CHAPTER 6
Camille was standing at Sean O'Connell's grave when Caroline approached her from behind her and asked, "Was that someone close to you?"
Camille is startled for a moment as she looked behind her and seeing a young woman who was filthy and appeared homeless, she decided to forgive her for being intrusive.
She turned to look at the grave again and said, "He was my twin brother."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I believe you to actually be sincere. As you see a lot of other people condemn him."
"He lost his way. It happens." Caroline tried to offer consolation. "I'm Caroline by the way."
Camille looked over her shoulder and said with a smile "Camille, actually I prefer Cami."
"Nice to meet you, Cami."
"Hey, my uncle is a priest at St Anne's church close by, he could help you, if you don't have anywhere to go?"
"Yeah, thanks, I know that church. I might check it out later. Right now I'm waiting for someone here." Caroline lied with a smile.
Camille nodded, "Okay, I'm going to go now, but it was nice to meet you, Caroline."
It was awkward, but Camille passed Caroline with a smile on her way out of the cemetery.
Rebekah was scrubbing at the bloodstains in the carpet while Klaus was reading "A Poison Tree" by William Blake.
"Poetry about poisoned apples from dead trees. Looks like someone's worried about impending daddy-hood."
"Nonsense, Rebekah. Elijah's back. In his presence, all problems turn to pixie-dust and float away" Klaus ironized.
"Strangely, I don't recall any pixie-dust from the darkness of the coffin I was recently forced to endure. For the good of the family." Elijah said coming into the room. He had one of Esther's grimoire's in his hands.
"Are you mad big brother. If I recall correctly, you were the willing participant."
"Well, when I agreed to the plan, I thought your number one priority would be Hayley and the baby not releasing that poor girl being held at the cemetery."
Klaus rolled his eyes, "What's the difference, I got you out in time and Hayley and the baby have been perfectly safe."
"Correction, 'I got myself out' and about Hayley, that's not what Rebekah has told me." Elijad said while tearing a page from Esther's grimoire.
"Well, Rebekah did always have flare for the dramatics." He amused.
"NIKLAUS!" Elijah yelled to get his attention. "She's the mother of your baby, she should come first. Always."
"Elijah, I handled the situation the way I best saw fit. And look around, everyone are alive and well."
"Besides, your pretty little Caroline who's rotting away in the cemetery" Rebekah reminded him.
"Yes, It's time to deal with that problem." Klaus said closing the book.
"No, Niklaus, that is tomorrow's problem, today I need your help with Davina. She's going to unlink Hayley from Sophie Deveraux."
"Wait, what are you doing with mother's spell book?" Rebekah asked incredulously.
"I'm gonna share some pages of it. Starting with a little unlinking spell. You see, Sophie brought us here under false pretences. She doesn't just want us to take down Marcel and his minions, she wants to take Davina back. So, she yoked her own cause to ours with magic, threats, and half-truths. Well, no more. As of now, our deal with Sophie Deveraux is null and void."
Klaus and Rebekah wryly smiled at each other.
"Just what I like to hear. As soon as Hayley is unlinked, I'll kill Sophie Deveraux and bring Caroline home." Klaus grinned.
Elijah decided to ignore his brother right now, "Niklaus, I need you to come with me. I need five minutes alone with Davina. You need to make certain that I am not interrupted." He pointed to Rebekah and gave her a order, "You stay here and watch Hayley".
He turned to leave the house.
Rebekah was annoyed, "How did I get elected super-nanny?"
"More importantly, who put him in charge?"
Klaus reluctantly followed Elijah out of the house.
Sophie had just awakened in a mausoleum at the Lafayette cemetery and was struggling against the grip of the masked men who had kidnapped and knocked her out that morning when she arrived to work. The men shackled Sophie's wrists to chains that were hanging from the ceiling.
"Let go of me!"
Agnes entered the crypt with a bag and set it on a table.
"Let her be. It will all be over soon."
