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CHAPTER 01: CHERRY PIT

❝ you said we didn't need a condom. ❞

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THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL WHO WAS SCARED OF LIFE ITSELF. Her name was Enola Gilbert. She had a nasty habit of running away from the things she wanted most. But she should have known that there was no escaping Mystic Falls. For it was the epicenter of life. The town was so loud that she could not hear her own thoughts. And for some time, it felt good. Great, even. Until one day, when the whole world went silent and she was forced to see that she was just hiding away in a castle made of nothing but air. What made it worse was that she was locked up by her own restrained dreams. That was when she realized that the fear will never go away. So she stopped waiting for some kind of prince to save her and left her safety net behind once and for all.

Enola Gilbert became Enola Sommers. A girl who was both strong and soft. A girl who had once been known for her mousy brown hair with pink accents became a woman with chestnut brown hair that fell down her back in loose curls. She was not the same girl she once was. She had evolved into something far more greater in the two months she had been away from the dreadful town of Mystic falls. But there was still a lump in her throat the size of a cherry pit and she hasn't been able to swallow it since she was sixteen.

Enola remembered childhood like a play. Her only role was to always stand in the back. Nobody put her there. She just ended up existing behind all the lights and loudness. There was a heaviness to be good. To hold her breath because she would knock the house down if she wasn't careful. The ice was thin and she was terrified of breaking it. Like that time a bird flew into their kitchen window when she was ten and split open its stomach. She asked if they could nurse it back to health and her mother told her that love was going to be the thing that killed her. Her mother was right of course. She would hold onto love until her arms were torn from her chest and then she wouldn't reach for it again until years later.

"Third time in here this week,"

Enola Sommers and Hayley Marshall made the trip down to New Orleans. They rented an apartment just outside the quarter. Sometimes they would wander into the city for a nice warm meal to start their day. Enola started school next month while Hayley was still searching for family in the area. They needed all the calories they could get right now. Especially Enola who seemed to be throwing everything up lately.

"I'm obsessed with the gumbo, Jane-Anne." Enola told the bartender.

"The old ladies in the ninth ward say my sister, Sophie, bleeds a piece of her soul into every dish." Jane-Anne informed proudly.

"While I agree that the gumbo is delicious, I think that you should slow down." Hayley gave Enola a pointed look. "You have been throwing things up a lot lately. Should you really be eating a big bowl of gumbo right now?"

"Come on, Hales." Enola groaned. "I'm starving."

"Just be careful, Nola." Hayley warned. She let the silence settle in before looking around the bar for any prying ears. When she was sure no one was paying attention, she leaned forward to address the bartender who had been of great help as of lately. "I asked around the quarter for my family."

"And?" Jane-Anne quirked a curious brow as she worked on cleaning a dirty glass.

"Nothing. Zero." Hayley sighed in disappointment. "I can't find a single person who remembers them."

"Because, Hayley, people like you were run out of here years ago." Jane-Anne explained.

"What do you mean people like me?" Hayley inquired.

Jane-Anne hesitated for a moment before setting the newly cleaned glass down. She reached under the bar for a map of the area and briskly made her way around the counter to face them. She set the map on the bartop between the girls before pulling a pen from her apron and circling a specific spot on the map.

"In the bayou they call the werewolves roux-ga-roux. You head out there, you'll find what you're looking for." Jane-Anne promised, setting a friendly hand on Enola's shoulder. "But be careful. It's the last place you'd ever want to go."

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"Are you sure this is it?"

Enola drove down the gravel road as Hayley sat in the passenger seat with an air of uncertainty. The sky was now dark as they followed the map deep into the bayou. They pulled over on the side of the gravel road with matching frowns before holding up the map to double check if they were in the correct place.

"We're in the right place," Enola confirmed.

"There's nothing here," Hayley frowned, peering through the windshield.

"Can we go?" Enola asked hopefully.

"Not yet," Hayley denied, taking the map into her own hands to see if they were missing something.

"This is so creepy," Enola muttered, sinking down in her seat. They were surrounded by miles of woods with a thick fog that seemed to grow more intense the longer they sat there.

