A/N: (1/6/23) Happy New Year!
Warnings: Canon typical violence, grammar errors, there might be few plot holes in there, and pacing issues as I move the story along to the finale.
Recommended chapter playlist: It begins with The Royal We/ Silversun Pickups and ends with Old Yellow Bricks/ Arctic Monkeys.
The Fury (Part 2)
Sophia didn't know where she was, but she was certain she was no longer on the park bridge.
She struggled to take in her surroundings, seeing even darker shadows dancing around in the midnight that surrounded her. Her body was encased in an icy chill and it was all she could do to fight, the keep her eyes from closing for good.
She felt him, even if she couldn't quite see him. She didn't have much energy to fend him off as his hand cupped her chin, prying her mouth open. All she could do was lay still as he tilted a glass against her lips, the drink being forced down her throat scalding, searing her from the inside.
"This is not the day you die, daughter of Amphithoe. You'll pay your dues yet."
Her pulse jumped as the brutal warmth flooded her, at once jumpstarting her limbs, her nerves crashing as her eyes fell closed.
Hayley had sent Jackson and the wolves to scour the city and the bayou, then met up with Klaus at Audubon park, plainly worried to leave him to his own devices.
"Aurora said-" he began to murmur darkly as they scavenged the park for Sophia.
Hayley held her tongue, knowing it would be no use to point out the mistake it was to still be holding Aurora's words in any truthful regard.
The stone bridge overlooking the lake smelled strongly of Sophia, she had been here.
Hayley was walking along the water for the second time, working up the nerve to tell Klaus that they should expand their perimeter when she saw an odd figure floating out from under the bridge. Deathly pale skin glowing under the moonlight and surrounded by dark water, Sophia's eyes looked closed as she floated with the lake's current.
"Klaus!" Hayley shouted, wasting no time as she ran into the water. The water climbed up to her chin as she began to swim over to Sophia, and soon she felt Klaus at her side in the dark, murky water beside her, cradling Sophia in his arms as he rushed her out of the lake. It wasn't long before he was gently lowering her onto the nearby grass.
"Sophia," he demanded, listening carefully. "She's hot to the touch," Klaus said, frowning.
Hayley heard it too. A rapid heartbeat, and the color in the old soul's face. Hayley placed her palm on Sophia's forehead, startled by the fever she was carrying.
"I don't think she'll be needing that," Hayley said carefully, eyeing the antidote tightly grasped in Klaus's hand. "Looks like we have time to get her to Freya, we should at least have her make sure that's really a cure."
Her body was overheated and tightly bound. Sophia struggled against her confines when she remembered the horror that had been her Thanksgiving.
"Aurora," she slurred angrily, finally able to open her eyes, pushing off the… The blankets she had been swaddled in.
Her naked body was flushed, and she immediately felt fatigue assault her, causing her to fall back into bed. Her bed. But how-
"Sophia," Klaus said urgently as he burst into the room, closing the door behind him. Soon, he was curled up at her side as she clung to him, suddenly cold, and doing her best to siphon the heat from his body.
"How is she doing?" Sophia asked. She felt nauseous, and she was sure the guilt was plain on her face.
Cami had chosen to continue her transition.
She refused to see either Klaus or Sophia. (Neither could blame her.)
Hayley and Jackson did their best to look out for her, to help her through these early growing pains.
"Very angry, very… brittle." Hayley sighed. "You know how it- Well, you've seen how it is. She'll adjust. But between what Aurora put her through, and being compelled to stab herself after-"
After Klaus had chosen to save the cure for Sophia. (A cure she ended up not needing.)
Hayley just stopped herself, wincing. "She needs time and space- Marel stepped in, and she seems to prefer him as a guide… You were both victims, Sophie. This is all Aurora's fault, not yours."
Sophia stayed silent. She shared Klaus's guilt for what happened to Cami, for being the one he chose to save.
She told him of her mystery savior, what she could remember of him anyway. She was certain he wasn't in league with Aurora, but Klaus did not share her conviction.
"I won't believe she's dead until I see her with my own eyes," Sophia murmured. Despite Klaus's assurance on the fatal bite he gave Aurora, a peculiar magic flowed through New Orleans. One that may have kept his vicious ex-paramour alive.
Sophia found herself back at Audubon park, hands clasping the bridge's pale stone walls as she stared down into the lagoon's steady waters. Surrounded by a canopy of sleeping, low trees and dense bright green, the park was gorgeous in the light of day.
Amphithoe… dues to pay…
Her rescuer had been a murky, shadowed silhouette. Someone who had had the means to undo impossible dark magic.
Magic that not even Freya understood.
Klaus stood a few yards to her left on the soft grass, hands clasped behind his back, blue eyes wary."Hayley surely would have found you sooner if you had been in the water the entire time-"
Sophia shook her head. "Aurora left me to rot on the bridge, and then this-" It was a man. She was sure it was a man. "He picked me up and… And-" She didn't know. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember. "Who the hell was he, Nik? Why-" The witch's words and her own prophecy echoed in her mind.
She comforts the disgraceful and the miserable…
"I can't afford to look a gift horse in the mouth, Sophia. Not on this matter." Sophia let out a shaky breath, realizing Klaus was now at her side."If your mysterious rescuer hadn't… I thought I could outplay the Martels, Aurora… I was arrogant-"
Sophia reached over and grasped his hand. "I'm sorry about Cami, Nik-"
"Don't," he all but growled as his fingers tightened around her own. A crisp, gust of air blew their way. "Lucien was right, it was foolish to favor Cami as I did when I had no intention of-"
He let go of her hand and gripped the edge of the bridge until his knuckles whitened. "How many times-" He abruptly halted his words, shaking his head. "There must some way to ensure your safety, even if it means sending you and Hope away-"
Alarm seized Sophia, and she grasped onto Klaus's nearest arm with both hands. "No, Nik." She shook her head. The last thing she wanted to do was leave him- That couldn't be the answer. "I don't want to be without you, Nik. We've carried on like that long enough and I'm done with it. If me and Hope have to leave, then you're coming with us. It's either that, or we stay with you, but either way, we're not separating. Not again."
He gently pried his fingers from him, his expression… Understanding, almost pitying as he turned towards her. She hated him for that. She loved him for it.
"Believe me when I say understand that terror you're feeling-"
She shook her head.
"For Hope's sake Sophia," he continued on in a low voice, "It's something for us to consider-"
The rest of his words fell on deaf ears and she stubbornly turned away from him, her eyes falling on the floor of the bridge. She recoiled, remembering the spot where Aurora had so carelessly dropped her.
She never knew how to let Klaus in before without him drawing blood, but maybe there was a trick to it, what with all the seers trying to peer into her thought's at will. She reached out to hold both of his hands.
"Shh," she hushed him softly as she closed her eyes and rested her forehead on his, instantly dizzy by swirls of brilliant silver.
