Here is the betaed version of the chapter. As always much thanks to Senema for her help. Any remaining mistakes are my own.
This chapter gets a little violent, brutal and bloody. Hey, we are talking about the Mikaelsons 'lol! Please read careful and if you think, there should be more warnings, tell me.
Chapter 8
The two men eyed each other for a few seconds, Marcel looking proud and arrogant and Elijah exuding a calm self-confidence.
Finally, Elijah smiled. "Shall we, Marcellus?"
Faster than most of those present could follow, they collided and began exchanging blows. It soon became clear that they were almost equal in strength but that Elijah was the significantly better fighter between the two. Where Marcel fought with anger and hatred, Elijah returned this aggression with cold calculation.
At first, Marcel still wanted to win this fight with his superior strength but he quickly realized that it wasn't enough. Step by step, Marcel had to retreat and he knew that his venomous bite remained his only chance for victory.
Therefore, Marcel skilfully lured Elijah into a trap. It made it possible for him to bite Elijah into his neck and release all of his venom into Elijah's body.
Marcel felt him freeze and confident in his victory, he let go of Elijah and backed away with a mocking grin. With the amount of venom and the location of the bite, Elijah would feel the effects in no time and be unable to continue fighting.
"Ah, who's the coward now, Marcellus?" Elijah said and put his hand on the neck wound.
"It was you, who taught me to use any advantage." Marcel sneered contemptuously.
"That wasn't the only thing I taught you." Elijah smiled slightly. "I also taught you to be alert and suspicious when everything happens like you want it. And I taught you to never underestimate your enemy."
Elijah took his hand away and in front of Marcel's disbelieving eyes the wound healed without a trace. "Unfortunately for you, your venom no longer affects me. And I think I've accommodated your superiority complex long enough!"
Elijah suddenly stood in front of Marcel and if he had previously thought that they were equal, Elijah quickly taught him otherwise. Marcel got the beating of his lifetime and the worst thing for him was that Elijah gave it to him without displaying any special emotion like hatred.
Finally, Marcel laid wheezing on the ground, his legs, arms and ribs were broken in several places and his facial features were barely recognizable under the swelling, bruising and blood. The injuries were so severe that his healing powers had slowed down considerably and were almost non-existent.
Finally, Elijah knelt down next to Marcel and dislocated his jaw. Marcel completely vamped out and Elijah grabbed into his mouth and ripped out his fangs. Marcel screamed in pain.
Elijah stood up and dropped the teeth contemptuously onto Marcel's chest. "It will take a few weeks for your fangs to grow back. That should teach you a lesson about underestimating your enemy."
Elijah let his eyes wander over those present and everyone who wasn't part of the Mikaelson family backed away; not only the vampires but also the witches.
The only one who could stop himself from reacting was Vincent but he had to admit it was barely. This new Elijah was scary as hell.
Klaus laughed amused and went to his brother, not acknowledging Marcel who lay whimpering on the floor. "Well done, brother! What's next?"
"Show me the ones you'd like to kill a little more slowly", Elijah said calmly. He let his arms hang casually at his sides but his hands and fingers moved barely perceptible.
Only Klaus, gazing outward like Elijah while all other eyes were on them, noticed how the vines and plants that were now growing in the neglected courtyard were moving and expanding themselves. Curious about what Elijah would do next, Klaus pointed to those who had abused him the most at Marcel's command. He also pointed out some of Marcel's favourite minions like Sofya Voronova and a few others. He had special plans for them, as a little lesson for Marcel.
Elijah studied their faces closely, all the while his fingers kept moving. The vampires initially froze after Klaus had pointed at them but when nothing happened, they relaxed again.
"So how exactly are you going to keep us all under control? I'd say you're short a couple of allies," Sofya said mockingly. Sure, Elijah had shown that he was stronger than Marcel but the Originals and their allies were still vastly outnumbered.
Elijah smirked. "Luckily I've enough helpers, at least in a sense."
Elijah abruptly threw up his arms and the vines lashed out at the ones Klaus had chosen. They wrapped around the vampires and pulled them to the walls where they tied them up in some uncomfortable poses. Despite the fierce struggle of the partially centuries-old vampires, they could not free themselves; the plants were downright unnaturally strong and resilient.
Last, the vines took Marcel who was still on the ground and they weren't very gentle with him either.
The vampires, who weren't bound, panicked and tried to flee the courtyard in all directions, only to be thrown back by the invisible wall, which surrounded the whole compound. This time Elijah had nothing left to chance.
The vampires next focused on Freya and Davina as the witches who undoubtedly upheld the spell. But the two witches had long since put a protective bubble around them, the other witches, Josh and Aiden.
Inside of the bubble Kol and Hayley watched with interest for a few seconds as the vampires tried in vain to break into the bubble before exiting without difficulty. Kol looked murderous as usual but somehow Hayley's calm, unmoving face was far more unsettling.
"I think we'll take care of your sireline next. It's time they cease to be a threat to us." Elijah unbuttoned his jacket, took it off and threw it away. A vine caught it out of the air before it could hit the ground.
