Chapter Fifty-Three
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or the Originals, but I do own my OCs.
Summary: Blair has been on the run for 400 years, trying to escape her past. She never stays in once place long enough, but she finds herself drawn to New Orleans and it is there that she meets the Originals. She soon finds herself drawn into their drama and ends up connecting with the Noble Original, Elijah Mikaelson. Slowburn.
I went back and edited the previous chapter slightly. I changed the part where Blair's grandmother killed herself before swearing to Maeve. I have not changed it to that Blair's grandmother died from the poison Maeve gave her before she would swear loyalty – not that would have happened.
Just to let everyone know, this is the second to last chapter,
I was tempted to tie it up in one final chapter, but I thought it best to leave it.
Enjoy!
ORIGINALS
Raphael was ready to kill something.
Those 'somethings' being Klaus Mikaelson and Elijah Mikaelson.
For the entire flight and trek to the Forest, the two older Vampires had spent the majority of the time squabbling between one another. Elijah's endless patience seemed to have disappeared completely, leaving behind an ill-tempered Vampire who could not help but lash out against the Hybrid. Klaus, not liking this new dynamic, took a defensive approach before verbally attacking the Noble Original. Kol hadn't helped the matters as he egged both of his brothers on, finding this whole situation amusing and would applaud Elijah for his scathing insults. This had only served to further enrage Klaus, as he felt as if he was being ganged up on, something which he did not appreciate and made his feelings very clear.
And very loudly.
It was at that moment that Raphael contemplated his life decisions, maybe it would have been best for Blair to have killed him when he first arrived in New Orleans, so he did not have to put up with this torture. Raphael closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He counted to ten in his head as he mentally imagined the two Vampires shutting the hell up. He imagined himself back in New Orleans, with Rebekah beside him, safe and well. He imagined them talking together about the future their baby may have. He relaxed as he thought about Rebekah's laugh, and how she would look at him with such a loving stare that it took his breath away…
However, his thoughts were shattered when he heard Klaus yell out something and Kol laughed in the background.
Raphael stopped dead in his tracks, "Will you all just shut up?!"
There was silence in the forest.
The Fae turned around as he faced the Vampires. Elijah and Klaus had stopped yelling at one another and had turned to look at the Fae who had shouted at them. The grin on Kol's face was gone and Davina looked just as exasperated as the Fae.
"I get that this is a stressful situation, but can you all not argue like children for five minutes?!" Raphael shouted out in frustration, officially at the end of the tether. There had been no reprieve to the arguments the entire way, and he was sure that they would have been kicked off the private plane if Elijah hadn't owned the whole establishment.
Davina shot the Fae a look of surprise, but also gratitude, the shouting was also getting on her nerves, and she was a second away from using her magic to take away their voices. Blair had shown her this spell in case she ever came across someone who annoyed her, and now she had three targets that seemed perfect to test this out on. Even if one of them was her boyfriend and the other a father figure to her.
For a moment, Raphael was filled with a sense of dread once he realised what he'd done. He had effectively told three, one-thousand-year-old Vampires to stop acting like children and to shut up. One of them being very ill-tempered and the other one being a psychotic maniac and thrill seeker. Mentally, Raphael began cursing himself and his luck.
He was going to die before being reunited with Rebekah and his child.
However, it was Elijah that snapped him out of his thoughts. Elijah cleared his throat, as he got the Fae's attention, "I apologise, we are not usually this bad," Elijah said with remorse, as he realised his actions had been rather uncouth.
Kol snorted, "Speak for yourself,"
Elijah shot him a scornful look, one that promised pain and a lecture. Kol winced and looked away from his older brother.
"I'm just surprised you have a backbone," Klaus commented with a grin.
Raphael sent the Hybrid with a withering stare, one that made Klaus laugh.
"The arguing was a bit excessive," Davina commented with a grimace. She had heard words she did not even know existed, and she planned to use a few of them in the future. However, not in front of Elijah or Blair, as she feared their reaction.
Elijah placed his hand on Davina's shoulder and squeezed, as he silently apologised, "We should not have let it get this bad. I will keep myself in check," The Noble Original said as he made a promise to the Witch.
Davina smiled in thanks and squeezed his hand on her shoulder.
Raphael relaxed a touch – he was not going to die for his words.