Sophia, she heard his voice question hesitantly in her head as she relived what she remembered about that night.
So much about the night was lost to her, and all she could remember was clinging onto seeing Klaus one more time. To tell him how much she loved him, and remind him to tell Hope how much her mother loved her.
This being her last life had terrified her, but now she couldn't help but think, it scared her for all the wrong reasons.
She wouldn't trade the price she paid for finding Klaus, wouldn't trade their memories together, for anything. It was worth it, for him, for Hope, for their family.
This bridge was so beautiful to be stained by such an ugly memory.
Aurora had already won one too many battles.
Her eyes stinging, she took a wide step from Klaus as she looked towards him again. (The look on her face seemed to leave him at a loss for words.)
Her lips curved in a shy, wobbly smile as she took his hands into hers. "I love you very much, Niklaus Mikaleson, and I was stupid for saying no the first time. Nik, will you-"
"Yes," he answered hurriedly, bright blue eyes intent on her.
Sophia's smile widened. "I didn't finish-"
"Yes."
Sophia laughed tearfully, nearly losing her balance as she stepped even closer to him, and before she could tip over, Klaus's hands were carefully grasping her elbows as he lifted her up.
"Yes, yes, yes," he murmured as he pressed kisses to every inch of her face. A thousand times over.
"I don't understand the magic that restored her Klaus, it's unlike Dahlia's handiwork and anything that most witches practice today. I could makes things worse for her-"
Sophia coughed pointedly as she stepped into the library. "Evening," she murmured.
Freya and Klaus turned towards. Freya's frown smoothed, and Klaus turned his head the other way.
"I'll keep trying," Sophia heard Freya murmur to Klaus as she stood up, then she nodded at Sophia, a tired smile on her face as she wished her goodnight.
"What was that about Nik?" Sophia stole a seat on the witch's armchair as she willed Klaus to meet her eyes.
There had been a low number of people Sophia trusted, and more to the point, wanted to share her engagement with. She couldn't help but be curious about the sharp intrigue in Klaus's eyes after they had told Jackson and Hayley.
Klaus finally broke the silence. "Your body rejects all vampire blood but mine, and even then, it doesn't heal you as quickly as it used to. Only Freya is able to truly heal you with her potions and magic, but it's not something to be relied on- What if the unification ritual that bound Hayley and Jackson is a work around?"
Klaus had been wracking his mind on how to give Sophia an added layer of protection, of immortality, if this was to truly to be her last life.
"I'll treasure every moment you deign to share with me, but I'd prefer forever-"
Apparently, his quest in this endeavor had started long before she had proposed to him.
Nik, she had sighed, exasperatedly, fondly. She knew this was how the dotty, ancient hybrid expressed his love. (He who carted his daggered family in coffins for decades and centuries at a time.)
While he was tempted, he ultimately didn't want to experiment with turning Sophia into a hybrid precarious magical ecosystem that had made Sophia's existence possible was odd to many of today's witches, and the few that did understand it were wary of lending their knowledge to the Mikaelsons, of all people.
"How is it that you were ever allowed to activate the werewolf's curse- Nevermind that first time you turned, but potentially in every life thereafter?"
She shook her head, shrugging. "Honestly, it's hard to describe, but the curse felt like… A relief, the first time I was born with it." A companion that would look out for her, was protective of her, when Sophia couldn't be bothered to. It was also in that life that Sophia cared enough to take something for herself. Someone.
And now that someone was doing his best to pierce her with sharp eyes. Sophia could hear the wheels turning in Klaus's head as his gaze swept her body up and down, as if he expected the answers he wanted were written on her skin.
Her back straightened instantly as she realized what Klaus was getting at. "The werewolf curse melded completely with whatever allows me to be a old soul- I didn't fight it, I didn't lose my shade." Sophia's words left her mouth before she had the chance to work out for herself what they meant. "According to the elders, the law of surprise was ancient magic, even a thousand ago… Werewolves must be too, right? There's no written record of how the curse originated, or how old it even is."
"The magic the wolves understood floundered even my mother and Ayana, they had never heard of such things before." Klaus shook his head as both he and Sophia scoured their memories.
"As uh… Thought provoking all this is Nik, how sure are you that it will help us now?"
Sophia ran by her and Klaus's theories to those who might understand the matter more.
"Jackson was somehow able to benefit from the unification ritual, to essentially be a hybrid without losing his shade, but that didn't seem to apply to me even though I swore fealty to you- I need the moon ring to control my shifting."Even though it had saved her, transitioning into a hybrid seems to have royally screwed Sophia.
"It could be because I directly took part in the ritual, " Jackson began, a searching look in his eyes. "The elders said that we- The wolves- Are descended from old magic. And our customs, like the law of surprise-" He straightened up, grasping Hayley's hand. "Maybe that's why we're- us palia psychis, I mean- are able to turn into plain werewolves with only the usual side effects-"
"You mean nobody loses their shade?" Hayley tacked on dryly.
Jackson nodded excitedly. "And why I didn't lose my shade after the wedding, but I also didn't gain all of Hayley's abilities. My grandmother acts as our packs elder, and she knew how to pick and choose which of Hayley's abilities we kept- Me and the crescents can control when we shift, we have a venomous bite- But we don't have Hayley's immortality, her bloodthirst. There was some kind of tradeoff in place when we inherited her powers."
Balance, Sophia couldn't help but think.
"Do you think Mary knows more than what she's told us?" Hayley wondered out loud.
Sophia made her case to Freya, not wanting to go forward with this without the witches' approval.
"Klaus was a wolf first, and if our legends have a grain of truth to them, then he is made partly with the same magic that made me. In theory, a marriage following pack customs should allow us to share each other's abilities." As it had with Jackson and Hayley. (Sophia left out that Jackson still was working on the details with Mary, figuring that Klaus harassing the woman wouldn't work well in their favor.)
Klaus was plainly intrigued, but Freya seemed to have her reservations.
"Will it work- You two aren't formal alphas," she stated with concern.
The hybrid waved away her concern. "Then I'll force them to pledge their allegiance-"
"I don't think that'll be necessary Nik," Sophia said.
"So, I collaborated with Jackson's grandmother Mary, and I looked at Klaus's… Ansel's notes. I don't know if this will work, the only way we'll find out is to see it through."
Jackson nodded at Freya's words. He was there in Mary's place, as she refused to help the Mikaelson's directly. "After me and Hayley completed our trials, she communicated with previous elders in her dreams- I'm still not sure how- But they advised her the pack couldn't take on all of Hayley's abilities, me especially." He glanced at Sophia before turning to Freya and Klaus again. "She had to curate the ceremony, picking and choosing what abilities we would inherit from her-"
"Any specific reasons she withheld immortality from her clan?" Klaus asked dryly.
