Chapter Twenty-Four
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or the Originals, but I do own my OCs.
Summary: Blair has been on the run for 400 years, trying to escape her past. She never stays in once place long enough, but she finds herself drawn to New Orleans and it is there that she meets the Originals. She soon finds herself drawn into their drama and ends up connecting with the Noble Original, Elijah Mikaelson. Slowburn.
ORIGINALS
The moment dawn arrived in New Orleans, Blair was awake and packing everything she owned. That morning, she had thrown on the first thing in her wardrobe, Blair was dressed in pair of blue jeans and a white tank top. Looking at the clock, she realised she would need to wake Davina up soon and get her ready to leave and Blair was sure that's what was going to take the longest. If everything went to plan, Blair would be out of the city in a few hours, and that's factoring in bartering with Davina. She also needed to factor in Raphael as there was no way she could just leave him. The Hunter probably wouldn't kill him but Blair didn't feel comfortable leaving him behind. Just as she finished packing, she grabbed her burner phone and dialled Callum's number.
It rang twice before Callum answered, "Now this is a call I wasn't expecting, not this early anyway," There was no tiredness in his voice, meaning he'd probably been up all night like he usually was. That's one thing Blair could always count on, she could call him at any time and he would be awake.
"Where is he?" Blair demanded as she continued to pack. She could have packed everything using her magic but she wanted to conserve her strength in case she needed her magic for more strenuous tasks, like teleporting.
Callum was silent for a moment and she heard the typing of his keyboard in the background. "I just checked a few hours ago, he was still in Australia…"
"Check again," Blair snapped irritably.
Silently, Callum followed her instruction without any complaint. He was very much used to her sudden mood swings and paranoia. This silence stretched on for too long and it made Blair feel edgier than usual. However, it was the response that set her even further on edge. "Oh, shit…" He muttered lowly.
"What is it?" Blair asked, her own heart beating in her chest faster than usual.
"H-he's moved… he's now heading in the direction of America," Callum said quickly, the sound of typing becoming more frantic. No doubt he was checking all surveillance cameras and bank details. He would also be contacting his people in Australia, getting updates from them.
This was the news she was dreading, "Damn," She muttered lowly. The anxiety was starting to make her feel sick and she wanted to lay down but she didn't have the time. If the Hunter was heading in the direction of America, that left her with a maximum of sixteen hours to put some distance between the two of them. With the Hunter's set of skills, it wouldn't take him long after he arrived to find her trail in New Orleans. If she didn't leave soon then she'd risk a meeting and she would rather avoid that.
"You have roughly fifteen hours before he arrived in America. He's on a plane and it's a direct journey," Callum rattled off, nerves in his own voice.
Blair sighed deeply, "Okay, thanks for the update. I will be leaving very soon. I will contact you again when I have relocated elsewhere,"
"Be safe, Blair," Callum said before he hung up.
Putting the phone down, Blair mentally cursed her luck. She knew that she was getting attached and vowed that she would leave, but now that this was a reality, she couldn't help but feel disappointed. Maybe she would return in the future – a long way down the line – and maybe the Mikaelson's would still rule the city. But that wasn't the priority, for now, she needed to get out of New Orleans and take Davina and Raphael with her.
It didn't take long before Blair had finished packing. Looking around the room, Blair saw nothing of hers, the room looked perfectly impersonal and other than the suitcase, it looked like no one had lived in it. Satisfied, Blair left the room and walked in the direction of Davina's room. Davina was asleep, something she expected but continued on with her task anyway. Summoning a new suitcase, Blair began packing Davina's things. Unfortunately, Davina wouldn't be able to bring everything but she would make sure all the important stuff was brought.
Blair has tried to remain noiseless through all this but evidently, she wasn't silent enough. Davina groaned and slowly opened her eyes, seeing Blair packing her stuff. For a moment, Davina thought she was hallucinating and so she blinked a few times before she realised, she wasn't imagining this. "Blair, what are you doing?" Davina asked as she sat up in bed.
Not pausing, Blair continued to pack, "Do you remember when I told you about the Hunter?" This conversation had been a few months ago so she wasn't sure that Davina remembered. She had told Davina that they would need to leave at a moment's notice if the Hunter go too close – which is what was happening currently.
