So a week off work actually means it's time off for a million house projects, I guess. Not much writing ended up happening. But we're getting close to the end now. Thank you for over 101k hits! I may have to go a little over the projected 57 chapters, but it'll for sure be 60 or under!


-54-

Jack

Jack looked out among the Shade he and Kai had managed to evacuate from Empathia and wondered how he was going to present them to his sister, knowing she'd be crushed to see that so few of them had survived the last several decades. Most of those who were before him now looked little more than paper thin skin stretched across bone and teetering the line of death themselves. It had taken quite a bit of magic to move them from the city to the cathedral. More magic than he'd like to admit.

Had Isolde taken any longer to return to Italy, there may not have been a people left to liberate.

"You okay?" Kai asked, stepping up to him on the balcony that overlooked the cathedral's sanctuary where the Shade were sitting, looking forlorn and terrified but safe for the first time in decades. Food had already been arranged and was on the way, as well as a truck load of fresh clothing, shoes, etc.

Necessary things that they should've already had. Had always had, until recently. It burned Jack to know that Marcus had denied them even the basics.

"No," Jack spoke honestly, shaking his head and leaning over the bannister, resting his elbows on top of the wood, "not at all."

They were still waiting for the Mikaelsons arrival with whatever prisoners had remained in the underbelly of the 'Paradiso delle Tenebre,' Isolde's palace. Not many, he knew, and without his ability to see things that were happening wherever he wanted whenever he wanted Jack was on edge.

Now that he was back on the planet he was rather blind to the happenings around the world. His sister's bonds could be getting rammed through with white oak stakes and he wouldn't know about it until after the fact. Isolde could be losing her battle (not likely, but his anxiety would not be reasoned with) and he couldn't know. Emeric could be plotting something nefarious to move against Isolde, should he already be aware of what happened in Egypt, which was likely considering the spread of the Alexander's influence. These simultaneous lines of thought rushed through his mind and it was making him shaky, and that physical response reminded him too much of himself as a mortal, sickly, frail... weak. He felt weak and he hated it.

The downside of being wholly back on earth was that now he had less control over everything… or less knowledge that gave him the insight to manipulate souls to further his aims, rather. It was an adjustment, and he knew he'd eventually find his footing. But for now, he felt like he was trying to navigate a canoe across the Mediterranean without an oar in the midst of a summer storm.

Not that his knowledge was infallible even before returning, because apparently it was subject to the manipulation of the Creators. He hadn't let on, but that little tidbit was wreaking havoc on his mind and twisting his gut like a vice grip ever since Isolde had brought it up.

How much did he think was real, but wasn't? Would he ever know?

"Yeah you're kind of lost in thought, and I get that, but I need you to bring it back because now isn't really the time." Kai told him, ripping Jack back to the present and he sighed heavily, pushing himself back up to stand and straightening his back. Kai smirked, but his tone was genuine when he said; "Sorry."

"It's fine, thanks for the reminder," Jack clapped Kai on the back and stepped away from the view below as Kai sat down on the banister watching him, "I knew it was bad, but I didn't know how to warn her and now I'm worried that I should've because when she gets here and sees that there are only a few hundred Shade left, and the condition they're in… it's going to break her heart," his voice trailed off a little as he exposed his own vulnerability and hoping that Kai didn't use it against him. The siphoner had always been a great manipulator and a proud sociopath. Jack wasn't sure if he'd be exempt from that side of his soul bond. At best he hoped to be able to see it coming and counter him. "I don't know how to fix this for her."

"You can't," Kai deadpanned, following him with his eyes as he began to pace, his stomach turning at the thought of not fixing things for Isolde, "and you don't have to. I've only known her a couple days but I'm pretty sure your sister doesn't expect you to come swooping in like a knight in shiny god-matter every time something goes wrong in her life. You know that, right? If anything she just wants you to be there for her while she picks up the pieces herself."

Jack knew that Kai was right, but it wasn't really about what Isolde expected of him. It was about what he expected from himself and he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd failed the most important person in his life millennia before he'd gotten back to his own body.