Jackson shot him a look. "No matter which way you look at it, the price of immortality seems to be entangled with blood. And either way, it's unnatural, so she thought we were better off without it."
Klaus scoffed. "And being cursed to change into a bloody wolf every full moon is the epitome of-" He quieted as Sophia reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Dahlia was able to leech immortality off of you, and her magic allowed her to be able to do so without her gaining a thirst for blood." Freya said thoughtfully. "The magic Mary used boiled down to an equastion, and even though they're leagues distant from each other, the magic I use is descended from what was around when Sophia was first born, and that's somehow has to be connected to who or what made the wolves-" A curious gleam shone in Freya's eyes, and it occurred to Sophia that it was not solely due to goodwill towards Klaus that the witch wanted to figure out this equastion.
Powerful threads connected her brother to his mystical wife.
The law of surprise bound Sofija to Klaus, and their marriage bound Klaus to her. (Measures that meant the pair should have found each other in all of Sophia's lives, were it not for her curse.)
Qetsiyah's magic had been powerful- The bonds that connected the palia psychi to her brother were entangled in their very beings. Freya wouldn't have known the word for it were it not Sophia's recent predicament- Her missing shade.
It wasn't just the wolf clawing from within Klaus to be released, but his tortured shade aching to be soothed.
Bits of Sophia's magic had embedded themselves in Klaus, but their mother's unnatural magic hadn't allowed the reverse to happen.
It was a simple riddle, but the practicalities of it were difficult to work out.
Intuitive, primal magic connected them.
(Newer magic didn't play well with the magic that animated Sophia, but somehow, Klaus was able to house both of them.)
Wolves were capable of their own primitive magic, Freya reflected on, as she thought back to Hayley and Jackson's wedding.
This might be able to work, but Sophia's "immortality" would be a fragile thing. Immortal, and her body would remain frozen on the precipice of 20, but she wouldn't share in all of Klaus's strengths, and wouldn't be invulnerable to all but the white oak as he was.
Not long after that, things happened quickly.
The winter solstice was the ideal time to attempt this, and it was fast approaching them.
Sophia took it as a good omen that they had found Rebekah in time for the wedding.
Albeit, hexed with a ripper's thirst and itching to kill those in near vicinity to her (and it had been touch and go there after the Strix managed to gain a further upper hand by poisoning Freya), but the Mikaelson witch had thankfully managed to find the cures for their ailments.
Sophia was dressed in a modest, strapless, shimmering vanilla dress that hugged her figure. (Rebekah had combed the city for it, despite Sophia insisting on repurposing one of the vampire's old dresses.) The blonde vampire decided to play along with the holiday's color palette, and adorned Sophia's hair with a crown of holly berries woven with evergreen twine, leaving her dark hair to fall down her back in loose curls.
"You look beautiful," the vampire assured her with teary eyes, then smiled down at Hope, who Sophia had balanced on her hip. "May I?"
The old soul hugged her daughter to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "There you go," she laughed as she handed her wide eyed daughter to Rebekah.
"We'll be seeing you in a bit," the vampire assured her, then placed the toddler on her feet. She carefully guided Hope as they made their way past a shimmery curtain and down the aisle on the other side.
Not unlike her and Klaus's first ceremony, it was an intimate affair. (Sophia felt guilty her family and friends in Virgina couldn't attend, and Klaus was assured her he was more than happy to throw a more elaborate ceremony when the circumstances allowed for it.)
"If I may?" Jackson smiled, holding out his arm.
Sophia nodded as she accepted it, taking a deep breath.
"Just a sec," she whispered before he could hold open the curtain. She used her index finger to lift it ever so slightly, allowing her to take a look at Klaus.
He tux was finely tailored, and his gold hair was once again closely shorn.
He seemed to be half heartedly sniping with Hayley while making faces at Hope, who was now balanced in Rebekah's arms.
Sophia let the curtain fall back, and nodded with confidence at Jackson.
A violin began playing as Jackson swept open the curtain. (It wouldn't be until after the ceremony that she would see it was Elijah at its mantle.)
A wide grin spread across Klaus's face as soon as he spotted her, and Sophia beamed in return.
Before she knew it, she had met him at the altar.
"You look gorgeous,"he said, blue eyes smouldering as he held her gaze.
"So do you," she winked as she grasped his hand, feeling lighter than she had in months.
A soft laugh escaped him, and her breath left her as he pulled her into his arms, dipping her slightly as he pressed his lips to hers. Sophia grinned against his mouth as she found her footing, wrapping one hand around his neck and the other in his hair.
"Ah hem," their officiant said dryly.
Smirking, Klaus pulled back from Sophia, allowing her to right herself.
Fingers still clasped together, they both turned to face Hayley, who seemed to be struggling to keep her expression stern.
"I believe we've skipped ahead a few steps."
"I am his and he is mine, from this day until the rest of my days."
"I am hers and she is mine, from this day until the rest of my days."
Sophia wrapped her arms around Klaus's neck, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. He pulled back first, placing one more brief peck before turning his gaze to Freya.
"How do we know-"
Sophia felt the wolf rise to the surface, felt her burning within her. She felt a shroud, elastic and unyielding, enveloping her.
"I think it worked," she breathed.
"I'm glad to finally see you run towards love, brother," Rebekah smiled, her eyes teary as she hugged Klaus goodbye, then turned towards Sophia. "I'm so happy we found you again, Sophia," she smiled tremulously. "I know our circumstances seem quite rotten at the moment, but if I've learned nothing else throughout the centuries, it's that it's important to take in the good with the bad. It will pass, We will see through this," the vampire said steadfastly as she pulled in Sophia for a hug.
The old soul's eyes burned as she wished her friend safe travels.
She took in a shuddering breath as she overlooked the compound from the terrace.
Hope in Elijah's arms as he talked with Freya near the Christmas tree, and Hayley and Jackson swaying together under a mistletoe.
She felt overwhelmed with love for everyone in this room- In a million years, she never expected to find herself here.
It was all so fleeting, and Sophia wasn't sure what to expect of the coming days.
The bad would pass, but so would the good.
"I'm afraid to ask you of the thoughts turning in your head, love." Klaus trapped her against the railing, his arms caging her in.
She relaxed against him. "I just- I wish we could all pack up and leave this city behind. Leave the Trinity to run it to the ground-" she nodded as she heard Klaus's sigh. "I know, it's not a good idea. Better to see out the prophecy and to make sure they can't follow us, wherever we would go. I know."
His hands left the bannister and settled on her waist. He took moment to nuzzle his nose on her cheek and down her neck, and she turned in his arms to smile tentatively at him-
A wild laugh was coaxed out of her as he lifted her into the air, whirling her around in a circle as he dimpled wickedly up at her. The look on his face reminded her so much of the beginning of their courtship, the incorrigibleness of him as he sought to get under Sophia Gilbert's skin.
