"This looks familiar." A voice chuckled, and Aailyah glanced up as her husband entered the kitchen, arching an eyebrow at the sight of his wife and brother taking over the large white marble island. Aailyah was dressed down in a way she wasn't often, her curls clipped up behind her head, wearing a burgundy silk cowl necked tank top, dark skinny jeans and black stilettos. Kol, also dressed down in a gray T-shirt and jeans, didn't even glance up from the file he was reading through, pausing occasionally to jot down notes. "Good morning, darling. Kol."
"No darling for me?" Kol drawled, sitting back and chewing on his pen as he skimmed through his notes.
"I'll call you whatever you want if you've found something." Aailyah offered.
"Really." Kol wiggled his eyebrows at his best friend, and Aailyah chuckled, shaking her head at him. "The rings are brilliant, the only two of their kind. Never been done before, which means no one knew of the consequences."
"Which are?"
"It was Samantha Gilbert that was killing the council the first time round, I haven't found any other incidents like this." Kol tapped a finger on the woman's picture, a pretty young woman with a vague resemblance to Jeremy Gilbert, clipped onto the patient file stolen from the abandoned asylum a few hours away from Mystic Falls. "From the journal she kept while in the asylum, she mentioned having blackouts, waking up in strange places covered in blood. She didn't remember what happened during, but she eventually put the pieces together. She did mention that shortly before the blackouts, there were often times that when she was with members of the Council, she was filled with inexplicable rage. And fear. She was afraid of them."
"That's understandable, she was likely afraid of being discovered." Elijah said slowly, tracing a hand up and down Aailyahs spine and examining the papers she was hunched over.
"I don't think that's it. She mentioned it went as far back as the first blackout. When she suspected nothing. I think she was being controlled."
"How? And by who?" Aailyah asked.
" Well, when I interrogated the Gilbert boy, he said that when they died, they'd go to the other side and have to find their bodies to come back."
"And?"
"If it's the other side, they wouldn't be there alone. There would be other witches, werewolves, vampires. Only Council members were ever attacked. Who's to say a vampire they'd managed to kill hadn't found a way to take their revenge? Witches were also being persecuted at the time, I haven't looked into it much, but I suppose possession from the other side could be possible. It's certainly what I would do, if the opportunity for revenge presented itself."
"The ring was created by a Bennett witch."
"I'll pay them a visit then"
"I'll go with you. The Bennetts aren't exactly fond of us, and Bonnie is strangely adept for a young witch with no training."
"Imagine what she could be if she had a decent teacher." Kol sighed wistfully, and Aailyah shook her head.
"Not going to happen, Kol. Not anytime soon at least." Kol pouted and Aailyah smiled, stretching before rising to her feet, turning to press a chaste kiss to the corner of Elijah's lips as Kol pulled on a leather jacket. "Did you need something, my love?"
"Finn and Sage made it to town, Rebekah picked them up from the airport. They're stopping by Wickery bridge to speak with the mayor before returning home."
"It's time already?" Aailyah turned, blinking at the clock. "I didn't even notice."
"You need a break, darling."
"I'm missing something." Aailyah sighed, bracing her hands on the marble countertop, still eyeing the scattered papers in front of her. Her 'work phone' buzzed frequently, information coming in from various sources over reanimating spells, possibilities for possession and possible incidents of it, and debates over whether a witch has access to their magic on the other side. "I'm so close."
"I thought you were looking for the White Oak tree."
"I'm multitasking. I've hired people to inspect some houses and buildings in town to look for any White Oak, they should get back to me later. But Kol wants to know more about the rings, and I don't want to attend another funeral, they're tedious and unnecessarily long."
"Networking-"
"Is important, I know. And I very much appreciate you for taking on the bulk of it." Aailyah wound her fingers through his, lifting his hand to her mouth and kissing the back of it. Her phone buzzed again, and Aailyah picked it up and sighed, typing out a message and glancing at Kol. "Sophia sent several accounts of witchcraft being used from beyond the grace that look legitimate, I'll send them to you to take a look. If it is possession, I want to know who's doing it."
"Why is this bothering you so much?" Elijah asked as Kol nodded. "This isn't your problem, darling. You can just walk away."