"How much further?" Kol asked as he looked around. All the trees looked the same, and they seemed no closer than when they started. They had been walking for some time as well, but he wasn't too sure as he'd been too preoccupied amusing himself watching Klaus and Elijah argue with one another.
Raphael looked around, "Not much longer, but we're going to have to be careful when we reach the gate and how we're going to open it," This was the only thing that caused him to pause, as he wondered how they were meant to open it. The gate was impenetrable and had kept unwanted guests away for many years. This was a detail they'd not discussed, as the family has been more interested in arguing with one another and flying over to Ireland.
"I assume brute force will not work," Klaus commented mildly.
Raphael shook his head, "It will not,"
"What about my magic?" Davina asked as she looked at the Fae.
For a moment, Raphael considered her answer, but soon he shook his head, "As powerful as you are, we'd need more magic than that," There was ancient magic around the gate, and a lot more was needed. Only people who had permission to open the gate could, or if they possessed a key – which none of them owned.
There was silence among the family, as they all contemplated their next move. In a moment of desperation, Raphael tried to reach Blair through this mind. 'Blair, can you hear me?'
But there was no response.
However, after a few seconds, all the Vampires raised their heads as they sensed a new presence.
"I believe that is something I can help with," A new voice said, which snapped Raphael out of his thoughts.
Everyone turned their heads and saw Marie standing at the side. The moment they saw her, everyone except for Raphael tensed. Davina's eyes narrowed at the new Fae, whereas, Klaus and Elijah were on the defensive. Within seconds, Kol had rushed forward and had Marie pinned to a nearby tree by her throat.
"Wait! Kol! Don't, she's on our side!" Raphael called out in panic.
Marie gasped for breath as she felt the grip from the Vampire tighten around her neck. Kol stared down at her, with no emotion in his eyes and for a moment, Marie felt as though she had met death in person.
It was terrifying.
"How can we be certain?" Kol asked calmly – deadly calm.
Klaus watched this all with amusement in his eyes and was also proud that his brother had shown restraint. Before, Kol would have killed first and asked questions later. It could be rather inconvenient at times.
"B-Blair as-asked m-me to co-come," Marie gasped out.
Davina's eyes widened in shock.
At the mention of his mate's name, Elijah appeared by Kol and Marie's side in a flash. "Kol, remove your hand so she can speak," He commanded as he stared down at the female Fae. He could sense that this Fae was not lying and he wanted to hear what she was going to say.
For a moment, Kol was about to protest, but when he saw the look in his brother's eyes, he knew to back off. Kol's grip on Marie's throat loosened, but never fully let go. At a moment's notice, he would kill the Fae if he suspected anything amiss. Elijah sensed this and nodded in thanks to his brother.
Now that she could breathe, Marie gasped for breath as she took back what she lost. Her chest heaved, as she hurried to say what she needed. Being in the very presence of the Originals scared her – especially being around Klaus, who killed Tatianna, and Kol who had killed many of them. Any Fae who had any sense about them wouldn't have even approached them. Marie honestly did not know how Blair managed to be in their presence without fearing for her life.
"How do you know Blair?" Davina asked as she stepped forward.
Marie looked to the Witch and nearly sneered, the fact a Witch was speaking to her was off-putting. She was about to tell the Witch to mind her own business, but the dark eyes of Kol stopped her in her tracks. "I am the Queen's advisor, I have watched Blair grow up before she was banished," Marie answered slowly, her voice low and hoarse, but she could feel as her throat began to heal from the attack.
"And you just so happen to betray your Queen?" Elijah asked dubiously. "I thought all her subjects were under her control?"
Raphael jumped in, "We had a friend, Chloe, who negated the Queen's control. Marie is one of the people who were freed,"
Elijah and Klaus nodded their heads, understanding what he said. While they trusted Raphael's words, this new Fae was questionable.
"I thought that Blair was under the control of the Queen?" Klaus questioned with an arched brow. The last thing he remembered about the Fae in question, she'd taken them all down with ease, and his daughter and sister had been snatched.
"She was, but she is fighting against the control." Marie shared quickly, "She has regained consciousness, but still has to obey the Queen, who is not aware of Blair's situation," If the Queen became aware, she'd have Blair chained and subdued immediately as the Queen saw Blair as a threat. As soon as someone was found who could transfer Blair's magic and power to the Queen, she would be killed.
