My beloved is hidden by that veil
Try and conjure her face and you will fail
What your eyes cannot conjure my heart sees
Her perfume is the scent upon the breeze.
- Rumi, Behind The Veil
1922, Chicago
A man in a suit held the hand of a woman, walking down the streets at a fast pace, their fingers intertwined. His appearance had a weary edge while her perfectly curled hair had escaped the constraints of the hat, billowing behind her in the windy night.
Their shoes clicked on the footpath as they neared their destination when the man suddenly rushed them behind a counter, putting a hand over her mouth to still their movements.
"...Have you seen these two?" They heard his voice ask someone. A tear rolled down her cheek fearing the worst. They turned their heads towards a broken mirror catching his reflection showing a man a sketch in his hands.
"I've never seen those people before in my life," the young man replied making the couple internally sigh in relief.
"Wrap it up, boys. We're through here," he ordered and walked away but not before looking around the bar once again.
The couple hastily exited the bar without giving it another glance.
"We arrived late. They are gone but he is ought to be on their trail when he is this close," the woman spoke as they took shelter in an abandoned building.
"When is the ship leaving the port of New York for England?" He asked her.
"A week from tonight, Elijah," Adelia answered warily.
"We shall give him a fresh trail, my love. Keep him away from Rebekah and Niklaus," he kissed her forehead as a drunk man walked in. He rushed forward, biting into his neck roughly before throwing him outside the building.
Adelia glanced up at Elijah who nodded and she stepped back before he proceeded to bite into the necks of the men that followed the first. A tear slid down her chin and she looked away knowing the demons haunting him will never cease their torment.
The Original and his wife left after several minutes leaving behind bodies for his father to find.
The lone man thrown out earlier, rushed into the station with bite marks. Before succumbing to blood loss, he uttered a single name, 'Niklaus'.
Staring at the dead man on the floor, Mikael nearby smiled wickedly.
"Make sure this piece is properly sanctioned and get the signatures please. Also get all the information on Tobias, see if he has any family," Adelia handed the documents to the worker who nodded and left.
She sighed and looked outside when an arm wrapped around her waist. She smiled and leaned into his chest.
"Everything in order?" Elijah enquired and she gave him a nod.
"Did the children like the gifts?"
"Hmm. They did," he kissed her head before taking her hand. "I am famished. We must eat." The vampire walked backwards dragging her along which made her chuckle.
"Please assure me that your famished state must be for food and not something else," Adelia tilted her head and he gave her a mock glare. "Your appetite is very troubling."
He pulled her closer humming into the crook of her neck. "Are you accusing me of loving my wife too much?"
"I can't complain," she said.
A hand tapped his shoulder and Rafael unplugged his earphones to look beside him. "Miss Jemma Sonners, pleasure to meet you," he extended his hand to the female whose eyes narrowed.
"Jenna Sommers," she corrected him.
"Is it?" He raised his brows, "I apologise for the little joke."
"Haha. So funny," she fake gagged making the older vampire step back with a grimace.
"You can very well take another car. This one has Italian leather seats," Rafael touched his car fondly. "I call her Senorita."
"Oh sorry, I heard semolina," Jenna smirked when his fond smile disappeared.
"Of course Jemma, I recommend a hearing aid," he rolled his eyes when she dropped her luggage over his foot.
"Ow!" He exclaimed while stepping away from her. "The age of good humour has disappeared!"
She opened the door and looked at him, "Did you say something?"
Rafael decked the luggage in the back before taking the driver's seat. "A good hearing aid," he said before raising his voice with a smile, "You need a good hearing aid."
Jenna crossed her arms before plugging in the earphones and closed her eyes.
Adelia sat on the porch swing with her laptop as Asher across from her tried to catch a hovering ball in the air. She looked at him and made the ball come down as the dog happily yelped and jumped but the witch once again made it out of reach.
Asher looked at her—he was a dog but he knew what the demon was doing. His present highnesses were royalty in this world so he was subsequently the dog of royal caliber but the female in front of him made him work for every ounce of meat he was fed. Were royals treated like this?
Elijah out of nowhere grabbed the ball and threw it towards the surrounding garden as Asher ran after it before slobbering it with his mouth and paws.
The dog stopped; it was unfair, instincts shouldn't be held against him, royal or not.
