Sorry! Moving is chaos and the immediate house updates I've had to do, along with work suddenly picking up in overtime, has me wiped out. Thanks for bearing with me! We're picking up right where we left off because there's more to get through with the Alexanders and Set. I hope this was worth the wait!

-34-

Isolde

"It's about damn time." A new, deeper, more rumbly baritone voice quipped from the closed door and it swung open. Emeric was out of his seat and shielding Davina, the three others immediately poised to defend before everybody sagged with an annoyed scowl as the man revealed himself.

"Father." Vera whispered like a prayer, stepping out of his way.

Set was a tall man, one arm missing at the elbow and so many scars littering a face that looked like an older, more stout version of Theon. He breezed past them all until he was in the center of the room. Power flowed off of him like waves crashing against a cliff in a hurricane. His dark eyes pinned each of them before he turned to face Isolde.

"Now get your shit together and banish that thing," he gestured vaguely at her torso, "so you can fully merge with Ra. I'd like to finally reabsorb and be with my wife, Amunet and I can't do that until you're whole."

Isolde stared at her step father with raised brows as he circled the room with a faux passive expression. It wasn't often Set showed up. She could count on her hands the times he'd been around since their mother's reabsorption that wasn't due to a threat from Apophis. She hoped this was one of those rare times, but with the rapid expansion of the family and the way things kept happening and war seemed to be imminent, Isolde had the sinking feeling that the bastard was on the horizon.

"Of course, Set. I'll be sure to make your needs a priority." Isolde quipped at him, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Set sneered at her. Such was their relationship. Bordering on hostility at all times. Set never liked the children of Osiris, after all. And after that whole business with Set killing their father, usurping the throne, and trying to execute all of them the children of Osiris held no love for Set either.

"You all do realize that enemies clamor at your gates?" Set spun to make eye contact with them all. "Horus, you've been blinded by one you trusted and now he holds control of your forces. They worship him as though he were a god, and you haven't noticed a thing. You have been distracted, manipulated, and you have lost sight of your duty."

So it was this kind of reunion.

Every now and then Set would show up with the intent to 'crack the whip' so to speak. Usually he did so without the elder two in attendance. He didn't often verbally chastise Osiris' children, fearful as he was of his elder brother returning from the realm of the dead to teach him to leave his children alone, as he'd done once before.

It had been glorious. Seeing Osiris rise from the necropolis and damn near destroy Set in a single move.

Unfortunately, Osiris couldn't stay for long. His portion of the consciousness could no longer sustain life on Earth and he faded away after a few hours. Still, it had been long enough for Isolde, Bis, and Emeric to have the opportunity to speak with him.

For Isolde and Bis it had been the first time they'd ever spoken to their father. He 'died' when they were very young. Set had murdered Osiris in cold blood because Osiris had slept with and created Bis and Isolde with Nephthys, who Set had been married to. Set's obsession with Nephthys paired with his jealousy over Osiris' position and Osiris having had relations with his wife had caused his rage to burst in such a way that he was able to kill the more powerful deity.

Isis, Emeric's mother, and Nephthys worked together to bring him back years later when Isolde and her siblings were grown. Since Osiris was no longer able to hold his mortal form, he had to return to the realm of the dead. It was because of this that the three Gods appealed to their parent deities, the Earth and the Sky, to transfer power into their children so the kids could become deities themselves and carry on the legacy.

Having impressed the grandparent 'greater' deities the power was granted, Osiris returned to the underworld and took Anubis with him at that same time. Isis followed moments later after giving Vera most of her power, and Nephthys stuck around long enough to give Set what amounted to a giant middle finger as she reabsorbed.

Set had apparently ignored that Nephthys had no good-will toward him and labored for millennia under the delusion that she wanted him to reabsorb and be with her once again. Because he was unable to do so until there was a greater deity in a place of power to hold back Apophis' forces. Someone comparable or greater in power than Set.

In short– he needed Isolde to ascend into her place as Amun-Ra.

Knowing that she was the reason Set was stuck on earth and it was a massive inconvenience to him amused Isolde to no end and satisfied her vindictive streak.

Isolde met Emeric's gaze over the twins' heads, saying everything that needed to be said with a look and a nod of agreement. They would step in if Set went too far.

"If you knew about the Romans then why in two thousand years have you not thought to mention it?" Emeric asked in his calm, regal manner.

