Pairing: George/Nessie (M/f) wooden spoon

Cutting prompt for Raven/Damon horses prompt for Channelle/Damon New Moon prompt for Jade

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes."

-Shakespeare, Macbeth

Friday, April 6, 2012

Mikaelson Mansion

Night

An Hour Before

Damon needed privacy. Lucy was trying to get Dorian settled in Damon's room as the poor guy had just gone through hell. It was horrible to see Lucy and Bonnie trying to lift the Strix compulsion from Dorian's mind, he couldn't imagine going through that.

Damon didn't feel like talking to Enzo and he didn't know where Klaus was. Elijah and Rebekah were with the kids in their room. Stefan was no where to be found. Ric went home for dinner...Damon figured he'd use Elijah's bathroom. He just needed a minute.

Damon went into the pristine room and stumbled into the large bathroom. He splashed his face with some cold water, spraying the mirror in the process. It didn't help. Damon stared at himself in the mirror. Who was he now? A fucking freak. Though the full moon didn't seem be affecting him, the magic was. He could feel it coursing through his body and mind. He couldn't lose control of it again. He had barely spoken to Kol about biting him. Kol had assured him that he didn't blame Damon, but at times Damon felt that Kol was frightened of him. Maybe it was just in his head? Damon needed a drink, he thought...He crouched down to look for some mouthwash, that had alcohol in it, didn't it? But what Damon found was better. A straight razor.

Damon remembered Giuseppe having a similar one. He used to watch him sharpening it on the leather strop. That sound...

The man servant would shave Giuseppe and let Damon put some soap on his face and pretend to shave until his nurse chased him out. He would sneak in and play with the razor when he was older, sometimes cutting himself by accident. Then he started to do it on purpose. The sight of his own bright red blood thrilled him. It gave him a release somehow. Maybe he had always been destined to be a vampire? Damon grabbed the razor and rolled up his pant leg.

Slice...the sharp pain, the blood.

Damon exhaled, finally feeling some relief. He cut again, this time deeper, watching his blood drip down on the cream-colored tiles.

"What are you doing?" Elijah exclaimed, vamping to grab a towel.

"Oh, um," Damon stammered, ashamed to have been caught slumped on the floor.

"Damon," Elijah said, pressing the towel to his cut calf. "Are you hurting yourself on purpose?"

Damon shrugged, "I was looking for mouthwash. Ah, Dorian's in my room."
Elijah pulled the towel away as Damon's wounds healed.

"That was a deep one. Now, tell me what's going on," Elijah demanded, kneeling by his nephew.

Damon focused his bright blue eyes on Elijah, figuring he couldn't lie. He was too exhausted to even try.

"I don't know. It sometimes helps," Damon admitted. "I used to do it when I was human with my father's straight razor. Seeing the blood and feeling the pain calms me. Then, I turned to booze, but you don't want me getting shit-faced so..."
Elijah leaned against the wall. He was horrified, but understood the sentiment. He cleared his throat.

"Did you father ever speak of Tatia? She was the first doppelgänger in our lives. She must have been some ancestor of Katerina, but to us, she was just a beautiful young widow with a child," Elijah mused.

"I think I heard you guys say something about her," Damon said, rolling down his pant leg and starting to get up. Elijah put a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Wait. We were both in love with her. My mother used her blood to seal our immortality spell and things were never the same again. After we turned and she was gone, I felt a restlessness I had never known," Elijah said. "I felt the compulsion to tidy everything. A speck of dirt on my hands caused me to almost tremble with anxiousness. I would fed and then seek out water to wash. I would even clean the bodies of my victims just to feel better. I can control it now, but the feeling is still there."

Damon nodded, "I just feel like a freak. I don't know if the wolf and witch and vampire in me can co-exist. They are all fighting to get out. I think if I could let some of it out, I can cope. But maybe I can't."

Elijah smiled, "You are not a freak, or maybe we all are. Damon, you have to remember that you are not alone here. We all have things we deal with."

Damon raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean? You all seem fine."

"Fine? Ha," Elijah scoffed. "Your father get bouts of mania and paranoia, but he uses his painting to try to control it. Kol feels cut off from his magic, that he loved about all else. I think training you is helping him. Rebekah merely wanted a moral life with a family. Now, she is trying to enjoy being a teenager, though she is over a thousand. And me, I clean and cook to chase away that feeling of...dread."

