For the next millennium
Author's note: Recently, I decided to get back to my Queen of New Orleans story and revise it. Since my writing style has changed a lot since I first started writing it, I've decided to rewrite it completely from scratch. The plot will stay similar between the two stories. The first chapters will follow The Originals season 3 canon before differing later. The former Queen of New Orleans story will stay up a little while longer before deletion if you want to read it. Hope you'll like the new version.
Even the warm spring air, the blooming lavender, and the birdsong could not appease Eglantine's inner torment. Soon enough, she would be married to the evilest man on Earth: Lord Tristan de Martel, and there was nothing she could do about it. It was simply her fate, her duty as a woman to unite the two most powerful families in the area. Eglantine de Lestrange had been staying at the De Martel Castle for a few days now, along with her lady-in-waiting in anticipation of her incoming wedding. The young lady was attending a garden party with all the prominent nobles. Having been an orphan since a very young age, Eglantine was not a socialite; she preferred staying in a corner quietly observing the people around her; now, she was focused on her future husband and father-in-law. Count de Martel was a physically repulsive drunkard who only loved eating, drinking, hunting, and torturing his servants and vassals just for sport. People knew they were never safe around him.
On the other hand, Lord Tristan was a good-looking man who could be charming when he wanted. But, in truth, Eglantine knew this was merely a facade, as she knew he was just as cruel as his father. In fact, he was even more dangerous as his good looks helped him take everyone but not Eglantine. Anyway, despite being an orphan, Eglantine had been raised as a proper lady who knew where her place was. Indeed, she would soon enough be the most powerful lady of the court as a future countess, but she knew that women held no power here...
« Would you walk with me, my lady? » a masculine voice that always chilled her to the bone interrupted her thinking. Lord Tristan was towering above her seat, shadowing the sunlight.
« Of course, milord, » Eglantine replied politely with a smile that hid her turmoil, taking the arm he offered. As they silently walked along the thickets, Eglantine felt like Tristan's arm on hers weighed a ton. She tried her best to hide her fear of him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her afraid as he was accustomed to seeing fear in his people's eyes and enjoyed it a lot. Eglantine kept staring before her momentarily, not daring to look at her future spouse. Frankly, she was quite proud of herself as she hid her fear behind an emotionless face. Indeed, it was a skill she had mastered over the years. People assumed she was an emotionless, cold lady – the perfect match for Tristan, and Eglantine just let them talk.
« We are to be wed in a few days, and yet we have spent only a few moments in each other's company. Did I do something to upset you, or have you intentionally avoided me? » he inquired. At first, Eglantine didn't notice they had stopped walking as she was too focused on Tristan's words. They were now facing each other, their faces merely inches apart. At first, Eglantine didn't know what to reply to as she tried to detect any threat in her fiance's words.
« No, milord, you didn't do anything wrong. I am not just the social type, » Eglantine replied, praying it would satisfy the lord's inquiry.
« Well, I do hope you will be able to overcome this and enjoy my company in the future, my sweet innocent bride, » Tristan replied, rolling one of her blond locks of hair, » he replied politely, but Eglantine saw the threat behind.
« Sweet and innocent, indeed, » a thousand-year-old female blond vampire muttered, standing in front of her portrait, taking center stage in the living room of her private mansion in the French Quarter's heart. The picture was painted during the Victorian era, and the Queen of New Orleans was quite fond of it as she looked regal, showing power to her visitors. Eglantine de Lestrange kept reminiscing about her ten-century-long existence as she sipped her Bourbon. She was born and had lived during times when women held little to no power, but Eglantine had freed herself from this convention long before her human counterparts did. As she gulped the last content of her glass, Eglantine made her way to the balcony overlooking the busy streets. Eglantine de Lestrange had traveled the world in her millennium-long existence, but New Orleans was the only place she would call home. When she arrived three hundred years ago, the area was a swamp and a carceral colony. She had built the city along with the Mikaelsons. She had seen the city burning, and she rebuilt it each time, and when the Mikealsons fled, the town had prospered under her rule. Over the years, she became cunning, calculating, and extremely smart. The Queen of New Orleans had never been dethroned since she was always one step ahead of her enemies. So, when the Original family returned, they knew they better be on her side. Likewise, Eglantine's calculating mind knew how to deal with them – meaning backing off sometimes and giving them the impression they had control, whereas she gave orders.