"Yes?" Davina vaguely remembered this conversation but not fondly.
"We need to leave, now. The Hunter is on his way and we need to put some distance between us," Blair said as she continued to pack.
Davina's eyes widened, "But we can't just leave, Hope has only just been born,"
Blair shook her head, "There has been a change of plans. The Hunter is heading this way and we have a small frame of time to leave before he gets here. We need to leave now," Blair made sure to stress the last part to Davina, hoping she would understand the message and help with packing.
Sadness flashed in Davina's eyes, "But I-I don't want to leave,"
For a moment, Blair stopped packing and looking at the young Witch. She looked heartbroken and sad that it made Blair feel guilty. It wasn't fair for Davina to get pulled in the middle of this but it was too late. "If I could, I wouldn't force you to come along because I know this is your home. But if I don't then the Hunter would use you to try and get to me. I don't want anything happening to you,"
"You could fight him, face him once and for all," Davina said hopefully.
Blair's eyes hardened, "I can't,"
"But why not?" Davina was persistent. She hadn't got to argue her point last time as she was too much in shock from the bombshell but now, she had a chance to think about it. Blair was powerful and could take down anyone in Davina's mind. Surely this Hunter couldn't be as bad as she was making out.
Blair's jaw clenched and anger flashed through her eyes, "I am not discussing this now. Are you coming with me or not?" It annoyed her that Davina was now the second person to insist on her fighting the Hunter. Did no one understand the situation fully? Blair mentally shook her head, neither Chloe nor Davina had met the Hunter before and so didn't understand the severity of what they were saying.
Davina stared at Blair for a moment, silently debating her choices. Eventually, Davina got out of bed and began helping Blair pack. When the young Witch did this, Blair sighed in relief, knowing she didn't want to force Davina's hand even further.
"Pack what you don't want to leave behind. I will leave another suitcase for you in case you need it," Blair said as she summoned another suitcase. Once that was done and she was sure that Davina was packing her stuff, she left the room and headed in the direction of Raphael's room.
Blair didn't even knock and just opened the door. Raphael had come back late last night after doing his patrols. He had done a thorough patrol just in case any of the Witches attempted to sneak in when everyone's guards were down but it seemed as though there was no sign of them. Raphael was currently on his bed, asleep, but the moment Blair passed through the threshold of his room, he sat up in bed.
"Blair?" Raphael questioned, confused as to why she was in his room.
"The Hunter is on his way," Blair said bluntly. If anyone could understand the severity of the situation then it would be Raphael, even if he didn't know the full details.
Raphael's eyes widened as he jumped out of bed, "Oh, god. How long do you have to leave?"
"I have fifteen hours to put some major space between us," Blair answered him with a sigh. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to become comfortable and now she was paying the price, "He's on a direct flight to America. I am taking Davina with me. What do you plan to do?" She wanted to know what his thoughts were. Unlike Davina, Raphael did not have a mark of protection so the Hunter possibly wouldn't use him against her. But Raphael was also a Fae and that put him in danger.
Raphael was silent for a moment, "We can't just leave the baby," He said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I know," Blair sighed deeply, "But I don't have a choice. I can't ward the baby with magic either because I need to conserve it. Klaus, Elijah and everyone else will just have to be enough to protect their child,"
Slowly, Raphael nodded his head, "You're right. They've lasted this long and Klaus would never let anything happen to Hope," He had seen the protectiveness of Klaus and it was almost scary. Klaus was dangerous before his daughter but Raphael dreaded to see what he would look like when someone threatened Hope.
"You're coming with me?" Blair tried her best to hide the hopefulness in her voice but even she couldn't deny she was relieved. The fact she wouldn't be leaving anyone behind made her feel pleased.
Raphael nodded his head, "I will. Just give me a little time to pack and we can leave. I take it Davina is already sorted?"
"Yes, she's packing at the moment," Blair answered him with a small smile, "If everything goes to plan, we'll be out of here shortly,"
"That's a good idea," Raphael said before he looked at the time, "But we'd best eat something before we leave."
Blair looked at the time and found herself agreeing. She was used to missing meals because of being on the run whereas Davina was not. Davina would need her strength and Blair still needed to pick a new place to travel to. However, she was thinking of visiting Austria this time and then moving from there. "Be ready to leave in an hour," Blair said to the male Fae before leaving the room.