"I don't know." Aailyah turned, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head on his chest. "I just- I have a feeling this is important."
"Trust your gut. It hasn't led you astray before."
"Like Jethro Gibbs." Kol commented unhelpfully, his fingers drumming on the countertop impatiently. There was a spark in his eye he only got when it came to discovering new magic, a manic, excited energy about him. Aailyah chuckled against Elijah's chest, pulling back to kiss him softly.
"I'll take a look. A fresh pair of eyes may help."
"Thank you, Eli. We'll be back in an hour or so."
F&A
"I can't feel it anymore." Abbey whispered, staring blankly down at the dead plants below her feet. "My garden. It's gone. I can't feel anything." Caroline and Bonnie stared at her with worried eyes as Kol and Aailyah walked up behind them.
"That is the worst part about becoming a vampire." Kol said, tone respectful for once. Bonnie and Caroline whipped around, stepping in front of Abbey defensively. "Losing my connection to my magic nearly killed me. I ache for it, a thousand years later."
"What are you doing here?" Caroline demanded, eyes narrowing on Aailyah. "Here to set another car on fire?"
"I did warn you." Aailyah shrugged, hands held loosely in her pockets.
"You were a witch?"
"Warlock, actually."
"A brilliant one, too." Aailyah bumped her shoulder to his, and he smiled back at her, before turning back to Abbey, making the teenagers tense further.
"I am sorry, Miss Bennett. Magic is a gift, and I'm sorry you lost yours."
"It wasn't lost. It was taken. I didn't choose this."
"Nor did I."
"None of us did." Aailyah added.
"And yet you chose this for me. You, and your family did this to me." Abbey turned away from them, walking inside, and Kol watched her go with solemn eyes. Aailyah watched him for a moment before linking her arm through his and leaning slightly against his side, offering quiet support.
"Why did you come here? You've done enough." Bonnie demanded.
"We did not come to hurt anyone. We just have some questions." Kol assured.
"And why would I help you? After what you did." Bonnie turned her glare onto Aailyah, who arched her eyebrows.
"Damon turned your mother-"
"Under your orders!" Bonnie shouted.
"Orders that wouldn't have existed had you minded your own fucking buisness. If you'd handed over that damn coffin when Stefan gave it to you we would've been out of your bum fuck nowhere town five days ago!"
"Damn, Alli." Kol laughed. " I haven't heard you swear like that since Nik-"
"Don't even start. I'm still mad about that, and I know you were involved." Kol held up his hands in surrender and Aailyah turned back to Caroline and Bonnie.
"You cannot continue to be shocked when the consequences of your actions come back to bite you in the ass. You are continuing to choose to piss off people you have no way of beating. If it's not us, it'll be somebody else, and maybe, maybe, you'll get out of it, you lot with your weird fucking plot armour. But the people that you love, the ones who are human, who are vulnerable, will not. Let this be a lesson to you. Don't play the game unless you know what you are risking."
"What do you want?" Bonnie demanded.
"Information. A Bennett witch created the Gilbert rings, we need to know how. Do you have any of your family's old grimoires?" Kol asked.
"Why in the hell would I share them with you?"
"I assume you have some measure of care for the ones who wear them, the Gilbert boy and the teacher- Eric." Aailyah asked.
"Alaric." Caroline snapped at Aailyah, who waved her hand dismissively.
"Yes, that one. Even if you only care only because Miss Gilbert does and everyone here is overly invested in her continued happiness. If something is wrong with the rings they would be the ones affected by it."
"Is there something wrong with the rings?" Caroline asked cautiously.
"Not sure. But rumor has it there's something wrong with your history teacher. So, I ask again. Do you have any of your ancestors' grimoires you'd like to share?" Kol asked, meeting Bonnie's eyes steadily. Bonnie held his gaze for several moments, before silently shaking her head. Kol sighed. "Shame, that. Let us know if you change your mind. You have all the makings of a powerful witch, Miss Bennet, and though I can no longer practice, I rather enjoy teaching my craft to those who are willing to learn. Come find me if you ever wish to." Kol nodded at Bonnie before offering Aailyah his arm, leading her back towards her car, deftly swiping the keys from her hand and ignoring her protests. "Come, sister. I want a drink before we return home."