Damon was shocked. "I didn't know. I mean, compared to me, everyone has it together. I can't even sleep alone or the nightmares overwhelm me. What if I can't help with this spell? Or what if I change again and bite someone else? The cutting is the only thing keeping me sane."

Elijah put a hand on Damon's shoulder.

"The trick is to find something constructive to do. Almost like a hobby. Funnel your feelings into that. I noticed your brother writes in his diary. Besides drinking, what do you like to do?" Elijah prompted.

"I used to like to party with various women," Damon smirked. "But after Elena, they all seem fake and gaudy to me. I have nothing."

"Your car?" Elijah inquired.

"Yeah, I like to work on my car," Damon said. "But that is something Stef and I used to do together. The only other thing I really loved was...Never mind, it's stupid."
Elijah rubbed Damon's arm.

"Tell me," Elijah coaxed.

"Horses. I used to love working with my horses. You know, training them, riding them," Damon recalled. "Hell, I just loved being in the stables."

Elijah rose and pulled Damon up with him.

"Then, we shall get you horses. Think of how much the children would also love that," Elijah said.

"Really? I guess there is space here for stables, but they are a big expense," Damon rambled, his mind spinning at the possibility.

"No matter. I will take care of it. But I want you to come to me if you feel like cutting yourself. It is not healthy. Can you do that?" Elijah asked gently.

"Yeah, but if I catch you cleaning the kitchen again at 2am, you are going to hear about it," Damon teased.

Elijah extended his hand and pulled Damon up. "Deal."

"I should tell Stefan," Damon said as he went to wipe off the water he had splashed on Elijah's mirror.

"Leave it," Elijah smiled. "Really, it's fine. Um, Stefan and Bonnie took off to go to the Lockwood Mansion."
"Now? But the moonlight ring spell?" Damon said, turning in surprise.

"Yes, well, it seems that Caroline Forbes was attacked by Vicki Donovan," Elijah shared.

"Fuck, that's not good," Damon commented.

Smack!

Elijah popped Damon's behind firmly. "Language!"

"Oh, sorry," Damon smirked. "I forgot what a stickler you were for a minute. But is she okay?"
"I haven't heard," Elijah said. "But we better get ready either way. The spell must go on..."
"Funny," Damon said, rolling his eyes.

"You want another smack?" Elijah asked lightly. "I know I am not amusing. I leave that to others."

Lockwood Mansion

Mason came into to find the mansion in chaos.

"Tyler! What happened?" Mason exclaimed, grabbing his nephew roughly. There were medical personal and deputies standing on the porch who had been shooed out of the house. They were waiting for news.

Tyler covered his face in his hands.

"Uncle Mason, I think I killed Care," Tyler said, breaking down.

Stefan listened again to Caroline's chest.

"Wait! I hear something," Stefan gasped. Bonnie let out a sob and almost crumpled to the ground, before Liz Forbes caught her. She had called Elena but there was no answer.

"Anything?" Liz asked, still clutching on to Bonnie.

Stefan gulped, "Liz, I think you need to sit down."

"She's dead?" Liz screamed.

"No, but she's not alive either," Stefan said, feeling Caroline's neck. The break had healed. "I think she is in transition."

"But she's alive?" Liz pressed.

"Her heart is beating, but very slowly," Stefan reported grimly.

Tyler pulled away from Mason and ran to Caroline, grabbing her hand.

"Babe, I'm so sorry," Tyler wailed, then he felt something. "Arggggh."
"Tyler?" Mason asked, pulling up Mason.

"I heard her heartbeat, too. We need to hurry and get to the Mikaelsons. I think I'm going to need one of those rings," Tyler rasped.

Bonnie cleared her throat.

"Come on, I'll drive. Liz, please bring Caroline, they have a cell downstairs that she might need," Bonnie pleaded.

Tyler felt another snap. This is how it had started. He was turning!

"Sheriff, I swear to you, I will find her the cure!" Tyler promised. "Come on, we have to hurry."

Mason nodded, "Yeah, it's getting late. We don't need you turning on the road. Let's go."
Liz let Stefan pick up Caroline. They passed the patrol car.

