A/N:Okay, so I'm nervous about this chapter. Once you read it, I think you'll know why. If you don't like the direction all I'm going to ask is that you don't be rude about it.
[Fair Warning] If you're a huge Hayley fan or you not a fan of baby plots you probably don't want to read further.
There's a lot of Harvest flashbacks in this chapter. Feel free to skim over it if you don't want to bother reading that. The flashbacks or in italics. I tried to make sure it wasn't that confusing.
I had planned to get this out sooner but I was in a foul mood earlier. I apologize for any mistakes or errors in advance.
Last but not least, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Elijah observed Davina calculatingly. He knew Rebekah and Klaus were trying to ensure his freedom but he saw this as an opportunity if he could sway Davina to their side they would gain the upper hand on Klaus and ensure the safety of Klaus's child. However, if he couldn't he would have to do whatever he had to to make sure his family came out on top including doing whatever was necessary.
His gray skin from not feeding a stark contrast against the suit he wore.
"You're the one they call honorable," Davina stated knowingly.
Elijah smiled in response. "Yes, that's what they call me. And yet, I followed my brother here to New Orleans to engage in a war. So, I ask you; does that sound honorable to you?"
"You don't look well," Davina commented, taking in his gray skin and disheveled appearance.
"Well, only this morning I had a mystical dagger embedded in my chest, so I'd say I'm holding myself together quite well." He paused momentarily choosing his words carefully. "Davina, I believe that you and I have the power to end a war between witches and vampires before it truly begins. I, by keeping my brother in line; you, by behaving like your true self—not some tool for Marcel or the witches."
"And why should I trust you?" Davina questioned with narrowed eyes.
"Well, for one thing, in spite of a ravenous hunger, I have not tried to take your blood."
"Why not? I'm the only one here." She pointed out.
"Even in my present condition, I would not feed from a child." Elijah declared.
Davina picked up a hat pin pricking her finger with it. A drop of blood clung to the end of the needle and she walked forward placing the drop on Elijah's lip, testing his control. Testing him.
After a moment, Elijah's skin returned to its normal slightly complexion.
Davina looking pleased that he hadn't attacked her with the taste of that one single drop of blood.
Klaus paced back in forth in the back kitchen of Rousseau's, blood splattered on his neck, dripping down the corner of his mouth and splatters on his hands.
When Sophie came in carrying bags of produce, she dropped everything to the floor at the sight of Klaus covered in blood.
"Oh my God. What did you do?!"
"No, it's not what I did." He strode forward, wrapping his hand tightly around her, yanking her forward, glowering down at her. "It's what did you do? You and the witches? I warned you if anyone was too threatened Caroline's life there would be a price to pay in blood."
Sophie swallowed. "Who did you kill?"
"Two witches from your precious coven. You'll find the first one's body on your doorstep and the second one on Agnes's. In pieces, I might add." He nodded his head at the table and to her horror, there was a set of bloody eyeballs on the table along with a ripped out tongue."
Sophie gagged, bile rising. "Oh, God, I'm gonna be sick." She said revolted.
"Be quick about it then." He said before speeding away and she suddenly found herself in front of the Victorian mansion the Mikaelsons were currently occupying. She jerked forward with the change, the bile she felt churning in her stomach coming up as she retched into a rose bush next to the large Mikaelson Mansion.
When she was done, she barely had time to wipe her mouth before Klaus was dragging her inside and pushing her into a chair, pausing as he looked out the window and caught sight of Rebekah and Caroline outside. He shot her a look of warning. "Wait here!" He ordered before disappearing out the door expecting her to obey his command.
He was gone only two minutes when Hayley came bounding into the room closing the door a look of anger plastered on her face.
"Hayley, what the hell is going on?" Sophie asked her in alarm.
"What is going on is that Agnes set me up to be picked off by a group of witches!"
"What?" Sophie shook her head. "She wouldn't. That would jeopardize everything." Everything she and Jane-Anne did, everything they have done would have been for nothing.
"I didn't sign up for this. You promise to help me with my family, my pack if I helped you and your sister. And I have done everything you asked of me but I did not sign up to be slaughter out in the swamps!" Hayley's voice started to rise due to the anger she felt at almost dying. "I fucking became an incubator for children that aren't even mine! And for what? Just so I could be killed because suddenly Agnes decides she doesn't want Klaus's children being born!"
"Would you lower your voice!" Sophia snapped, looking out the window that overlooked the green field outside and she could see Klaus approaching Rebecca and Caroline who looked like they were in the middle of sparring. "If Klaus hears you I'm dead and you will be too as soon as those babies are born. He can't ever know the truth. He's already killed two of the witches of my coven for what happened."
"I know he can't ever know the truth. I don't need to be told that." Hayley lowered her voice. "If Klaus ever found out that we stole Caroline's children from her, their children, before either of them ever knew about them death would be the least of our worries." Hayley was sure of it. She was sure Klaus would make them suffer long before their death ever came.
"And that is why he can never find out," Sophie stressed, turning away from the window to look back at Hayley. "Everything from the moment we met would have been for nothing. Do you have any idea what I had to do to ensure that those babies came into existence after you told me about Klaus Mikaelson's one weakness." Sophie shook her head. "I needed more than one bargaining chip, more than one baby vamp. I had to plan and manipulate everything to go exactly accordingly to plan, down to every little detail and it wasn't easy. It was near impossible."
"They're not just bargaining chips." Hayley found herself saying. "They're more than that. They're innocent."
A look of surprise and knowing came over Sophie. "You've come to care for them like their actually yours, haven't you?"
Hayley looked away from her not wanting to admit it. Did it matter if she did or not? She was basically a womb snatcher or something.
"It's okay if you do, Hayley." Said Sophie in a moment of empathy for the wolf. "It's natural to feel love for children you're nurturing with your body."
"But their not mine," Hayley said, conflicted.
"Not biologically." Said Sophie. "But you're the one carrying them, you'll be the one to give birth to them. In that way, they'll be yours."
Hayley looked down her hand instinctively rubbing her stomach. "I can't imagine giving birth to them and having them being taken from me."
Sophie placed her hand on Hayley's shoulder. "If no one finds out the truth they won't have to be."
Hayley nodded. She just had to make sure Klaus never found out the truth about the pregnancy and when all was said and done, when Sophie kept her end of the deal she would leave and she would have her own pack and her own family in the children growing inside of her whether they were her's or not.
Klaus stood back watching as Rebekah tried to correct Caroline's leg stance and her arms.
"Don't tense up," Rebekah instructed. "You're body will react quicker and better if you relax."
"Kind of hard to relax if you're being attacked," Caroline responded, rolling her arms and trying to force her body to relax as Rebekah had instructed.
"Not if you're confident you're going to win." Rebekah retorted.
"That depends on if that is confidence or arrogance?"
Rebekah grinned. "In my case? Confidence."
"I'm sure." Caroline found herself returning Rebekah's grin with one of her own.
"Alright. So there are a few things you want to keep in mind when fighting old vampires. One; whatever you do if their really, really old, I'm talking centuries, do not give them the chance to knock your head clean off your shoulders."
Caroline's face scrunched up at the image. "Decapitation? Yeah, definitely wouldn't want to lose my head." She mumbled.
Klaus found himself letting out a chuckle at her mumbled words, he tried to cover it up but he had already drawn the attention of Rebekah and Caroline.
"Nik, been maiming again?" Rebekah asked sarcastically indicating the blood on him. "Or are you just going for a new look?"
"Couldn't let the witches think they were going to get away with what happened without consequences." He responded unrepentantly.
Caroline frowned. She couldn't say she was surprised by this. But still, it didn't mean she liked it. "Do I even want to know who you killed?"
"Probably not." He responded easily. "Getting an early start on training I see."
"Well, we were until you showed up." Said Rebekah.
"Well, you're gonna have to postpone it." He stated. "Sophie's here and she has some explaining to do. Figured you both would like to hear what she has to say."
"How considerate of you, Nik." Retorted Rebekah. "I guess there's a first time for everything," she walked forward brushing past him.
Klaus looked at Caroline. "Will you be joining us?"
Caroline nodded, walking forward and falling into step beside him. "Do you actually trust anything Sophie says?" She didn't, maybe that was her being petty about Sophie forcing her into this situation but there was just something desperate in the witches actions. At least they were to Caroline.
"If I don't trust my own family, I'm definitely not going to trust her." Klaus held the front door open for her.
Caroline paused in the doorway, searching his eyes. "But you trust me."
"Well, you're you," Klaus told her with an ease that if she had still been human would have her heart pounding in her chest. As it was, a feeling of warmth filled her chest.
