Disclaimer: Not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Thanks for the reviews and favs, hope you enjoy the next instalment. Remember to R&R, follow me on twitter & tumblr x
ALWAYS & FOREVER
Little Red Riding Hood
[II – 1x01]
"The wolf thought to himself, what a tender young creature. What a nice plump mouthful..." – Brothers Grimm.
Dyson Thornwood dropped Kayla off at a foster home on his way back to the station. His mind preoccupied with Hayley, a friend from his old Appalachian pack, whom he hadn't seen in a decade. His life had changed as much as hers, but never would he have guessed to see her with Klaus Mikaelson – the hybrid.
Every wolf knew his name; the most vengeful Mikaelson, daggering his siblings whenever they disagreed with him. He worried for Hayley, despite Hollis' reassurance 'she could look after herself'. He barely heard Kayla's voice as the wind whipped his leather jacket against his arms.
"What's up with you and that girl?"
Dyson grunted, "She's an old friend, is all."
Kayla's eyebrows knotted together, confused, "And that guy we passed in the woods?"
Dyson walked up the sidewalk, "He's a Hybrid, part vampire and wolf; Klaus Mikaelson, an Original."
Kayla's eyes lit up, "THE Klaus Mikaelson, why didn't you say something before!"
Dyson chewed his cheek, "Because he's dangerous, and unpredictable."
Kayla sighed, looking up at the two-story house in front of her, "Do I really have to go back?"
Dyson straightened his leather jacket, waiting on the porch. "Yes."
Kayla frowned, "I belong in a pack, wild and free, not stuck babysitting these kids. Can't I stay with you? I won't be any trouble, cross my heart." Dyson raised his eyebrows, knowing she had her fingers crossed behind her back. "More trouble than usual," she added.
Dyson saw the curtains in the bedrooms waiver to reveal Kayla's foster siblings staring at him, all looked under twelve. Kayla was the only one who had supernatural powers that he knew of. She was fifteen and had an attitude which resembled Hayley's 'no care in the world' reputation. He knew he'd be seeing her again; her curiosity was her own worst enemy.
"I'll be back to check on you in a few days," Dyson rang the doorbell.
The door opened to reveal a balding man with a sticky sweet smile, his house and occupants were minimalistic, and everything had its place, including his pressed sweaters on the ironing board inside. Dyson pocketed his hands, whilst Kayla eyed his truck enviously.
"Thanks for bringing her home, we're about to start shelling the peas," Mr Lowell said.
Dyson caught Kayla's arm, "Try not to run, it's dangerous on the streets these days."
Kayla nodded, picking up on Dyson's concern – Kingmaker Land Inc had a sinister agenda, one that would see the wolves of the Appalachian Mountains to disappear.
"It feels strange to be here without Hope," Hayley mused, as they looked out at what used to be forest, now their fourth Kingmaker office that day. They had travelled through Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming, leaving bloodshed in their wake, it was surprising their arrivals hadn't called the alarm, but Klaus was adamant they were sending a message.
"I'm sure she's entertaining Hollis with her magic. She's probably burned his motel down."
Hayley rolled her eyes, unable to hide the smile unravelling on her lips.
Dyson sent them hits as he found them, whilst investigating Kayla's Foster Father, due to Hayley's concern. They had only met once, but his niceness only made her more suspicious, and her one night spent there, after her foster family kicked her out, was enough to persuade her she didn't belong there, and neither did Kayla or the other children. He just wasn't who he pretended to be.
"Klaus are you sure you don't want to be with your family, I can do the light work," Hayley asked.
Klaus took off his mother trucker hat, and she smiled, wondering why he had kept it.
"And split up the team? Just when I'm discovering your carpool karaoke skills, I think not."
Hayley rolled her eyes to the clear blue skies, as Klaus chuckled light heartedly.
"Lucien is playing a game; one he thinks he'll win. We keep going, together, even if we have to scour a hundred of these offices." Klaus pointed to the skyscrapers.
Dyson dropped his jacket on the back of his chair, and sat down, rubbing his eyes. Recent years had taken a toll on him. Every lead led them to Kingmaker Land Inc. a developer known for destroying forests along the east coast of North America.
Since leaving the 39th Division of Toronto Police, Dyson put all his energy into discovering the truth behind who owned Kingmaker and who was behind the eradication of wolf packs across the country. As much as he fought to protect the wolves, his Captain and colleagues could not stop the poaches and hunters, and nobody had the drive he had to protect them.