Asher considered himself healthy and good looking, the demons radiated the same and it was evident everytime his tall grumpy servant took him to walk every morning. Was his sweet little demon aware of how the other females looked at her mate? Maybe he should tell her and then he wouldn't have to look at the grumpy servant anymore.
Just then a car arrived and Jenna and Rafael got out, the latter immediately hugging Adelia. "Your friend is an ass," she muttered.
"Thank you for noticing my wonderful possessions, Miss Sommers. Many people do," Rafael hollered, wheeling her luggage to the porch.
"Miss Sommers and Rafael, let's get inside," Elijah said holding the door open for the ladies as they were swiftly followed by the Desmond. When he went to close the door, a wet ball rolled to his feet as Asher wagged his tail cheeringly.
"Lunch time, get inside," the Original said with exasperation and the dog immediately shot inside at the mention of food. Elijah rolled his eyes at his action, "Dogs."
Asher looked behind him at the grumpy man. He let this one go; food over demon anyday.
"When Lia was six, she wanted the duck that swam in the lake because she liked its webbed feet," Rafael said while pouring the sauce in excess over the plate. "I got her a healthy frog and she made the poor thing walk until he died of exhaustion, curious to see how his feet worked."
Adelia glared at him and gulped down her food, "I was six!"
"That is not an excuse."
"You were the one who threw me into the lake when I was four!" The witch exclaimed and Jenna snickered before digging into her food.
"You wanted to see what's beneath the water. I helped," the friend elaborated with a roll of eyes and poured the sauce onto her food in agreement.
"I am glad to hear Rafael still hasn't grown up," Elijah quipped, taking a glance at Adelia's plate.
"I imagine your dark dreary childhood, Elijah. Did you ever smile?"
"Hush Raffie, be polite," Adelia nudged her friend's foot and sighed before taking a bite, excess sauce dripping out of her mouth. She glared at him.
"Rafael has a point," Jenna went along with a chuckle and the Desmond nodded appreciatively.
"This very well proves that a man shouldn't agree to whatever his wife has demanded before listening to the said demand," the Original smirked humourously.
"See Jemma, look look Elijah smiles!" Rafael feigned shock, gesturing towards the Original making the redhead laugh who ignored the butchering of her name.
Elijah went to speak when his phone on the table buzzed and he excused himself, the dog following after him.
"The Original family is going to reunite soon. May I suggest an annulment?" Rafael smirked once the Original left the room as Adelia turned to him with a scowl.
"They cannot be all bad," Jenna mused and the friend laughed.
"Oh dear, do vampires have life insurances? I suggest you get one, doppelganger niece and all."
Asher peeked at Elijah from behind the balcony doors, his tail wagging in excitement. Maybe his grumpy servant was talking to another female, and maybe, just maybe his sweet demon needed his help after all. He ran inside the dining room hoping to inform his servant of the new development.
"Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan," Klaus started once they got out of the car.
"What are we doing here?" The Salvatore asked.
"I know how much you loved it here. Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?"
"Blacked out most of them. A lot of blood, a lot of partying. The details are all a blur," Stefan elaborated.
"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what make it legend," Klaus said with a smile.
A few metres away from inside a parked car, Adelia stared at them with her binocular and hummed, "When you said we were going on a trip, I anticipated a very pleasant hill destination. This is anything but that. I have been crammed up in a car for more than 48 hours, following your notorious brother on his quest for world domination."
She put the binocular back over the dashboard and glanced at Elijah who was looking worse for wear in his sweatshirt. "Also add to the surprise that I get to see you in anything other than suit, in public. If that is not signaling your deteriorating brain cells then consider this the end of the world."
"You talk too much," the vampire replied before sipping water straight from the bottle.
"I feel like a stalker, 'lijah. Normal people do not peer into the back of a man's head with binoculars all the way. I feel to have developed four eyes with all the spying you have made me do," she grumpily said.
"I apologise if this inconveniences you but my suit was rather destroyed by a crow who found it justified to enact revenge on my beloved because your pet was audacious enough to bark at a flying bird."
"Why is it suddenly his fault?" She gestured to the sleeping dog in the backseat. "You and the crow both wear black. That creature asserted his dominance over your apparel, proving himself to be the superior specie who is capable of flying away after he has excreted over your beloved."
"I had to tolerate your pet throughout the journey who gobbles up everything in sight, my wallet included. I am clearly the victim and you are making Asher to get sympathised with."