Before she knew it, she was pressed against a brick wall in a dark and cool corner of the compound.
"Those aren't the thoughts that should be consuming my bride on our wedding night," he muttered huskily against her lips, blue eyes stormy.
Her mind was swimming in champagne. She felt as if she was drowning in delight and desire as she and Klaus managed to disentangle themselves from their friends and family, who had sought them out soon after Rebekah left.
Still in her glittering dress, loathing to take it off just yet, she was perched on her knees, on their mattress, where Klaus stood before her.
She savored freeing him from his crisp shirt, taking her time, smiling teasingly as her fingers slowly undid button after button. She giggled at the petulant set of his mouth and the darkly amused agitation in his eyes. "Patience Nik," she teased as she leaned in for a kiss, which had turned more messy and lingering than she had intended for it to be.
"Time is of the essence, little wife," his growled, eyes flashing yellow he shrugged off his tux.
He wove his fingers in her hair, tilting her head back as he angled his head to press wet kisses along her collarbone.
Blind desire overwhelmed her as she hiked up her dress, freeing her legs to wrap around his waist. She whimpered as his calloused fingers massaged her bare skin.
"C'mere Nik," she whispered.
Their newlywed glow didn't last past the new year.
As revenge for the torture he endured under Elijah and Hayley's duress, Tristan ripped out Jackson's heart in front of Hayley.
Not long after, Hayley , Freya, Elijah, and Camille had managed to reclaim the Serratura, using the magical prison to trap Tristan and send him to the bottom of the ocean.
Sophia and the Mikaelsons stood at Hayley's side, along with the rest of the Crescents, as she said her goodbye to her husband.
Absent of tears and overwhelmed with empathy, Sophia refused to contemplate how she would fare in Hayley's place. As she reached out to hold her friend's hand, Sophia felt a deep freeze overcome her body as Jackson's pire floated farther away from them.
Until next time, she wished, hoping she survived long enough to meet him again.
"Camille," Sophia had exclaimed in shock as she left Hayley's place the next evening, a box of her friends belonging in her arms. The young hybrid had asked to move back into the compound, which received a quick yes from Sophia and Klaus.
"I heard Aurora got away again." she said, devoid of emotion. "One down, one to go- the quicker you and Klaus deal with her, the better."
Sophia knew no words would makeup for what had happened, but couldn't help it as they fell out of her mouth."I'm sorry about every-"
"Don't." Cami shook her head. "I don't want to hear it, from you or from him." She laughed grimly. "I chose to become this because I thought- I don't what I thought." A determined glint shone in her green eyes. "Take care of yourself, Sophie."
Not long after that, Sophia and Klaus had found all the dark artifacts (left in Cami's charge, then stolen by Lucien) packaged and all but gift wrapped, in the compound.
For Hope, was all the note said.
"She left town," Hayley would share later. "She's had enough of New Orleans, at least for now."
All your family has endured, and yet the worst is yet to come…
Fearful that Elijah would meet his demise, the Strix were hellbent on breaking their sireline from him.
Elijah engaged with a former flame in order to disentangle her plots, learning in the process the survival of a weapon that can kill an original.
The witch must have known when to strike, when to find the compound nearly empty. Empty of all except for Sophia and her baby.
It had dawned on the old soul too late.
A pale white horse-
Hope's toys, Sophia remembered suddenly, all but sprinting to the playpen in the library. With a sigh, she felt relief as she held the finely carved horse in her hand. She hid it under a loose brick on the east side of the compound, eager for Klaus to get home. She had second thoughts as she made her way to check on Hope, wondering if she ought to burn it now-
Sophia's heart dropped when she opened the door.
"Get away from her," she growled, eyes flashing yellow, as she spotted a figure hugged in black velvet bent over her daughter's crib. She shouldn't have been able to take a step into the compound, according to Freya.
"Power radiates from her," the unfamiliar strix witch said softly, picking up Hope. "We aren't the only ones who've noticed."
"I said-" terror seized Sophia as she was pinned to the wall behind her.
"Your daughter for the white oak," the witch said, undaunted as she raised her finger to Hope's face. "You're a good mother, I think we both know what you'll choose."
Chaos reigned in the aftermath.
Hayley was targeted by the Strix for her unsired heart, a necessary ingredient if they were to unsire themselves. Sophia managed to use the dark objects to slow them down, and she and Hayley had made a run for it when all the witches were inexplicably knocked out.
Aurora, who somehow had the means to survive a hybrid bite, had kidnapped Freya, with the hopes of shooting Klaus and Elijah with the white oak bullets she had fashioned.
They managed to fend her off, and rescue Freya.
Aurora disappeared once again.
Sophia leafed through the Noble family spell book, frowning at the unfamiliar text. Then she carefully prepared it for the courier that would begin the journey of getting the heavy book to Hannah.
"Klaus, are you sure there's not more I can do," she asked guiltily as he prepared to scour the city for Aurora.
"For my own peace of mind," he said, eyes intense, "Remain with Hope. Freya reinforced the wards, you two will be safe here."
Her phone rang soon after he left, and she sighed in relief when she saw it was Caroline. She could use the distraction.
"Hi Care," she greeted with genuine cheer.
The tension is Sophia's chest eased when Klaus answered his phone.
"Yes, love."
"Nik, look, it's kinda a lot to explain, but Stefan's in town and he's not doing
too well. He's not answering his phone, and I would try to find him myself… I'm worried about him, Nik. This hunter, Rayna-"
"I'm aware of her work," Klaus said shortly, then softened his tone. "I'll find Stefan, stay where you are."
Sophia winced at the look on Freya's face as Elijah admitted Rebekah was daggered and buried near the city.
"Rebekah was befallen by family," she said. "That leaves friend and foe. There's a number of foes to watch out for," Freya said darkly. "But luckily, not too many friends."
"Freya," Klaus said suddenly, entering the room. "This is Stefan Salvatore, an old friend."
"Stefan," Sophia greeted in relief, happy to see a familiar face. She stepped off the couch at once to pull him into a hug. He smiled in return, his demeanor exhausted.
"Friend," Freya echoed tiredly.
"Ah hem," Klaus coughed.
Sophia stepped back to link her hand with his, brushing a kiss along his cheek as she murmured "Thank you," in his ear. A pleased smile lit his face in response.
Stefan studied them with intrigued eyes.
"You should call Caroline soon, Stefan," Sophia nodded at him. "I think she'd rather hear from you than from me that you're still alive."
"And on that note, Freya, Stefan needs a favor," Klaus mentioned.
Freya walked purposefully over to Stefan. "You're an old friend, are you?"
Elijah and Klaus had received a tip on where Aurora was, only for it to be a trap.
Sophia paced nervously back forth, hugging herself as Freya gave Stefan a paste that would hide his location from Rayna.
"Why is everyone so eager for me to leave?" he asked wryly.
