AN: Okay my peeps, I have another chapter ready for you. I told you I would. Again I want to thank you so much for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing. I really appreciate the feedback, it does help.
I want to give a shout out to dirtygoldensoul, emeraldislegirl and redqueen78 for their support, guidance and reviews. They are fantastic writers and they have been welcoming and encouraging. Please check out their stories.
There is another part to the hell and high water section, I am building this world so please be patient. Answers to some answers to some questions will be given.
Chapter 4- Hell and High Water - Part 2
The Five Sisters B&B
Klaus took out his phone and dialed Elijah, he suddenly had a need to check on his family.
It had, now, been three whole days since Klaus had visited the Bennett's tin roofed cottage and to his credit, and in keeping with his word, he did not return. Although it did take everything in him not to return, brandishing magical ropes, hog-tying the tiny wichling, throwing her diminutive ass over his shoulder (he might really like that), and politely escorting her back to his home, forcing her to help him and his family.
He surmised that since she couldn't kill him, the pain of a thousand aneurysms or whatever else she could think of would be worth the trouble.
However, common sense and cooler heads prevailed, one cooler head, in particular, being Elijah and to a lesser extent Freya.
Mikaelson Home - Abattoir, New Orleans
Elijah was in the study sitting at the large mahogany desk, pouring over tomes, grimoires and other ancient magical books desperately searching for any further information to assist his family with destroying this new threat to their family.
Armani jacket carelessly discarded on the couch, sleeves folded up and tie loosened, the usually immaculately dressed original was disheveled and consumed with his task, however he felt his sister's presence before she entered the room so he stopped reading and looked up in anticipation of her entrance.
Freya tiredly entered the study, having been working on protection spells, strengthening wards around the property and other useful endeavors, giving a soft smile that didn't reach her eyes. She continued, walking to the bar. With her back to Elijah she began pouring herself a glass of bourbon, one finger deep.
"Would you like a glass," she asked, calling over her shoulder.
Elijah pushed away from the desk getting up, "Yes, please," he said as he walked to her.
Freya gave her brother his glass, two fingers deep, as he came near her. Standing in front of each other, they touched glasses and took a swig. Elijah was amused by her scrunched up face as the liquor burned its way down.
"Don't laugh," she admonished as she walked to the couch, moving his jacket, straightening it of wrinkles, laying it over the back, before sitting. He joined her on the other end as he leaned back into the soft leather relaxing his stiff back.
She in turn adjusted her position leaning her back on the armrest and stretched her legs, placing them in his lap. She cradled her glass in both hands, head back. Elijah had placed his glass on the glass end table and having taken off her shoes he began rubbing her feet. They stayed like this, in comfortable silence for some time.
Freya lifted her head. "Have you heard from Klaus? Has he enlisted the Bennett witch's help?" Freya asked with hope in her voice.
Elijah paused, "No, I have not heard from him yet, but I am sure that our brother will contact us soon." He rested his hands on her feet.
"Is that a good thing? That is a good thing, right?" Freya rushed out, trying to convince herself.
"Niklaus can be very ...uh..persuasive when he needs to be." Elijah tried to reassure his eldest sibling.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" She looked at him incredulously. "That is my concern, Elijah. We need her. He can't go into this making demands and threats." Freya sat up removing her legs from Elijah's lap and putting them underneath her.
Elijah said nothing.
"You do understand that she is very powerful? She didn't want to be found, Elijah," she said solemnly. "I can't imagine why all of a sudden I was able to locate her, but I can assure you that if he acts like a bull in a china shop it will not be good for him...or our cause."
Freya had been concerned, more anxious, if truth be told, since giving Klaus the news that she found the witch. She knew that her brother was prone to angry threats and lashing out if he didn't get his way or if he couldn't finesse the situation to his desires or advantage.
Elijah took another sip of his drink nonchalantly. He turned his head slightly to the side as if he was thinking. He was contemplating what he could say to allay his sister's concerns. They both knew how Niklaus could be, so she was right to worry.
