SIX,         The blind oath

Late 1980's

HIMARI WAS NEVER one to be consumed by paranoia. She had nothing to truly fear because well, no one knew of her existence so her life had been a dance of mystery. Her story and the mere existence of the Kitsune were confined to whispered myths and legends. She doubted anyone would waste their time researching a forgotten memory to fill the pages of grimoires and folklore. She was an untold tale itching to be discovered. But she had chosen obscurity, even mastered the art of illusion to remain hidden amongst the mortals she surrounded herself with. Everywhere she went, she lived right beneath their unsuspecting gazes.

There shouldn't be anyone looking for her. No one should know who she is or her whereabouts.

So why is it that she felt eyes on her?

An unsettling sensation prickled at her senses, Himari's instincts stirred, and goosebumps littered her skin as a shiver made its way down her spine. It wasn't fear that tugged at her, the Kitsune had no room for such emotion in her heart. It was curiosity with a dose of caution. Whoever decided to prey on her had to have gone to extreme measures to find her despite the barriers of secrecy she had built for security. Their foolish confidence left Himari both intrigued and on defense.

Her eyes swept her through the dark forest, head tilting ever so slightly. She remained composed as her heightened senses tried to detect the threats looming over her but all that greeted her were the soft melodies of leaves rustling against each other.

It was rare she ran into situations where she had to be on guard. Not many had made an effort to shatter the shield she had so meticulously crafted herself. This person—this watcher— had piqued her interest. She acknowledged the challenge presented to her with a faint smile.

Slowly, she gracefully rose to her feet. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, the silvery luminescence casted ethereal patterns upon her. Her gaze flickered to the only tool she had brought into the forest— A dagger. It laid there in the dirt, her blood staining the edge of the blade. She swiped her hand against the fabric of her dress to erase the remnants of the crimson mark lining the deep cut she created in her palm. She showed no discomfort during this, a stark reflection of the enigmatic power she possessed.

The darkness swallowed the unknown figures that hid in it. She was fully aware of the visible disadvantage she was in. Still, she waited patiently, beginning to focus on her magic and prepare for any sudden attack. Breathing in, she shifted her awareness inward allowing the tendrils of her magic to unfurl within her like slumbering serpents provoked to wakefulness.

Nature hummed with winds. Her fingers tingled with anticipation as she stood there unyielding and dauntless.

The seconds stretched into moments.

The air thickened and the intensity grew as the silence continued.

Suddenly, there was a twig snap that caused Himari to turn her head in that direction. There were fast movements that could only be caused by those who were bound by the night— vampires. She narrowed her eyebrows, following the swift figures darting around attempting to throw her off.

It was a game to them.

And Himari loved games.

"You won't win." She declared, taunting them knowing they were listening and watching closely at her every move from the shadows. Their arrogance was laughable.

As if her words had struck uncertainty of their odds, the swift movements ceased. All that could be heard was the eerie sound of silence washing over the forest.

By the next second, a blur of motion sped toward her, and without thinking Himari quickly made a gesture with her hand flinging him away from her and against the trunk of a tree. The sound of his ribs getting crushed eoched and his pained grunts filled her with satisfaction. She had no time to indulge in his misery because another one appeared, not as confident as his friend, and the witch decided to snap his neck to make it quick.

"Kasai." She chanted lowly causing the bodies to ignite in flames. As their souls were being cleansed in the pyre, the smell of burnt flesh clung to the air.

There were now two examples of what would happen if the rest of them decided to advance on their attack. Himari considered the possibility of them being under compulsion, however, sparing their lives was not her main concern. Her eyes flickered a faint orange as if she were in between her Kitsune and natural state just drifting, unsure of how to proceed. She surveyed the area, waiting for something else to happen. This was too easy.

Her gut twisted as she continued to search for more adversaries.

She assumed this was another poor attempt from no other than Klaus Mikaelson himself, to scare her into submission. These planned attacks only told her he had yet to find the missing variables he needed to break from his curse. In other words, he couldn't face her himself because he was still weak.

She wondered what his endgame was in all this. He knew his lackeys stood no chance against her, that their lives were merely disposable in this grand scheme. What point was he trying to prove? Did he think he could wear her out, or maybe in his sick perception, it was a demonstration of power? A reminder that he could orchestrate her battles on a whim.

This was a game to him as well.

