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CHAPTER 44: THE PROPHECY

❝ every breath I take is yours. ❞

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ENOLA WAS TIRED OF BEING A PERSON. Not just tired of being the person she was, but any person at all. She liked watching people, but she doesn't like talking to them or dealing with them or pleasing them. She was tired of being a person. But unlike any normal person, she had the misfortune of heightened senses. She could feel things, see things, hear things. Which is how she found herself hanging over the balcony railing to address the street performers directly below as she bounced a wailing child on her hip.

"Hey! It is not jazz fest. Some of us have toddlers that need to sleep." Enola warned with a mean scowl.

The street performers acknowledged Enola for a moment before they continued playing their tunes. She growled in frustration and threw her head back. She was about to head back inside when the burning sensation of eyes on her drew her attention towards the balcony across the street. Her scowl somehow deepened at the sight of Hayley—who had taken up residence in the apartment building across the street with Jackson. They had surprisingly been worse than Klaus about this whole space thing. They had been persistent pests who were determined to get her to accept their apology. She wasn't having it.

Enola retreated back into the room with a heavy sigh. She rocked her daughter back and forth until the crying died down before laying the child down into the crib. Though the music outside did nothing to lull the infant to sleep, it certainly intensified the throbbing in her skull. She was just about to storm out there and give them hell when someone cleared their throat. She paused, slowly turning towards the doorway where her current favorite Mikaelson stood.

"You alright?" Freya hummed.

"Well, Hope was having a really nice nap until that stupid music started." Enola huffed. "How do you guys live with all of this noise?"

"You're just sensitive to it," Freya shrugged, walking further into the room and getting comfortable on the unmade bed. "You spent six months as a wolf in the bayou. You have been back a day. I think it is okay to take a moment to adjust."

"Yeah, and it just so happens that I am half vampire. Everything for me is heightened." Enola reminded. "It's not just the noise. I'm claustrophobic. My skin is crawling. I'm irritable. I'm hungry." She paused to take a deep breath before collapsing onto the bed next to her friend. "I wanted to be with Hope so badly and now that I am, I just feel off."

"I could probably help with that," Freya said.

"Really?" Enola gasped hopefully.

"Yeah, just a few herbs and your anxiety should go down." Freya nodded. "And when you are all better, you can help us deal with that stupid prophecy."

"What stupid prophecy?" Enola questioned, sitting up slightly in confusion.

"Klaus hasn't told you?" Freya frowned.

"He has been giving me space to adjust. And like you said; I have only been back a day." Enola sighed. "Now—this stupid prophecy."

"Right. Not so stupid. More so concerning." Freya nodded. Enola frowned. "They are calling it the downfall of the Mikaelsons."

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Meanwhile, Klaus and Elijah stood on opposite sides of the study discussing the not so stupid prophecy. The prophecy refers to a series of visions that predicts the imminent destruction of Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and their sirelines.

Drink deep but beware. What you broke is past repair. All your oaths you betray, your sacred vows you sever. And now you see that nothing lasts for always and forever. Three yet remain, two already crossed. Yet in one year's time, you'll all be lost. As your family is undone. You will see the beast that is to come. One by friend, one by foe, and one by family.

Things were not looking great for them when an old friend of theirs suddenly resurfaced. Lucien Castle. He had claims of a war between sirelines. He swore that he was there to protect his sire, but he also had reasons to kill the very blood that turned him. As did the people apart from other sirelines. So they needed to know who to trust.