Elijah relaxed a touch when he heard this news, he had been worried sick. He had thought her to be a prisoner of her mother's control forever. He knew how much this would hurt Blair, and he wondered how she was. No doubt she was seething in rage and planning to have Maeve's head on a spike, something he fully endorsed.
"What has happened to my daughter?" Klaus demanded.
Marie gulped, "Your daughter is being kept in the nursery under guard, the Queen will not touch her until it is time to train her," As a child, Hope would not be touched, but as she got older, that is when things would change. Her blood would be used to create Hybrids, as Maeve's army, and she'd train the Trybrid to listen to Maeve's commands, and only her commands.
Klaus glared at the Fae and for a moment, Marie did not know whether her words had been believed, but when Klaus nodded his head, she was able to relax. She thought he was going to kill her for her answer, but it appeared it was not her time to die that day.
"And what of our sister?" Kol demanded.
Raphael looked at Marie, waiting for her answer.
"She is being kept in a room, locked away with magic so she does not escape." Marie explained nervously, "The Queen plans to wait for Rebekah to give birth before getting rid of her," Marie flinched when she felt Kol's hand tighten around her neck.
"Has our sister attempted any breakouts?" Klaus asked, curiously. His sister, the one he knew well and loved dearly, would have raised hell if she was ever captured. He had never met or found a place that could contain his sister, except for the daggers.
Marie shook her head, as much as she could with the grip on her throat, "N-no, she won't. The Queen has threatened Rebekah, that if she attempts to escape, Blair will hurt herself," Her voice was small, but everyone around could hear.
Anger flashed in Elijah's dark eyes, and there was a low growl from Klaus. Each one of the Mikaelson's looked at one another as they had a silent conversation with one another. Each one communicated how they would make sure the Queen suffered. They all did not doubt that Rebekah would not escape for that reason, as they knew how much Rebekah cared for Blair and saw her as a sister.
"You said Blair sent you, why?" Davina asked, getting back to the topic at hand. She could feel the tension rising and needed things to get back on topic before things escalated more than they should have.
Marie appeared grateful for the change of topic and quickly answered the Witch, "Blair was aware that there would be some issue with the gate, so I was sent to let you in." She was one of the few people who could open the gate, which showed how much the Queen trusted her. However, this also placed her at greater risk of being exposed, and she has risked everything even leaving the Forest to come and meet them. She hoped that this gamble was worth it.
Raphael brightened up at this news, of course, Blair had planned for this.
Elijah nodded his head and then looked to his brother, who still had Marie pinned by her throat, "Kol, release her," They needed the Fae to show them how to get into the Forest, and they could not do that with her pinned to a tree.
Kol glared down at the Fae before he released her and stepped away from her, "Betray us, and I will kill you," He hissed lowly before he went and stood by Davina. Davina took his hand in hers and he brought up their hands and kissed hers.
Now that she was free, Marie regained her composure and relaxed slightly. "It is this way," Marie said as she began to lead, with the other following behind.
ORIGINALS
With Blair
Blair walked behind Maeve in complete silence. That morning, Maeve had Marie come and collect her and bring to her the throne room. Maeve had said that she had something to show her, and they had made their way deep into the Forest. There were no guards present, as Maeve had sent them all away. It was past the main tree where the royal Fae and the guards resided, and it went further than all the homes in the Forest. Blair was pretty sure that they were nearly at the edge of the boundaries of the Forest, where there was nothing beyond that. The Forest had one exit and entrance, and they had walked the furthest away from there. Blair had been discrete when she looked around, as she mentally mapped the surrounding area. While she hated being near her mother, Blair was grateful for the silence, as she did not know how she would cope with having to listen to Maeve's voice.
Instead, Blair thought about the information Marie had brought her that morning. It had been a quick exchange, but Marie had delivered as promised. Overall, Chloe had managed to liberate nine other Fae, which was not enough. Blair had been disappointed in this, and it got even worse when Marie told her about these individuals. None of them were particularly powerful and that is how they managed to stay under the radar for so long. They were lower Fae. Marie was the only Fae who had a bit of influence and power about her, and it explained why nothing had happened. None of them had the power to revolt against Maeve in the first place.