"Don't tell me you're scared," Hayley teased. "You literally have an entire arsenal in your trunk."

Before anything else could be said, the map suddenly burst into flames. They shrieked in horror as they hurried to put it out. With nothing else to do, Enola rolled down the windows to allow Hayley enough room to get rid of the piece of paper. The second it hit the ground, the fire seemed to go out. However, the map was unsalvageable. They sat there for a long moment to catch their breaths.

"Can we go now?" Enola pleaded.

"Yeah," Hayley finally agreed. "Let's go home."

Enola started the vehicle before throwing it into reverse. She didn't make it five feet seeing as it suddenly shut down on her. She frowned in confusion as her headlights burnt out and smoke began to spill from the hood. Her heartbeat slowly began to increase in panic. What the hell was happening right now?

"I thought you filled up the gas tank before we left," Hayley pointed out.

"I did," Enola confirmed. And it was true. They had just enough gas to get back home.

"Do you think it's the engine?" Hayley pondered.

"Trust me. There is nothing wrong with the engine." Enola scoffed.

"Just pop the hood. I'll check it out." Hayley rolled her eyes, pushing the passenger side door open. "But call a tow truck just in case."

Hayley climbed out of the vehicle as Enola popped the hood. As the smoke haphazardly clouded the air in front of her, she pulled the phone out of her pocket before dialing the nearest tow truck company. She cleared her throat and put on her best customer service voice.

"Hi. My car just broke down. I was wondering if you had anyone available for a tow—aah!" Enola was cut off by a sudden high pitch ringing from the other side of the phone. She immediately dropped the phone into the passenger seat as she scrambled out of the car. "Hales?"

When Enola received nothing but silence, she slowly made her way around the hood of the car. Her eyes widened and her face went pale at the sight of her friend laying unresponsive on the road. She immediately rushed over to check if there was a pulse. It was the last thing she felt before the ringing was back and everything was fading into black.

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Enola anxiously paced the lengths of the mausoleum. This can't be happening, she thought to herself, I can't be pregnant. But it was happening and she was pregnant. None of it made sense. Sure, she had been experiencing many symptoms of pregnancy. She had morning sickness, she was hungry all the time, she missed her period, and she was extremely tired. The thing that made no sense, however, was the fact that the last person she had sex with was Klaus.

"Bring her out!"

Enola didn't have any time to process this news. She was currently being held captive by the coven of angry French quarter witches who were out for blood. The only thing they had told her was that she was pregnant with the devils spawn before they proceeded to run a bunch of witchy tests on her. But the worst part was that they wouldn't let her see Hayley. She was so close to ripping their heads off when Sophie Deveraux demanded her presence.

Enola was escorted out of the mausoleum by a group of witches. They surrounded her so as to make sure she was unable to escape. Not that she would without Hayley who was the only reason she was currently cooperating. But the second she knew her friend was safe, it was game on. She didn't take well to being kidnapped. Just ask the other people who had tried that nonsense with her. They all ended up dead.

Enola had just finished plotting murder when they emerged from the mausoleum into Lafayette Cemetery. This was considered sacred ground to witches. Vampires needed an invitation to step past that gate. Which is why she was shocked to find who was standing alongside Sophie Deveraux in the middle of this holy ground. Elijah Mikaelson. He turned around at the sound of footsteps approaching. His eyes must've doubled in size at the sight of her. Though the shock didn't stop them from engulfing one another in a bone crushing hug.

"Please tell me you're here to save me," Enola pleaded.

"Of course," Elijah promised softly.

"My friend," Enola gasped as they pulled apart. "They separated us. I haven't seen her in days."

"Bring us the friend," Elijah commanded. "Then leave us."

Sophie scowled at the demand before storming away with the rest of the witches following close behind. Elijah swiftly guided Enola back into the mausoleum so they could talk in privacy. He honestly wasn't sure what to expect when he was told that his brother had impregnated a girl, but this certainly wasn't it. Sure, Niklaus openly claimed to be smitten with the doppelgänger, but she was far too stubborn to fall for his brother. And yet here they were. Sitting next to each other in a mausoleum as they worked through a surprising situation.