"Asher needs air. He smells the stench of hypocrisy flooding the interior," Adelia unbuckled her seatbelt and scooped up the dog from the backseat. Pushing the door open, she climbed out and shut the door with a bang.
Leaning against the window she looked at her husband who was staring at her in disbelief. "Please come and join us? Oh I am sorry, you can't. Your self worth wouldn't handle strangers judging you for not wearing a suit! Goodbye," she gave a salute and rushed off.
Elijah watched her walk away with his jaw hung open.
1862
The Next Day
Quick footsteps hurried along the hallway of the manor as the sound of many other steps following slowly drowned the quiet of the night.
Adelia looked behind her and sighed in relief to still find the corridors empty when she took a turn and immediately the shadows of the soldiers appeared on the wall adjacent to her.
Taking a step back, she turned around only to be welcomed by the clanking of another approaching group. She got into a defensive position and wracked her mind to find excuses when a hand muffled her mouth and pulled her inside a coat closet. Her eyes widened and she started struggling as the grip tightened around her waist working to pull off the hand over her mouth.
"I suggest you stop the struggle," his voice whispered into her ear and her efforts instantly ceased, recognising the voice.
The group walked by the corridor, the shadows of the men falling over their faces with the filigree on the wood failed to stop the light.
One man stopped by the closet and Adelia's eyes widened when he glanced towards them, his brows furrowing in confusion. He started walking up to the closet and the witch stepped back more into Elijah's arms who remained still in his position.
The guard looked at them in doubt as his hand went to touch the closet door when both the Original and the witch froze inside. The man hummed and latched the closet door shut as the tension left the vampire's shoulders. He proceeded to shake the handle vigorously to check its resistance making Adelia flinch at the sound. Elijah pressed his palm over her mouth tightly and waited until the guard left.
The hand muffling her mouth moved to her neck as the witch gulped in relief, involuntarily leaning into Elijah, who concluded that her occasional mischievous streak seemed to have amplified in the last two years.
Adelia disentangled from him and tried to move to the other side of the closet, unable to do so for the conjusted space.
He halted her movements as he tightened his grip over her. "We are locked in," Elijah whispered and the hair on her nape rose up at the proximity.
The witch closed her eyes and within a few seconds, the closet door opened with a creaking noise. She tried to flee without looking at him and he grabbed her wrist immediately, pursing his mouth.
"Kindly tell me what is wrong?" He asked and Adelia looked away. "You will tell me," Elijah continued and tightened his grip over her wrist before walking towards the familiar corridors.
Klaus and Stefan entered the Gloria's Bar which appeared to be quite empty.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" The hybrid commented.
"I can't believe this place is still here," Stefan muttered looking around.
"You got to be kidding me," Gloria exclaimed making Klaus smile.
"So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender-"
Gloria interrupted him halfway, "Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny." She then looked at Stefan, "I remember you."
"Yeah. You're Gloria. Shouldn't you be..." the Salvatore started.
"Old and dead? Now if I die, who's going to run this place, huh?" She humoured.
"Gloria's a very powerful witch," the Original explained.
"I can slow the ageing down some. Herbs and spells. But don't worry, it'll catch up to me one day," the witch said.
"Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?"
"Yeah, sure thing," the younger vampire agreed and went to the bar.
Klaus glanced at Gloria. "You look ravishing, by the way."
"Don't. I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels."
"So what am I doing wrong? I broke the curse," Klaus said.
"Obviously you did something wrong. Look, every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old... we'd have to contact the witch who created it. I thought you would have contacted Elijah's wife. Have you wondered maybe she tampered with it?" Gloria guessed.
"Well, that would be the original witch. She's very dead and Adelia and I are presently not talking but there is a reason I trust her, do remember that," he narrowed his eyes at the implication.
Gloria exhaled, "I know, she's here in the city. And for me to contact the Original witch, I'll need help. Bring me Rebekah."
Stefan noticed a photo on the wall and pulled it off to look at it with a frown.
"Rebekah is a bit preoccupied," Klaus put forth.
"She has what I need. Bring her to me," the witch told him.
"What is this?" Stefan asked.
"Well, I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place," mused the hybrid.
"But this is me. With you," the Salvatore showed him the picture of him with his arm around Klaus's shoulders.
"This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?" He continued as they walked into a warehouse.