Nobody but his girlfriend, Kenzi Malikov, knew his past: a Light Fae, wolf-shifter who served the Irish Faelad King of Ailech 1500 years ago. Although you wouldn't know it from Dyson's appearance, he looked mid-thirties to any human. Tall, lanky and with reddish curls, Dyson towered over most, but he had a playful personality, and a wounded soul.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and chicken schnitzel wrap alerted him to Kenzi's entrance.
"Don't be a sour wolf, it's your favourite," she teased.
Dyson gulped down the coffee and took a bite of his wrap, dripping mayo down his wrist.
"I ran into Hayley Marshall," he waited for the name to sink in.
Kenzi sat on the edge of his desk, "Marshall, as in Reverend Marshall?"
Dyson shrugged, "She's got a baby, and a Mikaelson in tow," he wiped the mayo from his chin.
Kenzi sighed, "Light or Dark Fae?" as if his answer could determine her opinion of them.
Dyson smirked, "Hybrids. Klaus belongs to a thousand-year-old family, the Originals."
He read her expectant expression, "I've only heard stories, and none of them good."
Kenzi cupped his unshaven face in her hands, "Maybe they've changed. You did."
Dyson put aside his coffee and scooped her up in his arms with a playful growl.
"How do you always see the good in people?" he asked, shrewdly.
Kenzi shrugged, "It's just my special talent."
After a moments silence, she touched the scars on his face, "I love you."
Dyson smiled, "I love you too," and he kissed her on the nose.
Footsteps alerted them to their Captain, a burly man with a bushy moustache and a southern accent.
"Thornwood, take the afternoon off. I'll have Spencer and Bailey check on Kayla. I'm doing everything in my power to help you find those responsible for the massacres, but the warrant for Kingmaker is going to take time. Take Kenzi to dinner. I'll call you when it's approved."
Kenzi didn't need to be told twice, "Thanks Captain!" and she punched his arm.
Dyson couldn't help but think he was being sidelined. Spencer and Bailey were junior cops, who didn't share his conservation efforts. Still, he picked up his jacket, and checked his phone – there were no messages from Hollis or Hayley. He bid his Captain good evening and retrieved his car keys and jacket from his desk.
They were about to climb into his truck when his phone rang - it was Hayley.
There was a slam of two doors in the background, and Hayley's hurried breath.
"You were right, all of your leads led us to Kingmaker. How's Kayla?"
"She's safe. Did you find Lucien Castle?" he asked.
"Not yet, but I'm sure he's livid we've destroyed his legacy."
"Look, we're about to get a warrant. I don't want you getting into trouble."
"Trouble always found me, but I'm a hybrid now, you don't have to worry."
"Even hybrids have weaknesses," Dyson mumbled, eyeing Kenzi in his peripheral.
Kenzi scrolled through photos of Bo, Lauren, and Dagny – Tamsin's daughter, on her phone.
Dyson recalled the night Kenzi sacrificed herself for Bo, the pain had been unbearable.
"Just look after Hope for me. She's with Hollis, we'll be home soon."
"OK, I'll call you if I get another lead," Dyson hung up and started his engine.
Hayley and Klaus didn't require a warrant to enter Kingmaker, but at least they'd find answers.
Klaus and Hayley walked towards the skyscrapers above them. These people were murdering wolves en masse and seemed not to care about the destruction they left in their wake. Their properties were built on stolen land, and in Hayley's eyes, they were the bad guys.
"Looks like they finally cottoned on," Klaus murmured to Hayley. "Ladies first."
It didn't take them long to dismantle the snipers or defend themselves from ricocheted bullets. Klaus compelled the nearest guard to reveal the truth behind Lucien's need for wolves. He had created a toxin using the venom from seven wolf packs across the country – this serum would kill an Original vampire. Klaus broke the man's neck in retaliation, stepping over his body as if he were a doormat.
"We could have learnt where he was keeping them?" Hayley said, exasperated.
"Or we can look behind this door?" Klaus made a face and pushed it open.
Hayley joined him, a fury washed over her when she saw werewolves, tortured, and left for dead. Some like her had symbols on their wrists or shoulders, marking their different packs. Klaus showed no emotion, muttering each pack's name as he moved around the room – Deep water, Barry, BasRoq, Paxon, Poldark, North East Atlantic and Malraux.
Klaus's phone beeped, and he read the message with a growl.