She let out a small scoff, acknowledging the twisted mindset they both have acquired since the beginning of their cat-and-mouse chase. An unspoken understanding lingered.

The hair on Himari's neck stood, and the neverending feeling of someone watching remained but this time it wasn't predatory. It was different— observant. They seemed content with staying hidden.

The witch's fingers twitched at her sides, ready for whatever move they had planned. Each time in the past, when she found herself fighting, it was unorganized. They all attacked at the same time with no real strategy and the silence was never stretched out for this long or at all.

"Did you find it?" An unfamiliar voice asked.

Himari turned her head, then body, toward the stranger. He walked with a sense of confidence, there was no delay in his steps. She decided to stay silent. Not out of fear but defiance. She wanted to see just how close he was willing to get.

"C'mon, you know I can't go back to Klaus empty-handed." He feigned nervousness while scratching the back of his neck. He halted his movement a few feet away from the witch noticing the blank stare she held.

Unknowingly, the Hybrid's name caused her eyebrow to subtly twitch.

"Take the two corpses on your journey back then." Himari innocently hummed, gesturing with her head. "That is if you make out alive."

The man's confidence wavered, and his throat tightened at the severity of his dilemma. There was this evil within her eyes that sent shivers down his spine, almost as if brought back a memory from someone he knew.

"If you give me what we're here for, no one else has to get hurt." He tried to negotiate.

"No, they will die instead." She corrected with cold finality. "And it'll be all your fault for organizing this poor excuse of an attack just because someone else told you to do so. You know I thank the stars every day I was born a witch. I could not imagine myself being controlled by blood or suppressed by the sun at that— sounds like a nightmare if you ask me."

Himari tilted her head at the man, watching his face contort into a mixture of confusion and anger.

"You poor thing," Her curved down into a pout, mocking pity. "What has Klaus promised you all?"

She knew the game all too well. She had witnessed countless times in her long existence that same look in his eyes— desperation like everyone else before him. It was hope. But it had been built on lies and false promises that held no true meaning. These people were just a means to an end for Klaus. They weren't valuable.

Her words hung in the air as the man remained silent, she could see he was having an internal struggle by the way his jaw clenched. It seemed as if he was questioning his loyalty at that moment.

"Klaus promised us he'd break the curse so we'd be able to walk in the daylight." He finally spoke, his voice wavering.

Himari felt genuine sympathy for the man standing before her. Though she couldn't help but let a small laugh escape her lips as she stared in amusement. Yes, she's heard this song already and she knew it would end in tragedy.

"You and all the other fools before." Himari says, "You're not special. You're disposable to him."

The truth was hard to digest for those who were blinded by empty promises and desperation and a bit of persuasion on the Hybrid's end. The witch knew it didn't matter what she said, they were here to do a task, and if they failed— they would die. Either by her hand or Klaus's.

"Just hand it over!" The man demanded, his voice echoing throughout the forest.

She sighed, growing bored with the situation. "If you're so sure I have it, take it."

Without hesitation, the Vampire sped toward her aware of the fact that he was no match for her. It was only a distraction. Amid Himari preparing to conjure a line of fire to keep him from getting closer, more vampires appeared behind her. One carried a syringe, and before she could react, a sharp sensation poked her neck as the substance that filled the needle was injected into her bloodstream.

Every last drop.

The first thing she felt was her connection to Keiko getting severed, it was like all the light from inside her was stolen. That's when the panic rose, she felt herself begin to wane— her magic was fading. A flicking flame waiting for the last gust of wind to finish it off. She reached for the necklace hanging around her neck, clutching it to make sure there was still something living in there. But she couldn't see anything. This substance— this poison— was messing with her. She couldn't think straight. The world around her seemed to blur and everything hurt.

Her knees buckled, and her hands reached for her temples as she let out a groan through her gritted teeth. Whatever this was, she hated it. And because she had no idea what had been injected into her, it made her actually fearful of what Klaus had under his sleeve.

What if he already found everything he needed?

What would Himari do then?

At that moment, the only thing she could think about was how pathetic and harmless she must've looked. That just fueled her anger. She wanted to drag out their death, carve their eyeballs out, and ship them to Klaus.

Himari's hands gripped the soil beneath her as if it were some sort of anchor to keep her from losing consciousness.

She needed everything to stop.

She didn't want to die and fail. 

