So does the Sufi
With no stain of condescension
Bring the essence of Him
To our frail attention
- Rumi, Child's Play
November, 1863
Fleureau Manor, New Orleans
Adelia abruptly opened her eyes when she heard the floor creaking and sat up on the bed. Waving her hand, the candle lit up and she moved the canopy curtain to find no one. Exhaling deeply, she laid down on the bed again, curling the pillow in her fist when the curtain to the window fluttered in. The witch sat up again and climbed down the bed to move towards the window.
Bare feet hit the wooden floor softly as she fingered the nightgown cautiously when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist making her flinch in surprise. Sliding the sleeve down her supple shoulder, a pair of lips descended on her nape as her giggle echoed the room.
"Elijah, you shouldn't be here this late," Adelia softly reprimanded, turning her head to look at the Original.
"Are you banishing me from your chambers?" He teased her, twirling a lock of hair between his fingers.
She nodded vigorously, her features mocking him. "Indeed I am," the witch whispered.
Elijah bent down to her ear as she shyly tried to roll up her fallen sleeve. "I am truly hurt, my love," he said and halted her hand at her shoulder. He twirled her around to face him, earning surprise laughter from her. "I demand compensation for my broken heart," he finished quietly.
The witch wrapped her arms around his neck, rising up on her toes to look him in the eye. "And how do I compensate?" She asked with a pout.
Elijah furrowed his brows in thought and trailed his thumb over her cheekbones. "I might be persuaded with a little kiss," he demanded.
"That is too easy, Mr. Mikaelson," Adelia smiled and pecked his cheek instead.
As she moved away from the hard stubble of his jaw, he closed his eyes and murmured, "Such childishness."
"You had to be more specific," Adelia smiled coyly. She moved to walk away when he pulled her back, wisps of hair sticking to her face.
"Let the gentleman return the gesture," Elijah hummed and removed the locks before he connected their lips with an urgent fervour.
Suckling her lips, he walked them backward as the back of her knees hit the bed lightly. The Original pushed open the curtain to lift her on the bed, dropping her on the mattress with a soft thud.
Adelia sat up on her knees to hold his head and connected their lips again, making him smile at her forwardness. He went to follow her action, but she pushed his shoulders down to tangle her fingers in his hair.
Elijah unknotted the strings as her tresses tickled his face while making her straddle his lap. She sighed, biting his earlobe when her fingers unbuttoned his vest. He pulled down her neckline to expose her shoulder and softly kissed her collarbone as she held onto the footrest to let him continue his ministrations.
The Original fell back on the covers taking her with him. He gathered her obstructing tresses in a fist as she pecked his now exposed chest. He turned them over in an instant, a giggle reverberating the room as her head hit the pillow. He kissed her hungrily as she beckoned him closer with her leg, the hem slipping past her thighs to rest on her hips.
As Adelia dug her nails into his bare back, he joined their foreheads, their combined breaths hot. The sage in the room burnt heavily as he closed his eyes in peace. He trailed his lips down to her nape as she clutched his neck with dear life when her hands started glowing.
Elijah opened his eyes at the sensation and came up to look at the witch in confusion before she joined their lips making him forget the dilemma. The window pane cracked with a splinter as her fingers still burnt red.
Bonnie and Elena stood staring at the coffin in front of them.
"I've been having these dreams for days now. It's like the witches are warning me," the Bennett witch started.
"I just can't believe that you guys kept this from me this whole time," Elena said out loud and turned towards her friend, "Shouldn't we stay away if the witches are warning us?"
"Stefan thought if you knew where the coffin was, Klaus could threaten people to get the information out of you," she answered.
"So, there is only one," the doppelganger pointed out. "Where is the rest of his family?"
"Yeah. Two other coffins missing," Bonnie sighed. "This one... the only one we have, we can't open. We don't know who is in it, or what's in it, only that I think my dream's telling me it'll help us kill Klaus."
"What the hell are you doing?" Stefan asked once he entered.
"Not surprising really," Damon glared at the witch, following his brother.
"I needed her to know about the coffin," the Bennett reasoned.
"Oh yeah, great idea," the elder Salvatore rolled his eyes.
"And I needed you to keep her out of it, Bonnie," Stefan said.
"So what are you gonna do, Stefan? Are you gonna kidnap me, so that I won't tell anyone?" Elena replied, hurt lacing her tone.
"Don't tempt me, Elena."
"Children, calm down," Damon looked between the two.
"I think I know who can open the coffin, Stefan and I need Elena to help me find her," Bonnie informed the Salvatore brothers.
"Find who? What are you talking about?" Stefan asked curiously.
"I couldn't place her face at first. Then I realized..." she pulled a photograph out of her pocket to show it to Elena.
Elena looked at it in surprise, "Oh my god, Bonnie."
"Who is this?" The younger Salvatore questioned, looking at the photo intently.
"It's my mom," the Bennett witch answered.
"We have one more stop to make before you find your mommy," Damon informed everyone and unfolded a piece of paper. "Recognise her?"
Bonnie took the paper from him and looked up in shock. "She's the one who appeared in my dream, warning me about this," she stated, pointing at the coffin.
"The painting you asked me about is gracing the walls of my dungeon," he shrugged. "Sharel Beauchêne is the only woman who has been associated with Adelia Laurentis."
"The grandmother Adelia was talking about with Klaus in the visions related to the portrait," the witch realized.
"Super easy to connect the dots," the Salvatore smirked and glanced at his brother.
"Where are we off to?" Stefan inquired after a beat of silence.
"Cloverville," he smiled while looking at the closed coffin.
"I have never indulged in video games, never caught fancy," Adelia answered Kol, flicking through various AGM invitation templates for the next year.
"But this is ingenious," the notorious Original said as his fingers battled with the monster on the screen.
"I know," she said and glanced at Finn, "You are holding the remote upside down."
The eldest immediately corrected it and sent her a thankful smile.
"How do I call you?" Kol asked, throwing his phone at her.
"Unlock the screen. Go to contacts, the names appear alphabetically. Mine starts with A so the first one should be Adelia," the witch instructed step-by-step as Kol learned it instantly and renamed her as Elijah's why-phe.
"I do not consider it wise to venture outside this early," Finn put his words in, looking at his younger brother anxiously.
Kol rolled his eyes in exhaustion, "Always a bore, brother."