She bit her lip with a faint smile, walking into the house. "So where is Sophie?"
Klaus placed a hand on her lower back as they walked further into the home. "In my study."
When they arrived at the study she saw only Sophie and Hayley. "Is this something Hayley should be here for?" She wondered. She thought Hayley should still be resting after what she went through in the bayou at least for the sake of the twins well being.
"No. She should be resting after her ordeal that the witches put her through." Rebekah stated
Hayley rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."
Sophie shifted around cautiously, her eyes on Klaus. "Look, I had nothing-"
"We had a deal!" Klaus cut her off angrily. "You protect my unborn children, Caroline remains unharmed, I dismantle Marcel's army. And whilst I've been busy fulfilling my part of the bargain, you allowed Hayley to be attacked and almost killed by a gaggle of lunatic witches." His eyes flashed black and amber momentarily. "If she died my children would have died. Caroline would have died!"
Caroline felt a shiver course through her with the anger in which he spoke of the possibility of her death. Like it was not an option for him.
"I had nothing to do with it, I swear." She defended herself, feeling a real flash of fear at his hybrids eyes that had shown briefly. "Hayley and I are linked, remember? She dies, I die."
"Then who were they?" Rebekah questioned, eyes narrowed.
"They are a faction of extremists. Sabine stupidly told them about some vision she had about the twins."
"What kind of vision?" asked Klaus, stepping back to stand beside Caroline, reaching to the desk and opening the drawl, removing a white cloth, wiping the blood from his hands and mouth that he had gotten on him earlier when he killed and mutilated the two witches.
"She has them all the time," Sophie informed them. "They are totally open to interpretation. I'm guessing she's wrong on this one."
"Well, how, may I ask, was this particular vision interpreted?" Klaus insisted on his line of questioning.
"Pretty much that your children would bring death to all witches," Sophie told him.
"Figures as much that your children would follow in your footsteps." Caroline cast a look at Klaus, while the words could be interpreted as harsh, it was said without any malice and she even had a small smile.
Klaus returned her smile with a full one. "Ah, well. I grow fonder of the twins by the second."
"Sophie, look, I promised Elijah that I would protect the Mikaelson miracle twins whilst he tries to win your witch Davina's loyalty," Rebekah informed her. "Why don't you tell me just how extreme this faction is?"
"Elijah's talking to Davina?" Sophie asked surprised by this information.
"Yeah. As we speak, I imagine."
"I'm guessing she'll have plenty to say about that crowd." Murmured Sophie.
"Do tell." Said Klaus.
"I… wasn't always an advocate for the witches," Sophie admitted.
Klaus moved around the room, grabbing a chair and pulling it forward. "Why don't you have a seat, Love." He grasped Caroline's hand pulling her forward.
Caroline looked at him in surprise at the gesture.
"Sounds like we're in for a story you shouldn't be spending it standing." He insisted.
Hayley quirked a brow at them. She was already sitting but she doubted even if she wasn't that Klaus would've shown her the same consideration he showed Caroline.
"Thanks." Caroline took the seat, appreciating his kind gesture.
"I don't see you offering me a seat." Rebekah cut in, sending Klaus a dry look.
"By all means, if you like to sit down take a seat, sister." He responded, hands on the back of the chair Caroline sat in.
Sophie paused as she watched Klaus with Caroline, how he kept close to her when in the same room, the way his eyes constantly flickered to her, taking everything in about her.
She kept the frown from her face, seeing the way he was with her and his earlier threat she prayed that he never found out the truth about the pregnancy.
8 Months ago
Sophie danced to the music behind the bar of Rousseau's as the crowd cheered loudly.
"Woo, drink up everybody!" Sophie shouted to the cheering crowd. "This is how they party in Rio!" she poured the liquor down her throat straight from the bottle.
"My sister was devoted, like our parents, and our upbringing was very strict, which drove me nuts. The minute I turned 21, I left the Quarter to travel... and play." Sophie said.
Caroline raised a brow, she would not have taken Sophie for a party girl. Not with what she knew of her so far.
Sophie poured alcohol into another girl's mouth before kissing her after the girl swallowed the drink down.
"But, I wanted to be a chef, so I came back to Rousseau's." Sophie continued with her story.
"Oh, Jane-Anne!" Sophie greeted when her sister walked into Rousseau's to find her.
Jane-Anne smiled, hugging her sister. "Welcome home, Soph. Can we go someplace to talk?"
"Just tell me."
"The elders called a vote. We're moving forward with the Harvest." Jane-Anne informed her.
Sophie looked at her sister, stunned. "What?"
"What the bloody hell is a Harvest?" Rebekah demanded, having never heard of it before.
"It's a ritual our coven does every three centuries so that the bond to our magic is restored. We appease our ancestors, they keep our ancestral power flowing." Sophie explained.
"And why haven't I heard of this?" Klaus wondered, it sounded like something he would have heard of before.
"Because a Harvest always seemed like a myth. A story passed on through generations like Noah's ark, or the Buddha walking on water." Said Sophie. "The kind some people take literally, and some people don't."
"So was there any truth behind it?" Caroline wondered. "And what exactly does the ritual entail."
"Nothing pleasant," Sophie admitted, unable to keep from grimacing.
Several young witches kneeled in the grass just outside a farmhouse. An older witch held a knife in her hand as she drew a small cut in the first girl's hand, she had long dark curly hair. "To be reborn, we must sacrifice," Bastiana stated like a vow. A chant.
"To be reborn, we must sacrifice." The young girl repeated.
Bastiana moved down the line to the second girl. "To be reborn, we must have faith." Bastiana cut into her hand much like she did the first girl.
"To be reborn, we must have faith." The second girl repeated.
"Do you have faith in the Harvest?" asked Bastiana as she cut into the third girl's hand.
"Not for a second!" Sophie declared as she approached the older witch quickly from behind the girls.
"Sophie!" The first girl said in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Sophie's eyes were set on the older witch anger in her dark eyes.
"Saving the community you renounced." Bastiana looked at her with contempt.
"You're all ridiculous." Sophie looked at the first girl who had spoken her name. "Monique, seriously?"
Monique frowned and with a look of reluctance admitted. "My mom told me I had to."
"Yeah. Well, your mom and I are gonna have words." She responded angrily storming off toward the house.
At the end of the line was Davina watching as Sophie stormed away.
"They had the girls of our community preparing for months. Four would be chosen for the Harvest. They said that it was an honor, that they were special. I thought it was a myth." Said Sophie.
"Was it?" asked Rebekah.
A look of guilt flickered across Sophie's face, her frown deepening but before she could answer, Klaus's cell phone ringing sounded through the room.
He glanced at the screen and Marcel's name flashed across it. He swiped his thumb over it before placing it against his ear. "Marcel. Bit early in the day for you, isn't it?"
"I know, I make this look easy, but I still have an empire to run."
Caroline looked over her shoulder at Klaus, curiosity written across her face at hearing Marcel's voice for the first time even if it was filtering through a phone call. Admittedly she was rather curious about the man that was a lot like a son to Klaus, she wondered what he was like having been raised up by the Original family.
"Rather you than me. All that responsibility seems like such a bore." Klaus spoke into the phone easily.
"Well, this might spice things up," Marcel responded. "I just heard about a bunch of dead witches out in the bayou. The kinda damage a werewolf might do, only there was no full moon. Plus two more were found in the witch Quarter mutilated. I have an informant out there in the Bayou I need to meet and I would love for you to go with me."
"Dead witches in the bayou. Sounds like less of a problem, and more like a cause for celebration." Klaus said in response to Marcel. "As for the dead witches in the Witch Quarter." he turned his gaze on Sophie. "Seems to me someone was sending a message."
Sophie glared hatefully at him and it gave him a sense of triumph, he smirked smugly at her.
"Well, something killed them. And may still be out there. And with your blood the only cure for a werewolf bite, I would love for you to accompany me." Marcel insisted.
"Oh, why not? Haven't been to the bayou in ages. I'm on my way."
"Peace out, brother," Marcel responded before hanging up.
"You can't go out there now." Sophie protested as Klaus pocketed his phone. "I need to gather the witches' remains and consecrate them. If I don't get to them before sundown, we'll lose the link to their magic." she glared at him. "That goes for the witches you killed as well."
"Those witches tried to kill Hayley. I'd prefer for Marcel's informant not to find anything that would lead him back to us, to Caroline, to Hayley, or to... you know," He pointed at Hayley's stomach. "that."
Caroline snorted earning a glare from Hayley.
"You are all class." Hayley snarked.
