I've posted the first chapter of the original "Soul of Eternity: Cavern of Madness" on Ao3 and will be cross posting to Wattpad and Royal Road (it's not approved yet.) I figured I may as well share it as I'm writing it. There's no guarantee that I will actually publish it so I wanted y'all to have the option to read it because I adore each and every one of you and you've been instrumental in boosting my confidence enough to actually write an original work. So thank you.

On a completely different note. Smut ahead. I've robbed you of it twice now so it's time to follow through.

-44-

Isolde

Isolde was in the half bath in the hallway outside the kitchen staring at herself in the mirror. She had a shirt and shorts, provided by Kai, sitting in the sink and her towel hanging on the rack behind her. The boys would be checking on her in a few minutes if she didn't resurface but she couldn't bring herself to get dressed and go back out there just yet.

The tightness in her chest wouldn't dissipate. Not since the moment she felt her brother fade away, his physical manifestation gone just as quickly as he'd formed.

Isolde hated that he had no control over whether he stayed or not. She wanted him to stay. He wanted to stay. But without his body there was nowhere for his soul to go to give him his autonomy.

She had to get to Alexandria. To give Jack his life back, to be able to talk with him. Hug him. All the things she'd been denied the privilege of for longer than she'd had him with her.

Well, had him with her in the sense that she could talk to him. He'd been there for her through most of her life. She just didn't know it. Even in her darkest moments; Jack had been there.

Isolde held back the tears that stung her eyes, looking down at the clothes in the sink.

She flipped the switch for the overhead fan, a weak attempt to cover up the sounds of the sobs she was suppressing. Having him back for a mere hour had brought all the love she had for him, compounded by the grief of losing him back. She felt like he'd been dragged back to the underworld again.

Isolde gripped the pedestal sink and took several slow, deep breaths through her nose. She was going to get him back. She would. Soon.

She had to think about something else or she was going to keep crying and that wasn't going to solve any of her current problems.

Changing her thinking was like swinging the pendulum of her emotions from her sadness about Jack and her rage about everything else. Either way, the topic cuts deeply.

The Romans, the Greeks. The mutiny. The war that just popped off. Apophis' potential/inevitable return. Everything had changed so quickly and while that wasn't anything new, this was the first time Isolde had so much to lose in the process. She'd not struggled to protect people close to her in a long time. The Mikaelsons were strong and durable, immortal in the truest sense of the word, but they weren't deities.

And the toxin added a whole new level, anyways. Because now her immediate family was also at risk.

She had to keep them safe. A challenging feat, considering how danger prone they were on their own. Add in the family drama and that just made it all worse.

She also had to find out what the hell they weren't telling her.

Jack had told the Mikaelson brothers something that set them on edge and they weren't willing to tell her about it. That much had been clear when Kol choked on the blood she'd given him and Elijah swooped in to cover for him. It had been clear when Klaus didn't take his opportunity in the shower to rail her against the tiles, too. Because it had been clear that he wanted to, but he didn't, and she didn't push.

She couldn't make proper decisions without knowing what was going on. The boys were holding information that could potentially change everything and jeopardize everyone, and she couldn't allow that.

Also, she was getting pretty upset that they hadn't brought it up yet. She'd never withheld information from them.

Which led her to believe that it was something they, Jack included, wanted to shield her from.

Something personal.

Three soft knocks sounded at the door.

"Elijah put a plate of food in the microwave for you. Nik's wound up, he and I are heading out for a few drinks and we're dragging the reluctant Finn along with us. Kai has decided he will be following, despite many protests from Nik, so it'll just be you and Elijah for a few hours." Kol's voice came through the door. "Unless you'd prefer everyone to stay put."

Isolde was willing to bet if she got Finn alone he would tell her what they were hiding. They should all know better than to hide things from her, Finn especially. She didn't want to pull the Empress card but… as one of the marked Finn was duty bound.

Of course, she hoped it wouldn't come to making it an order. But secrets were not allowed between them.

Hopefully she'd have time to speak with all of them alone before leaving the prison world–and Finn had needed to speak to her anyway, hadn't he?

"No," she was shaking her head, pulling her shorts on quickly, "no. Go—have fun. Gods know you all deserve it. Does Elijah not want to go?" She pulled the 'bite me' shirt over her head and adjusted it with a faint smile at the joke.

"I doubt any part of Elijah wants to spend his time drinking away his evening and corralling his rowdy little brothers–not after the day he's had." Kol said and Isolde flinched before she pulled open the door, greeting his roguish grin with a small smile of her own. He stepped in closer, framing her face between his hands. "There's my girl, this is the first time I've seen you let your hair dry naturally. It's beautiful."