"I speak the truth," the eldest reasoned. "Where is Elijah?"
"Asher had to get his vaccines so I sent Elijah with him," Adelia answered.
"It's not as if a dog bite would kill us," Kol said.
"And that is why humans do not bond with you," the witch gave him a sweet smile.
"Humans are overrated, darling," he replied and clicked a picture of his brand new slippers to send it to Rafael.
"Where are they?" Klaus enquired from his hybrid minion.
"They have boarded a flight to New Orleans," the hybrid Daniel replied.
Klaus immediately went on alert and asked, "What's there for them in Orleans? The city has nothing to offer anymore. Are you following them?"
Sensing the urgency, the hybrid came to the point. "I am. The doppelganger said something about taking a car to Alexandria."
"Alexandria," the Original frowned as a slow realisation seeped in. "Keep me posted."
"Hey Raffie, joining us for dinner?" Adelia peeked inside his cabin with a smile.
"Good joke," Rafael laughed.
"I will make your favourite chocolate soufflé," she tried to bribe him.
"Send them later," he held up a finger. "But a dinner with the Mikaelsons? Hell no, I value my sanity."
"Not changing your mind?" She tried again.
"It was your idea to get the council on this thing," he diverted the topic, pointing at the candidate across him who was sitting with his back to her.
Her eyes widened. "I apologize! I did not mean to intrude but why is HR not doing this?" She asked him.
"I have chosen to take care of it personally," Rafael explained. "Lia, would you mind bringing some coffee for me?" He requested and looked at the guy. "What would you like, kid? Milkshake? Orange juice?"
"Raffie..." Adelia gave him a look.
He rolled his eyes and waved his hand. "Milkshake it is for him, any flavor is fine."
"I'll get cappuccinos for you both," she reprimanded with a glare and left the cabin.
"I am not a kid," Zachary said, once Adelia left as the wound on his forehead throbbed even thinking about the dream he had last night.
"So you speak as well. That is good to hear," Rafael raised his brow.
"I do not like milkshakes. I hate chocolate," the teenager punctuated his words.
"You should have mentioned that fact in your resume," the Desmond offered.
"You're an a*e you know that," he said with gritted teeth.
"You're welcome, kid," he leaned back in the chair and continued, "So, I have no use of an intern with your skillset right now."
"I can be very promisi—"
"The last twenty kids I saw. The same lines–promising, hard-working, meticulous, extraordinary. Tell me something different."
Zachary cleared his throat, "My mothe—"
"I know who you are, it does not faze me the slightest and neither will it faze the woman who runs this with me," answered Rafael.
"My stars say that my life is about to change," he blurted out.
Rafael sniggered, "Stars? Like destiny?"
"Yes," the teenager nodded, "They talk to me."
"Wonderful," he rolled his eyes. "What do they say about me?"
"That you are going to hire me," Zachary smirked.
"Confident are we?" Rafael's eyes twinkled with mischief. "What about that woman?" He said and pointed to Adelia who was walking towards them with a tray.
"She has a shitty husband," the teen replied impassively.
"That I might actually agree on," the Desmond humoured and passed a paper over to him. "This is the writer we are finding very hard to strike a deal with. I want an acceptable response from him by the end of the office hours."
Zachary's eyes furrowed as he asked, "Define acceptable."
"I want to test your definition of acceptable," he quipped, "Good luck."
Zachary took it as a sign and exited the cabin when Rafael's phone rang to display Klaus on it.
"Well well well, what a surprise," greeted the friend. "This is an honour, my lord."
"Where are you?" The hybrid immediately questioned.
He rolled his eyes and got up from his seat. "I actually have to work for a living you know. I do not use compulsion to build my wealth."
"Where are you, Rafael?" Klaus asked him again.
"Seattle, where else?" Rafael answered and walked towards the cabin door.
"The Salvatores are travelling to Alexandria," the Original informed him as the Desmond watched Adelia stop outside his cabin. He pulled open the glass door and took the cappuccinos from her.
"The kid left. Thank you," he said, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek as she nodded and entered her own space. "What did you do?" He immediately spewed out just as the door to her cabin closed behind her. "If they even meddle into my sister's affairs, I swear I will put an end to the doppelganger myself."
"You want to disappoint Lia by making me unhappy, Raffie?" Klaus said in a mocking tone.
"We will talk about disappointment when she comes to know you let it go this far," he replied, throwing back the hybrid's words.
"If you are unable to do anything..." The hybrid started.
Rafael interrupted him instantly, "I am not afraid of revisiting my past. You are a coward for not setting foot in Orleans. If you claim not to have a heart, then try not to associate it with your past."
Klaus took a deep breath as he gritted his teeth, "There is a reason I called you. It was not for listening to you spewing whatever comes to your mind."
"I have a lot to say, but for the sake of time and everything, I am choosing to let this go," Rafael told the Original. "I am warning you, Klaus, any meddling in the past and I will forget Lia's association with any of you."
Klaus smirked, "I killed your only advantage against me some days back, Rafael."
"If you are still under the impression that Lia will choose you Mikaelsons over me then you are wrong," the Desmond stated firmly and continued, "Her remaining familial bond surpasses any loyalty she has for her husband or yourself."
"When are we meeting Nik and Bekah?" Kol asked Elijah later that night as he cut into the meat on his plate.
"Soon, brother," the noble Original replied.
"Are they aware of our... revival?" Finn put his thoughts into words.
"No," Adelia said. "If you do not wish to meet him for the time being, you are welcome to stay here."
"I might just d—" Kol started.
Elijah interrupted him immediately, sipping water, "We shall leave for Mystic Falls by next week."
The witch put the fork down slowly and turned to look at her husband. "Elijah, if he doesn't want to see Klaus then you should reconsider this. It might be a century for us, but for him, it has just been a few days since he was betrayed by you three and daggered."
The notorious Original nudged the eldest, "Finn? Did you see her taking my side?"
"We are a family. We stay together," Elijah replied without looking at her.
"They need time to process everything. Kol has to learn everything from the past century and Finn has to make up for the last nine," she reasoned.
"I am not making excuses for a reunion," Elijah defended his stance, giving her a glance.
"You think I am for evading this," Adelia narrowed her eyes.
"Hey hey!" Kol tried to calm them down.
She continued, "They need to settle down before you throw them into one of your revenge plots again."
"I thought you'd agree with me," the husband said in a whisper.