"But my research-"
"Will still be there when we return home. You've been working on it for two days, fresh eyes will help."
"I suppose I could use a break." Aailyah admitted after a moment, letting Kol open her door before climbing in. "A short one." She insisted a moment after, and Kol smirked, pulling out his phone and texting Elijah he'd succeeded in distracting Aailyah, as requested, before flashing to the drivers side and starting up her mustang. Elijah sent his thanks, and Kol responded quickly, reminding him of their agreement.
"Of course darling." He lied, pulling out smoothly and driving towards town. "A couple drinks, and then back to work." Aaliyah's eyes narrowed.
"We're not allowed to have 'a couple drinks' without supervision anymore." She reminded him with a slight pout, and Kol full on grinned, waving his phone at her but not allowing her to read his messages.
"We can today. 'Lijah promised to take the fall this time 'round."
"Really?" A downright devious grin blossomed across her face, and Kol matched it.
"Really."
F&A
"Damon Salvatore is hovering." Bekah reported, and Aailyah hummed, setting back in her seat as Kol drove them into town.
"Is he now?"
"He ran into Finn, Sage and I at Wickery Bridge, He showed up with Alaric and Merideth."
"Klaus' Merideth?"
"Yes. I sensed some interest between the two, though mostly on her end, but Alaric didn't seem to notice. He might be murdering council members, but he does seem loyal enough to his girlfriend, so he's not a complete waste of air. Merideth doesn't seem to have the same loyalty."
"I don't think her and Klaus are anything official, you know how he is with labels. But I'll let him know. Did they say anything to you?"
"Alaric and Merideth left quickly. Damon was trying to taunt Sage and Finn, he kept bringing up their time together."
"And?"
"It worked, to an extent. It's obviously a bit of a sore spot, since it's fresh for Finn, but he stood by Sage. They're talking to the Mayor now, Damon cornered me when they left."
"And what did he want?"
"Apparently to sleep with me."
"What?!"
"I know, dick move for someone insisting on being Enzo's friend. Did you know he was harassing Enzo the other day? He was swearing up and down he was going to make up for leaving him before. Even said he would save Enzo from us, and then he turned around and- Obviously I turned him down, rather brutally I might add-"
"He tried to sleep with you?!"
"Alli!"
"No- no I mean- Bekah you're a ten, anyone with eyes wants to sleep with you. But it's not fair, I've been flirting for ages!"
"Aailyah! Focus!"
"Sorry. Why? Besides the obvious of course. I thought he was helpless over his precious Elena."
"You sound a bit bitter, sister dear." Aailyah pouted mulishly and Kol chuckled.
"It's been a while since I've been rejected. I can't deny that it's a slight blow to my ego."
"Mm, you have plenty of ego, I'm sure you'll survive."
"Bekah!"
"Alright, I'm sorry. I'm not sure why, it's a bit out of nowhere, and he left quickly when I put him in his place."
"Alright,. Thank you for letting me know, darling."
"Anytime."
F&A
"You're sure you're not upset?" Aailyah asked as they walked into the Grill, and Klaus chuckled over the phone.
"I'm fine, Alli. I wasn't exactly attached to this one. I just needed some form of entertainment while we're stuck in this insipid little town."
"You should've heard what Alli called it, Klaus." Kol chuckled, holding the door open for her. "Elijah would've been horrified."
"Aailyah Åse Mikaelson, did you swear?"
"Like a plebeian." Kol tattled, and Aailyah rolled her eyes.
"Elijah swears too, you know."
"I've never heard him."
"You should've heard the things he was saying last night-"
"And on that note, I'm off." Klaus hung up, and Aailyah laughed, sliding her phone into her purse and turning to Kol with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you want from the bar?"
"Bourbon, and a shot of tequila so I can forget that last comment. I do not want to think about what my brother says to you in bed, Alli."
"You tell me about your exploits all the time!"
"Mine are not related to you!"