During most of the 20th century and the 21st century's first decade, New Orleans had lived in relative peace until the Original vampires returned. Since then, the city has suffered attacks from werewolves and dead witches. Then, the Mikaelson family drama had shed blood over the city, but Mikael, Finn, Esther, and Dahlia were gone for good now. But their demise came with a heavy price. It had been six months, and almost everything was normal. Elijah and Klaus were at odds once again. Klaus will never apologize for the blood he shed, and Elijah will not forgive him. Despite this, the hybrid kept his word. Eglantine was again the unquestioned queen; the Crescent wolves were now living in the depths of the Bayou. The peace with the witches was precarious. Indeed, Davina – once our closest ally against the witches – was now Regent and too powerful to be swayed.
The queen watched the humans wandering the streets, amazed by the French Quarter's architectural marvels, not suspecting the supernatural world full of blood and violence surrounding them. A wave of nostalgia hit her when she remembered what it was like to be human, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Her human life sucked. The only positive point in her human was the Mikaelsons siblings coming into the Martel castle ballroom, which would eventually trigger the events leading her to New Orleans. She was married to the wealthiest man in the area but also the evilest, with no quality to redeem him. The only person Tristan had any affection for was his sister Aurora. Even there, everyone could see their relationship was unhealthy and abusive, except Aurora. The latter was nothing like her father, brother, or other scheming noblewomen. She was caring, selfless, and way too naive for her good. Eglantine had tried to befriend her sister-in-law, but the dirty looks Tristan shot her led this initiative to a sudden end. Furthermore, they were too different; while Aurora was selfless and compassionate, Eglantine was driven by self-preservation and held no regard for her selfish and abusive fellow nobles. Therefore, Eglantine was quite surprised when Aurora came to her after Tristan had tried to exorcise her again during the 14th century. She had felt bad for Aurora but turned her down as she knew the latter would eventually return and would never open her eyes about how he was treating her. As a human, Eglantine's husband had a wicked personality and enjoyed flaunting his power and wealth over those he deemed beneath him. He was too arrogant to notice his wife's sharpened mind and fell for her cold and submissive facade. After a thousand years, Eglantine suspected he finally saw through it. According to Lucien, Tristan hadn't changed much over the centuries; he was still cruel, ruthless, and only associating with those he deemed equals. The only good thing Eglantine ever got from him was her transformation into a vampire. Tristan had changed her thinking that she would be his forever, whereas he gifted her way out on a silver plate. Besides the Originals, Lucien was the only person she kept in touch with from her human life. The first sired vampire had dedicated several lifetimes to building a company with almost unlimited resources and was someone she could do business with, from supernatural artifacts to alcohol traffic during the 1920s.
Eglantine looked at the clock and filled two glasses of Bourbon as Klaus would barge into her home at any time now, as he always did after his session with Cami.
« Klaus, » she greeted him, handing him a glass as he walked in unannounced.
« I invited my therapist to a private tour of my art exhibition, and she didn't appreciate the gesture. I even invited her to come to the opening with me, and she didn't reply, »he said in one breath.
« That is precisely the problem. You claim Cami is only your therapist, but people don't invite their shrink to art shows. That leaves two options: you wish your relationship to be more than therapist-slash friends, or you're afraid no one will come. Don't worry, I'll be there, » Eglantine explained.
« My word, you two got together and decided to go against me as she said the same thing about no one coming, » Klaus exclaimed
« Perhaps, she's right. Think about it. You would do anything to protect your daughter, and I completely understand. But look at you. You killed the body Rebekah possessed even if it was the only way to bring Kol back; you burned Elijah's girlfriend right before him, and you cursed Hayley, preventing her from seeing her daughter. I am the only friend you have left, » she replied. Klaus remained impassive throughout her tirade. But deep down, Eglantine felt she had hit a nerve.
« You're supposed to be on my side, » he retorted.
« I am on the side of New Orleans, » she replied before her buzzing phone interrupted them. « I gotta go. You know the way out, » the mansion owner said before heading toward the door, leaving Klaus mulling over what she said.
As she approached where Vincent texted her, Eglantine noticed the number of police cars and the yellow tape blocking a dead end. She knew Vincent was the PD expert for anything occult-related since. Still, that didn't explain her presence here, nor did a blond bartender therapist bent over a dead body.
« Vincent, why did you call me? You know I deal with the vampires who left their dinners remains internally, » Eglantine spoke softly.