"I am with you, Elijah," she reassured him. "Nevertheless, you need to postpone your plans."
"We do not have a better time," he said
"Your siblings' mental health is more important than your fantasies that yield nothing," Adelia told him. "You try to scare Klaus to take off the edge and then later pretend as if nothing happened."
Finn cleared his throat, looking between them. "These arguments are best done behind closed doors. I am sure this courtesy hasn't changed in the centuries."
"Absolutely," Elijah took a deep breath and got up, looking at his wife.
"This is a family matter that concerns you all. Think about them before your revenge against Klaus," the witch said and crushed pepper over her dish.
"I am avenging them," he informed as his knuckles turned white, holding the armrest tightly.
"No, you are not," she stared up at him. "Do not justify your failure by making them an excuse."
"I do not fail, Adelia," the Original punctuated his words carefully.
"Then your lack of acceptance is your problem," she said, releasing a deep breath. "Just letting you know that I oppose them leaving against their will to play fiddle in your plans."
"We will not be speaking about this. I shall retire for the night," he finished before exiting the dining hall to retreat upstairs.
Adelia heard the echoing footsteps and turned towards their audience. "I apologise. Please finish your dinner."
"I am sending some pictures. Whenever they land in Orleans, I want every update on them," he said into the phone, waiting for the jet to arrive at the strip.
The man on the other end chuckled and replied, "What has gotten up your a*?"
"I will be directly taking a jet to Alexandria," Rafael did not answer his question and continued, "I do not want them in the vicinity of anything."
Silence ensued from the other end as they processed the situation. "I will take care of it. When you get time, tell me everything," the voice requested.
"I will," the Desmond replied as the sound of the engine drowned the conversation.
February, 1864
New Orleans
The glasses of an abandoned carriage fogged up with condensation in the cold winter month as a stifled moan echoed throughout the empty barn. The curtains obstructing the view inside formed creases when a feminine hand scrunched it up in a fit of pleasurable agony.
Adelia bit down on Elijah's neck as another snap of his hips brought another moan to her lips.
"You are beautiful," the Original mumbled into her neck, breathing in the rose and sandalwood fragrance emanating from her skin. A groan fell from his mouth when she tugged his hair so wonderfully.
He looked at Adelia, seeing her previously immaculate pinned up hair now a beautiful mess cascading down her partially bare back, the sleeves of her gown falling off her slender shoulders and her long delicate legs wrapped around his waist.
Adelia shut her eyes, feeling his quickening movements as her own body arched high hitting the pinnacle. She moaned aloud, involuntarily scratching the glass panes through the curtains when Elijah followed with a groan, spilling inside her.
His fingers interwove her over the curtain tearing through it with a hiss, biting into her rapid pulse as the blood hit his taste buds only to make him rumble in pleasure.
The Original held her tightly to his body, drinking her magical blood in a haze of pleasure and bloodlust. Feeling her nimble fingers caressing his hair, he reluctantly parted from her neck using his handkerchief to clean the mark.
As he was about to bite into his wrist to feed her his blood, the bite healed itself, leaving no marks behind. Hesitantly Elijah touched her neck and indeed, there were no traces of his fangs anywhere.
The Original glanced at Adelia who was watching him curiously while still running her fingers through his hair. "Adelia..." he started.
"Hmm," Adelia giggled, putting her index finger in his mouth, pricking it along a fang. The veins around his eyes reappeared as a drop of her life essence stuck to his tongue and he held her wrist to suck it off. Bringing the finger into his view, he once again witnessed nothing making him frown.
"What is it?" She encouraged the Original, locking eyes with him.
"Has Sharel given you anything?" He took a deep breath, one of concern.
"A hot cup of ginger tea, like always that I gave to father because I have developed a peculiar preference to lemon teas," she replied, raising an eyebrow. He glanced at her neck and her eyes widened in surprise. "Did you leave a mark?" She exclaimed, touching her nape in horror. Finding no evidence, the witch sighed in relief.
Getting no response from the Original, Adelia saw him deep in thought. "Elijah, you need to fix your clothing. It is getting late," she informed, pulling up her sleeves.
Elijah though unsettled, leaned forward to peck her cheek, nose slowly trailing down her neck to breathe her in as his fingers fastened the corset.
"Do not stare. It is very uncanny of you," she mumbled, staring ahead and an involuntary smile crept over the Original's face.
"Haven't you heard that you shouldn't trespass a property?" Rafael said from the other side of the gate, looking amused at the little clan of misfits.
"You," Bonnie immediately went on high alert, aware her magic didn't work on him last time.
"A Bennett witch," he pointed out, "doppelganger, the ripper of Monterey and who are you?" He lifted his chin at the elder Salvatore.
"The ripper's very normal brother," the Salvatore quipped, rolling his eyes, "I go by Damon Salvatore."
"Wonderful," he smiled, "I am Rafael Desmond."
"Adelia's late fiancé's cousin," Stefan looked at him properly.
"Did your research I see," the man tapped his fingers against the iron door. "What else did you find?"
"Some woman has been appearing in her dreams," Elena spoke for the first time, gesturing towards the Bennett witch. "We know its Sharel."
"Sharel would have taken offense to being called by her first name by some indignant kids," Rafael quipped, his stare unnerving the doppelganger.
"What are you Mikaelsons hiding?" Damon questioned blocking the view of Elena.
"Let me help you," the Desmond offered. "I know about your pathetic attempts of keeping them out of your lives. You will not find your answers here."
"Sharel appeare–" Bonnie started.
"We'll address her as Madame Beauchêne, thank you," Rafael smiled politely. "She never interferes unless it's a matter of blood. So whatever you're all cooking up might affect her descendants, namely Adelia. She doesn't mix them up."
"Well unfortunately for you, she is a Mikaelson," Stefan replied impassively.
"Elijah and Adelia have not been informed of this discretion yet," the Desmond said. "Do not underestimate their thirst for vengeance when they find out you have been meddling with things that shouldn't concern you. If Klaus can endanger your little brother, do not exempt Elijah from getting Mr. Gilbert killed. His screw goes haywire sometimes."
"You will not touch him."
"You speak too much." Elena and Damon said simultaneously as the Salvatore rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall beside the gate.
Rafael ignored him and huffed a breath. "If you are so much concerned about him, put 'handle with care' tag and refrain from doing certain things that might get beloved people killed for no good reason."
