30' The Battle of New Orleans

꧁꧂

Wanda and Hayley were pacing waiting for the three Mikaelson brother to come back with Jackson. "Hayley I'm sure their fine." Wanda said but she herself was worried too.

"An explosion went off, what if either of them got hurt." Hayley worried, just then they walked in covered in ash, Hayley ran and hugged Jackson as Wanda walked up to Kol wrapping her arms around him.

"Thank god you're alive." Hayley said, "I'm fine too, thanks for asking." Klaus said, Wanda laughed and Kol rolled his eyes tightening his arms around her. "What about the stones?" Hayley asked.

"Scattered across the bed of the Mississippi, I'd imagine." Elijah sighed, Klaus poured himself a drink "Marcel's not a fool. He knows an empowered werewolf army would mean the end of vampires in New Orleans. The explosion is his way of saying he means to prevent that. For all the good it'll do him." he said.

"Well, it did him pretty damn well, didn't it?" Hayley said looking at Elijah who frowned. "This is my fault. I'll find a way to fix it." Jackson said, "Bloody right it is" Kol muttered.

"No, Jack, you're hurt. No one's blaming you." Hayley said comforting him, "I'm blaming you! Those stones will be hard to replace" Klaus shouted then looked at his two brothers "Fortunately, I always have a backup plan." he smiled.

They walked downstairs where Francesca had walked in with five other men who brought a suitcase, "You can't seriously mean her! She's a gangster!" Hayley shouted and Wanda agreed with her. "I see her more as a means of procuring rare items at short notice." Klaus grinned then turned to greet her.

"Greetings, Ms. Correa! I see you've brought company." Klaus said, "These are my brothers. I always include them in delicate business matters." Francesca said, she took the briefcase "If you and Marcel are planning on having a little throwdown, I'd prefer my family to be on the same side as the inevitable victor." she said.

"Then, you have what I asked for?" Klaus asked, "Not enough for an army, at such short notice, but it's a start." she said and Elijah cut in "Strange, I wasn't aware that she was familiar with our plan." he said.

"My price for doing business is full disclosure. Your brother complied." Francesca said, "And what does the Human Faction stand to benefit from all of this?" Wanda suddenly asked very curious as to why she would help.

"I only want us to solidify our allegiance to the ruling class. It's good for business." Francesca replied looking at Wanda now. "If only everyone shared your capacity for reason." Klaus said as he examined the stones.

"Sadly, they don't. Marcel is being especially vindictive. I'm worried he might come after me, or my family, just for meeting with you. It might be in our best interests if we combine our efforts." the 'human' said.

"So be it! The more bodies we have to defend the compound, the better. Let's get started, shall we?" Klaus grinned.

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Genevieve starts to chant the spell as Klaus, Hayley, Wanda, Elijah, and Kol watch the witch carefully. Francesca suddenly rushes in, "My people say Marcel is on the move, and he's bringing friends." she informed. "Get Hayley to safety." Klaus ordered then left.

"Come with me." Elijah started but Hayley cut in "No. Some needs to watch her." she said looking at the witch. "You three should help Klaus. My brothers and their security detail won't be much against a vampire army. I'll stay with Hayley." Francesca said.

"Go, and Wanda" Hayley said making the redhead turn to face her "Give em' hell." the wolf smirked, Wanda grinned and walked out with the two brothers.

Kol, Elijah and Wanda join Klaus at the center of the courtyard when they are suddenly surrounded by Marcel's vampires. "I thought this lot had learnt their lesson!" Klaus grinned.

"Well, they're not exactly reknowned for their genius." Elijah said making Kol chuckle. "So, where's the ringleader of this circus? Too afraid to show his face?" Klaus shouted as he extended his arms.

Marcel appeared with an angered expression, "I'm here! And I'm gonna offer you one last chance to pack your stuff and get the hell out of my town." he threatened. "Ah, well their your dead men!" Kol shouted excitingly.

"Look around. Every vampire in the Quarter is coming out! They want their city back. No surrender this time. You're gonna have to kill us all." Marcel said. "Okay! I think I'll start with you." Klaus said to Marcel unfazed. "Okay, then come." he said before speeding away.

