-35-
Niklaus
Isolde was pacing in the common area of the suite, still covered in a thin layer of dust and debris from the church.
"It seems Isolde has decided that pacing a hole in the floor is going to help solve whatever problem has arisen." Klaus quipped, gesturing to his mate from where he sat comfortably on the couch with a glass of bourbon in hand.
Finn shot him a narrow eyed look. "This room is silenced, Freya made sure of it last night."
Klaus fixed his eldest brother with a warning glare as he leaned back into the couch beside Elijah. He wanted to fix the problem. But without the information he couldn't take appropriate steps to do so and each passing minute she wasn't talking to him (or his brothers, he supposed) was starting to grate on his last nerve.
A near manic laugh bubbled out of Isolde and she stopped abruptly in the middle of the floor. She pinned Klaus directly with a passive look that didn't suit the next words she spoke.
"I have to weed out and destroy a large group of usurpers. Emeric is going to have to do the same. The twins are going to have to completely purge their numbers because apparently shit has gone far sideways and we didn't notice. We didn't notice, but fucking Set did, and he's just now decided to inform us of it."
Isolde resumed her pacing as Klaus exchanged a glance with Elijah.
"And here we thought the Alexanders were oh so responsible," Klaus intoned with an exaggerated eye roll, "or at least that's what we were led to believe."
He could see Finn's lips thin and eyes narrow upon him and Klaus waited for his brother to make his annoyance known, but Isolde interrupted.
"When we do have issues they end up being blowouts," Isolde waved a hand, unoffended, "my absence has created an opportunity for someone I had trusted to turn my most loyal to his side. I don't relish the idea of having to take the lives of people I've cared for for several millennia longer than you all have been alive." Isolde stopped pacing again, exhaling deeply, and then with no fanfare she dropped to the floor and starfished right in the middle of the living room. It would've been amusing had the situation not been so dire. "But they know the risk they take in betraying me. He either promised them something huge, or he thinks he has a way to get me out of the picture. Which, thinking about it, he nearly did get me out of the picture, if my theory is right about his methods."
Little alarm bells started going off in Klaus' mind and he fought to maintain his composure while his nerves began to make him itch.
He knew what Isolde meant. He couldn't explain how he knew, perhaps it was because of his ability to read between lines so well, or his innate understanding of her mental state, but Klaus knew.
And that Isolde so readily admitted that her enemy (Marcus, if Klaus was reading the situation right) nearly succeeded in pushing her over that edge… oh the Roman was indeed living on borrowed time.
"You're speaking of Marcus," Elijah stated as though this news did not surprise him, "he's betrayed you. After two thousand years of companionship."
So Elijah had also noticed Marcus.
Isolde was rubbing a hand over her chest and frowning. "I don't believe it's a real soul bond. I don't know how they did it, but they must've found a way to falsify a bond. Get us to trust them and wait for us to stop watching them. They played the long game. They always were out for power, I just never suspected they'd go so far for it."
"Can you trust what Set has told you? You've not said much about your relationship with him but it seems that it is rather contentious." Kol asked with a frown. Then, seeming to notice that Isolde's hand continued to rub against her chest, he added; "Are you alright?"
"Yeah he's a prick, but he doesn't lie. Has no need to. And I'm fine, the monster's fighting to get out–" they all tensed at that, still never having been confronted with the monster that was able to toy with Isolde's siblings like they were rag dolls. It was concerning to think she might lose control with them all in the room, "- it's fine, I've got him. He's upset that I'm upset and wants to kill something to make me feel better."
So Theon's description that the monster adores Isolde was apt, if it was upset because something had upset her. Klaus wondered at that. A being attached to Isolde like a parasite and yet… it didn't drain its host.
In fact, it was a tremendous boon, if all he'd learnt about her abilities before the monster were accurate. Despite it blocking her from gaining access to Ra, it seemed to fill that gap with power that was more than adequate for her to utilize to protect herself.
The questions flooded in from that line of thinking. Why was the monster there? Why did it seem sentient, and why did it care instead of trying to take over the host? It was truly baffling.
Still, they weren't at all reassured so they all remained on alert.
"What do you mean Marcus nearly succeeded in removing you from the picture?" Finn asked from the kitchen where his arms were spread, bracing against the quartz countertop.