Sophia met his gaze, and caught him up on the danger the Mikaelson brothers were in.
"Look who I found," Hayley said with thinly veiled irritation as she helped a desicated Lucien into the compound.
Marcel stopped by, warning them that with Jackson's heart, the Strix (and Davina) had the means to severe the sirelink.
"That's not all," Lucien declared heatedly as he sucked on his tenth blood bag. "It's also an execution they have planned, and Klaus will surely be the ginny pig to see if the severing has taken before they turn on Elijah."
Sophia exchanged a frantic look with Stefan.
"And no offense to the little witch," Lucien went on, "But I don't trust in her ability properly break the link."
Thank you, Sophia mouthed to Stefan as he and Freya helped Klaus into the compound.
Face weary, gray, and barely able to hold himself up, Sophia replaced Stefan to act as his crutch.
"I have you," she assured her husband with steel eyes.
"Makes sure he rests," warned Freya. "He hemorrhaged enough mystical energy to create a nexus vorti."
"I'm sorry Sophia," Klaus said wretchedly, a lone tear falling from his eye.
She sat up against the bed's headboard, with Klaus settled on the mattress, his head in her lap as he curled against her.
"What on earth are you sorry for," she wondered, combing his hair with her fingers.
"I insisted on linking us," he went on, eyes red. "Surrounded by enemies on all sides, and I decide to tie you even further to me. That ceremony was meant to protect you, and now, if I die-"
"That was one of the happiest days of my life Nik," Sophia interrupted. "You only had the best intentions, and we couldn't have guessed the Strix would be this successful… I wouldn't change a thing Nik, and I won't hear more of you regretting our wedding."
Gaspar Cortez had arrived to town. In usual Klaus fashion, he had tortured and killed the man's family, then turned him as punishment for decimating the Belaga. He was only one of many enemies making their way to New Orleans.
"At least Aurora's rotting away in our walls, that's one less malady to worry about," Klaus bit out, pacing back in forth in front of the sun-streaming window, a frown overtaking his features.
Sophia felt herself tense at the reminder.
She believed Klaus when he said he wanted Aurora to suffer for an eternity for what she had done, what Sophia had only survived due to some odd stranger's intervention, but she rather Aurora be staked in the heart for her offenses.
Now didn't seem the time to plead her case.
"I hate this," he growled as he paced the room. "Being rendered this helpless."
Sophia couldn't help the sardonic twist of her lips. "It's not much fun, is it?"
His face sobered as he joined her on the couch. "I remember when Mikael got a witch in his pocket- No locator spell was powerful enough to track him. I acted as if he could be found around every corner, I made Elijah angry enough to turn on me-"
Sophia raised her legs and curled against him, tucking her head on his shoulder.
"I have more to lose now," he murmured into her hair.
She felt his muscles tense as soft, purposeful footsteps made their way into the compound.
"Davina," Sophia said in shock, grabbing Klaus's hand as he glowered at the witch.
"You have a lot of nerve to come here alone," he said, now standing on his feet. Sophia hurried off the couch as well, not sure how to greet her once friend.
"She's not here alone, brother," said a familiar voice.
In the blink of an eye, Kol was standing protectively in front of Davina.
"It can't be," Klaus said.
Davina assured them it was Kol at her side. As Freya and Elijah entered the foray, Davina said she used the power Klaus hemorrhaged to bring him back to life.
"You stole the nexus vorti," Freya said with livid eyes.
"To bring your brother back to life," Davina shot back.
Klaus stepped up to his little brother, eyes wide.
Fleeting surprise and happiness shone on Kol's face as Klaus pulled him in for a hug.
"I see you've finally put a ring on it Nik," smirked the younger brother as he left his arms open for Sophia to step into. With a grin, she wrapped her arms around him.
She nodded once at Davina as she returned to Klaus' side, taking in the witch's frustrated confusion as she witnessed the murky, ever loyal regard the Mikaelson siblings held each other in.
"And where might Rebekah be?" Kol asked after greeting Elijah and becoming acquainted with Freya.
"That's a long story, and one reserved for family- Davina can see herself out," said Klaus.
Kol frowned at his brother. "Are you kidding-"
As Klaus insisted on family only, Sophia remained quiet despite her instinct to defend her once friend. (Could they still call each other friends?)
She knew how single-eyed and determined the witch had been to bring back Kol, and admired her for it. The truth of the matter was, he hadn't been anyone else's top priority, not with Rebekah down. But she had also served Klaus on a platter for the Strix to kill.
"Kol!" Davina snapped as the vampire heatedly defended her. "It's okay, I'll go. You'll make it up to me."
Sophia paced back and forth in front of the hallowed wall that held Aurora, taking a long sip from her wine glass.
"You're missing all the excitement darling," Kol smiled as he walked into the room, dark eyes curious. "My brother does find the oddest storage spaces." He raised an eyebrow, starting at the wall behind her.
"It's Aurora who's tucked away in there," Sophia shared. She thought about what was owed to her, to Camille.
"Ah- I heard about the crazy bint's return." His eyes searched her face. "Would you rather she be stored elsewhere-"
"You know what one of the many problems with this family is?" she burst out. "You go around, making lifelong enemies out of every other person you meet, and you won't do yourself the courtesy killing them then and there- Because no! It can't ever be as easy as that, they have to suffer-" Sophia spoke with her hands, spilling wine with her movements.
"Sorry, "she said, dropping herself onto the couch, having exhausted herself. "Think I may have drank one too many bottles of wine."
Kol grinned fondly at her, taking a seat on the chair nearby. "I have missed our chats- Have you told Nik how you feel?"
"Once. But I don't want to push the issue right now, with everything going on-"
"Why don't you just…" Kol mimed staking himself, whipping his head back dramatically as he feigned death. "Off her yourself- Nik's plenty distracted."
Sophia giggled, raising her knees to hug them to her chest. "We just got remarried not all that long ago- I'd rather we'd be in agreement about these sorts of things."
Kol waved away her concern. "If you insist on not going behind Nik's back," he sighed, "Then I must insist you speak to your husband. If anyone can steer aside his mulish head, it's you."
Sophia nodded, looking fretfully over her shoulder.
"One more thing," Kol said. She looked toward him again. "It's apparent you have your shade back, and I can see how plainly it suits you… Please forgive Davina."
Sophia softened her shoulders, staying silent as she considered Kol's plea.
"I know, she was complicit in endangering Nik and 'Lijah- But you also know her messy history with them, they're not good guys in her story. Her own people have shunned her and the dark sisters are too volatile to be called friends. She's lonely, and she misses you-" Kol winced. "She's still so young, and had incredible power and responsibility thrust on her at an even more tender age-"
"I understand what you're saying Kol," Sophia broke in gently. "I'll reach out to her."
Sophia popped a benight in her mouth, thinking of all the enemies that had magically highlighted on Freya's map. Klaus's enemies.