"Show off", Freya murmured softly, knowing Elijah could hear her despite the distance.
Elijah glanced shortly at her, gave her a mischievous grin and rolled up his sleeves. And he enjoyed the stunned looks Vincent and the other witches gave him very much. The only exception was the young female witch, who looked at him with knowing eyes. Elijah sensed that she was a seer; he smiled at her and she smiled back at him.
"But this time we're not leaving anyone alive", Kol said grumpily. "I don't need this constant hassle with Nik's enemies."
"No worry, brother, this time they will all die", Elijah agreed. "Niklaus, would you like the honour of starting the fight."
Klaus grinned bloodthirstily and lunged at one of the vampires, who had thrown particularly disgusting things at him.
After him, Elijah, Kol, and Hayley threw themselves into the fray, and in front of the witches of New Orleans, the Originals showed how much they really had held back over the years. The three Originals demonstrated with joy just how physically superior they were to the younger vampires. In addition, Hayley proved that she was not much weaker or an easier opponent.
It was a bloody massacre and realizing they had no chance of escaping or fighting alone, the vampires collectively launched themselves at the Originals in hopes of overwhelming them.
In response, the Originals paired up too, Klaus and Kol fought back to back while Hayley and Elijah protected each other.
The fight lasted maybe fifteen minutes, and then none of the vampires who weren't bound to the walls were alive anymore.
The inevitable injuries the Originals and Hayley had sustained were already healing and before long, they were looking perfectly fine again.
"Well that was a nice workout after all these years", Elijah said nonchalantly.
"Yes, there's nothing like a little violence and murder to make you feel alive again", Kol agreed cheerfully.
"Or getting his revenge", Klaus added in an equally good mood.
Hayley sighed. "You three are impossible."
Klaus just chuckled.
"Can we drop the walls now, Elijah?" Davina asked, looking drained.
"Yes, it is over", Elijah replied calmly. He eyed Freya, who looked exhausted but not nearly as worn out as Davina. "Freya, can you keep the spell going without Davina a little longer? I mean the one that prevents anyone outside from hearing what's going on in here."
"Yes, don't worry, I still have enough reserves", Freya answered. Together, she and Davina dropped all other spells.
Vincent and the other witches looked around dazedly. Neither of them wondered anymore why Elijah had wanted them here. This example had been as much for them as it was for the vampires, the warning clear and unmistakable.
But the biggest question for Vincent was how Elijah had been able to do all these things with the plants and he looked at him inquiringly.
Elijah met his gaze, and then held his hand out blindly and Hayley took it. "You look quite curious, Vincent."
"You are not mistaken", Vincent replied in a calm voice. He looked at the helpless vampires who were still trying to free themselves. By now tendrils had covered their mouths, so they couldn't talk or scream anymore.
Elijah looked questioningly at Hayley and she nodded. He closed his eyes and more plants erupted from the ground, forming two thrones, on which Hayley and Elijah seated themselves majestically.
Elijah then beckoned the seer to him, who came immediately. Vincent and the other witches gasped loudly as she bowed deeply to Elijah. "What is your name?"
"Ivy", she replied respectfully.
"You are a very powerful seer", Elijah stated. "Do you know who I am?" Ivy nodded. "Then introduce me to Vincent and the other witches."
Ivy bowed her head again and turned to the others, who had now come closer too.
Klaus, who had meanwhile sat down on the armrest next to Elijah, cackled loudly. Kol had gone back to Davina und watched everything with a big grin. Davina looked a little ill-at-ease while Freya just rolled her eyes. Josh and Aiden hadn't left their corner, looking just as uncomfortable as Davina.
Elijah rolled his eyes. "Please, Niklaus, try to take this seriously."
"Persephone walks among us again", Ivy announced in a loud voice. "Or, as we witches called her when we declared ourselves her eternal servants, Nature."
Vincent's face turned grey as he realized the full meaning and implications of what Ivy had just said. "It was you who took the power of the ancestors away from us", he stammered furious and glared at Elijah, who only smirked at him.
"No, we did", Hayley corrected him in a clear voice. "I sat in judgment of the ancestors, and many of them went to Tartarus. They will never meddle in the affairs of the living again."
"The rest of the witches, held on this plane against their will by you and the ancestors, are now in Limbo, free from all their pain until it is time for them to find peace." Elijah looked hard at Vincent. "As you probably already know, any coven that drew power from sacrificial or ancestral magic was stripped of magic. Additionally, the punishment for many of these covens was that they would never be able to perform any form of magic."
"I'm aware", Vincent choked out.
"I have shown the covens of New Orleans a great mercy by allowing you the opportunity to learn a different kind of magic." Elijah locked eyes with one leader after another until they looked down. The last was Vincent but he finally lowered his gaze as well. Elijah allowed himself a smile of triumph.
"I'll give you the same warning I gave Davina. If you ever threaten, harm, or act against any member of my family, you will lose all your power, forever. And every action against my wishes or me as the ancient patron of all witches will be treated as a betrayal and treason. Do you understand me?