Klaus looked back at his two brothers and dear friend, "Go, we'll take care of them." Wanda confirmed, Klaus gratefully nodded before speeding away.

Elijah took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, "Gentlemen... Shall we?" he asked with his arms open wide. Wanda extended her hands as her chaotic energy circled her hands just as Kol steadied himself, his veins started to appear underneath his eyes as he vamped out.

Wanda grit her teeth as she waved her arms around having to dodge vampires while throwing some into the walls so Kol would finish them off, Wanda heard a thud come from upstairs, she looked over at Elijah before she shouted, "I'm gonna check on Hayley!", "Please do" The Mikaelson responded.

Wanda wiped the vampires out of her way and rushed up the stairs to the room where Hayley was in, she got to the doorway when the Maximoff girl saw Hayley passed out on the floor but before she could do anything she felt her mind start spinning, not again.

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Kol and Elijah walk around the dead bodies "Are we done?" Elijah said bored, "Well, nice job! Saved me the trouble of killing all these vampires myself!" Francesca said the two brothers were confused but two werewolves bit into each of their necks.

They leave and Kol along with Elijah run into the room but both girls are gone along with Genevieve, "I'll kill whoever took her." Kol growled not even caring about the pain in his neck.

Elijah sped downstairs where Marcel, Cami, and Diego are "MARCEL WHERE ARE THEY?" the older Mikaelson shouted in rage. Kol sped up and stuck his hand into Diego's chest holding his heart, "Give me the girls back and I might not rip his heart out." Kol said pulling on his heart.

Cami shouted "He doesn't have them! Please! I know you don't trust him, but you know I wouldn't lie. He doesn't have them."

"Well someone does. Kol let the vampire go." Elijah said, Kol glared and ripped his hand out, Diego gasped in relief. "Where is Nik?" Kol asked Marcel. "I left him in the street. He was gonna kill me. And then, he got jacked up by some witch's spell." Marcel panted.

"Genevieve" Elijah said furious.

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Several witches were helping Genevieve drag Hayley and Wanda into the church, "I'm surprised you were able to acquire the red witch." Monique tells Genevieve, "Took a lot of magic to slightly knock her out." the witch responds, Wanda was being dragged as well but was much weaker than Hayley at the moment.

"Get her down on the floor!" Genevieve shouted as Hayley was fighting back, "We should take her to the City of the Dead." Monique said, "We won't make it the baby is coming now." Genevieve said. "No! It's too soon!" Hayley shouts terrified but starts to scream in pain. "Apparently not." the witch said.

Wanda started to wake, "Monique the witch is waking!" the one holding Wanda said, Genevieve gave Monique a silver collar, "Put this around her neck, it will cause a loud screeching noise and will cause her pain so she won't be able to use her powers." she told her. Hayley's eyes widened "No! Get that thing away from her!" she shouted scared for her friend.

Monique walked up to Wanda and attached it to her neck, Wanda screamed and clutched her head as her knees gave out. The girl hit the ground with a thud as whispers screeched in her head. "NO!" Hayley yelled, her eyes watered up as she saw the girl in pain.

"You need to calm down Hayley." Monique said as she started to prepare Hayley, "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked terrified, "To be reborn, you must sacrifice." the witch replied, Wanda's shouts got louder as the high pitch noise intensified.

"What does that mean, you psychotic little bitch?" Hayley spat, "The ancestors demand an offering in exchange for power." Genevieve revealed. "You and your child will be a fine offering." Monique said.

"No! NO! You will not take my baby, I will kill all of you!" Hayley screamed, Wanda fisted up her hands as she tried everything to distract her from the pain.

"No, you won't! And neither will Klaus, or Elijah, or Kol! When your baby is born, you will offer her up to those who came before us." Monique ordered. Hayley cried and struggles against the witches restraints. "I'm sorry, Hayley, but this is the way it had to be." Genevieve apologized.

Monique upped the sound in Wanda's mind making the girl cry as she circled her hands around the collar but couldn't find the strength to break it.

Klaus stood outside and hears the shouts of pain from not only Hayley but Wanda as well. The hybrid starts to breath more rapidly as his face goes blank with anger. Fully enraged, he shouts at the top of his lungs.