"Lucien has revealed his true nature, he's taken Freya."
Hayley could see the conflict in his eyes. "You want to return to New Orleans? Fine, you should go."
Klaus grabbed her hands, "No, I'll let my family peruse the obvious path."
Hayley smiled, understanding his need to stay with her, after all they were partners.
"I appreciate you wanted to help me rescue the wolves, but if there's any chance of making Finn an alley, you should take it!" she had seen Klaus in a new light, he had shown her compassion and kindness over the last few days. She understood his dilemma, to stay and fight for their injustice or return home to save somebody he loved.
"I'm not leaving you," Klaus had not let go of her.
She squeezed his hands in reassurance, knowing what she said next, could sever their bond forever.
"I'll be right behind you," she pressed.
"You once told me, we don't abandon the ones we love," Klaus murmured.
Hayley wrapped her arms around him, an act of kindness she usually reserved for Elijah, but seeing the desperation in his eyes, his obvious reluctance in leaving her behind, and a thousand years of never being loved, she knew it was the only thing she could do to say thank you.
It was past midnight and Dyson couldn't sleep, he kept thinking of how he should have been there with Klaus and Hayley, taking down Kingmaker. Kenzi had baked macaroni cheese for dinner, and they'd talked about his childhood, or what he remembered of it. They'd shared a bottle of Sharaz, well, Kenzi had drunk most of it, and passed out watching reruns of Friends.
Dyson intended for an early night, but something Hayley had said prompted him to do a background check on Kayla's Foster father. It could be nothing, or it could be something. Why did Kayla escape daily? Was she really trying to join a pack, or was there something in the house she was trying to avoid? Dyson logged onto the station's database and searched Frank Lowell's name… after watching the dotted circle flash for five minutes, Dyson regretted leaving the couch.
He had no criminal record but had moved address multiple times.
Someone hugged him from behind, and Dyson pulled Kenzi's arms around him.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" she whispered.
Dyson shook his head, "No, another dead end. How's Bo, Lauren, and Dagny?"
Kenzi smiled, grateful to receive him in her arms, "Good, they're missing us."
Dyson kissed her forehead, "Thank you for being my family."
Klaus returned to the compound, finding Elijah, Kol, Rebekah and Freya nursing a dying Finn. His brothers had found Freya and Lucien had run for it, but the war was far from over. Hope was hidden in the Appalachians with Hollis and Dyson, and Hayley was behind him, with one last errand to run.
He was there for his big brother, despite everything they'd been through, losing Finn this way was worse than losing him 9 centuries ago – it was not by his hand, and Finn had finally earned a place by his side. The vein in Klaus' jaw spasmed when he felt Finn's final breath, and he became dust. They let his ashes go over the Mississippi and whispered their motto 'always and forever'. He would be okay, it was Freya he worried for, to her, this was Lucien's biggest mistake.
Klaus was somewhat grateful to know a witch like Davina Claire. She trapped Lucien in St James, with Kol to witness his demise, however their triumph was dashed when he revealed he was acting as the Ancestor's accolade. He crossed Davina's boundary spell like it was nothing, and revealed, 'Nik stole the love of my life. Love simply makes us weak. You are not mine to kill. You should ask your precious boyfriend Kol, about it.'
This rattled both Davina and Kol, who set his mind on protecting Davina by any means necessary. An act of love that inspired Klaus, Kol asked her to dagger him, until the Ancestor's threat was gone, this was the only way he could keep Davina safe. Marcel agreed. Klaus had to give it to him, his youngest brother was turning into the man he knew he could be. Love, it was still a vampire's greatest weakness, but he understood now, the gravity of this sentiment.
Love, it nearly destroyed him with Camille, and yet, Hope showed him unconditional love.
Klaus met up with Hayley, they were driving back to get Hope, the song was 'Rolling in the deep' by Adele, and Hayley did not disappoint with her carpool karaoke. Klaus was just grateful Hope wasn't in the car. The last he remembered, he was laughing at Hayley's gusto, when another car slammed into their SUV, and Hayley was propelled out of the front windscreen.
Klaus shoved open his car door, head throbbing, and called for Hayley.
Pulling glass from his face, he stumbled forwards, seeing someone blur in front of his eyes.
He knew exactly who it was, and his rage ignited.
Lucien Castle plunged his arm into Hayley's chest, "Well, well, a Queen and a King, caught by a one-time pawn, thus the game comes to its inevitable end."