« I am afraid it goes far beyond a vampire who would not have cleaned up his leftovers, » he replied, gesturing to look at the scene closely. The victim looked like a daddy's boy if his clothes, watch, and cufflinks were any indication. His wrists were suspended with rope like a macabre puppet show. But, an all too familiar wound caught Eglantine's attention. His face had been cut from ear to ear in some devilish smile.
« The amount of blood indicates the victim was alive, and it was…carved. But, according to the detective, no one heard anything, » Cami explained.
« A vampire did this, » the vampire queen finished Cami's sentence. The vampire awareness of that particular occurrence over a thousand years ago could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Eglantine barged into another endless Mikaelson quarrel.
« People have learned to knock nowadays, » Klaus acknowledged her presence.
« Says the one who always barges into my home unannounced, » she bit back. « Anyway, we have a problem, » she continued as Elijah, Freya, and Klaus stopped quarreling. « A vampire is wreaking havoc in the French Quarter, » she explained.
« Well, rogue vampires are yours to deal with, » Klaus bit back as Freya carried Hope outside the room, sensing the conversation to come was not one for impressionable ears.
« Usually yes, but the victim had a very particular wound, » Eglantine grabbed her phone to show the two Original vampires the picture she discretely took on the crime scene and saw their faces crumpling as soon as they assessed what they were seeing. « I dare think we will all agree of this not being a coïncidence, » Eglantine filled the silence. « And no, Klaus, I don't think you did it, » she cut him. « Don't worry; I will get to the bottom of this and make the culprit regret ever putting a foot in this city, » the queen concluded before leaving the two brothers in shock.
« Well, she's a true queen, » she heard Klaus say as she exited the Compound, which got a smile out of her. It was funny how life could turn out. Indeed, despite having a noble background, Eglantine was considered weak only because she was born a woman who could only be fulfilled in motherhood. At least, that was how Tristan saw her. Because of her supposed weakness and lack of sense, she would be kept away from political decisions. But, most of all, the most flagrant illustration of feminine submission happened in the marriage. A wife owed her husband total obedience. There was the rub when someone would be married to someone as vile as Tristan. That is to say; nothing predestined her to become a major figure in the vampire world.
This day was the last day of her relative freedom; Eglantine thought as her handmaiden brushed her hair. In a few hours, she would Mrs. De Martel, a name she already loathed. Seeing her wedding dress caused her to remember the happenings that led her into this situation. Count de Lestrange and his wife died when Eglantine was a toddler, leaving her in the care of her closest relative – Count de Martel -. His unquenched desire to monopolize power and money led him to marry his son to Eglantine. Of course, Tristan had no problem with that since he shared the same desire for money and power as his father. On top of that, he would find himself with a beautiful wife.
People say a wedding day is the most beautiful day in a woman's life, the beginning of a new life in which a woman can truly be fulfilled. « More like a burial, » the bride-to-be thought as Count de Martel escorted her down the chapel aisle toward the altar when Tristan was waiting. As they reached their destination, the Count put Eglantine's arm on Tristan's and took his place as the priest began the ceremony.
« Do you, Tristan de Martel, take this woman as your lawful wife, to care, and to protect from this day forward until death do you part, according to God's holy ordinance? » the minister pronounced the ritual vows.
« I do, » Tristan replied with his usual emotionless voice.
« Do you, Eglantine de Lestrange, take this man as your lawful husband, to honor and to obey, from this day, until death you part, according to God's holy ordinance? » he addressed Eglantine.
« I do, » she replied, sealing her fate. Even if marriage was based on both spouses' consent, Eglantine didn't have a choice. She couldn't have said no and left her fiance at the altar; then, she would have been banished and forced to in the most extreme poverty at best. Every decision she had made since her parents died and she came to live under Count de Martel's protection was of self-preservation. So, saying no to a marriage with his son was not an option.
« I thereby proclaimed you husband and wife, » the priest's words fell like a lead weight in Eglantine's mind, whereas every man in the assembly was jealous of Tristan and every woman of Eglantine. Little did she know, fate would turn to her advantage very soon.