"You said it yourself; that time had a lot of dark holes."
"No, if you knew me, then why haven't you said anything?"
"I'm a little busy right now. Memory Lane will have to wait," Klaus rolled his eyes.
"What the hell is going on? Answer me," Stefan demanded, furrowing his brows.
"Let's just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start. To be honest, I hated you," the Original said.
"Why must you poke your nose into everything?" Adelia freed her wrist from his grip as he shut the door to her designated room.
"What are you doing here, Adelia? Tell me the reason," he asked her once again. "If you need any assistance, you must say so. I promise to help you. Is Arnold aware of your presence here?"
"I do not need your help," she looked at him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was ought to leave this morning," informed Elijah. "I stayed for you. What have you gotten yourself into?" When he didn't get any answer, he sighed, "I am trying to protect you."
"Protect me? Do not make me a complicit in your crimes. I refuse to be an excuse for your own motives." She glared at him and removed the covers to the bed before climbing in.
"Would you prefer if I left you amidst them? You could've been caught. They are already searching for Roger's killer."
"My safety is not your concern and it was not I who killed him. It was you!" She untied her hair and turned around to set him with another glare.
"And I killed him to keep you safe. Do remember you are a human and not an immortal like myself," he clenched his jaw before taking a step towards her.
"I did not tell you to protect me!" She shouted. "I would've gotten out of every situation if you hadn't interfered. I never wanted your assistance. My father shouldn't have to hear from people that his daughter is seen in compromising situations with a man such as yourself."
"Man such as myself?" Elijah stared at her when she closed the drapes around her bed.
"Your reputation speaks for yourself," she replied as his gaze hardened. "A vampire!"
"You would not like to be seen with an Original?" He asked, his hands automatically moving the drapes aside to directly stare at her.
"I would not like to be seen with any man that my father has not approved," Adelia replied as she sat up on her knees to his eye level. "Stop helping me. I do not need it."
"I refuse to leave you to fend for yourself," he said with a helpless expression over his face, "I cannot."
"What must I offer for you to stay away from me?" She blinked back the tears brimming in her eyes.
"I just wish to protect you."
"You cannot protect me."
Elijah instantly pulled her forward as he gently held her nape, startling her. Their lips were inches apart and she looked wide-eyed at him in contemplation. "I will always protect you," he uttered softly.
Adelia got out of his hold, almost scratching his hand and swiped the nearest object to her, a clay vase and threw it towards him, which he immediately caught. "I do not wish to be protected by you! You have done enough. You got me out and I will forever be grateful for that," she gritted her teeth and closed the drapes before getting inside the covers, turning her back to him.
The Original breathed deeply and kept the vase at its place before leaving the room.
When Adelia opened her eyes, she sighed admonishing herself for her rude behavior with Elijah. Hoping he was still here, she made up her mind to apologise and opened the door open, only to be greeted by a dead guard outside.
She looked around and saw bodies littered everywhere. With small steps, the witch reached the foyer and froze, encountering the General's brother on the floor, dead.
"There won't be a next time," Elijah said with a hard voice and she jumped in surprise before looking up. The Original stood there with blood all over him.
He stepped towards her and she held her stance, looking him in the eye, her disbelief quite apparent.
"You cannot do this. This is wrong," her voice had a hard glimmer and he ignored it, for both of them.
"I will do anything to protect you and you will not stop me," the Original replied, holding out his hand to her.
She took little steps to hold his bloodied hands, uncaring of the red smeared all over him.
"Tell me everything," he ordered and this time she couldn't refuse.
Klaus raised his shot of tequila towards Stefan, "To friendship."
Stefan clinked his shot glass. "So I'm confused. If we were such great friends, then why do I only know you as the hybrid dick who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire? Huh?"
"All good things must come to an end," the hybrid said.
"You compelled me to forget?" The younger vampire asked.
"It was time for Rebekah and I to move on. Better to have a clean slate," Klaus explained emptying his glass.
"But why? You shouldn't have to cover your tracks... unless you're running from someone," Stefan guessed and the Original stiffened.
"Story time's over," Klaus said, ending the discussion.
Stefan huffed and turned his head to see his brother Damon, who motioned for him to come over. "I need another drink. A real one," he mused and left the bar.
Adelia hurried down the basement of the manor desperately looking for Rafael. Elijah remained a few steps behind her, his expression impassive as he watched her peek into the cells for a glimpse of her friend.