"So have they been holding you here against your will?" Elijah questioned.

"No. I've just decided that with all the people I've lost recently, I would benefit a lot from hanging out in cemeteries." Enola spoke sarcastically, earning a look from Elijah. "They lured us out into the bayou and grabbed us. Then they did all these weird, witchy tests."

The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention over to the entrance of the mausoleum. Hayley slowly emerged from the shadows, prompting Enola to stand up. The two collided in yet another bone crushing hug. It had been days since they had seen one another. The witches had refused to give them any sort of contact since they had kidnapped them.

"How the hell is this possible?" Hayley demanded as they pulled apart.

"You heard," Enola realized.

"The witches who were supposed to be guarding me like to gossip and I like to eavesdrop. Especially when they are gossiping about my best friend." Hayley claimed. The sound of someone clearing their throat drew their undivided attention to a man that was unfamiliar to the she wolf. "Who the hell are you?"

"Oh, right!" Enola cleared her throat. "Hayley meet Elijah, Elijah meet Hayley."

"Now that we have got introductions out of the way," Hayley began before repeating the question that was lingering at the forefront of all their brains. "How the hell is this possible? Vampires are dead. They can't have children."

"Maybe if you knew my brother's story, it might explain the situation better." Elijah cleared his throat.

"Do tell," Hayley ushered as they all took a seat on the stone bench. "It's not like we're going anywhere."

"In the beginning our family was human. A thousand years ago now." Elijah began the story. "Although our mother dabbled in the dark arts, we were largely just a family trying to survive at a time when it was quite difficult to do so. And for better or worse, we were happy. That is, however, until one night. Our youngest brother was killed by our village's greatest threats."

"The werewolves," Enola informed, remembering the story.

"Indeed," Elijah nodded, looking down sadly. "Our family was devastated. None more than Niklaus. Desperate to protect the rest of us, our father forced our mother to call upon her black magic in order to make us stronger. Thus the first vampires were born. But with this speed, this strength, this immortality came terrible hunger. No one felt this hunger more than Niklaus. When he killed for the first time, we knew what he truly was." His eyes slowly flickered back up. "He wasn't just a vampire."

"He was also a werewolf," Hayley realized. "That's how the werewolf curse works. It isn't activated until you take a human life."

"Niklaus was the result of an indiscretion our mother had hidden from us all. An affair with a werewolf." Elijah continued. "Infuriated by this betrayal, my father forced our mother to cast a spell that would suppress Klaus' werewolf side, denying him any connection with his true self."

"So," Enola began. "By breaking the curse, Klaus is now able to reproduce like a regular werewolf?" Elijah nodded. "That explains why he hasn't knocked anyone up in a thousand years."

"Your dad was also a dick," Hayley deadpanned. "But I already knew that. Your family is legendary. Your brother is a notorious psycho."

"Who I slept with," Enola sighed. "Classic me."

"I cannot excuse his behavior, but you must understand that our father hunted him—hunted us—for centuries." Elijah explained, standing to pace the mausoleum back and forth. "Every time we found a moment of happiness, we were forced to flee. Even here in New Orleans, where we were happiest of all. I thought that by defeating our father back in Mystic Falls, he would be happy." He turned to face Enola. "The only time he found a moment of solace, it was with you. I wonder if perhaps this baby might be a way to find redemption, a way to save him from himself."

"I'm glad you feel that way," Sophie hummed, slowly strolling into the room on her lonesome. "Because we need your help."

"What precisely is it that you want and what does it have to do with these young women?" Elijah questioned through narrowed eyes.

"We want to run Marcel and his vampires out of town. Klaus is the key. Everything Marcel knows about being a vampire he learned from Klaus." Sophie ranted. "Marcel trusts him, looks up to him. He won't see the betrayal coming."

"Yes, well, as I'm sure you're aware, my brother Niklaus doesn't like being told what to do." Elijah informed before glancing back to Enola. "And neither does the young woman you have captured, as I'm sure you have noticed.

"That's why I brought you here. Marcel drove the werewolves out of town decades ago. Do you really think he's going to welcome a hybrid baby to the neighborhood?" Sophie spat. "Convince Klaus to help us and no one has to know about the newest member of the Original family."