As Eglantine returned to her mansion, her mind worked full speed. She was sure neither Elijah nor Klaus had anything to do with that gruesome murder. That left only Lucien and Tristan. Over the centuries, Lucien had tipped off Eglantine on Tristan's modus operandi. The latter would never get his hands dirty, but he could have ordered one of his minions to do it. Therefore, he would be hard to drive out, whereas Lucien was more straightforward and was not one for subtleties. So, Eglantine decided to start with Lucien. When Eglantine got home, she started researching luxury residences in New Orleans. Through the centuries, she had learned Lucien's habits, such as preferring modern penthouses over centuries-old mansions. After an hour of browsing the Internet, she found several realtors selling luxury penthouses. Since it was already well past eight o'clock, estate agencies were likely closed off for the night. So, she would have to wait until the morning to track down Lucien. Besides, the queen of New Orleans had more urgent matters to attend to as she needed to clarify some things with her vampires. Word had spread in a flash that the Queen was throwing a party that night, meaning attendance was mandatory. It was almost midnight, and the party was in full swing when Eglantine appeared on the balcony overlooking her courtyard. Suddenly, all the vampires stopped dancing, and so did the music.
« My dear friends, last night, a gruesome murder was committed in our town, » she had barely finished her sentence that whisperings went strong. Their queen wouldn't address the matter if it were simply a human killing his neighbor; that means a supernatural being had gone rogue. « I don't believe any of you to have anything to do with this. But, while I'm working on the matter, I need you to be extra cautious and stick strictly to the rules – meaning go feed in nightclubs, erase the nightclubs memories, » she used her regal voice to silence the whisperings and to make her point.
When the estate agencies opened, Eglantine visited them, hoping to find Lucien's home. Fortune quickly smiled upon her as she passed by an agency's window when her supernatural hearing caught a very interesting conversation between two realtors. Apparently, a realtor went to show some CEO around a luxurious penthouse last night and never came back.
« Typically, Lucien, visiting a luxurious home and then killing the realtor, » Eglantine thought. She was a hundred percent sure it was Lucien, as Tristan would most likely inhabit an old mansion rather than a modern penthouse. As the realtors debated over if they shall call the police, Eglantine kept her ears open to see if one of them would drop the address.
« 1402 Canal Street, » a realtor finally said. As she headed toward the address, her phone buzzed.
« Vincent, you're disturbing me in the middle of a very important matter, » Eglantine said.
« I'm sorry to bother you, but I have news about the body we found yesterday. Can you meet me at St Anne Church? » he replied.
« Fine, I'll be there in ten minutes, » I sighed after weighing the pros and cons. I decided to get rid of Vincent now to have all the time to deal with Lucien.
« Maybe, you should consider that my guys are not the only vampires in town. Elijah says Klaus has been on his best behavior lately. I have known him for two centuries, so I can tell you that rather sooner than later, he'll get loose. Maybe he already did, » Marcel argued with Cami and Vincent.
« It is not Klaus, » Eglantine announced, barging into their argument. Marcel opened his mouth to reply, but his queen cut him off. « Listen, I already saw that kind of wound only once, a thousand years ago, » she explained.
« Okay, so do you need help in dealing with this person? » Marcel asked, less confident.
« If the culprit is who I think he is, he's about five times your age. So I'll deal with him myself, » the thousand-year-old vampire answered. Checking the hour, the said vampire saw it was almost time for Klaus'art exhibition. She didn't mind the delay this time as she sensed Lucien would be there too.
Klaus'art exhibition was already underway when Eglantine set foot inside the St James infirmary. Despite some notorious absences, it had drawn a large crowd. An art critic was shooting the painting representing Genevieve down in flames. Eglantine quickly spotted Klaus and Lucien making fun of each other and vamped at their side.
« Hello, Eglantine, it's been a while, » Lucien greeted with his usual smirk.
« Time doesn't matter. I hardly see its passing. But, you're right; it's been a while. So, I think we should have a drink to catch up, ».Eglantine said, smiling. It was a ruse, and alcohol would be her best ally to make Lucien talk. A trick as old as the world.