The witch stopped in front of a cell and looked into it. "Raffie!" She called out seeing him asleep on the floor. The man immediately opened his eyes and hurried towards the iron bars.
"Lia, I was awaiting your arrival," he grinned and it instantly disappeared once he saw the man who stood behind her. "Elijah?"
"I am terrifically not surprised to find you here," the Original stated and Adelia turned to glare at him.
"Colour me surprised if I say I expected a better suit," the friend drawled when another man inside the cell woke up with a groan.
"Who is it?" The man got up to stand beside Rafael as Elijah watched him warily.
"Mr. Reynolds?" Adelia asked in surprise when the man noticed her and his eyes widened. He immediately composed himself and fixed his hair.
"Miss Laurentis, pleasure seeing you here," he replied with a smile.
"What on earth are you doing here?" She frowned at his demeanour which Elijah standing behind her did not like. The man was literally staring at the witch with adoration in his eyes. "Rafael?" Adelia glared at her friend.
"He insisted," the friend shrugged his shoulders.
"He insisted?" The witch mocked turning to look at the Reynolds man. "What is the matter with you, Jasper?"
"I do love it when you call me that, darling," Jasper dusted off his cravat and leaned against the iron bars with a smile.
Adelia narrowed her eyes and flicked her wrist as the lock to the cell broke. The door instantly gave away under Jasper's weight as it flipped open and the leaning man fell outside onto the floor near her feet.
The witch chose to ignore him before entering the cell to engulf her friend in a relieved hug.
"You were nowhere to be found and grandmother was beside herself with worry," her words came out muffled over his coat.
Rafael kissed her forehead and escorted her outside. "This is Mr. Reynolds. He is a physician and a very proficient activist," he came and introduced the man to the Original who had an impassive expression on his face.
"I am impressed, Miss Laurentis," Jasper winked at her and Adelia rolled her eyes.
"Tell your cousin I will gauge his eyes out if he does that again," the witch told Rafael and signed the other man the same.
"He is your betrothed, why don't you start the demonstration? I will happily retrieve the scalpel from his bag if that is what you wish," Rafael said nudging Adelia when Jasper linked his arms with her and started walking together.
The betrothed gestured at her blood-stained hand and she shook her head in dismissal. He tilted his head and the witch pointed to his bruised head as he shrugged it off. She held up her chin to enquire about it when he gestured to himself and crossed his palms over his heart before pointing at her. Her cheeks suddenly got tinted with a light blush of pink.
Elijah witnessed the entire ordeal with less-than-impressed attitude. He pursed his mouth before starting to walk ahead from them all, ignoring the tinge in his heart.
"That is Elijah Mikaelson. Original extraoordinaire with fangs," Rafael whispered to Jasper, whose eyes widened in surprise and awe.
The three followed the vampire up the basement and the two men grimaced at the sight of the bodies littering the floor.
Rafael looked at Adelia for an explanation who turned to fidget with her sleeve all of a sudden. He looked towards Elijah and sighed before dragging his friend out the house.
As a carriage arrived, the witch glanced at Elijah. "You can accompany us back to Cloverville. You need to change and get rested," she offered, "and grandmother will disapprove if you refused. You helped us a lot." She finished before he could interrupt.
"Thank you for the offer, but I mus-"
"I will inform Klaus. It wouldn't be right to let you leave in this state," Adelia smiled at him.
"I agree with her, Mr. Mikaelson. You look positively famished," Jasper hummed before escorting his betrothed inside the carriage.
Rafael looked at Elijah intently who shook his head in an affirmative no and walked away.
Adelia felt him sit next to her on the bench and put a milkshake in between them. Glancing at Elijah to see him wearing a suit over his sweatshirt, she rolled her eyes.
"You are not difficult to find, my love," he humored.
"Don't tell me you compelled a man to give you his suit," she said and he looked away, giving her a sheepish smile.
"I paid him handsomely if that is what you are implying. I am not a thief," the Original reasoned.
Adelia picked up the milkshake and immediately started slurping it. "Butterscotch, you remembered."
"Of course I remember," Elijah said with a smile and produced a packet of biscuits from his pocket.
"Dog biscuits for Asher?" She asked and he nodded. The witch happily placed the dog on her husband's lap, ruffling his head.