Heading to the kitchen, Blair began using her magic to cook up a breakfast for her, Raphael and Davina. They would all need their strength. While she did this, Blair summoned a map of the word and a dart. Not looking at the map, Blair threw the dart and it landed on Russia, so that's where they were headed. It was just as Blair was plating up the food that Elijah made a surprise appearance. Blair tensed when she saw him and it only got worse when she noticed Davina stood by his side, looking worried.
Elijah took one look at her and frowned, "I have been informed that you plan on leaving," He arched a brow at her, his dark eyes staring into her soul.
Blair silently cursed and glared in the direction of Davina, who refused to meet her eyes. "I am leaving. I have stayed here long enough and it is time for me to leave," Blair was happy when her voice came across as steady and strong because she felt anything but strong.
"Oh?" Elijah questioned quietly, "Because that's not what Davina told me." He had been woken up suddenly by Davina banging on his door. He had feared that something was wrong with the baby and was tempted to send Davina away but then she told him that Blair planned to leave. He had never woken up so quickly and he was straight down the stairs in seconds. He's barely had time to put on some clothing, just some trousers and a white button-up shirt.
"Oh, did she?" Blair hissed out, her eyes glaring holes into Davina's head.
Elijah walked further into the kitchen and Blair instinctively moved backwards. Elijah stopped for a moment and stared down at her with hardened eyes. Elijah opened his mouth to say something but he was stopped when Raphael walked into the kitchen with a suitcase in hand. Raphael blinked slowly as he took in the scene before him, unsure of what he walked in on. He took in Davina's guilty face and slowly connected the dots. Slowly, Raphael backed out of the kitchen as well as Davina, deciding to give Elijah and Blair some time alone.
"He's going with you," Elijah said, a wave of bitterness hitting him.
Blair swallowed softly, "He is. Davina is still more than welcome to come as well," She briefly glanced at where Davina had been moments ago but she found her gaze coming back to Elijah. Later, she would have a discussion with Davina about this but for now, she needed to deal with Elijah.
"I thought you were here to protect Hope from other Fae," Elijah said with a frown.
"Hope seems to have enough protection around her. As long as Klaus is around, the Queen won't make an appearance and I am sure you can all deal with what comes your way," Blair answered him coolly.
Elijah narrowed his eyes, not believing her words. "What has happened?"
This simple question caused Blair's heart rate to pick up. "That's none of your business," She mentally cursed his perceptiveness. Of course, Elijah would notice a difference, he barely missed anything.
Elijah was about to comment but he was interrupted. Klaus stormed into the kitchen, an angry look on his face. He had been trying to sleep but all he could hear was chatter from downstairs. That chatter could have woken up Hope and Hayley – who needed a lot of rest. He had intended to find out who was making all the noise when he felt the atmosphere between Elijah and Blair and he paused.
"What is going on here?" Klaus demanded in a hushed voice.
Before Blair could say anything, Elijah cut in, "Blair is planning on leaving," Elijah's voice was noticeably quieter than before.
Klaus looked at Blair with a blank expression. "No,"
"What do you mean 'no'?" Blair demanded.
"You're not leaving," Klaus continued, "You said that you would help protect Hope and I intend to hold you to that. Also, I need you to make more moonlight stones,"
Blair glared at him, "You do not dictate what I do," She stormed off, leaving the kitchen and heading into the living room, where Davina and Raphael stood. Using her magic, she packed the food up and made it appear in her hands. However, it seemed as though she underestimated Klaus and Elijah's stubbornness and they followed after her.
"At least give us a good reason why you should leave," Elijah said, not willing to let her go.
"You don't need to know," Blair hissed at them, her hackles raised.
Sensing this situation was going to get worse, Davina stepped forward, "Just tell them about the Hunter,"
Blair glared at her, "Davina!" There was a warning in her voice, daring the Witch not to reveal anything more about her situation. She didn't need Klaus or Elijah to know what was going on in her life.
Elijah and Klaus shared a look with one another, confused by Davina's words. Who was this Hunter? And why did Blair seem so bothered by this? Elijah had never seen Blair so unhinged before and he was curious to know what made her so anxious.
