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It had nearly been a week since Belle had spoken to Audrey, not that she didn't expect to be left waiting.
The deafening silence was finally broken when a note was left at the Mikaelson's front door. Written in elegant cursive on a small white card was a note - an invitation rather - that read: "Belinda, please join us for a little family reunion at our home. Come alone - it's strictly a family affair." The address was printed at the bottom and there was no signature, though she knew without a doubt that it was written by her mother.
Grasping the card with her thumb and index finger, she brought it to show Klaus after she found and read it. As he read it over and over, analyzing every detail and possible implication she ranted.
"I bet it's a trap. I mean come on, the woman wants me dead. Hell, I'm sure they all do." She paced back and worth across his study from one wall to the other and back as she spoke.
"And what makes you think that?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that I massacred them, besides Max of course, but he no doubt hates me for destroying our family. I'm not even sure if I blame him." She stopped pacing and looked at Klaus with desperate eyes. "What do I do, Nik?"
Elijah, who was lingering in the doorway, stepped fully into the room and said his piece on the matter. "From my personal experience, I find it's usual best to get to know your enemies before you make a plan of attack."
She turned to face him and scoffed. "A plan of attack? This is my family we're talking about, not some god damned army, Elijah. The only one of them I want to suffer is her - my mother. The rest don't deserve it." She unconsciously brought her right thumbnail to her lips to bite it, but lowered it when she realized what she was doing. The thought of her mother brought back feelings she had hidden away centuries ago.
Klaus pressed his steepled fingers flat on the table before standing up, starting to pace as Belle had. After being around someone for so long you start to act like them, mimicking their behaviors without even realizing it. Not only that, but you also start to think like they do, and you know what they're thinking without even asking. "I think it'd be best if you go." They locked eyes for a fraction of a second before she looked away, confused and beyond frustrated.
"If I go, I'm going alone. I have to fight my own battles." She turned to leave, moving past Elijah.
"Where are you going?" Klaus asked.
Without turning around she said, "To get ready." An unmistakable smirk stretched across her face as she walked toward their room.
An hour later, she had been through her entire wardrobe ten times over and still couldn't decide what to wear. She had three dresses picked out, all were black,short and tight. Rebekah walked in with raised brows as she eyed the pile of little black dresses. "What's with the slutty attire?" She picked up one of the dresses with one finger like it was diseased.
"Because when the mother you hate thinks you're a whore, you pretend you are just to spite her." She smoothed the fabric of the dress as Rebekah put it back down.
"How do you know she thinks that?"
Belle bit her lower lip. "It was one of the last things that woman said to me when I was human. Apparently getting pregnant with an illegitimate child at fifteen means you're a tramp rather than a stupid, lovestruck teenager." She shook her head, going back to picking out the right dress.
"Well, fear not. You could wear a turtleneck sweater and mom-jeans and still look like a strumpet," Rebekah said, a hint of humor in her voice.
Belle laughed under her breath. "Thanks, but we both know you're talking about yourself." It was very rare for she and Rebekah to be in the same room together without actually fighting. Playfulness wasn't their thing.
Rolling her eyes, Rebekah turned around to leave. "A word of advice, you can't go wrong with a little cleavage."
After trying on all three dresses she settled on the one that was the shortest - barely covering her behind - and so low-cut you could see the lace on her bra. She had never worn it before since it wasn't really her style, but in this case it was perfect. She messed her hair a little rather than brushing it and applied a more-than-generous amount of makeup.
She headed downstairs, sipping bourbon from a metal flask - there was no way she was going without drinking. Klaus and Marcel were sitting in the courtyard as she descended the stairs. Their eyebrows shot up as she came into view. She grinned audaciously. "How do I look?"
"Like you should be standing on a street corner selling happy endings," Marcel said. They were always brutally upfront with one another.
She turned to Klaus for his appraisal. "Trying to anger mother dearest?" He smirked. She grinned at him and nodded. He reached out and plucked the metal flask from her. "If you're driving yourself, you might want to take it easy on the drinking."
She rolled her eyes. "A car crash won't hurt me, Klaus. Well, it won't kill me. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." She resisted the urge to reach out and stroke his cheek to ease his nerves - Klaus wasn't a big fan of PDA.
Although he acted calm, cool and collected, she knew that letting her do this on her own was a hard thing for him. He was protective, to say the least.
He rolled his eyes right back. "Remember, analyze her, figure out her weaknesses. I know you think you know her, but centuries of hatred can change someone in ways you cannot even imagine." She nodded sincerely. "Be safe." he whispered, looking her straight in the eyes.
"I will." She cleared her throat, hoping to break the mounting awkwardness from Marcel sitting not two feet from their melodrama, before turning around and walking outside to her car.