"My memory of Lucien goes back to a time when our family was happy. Things were good. Or as good as they can be for vampires hiding in plain sight. Everyone in Marseilles was held in the thrall of the count's arrogant son Tristan and his sister—the lady Aurora. In hindsight, I could've done more to prevent what was to follow, but then, even an endless life cannot be played in reverse." Klaus sighed in an almost reminiscent manner. "Lucian asked me to pass a love note on to Aurora. Hoping to dissuade him, I told him that she would not accept his note. I thought the matter was settled. How could I tell him that she was already in love with another? Me. But Lucien was a hopeless romantic. In his desperation, he sought her out and found us together." He sighed, whirling around in the desk chair to face his brother. "Given the circumstances, Lucien qualifies as both friend and foe and according to the prophecy—"

"You are to beware of both friend and foe," Elijah finished. "But let us not forget family, Niklaus."

"Lucien is two out of the three. I say we put him down." Klaus announced. "Just like old times."

"Just like old times?" Elijah echoed in clear amusement. "Brother, I wonder who among our family do you suppose has the greatest predilection for betrayal?"

"Brother, please." Klaus sighed, not wanting to have this conversation again.

"Now, before we murder Lucian, there are certain questions that we need answered. Chiefly, what is he doing here?" Elijah continued. "And the wolf venom. Hayley bit him. Freya and I both saw it. How did it heal? And why would he lie to you, his sire? I'm afraid we might have to resort to something deliciously medieval here."

"I would be happy to help," A new voice spoke up from the doorway. Elijah and Klaus turned to find Enola. She had been particularly light on her feet since the six months she spent in the bayou. She had to be in order to avoid everything.

"Does this mean you have . . . forgiven me?" Klaus asked hesitantly.

"I will consider it . . . " Enola began. "When Hayley admits that she was wrong, Elijah starts thinking for himself, and hell freezes over."

Klaus knew better than to think it would be that easy. He wished there was something he could do, but knew it would only upset her more if he pushed her boundaries. So he would give her the space and time she needed until she was comfortable enough to talk to him. And who knows? Maybe this was the first step towards forgiveness. Them working together to eliminate the newest enemy. Though this time the line between friend, foe, and family seemed to blurr. They could be up against anyone.

"Well, you heard the lady!" Klaus chirped, turning to Elijah. "If we are to survive this, you need to stop letting your feelings for Hayley cloud your judgment."

"I—" Elijah paused, looking at Enola. "I am sorry." And he meant it. "You are my best friend. You are my sister. I should have respected your wishes."

"Yes, you should have." Enola nodded. "But I understand."

"You do?" Klaus and Elijah spoke in unison. They had two completely different tones. While Elijah was shocked, Klaus was more flabbergasted. How could Enola understand?

"You are in love," Enola noted. "But sometimes you have to figure out if that love is worth all the misery it brings."

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Enola stepped out of the elevator with a relieved sigh. She felt as if the undeniable tension was suffocating her. She was just glad the tedious journey was over with. She almost regretted joining the two brothers who had a very noticeable strain on their relationship. She suspected this had something to do with Klaus killing Gia who Elijah genuinely liked. She heard all about it from Freya who had no clue what to do. She figured Elijah would have gotten over it by now. She noticed how forgiving Elijah always was with Klaus. Their little squabbles never lasted long.

Enola followed Klaus and Elijah down the short hallway towards a set of double doors. She was unsurprised when Klaus and Elijah pushed the heavy doors open and strutted right inside without invitation. She toed the edge of the penthouse nervously. She had briefly been informed that there was some sort of boundary spell in place. It was set to keep people from opposing bloodlines out. People who were sired by Elijah, Rebekah, Kol, and even Finn wouldn't be able to enter. She supposed that since she wasn't a part of any of the bloodlines, the rules didn't apply to her seeing as she was easily able to slip inside without invitation.

"Lucien," Klaus sang. "Come out, come out, wherever you are."

"I'm afraid you missed him," A new voice spoke up. They turned towards the woman who had sauntered into the large living space. She had brown hair that fell down her back in waves along with mischievous brown eyes that watched their every move as if she knew what they were going to do before they did. And she probably did seeing as she was the one who had foretold the prophecy. What was her name again? Abby? Adele? Alexis? Alexis! It was Alexis.