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Hayley screams as she is in labor as the Maximoff girl now had her hands bind keeping her from being able to do anything. "Ahh! Let go of me you bitch!" Hayley spats.

Klaus limps into the church and sees Wanda on the floor chained as Hayley looks at him relieved, he lunges forward ripping a witches head off when Monique and Genevieve link hands and telekinetically pin Klaus to the wall.

He fights against the spell but it's no use, the two witches anchor the spell cast and go back to helping Hayley. Klaus and Hayley watch fearfully as Genevieve grabs the ceremonial athame that was used for the Harvest. Wanda stares at the ground ashamed in herself, she was supposed to be stronger than this.

"You should know this brings me no joy. I promise I'll make it quick." Genevieve says to the two parents, they cover Hayley's lower half with a sheet. "Shall we begin?"

Hayley walks into the final contraction "I will bring hell to your family!" Klaus shouts in rage and pain, "One last push! Push! The baby's almost here!" Genevieve says.

"No! No!" Hayley screams, "I can see the baby!" Monique says, Hayley falls back just as the baby is born, Hayley and Klaus stop screaming as they both see their baby girl. Wanda begins to shake violently on her knees, she's spiraling out of control.

"You have a beautiful baby daughter." Genevieve says, "We must start the sacrifice as soon as the moon sets with the morning sky-" Monique starts but Hayley cuts her off "Please. Please, can I hold her?" she asks.

Genevieve brings the baby over so Hayley can hold her. Hayley is amazed by the sight of her daughter. She looks up at Klaus and manages a small smile before kissing her daughter on the forehead. Suddenly, Monique grabs Hayley by the hair, pulls her head back, and slits her throat with the knife. Hayley gasps.

"NOO!" Klaus screams, "We should kill the other." Monique says looking at Wanda who's on her knees, "No! In exchange for the collar we promised her we wouldn't kill Wanda! She wants her alive." Genevieve said. "So what we leave her here." Monique says, "Precisely, what that women wants does not concern us. Now let's go finish the sacrifice." Genevieve says.

As the witches leave, Monique twists her wrist, which causes Klaus to fall to the floor, weakened. He looks up at Hayley's dead body above him in horror. He looks over at Wanda who's in pain "Hold H-Hayley." the girl whispers looking up to meet his eye, Klaus nods and is near tears as he sees Hayley's limp body.

Elijah and Kol burst into church, Kol struggles to focus his vision due to the werewolf bite but he sees a redhead kneeled on the floor. "Wanda!" he shouts rushing over to her, he kneels in front of her and rips the chains off of her hands, he can't get the collar off of her though. He takes her face in his hands and Wanda suddenly feels a rush of power flow through her, she focuses using her power to surround the collar ripping it off of herself.

She gasps and falls into Kol's arms, "H-Hayley" the girl whispers. Kol immediately understands and gets up helping her as well, Wanda limps over to where Elijah and Klaus are crying over Hayley's body.

Klaus looks at his two brothers, "You've been bitten" he said, Klaus bites into his wrist and offers it to the two. Elijah and Kol are stunned by their brothers action.

Klaus sat in a corner while Elijah stared at her limp body, Wanda stayed clutched at Kol's side scared about what would happen if she didn't have his comfort, it was like he was keeping her anchored, even Kol was upset.

"How?" Elijah asked distraught, "I'm sorry, 'Lijah I- they put a collar on me and I couldn't use my powers- I'm so so sorry." Wanda said on the verge on tears. Kol tightened his grip on her as she buried her head into his chest, Elijah wasn't mad at the girl he had seen her on the floor in completely immobilized from the silver collar but he looked over at Niklaus.

"I was bested" Klaus said completely numb. "You were bested," Elijah repeated furious walking towards him "You were bested!? My invincible brother!" he shouted. Klaus weakly pulled him self up on his feet, "They took the baby. But, there's still time. We can save her." he said.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Kol intervened. "That's my niece they have."

The four of them walk into the cemetery and Wanda realizes they've past the same tomb three times, "We're going in circles" she announces, the three brothers looked back at her. "This is an illusion." Elijah said realizing.

They kept walking marking the tombs they would pass, "It's ingenius. I can see them, I can feel them, and yet, they are not real. Wanda dear, can't you do anything?" Klaus asked the girl.