"Baby." Aailyah rolled her eyes and Kol stuck his tongue out at her before turning and making his way over to the pool tables while Aailyah headed towards the bar, smiling beautifully at the bartender and placing her order, ignoring the way he eyed her warily. It was one of Elena's human friends, but he had never been overly involved in their schemes, so Aailyah elected to ignore him. She folded her arms on the bar, scrolling through her work phone, but switched it off quickly when hands fell onto her hips.
"Hello, beautiful."
"Well this is different."
"What can I say?" Damon asked, smirking at her as she turned to face him, leaning back and raking his hair out of his face. "Much as I love the dresses, seeing you out of them does something to me."
"Is that right?"
"Mm." Damon shifted closer to her, and Aailyah glanced back, arching an eyebrow at the barkeep, who was not so subtly watching them from down the bar.
"Donovan." The boy jumped, nearly dropping the glass he'd been drying for the last few minutes. "It is taking an astonishing amount of time for you to pour a shot and two bourbons." The boy jumped to it, but only managed to pour the shot and fill one glass before pausing, glancing over her shoulder at Damon, who she caught shaking his head out of the corner of her eye.
"Matt, why don't you take those to Kol." Damon suggested mildly, glaring at the boy when he hesitated before grabbing the glasses and slinking off. "You know, we could always go out to my place for a drink. We have some of the best aged wine in the northern hemisphere. It took a chunk out of our fortune, and I'd love to see if it was worth it."
"Mm, you, me, and your brother. How romantic."
"I'd be more than happy to kick Stefan out for you."
"Tempting, but I'll pass." Aailyah turned away from him, reaching over the bar and grabbing a glass and the bottle of bourbon the boy had left, pouring herself a drink before turning back to Damon.
"There a reason for the Ice Queen routine?"
"Well, you did give me to my psychotic mother in law."
"Aw, you're not still mad about that, are you?" Damon leaned over her, bracing his hands on the bar on either side of her, keeping her in place.
"Hm." Aailyah tilted her head to the side, examining his face with a small smile. "You're difficult to stay mad at. It's something about your eyes."
"Yeah?" Damon's head tilted down, his face only inches away from hers.
"Yeah." Aailyah reached up, brushing a strand of dark hair from his face and tilting her head to whisper in his ear. "But it gets easier as you keep talking." She ducked under his arm, drink in hand, and spitefully stepped on his foot on her way past, driving her stiletto in viciously and relishing in his pained grunt.
"Playing hard to get, are you? I thought that was my game." Damon called after her.
"Oh? Is that what you've been playing?"
"Of course." Damon caught her hand, spinning her around and pulling her close, hands falling to her hips as he swayed to the music. "I have to keep your interest somehow."
"You have a strange way of going about it."
"C'mon. What do you say we get out of here, just you and me." Damon leaned down, his forehead resting against hers.
"Just us?"
"No one has to know." He whispered, finally closing the distance between and pressing his lips to hers. He kissed her deeply, and slowly, like they had all the time in the world. His fingers wove into her dark chocolate curls as his tongue slipped into her mouth, flooding her senses with bourbon and blood. Alli arched into him, her hand resting on his chest as she fell into him, enjoying the moment as lightning danced under her skin. Kathrine had been right about Damon, she thought dimly. He kissed like there was an art to it, like he'd do it all day if you'd only let him. And gods, Alli wanted to.
Slowly he pulled away, but he remained temptingly close, lips hovering only a breath away from hers, and Aailyahs eyes fluttered open.
"You're so pretty." Aailyah sighed, brushing her nose against Damon's, her hand falling from his neck to hover over his rapidly beating heart, before she pushed him back and turned away. "It's a shame you're so stupid."
"Ouch."
"I know you Salvatore's have a hard time with healthy relationships, so let me explain to you how mine works. Elijah and I have been together for over a thousand years, we have both taken and shared lovers. Nothing is done without the other's knowledge and consent. It's sex, it's not personal, it's not emotional. It's fun. I thought you would be. But as much as I enjoy a challenge, I've found watching you pick fights you can't win is no longer amusing, it's boring. You are boring me, and worse, you're getting in my way." Damon scowled down at her, and she smirked.