"If you are so much adamant about not letting us get inside, then there must be something," Stefan said.
He shrugged his shoulders, "Please do the honours. I like seeing disappointed faces."
The younger Salvatore tried to push open the iron gate, but it didn't budge. He tried for a minute as not even an inch moved from its position.
Damon seeing his brother's struggle, held the gate to shake it thoroughly as it remained unmoved. He took a step back to jump over the gate but found himself in front of another identical gate. He repeated his actions, finding himself stuck in a loop.
"What is he doing?" Elena asked, concerned seeing Damon repeatedly jumping in the same place.
"Auditioning for a circus, what else?" Rafael humoured as Stefan held his brother's hand to snap him out of the illusion.
"This place is barricaded with magic," Bonnie muttered, the realisation hitting her.
"Oh, thank god. You were almost on the verge of disappointing me with your witch-y deduction skills," smirked the Desmond.
"What's happening?" Elena murmured to herself as she gazed beyond the gate to see a figure walking towards them.
Curious, Rafael turned around with a frown.
Adelia walked into the elevator with Martha, and Zachary instantly hid his face behind his phone, turning sideways to go into a corner.
She went on to press the button for the top floor to see it already lit.
"There are two thrillers set during Christmas on my desk. Roll them in and get legal on it. I want the specimen copy before Halloween. It should hit the stores before the snow," the witch instructed while checking her schedule.
"The authors have been contacted," the assistant informed her boss.
"Reserve a table at the Italian afterward for lunch and dinner separately. Manage accordingly pl—" Adelia collapsed before she could finish much to the surprise of the occupants.
Zachary rushed over immediately, holding her head before it could hit the floor, dropping along with Adelia.
The pendant around her neck glowed brightly as he looked at it in bizarre, sharing a look with the assistant.
"The youth these days," a figure walked up to them and mused in humour. Sharel looked them up and down and tsked, "I disapprove, Rafael."
The four of them appeared shocked to see a very dead witch in front of them.
"Intern right?" Martha chuckled nervously as Zachary hesitantly nodded. "It's a new kind of pendant in the market, it glows when your BP drops." She explained and crouched down beside them, looking at the elevator display.
"The company I have to amuse myself with, dear. Such a pity," the Beauchêne witch replied, turning to look at Rafael.
"Why? Are the other Beauchêne witches boring you to death?" He smirked, walking away from the unwanted crowd.
"I would rather not answer," she raised a brow and sat down on a bench. "You truly come down to feel the aching bones in this form."
Rafael stood beside her, "What's new up there?"
Sharel gave him a secretive smile and clapped her hands once in delight. "The other witches tell me that my granddaughter's stars are getting aligned."
The elevator opened on the top floor with a ding and Zachary supported an unconscious Adelia leaning on his shoulder. He hesitated to touch her back, clearly uncomfortable and tightened her grip on her upper arms to prevent her from falling down.
"I'd really appreciate a little help," Martha exclaimed as a co-worker arrived and assisted them out. "We have to get her in the cabin, I have to call Mr. Desmond," she informed him as he nodded and took Adelia from Zachary.
The teenager stayed in the elevator, unnerved, and took a deep breath. The elevator door closed in front of him as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He pushed the floor button again as the elevator started descending upwards and opened up on the floor. He approached the receptionist, zipping open his bag.
"How may I help you?" She asked politely.
"This is for Mr. Desmond," he pushed the envelope towards her.
"And you are?"
"The one who called him an a*shole," he smirked at the speechless expression on her face, "He'd know."
Zachary turned away to walk back to the elevator, this time with a smile on his face.
"Miss Laurentis collapsed. Should I inform her husband?" Martha asked Rafael on the phone.
He looked at Sharel and replied, "No. You know the drill." He cut the call and answered the witch's question, "Please, everything started the day you rescued Rebekah back in 1820?"
"1819 dear," she quipped.
"We are getting a little off-topic," Damon shouted from the gate.
"Shhh," Sharel rebuked from her place. "The elders are talking. Mind your manners, Mr. Salvatore."
"Have you found a way?" Rafael continued.
"I would rather gift her agony than push her to death," she replied with a realisation, "You still do not agree."
"I have never agreed to whatever you and Elijah got your head in. You cannot decide for her."
"I will always choose my granddaughter over her desires. I am not a saint and for me, Adelia is all that matters," Sharel stated in a hard voice.
"Heads together, but the heart at different places. Spare Lia," Rafael reaffirmed.
"Be it my selfishness, but Adelia is my utmost priority. Elijah doesn't have to know."
"You two make me loathe myself," he gritted his teeth.
"Adelia is my granddaughter and Elijah's wife," she sent a glare his way.
"I am her goddamn friend, I consider her my little sister. At the end of the day, you do not answer to her and that bloody Original does not do anything. Here we are! You are dead and I am alive. She is my responsibility," the Desmond ranted off.
"Do not raise your voice with me, Rafael," the Beauchêne witch said.
"It was good to see you after a decade, Madame Beauchêne," he finished and walked towards the gate, pushing it open easily. He turned towards the trespassers and rolled his eyes. "If you are done, I have places to be. Touch Adelia and I will skim you alive. Consider this my first and final warning."
Rafael closed the gate behind him and got into his car.
Sharel watched him drive away with a hard expression and disappeared into thin air as a few hundred miles away, Adelia woke up with a gasp.
March, 1864
The Abattoir, New Orleans
"You look extremely elated," Klaus confessed, leaning against the door of the study to see Elijah buttoning up his waistcoat.
Elijah turned to look at his brother and his smile faltered. "Do I need a reason for it?" He replied.
"I have been your brother for almost nine centuries now. Consider my interest peaked to see my grouchy ol' brother smiling to himself," he smirked, moving his eyes to the open drawer.
"I am getting late for the ball," the elder brother said, noticing Klaus' line of vision and shut the drawer abruptly.
"So am I but who cares," the infamous Original rolled his eyes. "Maybe I should find a new flesh to feast on." Seeing his brother riled up, he added, "Maeve looks really inviting. I am sure Sharel wouldn't mind."
Elijah took a deep breath, "The Laurentis are not in attendance. Adelia has taken sick for a few days."
"Adelia, huh?" Klaus propelled the discussion. "Back to mooning over the girl, are you?"