Hearing someone clear their throat, she turned to see Davina walk into the compound.
"Sophie," the witch greeted, wild blue eys unreadable.
"Look, I know you're probably mad at me too. Bringing back Kol, and our friendship, haven't been my top priorities… I'm mad, about everything that happened with Klaus, but there were forces beyond you at play, and if it hadn't been you, I'm sure the Strix would have found another way-" Sophia laughed bleakly. "This is such a shitty apology- The point is, I'm sorry for my part, Davina. Klaus won't ever admit it to your face, but he was heartbroken when Kol died, and I want to say thank you on both of our behalfs for bringing him back."
Davina's lips wobbled, but she stubbornly held back her tears. "It's been a shitty few months, Sophie," she began, her voice breaking.
Klaus and Kol did manage to track down Gaspar Cortez, to reclaim the white oak he had and kill him, but the total of sum of enemies they were facing made up a Hydra of Lerna situation. Where they killed one, three more would pop up. Many of Klaus's enemies had created a network of sorts, eagerly waiting for the day Klaus Mikaelosn would meet his doom.
"Off you go already," Kol said bleakly as Sophia reached out to pick up Hope from his arms.
Sophia cradled her yawning daughter close to her. "I wish…" That they didn't have run off like this, to disappear, to spare Hope from all the hiding and danger.
"I'm sorry Sophie, "Davina whispered, blue eyes sad.
"It's okay," Sophia nodded, smiling for Hope's sake as she opened the car door and settled her into her seat.
"Goodbye," she said as she hugged the pair one last time.
Soon, they stepped in the compound as Sophia took her own seat in the car, waiting patiently for Klaus. It wasn't long before he settled in next to her.
Freya had made it so that any witch tracking him would think he was New Orleans, leaving him free to disappear.
"I'm sorry that it's come to this," he said, gaze facing ahead. "I should've taken you two away from here as soon as I was able-"
She each over to squeeze his jean clad thigh, letting her hand rest there. "Don't go there Nik, it's ancient history."
Sophia looked through the pictures on her phone. Her and Elena and Jeremy at countless founding family gatherings, family nights. She looked out the car window, to the winking stars above her, nervously toying with her phone as Klaus drove, speeding down the empty road.
"Nik," she asked softly, "Before we disappear, can we make one more stop?"
"Allow me," Klaus said as Sophia finished unbuckling Hope from her car seat. After he secured their daughter in his arms, Sophia balanced on her toes to press a lingering kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you," she beamed as she pulled back.
He smiled with his eyes as he turned conversationally towards their daughter. "And once again, we return this god-forsaken boarding house-"
Sophia rolled her eyes as she shut the car door and began making her way towards the porch, Klaus at her side. The door opened as soon as the porch creaked under her foot.
"Sophie," Elena grinned, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug.
"Elena," Sophia laughed. "Mortality suits you." Elena pulled back and nodded gleefully.
Instantaneously, both sisters turned their eyes towards Klaus. The hybrid raised an unimpressed eyebrow as he met Elena's gaze. "Rest assured Elena, I have no interest in your blood anymore." His eyes drifted towards Sophia, softening ever slightly, then they flickered down towards Hope. "Those days are long behind us."
Sophia and Klaus had barely set down their bags when Caroline whisked into the boarding house to rescue Ric's stressed bride. Jo cooed and dotted on Hope, the expectant mother insisting on watching the babbling toddler.
"We'll stay just for the wedding and then we can leave," Sophia promised as they parked before the hospital to pick up blood bags for the road. He was doing an excellent job of being civil with her family, who for all their peacemaking, seemingly couldn't help the occasional barb they threw his way. As they stood by the hospital's entrance, he picked up her left hand, his thumb tracing her wedding band.
"We can stay a little longer if you'd like," he offered gently. "I can't guarantee when you'll be able to see them again once we make our exit."
Taking a deep breath, Sophia nodded in acceptance.
Sophia waited outside the hospital as Klaus collected the blood bags, wondering if they were making the best choice, if disappearing was the best thing they could do.
"Ah, the fabled palia psychi," a jovial, unfamiliar voice said.
Sophia whirled around. A man- pretty, late twenties- was studying her with a bright smile. For all his chipper affectations, she didn't feel at ease. Far from it.
"Do I know you?" she asked warily.
"I'm hurt none of the scoobies mentioned me- I'm Kai Parker." His smile widened, distinctly more sinister, his eyes taking on an impatiently eager quality. A hunger.
Then he was standing before her, and Sophia's vision immediately turned blurry, dark fuzzy dots overwhelming her sight. She felt a painfully tight grip on her elbow.
"I want to be at peak strength before I make an appearance at my sister's wedding- You've met her- Jo."
Sophia began to lose her footing, wanting to fall to her knees, but Kai wouldn't let her.
"I'd thought I just kill you and get it over with, but you have more juice than I thought-"
Sophia felt the spill of Kai's blood on her face as he was suddenly devoid of his head, and before Sophia could collapse to the floor, Klaus caught her.
"Bloody parasite," he muttered as he held her to him, tenderly cleaning her face with the edge of his sleeve as she regained her breath.
"Thank you," Jo said, her eyes dazed and wet, unfocused as she addressed Klaus. Her hands laid protectively over her stomach. "God knows what he would have done-" She physically shook off the thought before reaching over to hug Klaus. He met Sophia's eyes as he awkwardly patted the witch on the back. Soon, she stepped back to Ric's side. (The man nodded tersely, opening his mouth, struggling to voice his thanks.)
"Your thanks is unnecessary," Klaus said agreeably as his free arm immediately wrapped around Sophia's waist.
"We can still have this, a more grander ceremony, perhaps in Italy-"
Sophia pressed a lingering kiss on Klaus's lips. "Enough of that Nik, just dance with me."
They swayed together at the fringes of the crowded dance floor. By bridal decree, Jo's Gemini clan were ordered to leave the pair alone. Sophia smiled as she caught sight of Elena and Caroline cooing over Hope at one of the dining tables. White lights twinkled above them, the band played on, and Sophia allowed herself to close her eyes as she tucked her head into the nook of Klaus's shoulder.
"Sophia- This lab is seriously creepy. All the werewolves are from different bloodlines, and the vampire- Somethings up here, and I think it's why Lucien was able to cure himself and Aurora of the werewolf bite."
"Hayley, get out of there-"
"Not until I torch this place," Hayley said immovably before hanging up.
Lucien had arrived to town, a coerced Vincent and Freya in tow, just as Klaus and Sophia were prepared to leave. They had been too late to stop Lucien's machinations (to turn himself into an improved, upgraded original, one with a bite that could kill even the Mikaelson's).
"Lucien!" Klaus roared as the vampire bit Fin.