Niklaus

After having been sufficiently admonished by Nailah, Mustafa had calmed enough for Klaus and his brothers to fill the three Shade (and one Berserker) in on what had been happening as they made the journey back to the cathedral more slowly than they had on their way into the dungeons.

As soon as they stepped through the hidden door that led to the underground tunnel Nailah's head snapped up and her eyes narrowed in on something at the back of the room atop the balcony. Not even a second had passed and she had vanished, reappearing where she'd been staring, and Klaus didn't even think about it before he followed half a second later.

Threat or no, Nailah being herself and the one he'd met being an impostor or not, Klaus wasn't so trusting.

He was prepared to snap her neck if need be, but his advance was halted when the five thousand year old Shade threw her arms around none other than Isolde's highly confused jackal headed twin. Jack was in no danger of being killed, so Klaus stood nearby, resting a shoulder against the wall toward the back and watching this play out. From this point he could see the people below and the doors into he sanctuary. The aerial vantage point laid everything out for him to easily notice any threat that might arise, so he settled in to stand there for the duration of their time in the cathedral from this spot.

"Anubis! Mrhban bieawdatik, welcome back," she breathed, pulling away but holding his thin biceps in both hands, looking over him as if assessing for injuries. "You look well, my friend."

Jack blinked several times, opened his mouth, closed it, and opened again cocking his head to the side like a confused pup.

"I don't recall a time the two of us were overtly friendly, Nailah… not enough to merit this," he gestured between them with his head because his arms were currently trapped, "whatever this is."

"Right," Kol spoke from beside him, stepping into the corner and leaning back against the bannister with his elbows on the wood, eyeing the scene with interest. "Nailah would've known Jack as mortals."

Klaus hadn't made that connection right away either.

"That is only because you do not tend to court friendships and sometimes your face can be off putting," Nailah teased as she released her hold on him, patted his arms, and stepped back with a fond smile as annoyance pinched Jack's features, "like that, actually. Good to see you haven't changed much."

This had to be the real Nailah, Klaus doubted the imposter would've known details about Isolde's twin brother. He also doubted that Jack would be allowing close proximity and familiar speech if this were an imposter.

Jack looked at Nailah a moment longer before his head swiveled to Klaus.

"You're right," he nodded, gesturing toward the eldest Shade, "this is the real Nailah and she has been imprisoned since 1959 according to her thoughts," Nailah opened her mouth to say something but Jack cut her off as Mustafa, Elijah, Yasu, and Finn joined them. Ivar made excuses to remain below, stating he'd seen a friend and wished to check on them. Fine by Klaus, he had no need of yet more family, even if Elijah and Finn disagreed. "Legatus."

The giant's eyes snapped to Nailah, asking without verbalizing, and the woman stepped forward with introductions. "This is Prince Anubis, firstborn of Set and Nephthys – the Empress' twin brother and God of the Dead."

"I prefer Jack Alexander, if it's all the same to you. Oh no, don't bother–" Jack waved a hand to stop it when Mustafa made to bow, "- I'm not here to be placed upon some kind of pedestal due to what's foolishly considered a superior pedigree. My purpose here is to support my sister by whatever means necessary, that's all. Call me Jack, please. I've not lived upon this rock for five thousand years, any deference would be unearned."

Jack was a sharp contrast to the rest of his family. Especially Emeric, who had introduced himself to Klaus and his family much the same as Jack had just done, but in reality thrived on his status of royalty and godhood. The eldest's introduction in Washington having been a ruse to trick Klaus and his family into a false sense of security so he could assess them for verbal eviscerations by way of harsh (not entirely untrue) character assessments later.

But Jack's words were genuine and Klaus found the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile in spite of himself.

This was one of the first times since physically meeting the elder twin that his relation to Isolde was clear in his humility, and not just in his brotherly devotion and appearance.

Where Emeric, and even Theon, would have invited the servile bow of deference Jack put a stop to it before it even began. Though he was created by a primordial being and not born like the others, despite being more powerful than the other Alexander brothers combined.

After all, they had just seen Jack warp himself into an enormous otherworldly being and rejoice as he used a legion of berserkers as personal chew toys.

Klaus and Elijah made eye contact, and Klaus thought his closest brother was likely thinking the same thing. For all their differences, Jack and Isolde were much the same.