"If I use my powers right now I don't know what I'll do. That collar made my mind spiral if I use my magic I might disintegrate everything around me." Wanda said, "Noted" Klaus said.

"There has to be another way. Even if we could just push through-" Elijah started but Kol cut him off "We just need to focus brother." he said.

"My only focus right now is that child and her safety, do you understand me?  This - all of this - this is the world that you created, Niklaus." Elijah snapped looking at the hybrid.

"Brother-" Klaus tried but Elijah cut him off "All of your scheming, the enemies that you have made every single day of your miserable life, what results did you expect? That your child would be born into a happy life? That the mother would be alive to know her daughter? That we could live and thrive as some-as some sort of family?" Elijah said.

"That was your fantasy, brother, not mine!" Klaus shouted.

"NO, brother! This was our hope. This was our family's hope. And now she is gone. Do you understand? I let this person in. I let her in!" Elijah tries to hold back tears "I don't let people in! You knew this. You've taken her from me! I needed her, and you've broken me." he said.

Elijah sits down on the stoop of one of the tombs and puts his head in his hands. Klaus quietly sits down next to him and grips his arm in comfort. "You can tell your niece how much you cared for her mother when we save her." Klaus said, Elijah looked at Wanda who gave him an encouraging nod.

The four of them are breaking their way through the illusion by destroying the tombs. When they reach a room full of candles, they stop and catch their breath. "Well, this is a nice workout." Kol remarked.

"We've passed through here twice already. We're running out of time." Elijah said punching the wall, clearly angry. "Then we move faster." Klaus said.

"Or smarter" a voice said from behind them, the four turned at there was Hayley. Wanda smiled and ran giving the wolf a hug. Hayley pulled her back "Are you okay? That collar-" Hayley started clearly worried for her friend, "I'm fine," Wanda smiled.

Klaus and Elijah stood frozen in shock but Elijah rushes over to touch her face to make sure she isn't an illusion. "How are you here?" he whispers, Wanda smiles at the two and makes her way back to Kol's side.

"I woke up in the church. I felt this hunger... I knew what I needed. I can feel her. She's here. I can feel my baby." Hayley said, "You died with the baby's blood still in your system." Klaus says then  turns to Elijah "She's in transition."

"Which means she has to drink the blood of the baby if she wants to live." Kol's eyes were wide as he spoke, "To be reborn a hybrid." Klaus said.

"I don't care about me. I'm gonna go find our daughter." Hayley says then leaves, the four rush out to follow her.

Hayley, Klaus, Elijah, Wanda, and Kol turn a corner where they see Genevieve with a knife above the baby's head, "NO!" Hayley shouts. Elijah picks up an urn and lobs it at the witches, which slams against Genevieve's hand and knocks the athame onto the ground. The three run toward them, so Monique and Abigail hold each other's hands and channel the ancestors' power to throw them backwards while Genevieve goes to find the athame.

"You fools! To come against us in our place of power, in our strongest hour. You don't face three, you face us all." Monique shouts. Dead witches now appear before them,

Klaus gets cornered by the spirits of Papa Tunde's twin sons, who telekinetically throw Klaus into a tomb, shattering it.

Kol tries to fight his way past the witches, Wanda feels her powers trying surface. The girl gives in and extends her arms as she allows her powers to release and disintegrate all the dead walking witch's.

Just as Monique is about to sacrifice the baby, she's hit with the Devil's Star, which embeds itsef in her stomach. Her body becomes covered in cuts, and she coughs up blood before falling to the ground. Klaus and Elijah turn around to see that Marcel was the one who saved the baby. Before they can say anything, Marcel vamp -speeds to the baby, and then vamp -speeds away with it. Klaus follows after him.

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Klaus, Elijah, Kol, and Wanda were in Hayley's room as the new mom was rocking her baby girl in the nursery next door. "We should have felt our mother's hand in this. We should have known she would not be bound by anything as obvious as death. And now, she has control of the witches. They will never stop." Klaus said.

"No." Elijah said, "Nor would I expect the Guerrera wolves to back down. Hayley and the child are wolf royalty, and as such, they are a threat to Francesca's claim to the leadership. They will never be safe. What was it you said to me earlier? That I have made enemies every day of my miserable life? Well, the worst of them are within these borders, brother. I have brought into the world a weapon they can use against me." Klaus sighed.