"I shouldn't have to hold your hands, protecting the world is a burden that lay upon your shoulders– I have done this for millions of years. It is your turn." Set nearly spat, picking at his nails with a sneer before looking over to Isolde. "I especially shouldn't have to tell you. But whilst you've been wallowing in your self-pity and self-loathing, Marcus Antonius has converted some of your most loyal into his own. Even just days ago you were manipulated by Nailah. Your friend since childhood. Hundreds of your loyalists are now dead. Thousands more suffer in silence and await your return as you have this useless battle in New Orleans–" he looked between them all, "making yourselves look like a joke to those who consider you their leaders. And you do not even know what happens in your own cities. You parade around with your new bonds. Your concerns are for them, not your own people. Your duty is long forgotten, your priorities are skewed. And the innocent are the ones who suffer."

Isolde's jaw clenched as she bit through her tongue until blood flooded her throat and bile coated her stomach, her throat suddenly going raw. The depth of betrayal was unfathomable, yet Isolde knew that Set was no liar and what he spoke was the absolute truth.

There was nothing that they could even say to defend themselves. Not really. They could throw out justifications and accusations but that wouldn't make the situation better. And really, there were no justifications to be made.

They had to be accountable. Their actions, for better or worse, affect everyone and everything on the planet.

As this information settled, Set turned his attention to his own children. "Ma'at, there are covens on every continent working together with the goal of overthrowing your hold on their communities. Misguided though they are; their contempt of you is justified. You've not been devoted to your duty and you will suffer the consequences for piddling your time away like a child. They are in league with the Romans, who have been diligent in turning these communities against you."

Vera lowered herself into a slight bow, eyes on the faded wooden floorboards.

Set turned his critical gaze upon his son next. "Five thousand years and the party has yet to end for you, boy. As we speak, your own forces mobilize against you. Your absence from your capitol has given room for those you've angered to gain traction. The Masons are working to overthrow your hold over the political regimes of the United Nations and drain your holdings in all countries. You stand to lose your influence, your affluence, and your only options would be to destroy and rebuild again, or forsake your duty." Set circled the twins, who stood frozen beside each other, holding hands so tightly that their knuckles were turning white. "You, too, are piddling away like a child like Ma'at. Five thousand year old infantile gods with too much power and not enough discipline."

Theon's jaw tightened and there was fire in his eyes Isolde thought would lead to nothing good. And she was right, as she braced for the backlash when Theo opened his mouth.

"And what of your duty? How can we be certain that everything that is happening isn't due to you spreading your chaos in places it doesn't belong? You have no loyalty to this family– to your children. We haven't seen you since the fall of Rome."

'Oh Theo.' Isolde thought. 'Why provoke Set? Especially when he's giving us all the information we need to fix everything we've fucked up.'

Set stilled, his sneer vanishing behind a calm façade, meant to lure his enemies into a false sense of security. This was when he was most dangerous. Isolde braced to step in, because despite everything Isolde still would never allow Set to harm one of her siblings. Not when she was five, and not now.

Emeric shifted ever so slightly toward Davina, who was watching the exchange with rapt attention but unable to hear what was happening because of Vera's barrier.

"My duty is to keep balance. Create chaos to counter the natural order. I have never forsaken this duty. Nor have I done so with malicious intent."

"Do you think I believe that? You've been nothing but malicious for millennia. Since our mother left. You are the one who is filled with self-loathing. You are the one who wallows in self pity." Theon pressed.

It was like he wanted to fight.

Set scoffed with a sarcastic eye roll. "You're only upset now because you concern yourself with the witch's reaction to my chaos? How it affected your bond, that her sister murdered their mother?" Set waved a hand as if to bat this away, his disapproval clear. "That was inevitable. As you know, I have no control over what mankind does with the chaos I stir within them. If they are unable to resist their baser impulses then that is their burden to bear. Your concern for this woman is distracting you from your duties."

"Like your obsession with mother did for you?" Theon's expression was dark when he said this and Set growled.

'Damn it Theo.' Isolde thought, and without hesitation she moved.

The crack of Set's fist colliding with her face reverberated through the room and gasps followed the sound as pain spread through Isolde. She smacked against the floor so hard that she broke through several floorboards and landed on the concrete slab in the basement of the church.

Everything stilled as the Alexander's and Set realized what happened. They ignored dust and debris all around them as they all looked down, down, down, until they could see Isolde lying like a prone and motionless corpse.

"Sol?" Vera called down at her, eyes wide and worried.

Isolde stirred, groaning as the pain began to dissipate. The dust, combined with the pain from busting through several layers of church, had Isolde coughing and sputtering as she slowly pushed herself into a seated position.