Raphael looked between Blair and the Vampires, "Maybe they should know, they might end up meeting him," His voice was barely above a whisper but everyone heard him.
"It is none of their business," Blair hissed back, feeling betrayed by both Davina and Raphael. They were meant to be on her side and now they were turning against her.
"Maybe they can help," Davina suggested.
Blair's jaw clenched in anger, "They can't help,"
Klaus arched his brow, "Well there is obviously a story and I want to hear it," He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for someone to explain what was going on.
"I thought you said you didn't care about what happened in my life," Blair challenged hotly.
Klaus met her gaze with ease, "I don't, but if you're going to try and run away then I want to know why," He was curious by nature and didn't like being left in the dark. It seemed as though whatever secret Blair had, Davina and Raphael were in the loop and Klaus hated being left out. Also, as much as he was denied it, he found Blair useful. He needed her power especially since he needed more moonlight rings enchanted.
Huffing, Blair turned away from the Hybrid. There was no point even saying anything to him because he would just twist everything. Mentally, Blair sighed deeply. This was not how she envisioned the day going at all. If she had known that Elijah and Klaus would have got pulled into this, she would have stayed with Davina to make sure she couldn't sneak off. However, the more Blair thought about it, the more she could understand why Davina went to Elijah. As the Original Vampires, they were powerful and could potentially help with her situation. Blair quickly dismissed these pointless thoughts; the Hunter was her issue and she refused to drag more people into her life. Anyone who had tried to help her in the past ended up dead and she didn't want that happening here. As much as she disliked Klaus, he had just become a dad and deserved that chance. The thought of having the Hunter anywhere near Elijah made her heart clench painfully and she was scared for Davina if she ever came across him. It would be a massacre and it would be all her fault.
"You need to tell us what happened," Elijah said sternly, his voice snapping Blair back into reality.
Blair turned her head and saw everyone looking at her imploringly. Klaus seemed the most impatient, though Blair didn't blame them. Hope had only just been born and there was already trouble on the horizon. Raphael and Davina seemed to be the most understanding, seemingly waiting patient for her to reveal her past to everyone. Raphael already knew some of the story but not everything and it made her hesitant. However, it was Elijah and his heated gaze that made Blair's resolve crumble the quickest. Sighing deeply, Blair frowned, "Fine. I will tell you, but I warn you, it isn't a pretty story," She hoped that once they learned the truth, they would back off and let her leave without any further incidents.
The room seemed to tense as they waited for Blair to start.
Taking a deep breath, Blair began her story. "As you know, the Fae went into hiding a long time ago and it's because we were nearly hunted to extinction. Our blood is addictive to Vampires, it's so alluring that no Vampire can stop after a taste," This was the drawback to her kind. Everyone had a downside, Vampires had to drink blood to survive, Werewolves had to endure a painful transformation once a month and the Witches were mortal and so easily killed.
"Our brother, Kol, being the best example," Klaus commented wryly. It was very well known that Kol would binge on blood, often massacring entire towns to get his fill of blood. However, his addiction to blood never seemed that bad until he got a taste of Fae blood and then he spiralled out of control.
Blair nodded her head, "Exactly. But there was one death that changed everything. Our Queen, Tatianna was killed by a Vampire and so Maeve was put on the throne, Tatianna's younger sister. As soon as Maeve was on the throne, she ordered all the Fae back into the Forest and locked the gate so no one could leave." This happened a long time before Blair was born but she had heard all the stories of how the Fae were nearly lost to the world. Luckily, the Fae had come a long way since then but still, Maeve would not risk opening the gates once more.
Klaus frowned, "Why does the current Queen hate me?" He remembered that Blair said this a while back and he still didn't understand why. If Blair was revealing her secrets, he saw no harm in asking this question.
Blair and Raphael shared a look, "You don't remember?" The male Fae asked in confusion.
"What did my brother do?" Elijah asked with a deadpanned expression.
Staring at Klaus with a blank face, Blair couldn't believe that he didn't remember. She didn't know whether to laugh or hit him. "Klaus, you were the Vampire that killed Tatianna. That's why all Fae hate you," It was rumoured that Tatianna and Klaus were sleeping together but there was no way to substantiate these claims and no one wanted to tarnish Tatianna's memory.