Without waiting for a response from Legatus, who blinked in surprise at the God's words, Jack turned discerning green eyes upon Finn, and then Yasu. In a monotone voice, he said; "Congratulations on the new bond, it's real. I did not manipulate it."

Klaus' brows shot into his hairline, glancing between his eldest brother and Isolde's child bond who was gaping in awe at Jack like he'd just spilled the secrets of the universe.

Everyone was saved from commenting, and the murmurs of the gathered people below hushed as the ornate double doors to the sanctuary were blown open. Isolde stepped through, a bloody mess of hair and flesh clutched in her right fist – a severed head. Not the first time Klaus had seen someone carrying around a head, but he'd never felt such a strong stirring of lust and excitement when witnessing it before. Isolde, carrying the head of their dead enemy, was the most erotic sight he'd ever witnessed. His throat went dry, as she looked around the room, frowning just a moment before she washed her emotions away until all that remained was that cold indifference he hated and she stepped forward into the room.

As the Shade rose to stand row by row, Klaus prepared himself to go to her side in the event that her people were more upset with her than they were glad to see her. He eyed them all with careful neutrality, in case open hostility had far reaching consequences.

He wasn't used to having to concern himself with the opinions of others, but now more than ever political facades were a necessary evil. After things were settled with the Alexanders and Apophis, they were going to return to Empathia and with that would come political games of subtlety and intrigue.

At least that was a game he understood and enjoyed. That was something he and Elijah, at least, could excel at. Lately, it seemed that though they wanted to be there for Isolde and help her, she was so powerful that they weren't very necessary in her life.

Isolde was just inside of the door when she halted in her tracks. She looked around, and in a swift move she chucked her prize down the long aisleway and everyone watched with varying degrees of fascination and glee as the severed head of Marcus Antonius rolled down the elaborate inlaid marble floor with such force behind the throw that it did not stop until it bounced off of the bottom step leading to the pulpit.

"Would that be considered sacrilegious?" Kai whisper-shouted, looking between them all with feigned concern and every adult on the balcony failed in an attempt to silence him with vaguely threatening looks – including the newcomers. "I'll take that as a yes. Shouldn't Yahweh come and smite her for desecrating his church?"

"You want Yahweh to show up right now?" Kol quipped, unable to help himself. "After last time?"

"Nope," Kai conceded as Isolde strode to the center of the sanctuary amidst the silent, watchful Shade.

Then, to Klaus' absolute and utter shock, Isolde the Empress bent the knee and bowed her head in the center of her gathered people.

"Half of Marcus' legion has been consumed by Black Mamba twice the size of city buses," Isolde reported to the room and now even Kai was silent, "the half whose bodies remained I hanged, mangled and exsanguinated, from the trees that line the streets of Empathia. Other than that, the city remains unblemished, save for the palace which sustained minor damage to the western entrance when I crushed a few fleeing traitors under it–"

Klaus watched as hundreds of lips curled back and tension rose while a ripple of dark hisses echoed through the sanctuary, a symphony more hair raising than any hymn. By the way their mouths quirked at the edges and their eyes were lit with sweet vengeance, the Shade looked pleased by Isolde's announcement.

"For almost sixty years I abandoned you to hide away and wallow in my own grief in self-imposed isolation. It led to decades of mistreatment and suffering for you all. My absence paved the way for centuries of malignant planning from those at the highest offices, who seek to destroy what has taken millennia to build, to grow bold enough to finally play their hand and I was blind to their schemes. For that and more, you have my deepest apologies."

As she lowered herself to the ground, Klaus couldn't quite define the energy that swooped through his body, or the way it made him feel lightheaded.

Here was the most powerful being in the world, bowing down in apology to those she had inadvertently and unintentionally wronged.

All he did know in that moment was that he could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen a leader prostrate themselves before their people the way Isolde was doing now.

He understood, now. Theon had said that Isolde had the most loyal people and rarely had to deal with a mutiny.

Isolde didn't treat the Shade like they were her subjects, she treated them like they were her monarch.