Klaus pointed at Sophie. "Stay put." He ordered. "And save the rest of your story 'til I return." He turned and looked down at Caroline placing a hand on her arm. "A word before I go, Sweetheart."
Caroline's brow furrowed unsure of what he had to talk to her about but stood, curious about what it could be. She followed him out the room and outside onto the porch.
Klaus turned to face her. "I know you're dead set on not hiding away as you put it and I'm not going to try and tell you what to do. Just don't be reckless. I hate to have to kill everyone in this bloody city because something happened to you."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "I'm not reckless."
Klaus raised a brow at her. "Since you've been in New Orleans you have been."
"No, I haven't," she replied indignantly. "Things are just crazy here."
Klaus would have argued with her more about it but Marcel was expecting him. "Just be careful, will you."
Caroline felt her instinct to argue with him fade at the genuine sound of his voice which held concern. "Yeah, I will." she watched him carefully, eyes flickering across his face. "I thought you would insist I stay put like you have been ever since this all started."
"Oh, I want to," Klaus said with a shake of his head. "Believe me, I want to. But your you're own person and you have the right to make your own decisions and I'm gonna do my best to respect them." he smiled wryly. "I don't know how well that will go. You're just gonna have to be patient with me."
Caroline laughed. "I'm sorry." she laughed. "It's just really ironic you asking for patience when I'm pretty sure you don't know how to be."
Klaus' eyes lit with amusement but he loved hearing her laugh and the way her eyes lit up. "Yeah, yeah. Just be careful."
"I will," she told him. "And thank you for understanding I make my own decisions. I hate when people tell me what to do."
"I know." he leaned forward, brushing a kiss across her cheek, close to her mouth. "I'll see you later." he walked down the porch steps.
"Why do you do that?" Klaus turned back to her on the bottom step, his brow furrowing questioningly. "I mean, the kissing my cheek thing."
Klaus smirked. "I love pressing my lips against your skin."
Caroline opened and closed her mouth, her cheeks heating up as she watched him turn and leave. She blew out a breath as she remembered vaguely what it had been like to have his lips against her skin that one night when she threw caution to the wind and slept with him. It seemed so long ago but she could still remember the way he had kissed her, the way his mouth felt against her skin, the way his tongue tangled with her own.
A heated flush traveled through her. "Damn him."
Marcel swept into St. Anne's church.
"Look who's back." Father Kieran, stopped sweeping the church floor. "Here to visit your prisoner in the attic?"
"Lay off," Marcel responded, he didn't need Father Kieran judging him. "She's not a prisoner. And I'm moving her tonight. Too many people know where she is."
"I have been hearing about what you've been up to since I've been out of town. Using that girl to keep the witches from doing magic?" His eyes appraised Marcel accusingly.
"All respect, Father K. If you're going defend the witches' rights, we got nothin' to talk about," Marcel stated, continuing on his way up to the attic.
Elijah walked around the attic of the church that was serving as a room for Davina, who was drawing, he picked up Tim's damaged violin, holding it in his hand. "Do you play?"
Davina looked over at him, her gaze falling. "That's... not mine."
Elijah took a seat in a chair and started tinkering with the violin for a moment but when he heard approaching footsteps outside the room he hid away in the room just as Marcel entered.
"Good news, Little D. I'm moving you out this pile of dust." he announced.
"Are you serious?" Davina's eyes lit up with hope. "When?"
"Tonight." He said, missing the way she faltered. "I just need to lock in the arrangements. How's our Original?" he gestured to Elijah's coffin and took a step toward it.
"Uh, don't disturb the body!" She quickly stepped in front of the coffin. She didn't want Marcel to know Elijah was up or that she was talking to him. "I have a spell in progress." she lied.
"Bet you do. Pack up, 'kay? Only what you wanna take. I'll buy ya anything else you need." He told her moving back toward the door.
"Okay," she answered just before he left.
Once Marcel was gone Elijah emerged from behind a corner. "You didn't reveal that I was awake."
"We're not done talking yet," Davina stated, it was the only reason she hadn't said anything to Marcel.
Elijah picked up the violin again, retaking his seat. "You and Marcel seem very close."
"Marcel's my family." Davina declared with a certainty, a feeling she felt in her bones. No one could tell her otherwise.
"And yet Marcel is someone who delights in harming the witches. Those people, I would think, you would consider family. This doesn't trouble you?" Elijah inquired, trying to figure the young witch out if she was as loyal to Marcel as she seemed to believe herself to be.
"No. They deserve it."
Elijah could hear the defiance in her tone. "Why would you say that?"
"'Cause they're liars." Davina accused. "All of them."
Bastiana touched each of the four girls kneeling in the grass on their foreheads indicating that they had been chosen. Monique, Davina, and two other girls had been chosen for something that was considered a great honor among the witch community.
"They made me and my friends do this Harvest ritual. They said our participation would bring our family strength, health... that we'd forever be celebrated as saviors of the community." Davina shook her head, anger written all over her features. "But all they really wanted was more power. So, I left before they could get it. Now, they're running out of time, because after the Harvest, comes the Reaping. And if they don't complete the Harvest, there won't be a Reaping. Soon, all the witches in the Quarter will start to lose their power. Eventually, they will cease to be witches altogether."
"So what does it take to complete this ritual?" Elijah inquired.
"I have to die." Davina answered, shocking Elijah.
Sophie was in Lafayette cemetery, packing a little bottle into her backpack, preparing to go out to the Bayou, she heard someone entering the mausoleum behind her only to see Hayley enter.
"Hey. What the hell?"
"You're going out there anyway, aren't you?" Hayley questioned but didn't wait for an answer. "I wanna go with you."
"No, thanks. Already got assaulted by Klaus this morning and two of my coven is now dead. Don't need a repeat." she responded, plus she didn't want everything she and her sister sacrificed to be for nothing.
"What if whatever is responsible for all those dead witches is still out there? We've already established that it likes me and hates witches, so you'll be safer with me." Hayley bargained.
"Sorry if it's not happening. I won't risk losing everything we've tried to accomplish up until now."
Sophie had every intention to push past her but Hayley blocked the exit, forcing her to stop.
"Listen. We're in this together. The whole reason I came to this stupid town in the first place was to learn more about my family. You and your sister promised if I help you, you'll help me. I've been keeping to my part," She motioned to her stomach pointedly. "Now it's time you do too. Your sister's the one that told me Marcel ran the werewolves out of the Quarter, into the bayou. And, last night, I'm pretty sure that some guardian-angel-wolf saved my life. So, I'm coming with you."
"Could you two be more idiotic?" Rebekah walked in.
"Clearly." Caroline appeared. "Their planning to go out to the Bayou aren't they?
Hayley and Sophie both froze. Hayley hoped they hadn't overheard too much but when she saw no signs of real anger she figured her and Sophie's secret was still safe, they shared a brief moment, sighing in relief.
"Two can play the follow-game, you know!" Rebekah told them, looking at them like they were two of the stupidest people she ever met. "You heard Klaus, he and Marcel are headed right where you're going."
"So distract them," Hayley told her. "Because unless you wanna see lock a hormonal, pregnant werewolf in a tomb, I'm coming with you." she told Sophie before turning back to Rebekah. "And wouldn't Elijah be mad if he hears that the babies and I died of asphyxiation?"
"Yeah, I'm nowhere near ready to die so that won't be happening." Caroline said with a pointed look. "Which is why I am here in the first place. If you're doing something stupid and reckless, I'm coming to make sure you don't get killed." Caroline wasn't about to let Hayley and Sophie get her killed because Hayley went and got herself killed. And she cared about what happened to the babies.
Hayley shot her a glare. " I know to keep myself from being killed."
"I won't be taking any chances." said Caroline, crossing her arms over her chest challengingly.
Rebekah looked between Hayley and Caroline annoyed though she could see where Caroline was coming from, if her life was linked to a pregnancy she wouldn't have let Hayley out of her sight.
Sophie rolled her eyes and sighed again, resigning to having Hayley, Caroline, and Rebekah come along with her. She and Hayley would have to be careful with what they say, couldn't have Caroline or Rebekah find out their true connection.
Klaus stood just outside of the bar in the Bayou his phone pressed to his ear. "What's the matter, Rebekah? You cross that I'm out with your ex?"
"What is all that dreadful hillbilly ruckus in the background?" Rebekah demanded, hearing the god-awful country music in the background.
"According to the dreadful signage, it's Big Auggie's Bayou Bar."