"There is noth—"
"I must agree she has grown more desirable in the years since you saw her last," the younger one continued.
"I am ending this conversation. Neither I nor Adelia should be a matter of concern to you," the noble Original answered.
"Adelia, such a delightful name. Nobility for noble Elijah," Klaus ignored his brother's remark and coyly smiled.
"Keep her out of your paranoia. Goodbye," Elijah put forth before leaving the room.
Klaus smirked as his brother left the room. He strode over to the drawer, his fingers brushing over Maeve's forgotten shawl over the chair in one of her visits.
The Original opened it to find Adelia's picture on the front, no longer hidden. He took it out slowly, staring at it before lighting it over the lamp, the end catching fire with vigor. He dropped it on the floor as it turned to ashes.
An arm encircled his waist from behind, making him sigh.
"What's the matter?" His current paramour enquired.
"How much do you know about siphon witches?" Klaus started.
"The coven came to know about their existence only after the Elder Fleureau's granddaughter turned out to be one. They are an abomination," the girl replied as his smirk disappeared at the term.
He cleared his throat and said, "There's one in town. I am sure you know about of Adelia Laurentis, the last Fleureau."
"Late Reynold's fiancée and your brother's lover?" She asked the vampire.
Klaus turned around to look at her with a frown. "Lover? Elijah's?"
The witch shrugged and replied, "They are often seen together so people speculate. Elijah is very affectionate with the witch and its Elijah! He doesn't do affection."
He listened with rapt attention, his gaze on the wall. "How wonderful," he commented, his fists clenched. "Well, Maeve is an..." he stopped a moment in contemplation, "...abomination and my dear brother is somehow bearing the brunt of the speculations."
"That is sad, Klaus," she looked at him with pitiful eyes.
"Nobody deserves to be associated with her," Klaus gulped out the words and then smirked, "How about you work your magic with the coven and do something about it?"
She glanced at him in confusion and asked, "Who is Maeve? I thought you were talking of Elijah's lover Adelia."
The Original stilled and he closed the drawer forcefully, his thumb getting caught in the edge. He took a deep breath, the pain numbing the hurt. "Maeve is Adelia," he finished slowly, "I call her that, for appearance sake. People would point their fingers at me if they come to know I speak of her, so Maeve it is."
"That is sneaky," the witch smirked.
"My brother should not have to tolerate her for the peace of the city. She is one of yo—"
She cut him off mid-sentence, "–she is not one of us. Your Maeve is an abomination. We will take care of it."
Klaus pecked her lips as she giggled in delight. "You are my favourite witch for a reason," he finished, the ashes of the burnt picture scattering across the floor.
"I find it insulting that you are refusing me. I need you here in Mystic Falls," Klaus expressed over the phone.
"Consider it a payback for all the times you ignored me in the last century," Adelia chuckled and continued, "My quota has just started, Nik." She pinched her head, unable to remember what happened an hour earlier.
"Rebekah needs a friend," proposed the Original.
"Then I advise you be hospitable to the company she brings home. She's in school and if Bekah is a lot less you then she'll encounter no problem," she said.
"Company?" He mused.
"I am not going to talk about your sister's nightly companions with you, Nik. I was referring to school friends," she politely replied.
"The idea is very amusing."
"No wonder Rebekah has a deep hatred for the kind of love you share for her lovers."
"Miss Laurentis, Mr. Mikaelson is on the phone," the assistant knocked on the door.
Adelia frowned, "Elijah?" Confusion took over her mind to guess the reasons for the sudden call when her husband refused to speak a word after the disagreement last night.
"Which other 'Mr. Mikaelson' is there if you're on the phone with me?" Klaus humoured and continued, "Such stupidity, Maeve."
The witch bit the inside of her cheeks and answered, "Thank you, Martha." She smiled discreetly and turned to speak to the Original, "Yes Klaus, Elijah must have ringed the front desk since you have been eating my brain for the past thirty minutes."
"I am impressed, love," he smirked. "Its quite delicious."
"And I have to see to a certain Mr. Mikaelson. I shall call you later," she offered.
"We still need to talk," he reminded her.
Adelia rolled her eyes, "Goodbye Niklaus." She released a deep breath and picked up the receiver. "Hello, Finn. How may I help you?"
"Are you serious?" Adelia entered the house angrily and walked up to the newly resurrected brothers sitting in the room.
"Where is the tattletale?" Kol rolled his eyes, turning to glare at Finn.
"I explained to you the rules of living here. No murders, no complications, nothing," she stated.
"I did not listen to half of it," he shrugged off. "Maybe this particular clause was in that part."
"Elijah!" The witch shouted for her husband.
"Why don't you scream a bloody murder?!" A sigh left the youngest Mikaelson brother's mouth.
"Because guess what Kol!?" She glared at him, "You did the honours!"
"Adelia, what's with the ruckus?" Elijah asked her, coming down the stairs.
"Your darling brother killed seven citizens! The Council will not let this go."
"Kol... we told you the rules," he set his gaze on his brother and took a deep breath.
Adelia looked at him in disbelief, "I have a better reaction than that." Turning to Kol, she shouted at him, "We told you the rules, Kol!"
"Can we forget this?" Kol requested, slumping into the couch.
The witch mockingly smiled at him, "No, we can't. I have to call the Council and make amends." She looked at the other brother sitting beside him and asked, "Finn, please make sure to get all the bodies in the truck. It will be arriving soon."
Kol perked up and sat up immediately, "I can help."
"No thank you, Kol. You will end up eating the truck driver itself," Adelia remarked as she moved towards the door.
"Let me accompany you," Elijah put in, holding out his hand.
The witch ignored him and took a step back. "I am leaving for the Hall. I might be late," she informed everyone without glancing at her husband and left the house.
Elijah put down his hand and sighed loudly.
"I would suggest some orchids and some chocolates, brother," Kol butted in, watching his brother's falling demeanour.
"Sweetheart, you have become tedious these days," Sharel said as soon as she entered her granddaughter's chambers. The Beauchêne witch walked to stand behind Adelia and took the bottle of rose oil from the vanity.
The clink of the cork hitting the wood broke the young witch out of her thoughts as she looked at her grandmother through the mirror. "Grandmother," she said softly and loosened the strings of her dressing gown to expose her shoulders.
With a wave of a hand, the chamber doors closed with a thump as Sharel smiled and began dabbing the essence oil on her granddaughter's skin. "Why are you not dressed yet?" She asked.
