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CHAPTER 04: TO BE HUMAN

❝ she is a tough one just like her mom. ❞

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ENOLA IS SLOWLY LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN. What it means to make mistakes and learn from them. What it means to be both happy and sad at the same time. She is slowly learning how to do the damn work. How to stop running from what is heavy and uncomfortable in her life. How to take the easy route less and less. How to grow herself, how to be a better person.

Enola is slowly learning that there is a difference between being human and being a mother. Her life was no longer about her. She never thought it was. Because she had spent her entire life looking out for the people she loved. This would be no different. Except it was. She wasn't protecting this child because it was a necessity. She was protecting this child because it was hers. She had considered the possibility that it was selfish. But they were just her maternal instincts. Like when she devised a plan to kill Kol just to keep her brother safe, she would burn cities to keep her daughter safe. Yes. There is a difference between being human and being a mother.

"I feel great,"

It was a lie. Enola sat on the couch beside Hayley and across from Agnes as Rebekah sat not too far away trying to track down Elijah to care about what was being said. She would do anything to make sure her child was healthy. But the circumstances were a little different for her. Especially considering werewolves were not allowed in the Quarter and she wouldn't be going anywhere without Hayley.

"You are overdue for a checkup," Agnes spoke sternly.

"What am I going to do—pop in the quarter for a quick ultrasound?" Enola scoffed. "A pregnant doppelgänger escorted by a witch and a werewolf—nothing to see here!"

"If you really don't want to draw any unwanted attention, I would suggest leaving your guard dog at home." Agnes announced, sending Hayley a pointed look.

"Not a chance," Hayley scoffed. "I don't trust you."

"It doesn't matter," Enola grumbled. "I'm not going."

"A lot of women would kill to have a child," Rebekah muttered. "Strikes me as odd that you're not taking better care of yours."

"This isn't exactly a normal pregnancy, Bex." Enola pointed out. "I don't get to go shopping for cute baby clothes or decorate a nursery or—like I said—pop into the quarter for a quick ultrasound."

"I know a doctor out in the bayou off the beaten path," Agnes informed. "Now, I took the liberty of making an appointment for you tonight after hours. Just us. You don't have anything to worry about."

"Fine," Enola reluctantly agreed. "But Hayley is going."

"I'll see you out," Hayley grinned smugly.

Enola watched as Hayley guided Agnes out of the room as Klaus entered. He stopped to give her a quick kiss before turning towards his sister who was still typing away on the laptop trying to find something that was nearly impossible.

"Please, sister, tell me you're not still at it with the internet search." Klaus groaned. "How does one begin anyway? Just type in anonymous attic?"

"Someone has to find Elijah—even if I have to search every bloody attic in New Orleans." Rebekah huffed.

"Like looking for a needle in a rather large pile of needles," Klaus muttered.

"I remember details about the attic Marcel took me to," Rebekah informed. "There were shutters on the windows behind Elijah's coffin."

"Well, that should narrow it down immensely. Myself—I prefer actual strategy. As opposed to mind-numbing labor." Klaus chirped. "Marcel's delay in returning our brother makes me suspect he's no longer in charge of the situation. If Davina's loyalty to Marcel is strained, perhaps the young witch will be open to discussing a new alliance."

"As usual, your power grabs are more important than rescuing your brother." Rebekah scoffed in disbelief.

"I prefer to think of it as killing two birds with one stone," Klaus shrugged. "Rob Marcel of his secret weapon, bring our brother home."

"Right, well, good luck." Enola muttered, standing to her feet. "Hayley and I are going to this bayou baby doctor tonight. Don't wait up."

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Enola was not at all impressed with the small doctors office. She had to stop herself from making a rude comment. She just wanted to get out of there. So she laid back on the examination table with her shirt pulled up to reveal a barely visible baby bump. Hayley stood on her left with Dr. Paige on her right. Agnes had decided to hang back in the waiting room which made this situation a lot more sketchier than it was before.

"Your baby's heart rate is perfect," Dr. Paige smiled kindly.

"I knew it," Hayley grinned. "She is a tough one just like her mom."

"Damn right," Enola smirked, sitting up to wipe the ultrasound gel off of her stomach as she gave the doctor a quick glance. "We're pretty much done here, right?"

"Your blood pressure's a bit high," Dr. Paige noted. "I've got something for that. Hang tight."

Enola climbed off the examination table as the doctor left the room. She pulled her gray cardigan back over her shoulders before her phone buzzed in the pocket. She pulled her phone out in the open to find a text lighting up her screen.

SEXY BEX
where are you?

LITTLE DEVIL
baby bayou doctor

Enola pocketed her phone as soon as an animalistic growl cut through the air. She slowly sauntered over to the window, eyes scanning the tree line for any sign that they weren't alone. However, there were no rustling bushes. There were headlights fast approaching the clinic in a red pick up truck. She found this strange because the clinic was technically supposed to be closed. The only reason they got in was because Agnes pulled a couple strings.

"Someone is here," Enola muttered.

"What?" Hayley frowned.

Hayley rushed toward Enola. They peered out the window just as the truck parked out front. Their attention, however, was quickly stolen by the doctor who was reentering the room with two cups and a pill bottle. She made her way towards the counter with her back to them, giving them the time to access the situation. They peeked through the door the doctor had left open to find Agnes in a hushed conversation with three men. They share a look, knowing that something was definitely wrong by now.

"You know," Enola cleared her throat. "I'm actually not that good with pills."

"Well, me either, truth be told." Dr. Paige chuckled.