Matt yelled out, "How's Caroline?"

Liz paused, "She's turning, Matt. Are you okay to stay here? Annabelle, have you heard from your folks. We can't let Vicki go back there if there is no one to look after her."
"Yes, my mother is awake," Annabelle said in a small voice.

Mason paused, "What happened?"
Annabelle explained. Mason replied, "Well, Katherine should be on her way home. She was with me. I gave her a job at the mayor's office."

Annabelle balked, "You gave her a job."
"Yeah, I'm the mayor now," Mason said wryly. "She can tell you more about it later. We have to run."

Matt pressed his hand up to the glass, but Vicki was still unconscious.

"Maybe I should come with you?" Matt asked.

"No, you don't want to be there. I wouldn't put it past my mother to whip you, too," Annabelle admitted. "She's pretty angry."

Matt grimaced, "Yeah, one whupping a day is about all I can take. Look, Annabelle, I know how Vicki can be, you can't blame yourself."
"Yes, I can," Annabelle said glumly. "I should have said no to her."
The deputy put Annabelle in the passenger seat and shut the door firmly. Matt watched them all go and walked slowly back into the mansion to start cleaning up. He realized that if this continued, he'd be the only human left in Mystic Falls.

Mikaelson Mansion

"We should get started," Lucy said, looking out the window at the rising moon. "It may take some time to do the linking spell."

Finn nodded, "I will watch the perimeter. The fence line is long, but Sage will help me."
"I can help," Enzo announced. "You don't anticipate any roaming wolf packs, do you?"

Klaus smiled, "They do seem drawn to Mystic Falls. However, it's been a while since we had much activity here. Well, since I turned about 12 into my hybrids, they steer clear of here."

"Nothing to brag about, Niklaus," Elijah corrected, walking into the living room with Damon behind him. "Lucy, have you heard from Bonnie?"

Klaus held his tongue, not waiting to argue with Elijah on such a day. He was somehow relieved to see his brother back in his signature suit. He looked odd in other clothing.

"Yes, it's not good news. They are on their way. It seems that Tyler Lockwood has somehow killed Caroline. They fear she is turning and...so is he?"

"What?" Damon gulped. "Caroline Forbes is going to be a vampire! Elena is going to be so pissed. How did that happen?"

"The deputy who dropped off Aaron mentioned something about a party," Finn mentioned quietly.

"I hope you took care of that," Klaus replied. "That boy has been running roughshod."

"I did," Finn retorted. "Sage is with him in Wes' old room. I hope you will all see some improvement from that young man."

Elijah smiled and patted Finn on the shoulder.

"I'm sure you made your displeasure at his behavior quite clear, Brother. Now, we best get out to the circle. Damon, Lucy, are you ready?" Elijah inquired, cracking his knuckles.

"Dorian wanted to monitor the spell, but he's in a deep sleep. I thought Ric would be back by now," Lucy said, checking her phone. "I tried to call but there was no answer."

Damon frowned, "Oh, he probably passed out. I'll check in on him later. Maybe they went to the Lockwoods about Caroline?"

"We shall see," Elijah said, clapping. "Places, everyone!"

Damon smirked, "It's not a play, you know. If I happened to cause another earthquake or storm, blame Kol."

Kol laughed, "No, that is not on me. I have not seen a witch who can do what you can Damon. Never. Should we get Ava now. If Tyler Lockwood is turning, then it's starting."

Elijah nodded, "Rebekah is with the children, but I'll get Ava. We don't need her turning into a wolf in her sleep. Hopefully, she never will turn unless she wants to."

The Originals still didn't know if Ava had caused the death of any of the Travelers. Lucy and Bonnie would make her a moonlight ring, just in case.

The group moved out to the area by the gazebo. The salt circle and candles were already laid out. Shortly after, Mason came, bringing Tyler.

"I will do a spell to slow his turning," Lucy said.

Stefan and Bonnie arrived with Caroline. One of the deputy's had sedated Liz Forbes and taken her home. She had wanted to go with her daughter, but Stefan and Bonnie didn't think she should see what came next.

"Has she awoken at all?" Kol asked, looking at the pale blonde.

"No," Stefan said. "But her heartbeat is slow. You know what that means."
"Aye, transition. What the bloody hell happened?" Kol asked.