"Well, order up a few rounds of moonshine and steer clear of the dead witches for a few. The witch is on a burial mission, your baby mama is on a spirit quest, and Caroline is insistent on her not getting herself killed and in turn her killed." Who would have thought she and Caroline would agree on something. "and I'm keeping Elijah's promise to keep her safe, so stall, please? "
"Caroline's out in the Bay-" the sound of Rebekah hanging up on him, had his jaw clenching in annoyance and anger. He was choosing to trust that Caroline could handle herself. He pocketed his phone, entering the bar.
"Everything okay?" asked Marcel taking notice of Klaus's sour mood.
"Oh, just the usual. Temperamental sister." He dismissed, taking a seat at the bar next to Marcel. "So, where's your informant?"
"Tomas?" Asked Marcel. "He's out sniffin' around. Grab a drink, and then we'll chase him down."
"Well, I suppose it will give us a chance to talk things over, like why you haven't returned Elijah. Maybe your young witch has grown partial to his company. She must get so bored."
"You never stop, do you?" asked Marcel.
"You never answer, do you?" Klaus shot back at him.
"Why're you so curious about Davina?" Marcel questioned with suspicion.
"If I had a 16-year-old, all-powerful witch at my beck and call, you would wonder about her, too. " Klaus responded with ease.
"You're never gonna get her." Marcel said confidently, a spark in his eye.
"Okay, okay. I'll ask the harmless questions, then." Klaus conceded. "How did you meet her?"
Marcel laughed. "That might surprise you." he saw no real harm in answering this question. "This was eight months ago, before I banned the witches from using magic. Relations between vampires and witches weren't what you'd you call friendly, by any means, but let's just say we were a little less... divided. In fact, some of us were getting along just fine."
The water cascaded down her body as she slanted her mouth against Marcel's, their skin slick and wet from the running shower beating down on them. After, Marcel laid back in his bed, while Sophie dried herself off beside him, venting to him about her coven. "Ugh, it's so screwed up, I'm dealing with whacked-out, militant witches."
Marcel smiled. "Hey, you witches all got a little crazy in you."
Sophie continued. "And my sister has really gone off the deep-end this time."
"Jane-Anne's got martyr written all over her, that's for sure."
"They've got every 16-year-old girl in our coven dying to be one of the four chosen for this crazy-ass ritual." Sophie complained.
"Anything I can do to help?" asked Marcel.
"No, you've caused enough trouble with them." Sophie responded though she did appreciate the offer.
"What, little old me?" He asked with an air of innocence and confidence.
Sophie giggled. "You're a dick. You always stir it up with the witches. Which is why this," She leaned over, touching her mouth to his, "stays between us." she slanted her mouth over his kissing him deeply.
"You and Sophie?" Kaus smirked. "You hypocrite. You torture those witches, and yet there you were, getting positively Romeo and Juliet with Sophie Deveraux."
"Oh, hey hey hey, it wasn't like that." Marcel denied with a grin. "It was a... mutually satisfying hook-up."
"So, if Sophie didn't turn to you, her secret vampire lover, in her hour of need, what did she do?" asked Klaus.
"She did what any good girl do. She went to her priest."
Sophie, Father Kieran, Jane-Anne, Bastiana, and Agnes were gathered inside St. Anne's Church.
"You've never cared about witch business, Sophie. And now, you have the gall to reveal our private dealings to an outsider." said Bastiana glaring at the dark haired woman.
"You have to find another way." Insisted Father Kieran.
"You think we do this lightly?" Bastiana demanded. "The vampire presence in the Quarter is growing stronger, we need more power to fight them off. Harsh times call for harsh measures."
"This is a little more than harsh, Bastiana." Sophie responded, how could Bastiana not see how wrong this was.
"You don't understand, because you don't believe. You've never believed." Jane-Anne told Sophie. "But I believe enough to put everything on the line for this. And being chosen for the offering – it's an honor."
"It's a myth, Jane-Anne." Sophie wanted to make her sister see reason but she didn't know how to.
"What you are planning to do is not only wrong; in my city, it's illegal." Father Kieran declared, it wasn't something he could knowingly allow.
"In your city full of vampires?" Jane-Anne countered.
"The vampires and the human faction have an arrangement, just like we have with you all." Father Kieran responded. "Protect the locals, protect our homes, we look the other way. What you are planning goes too far."
"We are simply taking what we need." Argued Bastiana. "Our connection to our ancestors weakens over time. You sow, and you reap; that's the way the Harvest works."
"I am the only ally the witches have in this town!" Father Kieran reminded heatedly. "Do you really wanna face Marcel without me? Because that is what you'll be dealing with if you go through with the Harvest."
A young man overhears them arguing and approached them. "Everything okay in here, Uncle Kieran?" He questioned in concern.
"We're just finishing, Sean. Right?" Father Kieran glared at the witches. "I believe I've made myself clear."
"We'll take this matter to the elders." Agnes responded turning to Sean and grasping his hand in hers. "Continue your studies, Sean. Your uncle is an excellent role model." she smiled something beguiling. Sean nodded and as she turned to leave, she muttered a hex under her breath, hexing the young man. Father Kieran would regret putting his nose in their business. Something that had absolutely nothing to do with the Father.
"The witches were furious with Kieran." said Marcel. "Sophie tells me that the witches put a hex on his nephew Sean, made it seem like he was slowly losing his mind in order to distract Kieran, while they kept planning for the Harvest."
"So they attacked Kieran's nephew." Klaus realized.
"Yeah. Kid wasn't the same after that, ended up going postal, killing all his fellow seminary students, all of them, and then himself."
"I might have read about that. The boy... killed a twin, or he was a twin or something." he said knowing the boy was Cami's twin.
"Ah, no no no, they said he had a twin sister." Marcel said, confirming his suspicions.
Marcel sipped at his liquor, while Klaus downed all of his in one gulp.
Elijah still tinkered around with the broken violin as Davina had started packing her suitcase.
"So, enlighten me. What did you mean when you said you had to die?" Inquired Elijah.
"That's what the Harvest was." Davina informed him. "They said they'd put us four girls in a state of, like, peaceful limbo as part of the offering. And then later, at the Reaping, we'd awaken and be reborn. I never got as far as the limbo part, which means the Harvest isn't complete. That's why the witches are so freaked out. The Reaping is just around the corner, and if they don't finish it before then, it's over. All I have to do is wait it out."
"And then what?" asked Elijah.
"They're punished, and I'm free." She stated, she hoped and dreamed of that day when this stupid nightmare she'd been living would finally be over.
"From Marcel?" Elijah questioned.
Davina shook her head. "Of magic." she corrected. "All our power will drain away. I'll be normal." she smiled slightly at the thought.
"Is that what you want?" asked Elijah rather surprised she would want something so mundane. "To be normal?"
"I just don't wanna be what I am. I can't control it sometimes. Magic. I..." Davina's eyes grew wet, a feeling of guilt in her chest. "hurt people. Even when I don't mean to."
"Why don't you tell me about your friends." Elijah suggested encouragingly. "You must miss them."
"There's Tim. He doesn't know about any of this witch stuff. He's normal. My best friend, Monique. She was a part of the Harvest too." She replied before adding. "She's lucky. No one ever fought for me, but someone fought for her. The only one who ever spoke out against the Harvest was Monique's aunt."
"And who is that?" Elijah wondered.
Davina sighed. "Sophie Deveraux."
Elijah looked at her in shock at the name and everything he was learning about the Harvest and everyone involved.
Sophie, Rebekah, Caroline, and Hayley walked through the Bayou to look for the dead witches.
"So, this Harvest thingy—tell me more." Rebekah told Sophie.
"Klaus said to wait." Sophie insisted.
"Yeah, you seemed to listen to everything he says." Caroline drawled out sarcastically. "Or we not out in the swamps?"
"Exactly," Rebekah waved a hand at Caroline. "here we are, amongst the crawly, buzzy creatures."
"We're here." Hayley announced suddenly.
Caroline looked around and it was definitely the place where the witches were killed. Their bodies or what was left of them littered the ground in bloody ripped apart pieces, heads torn from the bodies.
Sophie's stomach churned in disgust, feeling sick to her stomach at the sight, she knelt down digging around in her bag for the ingredients she needed to consecrate her fallen witches.
Hayley's eyes widened as she caught sight of a huge pawprint in the mud. "Whoa." And not far from the pawprint there were three bloody scratches marking the bark of a tree.
Sophie's brow furrowed. "Is that a wolf track?"
Caroline's head whipped around when she heard a crunching noise like sticks being stepped on. Her eyes zeroed in on an approaching male as Rebekah called out. "Who's there?"
"Rebekah."
Rebekah followed Caroline's line of sight.