"Where is he?" Klaus demanded.

"At the police station," Alexis answered. "A detective Kinney had some questions for him."

"And he allowed himself to be arrested?" Elijah scoffed in disbelief.

"He has nothing to hide," Alexis shrugged.

"Perfect," Enola smiled sweetly, getting comfortable on the sofa. "Then you wouldn't mind if we waited, would you?"

"Enola Mikaelson," Alexis noted. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Do I know you?" Enola quirked a brow.

"No. But I know you." Alexis hummed. "And I know what is in store for you and your family." She paused. "Would you like to see?"

"What's there to see?" Enola quirked a brow. "I already know my family is going to die."

Klaus couldn't stop the smile when Enola spoke. My family, she had said. His heart warmed at the thought of her still considering them family after everything they put her through. He was just glad that their bond wasn't completely shattered. He promised then and there that he would do anything he could to repair that bond completely.

"But there is more," Alexis grinned. "Things you need to know. Things you need to be prepared for."

"Bad things?" Enola hesitantly questioned.

"Wherever there is bad, there is also good." Alexis answered vaguely. "The choice is yours."

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Enola stood off to the side with Klaus and Elijah as Alexis prepared for the fortune telling session. Klaus and Elijah had already seen what the future had in store for them and it was not pretty. It only made Enola all the more anxious. She was tempted to back out. But she needed to be prepared for the war that was no doubt on the horizon.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Klaus spoke impatiently.

"Enola and I can start now," Alexis claimed, tossing the sage into a wooden bowl in the middle of the table. "But just us girls. I have already shown both of you what visions of yours I have managed to divine."

"The warning was for all of us—friend, foe, and family." Klaus reminded. "My lovely wife is currently all of the above."

"Please, Nik," Enola rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to kill you, you would know."

"Let her be, Niklaus." Elijah sighed. "This vision is for Enola—and Enola alone."

Klaus stayed quiet, knowing Elijah was right. Besides, his wife would never kill him. Right? If she were to kill anyone it would be the people who planned a kidnapping. He was only trying to get her back. How was he supposed to know that Dahlia was planning to double cross him before he could double cross her? Anyway—Elijah was right. This vision was for Enola. He needed to show his unwavering trust for her. Now more than ever. So he took a step back and let her do what she needed.

Enola was pleasantly surprised with the restraint being shown by Klaus. He was always the first to overstep boundaries. He must really love her if he is trusting her to do this without supervision. She wondered just how much she could get away with now that he was trying to play a supportive husband. She put that thought on hold as she made her way forward where the prophet was patiently waiting. She felt her hybrid fangs protrude before she sunk them into the tender flesh of this prophets neck.

Enola was immediately bombarded with images of the future. The first thing she saw was a page from a grimoire that had two pentacles drawn on it and a spell written around them. The vision flickered to a wrecked dinner table before moving onto an image of her covered in blood with her daughter bouncing on her hip. Before the worry could set in, an image of Cami in an interrogation room with a man who looked mildly dangerous appeared. It only lasted a couple of seconds before Marcel was showing up in a masquerade mask. She didn't get to question it either because the next image was suddenly appearing with the faint wailing of a child that was certainly not Hope. But if not Hope, then who?

Enola stumbled back into Klaus. He immediately steadied her with a look of concern. She couldn't seem to meet his eye as the remnants of the vision lingered in the forefront of her brain. She couldn't seem to wrap her head around what she had just seen. She couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't real. All she knew was that she couldn't just say it without starting something dangerous. Besides, there was still time to stop some of it from happening. If she avoided all sexual urges she had. Which seemed easy enough.

"Within the next year, everything you saw will come to pass." Alexis hummed.

"What is it?" Klaus questioned worriedly. "What did you see?"

"Cami! I think Cami is in trouble." Enola blurted. "And I also saw Marcel. In a masquerade mask. At some sort of ball."