"Niklaus is aware of the importance of acquiring her succor. Bennett witches are known for their beauty, loyalty and power, but their sense of duty and honor is without rival." Elijah spoke as if he was giving a dissertation.
Elijah continued, causing Freya to fight the urge to roll her eyes.
"Every Bennett witch I have ever had the pleasure of knowing took the protection of innocents as paramount, even above keeping the so-called balance. Of course, there was a time when witches were not just known for being servants of nature but revered as goddesses, gods and forces of nature itself. Nature... embodied...living...breathing." Elijah continued to wax poetically whilst contemplating the matter, taking another swallow of his bourbon
Elijah confident in his summation, he rather phlegmatically proclaimed, "Yes, I am quite certain Niklaus will procure the witch if he has not already."
Freya was an immortal witch thanks to an evil witch who kidnapped her when she was a child. She knew the history of witches, perhaps in some regards better than Elijah. She wanted to say, Hey, immortal witch here, but she refrained.
She just watched him with a slight smirk and a knowing glint in her eye. Something, maybe her magic, was telling her that her dear, arrogant brother might be very wrong, although she hoped not.
She said nothing.
They continued to sit in comfortable silence, finishing their drinks and meditating on their own thoughts.
It was due to this that when Elijah's phone chimed it startled both of them, though Elijah corrected himself quickly enough that Freya didn't notice.
He smiled and sarcastically retorted, "Speak of the devil."
"Brother it is good to hear from you. I trust you are on your way back with Ms. Bennett," he smiled and tipped his head to his sister as if to say See, I told you.
"You are on speaker; Freya is here." Elijah informed his brother.
"Hello, Klaus." Freya quickly, but softly said.
"Hello dear sister." Klaus responded with a small smile on his face, trying not to sound too agitated
"And No brother, I do not have the witch with me." Klaus' tone was harsh.
If the situation hadn't been so dire, the expression on Elijah's face would have made Freya roll over laughing. The haughty, know-it-all original was proved wrong and his face told the story.
Freya shifted her position. Elijah almost dropped the glass in his hand. There was silence.
Elijah recovered quickly, "Brother what do you mean, "She is not with you"? His voice was condescending, edged with something akin to disbelief.
"Well, dear brother, I mean neither her bodily form, nor any physical representation or manifestation of the witch are located in the same vicinity as I am currently abiding." Klaus sarcastically commented back.
"Niklaus…," Elijah started, but was quickly halted.
"Don't Elijah! I am not in the mood for your big brother scolding. The witch refused to help."
Freya spoke up in an attempt to lessen the tension, "Then we find another witch as powerful to ally with us." She couldn't believe that a Bennett witch would be so callus, there had to be more, the immortal witch theorized .
Walking to the bar Elijah poured a double shot of bourbon and regained his demeanor.
"I am sure you explained the parlous plight we are in. What was her reasoning?" Elijah suddenly had a terrible feeling overtake him. "What did you do, brother?"
Klaus chuckled at this, of course Elijah would think he did something, notwithstanding the fact that he did attack her, but he would keep that bit of information to himself. "Thank you for your vote of confidence, dear brother." Klaus retorted dramatically feigning offense.
"Klaus this is not funny."
"No it is not!" Klaus snapped tersely. "She is blind. The reason she fused is because she is blind." Klaus again snapped, but this time, exasperatedly.
Silence descended.
"Well, damn Klaus what a way to bury the lead. You could have started with that monumental detail." Freya wryly admonished.
Klaus chucked ruefully, "Yeah, I guess I could have."
Elijah took a sip of his drink quietly listening to his siblings."Is that it then, are you on your way back?"
"No, there is another Bennett witch that has committed to helping. Although there has been no contact as of yet", Klaus revealed, then continued, "If all else fails I have decided to just take the witch, bring her back to New Orleans and make her do my bidding", Klaus concluded rather proud of his idea.