Klaus' eyes widened, "What?"
"Niklaus," Elijah's voice was stern and full of reprimand.
"I don't even remember!" Klaus argued back instantly. He knew that he had drunk from a Fae only once in his long life but he didn't remember killing the Queen of the Fae. If he had known, he probably would have been more careful as she would have been a powerful ally.
Davina rolled her eyes, "Way to go, Klaus,"
Klaus glared at the Witch, not appreciating the sass from her.
"Regardless," Blair quickly intervened, not liking now Klaus was glaring at Davina, "The Fae had been locked up the Forest for hundreds of years. I grew up being locked inside and dreamed of seeing the outside. I had never experienced any attacks on Vampires and so I didn't know or realise that fear. I was fourteen when I first left the Forest…"
"What happened?" Davina asked quietly.
Inhaling deeply, Blair pushed back the feeling of dread. "It went great. I explored the area and I had a great time. I didn't understand why Maeve had locked everyone inside the Forest. But then… I was hit in the back of the head and was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I was in a cage with other people and didn't understand what happened. There was a Siren inside and she explained everything to me. It turned out that I had been captured by the Hunter, a being that likes to kidnap supernatural creatures as part of a game."
"A game?" Raphael questioned. His knowledge of Blair's situation was limited because the Queen and Blair never spoke out about it. He knew the basic details but not much.
Blair nodded her head, "Yes, a game. The Hunter likes to collect supernatural creatures, imprison them and then realise them. He does this so he can hunt them down and kill them. He's played the same game for nearly seven hundred years and in all that time, he had not hunted a Fae before. I was a prize, one that he couldn't wait to kill," She could remember how frightened she had been. She had woken up with iron cuffs on her wrists and she was chained to the wall. If it wasn't for the kind Siren who shared her cell then she would have had a panic attack. Just thinking about it made Blair start to panic and her heart rate increased.
Sensing her distress, Elijah stepped closer to her, allowing her to lean into him. At his touch, Blair let out a long sigh and relaxed slightly. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to," Elijah offered lowly.
"No, you guys need to know," Blair shook her head, determined to finish the story. "The Siren saw how scared and young I was. She offered me a way out. Apparently, she had been there for six years while the Hunter collected his other victims. She had formulated a way out but it would only allow for one person and so she gave it to me. She said that she had lived long enough and I hadn't lived enough." She could still remember the Siren's name – Ianthe. Without the help of Ianthe, she would have never got out, "I managed to escape and I ran back to the Forest, hoping that I would never see the Hunter again and I longed for the protection of the Forest, however…" Blair clenched her fist as she remembered what happened next.
Raphael stepped in, "The Queen denied Blair's request for safety. She said that it was Blair's fault that she was in this mess and ordered to her leave. Maeve banished Blair from the Forest, claiming that she would bring nothing but disaster to the Forest if she allowed her to stay," Raphael had been there, as well as Chloe. Blair had run to them, tears streaming down her face and covered in cuts. Chloe had been the one to go to the Queen for help, confident that she would protect Blair but Chloe had been wrong. Now that he wasn't under the influence of the Queen, he remembered everything.
"No," Davina gasped out.
Blair nodded her head, "Yes, she did. I was banished from the Forest and told never to contact any of the Fae as I would lead them to danger, that's what Maeve said. I wasn't allowed time to collect any stuff, I was thrown out of the Forest and then I ran. I have been on the run ever since, dodging the Hunter who has been after me for four hundred years." Looking back, Blair was surprised she had even last two days on the run. She had been weak, naïve and stupid. It was in the two hundred years that she had the closest calls with the Hunter but then she learned and got better at her job and magic. She realised her magic was the only true thing she could rely on and so she spent all her time expanding it.
Elijah clenched his fists in anger, disgusted by Maeve's actions. Blair had been but a child when this happened to her and it sickened him to know she had been through so much already.
"But why would the Hunter still be after you?" Davina asked.
"Revenge," Klaus answered easily, understanding the Hunter's motivation.
Blair's lips thinned, "Yes. But there is also another factor. Before me, he had a perfect record when it came to his hunts. I am the only one who got away from him and he won't stop until he's killed me," After fifty years on the run, she had become curious as to why he was hunting her and so she had dug into his past – she was also trying to find any weaknesses that she could use against him. However, she found very little information about him and so she gave up.
