tw: character death (again sorry yall), threats, abuse

( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

Niklaus and Henrik just wanted to see what it was like.

That's all they wanted.

Athena had said yes because she would be there to protect them. Like she always was. Niklaus didn't seem worried, placing his full trust in her like he always did. Henrik looked up to her, and wished to be like her.

And she got him killed.

The other wolves weren't in tune with their wolves like she was on full moons. They were completely surrendered to their animal instincts.

She hadn't taken that into account as much as she should have.

"MOTHER!" Niklaus screamed as he came running through the village, holding Henrik in his arms. Athena was right behind him, whispering to the boy and trying to wake him up, frantically.

"Henrik!" Rebekah rushed out of their home, going to her brothers and sister.

"MOTHER!" Athena yelled this time, hoping that her mother would be quick as Niklaus dropped to his knees.

Esther came out of the forest, rushing toward her children. "Athena?" She called back, quickening her pace as she saw her daughter hovering over someone, frantically trying to stem bleeds.

"No," Esther muttered as she saw who her daughter was hovering over.

Athena shifted out of her way, watching as her mother went through the despair of losing a child all over again. As Esther tried to do as she had when he first was attacked.

Wake him up.

"No, no, no," Esther repeated.

Elijah ran over, his eyes wide as he stared between his fallen sibling and his others.

"What happened?" Esther demanded, setting a gentle hand on Athena's cheek. Her eyes were shifting colors. Blue and gold. Sky and gods blood.

"The wolves," Athena replied quietly, her own despair caught in her throat as tears welled in her eyes, "I tried to fight them off. They just wanted to see me run."

"I'm sorry," Niklaus whispered, his lips trembling as he stared down at his brother, "we just wanted to have some fun. I'm so sorry." He cradled his knees to his chest.

"We..." Esther looked up at the other witch who had moved to town a couple of years prior. Aniya. "We must save him. Please. There must be a way."

Athena set a hand on her youngest brother's stomach, choking on a sob.

Aniya set her hand over his pulse, closing her eyes. It was silent beside the sniffles and sobs coming from the twins. Rebekah still seemed in shock, Elijah was speechless, and Esther was intently waiting for Aniya's plan.

"The spirits will not give us a way, Esther," Aniya said softly as if that softened the blow at all.

"What?" Esther breathed, staring at her incredulously.

"Your boy is gone."

Athena snarled, her head snapping toward Aniya. The witch flinched, curling her lip a little in judgment as she backed away. "To Hell with the spirits!" She shouted, rage making her shake, "he is a boy!" She moved to step forward but Alix appeared, pushing her back gently.

"A boy you helped sentence," Aniya snapped, holding her head up.

"Be gone!" Esther said, glaring at the witch even as tears fell from her eyes.

Aniya did as she was told.

Athena fell into her mother's arms. Alix caught her, cradling her to her chest as she stared down at Henrik. "It's all my fault," she cried, "I should've known better."

Alix tucked her daughter's head underneath her chin, rubbing her back. "Hush," she whispered, "go with your brothers and sister." Athena sniffled and nodded.

The hybrid stood and grabbed Rebekah and Niklaus.

Esther's sobs caused Athena to shudder, remembering the same cries years ago.

If Freya could see her now... she'd think she was a joke. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

They didn't get to have a burial for Henrik.

Mikael showed up and demanded to know what happened. Then he decided that they needed to be better. Quicker, stronger.

Something even more dangerous.

Something to turn his soldiers into lethal weapons.

Athena wished Mikael would've been the one to die.

"Immortality?" Athena repeated, staring at Mikael incredulously. Her mother was out, creating the spell and finishing the kinks to ensure that nothing would go wrong. That her children wouldn't be harmed or killed by accident. "We are not your soldiers, Mikael!"

"I am your father and you will address me as such," Mikael snapped, straightening to his full height. He only had an inch or so on her and at this point, she was more afraid of being a disappointment than she was of him.

"I will not let you force my mother into turning us into monsters!" Athena snarled back, her eyes glinting.

Mikael grabbed her 'round the neck and slammed her into the wall. She winced in pain, feeling the wound heal almost as soon as it opened. "I loved you despite the fact I am not your sire... and this is how you repay me?" He demanded, "I am your father! I make the decisions. My word is final." He leaned closer and she snarled at him, "I am doing this to protect our family."

"No, you want control," Athena argued, shoving him away. He stumbled, almost falling over. Her eyes stayed gold. "You want power. You have always craved power!"

"I get both," Mikael smirked, though rage was still behind his eyes. His dark and icy eyes. "And I will tear every wolf limb from limb once I'm finished."

Athena shuddered a little at his tone of voice. It was evil.

He wanted to slaughter all of them. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

"Mother," Athena said as she found the woman. She was writing in a grimoire, a potion bubbling next to her.

"Athena," Esther greeted, smiling softly at her daughter. Her eyes were red, from crying or from being awake or both, Athena did not know. "I am almost ready." She turned back to the grimoire.

"I do not wish to be immortal," Athena said.

Esther froze then she turned to her daughter. "I know, my love. I know. I do not wish for any of you to be immortal either," she said quietly, grasping her daughter's forearm.

"Then don't."

"You know I cannot."

Athena whined a bit and dropped her head onto her mother's shoulder, "try to hold off. I can find the totem—"

"No," Esther swallowed roughly, "no, Athena. I will not let you anywhere near the woman again." She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. "Not, at least..." she looked back at the grimoire.

Athena followed it. "Make me immortal now. That way no matter what Dahlia does, I cannot die. I will always come back. And I will have unimaginable strength and power. I can beat her," she whispered urgently.

She didn't wish to be immortal. She didn't even wish to be a witch or a wolf no matter how much she loved it. She'd much rather have been a human. If she was human at least she wouldn't feel powerless even as a creature with powers.

At least she'd have more leeway of being a disappointment.

"Athena," Esther sighed a bit, rubbing her daughter's arm as she thought, "I... I know why you do not wish to become immortal. You think I haven't noticed how you've changed since F... Freya." Athena looked away, jaw clenched at her eldest sibling's name. They never spoke about it. Not anymore. "I have," she said softly, "and I know you blame yourself and that you blame yourself now... but neither of these was your fault. You wanted to protect them and give them a fun night. You wouldn't have been able to stop Niklaus or Henrik, but at least you knew and tried." She set a hand on her daughter's cheek, "you need to forgive yourself."

Athena frowned deeply. "I will. When you do."

Esther huffed a bit, rolling her eyes. "So stubborn. Such a pain in my rear—"

"Are you finished?"

The two jumped a little and turned to look at Mikael.

Esther took Athena's hand when she felt her daughter tremble slightly—out of fear or rage, Esther couldn't tell—and looked at her, unfortunately, husband. "Al—"

"Are you finished?" He repeated.

Esther had no control over her answer. "Yes."

Athena gave her mother a sad, understanding look. Esther merely squeezed her hand.

"Then let's get this over with. Now," Mikael said, glancing between the two of them. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

And that was how the first generation of vampires, hybrids, heretics, and tribrids were born.

The Originals.

AN: gasp... *chews popcorn* crazy, hope henrik and freya vibe on the other side

wc: 1439