Enola panicked. She couldn't tell them everything she had seen. She knew that she would have to eventually. But they had bigger concerns. Like the mystery guy who Cami was currently interrogating. And Marcel! Why was he popping up in her vision? It was time to find out.

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Cami and Vincent sat in an interrogation room across from Lucien. They swore he was guilty for the recent string of murders that have plagued the streets of New Orleans. They had started the moment he set foot into town. They were certain he was the guilty party. All they needed was to keep him talking and that plan seemed to be going fairly well.

"Why should I undermine my own safety by leaving behind a trail of bodies? Why commit myself to these preposterous murders?" Lucien scoffed. "Unlike my enemies, I have nothing to gain."

"Your enemies?" Cami inquired. "You really think someone is trying to frame you for this? Who?"

"Now isn't that the question we should be asking? And how fortunate it is one I can answer." Lucien claimed.

The conversation was interrupted when the door to the interrogation room swung open to reveal one pissed off Klaus Mikaelson. He took up most of the doorway, so no one could see his wife lingering behind him. They had parted ways with Elijah who decided to pay Marcel a visit. The image of him in one of the visions was enough to raise some red flags. They needed to know where he stood. Was he friend, foe, or family?

"I'd have thought your time with me would inspire a more careful selection of company you keep," Klaus scolded Cami. "We are leaving."

"Klaus, he said he knows who the killer is." Cami claimed, quickly rising to her feet to protest.

"Whatever Lucien has said to you today has most certainly been a lie," Klaus scowled.

"Oh, come on, Nik! Why should I lie." Lucien whined like the man child he is.

"For the same reasons you lied about avoiding a werewolf bite When both Elijah and Freya saw it with their own eyes," Klaus deadpanned. "This ends now."

"Then you are giving Tristan the victory he seeks," Lucien announced. "He is the guilty one."

Klaus froze in place, catching Enola off guard. She shouldered past him to address the occupants of the room. Her eyes flickered from Cami to Vincent to Lucien before finally landing back on Cami who stared at her with wide eyes. She had almost forgotten that she had yet to inform everyone of her return. It had been a day and she had a lot on her mind.

"Cami, Vincent," Enola hummed. "Why don't we give them a moment alone?"

"You are Enola," Lucien gasped in awe, sitting up as if starstruck. "I think you should say. Considering you are a Mikaelson, this is something you should be aware of as well."

"What game are you playing?" Klaus growled, taking a protective stance in front of his wife.

"No games," Lucien reassured. "Just truths."

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Enola was forced to sit and listen to Klaus and Lucien bicker over events of the past. Their little feud began over nine hundred years ago when they both fell in love with the same girl. Aurora. Enola stopped listening after that. It was always the same old story. Two men, one woman. Could it get any more unoriginal than that? She didn't think so. Besides, why would she want to hear stories about her husband being in love with another woman. Especially one as vile sounding as this. And don't get her started on Tristan. He went to insane lengths to stop anyone from even looking at his dear sister.

"This Aurora girl sounds like a bitch," Enola sighed.

"If you think Aurora sounds like a bitch, you should meet Tristan." Lucien huffed. "He thinks he is better than everyone just because he was born a noble and has had everything handed to him on a silver platter."

"Whatever Tristan's role in this charade may be, have no fear, I will discover it." Klaus announced, eyeing Lucien like a pest that he needed to be rid of. "First, I am going to drain you of vervain. Then, I am going to ask you a few questions. And once you have answered, if I am feeling sentimental, perhaps I will grant you a painless death."

"Please. Enough posturing." Lucien scoffed. "Ask me anything you want. As I have said, I am only here to protect you."

"And yet you lied about your werewolf bite. Why?" Klaus demanded.