"What the hell? An Original?" The vampire questioned.
Caroline felt her chest tightened they couldn't let anyone know they were out in the bayou. She ran at him but he booked it.
"Caroline, no!" Rebekah cursed, under her breath. "Fuck.
Caroline could hear Rebekah calling after her but she ignored her and pushed faster to catch up to the guy and by some miracle she did, stepping in his path.
"Get out of my way" he growled.
"Can't do that." she tensed when he advanced on her and it was like her body acted on instinct alone. When his hand reached out to grabbed her she grabbed his wrist before he could touch her, twisting it behind his back, she shifted behind him bringing her knee up before bringing it back down on the back of his leg, she heard the bones breaking as he collapsed to his knee with a cry of pain, acting quickly she gripped his head and gave it a violent twist, snapping his neck, she pushed him away, his body crumpling to the floor.
"I gotta say you're a quick learner."
Caroline looked to her left and saw Rebekah standing there. "I just reacted to my instincts." She let her instincts take over and it felt good. Fuck, did it feel good to be in control again. "Is this going to be a problem? Should we call Klaus?" She didn't wait for Rebekah to answer already nodding to her own question. "I'm gonna call, Klaus."
Klaus glanced down at his phone ringing, Caroline's name flashing. "I have to take this." he didn't bother waiting for Marcel's response as he walked outside. "Caroline, is everything alright?"
" Depends on your definition? " She responded.
"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
" No, I'm fine but I might have taken down one of Marcel's guys out in the bayou ." She hedged cautiously. " Well, Rebekah thinks he might be Marcel's informant."
Klaus rolled his eyes heavenward. "And where was Rebekah during this encounter?"
"He caught me by surprise ." Rebekah huffed and realized Caroline must have handed her the phone.
"Let me understand this: against all logic, you, Caroline and Hayley went to the bayou, where you ran into a man you think may be Marcel's informant, and Caroline took him down?"
"She was quite efficient but now we have a problem, what do we do with him now that he saw us?"
"I'll handle it, but I'll need a distraction," he told her. And he wanted to see that Caroline was unharmed with his own eyes.
"I'm on my way." Rebekah hung up.
Klaus frowned, he would have rather talk to Caroline before she hung up. He pocketed his phone before going back inside.
"Your sister again?" asked Marcel as Klaus retook his seat at the bar.
"She craves attention. So come along, you were just getting to the juicy bits."
"I can't joke around about this." said Marcel on a more serious note. "I've done a lot in my day, but I do have a rule about kids."
"No one but Sophie ever questioned the Harvest." said Davina. "Not even my own mother. So neither did I. We thought it was such an honor, we had such faith." Her face twisted in bitterness. "We were so stupid."
"So how did it begin?" asked Elijah.
"We were led out like princesses. My mother was so proud."
Night had fallen, and the four girls were led out into the Lafayette Cemetery by the elders to start the Harvest. There were birdbaths with liquid that was lit on fire burning around them, creating a bright orange glow.
Bastiana started speaking. "Our magic fades as our ties to our ancestors weaken over time. We beseech them, accept this offering as a sign of our faith."
The girls knelt in a row in the middle of the crowd of people, of witches gathered.
"Bastiana, one of the Elders, called upon the four elements to bind our past and future magic together. Earth, to connect us to our ancestors. Water, to heal the community. Wind, to carry us to our ancestors and back. Fire, to purify." Davina went on to continue telling Elijah her story. "After all our preparation, we knew exactly what to expect. For weeks they told us that the magic in the knife they used to cut our palms would put us to sleep, and that later at the Reaping, we would all be resurrected. They said we'd awaken, and all be together and more powerful than ever. And it was just like we rehearsed it. All that was left was a little cut on our palms for the blood sacrifice."
The first girl in the row stood up to begin the Harvest but it was interrupted immediately after when Sophie ran into the cemetery. "No! Stop! Bastiana, stop! You have to stop, Bastiana, please don't do this!"
A male witch wrapped his arms around Sophie restraining her, covering her mouth with his hand so she couldn't intervene further or scream creating a larger scene.
"Even after Sophie tried to stop it, we didn't suspect anything." Davina stated.
"To be born, you must sacrifice. Do you have faith?" Bastina asked the girl.
The girl nodded in response and held out her hand for the blood sacrifice. But instead of taking her hand Bastiana slit the girl's throat, the young witch falling to the ground. The other three girls started to scream in terror, but they were restrained so that they couldn't run away. Davina's mother stared straight ahead at her daughter screams, unflinchingly.
"Everyone involved in the ritual knew that this would happen." Elijah realized.
"Except the four of us. They weren't putting us to sleep, they were slaughtering us!" Davina said with pure betrayal.
The next young witch was pushed forward and Bastiana slashed her throat despite her protests and her fear.
"No, no!" Davina screamed.
"Monique Deveraux." Bastina said.
"NO, NO, NOOO!" Davina screamed as a man forced Monique forward.
"I begged for someone to help. My own mother turned away from me." She recalled how much it hurt that her own mother didn't lift a single finger to help her. "Sophie screamed and screamed for her sister, anyone, to do something."
" What is wrong with you!?" Sophie screamed at them all in horror.
A worried look flickered across Jane-Anne but still, she did nothing. Said nothing.
"But no one did." Said Davina, not a single member of their coven.
"And yet you survived." Elijah said pointedly. "Therefore, someone or something intervened."
Davina nodded. "Yes. Someone finally did."
"Monique, run away! Run away!" Sophie shouted right before a shrill whistle cut through the horror and a group of vampires descended, killing the witches, led by one man. "Marcel."
"You're the one who stopped it." Klaus stated, appraising Marcel closely.
"Kieran knew every detail from Sophie. After his nephew's massacre in the church, he was so torn up. He left town just before the Harvest. But on his way out, he came to me, and he asked me to stop the Harvest. He knew I didn't want the witches getting any more power. And I do have a rule about people abusing kids, so, I did what he asked." Marcel shook his head ruefully. "But I was too late."
The vampires attacked the Elders. One of them ripping into Bastianna's throat, draining her dry before letting her dead boy fall to the ground, the magic knife she used to slit the girl's throats clattering to the ground. Agnes acted quickly picking up the fallen knife, grabbing Monique, slashing her throat clean open.
Davina screamed, hysterical and trying to break free of the arms around her as hard as she could. "No, Monique! Nooo! Let go of me! Stop it! Stop it! Let go of me! Stop it!"
Marcel watched as she screamed and rage and fought back, thrashing, headbutting the guy holding her in the face. Marcel sprung into action, killing the man quickly and taking Davina protectively into his arms. "I got you." He murmured, doing his best to assure her that she was safe. That he would protect her.
"There was something about seeing Davina fight." Marcel said, sloshing his drink around in his glass. "She didn't just go along to the slaughter, you know?"
Klaus smiled slightly thinking of a younger version of the man sitting next to him. "I do... Marcellus."
A somber look came over Marcel. "I felt like she and I... we were kindred spirits. "
Klaus could understand where Marcel was coming from. He had felt the same when he met him.
Marcel held Davina protectively to him while Sophie knelt on the ground, holding Monique's body in her lap. Grief-stricken, Sophie looked up at Marcel and Davina. Davina extended her hand out toward Monique. A light inside Monique leaked out from her body and into Davina's outstretched hand, Sophie and Marcel stare at her in utter amazement.
"Every girl who died released her power on to the next. When I was the last one, I suddenly had all of it, all the power that was supposed to be released back into the earth to appease our ancestors." Davina explained.
"So... the Harvest was actually working?" Elijah inquired.
"Something was working." She couldn't be sure it was the harvest and she did not want to find out. "And I knew that I was supposed to be killed so the Harvest could be completed and we would all be resurrected. But, they lied to us about how they were killing us. How do I know they weren't lying to us about coming back?" She paused, falling silent for just a moment before admitting. "But mostly, I just didn't want to die. So, I let him save me. Marcel saved my life."
Marcel watched the look of surprise flicker across Sophie's face and vamp-sped himself and Davina out of there before the witches could take her back and complete the sacrifice by killing her.
Elijah felt a strong wave of disgusted by how Davina, someone who was still a child in the larger scheme of things was treated, he felt an equally strong wave of sympathy for her it was no wonder the girl latched onto Marcel and trusted him to keep her safe.
"You were quite the knight in shining armor, though Davina must realize you owe her as much as she owes you. You never could have banned the witches from using magic without her." Klaus stated.
"She's not exactly besties with them." Marcel responded. "I'm protecting her. A lot of them would like to get their hands on her and kill her to finish the Harvest. If they don't, the other girls stay dead, and they lose their power."