"That sounds remarkably like blackmail," Elijah chuckled in amusement.

"Like I said," Sophie hummed. "I'm desperate."

"Well, then," Elijah sighed after a long moment. "I have my work cut out for me, don't I?"

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Klaus followed Elijah through Lafayette Cemetery. He had just arrived in town two days ago after receiving word about a conspiracy against him. He was able to follow the whispers all the way to a French quarter witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux. However, before he could properly question her, she was executed in the middle of the quarter. So you could imagine his surprise when he entered a mausoleum to find Jane-Anne's sister waiting patiently.

"Sophie Deveraux," Klaus hummed, eyeing his brother with a frown. "What is this?"

"He is all yours," Elijah announced, giving Sophie a nod. "Proceed."

"You know you're famous in this town? Witches tell bedtime stories about the powerful vampire Klaus." Sophie began, earning a cocky smirk from Klaus himself. "We know Marcel was nothing but an orphaned street rat until you made him what he is. And now he is out of control. He does what he wants. He kills who he wants. I'm going to stop him. And you're going to help me."

"This is why you brought me here?" Klaus scoffed, turning to his brother in disbelief.

"Hear her out," Elijah pleaded.

"I don't need to hear her out. I assure you, love, there is not a thing on this earth that will matter enough for me to waste even thirty more seconds of my time." Klaus ranted. He stilled when his ears picked up an all too familiar heartbeat. He slowly turned around to find Enola standing at the entrance of the mausoleum with Hayley. His once arrogant demeanor disappeared as his eyes bounced around the room for answers. "What madness is this?"

"Marcel may be able to keep us from practicing real magic in this town, but as keepers of the balance we still know when nature has cooked up something new." Sophie explained. "For example; I have a special gift of sensing when a girl is pregnant."

"What are you saying?" Klaus narrowed his eyes.

"Niklaus," Elijah was smiling slightly as if this was the best news ever. "Enola is carrying your child."

"No. It's impossible." Klaus frantically shook his head in denial. "Vampires cannot procreate."

"But werewolves can. Magic made you a vampire, but you were born a werewolf." Sophie reminded. "You're the original hybrid, the first of your kind and this pregnancy is one of nature's loopholes."

"Enola, love," Klaus pleaded softly. "Say something. Please."

"It's true," Enola whispered. "I'm pregnant."

Enola refused to look at Klaus. She could feel his intense stare burning into her skull, but she was too afraid to face him. She still hadn't fully processed everything. She had just turned nineteen last month and school was starting in the fall. She couldn't help but view this pregnancy as an inconvenience. She wasn't ready to be a mother. Maybe it would be best for both of them if she got rid of it. Klaus probably wouldn't object to that idea. He has never mentioned anything about wanting a child. Then again, he never knew this was possible.

"My sister gave her life to perform the spell she needed to confirm the pregnancy. Because of Jane-Anne's sacrifice the lives of this girl and her baby are now controlled by us." Sophie informed. "If you don't take Marcel down, so help me Enola won't live long enough to see her first maternity dress."

"Wait, what?" Hayley gasped, taking a protective stance in front of Enola.

"Enough of this. If you want Marcel dead, he's dead." Elijah decided. "I'll do it myself."

"No. We can't. Not yet." Sophie shook her head. "We have a clear plan that we need to follow and there are rules."

"How dare you command me—threaten me with what you wrongfully perceive to be my weakness?" Klaus growled. He knew his words would hurt her, but if by pretending not to care would potentially save her life, he would gladly do it. "I won't hear any more lies—"

"Nik," Enola interrupted, voice struggling to stay steady. "Listen."

Klaus froze in place. His ears perked up as he slowly turned to the woman he loved. He was finally able to meet her eyes as he listened to the second heartbeat coming from her stomach. His heart ached and his eyes glistened. A child—his child—was inside of her. This coven of imbeciles threatened that. He wouldn't stand for it. So he turned to the witch of the hour with an unreadable expression.

"Now that your coven has drawn my ire," Klaus began. "I have a question; what prevents me from murdering you instead of cooperating?"

