I appreciate it a lot more. Muah xoxo
Guest: HERE! HERE! HERE! Thanks for reviewing :)
binks13: Hi hi! Thanks so much for reviewing! I try my best to utilize each character as much as I can in each chapter. I mean, give it up to L.J. Smith and the writers on the show for creating these amazing characters right? Without them, we wouldn't have the novels, shows, and my story.
Guest: Thank you so much! I am sad that Nina Dobrev is leaving, but she has always talked about pursuing a film career. When actors are in a series, it is very difficult to do other projects because most, if not all of their time is devoted to the show. I do not think Nina left because of his new relationship with Nikki Reed. I feel like that is very unprofessional of her. The Vampire Diaries was originally slated for six seasons and Nina knew that she only wanted to be a part of the show for six seasons. Regardless, I wish her all the best and I do hope that we get the chance to see her again. She will always be Elena Gilbert to viewers of the show :)
Hennesey: Thanks for reviewing! Ehh, I can't tell you that ;) The baby will be here soon, I promise :)
GuestLiz: Hello Liz! It's so nice to meet you! Reading your review really made me smile :) I am so honored that you have stayed with my story from the very beginning. It is so nice to see that I have some loyal readers such as yourself that have been with me since the start of my writing. A lot of things will happen in the next few chapters of both shows and I can't wait for you to read them! I hope you enjoyed this update and it was so lovely to meet you :)
Lee: I can definitely say that Klaus and Giuliana are not getting together. Thanks for reviewing!
KLM: Hello there! Thanks so much for reviewing! Right now I have Klaus and Audrey in Bloodlines. I would like to write a Klaus/OC story separate from Bloodlines, but I am worried that a lot of it would repeat which isn't fair to the readers. Maybe I'll play around with some ideas :)
Guest: Thank you for reviewing! The nursery is already set up, so a baby shower did happen. I did not write it in because I did not want it to take away from the drama of the story.