"Yeah, I like to see how that works for you," Freya uttered under her breath scathingly.
Both brothers heard.
Curse vampire hearing, she thought when Klaus asked her what other solution she had to offer.
"Oh sister regale us with all your profound suggestions. Pray tell, what is your recommendation to our precarious state. I await with bated breath." Klaus paused. "Nothing. I hear silence in the wind and the mouths of philosophers are filled with useless prattle and nonsensical eloquence." Klaus was picking a fight due to his own feelings of inadequacies voiced by Freya's comment.
"Well, I don't know Klaus, at this moment", Freya snapped, "But I'm sure it wouldn't be coming up with this asinine plan to kidnap a very powerful witch….a blind witch... a Bennett witch...a blind Bennett witch, thereby pissing her off and assuring, without a doubt, a deserved ass kicking and continued refusal in the process", Freya huffed getting up from her seat walking out the room uttering what a fucking asshole, under her breath.
"It would seem that you have offended our sister. Was that truly necessary Niklaus?" Elijah queried, amused at his sister's colorful language. He was sure Klaus heard both the forceful closing of the door and her graphic comment through the phone.
All the Mikaelson siblings had dramatic flair, some more than others he mused.
"Niklaus, surely you know you can't kidnap Ms. Bennett," Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Then what would you have me do," Klaus inquired. The hybrid really needed some direction because the suffocating blanket of failure was almost more than he could bear and it was causing him to want to lash out or react without thought. Self- awareness was a helluva thing!
A sadistic voice sounding very much like Mikael played in his ear, you are pathetic, boy! Useless bastard!
Elijah's voice brought Klaus back to the conversation and out of his head.
"If the other witch does not contact you, you will leave. Come home and we will regroup. We have other avenues to pursue," Elijah encouraged.
"Always the wise and level headed brother." Klaus smiled to himself. "And I will sort things out with Freya once I return." Klaus and Freya's relationship was different from his other siblings. There was a different kind of push and pull, but they both were aware of each other's affection for one another. He was sure that she would not stay irate with him for long.
"Oh, before I forget, what news of our stoic elder brother?" Klaus inquired of Finn, curious if Elijah had heard from him.
"He is still in Romania, but I have not heard from him since he landed." Elijah informed Klaus.
"And you know he is much better these days. He is trying to be more….responsive for lack of a better word." Elijah added speaking of their brother. Finn had come a long way from being the standoffish and reserved older brother.
"Yes, I suppose he has", Klaus said dismissively. He had to concur with Elijah. In the last few hundred years Finn seemed to draw closer to the siblings, but Klaus was convinced it had a lot to do with Freya coming into their midst, among other things.
"Enough talk of wicked witches and schemes ." Klaus commanded with finality.
Klaus' disposition brightened up and the heaviness in his chest lifted, "How is my little prince?"
During the course of the conversation Elijah had gone back to the sofa and was sitting. He smiled thinking of his nephew. "Henrik is happy and healthy. Missing his father, but Rebekah has been spoiling him more so than usual." Elijah reported.
"Of course she is." Klaus knew Rebekah was well versed in spending money and needed no reason to shower affection and gifts on his son. " And in whose bed has he been sleeping in?" Klaus queried knowingly.
"Hers of course. Was there any doubts? With you gone she has taken complete reign over him." Elijah smiled thinking of his sister's over the top, overly protective maternal ways.
"To her credit, she hasn't compelled Ms. Turner to leave yet. Albeit, she has caused some friction between herself and Kol. It seems that she refuses to let him have more than ten minutes of unsupervised quality time with Henrik."
Kol regarded himself as the best, most fun and favorite uncle to the littlest Mikaelson and therefore wanted his time with his nephew without being watched like a criminal.
Rebekah had other ideas and took great satisfaction in reminding Kol that Klaus left her, Elijah, Freya, Marcel and even Finn, but mostly her in charge of his son. Kol would be the last...the very last option.