"Theo, don't say I never do anything for you." She yelled, voice a little rough, up toward the hole she created. Her family's faces staring down at least two hundred feet at her with wide eyes. Seconds later, Emeric's body swelled with a deep roar of outrage and the fighting began. Isolde rolled her eyes and coughed again, groaning as she pulled herself up on shaky legs. She brushed herself off, mumbling under her breath; "I just love Set's timing. Five stars."

"Kærasta?" Finn was there, seconds later, likely having felt her get punched in the face when she stepped in front of Theo. Kol, Klaus, and Elijah all jumped down through the hole above them after Finn and each moved to form some kind of shield between her and her family.

Niklaus

No one had expressly said that he shouldn't go wandering about the quarter on his own. Of course, it had been implied by all the secrecy and arriving under the cover of nightfall, plus the covert planning and the battle set for the next night.

Klaus neverminded that as he strolled casually down the streets of what was once his home.

It had changed. Of course it had changed. Like all things do.

Well, like most things do.

He'd fled after his apology to Finn in order to escape deepening the conversation. Klaus had never been the best at admitting his wrongs, and doing so took a toll on his nerves. He knew his apology hadn't been enough to really begin to clear the air between himself and his eldest brother, but it was a start. Any more that needed to be discussed could be said later, in smaller increments.

Nevertheless it wasn't the apology that had him leaving his siblings in that stifling hotel room.

It was Rebekah and Kol. Between Kol's inability to see how out of control he was each time he was free, and Rebekah's refusal to understand that the worthless reprobates she brought into her bed were typically using her, oftentimes to get to her brothers. Klaus especially. He was feeling awful tetchy about their unneeded commentary and without daggers to wield against them, his only recourse was to leave or break their necks.

And as he didn't know when the Alexanders would come walking back into the hotel, breaking his siblings' necks was out of the question. For now. Isolde was already upset with him over how he'd handled Esther's death and Finn's reaction to it. Breaking Kol's neck after the two had been so close that morning would get him further on her bad side and he wanted the opposite of that.

Also, he wasn't keen on the idea of fisticuffs with Theon Alexander. He would, if he had to, but for something as benign as Rebekah's irritating, haughty, judgmental words? He'd pass on that.

This time.

And, another point in favor of not breaking his siblings' necks is that it would become more difficult to apologize to them all for daggering them and the myriad other offenses they blamed on him if he continued to perpetuate the same cycle.

Making amends was stressful. An annoyance. But it was for a good cause.

He needed his family together. Strong. United.

Because not only were they gearing up to face their own enemies, but they now had the Alexander's enemies to contend with and Klaus harbored no delusions that coming trials would be easily overcome.

One such enemy was now falling into step with him as he walked and Klaus controlled his immediate need to attempt ripping Mark Antony's head from his body, instead flashing the elder immortal a charming–but hollow–smile.

"If you're looking for a tour I'm afraid it's been a while since I've been on the payroll. You'll have to go elsewhere."

Marcus' eyes danced, a smirk forming on his treacherous face. Klaus didn't buy it. Everything about the man was off and Klaus wanted him dead.

And the Roman would die. But first, Klaus wanted to learn exactly how deep the treachery ran. And he wondered, not for the first time in the past several hours, how Isolde didn't see what was written so clearly before her.

He supposed millennia under the fog of depression would cloud her mind in a way that would make it impossible to see the truth, especially in someone she cared for.

Still, she should've picked up on Marcus' behavior.

Unless of course Mark was simply acting out more now, and had done better to hide prior to Isolde's fifty years away. Perhaps the elder immortal had a five decade taste of what ruling a kingdom was like and didn't fancy the idea that the true Queen was returning to her throne.

Nevertheless, Klaus would speak with Isolde about it. And until he found the opportunity to do so he would need to play nicely with the man. Collect as much information as possible.

If he was going to risk his budding relationship with his mate to kill the old Roman, Klaus needed evidence to support his actions. He wasn't used to having to justify himself. But the Alexanders ran on a seemingly strict and well maintained structure. Klaus would have to adjust to such things, but he wasn't opposed to trying it their way.

So long as he still got exactly what he wanted in the end.

"If you've seen one backwater slum you've seen them all." Mark's grin was sharp, eyes dancing with mirth, and Klaus worked not to tighten his jaw. He recognized an insult when he heard one.

Mark clasped his hands behind his back, gazing up at the mid afternoon sun in contemplative silence before he pressed on.