Tyler roared, "It was my fault. I hurt her when I was trying to save her from Vicki. Lucy, is there anyway to stop this? She can't turn."

Lucy shook her head. "The only way is if she doesn't transition."

"But she'll die," Tyler snapped.

Mason tried to calm him down, but he shrugged off his uncle.

"She's already gone, Ty. We're real lucky Stefan was there to get her this far," Mason soothed. "Caroline's a strong girl. She's make it."

Bonnie went over and whispered something to Tyler. He nodded and sat down on a log as Lucy started to slow his turning.

"It's a good thing we have that extra kyanite," Bonnie said.

"Damn straight," Damon said. "Kol, would you take Caroline down. I'm going to try to focus my energy like you showed me. Moon is rising fast."

"Right-o," Kol quipped. "That seems like one hell of a party! Glad I didn't get an invite, but maybe if I did, this wouldn't have happened."

"I'll tell you more as we take her down to the cell," Stefan said. Kol nodded and led the way down to the basement.

"Niklaus always prepares for the worst," Kol said, as they laid Caroline on the makeshift cot moments later. "I better get back up there. They may need me."

"Yeah, right. I'll stay here with Caroline. I remember what it was like to wake up in transition. She'll need a daylight ring," Stefan said, remembering Emily Bennett giving him and Damon the rings in 1864. Ironic, that her descendent was here and would have to make yet another ring for another new vampire.

"Right. I'll mention it to the ladies," Kol said, handing Stefan the key to the cell. "There's blood in the cooler out there, for when the time comes."
"Kol, do you think there will ever be a cure?" Stefan said suddenly.

"For vampirism?" Kol asked, looking back.

"Yeah," Stefan continued, raking a hand through his hair.

"I do not know. There have been many reports of cures, but they all turned out to be false. Once, in Morocco, I found a coven that claimed they could cure it, but as you can see it did not work," Kol said, flashing his fangs.

Stefan nodded, and brushed back Caroline's blonde tresses.

"That stinks. She...She is so young," Stefan mused. "Her whole mortal life ahead of her and now, she'll be one of us."
Kol agreed, "Yes, but unlike us, she has us. Think of it, we were all without guidance at the start. Caroline will have you to guide her. That should count for a lot."

Stefan finally smiled, "Yeah, that is true. I can teach her all the things I wished I knew in the beginning. Maybe she won't ever have to kill. Can you imagine that?"

Kol shrugged, "Not really, but it's a nice thought. Call us if you need us. And cross your fingers that your brother doesn't level this damn house."

Stefan laughed, "I wouldn't put it past him. Good luck tonight."

Caroline stirred and Stefan moved a chair closer to the bed and sat.

"It could be a while before she wakes, you know," Kol commented, closing the door.

"I know. I just hope she does wake," Stefan said quietly, now left alone with his thoughts.

Singerman Home

"Dad, I'm really sorry," Nessie tried, as George opened her car door.

"Get out of the car, Vanessa," George said sternly. "I had to have Mrs. Sampson come over and watch your sister again. I really don't even know what to say to you right now."

Nessie got out and pulled her curly black hair into a pony tail. She had never seen her father so disappointed in her. George's long legs carried him to the door quickly, as Nessie dawdled by the driveway. She picked up a weed and twirled it in her finger. Her dad had been working so much and their lawn looked like crap.

Mrs. Sampson gave Nessie a sympathetic smile as she came out the door. The elderly neighbor had a house dress on with a wool sweater with big pockets that she kept candies and tissues in.

"Hi honey, I made a green bean casserole and left it on the stove. Make sure you eat something, you are much too thin," Mrs. Sampson called as she hugged her sweater to her. "Chilly tonight."

"Chillier inside, I bet. Thanks, Mrs. S., been nice knowing ya," Nessie muttered, as she trekked through the front door.

"Vanessa, get in here already," George yelled.

"Is Jessica up?" Nessie asked.

"No, she's sleeping. Get yourself something to eat and then go to your room. I'll be in after I've called and checked in on the sheriff," George replied.

Nessie wanted to gag as she looked at that casserole. She was a vegetarian, but nothing about it looked good to her. She grabbed some hummus and carrots and sat at the table eating as much as she could stomach. She almost welcomed getting the bath brush again if she knew her dad would forgive her.