Isolde huffed but smiled nonetheless less. "I'm not fond of the curls, they're unruly."

"Hair to match the woman, then?" Kol joked and Isolde softly punched his shoulder with a mock scowl. He leaned down and kissed the scowl right off her face. "I better head out. There's no one for Nik to kill but Kai–and despite Kai's inability to die in this realm, it doesn't mean Nik won't try. Your brother's bond keeps pulling the wolf's tail like he wants to be bitten."

Isolde smiled at him, raising up on her toes to kiss Kol one more time before dropping back down. "Kai is new among us but he's keenly aware of his place in the pecking order, and it's rather high. None of you can kill Kai without earning Anu–Jack's ire, which would in turn upset me. Kai figured this out immediately. He's exploiting it. He also thinks he's manipulating me to trust him implicitly. Perhaps a few weeks ago I would've. Now I find myself more weary. He'll have to earn my trust. That doesn't mean he has to know this, however." Isolde moved to pass Kol, who stepped out of her way. "At least he's also hilarious."

"Small consolation. Finn and I will try to keep things under control."

"Well you could make friends," Isolde looked over her shoulder at him, "he's here to stay."

Kol put his hands up, walking backwards to the front door. "No promises, love."

Isolde rolled her eyes with a smile as Kol took off. She walked into the empty kitchen. Elijah had done the dishes already, too. Adorable, and so type-A considering they'd be abandoning this world the next day. There was no need to tidy up. She shook her head with a small smile, pulling the plate left for her from the microwave. He'd even wrapped it in foil. It was still hot, that was completely unnecessary.

Elijah thought of everything. He was wonderful, truly.

And her stomach twisted thinking about how she'd let him get hurt as she unwrapped the fried rice he'd made her and sat down at the island with it.

Gaius having been able to sneak up behind them and stab Elijah was enough to make Isolde realize that Marcus' words about her being 'slow' and 'rusty' were unfortunately correct. She was off the game. Had been for a good long while. Not only that but she'd been distracted by her fury. She knew better than to allow herself to be ruled by rage. That was what had gotten her into the tomb.

It couldn't happen again. She had to control herself. With the toxin in play, her siblings could also suffer. For the first time, now that she knew the truth of her parentage, Isolde was now fully responsible for the safety of the entire family. Alexander and Mikaelson.

She finished her food, eying the coffee maker in the corner. It had been a couple days since she'd had any and it was probably a small part of her problem. So she brewed a pot while she did her own dishes– no need to disrespect Elijah's clean kitchen just because she didn't see a point in tidying.

Piping hot mug of coffee in hand, Isolde decided to head outside. It was a crisp autumn night, even in this dimension, and Isolde had always liked the cold and the dark. She thought she'd only go outside for a few minutes, finish her drink, and then go in search of Elijah, but was pleasantly surprised to find him sitting on one of the metal patio chairs, showered and changed, a bottle of something strong in his hand.

She held her mug out to him while he was mid drink. "I'll take a little bit of that, if you're in a sharing mood."

"You would defile your coffee?" He joked after swallowing, tipping a shot worth into her mug. "Who are you and what have you done with my bond?"

"Today, I would," she smiled at his jovial attitude, moving to take the seat beside him, "it's been a long one."

"Agreed." His hand snapped out to catch her arm before she sat, dragging her to him.

It was clear what he wanted, so Isolde obliged and crawled into his lap, setting her mug on the side table within reach as Elijah's arms wrapped around her waist and his face buried in her chest.

Isolde lifted her hand to gently scrape her fingernails over his still damp hair. He settled back in his seat, humming in contentment and taking her with him.

"How are you feeling? Any side effects from the toxin?" Isolde asked quietly, appreciating the stillness of the night around them.

"No. Theon and Vera pulled it from my system before it created any lasting damage. They mentioned making an antidote using the sample they pulled from me. And I had your blood in my system. I believe that had something to do with the toxin affecting me less than it did Missy."

Something in the way he said Theon and Vera's names had little alarm bells ringing in Isolde's head, but she chose to ignore it for now, instead focusing on the other contents of what he was saying.

"That's possible, new information under consideration. I'll have to ensure you all have my blood from now on. At least until things are finished with the Romans and myriad other traitors. I'm grateful the twins were able to help you. They're very science oriented and talented, those two. If anyone can do it, it's them." She squeezed her arms around him just a bit tighter, remembering that she could've easily lost him just hours prior.

"Hopefully they can find a way to aid Missy, too. She was in rough shape."