Lucien's bloody grin had been smug, but before a word could leave his mouth, he collapsed to the floor. Creeping out from the trees that surrounded them, unfamiliar faces chanted in unison. Sophia's eyes looked them over, finally settling on a familiar face. "Jo-"
Jo nodded at Sophia, then looked to the man at her side, and Sophia recognized that the recently married witch was deferring to her father.
"It's my understanding that my coven owes you and your husband a life debt," he began.
The Gemini coven did the favor of locking up Lucien in a Prison world and gifted the ascendent (essentially a portal to the world he was trapped in) to Klaus.
"Consider our debt repaid, Mikaelson," Jo's father said curtly before walking away.
Jo hands fluttered nervously before settling on hugging her stomach. "I thought my family, the way we sorted out our leadership was bad," she laughed pitifully, sparing her father an ungracious glance. "But uh, the New Orleans ancestors give the Gemini a run for our money. It looks like you two are heading back and- Be careful, please."
Elena had caught up Sophia on the brutal merging ceremony the Gemini's used to determine their leaders.
Sophia met Jo's gaze. "Are you carrying-"
"Twins. My father's thrilled." The witch's blue eyes locked on the old souls. "Ric adores your family, but out of you and your siblings, you remind him the most of Jenna. I know how much he loved her." Sophia felt Klaus's grip on her hand falter, and she squeezed his hand in return as she locked her fingers to his. "Look, I know my husband is less than fond of yours, but what I'm trying to say is, don't be strangers." Jo said as her eyes skimmed over to Klaus, then rested on Sophia once again.
Back in New Orleans, as Fin lay on his deathbed, plots ran amuck to steal the ascendant from the Mikaelson's, to free the sole creature who could kill them. The witches had even managed to free Aurora, hoping she would do their bidding, and Sophia finally had the opportunity to stake the bitch.
Not long after the Mikaelsons said their final goodbye to Fin, the dark magic the ancestors had infused Kol with puppeteered his movements, causing him to feed on Davina, killing the young witch.
Freya did Kol, Vincent, and Marcel the favor of resurrecting Davina, saving her from the ancestor's wrath.
"Our top concern should be undoing the spell cast on Lucien," Sophia heard Elijah mutter to Freya. "This prison world is only a band-aid at best."
Klaus and Sophia drove through to the bayou to recover Rebekah from where Elijah had hidden her when they received a call from the eldest brother himself.
"The only way for Freya to kill Lucien for good is for her to channel the ancestors through Davina… She won't survive the ordeal-"
Before the no could tumble from Sophia's lips-
"No," Klaus said shortly. "I won't have you losing us Kol and Marcel when we have the means and the time to figure out another solution. Talk Freya down, Elijah. Think of our little brother. I'll call you when we retrieve Rebekah." As Klaus hung up the phone, he quickly glanced at Sophia. "I know Davina is also your friend, but I feared that argument wouldn't hold weight with Elijah-"
"I know," Sophia said softly as she reached over and squeezed Klaus's thigh, overwhelmed with love and gratitude to have him at her side.
Elijah and Freya's fears had come to pass, and the ancestors found the means to help guide Lucien out from the prison world.
Klaus had ventured out into the woods to make sure they had understood Elijah's directions correctly and insisted Sophia waited in the car. Restless, Sophia had just stepped out when Lucien was suddenly standing before her, his hands at her throat. "To think, throwing aside Aurora for you," he sneered as he choked her. She sputtered in shock, then ceased to struggle as she caught the gleeful maliciousness in his dime eyes.
No, Sofija Dalguardd declared. Sophia raised her arms, then folded them over Lucien's own straight-locked arms, hugging down with all her might. He must've not thought to dedicate too much energy into subduing her, because she managed to crack his grip. Inadvertently pulling him closer to her, she slammed her head against his, sharply raising her knee to his groin.
He grabbed at her jacket and slammed her against the car before stumbling away from her, winded. "You little bitch-"
Before he could finish, Klaus had taken up the space in front of her.
"Nik- I was hoping to run to you," Lucien said smarmily before sucker-punching his sire in the gut.
Their fight took them to the nearby abandoned house.
Sophia's pain subsided as she sprinted to Klaus, adrenaline pumping through her body.
Nik, her mind screamed, worried about Lucien's lethal bite. Knowing the most she could do was buy Klaus time, she quickly grabbed a rusty shovel she had spotted, and stormed into the house to find Klaus crashed upon the floor, Lucien standing above him.
The vampire quickly turned to face her, and she whacked his head with all her strength, causing his had to smack the stove on his way to the ground.
She barely had time to register Klaus's horrified eyes before he rose to his feet and began to relentlessly attack Lucien. Sophia did her best to help him when Lucien slammed her into the splintered cupboards.
Soon, the overpowered vampire threw Klaus out of the house. Dizzy with pain, before Sophia could check on him, Lucien grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and whisked her outside.
Klaus struggled to regain his footing as Sophia choked and gasped on her blood before him. Lucien had reached into her chest, his hand squeezing her heart.
"Oh well, a king and queen caught by a one-time pawn. Thus the game comes to its inevitable end."
Sophia was only barely able to take in Klaus's tightly coiled body, the fury in his eyes.
"What are you proving by killing her, it's me you hate," he said darkly.
"Was it not clear when I murdered Fin," Lucien's voice rumbled. "I don't care who dies! But since you do, indulge me-"
Sophia began to scream, finding it was the only way to mitigate the searing pain.
Lucien smoothed his hand down her curls. "...And I just might spare your wife. Kneel. Get on your-"
Before Lucien could finish his demand, Klaus collapsed onto his knees, staring hatefully up at Lucien as Sophia coughed and choked.
Sophia shook her head, and then, Lucien was shoved away from her.
"I've got you," Hayley said, hugging Sophia to her and holding her up straight.
Sophia heard Freya chanting behind them, and a few yards away, Elijah and Klaus were watching over a convulsing Lucian.
"He's nothing but an ordinary vampire now," Freya breathed.
"You see, all that family drama you joyfully deride does have its merits," Klaus said.
Elijah kicked Lucien to his knees.
"You can kill me, but the prophecy stands, you can not outrun it!"
"I've had about a thousand years too much of you," Klaus continued viciously, his hands in fists. "For a century, you lived with my name, and you never did quite recover from losing it, did you? You became a man of wealth and stature but you never could crawl from my shadow, and in the end, despite the gift of immortality, you have always known what you truly are."
Sophia stared on dispassionately as Klaus grabbed at a piece of broken glass and carved Lucien's face with the horrifying smile he had inflicted on his own victims, Lucien sobbing all the while.
"You are nothing." Klaus reached into Lucien's chest and pulled out his heart, killing him for good.
Klaus dropped the heart to the ground, then turned around to face Sophia, taking long strides to reach her. He nodded at Hayley. "I've got her," he said as Sophia instinctively reached out to hug him. Hayley and his siblings stepped away, and Sophia cried quietly as he wrapped his arms around her, carefully placing his hand over the hole on her back.