"Don't fight it, sweetheart." The man crouched down to her level, lifting her chin. Himari scowled, ripped her face away, and tried to create distance.

Another abrupt pain shocked her as she let out a cry, it was more poison. This time it was too much for her mind and body to deal with. Every bit of magic she once held within her had disappeared all at once.

She was powerless. Vulnerable. Weakened.

The forest would become a home to a massacre and somehow, Himari would survive against all odds.

Perhaps, she was destined to live.

Wake up. A distant voice echoed in the recesses of Himari's mind. She knew it belonged to Keiko, her ever-present companion, and that feeling of loneliness faded, only slightly. It reassured her amidst the disorientation that her connection to the dark dimension was still as strong as ever. Her thoughts drifted back to the harrowing moment she felt most vulnerable. She didn't know it was even possible to feel that weak after living with so much power just for it to be taken away so cruelly in a matter of seconds. This situation was a wake-up call. It showed her that she didn't have everything figured out, that Klaus Mikaelson, even in what she deemed to be his weak state, was still as dangerous without breaking his curse. 

She needed to be smarter.

More careful.

Or else who knows what would've happened if no one had been there to save her? She would've been served to him on a silver platter.

The first thing she heard was the glass clinking against wood, accompanied by the comforting crackling of a warming fire. She was warm unlike before when she was outside, shivering after the cold wind licked her skin. The subtle scrape against the floor indicated someone had recently sat down. This person sounded close, she could feel their eyes watching her intently, waiting for the moment she stirred from her slumber. She recognized it was that same observant presence from before.

Realizing this, Himari decided to open her eyes. Glass, wood, fire. Pushing herself up, she noticed a few things; she had been sleeping on a couch —they must've put her there— she was still wearing her dress that was stained with blood, and the most important thing was that there was no more pain. Her fingertips brushed against the area where the needle had been injected, then her hand slowly descended and clutched her necklace.

A tingling sensation traveled throughout her body as she exhaled, relieved to know there was magic occupying the red jewel.

With that reassurance, her eyes skimmed —searched— the setting for the person who had saved her. No one was seated in the chair at the end of the couch. Her dagger rested on a table across her. Slowly, Himari got to her feet, looking around once more for any clues that someone did live here. That she wasn't alone. She focused on her hearing to try and find a heartbeat, movement, or anything. The room remained stubbornly silent.

"You've had quite the ordeal tonight. How are you feeling?"

Himari quickly turned around to face the stranger. The accent in his voice was the first notable characteristic of the man. His hair was parted in the middle, and he wore a suit and tie. It confused her to see someone wear something so formal for no particular occasion. But what stood out the most amongst other things was the fact that he was dead.

The absence of a heartbeat made sense now.

She remained quiet and narrowed her eyebrows at him, a scowl creeping its way onto her soft features. She wanted to leave, disappear, unsure if all her strength was restored after resting. She feared the possibility of him carrying the same weapon that poisoned her.

He observed the witch closely, her confused expression mixed with burning hatred just by simply being in her presence. His eyes fell upon the necklace— a fox tail encircling a red jewel. A faint smile tugged at his lips, a silent acknowledgment of his success in locating the Kitsune.

He took a step closer causing Himari to take one back.

"I don't have any intention of harming you, Himari." He assured her.

She tilted her head up at him. "Am I supposed to know who are you?"

He paused, choosing his answer carefully. "I would hope so since you are destined to kill my family."

Himari's heart picked up. She'd never met an Original face-to-face because just like the rest of the supernatural world, coming across one was rare considering their existence was confined to whispers like herself. She didn't expect one to come to seek her out— she assumed she would be the one tracking each of them down but then again she didn't really care about the rest of the Original family. Her mind was set on destroying Klaus first.

"You Mikaelsons have some nerve." She said with venom in her tone as she fixed her posture, the fear from before forming into defiance. "Which one are you?"

He regarded her calmly and replied, "I go by Elijah."

"The noble one, or so they say," Himari remarked with a hint of skepticism. "Why do they call you that?"

"I pride myself on keeping my word. I'm more... reasonable unlike my brother, Niklaus."

Himari couldn't help but notice the anger flooding his eyes at the mention of Klaus. From the stories told throughout the years, it's always been Klaus and Elijah. There was no separating the two. But right now, all she sees is betrayal lingering in his gaze, and the sad aura around him is palpable. Perhaps, the unbreakable bond they shared had finally crumbled. 