Isolde frowned at that, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. She felt his hands move and one slid under her shirt, light fingers sliding up and down her spine and her breath hitched. His other hand gripped a handful of her hair and slowly pulled her head back, giving enough time for her to tell him no.

Isolde didn't think she'd ever tell Elijah 'no' as she allowed her head to fall back. Her breasts brushed against his chest and her hips rolled forward, his attraction and need growing prominent under his jeans and the friction drew a delighted shiver from her.

His lips grazed her throat softly. "You're breaking rule number one." His voice was bordering on a growl as he spoke, pressing gentle kisses down her jaw, throat, and then nipping at her collar bone. Isolde rolled her hips forward agan and Elijah pushed upward to meet her.

Rule number one. Share the burden. She was supposed to talk to him when she was becoming overwhelmed.

"I haven't had much time to talk to you about anything…" his hand withdrew from her shirt in an instant, gripping a handful of her ass tightly as he bit her collarbone a little bit harder and she bit back a moan. It came out as more of a strangled gasp instead.

"I'll give you a pass," his hand on her ass slid around to grasp her hip, pushing her to grind harder on his stiff cock and an electric jolt slammed straight through her center, she gasped again, "for extenuating circumstances."

"You are a benevolent dictator, my dear."

That shocked a soft laugh out of him and he pulled back, corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked at her. Isolde brought her arms back down from around him and whipped her shirt off.

Elijah showed his appreciation of this with a brief darkening of his eyes, then he surged forward and captured her lips with his. He tasted like whiskey and sin, and Isolde slid her tongue over his with a fervor to match his own.

Then it was a flurry of movement. Isolde's hands were sliding down Elijah's chest, unbuttoning the crisp white dress shirt until she could fan it wide open and feel the ridges of his abs against her fingertips. He was so warm. He was undead, he wasn't supposed to be so warm but Isolde loved it.

Loud moans and hot puffs of breath were coming from Elijah as his hips moved and bucked underneath her. He leaned back in his seat again, trying to take her with him but she resisted. Instead, she raised up enough so she could have easier access to his belt and she fumbled with the buckle. As soon as the buckle gave, Isolde had his zipper down and his dick in hand.

Elijah's hands gripped the metal chair until the arms bent. Isolde smiled at him when one arm collapsed under his grip as she twisted her wrist just so around the head. She did it again and Elijah's head fell back, a sharp cry of pleasure ripping from him. The muscles in his torso and legs contracted and Isolde enjoyed the view of Elijah coming undone.

Enjoyed it so much that she kept her hand stroking his cock and dismounted him. His head snapped up, eyes dark and dangerous in a way that sent thrills of pleasure through her as she sank to her knees between his legs. Her free hand scraping nails over the dress pants covering his inner thigh.

"I didn't get a chance to appreciate the last time that you're uncut," Isolde said, leaning forward to lick the salty sweet precum that was dripping from the tip and a whole body shudder wracked through Elijah the second her tongue connected with him, "and a lot more responsive when you're not in charge."

A warning growl ripped through Elijah and Isolde looked up at him with innocent eyes, tongue still out. She leaned down, keeping eye contact with him as she licked one long stroke from the base of his cock to the tip and Elijah's legs quivered.

"What was it? Oh yes– my eyes are yours while you're inside me." Isolde said, remembering the last time they were intimate. She considered this a rule, even if he hadn't told her as much. So when she wrapped her lips fully around Elijah's throbbing, dribbling cock, she looked him directly in the eye. Moaning at the smoldering look she saw there.

Once again, it was Elijah who broke eye contact when his head lolled back and he cried out. His usually eloquent vocabulary broke down into a rapid series of 'fuck', 'Isolde,' and 'more.' Isolde's legs grew shaky with her own need, pressing her thighs together for the barest hint of her own relief. Elijah was beautiful regularly, but now he was just down right sinfully sexy and her shorts were already well soaked through.

When his dick hit the back of her throat, Elijah was no longer able to hold off his own passions and she gripped both of his thighs as he surged his hips up and fucked her mouth at his own brutal pace. His balls slapped her chin and Isolde snaked one hand under to massage them as the other chair handle gave way and Elijah's hands both raised to fist her hair. Groaning words of encouragement as her tongue swirled over him– keeping pace with his thrusts.

"Such a good girl," he growled at her as he took his pleasure, and then his gaze sharpened, and his tone turned dark, "but you seem to have forgotten that in this context you belong under me, not the other way around," he stopped abruptly and pulled his cock out of her mouth with a wet pop, and it was Isolde's turn to shudder, "and now I have to remind you. Stand up."