This conflict caused Kol to go about the abattoir acting like a petulant child, thus supporting Rebekah's claim.
In a pissy mood he tried to enlist any of his other siblings to his side for support. Since that didn't happen he was spending a few days with Davina, at Elijah's instance.
"Good for Rebekah. I will purchase a trinket from one of her favorite jewelry designers for her better judgement. Kol's time should be limited. I don't want him teaching his derelict and questionable ways to my sweet prince whilst I am away." Klaus declared.
Elijah tsked as he chuckled, "Brother Henrik is 18 months old, and I am sure kol can't do any harm."
"Don't be so sure." Klaus rebuffed, somewhat joking. Both brothers chuckled.
Klaus daggered Kol more times than any of the other siblings and Kol received more reprimands from Elijah than even Klaus. Kol contributed to more fuckery for the family and Klaus than Rebekah with incredibly poor judgement in choosing lovers (Klaus was still furious about that assassin and The Brotherhood of the Five debacle).
But Klaus had to acknowledge that Kol was loyal and loved his family, including Marcel, with fierceness and a relentless, single-mindedness to avenge any wrongdoing leveled at them.
"Thank you Elijah." For everything was left unsaid, but Elijah knew.
Klaus was compelled to thank his brother. Klaus deeply and profoundly loved Elijah.
Elijah was the ever-faithful brother, always supporting, loving and seeking redemption for Klaus even when that fidelity wasn't honored, reciprocated or wanted. He was the only sibling and family member , other than Freya(Klaus was giving her time), that never betrayed Klaus or was perceived, by Klaus, to have betrayed him.
They all had in some way betrayed him; his favorite, Rebekah; his son, Marcel; his brothers, Kol and Finn with his once obsessively unwarranted loyalty to Esther and his morose desire for death. Yet Klaus couldn't blame them. His love was restrictive, conditional, unyielding and selfish.
Again, that damn self-awareness! What a bitch!
"Of course. Always and forever." Elijah confirmed.
"Yes, always and forever." Klaus echoed.
The original brothers ended the call. And Klaus poured another drink and waited, but felt much better.
Bennett Residence
Bonnie avoided Lucy, only going to the kitchen and other parts of the house if necessary, and only if she didn't hear Lucy about.
Lucy wasn't talking to Bonnie, but, she, instead of hiding, was preparing. She magically repaired the damage they made to the house and her yellow dress. She made several phone calls, went food shopping, washed clothes and got a mani/pedi and a Brazilian bikini wax, a girl has to be ready for anything, she mused.
Bonnie stayed in bed pouting and still pissed, waiting for Lucy to stop with the silent treatment (Lucy moved around the house, a specter, ignoring Bonnie).
Bonnie expected, by now, for Lucy to come knocking on her door bearing gifts, apologizing for being unsympathetic to her feelings and a grade "A" bitch.
She always did before.
Bonnie knew it wasn't right , but she played on the guilt she knew Lucy felt.
It always worked.
The Five sisters B&B
Klaus waited longer than he had planned. The feeling of failure forced him to wait. He did not want to go back empty-handed and it looked as if he would. He had not heard from either Bennett witch and it had been six days. He needed to get back home. He had responsibilities and he missed his son terribly.
He tried to appease his ego and created a script to support his narrative.
They didn't need a blind witch.
She most likely would be a liability in the long run.
She is useless and not all that powerful.
It is not like he wanted her, she was just another witch.
He could have any witch he wanted, she would be so fortunate to have his attention!
Of course the vilification did not ring true and he didn't know where the other random thoughts came from.
Before Klaus rounded the corner he felt her.
Leaning against his black Escalade SUV wearing a white halter top romper shorts jumpsuit, dark sunglasses, white, wide hat and white strappy sandals stood the witch.
Three large matching bags on the ground next to the vehicle, a large white designer bag on her left shoulder and a bottle of water in her right hand. Klaus had to admit that she had legs forever and they were exquisite. White large hoop earrings, bangles on either arm and blood red lips completed the outfit. She indeed was a vision.