"My sources tell me you're interested in creating vampire-wolf hybrids? There's a group of werewolves twenty seven miles north that are willing to hear your spiel, if you wish. They're currently working alongside a group of Incubi and Shade who are helping their pack to relocate back into town. It's not the whole pack, mind. Most wolves are quite proud of their heritage and don't want to pollute their bloodline with vampirism, but it's a good half dozen."

His paranoia soared, the feeling that Marcus was attempting to trap him in some way wracked through him and Klaus was itching to gouge the man's eyes out.

This audacious weasel was digging himself a grave the likes of which he couldn't hope to escape. Klaus didn't care at all how old the Shade second-in-command was, he would fall like all others that dared test him.

Instead of acting on the wave of violence that swept through him, Klaus took a page from Isolde's play book and hummed noncommittally, adopting an air of nonchalance.

"One would think they'd be happy to gain control over their form," he sighed heavily, playing up his minimal disappointment, when he wanted more hybrids he would simply take them, "yet they prefer to keep their supposed purity. Thus, painful full moons for the prideful."

"Shall I tell them you're not interested?" Mark held up his phone, waving it with raised brows. "It would be understandable. A thousand years and your family has yet to corral the vampires. I fail to see the wisdom of adding volatile hybrids to the mix."

It was a perfectly laid trap. Klaus, backed into a corner by his own pride, turned a dark glare upon Mark. He opened his mouth to speak but he stopped as severe pain spread through his face and body.

Whatever it was that caused this pain had done so to Isolde and Klaus wasn't prepared for the surge of fear and fury that spread from his chest to his shoulders and all the way to his toes. It took everything in him to feign normalcy to get rid of Marcus, because the last thing he wanted was for the enemy to discover his weaknesses.

"Tell them I may be stopping by." Klaus said, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, he pulled it out and waved it at the elder immortal. "Gotta take this, talk soon."

Klaus flashed away before Marcus had the opportunity to speak again. He answered the phone, heading toward St. Anne's, where Isolde had said she would be.

"I'm already there." He said to whomever was calling him, stopping at the door to the church and listening to Vera's voice calling out for Isolde. Klaus hesitated just outside.

The call dropped as his brothers all appeared right beside him outside the church. "As are we," Finn said, throwing the door open and striding in without ever looking at his brothers or discussing a plan or knowing anything about what happened.

"Since when does Finn run into a potentially dangerous situation with no regard for his personal safety?" Klaus looked between Kol and Elijah, slightly aghast as they followed Finn.

"'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.' I can't remember who said that," Kol stated without inflection as he pushed past Elijah and Klaus and they watched Finn jump down into a giant hole in the middle of the church.

"It's a bible quote. Book of John, I believe." Elijah informed them as the three of them came to the edge of the hole and took in the scene before them. "Quite a lot of damage."

"And the Alexanders are fighting someone up there," Kol observed, craning his neck to see flashes of colorful powers above them. Someone upstairs growled something darkly in a language Klaus didn't understand.

"Not Isolde." Elijah informed as he jumped down into the hole, Klaus and Kol followed him.

Isolde was covered in dust and debris, clearly having been the one who created the mess in the center of the church. She was coughing, Finn closed in beside her, one hand between her shoulder blades the other on her face. It was quite intimate and Klaus felt as though he was intruding on the moment, but his own concern for Isolde and the safety of his family as a god-skirmish was threatening to destroy the rest of the church outweighed his hesitation.

Klaus closed the distance between him and Isolde, ignoring Finn, and wrapping a hand around her bicep. Finn's hand dropped away from her face, but he didn't step away.

"Can't leave you alone for an hour, can we love?"

"I guess not," Isolde breathed, breaking eye contact with Finn and smiling at Klaus but he could see the strain in the look. Whatever was going on, Isolde was struggling with it. Even as she joked with him. "In my defense, it's not my fault."

"It is the fault of whoever is giving your siblings a run for their money, I assume?" Elijah asked, coming up beside Klaus and running a hand down the back of Isolde's head.

"Yeah, it's definitely Set's fault." Emeric's presence interrupted the moment. He stood behind them, carrying a young teenager on his back. He, too, looked tense and strained. His joking didn't fit the message his posture and facial expressions were giving.

What the bloody hell was going on?

Emeric continued. "Theo pissed him off and Sol stepped in between them. Theo's fighting him now, Vera's trying to stop them. It's a clusterfuck and I would be stopping it but I have to get Davina out of here."