"And if they do, you lose yours." Klaus said knowingly.
"And Davina loses her life." Marcel stated.
"Isn't this like old times?" Rebekah said in greeting announcing her arrival. "Just how drunk are you two?"
"Skating on the razor's edge." Klaus responding intentionally slurring his words as if he was actually drunk. "I'm gonna use the loo. Back in a tick."
"I haven't seen him this lushy since the '20s." Said Rebekah, once he got up from his seat, disappearing from sight.
"So you came to take him home?" asked Marcel.
"Why else would I be here?" She responded.
"I don't know. Maybe to make sure I didn't get too drunk and spill secrets better left unspilled about you and me. I know better." He told her.
"I hope so because you don't wanna end up on the wrong side of me." she threatened.
"Oh, Rebekah Mikaelson." he said, locking his gaze on hers. "You do not wanna be on the wrong side of me."
The two stare at each other intently, gazes lock, a quiet tension falling over them.
Klaus walked outside glancing around before taking off heading for tha Bayou. It didn't take long for him to hear Sophie complaining. "Marcel is going to notice his guy missing. You shouldn't have done that."
"No, I should have just let him go back to Marcel with what he saw." Caroline retorted. "That would have been a much better option. Wouldn't it? All you care about is consecrating your dead witches."
"If I don't their power could be lost forever." Sophie insisted.
"And won't that be tragic you could no longer control peoples lives to suit your own agenda." Caroline sniped.
"Could you two stop arguing for five minutes." Hayley snapped annoyed with their bickering. "You're going to lead someone straight to us."
"Too late for that." Klaus stated, watching as Caroline whirled around her annoyed expression quickly fading.
"Klaus." She said and there was an edge of relief in her voice that he enjoyed.
He moved toward and glanced at the body she stood over. "I take this is, Marcel's informant, Tomas?"
Caroline nodded. "I just acted when I saw him and I have no idea what we're supposed to do with him now."
Klaus settled his hand on her shoulder. "No, you did good. You weren't hurt were you?" He asked his eyes looking her over carefully.
"No, it was over really fast," Caroline said, a little surprised that she had taken care of him so quickly.
"Don't sound surprise, Love." He grinned at her. "I think you'll find you're more than exceptional when you set your mind to something."
"Are you going to flirt with Caroline until he wakes up or can we get to the issue at hand." Sophie waved a hand at the currently dead vampire.
Klaus shot her a glare. "Mind your tongue." before ignoring her completely turning back to Caroline. "I'll take care of this." he told Caroline. "Do try not to get in any more trouble, will you?"
"No promises there." Caroline knew how much trouble and her seemed to go hand in hand these days. "What are you going to do to him. You can't kill him, you'll tip Marcel off."
"Let me worry about that," Klaus stated, scooping up the body, throwing it over his shoulder. "I'll see you back at the house, Love."
Caroline watched as he sped away.
"It's like we weren't even here." Sophie grumbled. It was like he had Caroline blinders or something. If she was near that was all he cared about.
"It's not surprising." Hayley glanced around the forest. "Now that that's taken care of we should hurry this long before more of Marcel's men show up."
Caroline had to agree. Maybe next time she wouldn't be so lucky in taking the enemy down so quickly but man did it feel good.
Klaus glanced around at his surroundings outside the bar, making sure no one was around before stuffing Thomas's body into the back of his car, carelessly, shutting the door. That was one problem taken care of.
Elijah proudly presented Tim's violin to Davina. "You may return this now to its rightful owner. It's restored."
Davina accepted the instrument, staring at it with a sad expression. "I don't even know if I'll see him again."
The room started to shake as if there was an earthquake. Elijah and Davina looked around worriedly, the window shutters burst open as the shaking abruptly stopped.
Elijah looked at the young witch in worry realizing she couldn't control the power that she had. "Davina, this power that you contain, drawn from your fallen friends—it's too much for you. You need control which requires study and practice." This was a way for him to gain her trust and possibly an ally in her. "Now, my mother was a very powerful witch. She left behind her grimoires, a legacy of books filled with spells. These books contain all of the tools that you might need to control your magic. If you free me from here, I can share them with you. However, if you leave now with Marcel, we'll never see each other again, and I cannot find you, and I can't help you."
Davina glared at him. "The witches manipulated me. You know how that ended."
"This is not manipulation. This is one thing in exchange for another. I'm offering you a deal." Elijah responded, hoping she would consider her options.
Klaus entered the bar again only to find Marcel was gone just as Rebekah was returning from the restroom.
"That was fast work, Rebekah." He praised almost tauntingly.
"Where's Marcel? In there, touching up his lipstick?"
Rebekah shot him a disgusted look. "Credit me with some taste, it's filthy in there. Where'd he go?"
Klaus's eyes narrowed. "He didn't tell you he was leaving?"
"No." she frowned. "Do you think he realized we were stalling him?"
"No." but then it occurred to Klaus. "Unless... he was stalling us."
Marcel bursts into Davina's room. He wasn't sure how much time he had until Klaus realized he had been stalling him. He was completely unaware of Elijah hiding in his own coffin. "Okay, now's our shot. You ready to blow this joint?"
Davina smiled. "Can't wait."
Marcel grabbed Davina's suitcase. "We'll leave Elijah behind as a parting gift. Might buy me a little forgiveness for pulling one over on his siblings. Let's go."
The two leave the attic with Davina giving her room a final parting glance before she followed Marcel.
Elijah waited till they were out of earshot before pulling himself out of his coffin.
Downstairs, Marcel walked ahead of Davina but she stopped suddenly in the middle of the church's main room, and he turned to look back at her, concerned. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
The church started shaking, "I don't know. Something's wrong." her body tensed up as she started spasming.
Marcel ran up to her, to help her in any way he could.
"Marcel. There's something dangerous out there." she warned. "Take me back!" she demanded before losing consciousness.
Marcel caught her before she could collapse to the ground. "Damn it." He picked her up carrying her back to her room.
Elijah, smiled waiting in the doorway, he hid before Marcel reached the room.
Marcel placed her on to her bed, tucking her in, and looking at her with a tender look for just a moment before taking his leave.
Once he was gone, Davina opened her eyes and lifted her head, dropping the act.
Marcel and Davina entered the attic room for the first time. "No one's gonna look for you here. It's only for a little while, 'til I get you out of town and someplace safe." he reassured her. "For now I can get you whatever you want. What do you like to do? "
"Draw." she whispered, nervous.
"An artist, huh? That's cool, okay. I can buy out Vincent's for you tomorrow. Maybe get you some curtains, or–"
"Marcel?" She interrupted. "You know what I really want?" she paused for just a beat. "I wanna make them pay." and Marcel nodded in response.
Davina sat up in the bed when she was sure Marcel was gone. "Elijah?" she called out.
Elijah emerged from where he had hidden himself. "I'm pleased you stayed."
"You'll keep your promise about your mother's spell book?" Davina questioned.
"I will." Elijah said. "You know, difficulties aside, I value my family above everything. I am sorry that yours failed you."
"Your brother Klaus handed you to Marcel in a box, yet you still don't give up on him?" Davina questioned, having trouble understanding how that was possible.
"Well, I've given up on giving up." said Elijah. "It's an affliction. I will fight for my family until my last breath."
"And I'll fight the witches until mine." Davina declared. She wanted them to pay for everything they have done.
"Now what? You just gonna leave her up there for anybody to find?" Father Kieran questioned as Marcel was leaving the church.
"I'm not in the mood, Kieran." Marcel responded annoyed.
"You were supposed to get her out of New Orleans after the Harvest." Father Kieran reminded him. "We failed those other three girls, we didn't fail her. That is why I came to you for help. That was the plan."
"Plans change." Marcel told him.
"Especially after you found out how powerful she was." said Father Kieran with judgment.
"Let's get something straight." Marcel tired of the Father's judgment. "For eight months since you left, I've been running this town just fine. I don't need you coming back and gettin' in my business. I will do what I want, where I want. Got it?"
"You wanna be the boss? You wanna call the shots?" Father Kieran shot back defensively. "Fine. But I call the shots with the humans. And you don't wanna make an enemy of me. So, I would suggest one thing—stay away from my niece."
"Fine. Who the hell's your niece?" Marcel asked.
"Cami." Father Kieran answered causing Marcel to stop in his tracks, processing what Kieran just revealed to him before huffing in frustration and leaving.
Night had fallen, Hayley, Caroline, and Sophie were returning to Sophie's truck
"Those people, all this, because of a vision about these babies, you don't think it's true?" Hayley wondered.