Klaus grimaced at Hayley's pain, "What are you proving by killing her? It's me you hate?"
He wanted to take Lucien's attention away from hurting Hayley, his friend.
Lucien snarled, pushing Hayley forwards, her screams echoed in Klaus' ears.
"Was I not clear when I murdered Finn and Camille? I don't care who dies! But since you do, indulge me, and I might just spare the mother of your child!"
Klaus hesitated; his eyes never left Hayley's. He refused to succumb to Lucien's wishes.
"Kneel, get on your knees! I can feel her heart pounding in my fist. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO MEASURE YOUR PRIDE AGAINST MY MERCY?"
He could only kneel, Hayley's life meant more to him than Lucien knew.
Lucien grinned, cackled even at seeing his sire grovel, but Klaus had a plan.
Elijah ripped Hayley free of Lucien's grip, and Freya trapped him with vengeance, removing the toxin from his body, painfully, returning him to the pitiful vampire he was. With Hayley gasping for air behind him, Klaus picked up glass and used its sharpest edge to cut Lucien's mouth, making a point.
"Cortez is here," Lucien rasped.
Klaus was silent in his displeasure, but Lucien rattled on, desperate for his mercy.
"He's after the treasure, The Coins of Zakynthos. You have one in your possession, remember?"
Klaus nodded to Elijah, who pushed the conniving Lucien to his knees.
"Whoever picks up this coin gets to live? Which of you magnificent bastards will join me?'
Klaus could hear his derisive voice enter his mind; the coins had influence over other men. He had used one to reclaim New Orleans from Marcel, his son. He used it to save a family during a massacre in Germany in 1933. That family had a legacy. The coins were a myth and a legend, at the same time.
Eighteen years ago, in 1994, Rhinebeck, New York, his friend, Burkhardt, was murdered for them.
"I've had a thousand years enough of you. For a century you lived with my name. You inherited wealth and stature, but you never could crawl out from my shadow, could you? And in the end, despite the gift of immortality, you have always known what you truly are. You are nothing."
Klaus punched his hand through Lucien's rib cage and ripped his heart from his chest.
He held it, blood oozing through his fingers, then let it plop to the ground without a second thought.
Hayley's deep breaths soothed his rattled mind, she was safe, and it was over.
He needed to hold Hope in his arms. He needed to bring her home, but he met Elijah's concerned gaze, and knew he would need to kill the cunning deviant, Cortez to end their feud. He had a city to defend, a family to protect… he had promised Camille. Elijah mistook his silence for denial.
"He's coming whether you want to admit it," Elijah said, as Klaus wiped his hands free of blood.
"Who's Cortez?" Hayley asked, searching for answers.
Elijah walked beside her, Freya following, clutching her necklace that had once encased Finn.
"One of Klaus' sires, Gaspar Cortez, a warlord, who burned down one of Niklaus' favourite Art retreats in 1600s. Niklaus retaliated by burning his whole family. Like Niklaus, Cortez craved power through greed. He craved to be the master of all three coins owned by Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, and like Lucien, he hates Niklaus. He's been known to compel crowds of people to do his bidding. I fear he's nearer than we think."
Hayley hurried to catch up to Klaus, her shirt soaked with her own blood.
"Klaus, it's too dangerous, let me come with you. It's time to stop running."
Klaus rested his hand on her shoulder, his eyes soft with regret.
"Some time ago I refused to trust you, I took you from Hope, I was wrong. Take care of Hope."
Hayley opened her mouth to argue, but then she felt a whoosh of cold air, and he was gone.
Freya held onto Hayley's arm, a spark in her eyes, "He cares for you."
Elijah leaned against his car door, "He's trying to protect us."
Hayley sighed, "He always forgets, family is power. I'm not leaving him."
Freya murmured something under her breath, and Hayley slumped in her seat, "I'm sorry, Hayley."
Elijah looked in the rear vision mirror, "He's got a friend in Portland, his name's Monroe."
Freya nodded, "I just hope she forgives us for this."
Elijah sighed, "She will, as for Hope, Rebekah's on her way to collect her. She'll meet us there."
As the sun set, Elijah pictured Klaus, Kol, Marcel and Davina devising a plan to trap Cortez.
Freya took Hayley's phone and texted Dyson the words: Lucien's dead.