No wonder Marie had been reluctant in the beginning.
Blair knew that the best option was to wait for the Mikaelson Clan to turn up, and had ordered that Marie keep an eye out that day. She suspected they would come that day and her magic trembled at the thought of being free. Her magic was one step closer to freeing her from Maeve's control. Blair could feel the claws in her brain being pulled away by her magic, and the more this happened, the more relieved she was. It wouldn't be too long before she was free.
And once that happened, there would be hell to pay.
Blair stopped walking when she noticed Maeve had halted. Quickly, she looked around and saw a statue standing alone in an enclosed area, one that looked abandoned and forgotten about. There was moss that covered the statue and there was a vague smell of mildew. There was also a presence of magic within the enclosed area, powerful magic, but she could not make it out exactly. Blair felt that the magic was old, but also familiar in some way that did not make sense to her. Blair stared at the statue and had to fight a frown as she studied it, as she knew that it looked familiar. It took a few seconds before it clicked into place because she knew who this statue was of.
It was of Tatianna.
Her aunt.
Maeve's sister.
This time, Blair was not able to hide her frown as she wondered why she'd been brought here. She also wondered why a statue of Tatianna, the beloved Queen of Fae was hidden away in a damp and dilapidating place. Blair had no idea that a place like this even existed in the Forest. Blair watched Maeve as she corrected her facial expression, and waited for Maeve to explain.
"You never met her," Maeve began, her voice neutral, "she was dead before you were even alive. She is buried underneath the statue," Maeve looked up at the statue, but Blair could not see her face.
Blair remained silent as she watched Maeve carefully. However, she wondered why Tatianna was buried in such a faraway place. It appeared as though no one had visited this enclosure for a long time.
"My sister was always the favourite child when we were younger. She had a light about her that people were drawn to. As a Queen, all her people loved her," Maeve began as she continued to stare at the statue. She had not moved from her spot and had not once turned around to look at her.
Blair frowned, the way Maeve had spoken, she sounded envious. There was a subtle venom in her voice, one that Blair had heard many times before. However, this she understood. From the stories Blair had heard from her nannies, Tatianna was beloved by all her subjects. Tatianna did not act like a normal Queen, where she viewed herself as above others. No, Tatianna would be down beside her people, getting her hands dirty and helping people who needed it. She balanced out requests and made decisions based on everyone's safety and well-being. Tatianna did not need to manipulate people into blindly following her – unlike Maeve.
"However, there was one thing that Tatianna could not do, and that was to have an heir," Maeve explained, "That meant that if something happened to Tatianna, I would be next in line for the throne,"
Blair nearly rolled her eyes, she did not need a history lesson. She had enough of them when she was a child from the tutors her mother had brought in. All the tutors were boring, droning on about the same topics that bored her to death.
"The only obstacle in my way was Tatianna herself,"
Now this grabbed Blair's attention. She stared at Maeve, an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Blair did not like where this conversation was going, but she needed to know more.
"Of course, I could not kill her myself, that was too risky." Maeve continued as if she had not said anything wrong, "So I had to be careful about it. But nothing I did worked. However, this time would be different. The plan had to be perfect, flawless, so no one would suspect me. If they did, I would lose everything."
Blair thought back to the stories she'd grown up to. It was always believed that Klaus had killed Tatianna, and drank her dry. Other rumours had been that Tatianna and Klaus were lovers, but after speaking with Klaus, that did not seem to be true. Other rumours shared how it had been a brutal attack, one that was unprovoked. But now she wondered what the full story was. Her mother had been hiding things for a long time.
"Tatianna had always fancied Niklaus Mikaelson, had been enamoured by the stories about him and had wanted to meet him. I, as the best little sister, arranged the meeting. But not before I gave her a little gift – a scent-enhancing necklace." Maeve said, amusement in her tone as she continued her story.
It was that part of the story that made the dread sit in. A Fae's scent was already very alluring to a Vampire, but to add a scent enhancer, when in the presence of a Vampire was suicide for the Fae. No Vampire would be able to resist, not even an older, more mature Vampire would be able to resist the temptation. Especially if there was blood drawn. It also made sense as to why Klaus had not remembered this, as the scent enhancers could bring out a creature's baser instincts, especially when a hungry Vampire comes across a Fae.