"It's okay now," he promised, biting his wrist and holding it to her mouth.
"You can all rot in hell!" Kol spat as he left the compound.
No one moved to follow him. Klaus looked accusingly over at Freya and Elijah.
"It was the only way, Niklaus-"
Klaus opened his mouth to respond as Sophia reached out to take his hand. "Come on," she said quietly.
Sophia stood nervously at Kol's side as he mournfully stared upon the marble chamber that encased Davina. It was a tense affair, as Marcel seemed torn between saying his final goodbyes to Davina or casting condemning glances at Sophia and Kol. She stayed silent as the men spoke of the witch who died far too young.
(More than that- Cursed with the ancestors…)
Feeling eyes on her, Sophia looked up to meet Vincent's accusing stare. "It's a bit rich that you're here, isn't it? First Camille, now Davina- Both either dead or damned for you and the Mikaelson's sake-"
"Enough," Josh said. "This is Davina's funeral, and she would want Sophie to be here so just- Just leave it alone for now."
Guilt-ridden, Sophia looked to the floor.
She was here because she wanted to say a respectful goodbye to Davina, yes, but also-
More than anything, she knew the young witch would have wanted Kol to be able to say his goodbyes. Kol, who had felt like the black sheep of the family, had suffered his older brother and sister sacrificing his great love, who hadn't wanted to go alone. (Another sign that he was on his own.)
It would have been more of an offense than a condolence if any other Mikaelson showed up. If she was being truthful with herself, Sophia felt it was a offense that she was here, given how she benefited from Davina's death-
(Go with him, please, Klaus had asked of her.) (Marcel and Vincent stared at the pair of Mikaelson's with hateful eyes-)
Yes, Sophia didn't feel she deserved to be here, but she would defend Kol's right to grieve on behalf of him and Davina.
"I have to talk to Marcellus," Klaus insisted.
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Sophia said calmly. "He's grieving, give him some time-"
"He has to know I didn't- I have to speak to him. Stay with Hope, love. I'll return soon."
What you broke is beyond repair-
Prophecy or not, had killing Marcel been the right move? When had Vincent been able to extract the venom from Aurora's body?
"Do you want me to leave?" Sophia asked, fearing she was being more of a nuisance than a comfort.
A despondent Klaus stared blankly at the wall. "Stay with me, please."
Sophia took his hand into her own and remained quietly at his side as he mourned.
Klaus smiled despite himself as he caught Hope waffling about in her crib the next morning, staring up at him with huge eyes. He took her into his arms and carried her over to the bedroom, where Sophia was still fast asleep in bed.
"Ma," Hope babbled, outstretching her arms to her mother.
Klaus pressed a kiss to the fine hairs on her head. "Let's let her sleep a little more, shall we?" he asked his daughter as he left the room, carefully shutting the door behind him.
He wasn't sure who it was he was seeking to soothe as he paced with Hope throughout the compound. His thought's drifted over to Marcel, causing his jaw to lock, to hold his daughter just a little more tighter. His once son, who he had tried to do right by, who had grown to hate him.
"A better life may have awaited you had I not been your father- All those who have loved me have lived to regret it."
Klaus thought of his family, of Marcel, of Sophia. She deserved a better man, not one she was bound due to poorly spoken words on her once- father's part and vows she spoke when she didn't know any better-
But she was in the thick of it, just as much as him. There was no going back, and selfishly, a part of him was glad for it. (Klaus wasn't sure if he could have bared it if some other man, some better, more decent man, had been Hope's father-)
"But I do know this, my littlest wolf. I will do right by you."
It had been both a relief and a shock to learn that Marcellus was still alive-
(A monster of more toxic proportions than even the fiend that was Klaus Mikaelson-)
He was their ruination, the one that had been prophesied all along.
In the end, they only had a day.
A day to cure Elijah and Kol's bites, Rebekah's curse, and the poison running in Freya's veins. While Freya may have found a way, to buy more time, to heal her family's wounds-
A sacrifice would have to be made, and it depended on Klaus surviving the mockery of a trial Marcel had planned for him.
All the Mikaelson's, including Sophia and Hayley, hid in the leather and chrome bachelor pad that had been Lucien's penthouse. By now, it had been all but spelled out for Sophia what had to be done.
Silent tears ran down her face as she walked into the living room to see Klaus crouched before Hope in her playpen. He rose to his feet as he felt her gaze on him.
"Please, Nik. Hayley can stay here with Hope, you know how much she loves her, and just- Let me go with you. It's too dangerous-"
"I think not," Klaus said. He moved to stand before her, his hands engulfing hers as he pulled her to him, his thumb lightly tracing her wedding band. "It's me they want-"
Sophia began to shake her head, and he raised his palms to cup her jawline, holding her in place as he pressed soft kisses to her temple, her cheek, her lips-
It was the stupid move, for Klaus to take her with him.
Maybe it was the Gilbert in her, but it was Nik, and how could she not insist?
She felt herself swoon into his kiss, desperately grasping at his jacket as she held him to her.
Don't go, she wanted to beg him, but she knew better.
She took a deep breath as time mercifully slowed down, and they simply held each other.
Sophia thought about what was being asked of him and what was being asked of her. Feeling horribly selfish, she squared her shoulders, wanting Nik to leave with every assurance that she won't rest until she does her part.
She will protect Hope and she will piece together their family's cures and she will come for him when the time is right. (She will do everything she can to make that it's as soon as conceivably possible-)
"I know you will," he whispered. Klaus raised his voice as he pulled back to meet her eyes. "I know better than anyone how strong and determined you are- Truly, we don't deserve it-"
"Don't-"
"I love you, Sophia Mikaelson. This isn't goodbye." He smiled faintly, then pressed one last hard kiss to her lips.
Four carefully crafted, polished coffins were packed up in the truck rental Hayley had rented. Sophia waited in the driver seat, Hope buckled up in the car seat beside her, as Hayley said her goodbyes to Elijah. Soon, the hybrid was opening the car door across from her, shoulders set and eyes determined.
"You- You have an out, Hayley. God knows I've asked too much of you since we've met-"
"Sophie," Hayley said warningly, meeting her gaze, then rolling her eyes. "I'm going with you and Hope, and that's that. And let's be honest, you're in no position to turn down a free babysitter."
A hiccuped laugh escaped Sophia, causing Hayley to break out into giggles in return as Hope stared perplexedly at the pair of them.
"Come on, let's get the hell out of here," Hayley said, and it wasn't long after that that they went flying by the New Orleans city limit.
Armed with sweet words, and a trickster's touch, she will devour all that you love…
She had been beautiful once. A charmer, if she said so herself. Born as the old gods cast this earth aside and moved on to greener pastures, her own father leaving her to waste away.
It wouldn't be long now.