"Where is he?" She inquired, her curiosity piqued as she sought to confirm her theory.

"I cut ties with him."

"Why?" She pushed.

"He's done the one thing that ensured I would never fight by his side again." Elijah's gaze dropped as he absentmindedly put a hand in his pocket.

For a brief moment, Himari reveled in his suffering. Though she knew this anger he felt for his brother would only last so long, it would pass, because at some point the love you have for your own blood outweighs any negative feelings. After almost a thousand years of sticking by each other and now, Elijah severs his ties with him.

It didn't seem real or believable.

What did Klaus do?

Himari walks to stand in front of the fire, feeling herself grow cold. "And you're here, why?"

"To propose a deal." He admitted.

The witch doesn't say anything at first, keeping her stare on the flames. Striking a deal with an Original, of all people, was the last thing she would ever consider. She accepted the fact that she'd go through this journey of fulfilling her ancestor's wishes alone. She was okay with that, she thinks.

Besides, there was no point in alliances when the outcome would be the same.

"A deal?" She turned back around to face the man, who stood in the same spot with a calm expression.

"Indeed," He nodded.

"You do realize it won't be in your favor. Whatever plan you've concocted in your mind, whatever illusion you've fooled yourself into believing—that you'd walk out of this unscathed—it won't work. Do you know why?"

Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips parting as he awaited her explanation.

"Because even if we work together to kill Klaus," Himari continued, "I'd simply have to turn my attention to the rest of your family immediately afterward. And then, our alliance would've been for nothing."

Elijah was unfazed by her warning. "That's precisely why I'm proposing this deal. Your true enemy is not me nor the rest of my family; it is Niklaus. That is the person you are to kill, quite literally the sole reason for all your hatred toward our family. He seeks to break his curse and in doing so he would endanger countless lives. My proposal is simple: an alliance to neutralize that threat. There is no need to go after us all if you finish Niklaus once and for all. Your job would be done and you'd be able to live as you please."

Elijah was right. Killing Klaus is her main objective. The rest of the Original family would've been collateral damage in the midst of it all. They were a second thought to her, not as important. But he was also wrong to suggest the idea that Himari could have a normal life after everything was said and done. It was simply impossible.

"I don't want your help." She rejected, letting out a dry laugh. "More importantly, I don't trust you— your family as a whole. It's honestly quite hard to believe anything coming out of your mouth. I am not one of those fools you can easily manipulate, Elijah. I won't let myself become that."

The Original sighed, "I understand your reluctance to accept but I urge you to think about where you are right now in your journey. You've spent the last century alone in search of an ancient artifact that you've yet to find while Niklaus has his minions orchestrating attacks and was successful in weakening you tonight. He's toying with you and hindering your plans. You need someone on your side."

"And what better partner than you, right?" She crossed her arms, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"Correct. I know all of Niklaus' tricks... if not me then who?"

"Someone who hasn't spent their entire life with him. You're more capable of betrayal because that's what you know. Who's to say you won't go crawling back to him the second he tempts you with whatever it is that he's taken?" Himari challenged, growing frustrated.

Elijah contemplated his words, uncertain of how he should proceed. "He took my family. Niklaus has daggered and sealed them in boxes out of fear of ending up alone. He's exploited his power over us and I won't stand idly by anymore."

There was a subtle change in Himari's gaze. A hint of curiosity and perhaps even empathy. Elijah was unsure of what it might mean but he took it as a sign to continue.

"I know my family's suffering may hold no significance to you but yours should."

The witch's breath was caught in her throat as she tried to decipher what he was implying. The only family she had was gone. She would like to think he's at peace so he couldn't be suffering.

"My brother is dead."

Elijah remembered the night of ritual vividly, or rather what came after. In a night of betrayal, there were bodies scattered across the grounds, and Junpei was not one of them. He had escaped the bloodshed with Klaus as his guide. But his survival came with a price like any deal with the devil.

Looking at Himari, the ever-present guilt gnawed at him for the fact that he did not plan on telling the witch of her brother's current state. That he was alive. It would only give her another reason not to trust him because why didn't he do something to help? Explaining the truth came with questions he had no time to answer. It would add another layer of complexity to their already fragile relationship.

He did not wish to push Himari away.

This was his only chance to get his siblings back.