Adelia bit her lip and frowned, "Why do we have to go?"
"Well, I haven't attended a gala in months and my new lace embroidered gown needs more appreciation and admirers," she winked making Adelia laugh. "You don't even spare a few words for my beauties."
"If I were to accompany you then you must forget the admirers," the young witch said haughtily, raising her brow.
Sharel placed a kiss on top of her head with a smile. "Any day, sweetheart. I cannot have anybody looking more beautiful than my granddaughter does. Beauchênes were absolute beauties. Look at you, look at me," she gestured their reflection in the mirror and held up Adelia's hair in a bun, "and this accentuates the pretty neck." The older witch touched her own necklace and unclasped it immediately, "This will look better on you."
Adelia pouted and turned around. "No," she shook her head.
The Beauchêne witch chose not to hear it and went to the closet. "How do you feel about emerald green?" She questioned while pulling out a gown.
The Laurentis heir got up at once and immediately steadied herself against the vanity, clenching her eyes shut as the world revolved around her.
"What is the matter?" The grandmother asked.
"I stood up hastily," she replied and walked towards her grandmother with a smile. Taking the gown from her hands, she shrugged, "I am at the absolute peak of health. Don't tell father."
The matriarch pursed her mouth but did not say anything. She waited for Adelia and narrowed her eyes at a cracked windowpane. Touching it ruefully to have Arnold to get it fixed, her eyes suddenly glazed over.
"She was asking for you," her granddaughter said and sat down on the settee with a thump. Why was Adelia wearing that horror!? And from when did gowns appear to settle over the knees?
"I am her most favourite person in the world, what did you expect?" An unknown man's presence filled her vision as he chuckled and sat down at her feet. He took her hands in his and kissed them lovingly. Sharel smiled at the scene, her granddaughter will indeed find happiness after Jasper.
The vision changed as Adelia stumbled onto the wall beside her, a man kissing her hungrily. Elijah.
Sharel's eyes widened when he started undoing the strings at the front of her granddaughter's gown and the older witch turned away in horror. It did not help when her eyes caught a painting being carried out the room by a gleeful Klaus, Adelia's face on the canvas smiling back at her.
A chandelier in the room dropped suddenly, the room dousing in darkness when Adelia's dead eyes teased her from the adjoining room, blood pooling around her head.
"Grandmother, you are staring," Adelia's voice brought her out of the images as she watched her granddaughter sitting in front of the vanity, all dressed.
Sharel's heart thumped within her chest loudly as she brought a smile on her face and clutched the necklace in her hand.
"You look pale, darling. Haven't you been roaming in the sun?" She admonished and pinched her granddaughter's cheeks to bring out the red flush.
Adelia cast her eyes down and fidgeted with the gown."You have restricted me from venturing beyond the forest," she claimed.
"We have gardens as well," the matriarch answered and moved to remove the Beauchêne pendant to replace it with the necklace.
"I do not like it here," the heir admitted.
"Neither do I," Sharel echoed her thoughts and patted the young witch's shoulder and unclasped the pendant.
The older witch put the necklace around Adelia's neck and went to clasp it on when she noticed black veins creeping up her fingers. She got confused and positioned the necklace properly when she witnessed the portion where her fingers touched Adelia's body glowing red and black veins moving up. She immediately removed her hand and stared in horror at the disappearing spider veins.
"Sweetheart, close your eyes. You look absolutely beautiful and you must not see yourself until I say so," the Beauchêne witch smiled at her granddaughter who complied happily.
Sharel slowly touched Adelia's hand as the same thing happened. Taking a deep breath as a tear slid down her eye, she quickly replaced the necklace with the pendant again. The veins disappeared in seconds and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Wiping the trail of a lone tear, she made a face. "No, it didn't look pretty. This looks much better," she said and Adelia opened her eyes as they twinkled with happiness.
"Father and Rafael have been waiting for so long," the young witch complained and stood up.
"I realise that," Sharel looked at her intently when a line of blood slid down Adelia's nose.
The heir frowned and wiped her nose to see blood on her fingers. "Grandmother..." She started, worried.
The matriarch hurriedly cleaned it and chuckled, the worry slowly gnawing her mind. "You must have a dry nose. It is very common. Come, your father is waiting," she made an excuse and wiped her granddaughter's hand when she intentionally dragged the sharp end of her ring down her wrist.
"Ah!" Adelia shrieked.
"Oh dear. Forgive me," she clutched Adelia's hand and saw the cut disappearing infront of her eyes.
"Yes. I want every information on them. Family members, financials, education, loans, do not miss anything," she said, checking the documents in hand as an attorney pointed to the places where she wanted the signatures. Adelia signed them hastily as the girl continued to turn the pages.
"When do you want it?" The informant asked her.
Adelia bit her lip in thought. "Probably by the weekend. Initiate the scholarships through Lumiere. I will take care of the rest," she finished before disconnecting the call and looked through the papers.
"Mr. Desmond instructed me to reach the Hall by nine," the girl reminded her.
"Of course, thank you," Adelia smiled at her as the girl walked past Kol leaning on the door.
"Is that for me?" The Original pointed at the girl, smiling at his sister-in-law.
"If you are a fan of wolf bites, go ahead," Adelia answered impassively.
"Come on!" He whined. "You kept my darling brother awake in worry. He himself did not sleep and did not let us sleep either. The melancholic pianist is a pain to listen to."
Adelia ignored him and strode into her room to see Elijah asleep. She took a dress from the walk-in and headed inside the washroom to change. Coming out, she closed the drapes and put his phone on silent.
"I know you're awake. Good morning," she rolled her eyes before closing the door behind her with a bang.
Adelia met Kol in the hallway and stated, "Inform Elijah that I'll be at the Council to smooth out some things."
"Tell him yourself," he replied, sipping a blood bag.
"He must have heard it. His supernatural senses only work when he wants them to, the rest is conveniently ignored," she took the steps down as Kol followed, sliding down the rails.
"Elijah doesn't ignore me!" He exclaimed.
She smiled at him and patted his cheek. "I wish the dead souls haunt your sleep tonight."
"Well, a very unsafe journey to you too!" He shouted at her retreating figure.
"Kol!" Elijah shouted at his brother from his room, "apologise."
Adelia tapped her ear to indicate her point before moving towards the front door.