Sophie was appalled, "Killing me to get to Klaus- or his baby- is not the answer!"
Caroline was sneaking around the crypt, hearing everything.
Agnes was looking through her bag as she said, "I'm not gonna kill you, Sophie. I was there the day you were born. I am the last remaining Elder of our coven. It is my duty to protect our power, and our power means nothing if that baby grows another day. Sabine's omen was clear. That baby will bring death to us all."
Agnes turned to face Sophie with a large old-looking syringe in her hand.
"What are you doing?" Sophie asked scared. "No, no, Agnes, no. No, no, don't!"
Agnes was holding Sophie's head to the side and stabbed the needle into her neck.
Rebekah entered Hayley's bedroom, where Hayley was sitting in an armchair.
"Time for the demon spawn to snack!"
"You know, when I first met you, I thought you were a real bitch." Hayley told her.
Rebekah smiled, "What changed your mind?"
"Oh, I still think you're a bitch! I've just grown to like that about you." Hayley laughed and Rebekah was moved.
She smiled but then she turned serious when Hayley suddenly yelped putting a hand on her neck. Rebekah looked at the spot and saw a red needle mark there and was immediately worried.
Hayley said she was feeling woozy, so Rebekah touched her forehead, "Oh, you're burning up, actually."
When the other witches had finally left, Caroline ran in to the mausoleum and pulled Sophie free of the chains. When she was done, she asked Sophie, "Now tell me what exactly did that witch elder do to you?"
"Agnes stuck me with a needle. Cursed objects were created a long time ago. We use them so we don't get busted by Marcel for doing magic. The one she used is called the Needle of Sorrows."
"What does it do?"
"It has only one purpose: to kill a child in utero by raising her blood temperature."
Caroline was shocked to learn that, "Where's your cell phone, you need to call Klaus, now."
"Please do it, I'm kind of scared of him. But you have this special relationship with you."
"Fine."
Sophie pulled out her phone, browsed to Klaus' number and hit Call-button and then gave the phone over to Caroline.
"Sophie Deveraux, this better be important." Klaus answered the call.
"It's me, Caroline, actually."
"Hello, love. What a surprise."
"Klaus you need to come to the cemetery like right now. The witches used dark magic on her that is dangerous to your baby."
"What? I'm on my way."
Caroline hung up and told Sophie, "Let's go to the gate, you are going to be nice and invite Klaus in and explain this to him.
"Let us in right now, Sophie Deveraux, I'm done respecting your boundaries."
Sophie reluctantly said, "Elijah, Klaus, you can come in."
Second later Sophie was pinned to the gate with Klaus having grabbed her by her neck.
"You better tell me right now how exactly is what they did to you harmful to the baby."
Sophie looked at Caroline and she nodded at her.
"Agnes used a syringe to prick me and it's meant to raise the baby's blood temperature with the intention to kill her." Sophie choked out. "This is not what I signed up for."
Klaus released her and turned around to find Caroline looking back at her worriedly. He went and stood next to her, putting his arm around her while they talked.
"Well, that's convenient." Elijah commented. "How much time to we have?"
"It will do what it's meant to by midnight. I'm sure of it."
"Fantastic, Sophie Deveraux, like always." Klaus said furiously. "Now where can I find this Agnes? I'm gonna have a little chat with her."
"You won't. There are a thousand places she could hole up to wait it out."
"That's precisely why we need to unlink you from Hayley. No more danger toward her or the child." Elijah told her.
"No way, we had a deal!"
"With you lying about your true motivation for doing all this and keeping thing from us, our deal longer stands." Elijah announced to her.
She just scoffed.
"Now, if you don't want to end up dead after Hayley has been unlinked from you, then I suggest you release Caroline right now."
"No, she's my last leverage against you."
Sophie found herself again pinned to the gate as Klaus threatened her, "Release Caroline now or you will regret it for the rest of your miserable life. I will come after you and your loved ones in a way you will beg me to kill you just so your suffering would end."