Himari clenched her fist at the false claim, there was a sharp sensation, like a thousand needles all at once, in her heart every time the memory of her brother forced itself into her head. "Is there a reason you decided to bring him up?"

"I want you to know that I am truly sorry for your loss and with this, I urge you to consider my assistance," Elijah took a calculated step forward, this time Himari didn't back away. "If Niklaus continues on this path and succeeds in obtaining everything to break his curse— innocent people will die. Like your brother. But we can work together and end this."

His words sounded desperate as if this was this last chance, like he was clinging to hope that Himari would accept his hand.

"You say that as if I'm supposed to care about the innocent. I've killed many, and I don't regret it. I don't need your help." She says with an emotionless expression, her voice carrying a cold indifference.

"You care."

Himari's features twisted subtlely into confusion. Her guard faltered for just a moment.

"Or else, your heart wouldn't have jumped at the mention of your brother."

At first, she was annoyed at Elijah— at the way he saw through her so easily. But then, her composure crumbled as her vulnerability peeked through revealing the turmoil happening behind her eyes.

"I may not regret the lives I've taken," She began in a softer tone, looking away momentarily. "But that doesn't mean I want more deaths on my hands. Elijah, it's not about caring for the innocent; it's about me not wanting to become a pawn in your family's drama. Yes, Klaus is a monster, but so are the rest of you. You're a bystander in every cruel act Klaus has committed and the one time it's you with the knife in your back, now you decide to care. So why should I care your siblings are rotting in boxes as we speak? What makes you any different?"

Himari's trust was not something she could give away, especially to an Original. She folded her arms, challenging him.

"I'm not asking you to trust me blindly. I'm only asking you to give it— our alliance a chance. I'm aware my family hasn't had the greatest record and for that, I'm deeply ashamed. However, I do deny that we are all the same. I've spent centuries trying to protect those I could and while I've failed on many occasions, it's taught me how to be better for next time." Elijah spoke with sincerity. Himari noticed the passion in his voice and the intensity behind his eyes. "This is my chance to prove I'm different. I'm here imploring you to accept my offer but, in the end, it is your choice."

Himari wanted to believe him. There was just something making her hesitant to proceed with this deal. He seemed so hopeless. It honestly saddened her to see him this way— practically begging on his knees. But it was going to take more than a few solemn words to persuade her.

She picked up her dagger that had been sitting on the coffee table. "Give me your hand."

Elijah eyed her, confused.

"This is the only way I'm going to trust you."

He gave her his hand and immediately Himari cut his palm then hers, letting out a small hiss. She disregarded the blade and held his hand in hers as their blood dripped on the floor and mixed.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Himari asked, doubting him.

"Yes."

The witch didn't waste a second, closing her eyes, and began to chant a series of expressions that would bind Elijah to his promise. The spell itself was infused with dark magic that would painfully reveal to her if he betrayed her in any way along with forcing him to spill every detail he didn't inform her of tonight.

Elijah Mikaelson escaped one devil just to fall into the hands of another.

Himari Abe listened to her mother's advice once more—You must know your enemy—And that she would do.

AUTHOR's note.
hey, this is literally my first author's note since i've started this book (besides the intro one), and that's because i've had nothing to say until now.

first thing, i know you may confused about as to why character's like stefan, bonnie, damon, etc know of klaus existence so early on and that's because i'm simply not following the show verbatim. it's an odd choice, yes, but i think it's interesting to have the main characters know of klaus and leave elena completely clueless and her going to katherine for answers makes more sense now since she's not getting answers from anyone else. i also need elena clueless for her and himari's relationship!

second thing, himari's powers. She's a witch but with extra abilities due to her kitsune powers. it's confusing i know so let try to explain it for you. the necklace that himari wears is her connection to the dark dimension that was introduced in the chapter three. if that connection is severed in any way then her kitsune powers disappear. destroying the necklace is her biggest weakness but there is another way to weaken her which was introduced in this chapter and briefly mentioned in chapter one (the weird word junpei got confused with lmao). Now, like a wolf she can transform into fox at will but this doesn't hurt her at all and like a vampire she has the speed, hearing, healing, && strength. she hasn't displayed some of these abilities (speed and strength) for a reason! you'll know soon enough.

i think that's it... if you have any other questions i'll happily answer! thank you so much for your support on this book <3