Isolde did as she was told on shaky legs. Elijah gripped onto her when she stumbled a little. Concern on his face for a moment until she steadied. Then he was on his feet in front of her, lifting her into his arms, her legs wrapping around him and his lips on hers like a parched man who'd just stumbled upon an oasis.

The back of her legs hit the patio table as Elijah sat her down, his fingernails scratching up her thigh until he reached the waist of her shorts, wrenching them down until they were at her knees and she kicked them off the rest of the way. His other hand was shucking his pants and under clothes to his thighs.

With one hand clenching her hip painfully Elijah entered her without giving her time to adjust and Isolde cried out as her body jolted and stretched around him. How could she have forgotten how big he was?

"Already so wet for me, Empress." Elijah gasped as he pulled back and she looked down and watched as snapped his hips forward, and his impressive length entering her was so unbelievably erotic that Isolde clenched around him, gasping. His use of her title all but sending her over the edge already. He pulled back and slammed forward again and the sensation as he hit just the right spot caused her toes to curl and her back to arc. Elijah growled and his hand was at her throat, drawing her attention back to his face. "Eyes, my love."

Her eyes snapped back to him and he didn't look away this time. Instead, he applied pressure to her throat and her hip. She knew the second he'd let go of his control. Elijah became a flurry of movement and Isolde was attempting to hold on through the pain and the pleasure of his rapid, brutal pace.

Isolde was shaking as Elijah took his pleasure. "I will willingly submit to you in all other areas, Empress," and there was the title again, Isolde moaned desperately, finding his pace and matching it with her own swirling hips, "but in this one particular area you. Are. Mine." The possessive words ripped from him and he sank his teeth–teeth, not fangs– into her shoulder as he came, hard and she followed him with a pleasured half moan, half scream.

He stayed buried inside her when he lifted his head and peppered short, quick kisses over her face. She released a breathy laugh when she noticed his mussed hair sticking up everywhere from when she'd been playing with it and Isolde reached up to smooth it back down, smiling when his lips landed on hers. She dropped her arms around his neck and he leaned into the embrace, both of his arms coming to wrap around her.

"When Anubis met us in the underworld whilst our bodies were in transition, he showed us each a vision of what our lives would be." Elijah began quietly as he pulled away with a soft gaze, tucking an unruly curl behind her ear. He was still buried inside of her and she clenched around him as she tensed at the direct turn the conversion was taking. "Mine did not end well, I'm afraid."

She opened her mouth to say something, anything, to make assurances that she would keep him safe, but he shushed her with a look of pure happiness as he lifted her hand from where it rested on his shoulder. He brought it up to his mouth and one by one placed delicate kisses on each of her finger tips, massaging her palm with his thumb.

"Then he showed us you, and the future we could have instead. I told him that I would take the path that ensured my family would be safe and intact. A 'brighter future for us all.' This was a lie."

Isolde's heart jumped and she tried to control the sadness his words evoked in her chest as the meaning of his words hit her with a force that nearly knocked the wind out of her. He seemed to notice and he leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.

"No, love, that's not what I meant." He pulled back with a stern look and Isolde looked at him with confusion. "I meant that it was a lie that I chose this path simply as a brighter future for my family. That was a large concern and a part of my decision but it wasn't the largest reason. After having seen you in those visions of the future– I wanted you. In fact I'm quite sure I knew then and there that I needed you by my side, or that I needed to be by yours. I made the decision to take the path that would lead me to you."

"So you're not upset with Anubis' interference?" Isolde asked in a quiet voice Elijah began to soften inside of her.

He smiled, open and genuine as he shook his head, placing her hand back on his shoulder and wrapping his arm back around her. "No. No, I'm grateful for it."

The surge of adoration she felt for him in that moment as he pulled out carefully, then dislodged himself from her embrace and yanked his pants back up was so strong she almost made a declaration of devotion right then and there.

Pants buckled, shirt still hanging open, he leaned over to grab her clothes off the ground. Well, her shorts. Her shirt was over by the door in a bush and Elijah chuckled as he went to retrieve it.

She hopped off the table, feeling a little shy for the first time in more years than she could recall as Elijah walked back to her and held his hand out for her to take, her clothes neatly folded and tucked under his arm.

"I'm glad he interfered too," she admitted quietly as he led them back inside.

Then Isolde realized her coffee had gone cold and she'd not had a single sip.

Note: Elijah just oozes sex appeal. I love him. I think I'm getting better at smut, though I'm still not confident. Let me know!