He squeezed tighter and she finally choke out, "Fine."
Klaus then released her and Sophie closed her eyes and said a short spell. Then she opened her eyes and said, "It's done. Caroline can leave."
Klaus went back to Caroline's side and led her out of the cemetery by putting his hand at the small of her back. Elijah and Sophie followed them.
Rebekah was at the bar talking to Camille who listened her while fixing her a drink.
"My brothers and I are the first vampires in history, the Originals. Three hundred years ago, we called New Orleans home. Now, we've returned, drawn by a witch who is using my brother's love for a woman as leverage against him in a brewing war. And another witch wants to bring death to his unborn child. Now that Elijah has returned, it's possible that all these problems are soon history, when my two brothers become thick as thieves and vanquish all their enemies."
"This story sounds oddly familiar. Witches, brothers, lovers… Are you sure you haven't told me this before?" Camille asked, handing Rebekah her drink which she gulped down in one go.
"I have to go back home, I was supposed to only go a nd fetch some ingredients for a spell but here I am." Rebekah told Camille and then leaned closer to her and compelled Camille to forget everything she had said to her just now.
Later, the police officers in the Faction arrived to the church with Agnes, who was handcuffed and brought to the front of the room.
"This is outrageous! What is the charge?" An appalled Agnes asked them.
The officers sat her down in a pew and left the church.
Father Kieran held the needle up and called out to Klaus, who flashed to his side, "I believe this is what you were looking for?"
"Hello, Agnes." Klaus greeted Agnes with a devilish smile.
Shocked Agnes asked, "You made a deal with him?"
Furious Kieran got in her face, "After what you did to Sean, I'd deal with the devil himself just to make you suffer!"
"Now about this trinket, Agnes. Undo its curse, or I'll show you things worse than death!"
Agnes smirked, "Dark objects don't come with an off-switch! The curse took root in Sophie, she's linked to your devil child. It's just a matter of time!"
Hayley was in Elijah's arms as he took her to the swimming pool. Sophie was doing the spell to help lower Hayley's body temperature, while Rebekah and Caroline were close by. Sophie also jumped into the water, following Elijah and Hayley there to do the spell.
"How exactly does the midnight swim suppose to help?" Caroline asked.
"Her temperature is sky-high. The water, with the help of the herbs, should cool us down."She handed Hayley the herbal concoction. "Drink this!"
Sophie then turned to Elijah, "You're going to have to get her heart rate down."
"How do you suggest I do that?"
"Hold her. It's a natural human remedy to slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure." Sophie instructed him.
Rebekah worriedly muttered, "This is never gonna work."
"Have some faith, Rebekah, please." Caroline told her.
Elijah picked Hayley up and held her bridal-style in the pool while Hayley tightly clang to him.
"Davina will break the link, we just need time." Elijah was sure.
"I can't breathe!" Hayley choked out.
"Okay, long deep breaths, Hayley! Look at me. Long deep breaths, just focus on the sound of my voice." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You'll be okay. You'll be okay."
Suddenly, Sophie started to gasp as the linking spell began to lift. Hayley continued to groan in pain.
After a minute, Sophie declared, "I just felt it lift."
Rebekah sighed in relief. Hayley started to calm down, and Elijah looked stunned. Hayley stood up on her own, but still leaned against Elijah, still weak from the spell. Sophie removed one of her earrings and poked her palm with it. Hayley saw that and then looked at her palm, and she and Elijah both were relieved when she wasn't injured. Elijah held her hand and he and Hayley stared at each other for a long moment. Something words couldn't expressed passed between them. Rebekah and Caroline noticed their shared glances, so Elijah quickly let go and led Hayley out of the pool.
When Hayley was out, Elijah was about jump out too when Sophie grabbed his arm and Elijah turned to face her.