After driving for half an hour through New Orleans traffic out into the country she arrived at a place she hasn't thought about in ages. She hadn't recognized the address, but as soon as her eyes fell upon it she was immediately flooded with nostalgia. It was a two-storied white plantation house with high columns on the wraparound porch and ancient apple trees growing in the front yard and lining the dirt driveway. This house had been her getaway - her "secret garden" as she called it - away from the city and everything else. She found it back in 1872; it was abandoned for nearly a decade. No one else, to her knowledge, had known about it. Apparently that no longer proved to be true.
She parked her car and waited a second or two before getting out, trying to gather her courage. Someone opened the door without her even having to knock or ring the doorbell. To her surprise, it was was her youngest sister. "Sabrina," she said, trying to hide the shock in her voice. "It's nice to see you."
Sabrina smiled weakly. "You too," she said quietly, as if she didn't want someone - meaning Claudia - to hear.
"Speak on the devil and he will come," she thought as her mother entered the room.
"Belinda, darling," she greeted with a wicked smile and outstretched arms. Belle stood rigidly as she mother hugged her - she wasn't sure this had ever happened before.
Through gritted teeth she muttered, "Claudia," and shoved her off as gently as she could. "It's Belle, not Belinda."
She frowned, but nodded. Belle could see in her eyes how hard she was trying to keep her bubbling anger under wraps. "Belle then. I'm so glad you decided to join us for dinner tonight. Everyone is so happy to see you again." She turned to Sabrina. "Right, Sabrina?" She nodded quickly. Muttering an, "Of course, mother," and forcing a smile before walking to the dining room.
Claudia returned her gaze to Belle's. "Shall we?" She gestured to the direction Sabrina had went in. Belle turned back to the door, debating whether to run or walk into the lion's den. She sighed, summoned her bravery, and followed her mother. This was it.
As soon as they entered the room Belle was met by the faces of her brothers and sisters, their eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. Some, uncertainty. Some, anger. Some, fear. She wanted to smile, but she was paralyzed - eyes wide, mouth hanging open.
"Better shut your trap, or the flies will get get in," Colton snapped. Her eyes flickered to him. His familiar rudeness was clearly in tact. She glared at him and closed her mouth, pressing her lips into a hard line.
"Colton, behave," Claudia snapped before returning to her perfect mother facade. "I'll go tell the help bring out the food. Please, sit." She motioned toward the chair at the head of the table. She would be sitting at the other end, perfect.
As she looked around, Belle realized that one member of their family was missing. "Where's father?" she asked as she sat down. "I would assume he'd be at the head of the table."
The sudden stillness of the room was the only indication she needed. "He died, about fifty years ago - werewolf attack," Audrey said.
"Oh." Belle tapped her foot anxiously on the wood floor.
Claudia cleared her throat before walking out the double doors to the kitchen. She almost looked upset, but Belle didn't believe it.
Her eyes wandered over to Max's solemn face. His eyes were focused on wall the in front of him - they looked dull, dead.
"Max." His blue-gray eyes fell upon hers. She swore they lit up for a moment or two. "Are you still mad at me?" She tried to look confident, but inside she was terrified. Her entire family had rejected her once before; she couldn't face it again.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Colton beat him to the punch. "Of course he is, you stupid slut."
"Colton," Sabrina whispered, eyeing the doors.
"Oh what, do you think mommy's gonna get mad? God, you're such a little pushover."
"Yeah, well at least she's not a self-absorbed dick like you," Audrey said.
Max spoke up. "Stop it, guys!"
"Shut the hell up you little fa-" Colton started.
Max pushed back his chair and stood up, looking like he might jump across the table to pounce on his younger brother. "Say it, I dare you," Max challenged, gritting his teeth.
"Enough!"
Belle was shocked when she realized that someone had mirrored her words at that exact moment - their mother stood with the double doors open.
"Please, enough." She sat down in her chair as the help emerged from the kitchen with bowls of soup and two bottles of red wine.
"A four-course meal? Really?" Belle shook her head in disbelief.
"Three courses, actually," Claudia corrected. An elderly man, a human, poured wine into her glass. Belle wondered if he was compelled, deciding that he was if he was working here of all places. "Thank you."
They sat in an eerie silence as a bowl of soup was placed in front of each of them and wine was given to Max and Audrey. When the butler came around to Belle she insisted on him filling her glass to the very top before she picked it up and chugged half of it.
"Why don't I get wine?" Colton pouted, eyeing his soup like a displeased child.
"Because you're an ass when you drink." Max smiled to himself as he sipped from his glass.
"Boys," Claudia warned.
Belle exhaled deeply and took another long drink from her glass. This was going to be long night.
After listening to Colton's swearing, Max's brooding, Audrey's attempts at a normal conversation, and her mother's calm warnings, Belle took notice of how Sabrina had barely said a word. She sat looking uncomfortable as she picked at a slice of ham on her plate. Though she was skating on the razor's edge of drunkenness by this point, Belle tried to draw her out of her shell. "Sabrina, you've been particularly quite. Care to chime in on how I'm so evil?" She giggled into her glass as she took another swig. "Come on," she urged, pouring herself another drink.
"Do you think you've had enough?" Max snapped. She glared at him and rolled her eyes.