Kayla had read a story to her foster siblings and put them all to bed, after a bath and a game of snap, when she heard someone moving downstairs. It wasn't their Foster father who retired about half an hour ago, she knew because she couldn't hear the television anymore, and the door to his bedroom had slammed in protest to their laughter.
She crept from her room, making sure to pull the door behind her.
She stood on the stairwell, listening for movement, and heard it, the creak of a floorboard, then a fumble of cutlery in the kitchen. Fear motivated her. She glimpsed a person rummaging in the drawers. Were they being robbed? Kayla picked up a gnome from the mantlepiece and switched on the light. The burglar held a knife, but it was his eyes that made her pause – blood red, with a thirst that should have terrified her.
"My what big eyes you have?"
"All the better to see you, my dear.
"My what big ears you have?"
"All the better to hear you, my dear."
"My what big teeth you have."
"All the better to eat you, my dear."
Kayla stood her ground, as the man she recognised as the town Postman lunged at her.
Kayla dodged him and threw the bowl of excess shelled peas at his head, as he lumbered around in frustration. She threw anything she could reach, including a potato masher – it was the toaster that knocked him unconscious, and brought Frank Lowell racing to the doorway in shock.
"Max, is that you? What in Heaven's name is going on, Kayla?"
Kayla flashed her yellow eyes in his direction, "What is he?" she snarled.
Frank sighed, putting his broken toaster onto the bench, "A Blutbod; a werewolf, like you."
Kayla stared at him, "I don't have glowing red eyes, or look anything like him."
Frank shook his head, "I'm vegetarian, Max struggles without meat."
Kayla saw a set of fearful eyes congregating on the stairwell. "He wanted to eat me."
Frank shook his head, in obvious denial. "No, he would never harm a child."
Kayla had already dialled Dyson's number, "I'd feel safer if my friend checked the basement."
It took less than ten minutes for Dyson to arrive, with back up, in the form of a short woman with long hair and a white dress. She was instantly liked by her foster siblings, and Kayla was grateful, because that allowed her to follow Dyson into a trap door in the middle of the dining room she didn't know existed, which revealed a hidden living quarter.
"Hayley was right, she didn't trust this place."
Kayla's eyes found a dusty wardrobe, and she opened it with caution.
"What's with all the red jumpers?" she asked, checking the pockets out of curiosity.
"His conquests," Dyson murmured, "I'm calling it in. Don't touch anything else," he warned.
Kayla used her wolf senses to locate movement, her stomach feeling suddenly queasy.
Seven jumpers for seven victims?
Dyson radioed his Captain, calling in a potential crime scene.
Kayla heard frightened whimpers from beneath the nearest bunkbed and peered into the shadows on all fours to see a child of six or seven. How long had she been kept there? She had been deaf to her trauma, and she hated that. She hated that she had run away so many times, but never realised someone needed her help – she could have found her earlier.
"It's okay, you're okay," Kayla coaxed the child from her hiding spot and carried her outside.
Dyson's Captain had arrested both Frank and Max Lowell, who sat sombre in the back of a police car.
Kayla whispered, "You're safe with us."
The child buried her wet face against Kayla's neck, and Dyson covered her in his jacket.
Kenzi piled the kids into another squad car, waiting for Kayla and the child, "Coming?"
"Where are we going to live? I'm not going back in there."
Dyson smiled, "I don't expect you to, but I can't guarantee you won't be fostered again."
Kayla hugged the children in her arms, "What about Hollis, would he take us?"
Kenzi raised her eyebrows, "It's not a bad idea, at least they'd have a roof over their heads."
Dyson thought about it, and the promise he made to Hayley, "I don't know if that's a good idea."
Kenzi shut the car door and squeezed his shoulder, "It's the only idea we have."
Dyson reluctantly nodded, "Fine, but I'm going to need some moonshine."
Kenzi hurtled them down the street and up into the mountains where Hollis' cabin was.
Dyson felt around for his phone, he'd just received a message from Hayley – Lucien's dead.
He turned to Kayla, with more good news, "Kingmaker's gone, Lucien's dead, it's over, for good."
Kayla smiled in appreciation, "Thank you, I knew I could count on you."
Kenzi looked over at Dyson, she was smiling as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
"You always were a big old softie," she murmured.
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter! I had fun writing this, despite having severe asthma, and barely any motivation. Stay tuned for chapter three, where we will meet Monroe, Nick and Adalind! Remember reviews are most welcome. Events may differ to canon purely for fictional purposes.