Elijah discreetly placed the dog in between them as Adelia continued sipping her shake. The dog looked at him and turned away, instead placed his head on her thigh.
"Did you find anything?" She enquired.
"I plan to follow Niklaus. I found a set of coffins, they were of course decoys. Why don't you get rested?"
"And leave you with your brother who can dagger you again?" The witch raised her brow.
"He won't," Elijah sighed and kissed her forehead.
Klaus entered the room in the warehouse full of his family's coffins and saw a guardsman lying dead on the floor nearby. "Rebekah... it's your big brother. Come out, come out, wherever you are."
A blonde figure rushed over to stab him with the dagger making him gasp, "Go to hell, Nik!"
The hybrid took the dagger out of his chest and dropped it with an unimpressed face. "Don't pout. You knew it wouldn't kill me."
"Yeah, but I was hoping it would hurt more."
"I understand that you're upset with me, Rebekah... so I'm going to let that go. Just this once. Brought you a little peace offering. You can come in," he said and on accord Stefan arrived.
"Stefan..." Rebekah muttered, surprised.
Klaus rushed to him and looked the younger vampire in the eye, "Now you remember."
Flashes flooded Stefan's mind as everything slowly fell into place. "Rebekah," he said, finally recognising her and walked closer.
"Stefan," the hybrid called out and the Salvatore stopped to face him.
"I remember you. We were friends," he told the Original.
"We are friends," Klaus humored and looked at his sister, "And now the reason you're here. Gloria tells me you know how to contact the original witch."
"The original witch?" She frowned.
"What do you have that Gloria needs?" He asked and she touched her neck to find her necklace missing.
"Where's my necklace? What did you do with it? I never take it off!" She exclaimed.
Stefan finally realised the necklace he had given to his girlfriend was Rebekah's which Elijah hinted at when Adelia took it from Elena.
"I don't know. I didn't touch it," Klaus answered, slowly getting enraged.
"We need to find it, Nik. Now, I want it back!"
"Tell me that's not what she needs, Rebekah!" He shouted and the Original female looked into the coffin to not find it.
She threw the wooden box on the ground in anger and the Salvatore contemplated whether he should tell them the truth or not, totally aware he'd have to explain how the necklace came into his possession too. Then it wouldn't take long for the siblings to figure out that the doppelganger was alive as well.
"First Maeve and now you!" Klaus continued.
"Adelia?" Rebekah immediately stopped. "Where is she? And Elijah?"
Klaus waited a breath and thought it over, "There is no better time for a reunion. Maybe you'd prove to be a motivation for them to help me afterall." He mused and pulled out his phone before walking out of the warehouse.
"Okay. You were right. He was there," Damon told Katherine over the phone.
"I'm always right. Let me guess... it ended in tears and heartbreak?" The doppelgänger mused.
"Where are you?" He asked.
"Why? Do you want to come rub sunscreen on my back?" Katherine humored.
"I'm thinking Europe. Italy, maybe. Or Spain. You were always a sucker for those lazy afternoons."
"Keep guessing, Damon. Bye-bye," she laughed hanging up the phone. Walking out of the phone booth, she hailed a cab and was about to get in when she noticed a figure sitting on a bench. With a smirk, she walked towards Adelia.
"How's life with the Original vampire in suit, dearie?" Katherine humoured sitting beside her and soon encountered a dog sniffing her palm.
The witch looked at her in surprise. "Pleasure seeing you here in the windy city. Is the wind not strong enough to blow you away?"
"It is acceptable. He is all words and no bite," she leaned back and twirled a piece of hair between her fingers.
"And I presume he is not aware of your presence here?"
"Give me some credit Mrs. Mikaelson. I am faster than you could imagine. My long lost love is playing BFFs with your BFF," the doppelgänger explained as she watched the dog climb on its owner's lap.
"Such a tragedy. It appears we are in the same boat," Adelia mused with a smile.
"The boat where Klaus has the wheel. I am aware of your predicament. Looking for the Mikaelsons while I am stuck looking after Stefan."
"Kindly do tell the reason I am graced with your presence, Miss Pierce," the witch said exasperatedly.
"It's an honour to have a cup of tea with Adelia Laurentis and I merely grabbed the opportunity," Katherine explained and Adelia gave her a look of disbelief accompanied with a smirk. "Fine b*tch, we can help each other."