Caroline frowned at Hayley. "These Babies? That's how you address your children?"
Hayley shifted, uncomfortably, glancing quickly at Sophie before looking back at Caroline. "I meant my babies."
"Look, I love Sabine, but she's the witch equivalent of a drama queen." Sophie cut in quickly, hoping to distract Caroline. "I've learned to take little stock in whatever she says or sees. Just kinda wish she'd kept her mouth shut."
"The Harvest ritual. You said you didn't believe in it. Were you right?" asked Hayley.
"No. I saw it with my own eyes." Sophie answered. "It was working. It was real."
"So, how can you be so sure Sabine's vision isn't?" Asked Hayley.
Sophie didn't have an answered because the truth was if it was true those babies would have to be killed.
"It doesn't matter if it's true are not," said Caroline strongly. "Your children are going to be a target simply because Klaus is their father. You shouldn't be worrying about something that might not come to pass and focus on keeping them safe."
"And you would be so willing to protect them?" asked Sophie. She wondered how Caroline could speak so fiercely about children that she didn't even know were actually her's.
"Yes." Caroline said without hesitation. Beyond the fact that Klaus fathered the twins Hayley carried they were two innocent babies who didn't ask for any of this for that fact alone she would protect them.
Hayley's hand drifted to her stomach self-consciously, feeling protective of the babies inside of her even as guilt filled her.
Marcel walked into the courtyard of the Abattoir not surprised to find Klaus waiting for him.
Klaus stood on the top of a cement barrier. "Taking me on a field trip to distract me. Pathetic. And obvious—I taught you better than that."
"You taught me to protect what's mine." Marcel countered. "You will not take Davina from me—end of story."
"An immutable law of nature, Marcel, is the strong always take from the weak."
"Oh, if you were so strong, you wouldn't have run away from New Orleans like a little bitch, all those years ago." Marcel responded with ire.
Klaus jaw clenched at the insult, jumping down from where he was standing, his fist slamming into Marcel. "You've been playing king with a bunch of children for too long. Don't mistake me for one of your nightwalker lackeys, Marcel. I can take Davina anytime I like."
Marcel lunged for Klaus in retaliation but was knocked back down, hitting the ground, he looked up and Elijah stood there.
"Do forgive me, Marcel. If anyone is to teach my brother a lesson... it's me."
Klaus stared at his brother in shock, his jaw clenching. He had spent so much time trying to get Elijah back yet here he stood in front of him and if he was honest with himself he wasn't all too pleased to see him.
"You did good out there today, Caroline." Rebekah told Caroline grabbing three glasses, they had returned to the Mikaelson mansion. "I didn't expect you to take down Marcel's informant so easily."
Caroline smiled at the compliment as Rebekah poured several drinks as she started speaking to Hayley. "I don't care if we have to get you a leash, that was your last trip to the bayou." Rebekah said to Hayley as she poured three glasses. "What is it with you and those wolves, anyway?"
"I feel like we're connected somehow. I don't know. Maybe it's just some pipe dream that I have of finding any real family out there." She hoped she wasn't deluding herself that she could find any semblance of her real family out there. She didn't want everything she had done to be for nothing. "But sometimes, when I feel like it's me against the world, it keeps me going."
Rebekah gave Hayley a sympathetic look and handed her a drink.
"She can't have that!" Caroline protested as Hayley side-eyed Rebekah.
A look passed over Rebekah as she remembered that because of Hayley being pregnant that she should not be drinking. "Oh, right." Rebekah shrugged and gulp down the glass she poured for Hayley in one go. "Well, if you ask me, family is a pain in the behind." She held a glass out to Caroline as Hayley rolled her eye.
Caroline accepted the drink. "Thanks."
"And as for being in it alone, how dare you? I don't ruin a perfectly fabulous pair of boots traipsing through the bayou for just anyone." Rebekah told Hayley sending her a pointed look.
Hayley smiled and Rebekah downed her second drink. The conversation between the girls was interrupted when Klaus came walking through the front door.
"Klaus." Caroline smiled. "Finally, I-" she trailed off as Elijah walked in behind him with a huge smile and she tensed instinctively, remembering how he had invaded her mind.
"Elijah!" Rebekah broke out into a smile, running to Elijah and hugging him tightly. "You're safe."
Caroline not really wanting to stick around for Elijah's reunion, downed her glass before reaching for the bottle, walking past Elijah and Rebekah, offering Klaus a faint smile as she passed him, heading outside.
Klaus brow furrowed as he watched her head outside. He wasn't the least bit surprised that Rebekah was thrilled Elijah was back but he was surprised by Caroline's reaction. Caroline had not gotten the chance to get to know Elijah yet but still, she seemed less than pleased about his return.
Klaus threw one more look at his siblings, watching as his brother went in obvious search of Hayley. Klaus turned, walking back outside. He didn't see Caroline right away, which had him tensing. He scanned the grounds and caught sight of her walking to the apple tree and taking a seat on the ground with her back against it.
He tilted his head watching her a moment as she took a drink from the bottle of bourbon she had grabbed, he frowned wondering what was wrong.
Caroline sat back against the tree, her hands peeling at the label of the bottle she held.
She was happy for Klaus and Rebekah. That they had gotten their brother back but that didn't mean she had to like it. It was conflicting to be happy for them but also not liking it. When Elijah was around she felt like she had to have her guard up every second, not wanting him to mess with her head again.
She looked up at approaching footsteps to see Klaus. "What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Wanted some fresh air." she said in answer.
Klaus didn't think she needed to come all the way out here for fresh air. He took the last few steps forward taking a seat beside her against the tree, his arm brushing against hers. "What's wrong?"
Caroline turned her head to look at him and found his intense blue gaze on her expectantly. She looked away, avoiding, his eyes. "Nothing." she dismissed.
"I don't believe that." Klaus shook his head, he turned his body toward hers, reaching to cup her cheek and direct her eyes back to him. "Tell me what's wrong? What's bothering you?"
Caroline stared back at his searching his gaze and felt compelled to tell him the truth. Not because he was trying to compel her because he wasn't and she knew he wouldn't. But because of the concern in his gaze, left her with the feeling of being pulled toward him in the best way. "Your brother? Elijah. I don't like being around him. I don't trust him not to try and mess with my head like before."
"You mean when the witches had you and he searched through your memories?" Klaus frowned. "It really bothers you, doesn't it? Having someone mess with your head?" He recalled how she reacted when she learned he was compelling Cami, a woman, she didn't even know. Her dislike for the way he controlled his hybirds. How determined she was to not let Silas into her head again.
"No one likes having their head mess with." She avoided looking into his eyes by looking over his shoulder.
Klaus felt anger boiling at the surface, a quiet rage feeling his chest but it wasn't for him or his family or his plans. No, this anger had far more importance. There was only one reason why Caroline could possibly feel so passionately about this. Someone had messed with her head and since vampires couldn't compel other vampires it had to have happened when she was still human. "Who?" his voice was low with anger, taking on a darker tone than he usually used with her.
"What?" Caroline brow furrowed in confusion.
"Who messed with your head when you were still human?" He demanded, his hand gripped her arm. "Who compelled you?!"
Caroline glanced down at his hand, his grip tight before dragging her eyes back to his. Klaus realizing he might be hurting her lessen his grip and brushed his hand down her arm until he could grasp her smaller hands in between his larger one. "Tell me?"
Caroline was sure if she told him the truth he would kill Damon and she couldn't allow that. Not because he didn't deserve it because there was a part of her that would always believe he deserved whatever he got for what he did to her. But because of how much Stefan loved his brother and she wouldn't wish that loss on her best friend regardless of her anti-Damon feelings.
"Caroline.." His thumb brushed against her wrist, making goosebumps rise on her flesh. "Tell me."
Still, she hesitated even though he was looking at her so imploring sounding completely earnest and genuine.
"Please, Caroline." his other hand reached out to cup her cheek. "I need to know." He had to know so he could make the person pay in the worst way imaginable.
Caroline opened and closed her mouth, her hand reaching up to grip the one he had on her cheek, seeing the concern, the need to know who hurt her, Caroline felt herself giving in. "You can't kill him."
"Kill who?" he just needed a name and they would pay for their mistreatment of her.
"You have to promise me you won't kill him." If she was going to tell him she had to know she wasn't signing Damon's death warrant.
Klaus clenched his jaw, reluctant to make a promise he was certain he would break.
"Promise me." Caroline insisted, her hand tightening around his.
Klaus breathed deeply, his chest rising and falling with the movement. "I promise."