Isolde's lips thinned, eyes on the ceiling fixture, and didn't respond.
Kol rubbed his hands down his face with a groan and slid off the armchair he occupied until he was laying on his back beside Isolde, fingers lacing with the hand she wasn't using to soothe whatever ache the monster was causing inside of her. Klaus saw Isolde's grip tighten slightly around the youngest brother's hand and Kol smoothed a thumb over her's in response.
Klaus had the immediate realization that this action wasn't stirring up the jealousy that it would've just days ago. Was he beginning to get used to the idea of having to share his mate? After only a week? He wasn't sure but that seemed like it shouldn't have been so easy.
Klaus was about to say something to take the pressure Finn just put on Isolde off of her, and if he were honest to distract himself, but was interrupted when the door opened. They all tensed, then relaxed as Emeric flounced in, took one cursory look around the room, nodded to noone in particular, walked into the living room, spun on his heels, and dropped to the floor beside his sister.
"It is a floor kind of day." Emeric huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "The twins?"
Isolde nodded like this was something of a tradition, sliding away from Kol to lay her head on her brother's shoulder. Neither of them were paying attention to the stunned looks on the Mikaelson's faces at the sight of two five thousand year old deities casually spread out on the floor.
If the air of royalty around them hadn't already faded, Klaus decided this would've washed what was left of that away. He wondered how many people had ever seen the Alexanders this casual, and what it was about their current situation or company that allowed Emeric Alexander to drop that guard. Especially now that the Alexanders suspect that they have been betrayed by those they thought themselves bonded too.
Klaus knew that if he were in the King's shoes, he would be halfway through painting the French Quarter in blood by now. And he wouldn't trust a new bond to be real. In fact he'd likely never trust a bond again, in their shoes. That it's happened to Isolde makes him weary as is.
"Missy showed up and volunteered to deal with it."
Emeric hummed, reaching over to brush a bit of dubris off Isolde's shirt sleeve with slightly furrowed brows. "Set does like Missy."
"I do believe that our door was locked." Elijah mumbled beside Klaus, watching the siblings at their feet.
"A lock won't stop you, what makes you think it'll stop me?"
"Fair point."
"Davina?" Isolde interjected, turning her head to look at her brother.
That was another question on his mind. Who was the girl that Emeric had left his siblings behind to save?
"Upstairs with Rebekah and Freya. I explained the situation."
"What is the situation? We've only heard the bare boned version," Kol lifted his head to look at the Alexanders, "it seems a bigger war than what we'd thought to wage is upon us."
"Oh– yeah." Emeric said as though he was agreeing that the weather was nice. Klaus' frustration grew. "Yeah, it will be. I'm going to kill a lot of people."
"But not quite yet." Isolde lifted a finger and wagged it in the air. "I have an idea."
"Well let's hear it, then." Theon said, and Vera followed him through the bloody window. Both a complete mess but otherwise unscathed and they waved their greeting at the Mikaelsons.
It seemed Alexanders cared little for knocking or waiting at the door to be invited inside. Or even using a door in the first place.
Klaus found himself quite miffed. He wished he didn't have to wait to be invited across a threshold.
At least he'd gotten good at manipulating himself an invitation.
"Where's Missy?" Emeric asked.
The younger Alexanders both dropped to the floor as well, fanning out in the opposite direction of their siblings, their heads mere inches from their older siblings'. Each one of them had their limbs spread out and the floor of the room was completely swallowed by the gods and Kol.
"With Father, taking him for drinks. Better her than us." Theon rolled over onto his stomach, propping himself on his arms to look at his elder sister, reaching to poke the top of her head. "Not that I'm ungrateful, because you saved Rebekah quite a bit of pain, but please stop taking hits for me."
"Respectfully, Theo, fuck off." Isolde stated like one would say that water was wet, waving his finger away.
Klaus bloody well wished she'd stop taking hits for everyone. Not only because he would feel it, but because she should learn to be less self-sacrificing. It was becoming more apparent with each new piece of information he learned about Isolde that she blamed herself for more than her share of every burden. It was clear how heavily life and responsibility weighed on her.
The root cause was that Isolde cared, too much, about every one. Even the insignificant peasants in her kingdom. Which, Klaus supposed, was how a leader should behave. But a leader who cared too much would always fail to make the difficult decisions. Surely she knew this, at five times his age..