"Oh sweet me," the Original's wife feigned surprise. "I am not a fool to make a deal with you."
"You are smart. I was questioning it when I heard my old lover was tying the knot and crushed my frozen heart back in the 1800s," the older vampire quipped.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Adelia got up taking Asher in her arms. "I do not need anything from you."
"Everybody needs something from me," Katherine answered and after a beat, "Even your husband did once. Quite a forbidden affair we had. He truly loved me."
Adelia gave her an amused smile and took a step towards the vampire. "If you were expecting a different kind of reaction, I apologise for disappointing you. My dignity wouldn't allow I pay heed to petty digs."
Katherine looked at her intently. "People say you take after Elijah, but those who really know you might differ in their opinions. He might have been your betrothed but his influence over you puts even your husband to shame," the doppelgänger narrowed her eyes in mischief when the smile disappeared off Adelia's face.
"We will continue this pleasant conversation the day you put something worthy on the table since I know what you'll ask from me. I do not put my family's fate in the hands of someone who is desperate for freedom," Adelia replied ignoring Katherine's earlier words and the doppelganger stood up on accord. "I will send your regards to Klaus. Goodbye."
The older vampire watched Adelia walk away when she was suddenly pushed into a wall by an angry Elijah, the tub of gelato discarded on the cobblestone.
"Maybe you do not wish to live after all, Katerina," the Original squeezed her neck as she struggled against his grip, fear flooding her eyes. "How dare you throw the affection I had for you in her stead? It is nothing in comparison to the love I have for Adelia. Should I inform Niklaus?"
He released his grip lightly as she took a breath and looked at him.
"This shouldn't have bothered you if you know it never bothers her. The matter resides somewhere else," Katherine quipped with a cautious stance. "You still fear a dead man's love for your wife, the love that refuses to part ways and it bothers you that Adelia chooses to hold onto it." Elijah's grip tightened making her smirk. "It makes you question your decision to let her be. You Mikaelson men are afterall not used to anybody doing things their way."
"You will not speak another word," the Original pushed her onto the opposite wall and rushed at her when a bark resounded the ally and he turned to look at Asher wagging his tail at him. Looking around to see the doppelganger not in sight anymore, he scooped up the dog in his arms. "Where is Adelia?"
The dog barked twice and settled himself within his arms as Elijah let out a sigh of relief. He looked at the cobblestone to see the melted dessert and left it there it to walk back to their residence.
Adelia walked into a warehouse, phone in hand. "Nik, what is it now? It better be an apology for snapping my neck! It hurt!" Suddenly a figure came forward and hugged her tightly making her freeze, "Rebekah?"
"Oh hello, dear sister."
1887
New Orleans
Rebekah entered the parlour to see a young woman sitting on a chair reading a journal. The female original was undaggered moments earlier and seeing the betrayal she had been gifted with, she fled.
"Get the hell out of here," Rebekah shouted at the woman who to look up close was very beautiful—just like her brothers preferred.
"So Niklaus did undagger you. He was muttering about missing his little sister for the past two weeks," the woman replied closing Elijah's journal.
"Who are you?" She asked and instantly noticed the hairpin Niklaus had acquired two centuries earlier adorning her hair. When the woman put the journal on the table, she saw the rings. "Why is a married woman loitering the compound? You have fallen for my bastard brother even when you are supposed to be faithful to your husband? And that journal is Elijah's!"
The woman stood up and walked towards her, "You misunderstand Rebekah."
"I do not misunderstand," she continued shouting and then realised, "Unless that bastard remarried! Wasn't the trouble of Vivianne [1] enough for a lifetime?"
"Already creating ruckus sister?" Niklaus walked in and took the seat the woman had earlier evacuated.
"You bloody well know Nik! What is this woman doing here?" She pointed her finger at the brunette who now appeared quite amused.
"The little witch lives here. My favourite one so far. You would know since she is Sharel's granddaughter," he answered.
Of course, Rebekah remembered the pregnant Beauchêne witch who had saved her life in 1819. It might have been decades for them but for her, it was like yesterday.
"I shall send a missive to grandmother about your recent awakening to life and Niklaus, please be polite. She is your sister," the woman said as her brother smiled fondly at her rebuttal.
"Sister, I am surprised Niklaus has been this considerate," Elijah glanced from the doorway when Rebekah rushed forward to glare at him.