"You done?" George asked, coming in and hanging up the phone. "If you are, bring the wooden spoon."

Apparently, Mrs. Sampson had used the large spoon in her cooking and it was drying on the counter. Only her former stepmom had ever used the spoon on them.
"Dad! Jeanie isn't here anymore. Do you have to?" Nessie pleaded. Her ex-stepmom had often used the spoon at the end of a spanking to "make her point." Now faced with a certain spanking, Nessie would have settled on an angry father.

"When Jeanie left, I let things slide and not for the better. I warned you we were going back to having some discipline around here. Would you prefer the wooden spoon or my belt?" George demanded. He rested his hands around his waist on the heavy brown belt.

"No, I'll get the spoon," Nessie said dejectedly. She didn't think her father would really belt her, but she couldn't take the chance.

"Take your bath and be ready for me in 20," George advised.

Nessie put the hummus away and grabbed the drying spoon with a shudder. A part of her realized how much she had missed the only mother she had known. She wondered how Jessica had felt with Jeanie being off doing plays and acting crap, being so much younger. Nessie resolved to spend more time with the six year old. She would even play with her tomorrow instead of blowing her off.

Nessie took a shower, washing the heavy gothic eye make-up off. She tried not to wonder about Aaron and what he was doing. Nessie still felt bad about Dr. M. leaving and wondered where he was and what he was up to.

"You ready?" George asked, knocking at her bedroom door.

Nessie swallowed and said, "Yes, Daddy. I'm ready."

George opened the door, the big man filled up the frame.

"Oh, I'm 'Daddy' again when you're getting your bum heated up?" George said lightly.

Nessie realized that he wasn't mad anymore.

She sobbed out, "Dadddd, I am sorrryyyy."
George came over and pulled Nessie into a hug.

"I know, honey. I'm not mad at you, but just sick with worry," George confessed.

"How is Caroline?" Nessie asked.

George squeezed his eyes shut. "They think she's turning into a vampire."

"Oh no," Nessie exclaimed. "That's terrible."

"Yeah, well, I hate to say it but I am just glad you are okay. They had to sedate Liz and...We can talk more about this later. But now, I want to hear about how you went from the Grill to this wild party," George said slowly.

"It just happened," Nessie said softly. "I didn't drink."

"I know. I'm real proud of you for that," George said. "I know you haven't had it easy, Nes, with your mom dying. Then, you lost Jeanie. I'm sorry, we should talk about stuff more..."
Nessie sniffed, "Nah, we don't have to. I'm okay, Dad. I just don't want you to hate me."

"Hate you?" George exclaimed. "Baby girl, I love you more than my own life. I could never ever hate you. Ever. I can't believe you would think such a thing."

Nessic sniffed louder. "Okay. It's just you were so mad when you came to the party. I thought-!"

"I was worried sick, baby, not mad," George admitted. "Someday, you will understand what it is like with your heart outside your body walking around...Heck, now I have to worry about protecting you from vampires and witches! It's a lot."

Nessie's mouth turned up. "Yeah, you can really pick 'em. Towns and I guess, women."

George chuckled and pulled her closer. His wife's departure had shaken the family to the very core, but they still had each other.

"I love you, Nessie. But you are still getting a licking for disobeying. When you say you are going to be somewhere, I expect you to stay put," George said firmly. "Now, flip over on your tummy."

Nessie groaned but crawled over and lay on her stomach. She flushed as George raised her night dress and exposed her cotton bikini underpants.

"Since you were responsible and didn't drink, I'll leave these up," George informed her. "Ready?"
"I guess," Nessie moaned, clenching her cheeks.

Whap! Whap!

George snapped the spoon down briskly on one cheek and then the next.

Whap! Whap!

Nessie shifted but couldn't move much as he was pressing his hand down on her lower back, holding up her shirt and holding her down.

"Ah!" Nessie began to gasp. The spoon felt stingier than she had remembered, but Jeanie using smacked her upright over her pants.

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

"Dad, come on!" Nessie moaned, as her bum began to burn even more.

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

"Hold still," George said, giving her a couple of sturdy whacks on her crease.

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

Nessie cried into her pillow, fighting the urge to throw back a hand. All she could do was drum her feet into her bed.