They watched Emeric make eye contact with Isolde, who nodded with a grave expression. The whole exchange had Klaus' hackles raising. Something was very wrong.

A moment later Emeric and the girl vanished.

"I've got to stop these idiots from destroying the church– and then the city."

"Concerning. Given we've just found you nearly buried under a church, darling." Kol came up behind Isolde and practically pushed them all away from her when he enveloped her in his arms from behind, burying his nose in her neck. She smiled, this one more genuine but the strain remained, turning her head to drop a quick kiss to the top of his head.

Finn rolled his eyes at Kol's antics but nobody seemed ready to rip him apart for his proximity to Isolde. Whether they were all getting used to Kol's excessive need to be touching their mate or they were simply all on edge because of the pain that had spread through the bond and their concerns were outweighing whatever other emotions would otherwise be at the front.

"Oh that?" Isolde waved it off. "That was because I hadn't braced for such a strong hit. I misjudged how hard Set was going to punch Theo. Sorry you all had to feel it, though. We're going to try to find a work around for that. You shouldn't have to feel every time I get hurt."

Irritation cut through what other emotions Klaus was feeling and he growled darkly. His eyes flashing gold. "You should not have been in such a position to begin with."

That Theon allowed his sister to take a hit from his father that had been meant for him… Klaus' wolf paced and snapped. Plans began to form, subtle, intricate.

How does one punish a god?

Isolde seemed to notice his internal struggle and she once again did that thing that calmed him. She dislodged herself from Kol and stepped forward, rubbing her hand from his shoulder down to his elbow and back again. He wondered what it was he could do to provoke the same calming effect for her, because Klaus could see how stressed she was.

"There are many things wrong with those justifications that we need to address," Elijah said on a deep exhale, looking seconds away from losing his patience, "later. For now, let's get you back to the suite."

Isolde fixed Elijah with a look, her hand stopped moving.

"I can't leave the twins. Give me a few minutes and I'll have this settled."

"Or he will hurt you again. Worse than a few minutes ago. He could incapacitate you. The twins. Us. Then what?" Finn spoke up. The eldest brother stood at his full height, weight perfectly distributed and his arms folded over his chest. He looked far more intimidating than Klaus had ever seen him and that made Klaus wonder if there was indeed some truth to what Kol had said.

"There's a lot more going on than just the fight upstairs," Klaus eyed Isolde, making sure he held "whatever it is, I need to know."

Isolde didn't deny it, Klaus should've realized she wouldn't. She hadn't once lied to them. Nor had she withheld information from them without good reason. Isolde looked at them each, making eye contact. Then she nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay. But not here. And I have to get Set and the twins to stop before they attract every enemy in the city."

"Nah, don't worry about it sis, I'll deal with the trouble. Set likes me." A new feminine voice interrupted from above them. The woman let out a low whistle. "Damn you need a shower, babe."

They all looked up to see a grinning brunette waving aggressively down the hole. She wore jeans and a tight tank top with plain trainers and had a long bow strapped to her back. The woman looked utterly out of place and Klaus was thrown by her sudden appearance.

An incredulous, genuine laugh bubbled out of Isolde and the world felt like it tilted as one second they were in the basement and the next they were all on the main floor and Isolde had her arms around the newcomer.

"Aw, I've missed you. I don't even care that you just got me all dirty." The woman mumbled and Isolde was laughing even as something crashed and Vera shouted above them. The women pulled apart and the newcomer rolled her eyes, ignoring the fight above and glancing around at Klaus and his brothers, leaning into Isolde and whispering; "I know you always say 'no' to sharing but they are fine as hell, so you know I gotta ask?"

Isolde rolled her eyes and softly punched the woman's shoulder. "It's good to see you Missy, thanks for taking care of this for me." Isolde gestured above her while walking towards the door.

Missy–Artemis– pouted and called after her; "So that's a no, then?"

"It's a fuck no." Isolde said, no hesitation.

Missy snapped her fingers in exaggerated disappointment. "Well can I have Marcus then?"

Isolde's laugh was also exaggerated, and it sent warning bells through Klaus as he watched her smile turn absolutely wicked. "Actually, Missy. Please sink your talons into him."

Artemis' answering grin was equally wicked and she clapped her hands, jumping.

For anyone wondering why Bex and Freya haven't shown up, Set hasn't got a hit in on the twins so they don't know anything is going on.

More Klaus up next! Then Finn, because we haven't had an in-depth look into his thoughts for a minute.