"Elijah. I am still deciding what to do with you. You left me daggered for 52 years," she stated with a frown but moved into of his awaiting arms seeking comfort.
"Don't be hard on him. He tried but your other brother has twisted definitions of punishment," the woman offered while her elder brother came to stand beside her. He curled his arms around her waist making Rebekah's frown deepen.
"Rebekah. Meet Adelia, my wife," he said and the sister was left dumbfounded.
She glanced back at Niklaus who was staring impassively and then towards the woman who was smiling. She was Elijah's wife, not Niklaus' paramour. Her noble brother had gotten married.
"You jumbled up the brothers," Adelia told her and placed a kiss on Elijah's cheek who looked at her with adoration crystal clear in his eyes.
"How? My good brother had gotten himself hitched and his only sister was absent! When was this?" She shouted again and gave the woman a once-over to find her acceptable. "And my satan brother has left you alive. Is this another plot of yours to hurt Elijah, Nik? I do remember Celeste," she glared at him.
"If I kill Sharel's precious granddaughter then she will raise hell, sister. Twenty-one years and dear Maeve hasn't ran away. I blame her sanity for her poor judgements," Klaus grinned.
"Absolutely Niklaus. I fear for my sanity when we live under the same roof. It is either tolerating you or finding a white oak. I prefer tolerance over a never ending search," Adelia smiled sweetly and Klaus glared at her when Rebekah burst out in laughter.
"Elijah, an invitation was delivered some hours earlier for you. You should take your sister instead, help her blend in," she continued and he nodded with a smile, "and I shall send for the seamstress," she finished and exited the room.
"At least Elijah got it right," Rebekah grinned, finding her newest sister-in-law more than acceptable when Elijah smiled and kissed her forehead before following his wife.
She turned towards her other brother to see him staring at the empty doorway with undecipherable eyes.
"I have missed you," Adelia hugged her back. "Where is Klaus?"
"Missed me already?" He came out with a smile on his face when it turned into a grimace when his brain burst in pain.
"What do you want from her? I have an arduous time believing your compassionate act of undaggering your sister all of a sudden," she enquired.
"Can't I miss my sister, Maeve?"
"No. I conveniently recall the time you missed her so much that you ended up writing to us for a decade personating her. "Dear Adelia and Elijah, Stefan Salvatore is the man of my dreams. Nik has given us his blessing and has not tried killing him yet. It is very unfortunate that you are not present to see me living the life I have always desired for myself. Chicago fulfils the sense of adventure our old home lacked and with Stefan, my life is complete." I was impressed," Adelia replied, remembering the letters as the Original hybrid got annoyed while the sister grew infuriated.
"He did what?" Rebekah shouted.
"I have archived those letters for you, Bekah. Appreciate his creative streak for yourself. What a blessing you gave them Nik? Daggered your sister and compelled poor Salvatore."
"So you and Elijah knew my history with the Originals too?" Stefan asked.
"Enough of the chitchat. You will help us Maeve," demanded Klaus.
"I have lost my necklace, Lia! Do something," Rebekah explained.
"I will gladly help you Bekah. Nik, not so much," Adelia answered and took the Original's female hand, "She is staying with me. You boys are not welcome."
Elijah looked up from the couch hearing the front door open as the dog lying beside him rushed to greet Adelia. Her cooing words to the dog reached his ears and he busied himself with the papers infront of him.
A pad of footsteps walked towards him and he frowned knowing it definitely wasn't his wife's. When Rebekah came to stand across him, his eyes widened in surprise seeing his sister after ninety years.
"Rebekah," he immediately walked towards her to engulf her into his arms as the female returned it wholeheartedly.
"Elijah, you are still the same," she burrowed herself deeper in her brother's arms, tears brimming in her eyes. The last time she had seen him, it was in New Orleans where she also lost Marcel to that unfateful night.
"I kept a change of dress in the room down the hall. Get fed and then I'll leave you two alone," Adelia said from the kitchen.
"She has become more demanding," Rebekah hummed and left her elder brother's embrace as they both chuckled.
"I can hear you, Rebekah!"
A/N: [1] According to the trilogy published by Julie Plec, Klaus was once married to a witch-werewolf named Vivianne Lescheres. Long story short, it did not end well for the Originals.
Introducing
James McAvoy as Jasper Reynolds
"I will always stay with you, sweetheart."