"People were scared of Niklaus as it was, and his family. Everyone easily bought that he had killed her and no one suspected a thing," Maeve said, but then her tone turned scornful, "Your grandmother suspected something, that is why she challenged me for the throne, but she had no proof. She had gone behind my back, plotting for hundreds of years to get me off the throne,"
Blair mentally reminded herself to talk to Klaus after this experience.
"I had to do something. Tatianna was being too reckless with the Fae. We were nearly hunted to extinction." Maeve continued as she turned to look to Blair, who had her facial expressions schooled so there was no emotion on her face. "You probably don't fully understand what I am saying, but I don't need you to." Maeve stepped closer to Blair and placed her hand on her face.
It took everything in Blair to not slap the woman away from her. Her touch revolted her, especially now that she knew Maeve had orchestrated Tatianna's murder.
"Tell me you forgive me," Maeve demanded, as she used her power against her daughter.
Blair wanted to vomit, she wanted to kill her mother right there and then, but she couldn't. Maeve still influenced her, "I forgive you," She found herself saying, despite the fact she did not mean it in the slightest.
Maeve relaxed a touch as if she was relieved by these words. "Now, the only thing I need is your blood," Maeve said as she reached out and took Blair's hand. Without a second thought, she used her sharp nail and sliced Blair's right hand open, making sure to cut in deeply.
Blair's jaw clenched as she bit back a hiss in pain.
Maeve grabbed her and pulled her forward until they were right in front of the statue. Maeve grabbed Blair's hand and squeezed the cut until blood poured from the wound and onto the statue. Blair had to force her whole body to relax as her mother did this, and had to watch as though nothing was wrong. Blair watched as her blood dripped onto the moss-covered statue and waited. There had to be a reason for this.
But nothing happened.
Minutes passed and still nothing happened.
Eventually, Maeve huffed and backed away, annoyance on her face, "That damn bitch, I thought that was the key," Without another word, Maeve stormed off without saying anything to Blair and did not give her another order.
Blair remained behind for a few minutes as she stared at the statue and then her hand. Her hand was healing and would be fine in a few minutes, but it made her wonder exactly why Maeve had done this. "It's a shame you're dead, I would have liked to meet you," Blair said as she looked at the statue of her aunt.
"Yes, it is a shame,"
Blair whipped around and saw a woman standing behind her, with a kind smile on her face. This Fae looked exactly like Maeve and herself. The same hair colour and eye colour, but her cheeks were rounder and her lips fuller. She was very tall and regal. Her dress was flowing and fit like a glove, and there was a crown on her head. She looked exactly like the statue that was now behind her. Blair looked back at the statue and saw that the eyes glowed a bright blue colour, and the presence of magic had only got stronger.
"Tatianna?" Blair questioned when she turned back around, unsure of whether she was hallucinating.
Tatianna smiled, "Hello, my niece. It is good to finally meet you,"
It took a few seconds for this to process, as Blair blinked slowly, "But, how are you here?" She was certain that her aunt was dead, so it made her wonder exactly how Tatianna was standing right in front of her as though she was alive.
"Some of my power is embedded here. Before I died, I had a trusted friend take some magic to transfer to this very spot when I died," Tatianna explained easily, as though this made complete and utter sense.
Blair frowned, "Why?"
"Because I know my sister," Tatianna explained, a sad look in her eyes, "I knew she would pull something like this. I saw it,"
"You have the same power as me?" Blair asked as things clicked into place. The only way Tatianna could have known this was going to happen was if she saw it happen. Like Blair was able to.
Tatianna smiled, "Of course, in our family, seeing the future is very common. My father also had this power,"
"But Maeve doesn't have it," Blair said with a frown.
Tatianna nodded her head, "She was skipped,"
Blair pursed her lips, that made sense. However, it was the fact that her clairvoyant power seemed to be a family power that interested her. It also explained why Maeve had reacted with such anger when Blair's power was revealed as a child. Maeve had screamed and shouted for hours afterwards and refused to even look at Blair. She remembered the envy in her mother's eyes, and as a child, that stuck with her. It had also made sense as to why Maeve had wanted to use her power constantly. While Maeve could never possess the power herself, she had access to the power through her blood.