Caroline watched him for any sign that he was lying before nodding more to herself than him. "Damon." she admitted slowly. "It was Damon."
Klaus' eyes thinned, jaw clenching, he had to keep his hands from, tensing not wanting to hurt her as he slowly removed his hand from hers, not certain his anger wouldn't get the better of him in a moment of impulsiveness. "What he did he do? What manner did he compel you?"
Caroline frowned as she looked away, her eyes closing as she forced the memories of those few weeks with Damon to the back of her mind as they started to surface.
"Caroline." Klaus's hand squeezed around her own, bringing her eyes back to him slowly.
"When I met Damon I was still human. Honestly, I was an insecure mess. I felt like everything I did back then was in competition with Elena. So when Damon showed up showing an interest in me it felt like a win." She murmured quietly. "But it wasn't. That first night I slept with him on my own but he fed on me and when I woke up I was terrified, I remember what he had done."
Klaus felt rage coursing through him that Damon would dare feed on Caroline, prey on her insecurities. But he forced himself not to react physically, feeling there was more to the story and we wanted to know all of it. He didn't want Caroline shutting down on him now that he convinced her to tell him something so personal. "What happened after?"
"I fought him but he attacked me again and later he compelled to be okay with the fact that he was a vampire. He fed on me, treated me like a human blood bag." She shook her head in disgust. "He had me run stupid errands for him, he was cruel, I was nothing but a puppet that he could feed on anytime he wanted." Her fist clenched, muscles tightening, her stomach turned like acid. "It went on for a few weeks" she muttered in utter disgust.
"Damon controlled you, he took your choices away." The words were said through clenched teeth, his voice lethal.
Caroline nodded slowly. "Yes, he took my choices away. My actions were not always my own."
The thought of anyone taking Caroline's choices away from her, controlling her actions, feeding on her like she was nothing but a walking blood bad angered him. He wanted to tear Damon apart.
Klaus reached up, cupping her face, his other one wrapping around her hand. "You deserved so much better than what Damon Salvatore did to you. No one should have treated you like that." he paused, his hand tightening around her hand as he felt it tremble in his grip. "Does your mom know?"
"No." Caroline gave her head a shake. "I never told her."
"What about Stefan? Elena? Do they know what he was doing to you?"
Caroline admitted in a whisper. "They knew what was going on."
"And they did nothing!" Klaus responded heatedly unable to keep his opinion to himself. "Because of your friends, Elena, you had to pretend like nothing was wrong!"
"These friends of yours that you're so determined to stay loyal to they don't deserve you none of them. You're worth so much more, Caroline," he cupped her face with both his hands. "You deserve people in your life who will always put you first. You deserve someone who would show you even a fraction of the loyalty you have shown your worthless friends."
Caroline bit her lip to keep it from trembling. "And that someone's supposed to be you?" she asked her voice somber.
"I'll be whoever you want me to be." Klaus told her. "But more importantly I will never let anyone treat you the way you've been treated, I will never let anyone hurt you."
His words hit her in the chest, causing the pain she felt to lessen. She knew he meant every word and she felt a gratitude that what she'd been through hadn't just been swept under the rug because it was convenient. She couldn't stop her self as she reached out, gripping fistfuls of his shirt and tugging him forward, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Klaus's hands fell away stunned by her embrace but seconds later he wrapped one around her and stroked a hand through her hair as she buried her face in the crook of her shoulder. "I promise, you'll never have your choices taken from you again."
And when the time came and he saw Damon again he would make him pay, he wouldn't kill him.
He would make him suffer in ways he never imagined. His eyes blackened taking on the look of his hybrid eyes, hugging her more tightly to his body as he continued stroke a hand through her blonde strands.
Caroline's arms tightened around, feeling a wave of comfort as his hand's stroke through her hair, his strong arms around her making her feel like there was not a single thing on this earth that could hurt her in this moment.
It could have been seconds or minutes or longer but footsteps sounded before they were being interrupted. "Niklaus, come inside, I have information to share."
Caroline pulled away at the sound of Elijah's voice and tried to compose herself, putting more distance between her and Klaus.
"Not now, Elijah." Klaus snapped, annoyed with the intrusion.
"This is important Niklaus." Elijah insisted, looking between the two.
Klaus snapped his gaze around to his brother. "I said not now, Elijah!"
"No, it's fine." Caroline stood up, brushing grass from her pants. "It could be important."
Klaus stood, taking her hand in his and catching her eye. " You're important, Caroline."
Caroline shot him a warm smile, appreciating his words. "So is this." She looked at Elijah her warm smile fading. "We're coming."
Elijah observed the two, his eyes zeroing on his brother's grasp on Caroline's hand with a thoughtful look before he nodded, walking back toward the house.
"Thank you." Caroline told Klaus, taking a step closer to him when Elijah was gone and brushed a lingering kiss to his cheek, her free hand, gripping his shoulder.
Klaus nodded in surprise, squeezing her hand, his eyes taking her in, feeling more connected to her than he had before.
Caroline gently removed her hand from his and nodded to the house with a small smile. "We should join the others."
Klaus nodded reluctantly, grabbing up the last bit of the bottle finishing it off and tossing it aside, before placing a hand on her lower back as they the walk back to the house. A comfortable silence between them.
The Mikaelson siblings, Hayley and Caroline sat around the study in various places, Elijah stood behind the desk in the room, explaining everything that he had managed to learn from Davina. "Everything that brought us here to New Orleans was a lie."
A trickle of fear traveled down Hayley's spine. They couldn't know the truth about her and Sophie, could they? The truth about the babies she carried?
"This story that Sophie Deveraux fabricated, this struggle for control of the French Quarter, this war between vampires and witches, wasn't over territory at all, this was over Davina."
Relief hit her like a wave but she did her best not to outwardly show it. She was just glad that they hadn't found out the truth of her envolvement with Sophie or how she had stolen something, two something's that were never meant to be hers but was a price she was willing to pay if it meant she got her family back. Her pack.
"So all of this for one girl?" Caroline asked, trying to understand. It was a lot to go through all to get to one girl.
"She isn't just any one girl." Elijah responded.
"I swear, I had no idea that the Harvest could possibly be real!" Sophie argued, to her sister in the back room of Rousseau's. Her face was filled with guilt and grief, eyes wet with tears.
"But the one thing that you were sure of is that I was wrong and that I would risk Monique's life on a maybe. And now my daughter is dead." Jane-Anne cried, face grief-stricken.
"Please tell me how to fix this." Sophie pleaded desperately.
"Now that Marcel has Davina, how we are even supposed to find her? If we don't finish the Harvest, Monique and those two other girls are dead for real." Jane-Anne responded, sounding defeated, lost.
Sophie stepped toward her sister, grabbing her hands. "Look at me. You and I are gonna find a way to get Monique back." She said firmly, face set in determination. "It'll be our little secret. We'll do it together. I'll seal off the cemetery from the vampires, find Davina, stop Marcel and finish the ritual once and for all. Even if I have to slit Davina's throat myself."
Jane-Anne nodded, holding tightly to her sister's hand as she gave her something to hope for. A chance to get her daughter back. No matter the cost.
"Eight months ago, Sophie Deveraux and her sister Jane-Anne lost everything. Now, four months after that, a young pregnant girl wanders into their restaurant. Suddenly, all hope is renewed. Jane-Anne actually sacrificed her life so that her sister could use Hayley to find Davina. If Sophie Deveraux is successful in capturing Davina, she can return Jane-Anne's daughter back to life." Said Elijah with weight, looking at each of them. "We thought we'd come here to wage a war for power. This is about family. In order to return her niece to life, Sophie Deveraux will fight to the death. That makes her more dangerous than anyone."
Sophie kneeled in front of Jane-Anne's grave at Lafayette Cemetery in the pouring rain, crying. She was not going to let her sister's death be in vain. She would get her niece, Sophie back at any cost. And she didn't care who she had to sacrifice to do it.
Hayley slipped out of the room with the excuse that she was tired but the truth was she needed a moment, breathing deeply, she pushed down the fear that they would find out the truth. She knew if Klaus ever did find out she would be as good as dead. No amount of pleading, begging or negotiating would save her.
She prayed to a god she didn't even believe in that if Klaus ever did find out the truth she would be long gone.
A/N: The Klaus and Caroline scene discussing her experience with compelling was not what I wrote at first. I changed it cause I didn't want to offend anyone but I will be posting the original scene I had planned separately if you want to check it out. It may be triggering so if you're easily triggered you shouldn't read it or if you're a big Damon fan.
Thanks for reading and the continued support for this story. It keeps me motivated.