The crowd shifted uncomfortably, as if unsure how to proceed. Most were frowning deeply, their sunken cheeks and eyes making their frowns more severe. Luckily, they were saved from having to respond when Mustafa and Nailah faded into the shadows of the balcony and reappeared in the center of the sanctuary. They stood side-by-side in front of their prostrated Empress.

"Alzati, Imperatrice. I venti stanno cambiando, abbiamo bisogno di te forte," Mustafa's voice boomed across the sanctuary, it's natural acoustics making his deep voice resonate down into the bones of everyone gathered and Klaus watched spines straighten immediately, and Mustafa extended a hand to Isolde, "spiegare cosa è successo."

It was clear that, while Nailah had been able to keep Mustafa under control, it was Mustafa who had the support and reverence of the Shade and that must have been why Isolde had directed them to retrieve him above all others. Klaus was glad they were able to find him alive amongst the dark sea of death that permeated those dungeons.

Isolde placed her hand in Mustafa's, Klaus didn't miss the way her eyes darted over to Nailah and narrowed suspiciously as she rose to her feet. Instead of saying anything to her eldest friend, she looked to Mustafa and nodded.

Then she began to detail to the Shade exactly what had been going on. Right down to the details, save for the toxin and Emeric's involvement which was wise and Klaus couldn't fault her for it.

Curiously, when introducing himself and his brothers, she failed to mention the soul bond. It made Kol shift uncomfortably, but Klaus understood why she hadn't brough their bond into things.

The last soul bond had been the one who'd done all this, after all. Best to leave that bit out and allow himself and his family to earn the Shade's trust over time on their own.

Isolde

"... and now Anubis has returned, I have merged with Ra, and Apophis has come," Isolde said at the end of her explanation of everything she had recently learned about the machinations of those who sought to destroy them, "his horde gathers in South America."

Silence followed these three large proclamations and she waited on bated breath for a response. Any response.

She'd purposefully only referred to the Mikaelson's as 'new allies,' and she hoped they wouldn't take that the wrong way when they were alone together again. Because it wasn't her intention to hurt them by not fully claiming them. At the same time, her people had been maliciously tortured over the last several decades at the hands of one who she'd claimed as a 'soul bond' millennia ago.

Isolde wanted the Shade to come to love the Mikaelsons, but their trust had been broken. Unlike Marcus, the brothers would have to earn their own standing among her people. The Shade would not be so quick to trust this time.

"Then what are you still doing here?" Mustafa asked, drawing her out of her musings and eyeing her sternly as his arms folded over his chest. His face was stern, as usual, but the slight up turn of his lips gave him away. "You must put an end to things with Apophis. That is your first priority, your purpose, as Amun Ra."

"We'll take care of things here," Isolde heard from above and her head snapped up and swiveled to look at Yasu, who was standing beside Finn on the balcony, looking down at her with serious resolve etched across her face, white knuckled fists grasping the banister, "you handle the bigger threat. Without you the world falls to Apophis. Saving the Shade from Marcus and our other enemies will have been for naught if that happens."

"Fair enough," Isolde's lip twitched into a soft smile seeing Yasu and feeling the way her heart swelled with relief that she seemed to be well. An almost imperceptible nod from her brother told her all she needed to know and Isolde was glad to have confirmation that Yasu was her very real soul child and a hug before she left was required, as well as an apology for thinking their bond was not real.

"Go go, take your allies, gather House Alexander, and quell the threat," Nailah shooed her with a smile on her face, "fret not for us, we will see you on the other side of this."

If it hadn't been for Ra's quick intervention the moment Isolde had seen her old friend Nailah would've been slumped to the ground missing a few inches off the top the moment she appeared beside Mustafa.

Turns out, the Creators had been quite busy toying with her these last few weeks and Ishtar was running around impersonating Nailah at Phanes' request. Why Ishtar was doing anything for Phanes, she couldn't know. They did have a solid friendship between them, but the Creators largely did things to suit themselves and their own purposes. So this united coalition against her, while still allowing her to merge with Ra without interference was jarring and Isolde couldn't understand it. Ra said they were simply growing bored and were toying with her for amusement, because they knew he would soon rise to put an end to their games. Sort of like a one last hurrah before reality set in.