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

"Ohhhhhhh," Nessie wept, feeling all the emotions of the night spill out.

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

Whap! Whap!

"There. Twice your age. Now, go to bed. I'm charging your phone in my room from now on," George said, putting down the spoon on her night stand and taking the cell phone.

"O-Okayyy," Nessie moaned, the fight spanked out of her.

George rubbed her back and then kissed her on the head.

"Now, go to sleep. We'll do something fun tomorrow. Just the three of us," George promised.

"Can we bring Aaron? He doesn't have many friends either," Nessie said, wiping at her eyes, turning to look at her father.

"Yeah, of course. If he's allowed to go," George conceded, looking out the window at the full moon. "I love you to the moon and back."

"Me, too," Nessie yawned.

"Keep that spoon in your drawer," George said, as he turned off the light.

Nessie groaned, "Fuck." The spoon was back, but at least it wasn't as bad as that stupid bath brush. And her dad didn't hate her after all.

Mikaelson Mansion

Outside

Night

Lucy and Bonnie linked with Kol, using his power, as well as drawing down power from the moon, so Damon could help with the spell.

"You sure you want to do this?" Damon asked, looking Kol in the eye.

"Aye, you are ready for this," Kol said with bravado. "Well, maybe not ready, but it tis good practice."

Damon caught Elijah's eye. His uncle winked at him. Yes, he could do this. He had to try. The amount of power needed for this spell was tremendous and it was silly to put that strain on Lucy and Bonnie when he could help.

"I'm ready," Damon said. The three put a hand on Kol and used his Original vampire power to aid them. Kol's eyes rolled back in his head and he stiffened from the effort.

"Phasmatos Inta Grum Vin Callus Amalon Callagius Accodum. Cosom Naben Dox Callagius Amalon Gaeda Callagius. Ceremum Descendium Vinum. Phasmatos Inta Grum Callus. Cosom Naben Dox," Damon, Lucy, and Bonnie chanted over the black kyanite stones on the wooden altar.

Elijah wrapped Ava in a fleece blanket from her room. The nine year old had been shivering.

Klaus crouched down, "Are you feeling anything, luv? Like a pull or an odd feeling."

Ava's hazel eyes were wide as she looked from the chanting to Klaus.

She nodded, rubbing her scar with her small hand, mumbling, "A little, I think."

Klaus rubbed his thumb, joking, "Oh, my, I think I just rubbed off your freckles. I'm terribly sorry. Here, I'll fix it."
Klaus pretended to put them back on, getting a chuckle from the child.

"You know, there is nothing to be frightened of. The spell will not hurt very much. Just a quick prick of your finger for blood and the ring will keep you from turning into a wolf," Klaus continued. "But you must always keep on the ring, just like you do your special necklace."

Ava nodded and wrapped herself tighter in the blanket, yawning.

"Then, I can go back to bed?"

"Of course," Klaus promised, looking up at the full moon, almost at its' apex. "When I was a child, we hid in the caves beneath on nights like this."

Elijah added, "And you always loved to paint those cave walls. Ava likes to paint and I hear Enzo wants to try his hand."
"Indeed," Klaus said. "I was thinking I need a new studio since I gave you mine to use as your study."
"Yes, we shall speak of some new construction tomorrow. I have a few things to bring up," Elijah added.

"Sounds expensive," Klaus remarked.

"You don't know the half of it," Elijah smirked, turning his attention back to the spell.

"We need the blood," Lucy announced.

Bonnie got the sharp double-bladed athame and pricked Tyler's finger. Then, she did Mason and Ava's in turn, draining the drops into a chalice.

"This blood sacrifice will seal these stones," Bonnie said, pouring the blood onto the kyanite. The stones hissed and smoked. The fog appeared and enveloped the area.

Finn vamped to the edges of the circle.

"It is Sage!" Finn gasped. "I cannot find her. I was checking the fences and she was gone."

Klaus' eyes turned yellow, he sniffed the air.

"Listen, Elijah," Klaus hissed. "Someone is here."

Three women in black cloaks appeared on the edges of the fog.

"Do not let them breach the circle," Lucy ordered. She sliced her own palm and chanted words that caused the candles to flare.

Bonnie and Damon joined Lucy in a protective chant.

Elijah vamped to the edge.