Perhaps the fates, the Norns, the gods, whomever– had been wise to link Isolde to him and his brothers. Because Klaus wouldn't allow even a fleck of compassion to cloud his judgment in a hard situation. Nor would Kol. Elijah, perhaps. Finn would be a good reminder of the just course– even if they had to ignore it for the best course.
The more he observed, the more obvious how well they all fit with Isolde and Isolde with them.
"Sol." Theon growled in annoyance, interrupting Klaus' line of thought.
But Isolde wasn't having anymore of that, so she changed the subject back to the matter at hand. "We carry on with what we're doing here." Isolde began, Vera interrupting her right away. A muscle jumped in Theo's face as he turned back onto his back, huffing in defeat.
"Father said what we're doing here is embarrassing ourselves."
Isolde was nodding before Vera finished. "I know. That may not be as bad as we think. It's a good cover, even. I think we should utilize it. They'll think we've completely lost touch with reality. They'll grow more bold."
Theon raised a hand to his hair, scraping his nails through his curls with a frustrated huff. "You want to make it worse."
Emeric laughed, crows feet at the edge of his eyes crinkling as he turned his head to look at Isolde, reaching one hand up toward Theon and patting his head delicately. To Klaus' surprise, Theo sagged a bit at the gesture. "I like the idea. We make ourselves look weak and ineffectual. It provokes our enemies to believe they've completely fooled us. We can use that."
"That and they'll be able to solidify their position to whatever opposition they may be fighting within your kingdoms, declare you unfit as leaders and gain more momentum." Kol said, releasing Isolde's hand while sitting up and turning. He scooted back to lean against the couch, one knee bent to his chest. "One foreseeable caveat; you'll turn more of your people to your enemies' side."
"That's part of my point. If they can be convinced to turn on us, I want to know that. And I want to make them question. I want them to take their stand, sus out who is loyal and who can be swayed." Isolde said, waiting to gain her siblings attention. She paused until they all looked at her. "I plan to unleash. I want to destroy the city– to look unhinged. Make them think I've finally lost the plot. Then you three will be forced to 'take care' of me. Make us look like we're divided. They'll move up their plans if they believe we're in-fighting and falling apart. Emeric, you have to seem more angry that we hid our bonds than you actually are. Guys, Theo, it would help if you all started taking public jabs at each other. Really play it up."
"You're planning a purge." Ver's lips thinned, brow furrowed.
"Are you not?" Theon asked incredulously. "Vera…we've got a global coup gearing up to take us on."
"If they're that bold, do you think they've discovered some kind of way to subdue or kill you?" Klaus cut in, his paranoia and self-preservation instincts warring with his protective instincts. The more they spoke the more he suppressed his natural instinct to grab Isolde and get the hell out of dodge, regroup and figure out how to pick off their enemies when they've had more time to assess the threat.
"They might. We need more intel," Emeric raised his shoulder to destabilize Isolde's head, who huffed in response, "you're about to be pulling overtime."
"After five decades of leisure I'm ready for some work, in any case."
Elijah leaned back, crossing one leg over the other and resting his elbow on his knee, gesturing towards all of the Alexanders. "One of us should be with you at all times, then."
"And why should that be?" Emeric bristled at this, his expression closing off and darkening in an instant as he turned his attention to Elijah. Klaus could only guess that his issue was with Elijah's commanding tone, and not with the content of his statement.
Elijah picked up on the hostility and warning in the King's question and body language. He paused, looking at Emeric just a moment before turning his attention to Isolde instead of giving in to whatever 'frightening big brother' act Emeric was trying to put on.
"We don't know why our enemies think they have the ability to defy you now. There is only one way to destroy us. It stands to reason that should there be a more nefarious plot at hand, one of us might be the only thing to stand in the way of your deaths."
Theon's lips twitched as he turned his head to his brother. "He got you there."
"Touché." Emeric conceded, but he didn't seem too pleased with the idea. Klaus was quite amused at the idea that Emeric might have to rely on the very people he verbally berated just hours prior. Emeric had been so sure of himself and his ability to lead and control his people, the world—really, then. Now it all seemed to be crashing down around him. Mere hours later.
Klaus had never given much credit to the idea of karma but, well, this was karmic justice at its finest. It was taking a lot of his effort not to point this out and be his typical brutally sarcastic self. He was only displaying this level of self control because Isolde was more upset than she was letting on, and for once he didn't want to add to someone's pain.