Somewhere in Bhutan, Lord Tristan de Martel, leader of the Strix, had to postpone his usual visit to his sister, whom he had sent to a Buddhist monastery in the mountains to cure her mental disorders. It was a test actually to see if he could let her out. Besides, he had much to prepare for his trip to New Orleans. Aurora, Lucien, and himself had spent the last couple of years searching for a way to seal the Original family away forever, and every path led to New Orleans. Indeed, the ancient magic artifact they sought was in New Orleans, and so were the Mikaelsons. Thus, he studied the political spectrum there for the last few months. He was more preoccupied with his relationship with the most important figure of the French Quarter, who was none other than his estranged wife, whom he had not seen for a millennium. He had kept a distant eye on her over the centuries as she seemed deeply involved within Mikaelson's orbit. First, he had assumed her loyalty would lie with the Original vampires. However, his opinion changed in 1919 when the Mikaelson siblings fled New Orleans, and instead of running away with them, she stayed and took the throne for herself and has held it with an iron fist since then. He could see two possible outcomes. First, if he promised she could keep her throne, Eglantine could side with the Strix or let them lock the Mikaelsons away without interfering. Secondly, his wife would side with the Mikaelsons out of loyalty to them or to spite him. In this case, he wasn't sure he'd know how to act since, even if she probably hadn't noticed, he had come to care for her – in his way – when they married.
Eglantine de Martel was wearing her most beautiful silk and jewels. She held Tristan's arm while he held Aurora's with his other arm. The relationship between the two siblings was odd as wherever Tristan went, Aurora followed, and vice versa. They waited for the guests to take their curtsy in front of the Count before entering the ballroom. From her seat near the door of an anteroom, she could survey the corridor the guests would take to enter the ballroom. It was always the same stream of snobbish nobles when suddenly something odd caught her attention. The Count's personnel servant was supposed to fetch Count de Guise and his party. Yet, he was escorting five young people displaying odd behavior, none of whom was Count de Guise. Eglantine had never seen either of them. They whispered amongst themselves, looking around, astonished by the castle's richness. It was odd as they were supposed to have grown in a court similar to this one. The more Eglantine studied them, the more she was sure they weren't from this land. Unfortunately, Eglantine was not close enough to hear their conversation.
As the newlywed couple and Lady Aurora entered the ballroom, the guests moved aside and marveled at the delicacy of their clothing. As they mingled with the other attendants, Eglantine couldn't help but notice Aurora's gaze lingering on one of the supposed Count de Guise's children, and the feeling seemed mutual.
« Tristan will not like it, » Eglantine thought. As the celebration continued, the new lady de Martel pretended to be interested in the latest local gossip while keeping an eye on the Guise siblings. The tall blond Aurora seemed to be attracted to was conversing with Lucien.
« Another odd thing tonight, » Eglantine thought. She had heard about nobles treating servants more respectfully than the Martel did but not to the point of conversing with them in company, almost as if they were equals.
As everyone had retired for the night, Eglantine de Martel was sitting on the edge of her bed, wearing a simple white nightgown. She was eyeing the door connecting her room to Tristan's, waiting to see if her husband would come to perform his marital duties. It was not as bad as she dreaded. Surprisingly, Tristan was not a violent man in bed. Sometimes, she even surprised herself by thinking Tristan could have affection for someone other than his sister. As minutes passed by and the door wouldn't open, Eglantine's mind wandered toward the Guise siblings. She was positive they were not Count de Guise's children. They were… something else.
Eglantine, Klaus, and Lucien were now reminiscing about their shared past at the bar in the club the art show was held, drinking copious amounts of liquor.
« Have you spoken to her? » Klaus suddenly asked out of nowhere. Eglantine prayed Klaus would not go on the ground she thought he was going.
« Who? » Lucien answered, confused. Klaus raised his eyebrows suggestively. « Oh, you mean her? » Lucien suddenly realized who his sire was talking about. « As you well know, Aurora ad I parted ways centuries ago, » Lucien seemed choked up at the memory. This was not going as Eglantine had imagined.
« Come on; we were having a good time. Why did you have to crash it with your tragic love triangle? » Eglantine sighed.
« You're right. Let's talk about you then. I must say what you have made of this town during the last century is quite impressive, » Lucien pulled himself together. It was also a barb at Klaus as he had founded the city but fled in 1919, letting it burn.
« Yes, it is. What about you, Lucien? Are you still building luxury residences and golf courses? Are you planning on disfiguring my city with hotels made of concrete? Or are you here for something else? » Eglantine inquired
« You ask many questions, » Klaus' first sire replied.
« I like to know what is happening in my city, especially nowadays, » Eglantine retorted. « I dearly hope you're not exorcising your demons in the French Quarter, » the queen of New Orleans continued showing Lucien a picture of the scarred victim. « After all, you would agree this kind of wound is particular and cannot be coïncidence, » Eglantine decided there was no way to be subtle about this.
« Are you accusing me? May I remind you I am not the only one who knows about that particular event, » Lucien seemed suddenly uncomfortable.