Kol stared up towards his brother's room and shouted harder, "You are a bloody hypocrite, Elijah!"
"What reason shall I give the Council for this?" Veronica huffed out, her expression impassive.
"Tell them the truth," Adelia replied and continued, "I am willing to pay for any damages and compensate."
"The Council won't be appeased and you know it," she reasoned.
"The victims' families, I'll take care of them for however long it's required. Education, job... I will personally fund them," the witch sat down rigid straight. "Don't let others blow things out of proportion."
"I don't speak for the entire Council, I can only get some heads to agree with me," the woman in her fifties shook her head.
"I am willing to negotiate," Adelia explained. "If this matter gets out then the treaty between all the creatures might get disrupted and if it does, then rest assured, I will be forced to withdraw my funding from the Council."
Veronica tilted her head in contemplation. "I am getting too old for these threats, Adelia," she started, "You were the one to initiate the peace treaty more than a century back and now your family does these things." She breathed out and took a moment. "You know the rules, only one Original is allowed within the boundaries. During your stay, it has always been Elijah. We cannot allow three or the entire Original clan for that matter."
Adelia's shoulders slumped, "I was hoping to talk about including more Originals in the treaty."
"I am sorry but it is impossible. Every creature is protected here and you have been a crucial part–"
"Yes, that is why I am requ–"
"But!" Veronica stopped her, "The Originals are not an option I am willing to consider. Everything will be at stake with the power imbalance and the Council will never agree to that." She stared at the witch sitting in front of her. "If this happens again then Lumiere might face consequences."
Adelia looked up in surprise and opened her mouth to retaliate, "Don't drag Lumiere into this. I have always kept the Originals business and Lumiere separate."
"You think the Council wants to do that?" The other woman questioned. "Your family brought us together under one roof, the Originals did not."
"I will talk to them," the Laurentis heir admitted softly after a minute of thought,
"I can delay the Council until you have the discussion with them," she tried and got up with the files on the missing people.
"Thank you," Adelia murmured as Veronica closed the door behind her when a tear slid down the witch's eye.
November, 1861
Reynolds Estate, Seattle
(present-day Lumiere)
"What do you desire most in the world?" Adelia asked him curiously, as she watched him roll his sleeves up.
Jasper turned back and smiled before giving his attention to the bookshelf before him. "More than you?" He humoured.
The witch thought for a moment before sitting straight in her cushion. She pouted but smirked at him. "It should be little less than me but I wouldn't mind a tad bit more than me as well," she reasoned.
The Reynolds snickered and pulled out a text from the shelf dropping it on the table gently. "Very diplomatic of you, Miss Laurentis," he replied while scribbling something on a parchment.
"Fine, anything more than me should be acceptable," the witch huffed.
"Oh, should it?" Jasper raised his brow and glanced at her parchment. He came to sit behind her as Adelia's skin prickled at the sudden proximity. Turning the page for her, he grabbed her fingers to put it over the required paragraph and continued, "Desires are our unattainable dreams, my sweet. We aren't worthy of our desires if we are incapable of chasing them. I have everything but I desire for you to become the woman you were always meant to be."
Adelia rolled her eyes and looked sideways at him. "Mrs. Reynolds?" She questioned with a smile.
"Adelia Laurentis," he answered and her smile faded. He turned to look at her, their face inches apart. "No man should ever dictate your identity, not even me. Your relationships should not define you."
"What if my desires rise above my relationships?" The Laurentis heir asked breaking the minute-long silence, her voice a whisper.
"Don't let your desires overpower you, never let your relationships bring you down. How you lead them both builds your identity."
A snap filled the room as they both looked towards the broken nib of the pen, the ink spreading over the parchment. He extracted the pen from her tight grip, her fingers reluctant to let go.
"You are Arnold Laurentis' daughter at this moment because you value relationships more than your ambitions. I will know you have truly become Adelia Laurentis the day you follow your desires with your relationships close to your heart because the woman I know will never abandon either of them," he finished with a smile.
"You put too much faith in me," she avoided his eyes, fidgeting her ink-stained digits.
"I have always trusted you," Jasper said, placing a feather-light kiss on her shoulder blade before moving away.
"Zachary, right?" A voice came from behind him and he stiffened immediately. He turned around to see Adelia, her eyes a little red and teary.
"What?" The teenager stuttered, afraid at the prospect of her knowing about the email he sent to her husband. That had been kind of impulsive but he didn't regret it.
"Zachary? We met at the auction," she tilted her head to analyse him.
"Of course, the butterfly lady. I remember the butterfly lady," he choked out a laugh and glanced at her properly. She looked young, in his dream she was not. He subconsciously glanced at himself—well, he was no one to judge, he appeared a lot older in there as well. That was not the kind of dream he had been hoping but beggars can't be choosers, eh.
Adelia smiled at him, the dimples digging in. "Butterfly lady?" She hummed but then looked around, "I apologise it shouldn't concern me, but you should be at home. It is almost eleven."
"Goodnight. No, I mean its night, eleven at night, but that shouldn't be a greeting," he started, eyes widening with each word. "However, it is a starry night so definitely not complaining, but I will bid you Goodnight at the end and you should not apologise, not to me... I mean you shouldn't, ever, but I should be at home and my car hasn't arrived yet and its nothing to worry about since mum said I will get my own car next year as I am still seventeen you see and I'll turn eighteen next mon–"
"Calm down," she stared at him worriedly, "You appear to be nervous."
"No! No, I am not!" He vehemently denied, shaking his head. "Why would you even think so?"
"Have this cold coffee. You need it more than me," she passed the to-go cup to him.
Zachary glanced at the cup and gulped, "No thank you."
"Please have it. It's not poisoned, got it from the café there," Adelia reassured him.
"I didn't insinuate anything like that!" The teenager defended himself and slapped a hand over his eyes at the progressing disaster.
"I know but have it," she smiled lightly and handed him the cup, "Meanwhile, I'd suggest waiting at the reception."
"I a–am fine here," he answered, looking around.
Adelia politely nodded at his refusal and moved away when he grabbed her hand. She stopped in her tracks and looked back to see him holding it in his grip. They stared at each other as he took a deep breath when his vision dropped to their hands.
He immediately pointed towards the file on the bench and she smiled at it, brows raised. She took it and thanked him with a nod.