"What do you mean by your siblings having to 'take care' of you if we were to unleash the monster and destroy the city?" Finn interjected from the kitchen, sounding more than a little judgmental.
For his part, Klaus could care less that she planned to destroy the city, but he needed more information on how she thought to make this plan work. New Orleans was still recovering from hurricane Katrina, and Isolde wasn't the type to want innocents in the crosshairs of a supernatural war. There were a lot of holes in her plan she either wasn't thinking of or simply wasn't addressing.
"Well, we know of this alternate plane of existence the Gemini coven contrived a couple decades ago. A bubble in time, if you will. I'm suggesting I lose my cool, let the monster run amok. When I get too close to the innocent people of the city, Vera will have to do something to stop me, right? Ma'at and justice and all that jazz." Isolde waved a hand and Vera rolled her eyes and gave her sister a middle finger. "I suggest she drop me in that bubble for about forty eight hours to let me 'cool off' and in that time, the three of you make noises about how angry you are with me as you rebuild what I've destroyed. You guys and your sisters being angry for various reasons and squabbling would also be helpful."
"That 'bubble in time' is Malachai Parker's prison, Sol." Vera recalled with a chastising tone.
Isolde shrugged, as if it didn't matter. "And? Maybe I'll make a new friend. Maybe the monster will eat him. Doesn't matter either way." She finally dropped her free hand from her chest.
"And who is this Malachai Parker?" Kol interjected with narrowed eyes.
"A sociopathic siphoner, condemned to his prison for killing most of his siblings." Theo informed them, before turning to his sisters. "You do know what he could do if he siphoned a god's power? How dangerous he'd be?"
Isolde scoffed. "Temporarily. He'd run out of juice and do you think if he got me once he'd get me again?"
"I'm not okay with this plan." Theo stated.
"Agreed." Klaus was unsurprised to hear that come from all of his brothers, himself included.
Isolde just rolled her eyes. "Okay, then fight off the monster. I've got to warn you, though, he's been itching for a fight for a while."
That seemed to give the Alexanders pause.
"Are you going to be okay being left in what amounts to a tomb for two days?" Emeric interjected, steering the course of the conversation to more dangerous waters, Klaus thought. "And that's two days out here. Time works differently in the prison." As soon as the words left his mouth everything went silent.
After a long uncomfortable pause Isolde spoke again. "Probably not. But I see no other way to make the plan work."
"I'm afraid I must protest." Elijah said, and Klaus found himself mirroring the sentiment. In fact, Klaus noted that Kol and Finn both moved a bit closer to Isolde the moment Emeric mentioned the word 'tomb.'
There was no way in hell they were going to be alright with Isolde being entombed ever again, even for a mere two days whilst an entire plan was enacted for the betterment of her people. Especially not Klaus, who'd witnessed how badly his mate was affected by such things first hand.
They would have to find another way.
"Protest all you like, if no alternate method is found by tomorrow evening then that's what we're going to have to do." Isolde said, rising off her brother's shoulder and propping herself up on her elbows to look at Elijah. "I can endure forty eight hours."
"It's self-torture." Finn commented, having left the kitchen he was now bracing against the back of the couch behind Klaus and Elijah.
"I've been known to be a little masochistic from time to time." Isolde shrugged as if it didn't matter. As if what she went through was not a big deal.
But it was. Putting herself through it again and acting like it wasn't a problem was in and of itself a problem, and Klaus had had enough of her endless and detrimental selflessness.
It was time for him to have a talk with her. Alone.
Klaus stood. "It's been quite the afternoon. Let's take a breather for a few hours, come back to this discussion later," he held his hand out to Isolde, "lets you and I go out."
Due to the circumstances of the day he expected her immediate rejection and had an appeal planned.
Emeric and Elijah glanced at him suspiciously. Isolde raised a brow, but she accepted his hand. The appeal died on his lips and he realized he should have known she wouldn't say no to him.
"I have to shower first."
"I'd say that it's not wise to parade around town right now," Emeric rumbled, starting to get to his feet, "but that's the plan I suppose. We'll reconvene upstairs in four hours, that way your sisters can be involved in this as well."
Klaus wasn't worried. They weren't going into town, after all.