The last question was no longer alone only in Elijah's voice but the witches could now hear a fierce female one as well. The temperature dropped several degrees and a fierce wind swirled around the witches.
Vincent shuddered, but it wasn't because of the cold. "I understand", he managed to get out.
The other leaders of the covens repeated Vincent's words terrified. This was even worse than they had ever thought.
"Oh yes, I have also an assignment for the covens of New Orleans. You will find a way to reconnect Niklaus to his sireline." Elijah smiled sunnily. "And believe me, I'll know if you don't do your best. I hope you remember my warning?"
There was silence, and it was clear on the faces of the witches of New Orleans that they remembered.
Elijah nodded before turning to Hayley, who had been watching with a smile. "Is there anything else you want to add, my dear?"
"There is indeed something, my love", Hayley replied, serious now. "I know that the ancestors hid and incarcerated the Hollow in their afterlife." Vincent flinched at hearing these two words and Hayley immediately fixated on him. "Persephone and I have long debated whether we should even let you live, for you were using the darkest magic trying to summon it." There were some loud gasps from the witches. "But it speaks for you that you stopped when you realized what you were doing."
"And let's not forget that Marcel and his oppression of the witches was the catalyst for everything", Elijah added, glancing over at Marcel. The hate and impotent anger in his eyes warmed his heart and he smiled wickedly at him.
"So we decided to show you mercy. Vincent." Hayley looked him straight in the eye. "This is the only time we will do so."
Vincent nodded jerkily. "If he is Persephone then who are you?"
"I'm Hades", Hayley announced in a loud voice, her voice now sounding as alien as Elijah's before.
Elijah saw with satisfaction that Vincent and the witches looked like that was all the shock they could handle. Well, there was one more shock for them they had to take.
Hayley stood up and her hands reached out to the floor. "As ruler of the Underworld I call up the Hollow."
The earth opened up again, but instead of plants, a black cloud erupted, eventually condensing into a young woman. It was clear that she was trying to escape, but something was holding her in place.
"Don't bother, Inadu", Hayley said scornfully. "By the way, my original name is Hayley Labonair. I hope that tells you something."
Inadu froze when she met Hayley's eyes and suddenly seemed very scared.
"And as both, Hayley Labonair, for the many members of my family you have murdered, and as Hades, ruler of the underworld, from whom you have escaped for far too long, I ask Persephone, your ruler, to pass judgment on you." Hayley looked at Elijah, who now looked as unforgiving as Hayley.
"There is nothing within you that deserves to continue to exist and there can only be one punishment for your crimes, Tartarus", Elijah announced in a harsh voice.
Hayley snapped her fingers and a huge black dog with three heads and red eyes emerged from the still gaping crack in the ground. "Cerberus, bring her down. I reserved a really nice place for her, right next to Agnes and the other ancestors."
Without hesitation, the dog bit down and dragged a screaming Inadu through the gap, which closed behind him.
"Well, I think there's a lot for you to think about. You can go!" Elijah looked at Vincent who nodded shakily. As he was about to turn and leave, Elijah called him back. "Isn't there something you forgot?"
Vincent looked at him genuinely confused, but then out of the corner of his eye he saw Ivy bow her head respectfully. He and the other witches reluctantly followed suit.
Elijah accepted with a nod and watched them leave the compound visibly shaken. He sighed. "Somehow I feel some pity for them."
"I don't", replied Niklaus, who hadn't left Elijah's side the whole time.
"Although I have to admit, it is very limited." Elijah chuckled softly.
"You two are unbelievable", Hayley said, shaking her head. Somehow, after Inadu had disappeared into the rift, she felt like she had dodged a bullet.
Elijah now stood up as well. "Get up, Niklaus, I want to make the thrones disappear, I don't need them anymore."
"Can't we keep them?" asked Niklaus wistfully.
"No, you'll only use them to annoy the witches", Hayley replied disapprovingly.
"She knows you too well, brother." Elijah laughed and Niklaus glared at him.
With a hand wave of Elijah, the ground opened up and the plants returned to the ground. Also, they were so thorough that they took away all the bodies of the vampires and other debris, leaving the courtyard looking much tidier.
"Nice trick." Niklaus was honestly impressed. "So, we don't have to dispose of so many bodies anymore." He grinned wickedly. "Of course, there are still a few more bodies to come."
"Don't worry, I'll let them disappear the same way. It is practical and very good for the plants too." Elijah shrugged and Hayley sighed.
Hayley, Elijah and Niklaus joined the others who were still waiting at the entrance.
"That was quite the show, Elijah, very entertaining." Kol sniggered until Davina nudged him roughly in the ribs.
"Josh, you can go now if you want", Elijah said softly. "I think Davina, Aiden and you have a lot to talk about."
Davina looked over at Marcel, clearly torn between her promise and the love she felt for him.
"I make you the same promise as Rebekah, he stays alive", Elijah said so quietly that only she could hear him.
Davina nodded, then turned to her best friends. "Let's go!"
They went, leaving the Mikaelsons alone with the rest of their enemies.