"I don't think you're evil," Sabrina said, cautiously looking into Belle's eyes. She nervously pushed a piece of long brown hair behind her ear as she spoke. "You're just," Her mouth contorted as she tried to find the right words.
"A bitch? A tramp? A sadistic life-ruiner with no soul and no conscious?" Belle suggested, her speech slurred. She reached out to take another drink before Audrey grabbed it. Belle glared at her. "Don't make me kill you," she grinned wickedly. "Again."
Audrey's mouth hung open as she quickly gave Belle back her drink.
A loud thud echoed throughout the room. Everyone's eyes jerked to their mother, who had slammed both hands down on the table. Sabrina sucked in a sharp breath. She folded her hands together as she attempted to regain her composure. "Please, Belle, for the love of God. You've had enough. Put the damned glass down." She clenched her jaw shut - probably to resist yelling.
Belle rolled her eyes and put the glass down. She chewed her thumbnail - which was bitten down to the skin by this point in the evening - for a second before grabbing the unopened bottle from the table. "I take it I'm not wanted. I'll be leaving now." She pushed back her chair and turned to leave. "You can all go to hell," she slurred, turning on her heel and stumbling toward the door.
She got in her car and drove a few miles down the road before she pulled over. She bit her lip as she resisted the urge to break down crying. She opened the console where she'd put her phone and tried to call Klaus - it went to voicemail. Going to the next person on her list, she called Josh.
"Hello?" The sound of deafening club music blared in the background.
"Hi Joshy. I'm too drunk to drive anymore. Can you come pick me up?"
"Umm, yeah, sure. Where are you?" The music was faint now - he must have went outside to talk.
She looked around for street sign, squinting at one in the distance. "East Dick Street. Oh wait, that says Rick Street." She busted out laughing again.
He sighed. "Hold on, I'll be there in like twenty minutes." He hung up.
Satisfied, she stuffed her phone into her bra since she had no where else to put it, turned off the car grabbed the bottle of wine, and waited for Josh on the hood if her car, legs crossed and the bottle clutched tightly in her right hand.
As his headlights came into view she cheered and took another drink. "Yay Joshy Josh Joshy poo! Lover of clubs and screwing my baby brother." She pulled off her shoes and wobbling over to his car.
"What about your car?" he asked as she shoved her shoes into his hands and closed the door.
"I'll make one of lackeys' Klaus get it. I mean Klaus' lackeys. Damn, I love him so much. He is so perfect, ya know? He's got all these people at his beck and call. It's awesome." she rambled as Josh drove back to the city. "Plus he's fierce in the boudoir if you catch my drift." She chuckled to herself.
"Loud and clear." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Just curious, how's Max? Did you see him?" His eyes darted over to her.
She shrugged. "I saw him, but I dunno. He's confusing. Hey, let's put on some music!" She turned on the radio and found a station that was playing some techno-poppy song and turned it up to a deafening volume. The sound filled the car and could no doubt be heard by the people passing by.
Fifteen minutes and running two red lights, they arrived at the compound. By this point the bottle of wine was empty and Belle struggled to form a coherent sentence.
"Compound! Abattoir! Yeah!" She laughed.
The radio was now blaring some angry screamo song the Belle apparently loved even though she had never heard it before and she insisted on sitting in the car until it was over. Josh turned off the radio and got out, desperate to get away from her.
Klaus walked over and opened her door. "Well, looks like someone's been drinking." There wasn't a trace of humor in his voice.
Handing him the empty bottle, she stumbled out and practically fell into his arms. He steadied her and started to walk off. "Don't leave me." She took a few steps forward before nearly falling to the ground. Klaus caught her and carried her inside. He put her down in one of the chairs and started walking off again, but she loosely caught him by the arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Mad at me, Nik?" she whispered. Her bottom lip trembled slightly like she was about to cry.
He sighed. "Yes. You were supposed to go there to help us figure out a plan so we can deal with this, but instead you went and acted like it was a bloody frat party. I'm not going to bother lecturing you now because I doubt you'll remember it tomorrow. You can get yourself upstairs and if you can't make it then," He stopped when she put her face in her hands and started to sob hysterically.
"I ruin everything." She kept her face covered in hopes that he wouldn't see how pathetic she looked.
Seeing her like this made him regret his choice of words, which wasn't something that happened very often. He bent down and pulled her hands away so he could see her face. "Belle, listen to me," he said firmly. "You don't ruin everything. We all mess up occasionally. I don't think I have to tell you that even I do."
This only made her cry harder. "Yes I do. I'm horrible. I'm evil." She put her head on his shoulder and cried into his shirt, staining it with her running makeup. She completely collapsed into his arms as she cried. He lifted her into his arms, her head buried in his chest, and carried her up to their room.
He put her down on the bed and pulled the comforter over her. "You aren't evil, love. No one truly is; not even me. We're made this way. Do you understand?"
She nodded weakly, barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Go to sleep." She nodded again before closing her eyes.