A moment of silence passed and he grew confused at her lack of response when and she gestured towards his hand holding her wrist. He left it instantly, putting his hand inside his jacket before turning away to start walking towards a car parked nearby.
The vehicle left the Council building within seconds and she could only look at it in confusion at the hasty exit.
"Goodnight to you as well," Adelia mumbled to herself, shaking her head in amusement as the stars twinkled at the sliver of a smile on her face.
Damon ended the call as Stefan stared at his brother in disbelief.
"You think it is wise to involve another Original?" He asked.
"Not the first time a brother chooses to act against another," the elder Salvatore replied. "Family makes Elijah tick."
"And if you firmly believe Elijah will go against Klaus?"
"He already is. The coffins are missing, his family. Who had them last? Klaus!" Damon exclaimed.
"Elijah and the recently found magic-less Bennett is going to save us from the devil reincarnate. You have gone delusional," the younger Salvatore said before hurrying upstairs.
"At least I am trying unlike hitting the most-wanted list!" Damon echoed after his brother, his smirk evident.
Adelia closed the door behind her and sighed while removing the heels from her feet, dropping them onto the floor loudly. The clock in the entryway flashed 2.15 and she pulled out the hairpin, letting her hair down.
A sound resounded from the living and she turned to see Elijah in his Henleys, keeping the glass tumbler on the coffee table with a clink. He looked up at her silently, his finger turning the page of a book. They stared at each other for a moment before she breathed out and went upstairs to their room.
He closed his eyes and dog-eared the page before getting up. Keeping the book beside the tumbler, he followed her to go upstairs as well. Picking the dropped stilettos from the floor, he carried them upstairs.
Elijah entered the room and saw Adelia already in her nightwear, ready for bed. She ignored him as he appeared beside her in the walk-in closet, pulling open the bottom-most cabinet to keep her heels inside. He turned around to see her getting inside the covers before switching off the lamp.
"Can we talk?" He initiated, leaning against the bedpost.
"I am not in a mood for a discussion, Elijah. Can we sleep?" She answered, pulling the duvet up to her neck.
"Why would you let these petty issues come between us?" He blurted out. "They are my family and I only wish the bes–"
Adelia immediately sat up on the bed making him stop. "Are they not my family as well?" She asked her husband. "Am I supposed to be a witness to your wrongdoings? Klaus does something, you always stand by him and then help him dagger others. A few months and you are already guilt-ridden and have terrible moody phase and you want to undagger them." Adelia frowned and rubbed her eyes.
"This conversation is leading nowhere," Elijah turned away and grabbed the laptop from the lounge, avoiding her gaze.
"Klaus wrongs you and you want to hastily undo the dagger magic and avenge yourself," she put forth her view and he dropped the device on the duvet, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Your siblings' collective annoyances about this motivate your agenda and after a little hide and seek, you forgive Klaus, your siblings withstand the worst of your desires, and they are daggered again. Where am I wrong, Elijah? Please tell me, make me understand." Her voice towards the end took a desperate tone as she tried to find his eyes.
"You are being unreasonable," Elijah replied in a gentle tone.
"Why are you making everything sour already? For your revenge fantasies, Klaus will be bitter about it for a long time and a little toe out of line, your siblings will be in the box again, and the cycle will continue," Adelia explained.
The Original sat down beside her and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, slowly cupping her face. "Let me take care of it," he assured his wife. "I need you to trust me."
"I do trust you but I am tired, Elijah," her voice wavered. "It has never ended well for any of us. Am I asking for too much?"
Elijah blinked and closed his eyes. "No, you are not."
"Goodnight," Adelia murmured and moved away from him to lie down.
His hand suddenly felt cold as he watched her curl into the pillow. He glanced at his fingers and then cast his eyes down before taking a deep breath.
"Goodnight," he muttered and kissed her forehead.
Elijah got up before powering on the laptop. Leaning against the headboard, he scrolled through his mails when a certain one caught his eye.
He clicked on it instantly and looked at his wife who was fast asleep.
Adelia Laurentis—the subject said.
As he read the contents of the mail indicating she was in danger, he clenched his fist and clicked on the given link. The page started loading and he got his phone from the nightstand, looking into his contacts.
The screen turned black and a loud popping noise made him stiffen as Adelia stirred. Elijah looked at the screen to see various hearts popping, red big animated hearts flying up. The Titanic score played as his wife frowned and turned towards him in her sleep.
Adelia Laurentis is in danger— the screen read again, the words appearing in animation.
Of falling in love with me—it continued, the popping hearts making a reappearance with the Titanic background music filling the entire display with red and pink hearts.
He rubbed his forehead at the joke and slammed the lid of the device. Keeping it on the nightstand, he threw his phone into the drawer and laid down beside Adelia.
Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist, his feet tangling with hers under the cover and he closed his eyes.
Somewhere else, a bright screen lit up a sleeping face as the laptop sat on his stomach. Zachary slept soundly when the door to his room opened before a figure sat down beside him.
Arthur Wilson stared at his son lovingly and peeked into his completed assignment, marvelling at the answers silently as he saved it before keeping it aside. He removed his son's glasses and tucked him in.
The heir moved in his sleep and the father patted his shoulders before getting up. Switching off the lamps, he smiled and exited the room.
"Arnold, there is something wrong with Lia," the matriarch as soon as her son came down.
The son looked at the awaiting carriage where Rafael and his daughter were sitting and frowned. "What happened to my little girl? Is she well?" He questioned.
"I am afraid not," she breathed out and continued, "We shall come back from the gala and see to it. She must not get suspicious. It's best if we leave New Orleans as early as possible, preferably by the next sunset."
"You are a lunatic!" Rafael exited the carriage with a scowl.
Adelia peeked out the carriage window and glared at him. "How dare you insinuate I stole your biscuits!"
"Have a look at yourself woman!" He shouted. "First my breakfast, then my cake, my toffee and now my biscuits. This girl won't let me eat."
"Father!" The Laurentis heir pouted as Arnold refused to take her side. She huffed and leaned back on the seat.
"Rafael. Do not let her leave your sight," the matriarch instructed him as soon as he reached them.
"Is there something I should know?" He asked curiously.
"There's definitely more to it," Sharel muttered under her breath and watched her granddaughter smiling in the carriage.
Adelia giggled to herself and put one biscuit in her mouth quickly. She snickered, removing the crumbs from her gown.