"In a couple of hours," Isolde agreed, feeling the weight of the world settle on her shoulders briefly before she banished it to focus on the present, "for now the immediate threat has passed. Let's return to Empathia, I'd say the people wish to return to their homes and I could use a quick respite."

Isolde felt she needed to rest her mind, at very least, for a few hours before she went to speak to her brothers and sister. It was after midnight in Virginia, anyway. She would prefer the sun to have risen, so she could see clearly the expressions on her siblings' faces to glean the truth from their eyes, because their mouths wouldn't tell all.

'I understand you wish to hear it from them, but say the word and I will tell you all you wish to know…' Ra offered as she reunited with her brother, hugging him tightly.

"Black Mamba, Mune?" Jack asked, amused when he pulled back. "Inspired."

'As you said, I'd rather hear from them,' she told Ra as she smiled back at her brother and shrugged, the boys now gathering around her while the Shade prepared to re-enter the city, 'I'd like to know what details they'll omit to spare my feelings or themselves my wrath. So I expect you'll fill in the blanks for me, yes?'

'Of course.'

"Ra wanted to turn up the heat and slow roast them but I thought it would take too much time," Isolde explained, looking over her shoulder at Yasu and throwing an arm out. The girl stepped into her embrace immediately, sagging against her in relief.

"Mi sei mancato tanto," Yasu mumbled into Isolde's collarbone and Isolde smoothed a hand over her back, "Mi piacciono i tuoi legami, sono adorabili."

Isolde heard someone scoff, likely Klaus, and she grinned wide. "Sono adorabili, vero?" She could practically hear Klaus' internal monologue getting riled at being called 'adorable.' "Come, let's go home. Together."

Finn

Isolde's palace, dramatically named 'Paradiso delle Tenebre' much to his brother's amusement, was the most stunning architectural structure Finn had ever seen even as he watched it from a distance. It was quite reminiscent of the Pantheon and it reminded him of his tour through Italy during the twelfth century. Before things went awry and they learned that their friend was actually a highly skilled vampire hunter and subsequently Finn was left in a box for nine hundred years.

He wondered, not for the first time, if he or any of his brothers had crossed paths with Isolde or any of her people during that brief stay in Italy.

How different things could've been had any of them had met and made eye contact with her before the Five introduced the means to subdue an Original. Before Niklaus was so lost and damaged by Mikael that he became unrepentantly ruthless. Before Elijah became neurotic and obsessive. Before Kol surrendered to his thirst and allowed himself to run rampant leaving blood trails everywhere he went.

The aroma of blood was strong and it surrounded them the further they trekked into the city. He was quite grateful that they had all received Isolde's blood that morning. Finn had no doubts that he could handle his thirst even in this environment, but his brothers, namely Kol, he wasn't so sure.

Finn was so consumed by his musings as they made slow progress through the cobblestone streets of Empathia, escorting the Shade back to their domains, that he might've missed the way bodies hung all around…

… Had they not been swaying from low tree branches, illuminated by the flaming lamp posts – the only light in the underground city. Blood pooled at their feet, jagged slashes from some kind of three clawed weapon tore them each from throat to pelvis. Some were so brutally slashed that intestines hung from their opened bellies.

It was a grotesque sight to behold, and despite understanding why Isolde had to go to war to destroy those who'd harmed her people and supporting that… he was a bit sickened by the sight of this.

Had every one of these people deserved such a death? How many had joined Marcus to protect their families? Had Isolde asked herself such questions before she decimated this legion?

Finn scanned the slowly dispersing crowd behind all around them. The Shade didn't seem bothered by any of this as they walked. Their eyes were wide and lit with viscous glee, heads whipping around to take in the sights, fascinated as if they were being escorted through a historical city and given a rundown of its significance, not seeing the aftermath of a warzone and what happened to the enemy forces.

"You seem troubled," Yasu spoke quietly, coming to walk beside him as Isolde was pulled into conversation with Mustafa and Nailah about things that had happened before they'd been taken and subdued in the dungeons – Isolde wasn't happy. That was clear by the set of her jaw. His brothers were giving her a wide berth at the moment, as they too were observing the carnage around them. They didn't seem as bothered as Finn was. But he supposed that was to be expected of them.