Davina's face had paled dramatically throughout the tale, "I had no idea…"
"That's why I need to leave," Blair said, addressing Klaus and Elijah, as they had been the ones who hadn't wanted her to leave, "He will tear this city apart looking for me. Anyone who has a connection to me will be subjected to cruel torture." Cities had fallen after a visit from the Hunter. He would tear places down, brick by brick, plank by plank. He burned buildings to the ground and slaughtered everything that got in his way.
"Blair…" Elijah muttered softly, understanding filling him. Blair had been a puzzle to him and answers always evaded him. But now, he understood her. Now he understood the reason behind her detached attitude. It was not that she didn't care, it was the fact she couldn't afford to care for anyone else.
Klaus stared at her with a blank expression. This silence unnerved her because he wasn't usually this silent but he had a lot on his mind. Klaus had never cared for the Fae much and found her attitude to be annoying and too reminiscent of Katrina. But now… he felt like he had a kinship with Blair. If anything, he could understand Blair's situation the most as he had been hunted by Mikael for hundreds of years. He understood what it felt like to be hunted like an animal to the far corners of the earth but had been lucky because he had his siblings. If he hadn't had Elijah, Rebekah or even Kol by his side, he would have gone mad.
Elijah could practically see what was going on inside his brother's head, and for once, he fully agreed. "Running won't help, Blair," He looked down at the female Fae, noting how anxious she was. It made his protective instincts go into overdrive and he wanted to do nothing more than to hide her away in his arms but he resisted.
"I have lasted this long," Blair argued back, stepping away from Elijah, who let her go reluctantly.
"But there will come a time when that's not enough," Klaus said, his voice nearly making Blair jump.
Blair clenched her jaw, "It will,"
"Have you even fought him?" Klaus snorted, not furthering to anger the female Fae.
Elijah glared at his brother, "Niklaus,"
Klaus shook his head, "No, Elijah, this needs to be done." He looked back to the Fae and began advancing on her, but Blair held her ground, not flinching once. "Have you ever tried to fight for your freedom? Have you faced him down and tried to get rid of this problem?"
"Klaus, stop," Raphael said, his voice pleading. He wanted to be beside Blair and support her, but Davina was clinging to his arm and he couldn't deny the young Witch some comfort.
Pure rage flickered in Blair's face, her eyes glowing an ominous purple colour. "You think I haven't fought him?" Her voice was dangerously soft and low, so much so that it made Klaus take an instinctive step back. "I have faced the Hunter and barely got away with my life. I have watched people try and fight him and he killed them within seconds. So, don't you dare try and question me and insinuate that I am a coward!" Slowly, her voice had got louder until her very voice shook the souls of everyone in the room. Blair had tried to fight the Hunter but every time she did, it never ended well for her.
Instead of backing off as Blair hoped, Klaus smirked slowly, "But he hasn't met us yet,"
These words snapped Blair out of her rage as she stared at Klaus dumbly, "Huh?"
Elijah stepped closer, a small smirk on his face, "Yes, this Hunter has not yet met an Original, let alone two. I think we should greet him," His family had faced many foes who wanted them dead yet they still stood. He and Klaus were a formidable team and could take down anyone in their path.
"You can't be serious!" Blair exclaimed in shock. She had not met anyone who would gladly meet the Hunter, they always ran from him. She was starting to think both Klaus and Elijah were mad.
Ignoring her, Klaus looked to Elijah with a thoughtful expression. "Do you think we should call Rebekah back? Having three Originals might send a better message,"
Elijah nodded his head in agreement, "That is a perfect idea. I will call Rebekah now," He reached into his trouser pocket, intending to make the call. If they didn't call Rebekah then she would be angry that they got all the fun. It also wasn't lost on Elijah that it had been Klaus that suggested their sister's return after everything that happened.
Blair shook her head, "I can't deal with this right now," Turning around, she walked off, intending to go to her room and collect her suitcase. She needed to leave as soon as possible and she had wasted time explaining her situation. If Davina didn't want to come with her then that was fine. She would have the Originals to protect her. Raphael could come along if he liked but she wouldn't force him.