"What is the meaning of this? Where is Sage?" Elijah demanded.

One of the woman, pulled down her hood revealing her face.

"We have her and your doppelgänger, as well as the vampire hunter," the girl replied.

"You are a mere child. Who sent you? Nay, I know. Tell Aya to come out," Elijah demanded.

Aya stepped out of the shadows, clad in black.

"Elijah, I needed to speak with you. We mean no harm," Aya said firmly. To the unhooded witch, Aya said, "Madison, stand down."

Madison bowed her head and stepped back.

"Where are Sage and the others?" Elijah hissed.

"They will not be harmed. Unlike you, I keep my word. I need to speak to you in private," Aya said, imploring him with her deep brown eyes.

"You have two minutes," Elijah determined, putting a restraining hand on Finn.

"Continue your spell. We have no interest in the ways of werewolves," Aya called out, casting a look at Klaus.

"Elijah?" Klaus questioned, lifting Ava into his arms. They would not take her, not while he still drawled breath or had life in him.

"Two minutes, Niklaus. Give us that. If I do not return, kill her witches," Elijah said, stepping out of the circle.

Aya and Elijah vamped to the tree line.

"The last time we met on a night like this, your father slaughtered all of the rest of the Strix," Aya said.

Elijah grimaced, remembering the slaughter.

"I asked you to come with me," Elijah recalled. "But you wanted to stay and fight."

"I did, but the only way I made it out of there was by fleeing," Aya confessed. "I left them to die. All of our associates, vampires I had turned and then watched die. Only taking the charter and the clothes on my back, I ran like a coward. When Tristan found me, I was a shell of who I had been and you were gone."
"I am sorry, Aya, but what are you doing here? Have you come for the girl?" Elijah inquired. "We shall never relinquish her. You should know that, she is family."

"Wasn't I your family once, too. Never mind the past, Elijah. We must worry about the present for it is dire. No, the girl is not my concern. Tell me why you formed the Strix," Aya asked calmly.

"I wanted to better civilization. I didn't know they would fall into the control of a sociopath like Tristan," Elijah scoffed. "You have to know what he is by now. How can you work with him?"

Aya wrung her hands. "He is not a good person. I know that. But he is very dangerous and powerful. Do you want to know what the seer really saw?"

"Not really, but I suppose you are going to tell me," Elijah mused.

"She saw that your bloodlines are connected to your sirelines," Aya admitted. "So if one of you Originals gets killed, every vampire in your line will perish. Your life is tied to yours."
Elijah gasped, "That's ludicrous. Plus, we cannot be killed."

"They know about the White Oak, Elijah," Aya stated. "You can be killed. That's why I am here. A cold war has broken out between the sirelines. Lucian and Tristan aim to put you, Niklaus, and Rebekah in the serratura for safekeeping."

"Why are you telling me this?" Elijah asked.

"Because I don't trust them. Lucien wants to be an Original. He has labs all over the world making artificial white oak and other nasty surprises. He is as insane as Aurora, whom Tristan keeps drugged in a monastery in Tibet. For now, who knows when she will break her chains and join him. You have to flee," Aya urged.

"And go where. The witches of New Orleans are out for my brother's head. We can't return there. Aya, you put your own life in danger by coming here. Why?" Elijah demanded.

"I don't wish to see them truly take over. The Sisters, the most powerful coven, follows me. All that has been happening here is connected to Tristan and Lucien's plans. They hired the Travelers to capture you and incapacitate you. That failed. They didn't know about the siphon Ava or the tribrid. They may give you a fighting chance," Aya said.

"If we don't give them Aya, will they attack?" Elijah prodded.

"They will attack no matter what you do," Aya surmised. "But I think you can buy yourselves some time. Make nice with Tristan, play his games. There is a gathering of Strix next weekend in New Orleans. Go and be the sire he always wished for you to be. I will tell him that the Sisters tested the girl and she is no true siphon, nor can she raise the dead. That's what he thinks I am doing tonight."

"You would do this for us?" Elijah asked, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Nay, but I would do it for you," Aya said. "And you should guard the doppelgänger more. You know how valuable she is."

"We will hide her," Elijah said gratefully. "Thank you, Aya. I wish you would have come with me that night."
"So do I," Aya said, vanishing into the night.