Finn glanced down at Yasu, only now noticing she wasn't just slim but also quite short. Barely five feet tall as she walked alongside him, hastening to keep up with his long strides. He slowed for her, realizing she was without shoes.

"I am unused to sights such as these," Finn explained, glancing at a particularly brutalized corpse that's foot nearly brushed Yasu's shoulder as they passed.

He was unused to this kind of sight, that was not a lie. But that wasn't truly what was bothering him.

"They deserved it," Yasu insisted, seeming to pick up on what he was really thinking. Finn watched her face twist into a look of scorn as she laid eyes on the bodies all around them, "even those who joined to save themselves. The Shade are a collective – one is all, all are one. Those who betrayed the collective had years to do something about Marcus with their freedom, but they fell in line instead. That makes them culpable."

"Does that not also make Dainn culpable, then? Despite what you said in the dungeons?" Finn asked, curious and concerned for his uncle and friend.

He'd grown to truly like the elder Northmen, someone who understood him and the old ways, who was unafraid to still abide by them. Why Dainn did not inform Isolde of what was happening in Empathia the moment he could, Finn wanted to ask. Because Isolde would have surely expedited her plans and been on the next airplane to Italy had she known…

… in fact, why hadn't any of the supposed loyalists come to find her? Surely her location wasn't that unknown that none would find her should they go looking? The Shade were spies, after all. Information gathering was their forte.

Furthermore, how had Emeric not known? Cairo wasn't so far from Empathia – not as far as the twins in New York. Finn could only assume that there were many trade deals between the Shade Empire and Pharaoh's kingdom. If Emeric didn't know about the Shade's treatment… that was one thing. But it stood to reason that he'd known, yet chose to do nothing.

That would be another betrayal to add to the growing list and Finn wasn't sure he would bring this up to Isolde or not. There was already much on her plate as it were, a lot of it already involving her siblings.

"Of course," Yasu said, causing Finn to swivel his head and face her while she shrugged, "that doesn't mean he will meet the same fate as these people have. They lined up to fight her, after all. Had those with any loyalty remaining refused when Marcus called upon them, had they apologized and begged mercy, I have no doubts they would've been spared. I've known him my whole life, Dainn is not so proud that he wouldn't explain himself and beg forgiveness and my mother is not so heartless as to sentence a grieving father to death for trying to protect the child that remained."

Finn supposed that was a fair assessment, these people had done as commanded. According to Isolde, they'd attempted to flee from the battlefield after learning she was merged. Not before, when Marcus had been preparing his attack. It stood to reason that they had fully intended on seeing the battle through until the moment they learned that there was no chance they would prevail.

"I've been around displays like this since I was mortal," Yasu continued as they rounded a bend in the road, getting closer to the palace and less Shade were following them, "the period in which I was born was brutal and violent. I watched as my biological mother was lit aflame by an enemy warlord for rejecting him after he'd ran my father, our warlord, through with his sword. Mother, Isolde, arrived just minutes afterward. She and her men culled the onslaught in mere moments. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen…"

Yasu trailed off, eyes distant, and Finn remained patient waiting on the rest of her story.

"I was distraught," she continued, raising one hand to her chest and frowning deeply, still affected by the memory centuries later, "covered head to toe in blood from clutching my father's body and burned from foolishly trying to save my mother. To make a long story short, I was not in the right state of mind to accept help from someone I watched destroy the battlefield with otherworldly tendrils of darkness jutting from her body. But Isolde never lost her patience, and she didn't abandon me even when I gave her reason too – I was a shit as a kid. Angry and traumatized. I don't know what I'm getting at here just... you don't seem like you're okay with this display and I just want to remind you she's not a bad person. So try not to judge her too hard for this?"

Finn's eyes widened and he looked away in shame. Of course he knew Isolde wasn't a bad person, she wasn't evil. She didn't do things without reason. He'd said it before, even, that she wasn't a monster though she may at times do monsterous things.

So why, when confronted with it, was his reaction so harsh?

These were the thoughts that plagued him as they made it to the southern part of the city and stood before the long staircase that lead to palace.


We had to wrap up the Empathia stuff in this chapter. Back into the thick of it in 55, where we've got … the long awaited Alexander Throwdown.