« I am not accusing of anything, Lucien, as I know there is a possibility that Lord Tristan de Martel may be up to mischief again. I am just considering all the options.
« I am not here to cause you problems. I am here because I need to talk to Klaus about his… sireline's safety, » Lucien was serious again. « I am throwing a party at my new penthouse tonight. Why don't you drop by and see for yourself if the party is worthy of New Orleans, » Lucien quickly regained his playfulness.
« Well, in that case, I'll let you two to it as I have some business to attend to, » the queen replied before leaving the bar.
Night had fallen when Eglantine de Lestrange silently entered Marcel's new fight gym in St Anne Church, hoping to surprise him. Two potential vampires were sparing on the ring, with Marcel observing them.
« So, did you deal with the five-time-my-age vampire? » Marcel asked without turning from the potential recruits. Damn it, she never managed to take him off guard.
« He assured me he had nothing to do with it, but I am not completely convinced. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt as another old acquaintance of mine could have done it, » she explained to her second-in-command. « Therefore, I ask you to keep an eye open for any unfamiliar vampiric face. Spread the word to the others, » she ordered, to which he agreed without inquiring further. After two hundred years with Eglantine, Marcel knew when it wasn't the time for questions.
Eglantine's phone rang as she exited St Anne Church and was about to go to Lucien's apartment. She checked the ID: Vincent. She stared at her phone as she felt she already knew what he would tell her.
Lucien's guests were slowly leaving his home when he noticed Eglantine hadn't come. It had felt good to see Eglantine again. From a business partner, she became a friend throughout the centuries. He knew she would be hard to manipulate, but still, he hadn't anticipated she would see right through him that quickly. Unlike Tristan, he had noticed her ability to read people when she was still human, and that ability only sharpened through the centuries. So, she likely didn't find out yet about him working with Tristan, but it was just a matter of time. A time that would come sooner rather than later. Speaking of the devil, Lucien's phone buzzed. He sighed but decided to pick up the phone as he knew Tristan would not let go until he reached him.
« I trust everything is going well, » Tristan said with his usual cold voice.
« As well as one could expect him. Klaus doesn't believe his family is in danger, and your estranged wife already knows I'm killing people in her streets. May I suggest you come to New Orleans quickly, like before Eglantine put two and two together? This will happen in next to no time, as her ability to read people definitely comes from occultism, » Lucien replied before hanging up.
After Lucien hung up on him, Tristan rose from his chair and headed toward the bedroom of the suite he was occupying. The leader of the Strix got out an old faded parchment envelope. He got an old drawing of Eglantine and a photo from a newspaper from 1915 representing her in New Orleans'opera. The caption introduced her as a rich philanthropist from New Orleans.
During the short time their wedding lasted, Eglantine had stirred feelings he was unaccustomed to. Unfortunately, he realized he had grown quite fond of her of his wife hit him too late. Indeed, within a few hours after his transformation into a vampire, he also needed to turn her. Eglantine barely had the time to complete her transition had Elijah had to find Tristan and compel him to flee the castle without giving Eglantine a last regard.
1114, Paris
It happened. His mind was suddenly full of images and memories. Aurora, Eglantine. Elijah Mikaelson had not turned Eglantine. Tristan de Martel did because if he had to live an eternity, he wanted her in it. Their wedding day came back to his mind when he promised to protect her, yet he had turned her and left her afterward to fend for herself.
« They did this to us, » Aurora barged into his room in the inn they were residing in. For a minute, Eglantine's memory disappeared from his mind to only focus on his sister. Aurora always had a troubled mind, a condition that undoubtedly worsened because of them. « And they will pay, » Aurora continued.
« I agree, » Tristan didn't notice Lucien entering the room. The two men were gauging at each other across the room with Aurora between them.
« I say the three of us make a pact. Us against the family who took everything away from us. We do not have to like each other, » Aurora was looking expectantly at them.
« I'm in, » Lucien moved a step closer toward the siblings. Tristan hesitated for a moment. He had spent a century thinking he was Lucien's brother, and that idea repulsed him. Still, he glanced at his sister. The Mikaelsons had taken everything from him: his identity, his sister's sanity, and his wife. He supposed he could tolerate Lucien's presence if that meant getting revenge on the family that wronged them.
In the present day, Tristan put the drawing and photo back in the envelope. «
« Soon, we will meet again, my love, » he said to himself.
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