Enola peered back into the waiting room just in time to catch the stares coming from Agnes and the unfamiliar men. She was so distracted that she didn't notice what Dr. Paige was actually up to until Hayley was shoving her out of the way. She caught herself on the metal examination table to find Dr. Paige and Hayley fighting over a loaded syringe. Her eyes instinctively flickered over to the open door to find the three men who had just been entertaining Agnes rushing towards them. But she was one step ahead of them. She used her body weight to slam the door shut before quickly locking it as Hayley snapped the doctor's neck.

"What do we do?" Hayley panicked.

"The window!" Enola pointed.

Enola rushed over to the window and tried to pry in open only for it to be rusted shut. Thankfully Hayley had enhanced strength that helped pull the window open. Hayley made sure Enola was safely out before following close behind. They darted across the open field before ducking into the forest. It was something straight out of a horror film. The final girl escapes the masked killer and hides in the woods because it is better than the abandoned building she had stupidly decided to explore with all of her friends who are now dead.

They ducked behind a large oak tree. They watched with bated breath as their assailants breezed right past them. With their backs to them, Hayley striked. She jumped out into the open and snapped a neck before moving onto the others. She was so preoccupied with the men in front of her, she failed to notice one sneaking up behind her. Thankfully she had a friend like Enola who knocked her attacker out with a log to the back of the head before they could shoot her in the heart with a crossbow. They stood back to back as another man with a crossbow stepped out of the woodworks. However, before he could shoot either of them, his heart was ripped right out of his chest. They relaxed as their savior stepped forward.

"I have to say I'm impressed," Rebekah hummed, eyeing the dead bodies that surrounded them.

"How did you find us?" Enola wondered, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Your text got me halfway, vampire hearing did the rest." Rebekah shrugged. "Who are they?"

"Witches, warlocks, whatever." Hayley shrugged.

"There are more of them," Rebekah realized, spotting flashlights in the distance. "Run!"

Rebekah was immediately shot in the heart with an arrow, followed by Hayley getting shot in the stomach. Enola turned to run considering she was the only one without the ability to heal. However, before she could get far, an arrow lodged itself in her shoulder blade. She cried out in agony as she dropped to the ground. The last thing she remembers in the animalistic growl and the amber eyes before everything faded into blackness.

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Enola awoke with a splitting headache. She slowly peeled her eyes open to find a blurry figure above her. She blinked long and hard before her eyes adjusted. She laid under the dark sky covered in dirt and blood with a concerned Hayley kneeling beside her. She grunted as she attempted to sit up. Attempted.

"Easy," Hayley warned.

"Where are we?" Enola muttered, looking around.

"I don't know," Hayley answered honestly.

"Where is Rebekah," Enola questioned.

"I don't know," Hayley repeated.

"Do you know anything?" Enola frowned.

"I know that we are alive," Hayley pointed out. "And I know that we can't be too far from the road."

Enola stumbled right into Hayley. The werewolf steadied the doppelgänger. They leaned on one another as they staggered through the wooded terrain for their exit. They broke through the tree line, finding themselves back where they started; at the clinic. Thankfully instead of more enemies rushing at them, it was their two allies

"What happened?" Klaus demanded, whisking Enola away from Hayley. "Tell me what happened."

"We were attacked," Enola answered, her eyes widening at the realization.

"Are you okay?" Klaus immediately questioned.

"I was shot with an arrow," Enola deadpanned.

"You have completely healed," Klaus realized, checking every inch of Enola. "There is not a scratch on you."

"Leave her alone," Rebekah glared, ushering Klaus back.

"Come on," Hayley muttered, assisting Enola over to the stairs so they could sit down.

"It's the baby, the vampire blood, Klaus' blood in your system. It can heal any wound. Your own child healed you." Rebekah realized, making Klaus smile at the thought. "How did you escape? The both of you were outnumbered, unarmed. Those men were ripped to shreds."

"I think it was the wolf," Hayley said.

"I think it was trying to protect us," Enola agreed.

"The witches were supposed to protect you," Klaus growled in frustration. "When I get my hands on Sophie Deveraux—"

"It wasn't Sophie," Hayley shook her head. "It was Agnes."

"Fine. Agnes. Sophie. It's all the same to me." Klaus grumbled. "I'll slaughter the lot of them."

"Not if Elijah gets there first," Rebekah chirped.

"Elijah?" Enola echoed in excitement. Klaus scowled in jealousy.

"Did you find him?" Hayley inquired hopefully.

"He has been in touch and he has a plan," Rebekah informed, giving Enola a pointed look. "All he asks is that we take care of you."

Enola is slowly learning a lot of things. But most of all, she is slowly learning how to just be in this moment. How to exist. How to understand that she cannot control life, that she can only experience it in both its light and its dark stages. She is slowly learning how to laugh and cry and feel through it all, how to welcome the confusion and the joy that comes with loving and living and breaking. She is slowly learning to accept where she is.

"Can we go home now?" Enola yawned.

Klaus nodded with a soft smile as Enola stood. Her head spun as she attempted to take a step forward. Thankfully before she could hit the ground, he was there to catch her. He wrapped a secure arm around her shoulders before scooping her up into his arms bridal style. He looked down at her with a soft smile as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I've got you, little monster." Klaus promised as they walked off into the sunset. "I've got you."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
i really did not like how bitter rebekah was in the beginning. i know that a lot of women would kill to be mothers and unfortunately cannot. but a lot of women also do not want children and that is perfectly fine. it is unfair to throw something like that at someone who had not planned for it. anywhore,, thank you for reading. until next time, my loves!!!