"Also, I know by now that you only stop mooning over your brother's little girlfriend when you want something, and I don't enjoy being part of your little schemes. Although I have to say, I did thoroughly enjoy that part." She patted his cheek before moving past him, heading towards Kol.
"Really, Alli?" He asked, arching an eyebrow at her.
"He's pretty." Aailyah emphasized defensively, and Kol rolled his eyes.
"He's a pain in the ass always trying to get in our way."
"I know, he'd be much cuter if he was more successful."
"Alli."
"What? Cleverness is an attractive quality."
"You know," Damon appeared at their side, leaving faux casually on the pool table, drink in hand. "I have managed to pull one over on you before."
"When we were near blackout drunk, sure." Kol snorted, taking his shot and smirking when the balls scattered, managing to sink 3 balls on the first turn. "Stripes." He called, lining up his next shot.
"Still, pretty clever if you asked me." Damon raised his eyebrow suggestively at Aailyah.
"And how'd that end for you again?" Damon didn't respond, and Aailyah grinned when Kol missed, walking around the table to start her turn. "Go away Damon, I'm spending time with my brother. Family is important, I'd hate to throw away a relationship with them over a lover who barely cares about me." Damon winced slightly and beat a hasty retreat, and Kol laughed.
"Brutal, Alli."
"He's earned it by now."
F&A
"Nothing!" Aailyah groaned the next day, bashing her head on the table repeatedly. "Why are people so bad at paperwork!"
"It was 1912, darling, no one really bothered with record keeping." Elijah rubbed a hand up and down her back comfortingly.
"Wealthy Family's did, and as annoying as the Salvatore's are, they're old money. There should be something, somewhere."
"It's been a while since I've seen you so stumped." Klaus teased. Aailyah lifted her head from her arms to glare at him.
"You don't get to laugh, you two were drinking all day while I worked."
"We were mentally preparing ourselves for the 'Wickery Bridge Convention', Honestly, this town is so boring they'll throw a party for restoring a century old bridge." Kol snarked while Rebekah walked in.
"Anything?" Elijah asked. She and Enzo had been at the bar all day, hanging around the Salvatore brothers, who were apparently drinking and easing Stefan into drinking human blood. Damon and Stefan had been rightfully suspicious, but Damon refused to send Enzo away, though he'd snubbed or ignored Rebekah every chance he'd gotten. Aailyah had been receiving complaints from Rebekah all day, as well as a few requests from Enzo to 'teach him some respect.'
Aailyah had assured him that if Rebekah had taken offense, she'd do something about it herself, though from the way Rebekah had kissed him at the door, he must've done something about it by the end.
"They weren't willing to talk to me, and Enzo wasn't able to get much out of Damon before decking him." Rebekah smirked slightly at the thought, shoving Kol's feet off the couch and sitting next to him.
"I don't know where else to look." Aailyah sighed, leaning back against Elijah's chest. "There's nothing online, Town Hall lost half their records in a fire, and the inspectors I hired can't find any houses or buildings in town made with White Oak."
"There's no trace of it in the surrounding forest, I've looked half a dozen times." Klaus swore, and Elijah hummed.
"Perhaps the Salvatore's kept their own records. They may have a copy that wasn't destroyed in the fire." Aailyah paused, head tilting to the side slightly, before groaning and smacking herself in the head.
"How did I miss that?"
"You've been fixating for days, love. I told you, you need a fresh pair of eyes. I'd bet anything you'll find records in the Salvatore Manor." Aailyah turned in his arms, pulling him down by his tie and kissing him thoroughly.
"You're brilliant." Aailyah beamed up at him and Elijah smiled, kissing her cheek before she jumped to her feet, grabbing her keys and heading for the door
"Where are you going?" Kol asked.
"To punch Damon in the face." Aailyah replied cheerfully.
"Try not to fall for him while you're there." Elijah teased, smirking slightly at her, and Aailyah paused at the door, turning to walk back to the armchair where her husband lounged and leaned over him, kissing him slowly. Kol and Klaus both grumbled and groaned, but Aailyah ignored them, taking her time, and trailing her fingers along his jaw and tangling them in the hair at the nape of his neck. She hummed softly, pulling back, and smiled at him.