Sophie smiled almost as if she had been waiting for this question. Then without a word she made her way over to the small table off to the side. She lifted a creepy voodoo doll into her hands before pulling a needle out. She turned to face them with an almost gloating smile before using the sharp tip to prick her finger and draw blood.

"Ow!" Enola hissed. Klaus and Elijah whipped around to face Enola just as Hayley showcased the identical mark. "What the hell?"

"The spell my sister performed—the one that got her killed—it didn't just confirm the pregnancy. It linked me to Enola." Sophie announced. "So anything that happens to me, happens to her which means that her life is literally in my hands." Her eyes flicker around the room as if warning them. "If I have to hurt her or worse to ensure that I have your attention, I will."

"You would dare threaten an Original?" Elijah narrowed his eyes into dangerous slits.

"I have nothing to lose,"

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Klaus reluctantly agreed to the terms and conditions before relocating them all to a large plantation house on the edge of the city. This was going to be their home base for the next couple of months. At least until he was able to get rid of this Marcel character. In the meantime, Enola and Hayley were busy exploring the grounds.

"You don't have to stay," Enola said.

"I know," Hayley smiled softly. "I want to."

"Why?" Enola frowned in confusion.

"Because you're my best friend," Hayley reminded. "I go where you go."

"Thank you," Enola muttered. "For everything."

"I should be thanking you," Hayley pointed out. "You have helped me out a lot since we got here."

"Look at us getting all sentimental and shit," Enola grinned. "It's gross."

"It is," Hayley agreed.

The friends shared a laugh as they wandered into the living room. As Hayley wandered over to the large windows overlooking the lawn, Enola was busy pulling the white sheets off of the furniture. She let out a violent cough when she accidentally lifted dust particles in the air, prompting Elijah to rush into the room like a mother hen.

"Are you alright?" Elijah questioned frantically.

"Just dust," Enola wheezed.

"This place is ancient," Hayley noted.

"Yes. It should serve our purposes. It's a sanctuary for our business in the Quarter." Elijah explained, turning to Enola. "Right now you are the most important person in this family." She gave him a small smile that quickly faded. "So I am curious . . . in all this time, has anyone asked you how you feel?"

"About carrying the antichrist in my womb?" Enola quirked a brow.

"About being a mother," Elijah corrected with an eye roll.

"Hayley has and the answer is the same every time," Enola answered, earning a sad smile from the she wolf. "Every person I have ever loved has either left me or died. I'm scared that something bad will happen to me and this baby will have to grow up without a mother."

"I will always protect you," Elijah promised. "You have my word on that."

"And the noble Elijah always keeps his word," Klaus teased, leaning against the doorway.

"Is it done?" Elijah sighed.

"As a matter of fact, yes. Your underhand deal worked quite well. Marcel was only too happy to accept my blood, even as he accepted my heartfelt apologies. His man Thierry yet lives, and I remain a welcome guest in the French Quarter." Klaus informed. "My only concern now is this coven of impudent witches."

"We will deal with them," Elijah reassured before sparing Enola a quick glance. "But I do believe that you and the mother of your child are long overdue for a little chat."

"I'm going to go pick out my room," Hayley decided.

Enola and Klaus made awkward eye contact as Hayley and Elijah briskly left the room. He wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss or kill him. Both would be fairly understandable. They had been apart for only two months and when she was just about to get a sense of self, she was dragged back into the supernatural world against her will. She had every right to be upset with him.

He waited anxiously as she slowly made her way across the room until she stood in front of him. And then she slapped him across the face. He didn't have time to be shocked before she pressed her lips to his in a slow, passionate kiss that melted his cold heart. She slowly pulled away before pressing her forehead to his.

"You said we didn't need a condom," Enola muttered.

"I did," Klaus agreed softly.

"You said we would be fine," Enola continued.

"We will," Klaus swore, pressing a soft kiss to Enola's forehead. "I will make sure of it."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
you all have been patient for long enough. merry christmas. the entirety of act one has just been posted. i figured that you all deserve it for sticking around this long. i hope you all enjoy it. until next time, my loves!!!