"I simply didn't want to bother you. Don't you have greater concerns than a little wolf bite I can cure on my own?" Lucien blurted. Klaus paused. Enola blinked. When he was certain he had their attention, he threw the evidence folder back onto the table and continued. "Let's discuss these absurd murders." He began to spread the crime scene photos across the table for them to see. "If it were true that I was scattering bodies about and scarring up faces, then you would be right to assume I am mentally unstable—I'm not, by the way . . . but who would benefit most from you thinking that I am?"

"Tristan?" Enola questioned in uncertainty.

"Tristan!" Lucien shouted, pointing at Enola proudly before turning back to Klaus. "Because if you don't trust me, if you kill me and you are forced to stand alone, wouldn't that benefit him?"

"It is a very interesting theory," Klaus nodded, slowly rounding the table to meet Lucien half way. "Only I do not need your protection. I am quite capable of protecting myself."

"Undoubtedly," Lucien agreed. "But who looks after your family, your friends—you wife?"

"I can protect my wife," Klaus scowled.

"You couldn't protect her from dear Aunt Dahlia when she was cursed as a werewolf for six months," Lucien noted.

Enola released a low whistle when Klaus went to attack Lucien. However, they were interrupted when the interrogation room was pushed open to reveal a detective. This must have been the man who arrested Lucien. Detective William Kinney.

"What the hell are you two doing in here?" Detective Kinney questioned in bewilderment.

"We are Mr. Castle's legal consultants here to ensure justice is served," Enola lied smoothly.

"Well, your client isn't going to need you today." Detective Kinney informed. "We found another body. This one is fresh." His eyes fell upon the smug bastard seated at the table. "It couldn't have been you." Cami and Vincent took their places on either side of him with annoyed expressions. "You are free to go, Mister Castle. Don't leave town."

"And, like a Phoenix, I rise." Lucien grinned, climbing to his feet before sliding his jacket over his shoulders. "Do think about what I said, Nik."

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Enola stepped out onto the streets of New Orleans to find Klaus waiting. His eyes seemed to light up at the sight of her. He had enjoyed their day together. It was just like old times when they would team up to take down their common enemies. Only this time she had the potential of being one of his enemies. But he couldn't find it in himself to care. He would gladly die if it meant earning her forgiveness.

"For the record, Vincent thinks you should kill him." Enola informed. "But you can't execute someone without, you know, due process."

"Are we really going to have a legal debate about this?" Klaus huffed.

"He said something about rising like a Phoenix," Enola began carefully. "What did that mean?"

"Lucien has a taste for hyperbole," Klaus chuckled. "Although in this case, he is rather on point."

Klaus continued to tell Enola the story. How Lucien was blamed for having an affair with Aurora when it was actually him. How Tristan beat Lucien for said affair with Aurora. How Lucien somehow ingested some of his vampire blood and healed the wounds caused by Tristan. How Lucien attacked Tristan in a fit of rage and died.

"He is the first person you turned," Enola realized. "Is that why it is so hard for you? Because he is the first of your sireline?" Klaus went to respond only to catch sight of Lucien exiting the police station. He went to follow his enemy only to get held back by a hand wrapping around his wrist. "Nik, if he is not lying, if he is telling the truth, if he is here to help you, you don't have to kill him."

"Little monster, you are so eager to keep me from a mistake I might regret." Klaus breathed. "Why?"

"Because that is what you do when you love someone," Enola shrugged.

"I thought I lost you for good," Klaus whispered.

"Not yet," Enola said. "You still have time to earn my forgiveness. Besides, I am immortal. You have all the time in the world to make it up to me." She paused. "Fact of the matter is, we can't kill Lucien just yet. Whether he really wants to help you or is up to something, we need him alive to figure that out."

"What would I do without your helpful advice," Klaus grinned.

"Turn to Elijah," Enola scoffed. "You don't actually need me."

"On the contrary, my love." Klaus smiled softly. "Every breath I take is yours."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
thank you so much for reading this chapter. there is a hefty amount of enola and klaus content. i hope you all enjoyed it. until next time, my loves!!!