"Never."
F&A
"Aailyah?"
"Hello Damon." Aailyah smiled sweetly before slugging him across the face. "That is for being rude to my sister and this-" Aailyah kicked him in the gut, stiletto puncturing his stomach briefly before he fell backwards, catching himself on the doorway. "Is for having stupid descendents."
"What pissed you off?" He groaned.
"The entire town of Mystic Falls, both the present and in 1912."
"Not you too? Why do the Originals care so much about council murders?"
"I couldn't care less about the murders."
"That's not what Caroline and Bonnie said."
"Alright, I'm curious. But that's not why I'm here."
"Then what do you want?"
"Your logging records. Be a dear and go get them for me."
"I'm gonna pass." Damon snapped, stepping back inside. Aailyah smiled beautifully and stepped forward, hovering in the doorway. "Sorry, you can't come in. Elena owns the house, and she's not here." Damon said with a smirk.
"Fun fact Damon, in the state of Virginia, you have to be eighteen to legally own a house. Elena's seventeen still, yes?" Aailyah shoved him back and stepped through the doorway, smirking at his surprised look. "This house doesn't have an owner til the day Elena turns eighteen. Now, as you may have noticed, I'm not in a great mood, and I'm not feeling very creative. So either you give me your records or I castrate you." Damon gulped and nodded slowly. He pushed himself to his feet and led her to the library to find the milling records. Aailyah snatched it from his hands when he found it and sat down, flipping through it to find what she was looking for. When she did, she pulled out her phone and dialed Rebekah.
"Feeling better?"
"Much. I even found what we were looking for."
"And that is?"
"Wickery Bridge. Do me a favor and burn it to the ground?"
"Of course, you know how I love to set things on fire." Rebekah laughed, hanging up.
"Thank you for your help, Damon." Aailyah handed him the record carelessly and he quickly read it over, eyebrows furrowing.
"White Oak? Isn't that-"
"The only thing that could've killed us. Right under your nose this whole time. And Rebekahs about to burn it to ash." Aailyah laughed as Damon rushed to his car, speeding towards Wickery Bridge. Aailyah lingered for a few minutes, perusing through the Salvatore's alcohol stores and taking two of his best bottles before climbing into her car, following him out to the bridge.
When she arrived, she found Rebekah and Kol standing in front of a blazing fire, wide grins over their faces, and Damon standing in front of the pyre, gaping at it.
"Is that all of it?" She asked, stepping past a gaping Damon.
"It is." Kol promised with a manic grin, and Rebekah practically danced over to her, linking their arms and leaning against her sides.
"You give the best presents Alli."
"Pyros." Aailyah laughed, kissing her cheek and lifting her hand to show off the bottles she'd taken. "Come, let's celebrate. I've been told it's some of the best wine in the northern hemisphere." Aailyah winked at Damon, who snarled, and Kol cackled.
"Klepto." Aailyah just grinned, turning towards her car.
"Stay if you wish, but I can't promise there will be any left when you get home."
"Don't you dare." Kol kicked the gasoline van into the pyre, watching the flames flare up violently before following her past a fuming Damon. "Alright, I'm satisfied. Let's go home."
Surprise I'm alive!
Happy holidays! It's been almost a year, and I have developed half a dozen new fixations that have been stealing most of my attention. But I have not and do not intend to abandon my story, or it's sequel, which will follow the Originals storyline, with my own twists.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love Aailyah, and I love my story, but as you might've noticed as the chapters go on, I've grown a lot since I wrote it, and I've been having to rewrite the majority of it to match my current writing style. I have the general outline all the way through the Silas Arc, but I have a lot of fixing to do before I'm satisfied enough to post it.
I won't post something I'm not proud of, and I am incredibly proud of this story. Thank you for everyone who's reviewed and followed and favorited, it makes me so happy to know you love it as much as I do, and every time I get a notification about my story it encourages me to get online and keep writing (otherwise I just keep procrastinating)
I'm not sure when my next update will be, but I promise it won't be a year. My goal is once a month, but we'll see how I do lol
I hope everyone has a happy holiday and a safe New Year.
-SucculentKiller?