"So, if you knew that your sister had planned your murder, why didn't you do anything to stop it?" Blair questioned in confusion. If she had a vision where she was going to be killed, she would do everything in her power to stop it. Something she'd done several times when on the run.
Tatianna frowned and shook her head, "I prolonged my death for quite some time. That was not the first time Maeve had tried to kill me, but it was the first one that was going to be successful. Regardless of what I would have done, I was always going to be killed by my sister's hand," There was a sadness in her green eyes, one that spoke of the horrors she had witnessed over the years. Each vision of her sister killing her had not been an easy thing to accept. It had fractured their relationship to a point it could never be recovered or fixed. The trust was long gone.
Blair said nothing at the answer, as there was nothing to say. As a clairvoyant, she understood what had been seen. The feeling of anger, hopelessness and despair. Blair had her fair share of horrifying visions when she was chased by the Hunter for the past four hundred years. She had seen herself killed many times by him and she'd changed it by leaving as soon as she could. Some were closer calls then others.
"Maeve only cares for the throne. I wanted her to see the error of her ways, but she has refused," Tatianna said as she shook her head in disappointment.
"Do you have something to do with the no children being born?" Blair arched a brow at her aunt.
Guilt shone in Tatianna's eyes and she nodded her head, "I did. Before I died, I performed a curse, one that would activate if a certain requirement was met. If she ever caused harm to her child and blood, in any way, a curse would activate to teach her a lesson. I had hoped Maeve would never do it, but evidently, she did," Her final words to Maeve had been to warn her about this curse. She remembered how frantic Maeve had been, how she'd screamed at Tatianna and demanded she reverse what was done. But it was too late.
"So, you punished her subjects? Your subjects," Blair asked with a frown, "Fae who were innocent in this matter lost children, and haven't been able to conceive since," She remembered the haunted expression from Marie as she recounted how she'd lost her child. Grief was a powerful and horrible emotion, and to subject the people she was meant to care for was a horrible thing.
"I was angry and acted rashly in the moment. I also could not undo the curse either," Tatianna admitted. In a moment of anger after witnessing another death by her sister's hand, something inside Tatianna had snapped and she'd wanted to get back at Maeve somehow. At the time, it had seemed like a good idea, but now, so many Fae had been caught in the middle, and she deeply regretted her actions.
Blair stared at her aunt for a moment, and wondered whether the people had been right idea to worship her, "How can the curse be broken?" The curse was a powerful one if Tatianna could not break it. However, any Fae who was competent at magic would have made sure there was a failsafe, a way to stop the curse.
"For Maeve to admit what she did to me, to bring her child home, where they belong, and to earn her child's forgiveness," Tatianna explained.
Blair hummed as it all made sense now. Maeve has thought if she had confessed to what she'd done to her, and how her blood had been spilt. The fresh blood was to show that she was home – a very dramatic way of showing this. It would also explain why Maeve has been so mad when nothing had happened. Maeve had thought she had lifted the curse, and when nothing had happened, she was angry. Little did her mother know, Blair did not forgive her at all.
"I don't have much time," Tatianna said suddenly, her image flickered in an unstable manner, "I stored enough magic for this conversation and to leave a parting gift," Once her magic was gone, she would pass over and could finally be at peace.
"Exactly what gift?" Blair narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Tatianna came closer, which made Blair back away slightly, but when she saw the pleading eyes of her aunt, Blair stayed still. She was curious to know what her aunt had planned. Once close enough, Tatianna placed a hand on Blair's head and suddenly, Blair's whole being was filled with magic. It was weird to have magic that was not hers coursing through her. Her magic resisted at first as this was foreign magic, but soon her magic backed away when Blair felt the icy claws in her brain slowly start to dissipate.
Once done, Tatianna stepped away and smiled down at her niece, "Give your mother hell," With that, her image disappeared, as though she'd never been there.
Blair blinked slowly as she looked around. She could not feel any magic within the clearing anymore. She looked at the statue and found the eyes no longer glowed, Tatianna's presence was officially gone and the place felt hollow. However, it took Blair a few seconds to realise she felt different – good different. She could no longer feel the presence of Maeve's mind control.
She was free.
The grin on Blair's face was filled with pure wickedness.
Now, she could pay her mother back ten-fold.
And she would enjoy every moment of it.