"Elijah... as soon as your brother finds out that the link is broken, he'll kill Agnes. I know you don't owe me anything, but please, don't let him kill her. Elijah! She's our only access to the power we need to survive. Promise me that you'll stop him!"
Elijah considered this and then nodded. "I promise I'll do what I can but when it comes to my brother all bets are usually off."
When Elijah got out of the pool, he dialled Klaus and when Klaus picked up, he asked him, "How's Agnes."
"Father Kieran is currently washing her blood of the floor. Why?"
"You killed her."
"Of course. Now, Elijah, keep Sophie there, she and I, we are long overdue a serious chat."
"Niklaus, you won't touch the girl, she helped us with Hayley."
Elijah looked at Caroline who nodded.
"Caroline doesn't want you to do it either."
There was a long pause on the other end before Klaus said, "Fine, fine, let her leave, I'm on my way home."
"Yeah, mom, I'm sure of my decision. But I'll be home as soon as possible, I promise." Caroline said to the phone as she was soaking away in the huge bathtub that Klaus had in his bathroom. "Love you, mom. Bye."
"How is dear mom?" Klaus asked stepping into the bathroom.
Caroline quickly tried to cover herself as she yelled, "Klaus, I'm naked over here!"
"And you have like a whole bottle of bath foam in there. I don't see anything besides your beautiful face." Klaus told her sitting on the end of the bathtub. When Caroline stopped protesting, he asked, "So did you get to talk to your friends back at Mystic Falls?"
"Yeah, yeah, I talked to mom over phone just now and before that I had a FaceTime chat with Bonnie and Elena. By the way, thank for letting them know that I was alright so they didn't worry as much."
"It's the least I could do." Klaus replied and then changed the subject, "So then are you leaving, I'll have my jet waiting?"
"Do you want me to leave?" Caroline asked surprised.
"Don't you?"
"I do, but what you have going on here, it is important. It's quiet right now in Mystic Falls and if you want, I could stay and help you keep Hayley safe."
A goofy grin appeared on Klaus face when she said that so she quickly added, "It would only be for the time being and our relationship would be strictly friendship."
The grin disappeared.
"Would that work for you or would you prefer me to leave?" Caroline asked curiously.
A smile appeared back in his face as he replied, "Of course, I want you here. Always. In whatever capacity you want. Okay?"
"Okay." Caroline smiled back.
Then Klaus put his hand in the tub and playfully started splashing water, directing it at her face.
Caroline put her hands in front of it in defense.
"Klaus, stop, please," Caroline laughed and after a little while he stopped and they stared at each other.
"I'm actually really glad to have you here, I'm sorry it took so long to get you out."
"Stop apologizing for that. You had everyone you love and care about to consider. I get that better than you think." Caroline assured him. Then changed the subject "The most important thing is that I finally got to take this amazingly great bath. And it's my second today, but in the coming days I'll probably take many more until I feel clean."
"Take how many you like. Mi casa es su casa." They smiled at each other on more time and then Klaus got up and left the room, leaving Caroline to start washing herself again.
Sophie was kneeling at her sister's grave when Klaus approached her, "Don't cry. After all, you are joining her in a minute."
Sophie turned around and got up, being startled by Klaus' sudden presence.
"Y-you p-promised Elijah and Caroline that you wouldn't kill me." Sophie stammered as she was clearly very scared.
"Let me worry about that." Klaus smiled and then turned to serious as he took a step close to Sophie who took a step back. "But you Sophie Deveraux have been a huge pain in the butt for me, hoaxing me to return to this city, endangering the woman most precious to me, not to mention my unborn child." Klaus stepped even closer to her until her back was against her sisters grave and she was trapped between the tomb and Klaus "But not anymore. This right here is where you meet your maker. I'm done with you for good.
"Please, Klaus, try to understand-" But she couldn't finish her sentence as Klaus just grabbed her neck and snapped it. Sophie's body fell on the ground and Klaus just walked away.