"Then we will arm ourselves! Brother, we have fought every adversary in this town, and we have won. And we'll fight them again, no matter who they are! We will make this home a fortress." Elijah suggested, "Yes because making her a prisoner will fix all our problems." Kol said.

"I won't have her live her life like that." Klaus said. "Then we leave here, together. All of us." Elijah said, "Running never did us any good." Kol remarked.

"Wherever we go, however far we run, those who seek power and revenge will hunt us! They will hunt her. She has inherited all of our enemies with none of our defenses." Klaus said.

"So, whether we stay, or we leave - we condemn her." Elijah sighed, Hayley walked in with the baby in her arms.

"There's a third option. I grew up in a warzone. My parents thought they could protect me. But, in the end, they were slaughtered, and I spent my childhood alone and unloved. I made a promise, to my baby, and to myself, that she would not grow up like I did. That she would grow up safe, and loved. And yet, here she is, on her first day in this world, with a grandmother who is bent on sacrificing her," Hayley starts to stutter as she cries "and a -a mother, who has to drink the blood of her own baby to survive transitioning into a hybrid. And I'm the one who loves her the most." Wanda walked over a placed her hand on the newly turned hybrid's shoulder.

"I think the only thing to do is... send her away, while we stay behind and clean up the mess that we've made." Hayley said defeated.

"No! This is insane. You heard Genevieve - so long as she lives, that baby will be hunted." Elijah retorted. Klaus stood and joined Hayley's side.

"Not if no one knows she lives." Just from his eyes one could know he had a plan brewing up. "What do you plan to do?" Wanda questioned curiosly.

"Whatever it takes to save our family."

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿

Wanda accompanied Klaus to deliver his baby to the one person they trust, "I never got to properly thank you for everything you did, Wanda." Klaus suddenly said. "It's fine Klaus, it really was my pleasure. You have an amazing family." Wanda smiled as she looked at the baby girl.

"Our family" Klaus said looking at her, Wanda smiled as her eyes filled up with tears. She hadn't had a family in so long, she was happy to have on again.

They parked and Klaus with the baby and Wanda stepped out waiting, a car pulls up to them, and Rebekah gets out. When she sees her brother and her newborn niece and best friend, she smiles. Klaus smiles back. Rebekah embraces Wanda tightly "Oh how I've missed you." the blonde said.

"I've missed you too Beks." the redhead smiled, "Hello sister" Klaus says as Rebekah let's Wanda go. Rebekah gently touches the baby, and stares in wonder.

"Oh, she looks like her mother. Maybe there is a God after all." she smiles, Klaus laughs "Well, she has a hint of the devil in her eyes. That's all me. I need a witch you can trust to cast a cloaking spell." Klaus told his younger sister.

"I'll get one" she replied, "No one can ever find her." Klaus said. "I know what to do Nik. Perhaps we'll get a white fence, I think that would be lovely, don't you think Wanda?" the blonde said.

Wanda smiled and nodded. Klaus holds up the baby to get a last look at her before she leaves with Rebekah. "This city would have seen you dead. But, I will have it your home. And every soul who wishes you harm will be struck down, just as sure as my blood runs in your veins. You will return to me." he whispered to her.

Klaus kisses his daughter on the forehead and the cheek before handing her to his sister. Then, he gives Rebekah and the baby the tiny wooden knight that he carved for Rebekah a 1,000 years ago, which causes Rebekah to grab his hand and start to cry.

"In spite of our differences, Rebekah, there is no one I would trust more with my daughter's life." Klaus hugged his sister and kissed her cheek, "Be happy, sister." he said.

"She will be happy Nik, I promise." Rebekah said then looked at the baby "What's her name?" she asked her older brother.

"Hope. Her name is Hope." he says and starts to cry, Rebekah leaves to put the baby in her car, as Klaus and Wanda watch. "Let's go home, Klaus." Wanda said "Call me Nik, love." he smiled.

Wanda smiled and nodded, the two got back into the car and made their way home.

A witch who was lingering in the shadows laughed to herself.

"Interesting"

▵▿▵▿▵▿▵▿