She was no delicate rose. A rose was too common and a pale comparison. No, she was an exotic orchid. She reminded him of the western underground orchid, found only in Western Australia. An extremely rare and beautiful flower that has no green leaves or stem. It blooms underground and is bold and formidable, getting nourishment from the fungi growing on the roots of the broom bush.
"Lucinda Bennett." Klaus smirked, continuing to walk to his SUV.
"Niklaus Mikaelson." Lucy winked.
"Someone has been doing their homework I see." Klaus commented whilst looking her up and down, unashamedly, one final time.
"You are late, I expected to hear from you days ago. And you are alone." Klaus remarked dryly, standing closely, in front of her ignoring her personal space.
"Well aren't you the observant one. Brains and a sexy ass. And by the looks of it, I'm right on time." Lucy flirted.
"And to address your first comment, yes I did a background check on your crazy ass since you came into my house and didn't give your name. Although you may think it, you are not "He Who Must Not Be Named!" everyone doesn't know you by sight. I felt obliged to do some snooping." Lucy announced then smiled as she motioned to her bags.
Klaus momentarily looked confused until he caught her reference, however he still had a perplexed look on his face. He was the Original Hybrid and she was regarding him like he was the hired help. He had killed people for much, much less.
"Not my fault you neglected to ask my name before you allowed my entry. Quite a dangerous thing to welcome a vampire into your home...hmm..very strange indeed." Klaus stated, contemplating the strange sanction he was given to trespass on the Bennett property. That needed to be addressed. It was nagging at him.
Lucy acknowledged his look concerning her bags with a raised eyebrow. "Well, for you to be the big bad hybrid you aren't too quick on the uptake. Let me explain. I will need clothes if I'm going to be stuck with you for the unforeseeable duration."
Lucy tilted her head and pressed a finger to her lips as if she was thinking. "Of course I could walk around naked. I don't have a problem with that, but it could prove awkward." Lucy laughed.
"Indeed, but I can assure you, my brothers would enjoy the show," Klaus jokingly returned.
Chuckling Lucy thought it might be nice to have an audience, it had been a long time since she had any reason to put on a show. Lucy shook her head, chiding herself, behave yourself!
Then she commented again.
"And I was a bit distracted by the fact that you were on my front porch, which is why I let you in and didn't get a name. You should have been a pile of dust scattering the wind or in your case, extremely crispy. If the rumors of your, shall we say, resilience are to be believed."
Klaus shook his head, a smile gracing his handsome face, thinking he had another Kol on his hands. This was going to be interesting, he speculated.
He pushed the key fob to unlock the doors, grabbed her bags placing them in the back and then walked over to the passenger side and opened the door. She accepted his hand to help her up.
"Yes it is true I cannot be killed," Klaus proudly confirmed.
She smiled and pushed her shades up.
As Lucy snapped her seat-belt she turned to Klaus as he was about to start driving the vehicle. "I would have thought you would have private jetted out here, but seeing as it is only about a five hour drive, give or take, I can understand why not."
"Lucinda you really did do your homework." Klaus said with his trademark smirk.
"The name's Lucy, learn it." She offered with a smirk of her own.
"By all means. And you may call me Klaus, my enemies and my brother call me Niklaus." Klaus chuckled.
"Duly noted, we'll see, was left unsaid. "Family can be that way. Moving on, most importantly Klaus," Lucy said using 'Klaus' to see if she liked calling him by his shortened name, "I'm famished, we need to get something on the way."
She decided the verdict was not in yet, she liked 'Niklaus' it rolled off her tongue better and she was really digging his Viking king swagger. She might have to keep calling him by his full name. He'd just have to get used to it!
"Sure love. I can see this is going to be a long ride." Klaus said pretending to be put out as another smile graced his face.
"Oh you better believe, sweetheart."