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CHAPTER 37: A THOUSAND WRETCHED TORMENTS

❝ she spouts off some magical diagnosis and we are all supposed to applaud? ❞

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A WOMAN MUST CONTINUALLY WATCH HERSELF. She is almost continually accompanied by her own image of herself. Whilst she is walking across a room or whilst she is weeping at the death of her father, she can scarcely avoid envisaging herself walking or weeping.

From earliest childhood, she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually. And so she comes to consider the surveyor and the surveyed within her as the two constituent yet always distinct elements of her identity as a woman. She has to survey everything that she is and everything that she does because of how she appears to men is of crucial importance for what is normally thought of as the success of her life. Her own sense of being in herself is supplanted by a sense of being appreciated as herself by another.

One might simplify this by saying: men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relations between women and themselves. The surveyor of women in herself is male: the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object—and most particularly an object of vision; a sight.

Enola realized that this must have been how Freya thought. She had spent her whole life being treated like an object. From men. From women. From people who claimed to love her. She lived her entire life as the surveyed female. It sounded absolutely terrible. A fate no one should ever have to suffer through.

"There you are," Klaus groaned. "Finally."

"I was delayed," Elijah informed, strutting into the dining room where Klaus waited with Enola.

"Our guest of honor will be here momentarily," Klaus informed with a smug smile.

"Strange," Elijah drawled. "The house is conspicuously absent of our lupine guests. I do hope it wasn't on my account."

"I sent the werewolves off to spend the day in the bayou to test the limits of their new abilities," Enola explained shortly.

"And the child?" Elijah wondered. "Where is Hope?"

"Napping upstairs," Enola hummed.

"Which should give us just enough time to deal with our family business—and by family business, I mean the woman who claims to be our sister." Klaus informed.

"Niklaus, Rebekah's situation has taken a turn." Elijah announced. "We may need Freya's assistance, so whatever you are planning here—don't."

"All I am planning is a simple chat with a long lost relative," Klaus smiled innocently. "You yourself said to hear her out."

"And you yourself said that would be idiocy," Elijah shot back.

"Did I?" Klaus hummed, tilting his head to the side in mock confusion.

"Well, that does sound like you." Enola sighed

"Regardless, on the off chance Freya has some information that could protect our daughter, I prefer she share it on our terms." Klaus grinned. "Ah, I think I hear her now." He whirled around just as a tall blonde strutted into the dinning room with a soft smile. "Sister! Come in. Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," Freya smiled softly, eyes flickering around the room until they landed on Enola. "You must be my sister in law. It's nice to finally meet the woman who tamed the wild beast that is Niklaus."

"I would hardly call Nik tamed," Enola chuckled in amusement. "In fact, when you look up the word mongrel—a picture of him will probably pop up."

"I think you and I are going to get along great," Freya grinned. "I can't wait to get to know you more."

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Enola and Elijah watched Klaus smile at Freya. He handed her some sort of witch tool crafted from willow wood and twisted with tread with interwoven stones, bones and other unknown items. She looked down at it in awe, missing the mischievous glint in his eyes. Of course he didn't give it to her out of the kindness of his heart. He was scheming again.

"This is a witch hoop—it is Danish." Freya announced. "Is it from when you all lived in Copenhagen in the 1500s?"

"Quite the eye," Klaus praised.

"Forgive me, are we here to discuss family heirlooms or do we have more pressing concerns?" Elijah deadpanned, eye twitching in frustration.

"Please excuse my brother's lack of decorum," Klaus apologized. "He has been in a foul mood as of late."

"I wonder who's fault that is?" Enola shot back. "But in any case, he also happens to be right." She turned to Freya with a serious look. "Tell us about Dahlia."

Enola was the one who sent Freya the dinner invite. She needed to know more about this deal Esther made with Dahlia. She needed to know how to protect her daughter from an incoming threat. She needed to know just who they were up against. So she took a seat at the dinner table with everyone following suit. Because at the end of the day, all any of them wanted to do was to protect their family.

"The first thing you should know is that Dahlia is the most powerful witch I have ever seen. She craves more power still. Right now she is like me, limited to one year of life in a century. But she wants to be free of that restriction to gain true immortality. That is why she will come here, drawn by your daughter, to take the child's power for herself." Freya explained. "And she will kill anyone who would defy her."

"And yet you would defy her," Elijah pointed out.

"I don't have a choice. She will never let me be free." Freya sighed. "My one chance is to align with you and kill her."

"Well, now that we are all suitably motivated, let's talk specifics." Klaus grinned, leaning back in his seat.

"For you to understand, I need to start from the beginning." Freya informed.

"The floor is yours," Enola motioned.

"After taking me from my family, Dahlia used me to forge a new brand of connective magic. One that augmented my power even as it allowed her to draw from me. Once we were bonded, Dahlia became unstoppable. She wasted no time proving her might." Freya said. "The chief of a nearby village threatened to run us off, accusing Dahlia of witchcraft. She decided to make an example out of the entire encampment. Men, women, children. She killed them all with a wave of her hand. That was my first inkling of the power that Dahlia had. Over the course of a thousand years, she has only grown stronger." Her eyes flicker between Enola and Klaus apologetically. "And she will bring all her power to bear against you when she comes for your child."

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Rebekah had called. She had learned horrible things about the body she currently inhabited and could not wait to get out of it. But she still had things to do before then. Plus it didn't help that the owner of said body was constantly trying to take control. She was fighting as hard as she could—but Eva Sinclair was strong. It was only a matter of time before she lost control of the body indefinitely.

"Your stories are fascinating. And Dahlia does indeed sound dreadful." Klaus nodded. "But we all have killed our fair share of evil witches."

"Not like her," Freya shook her head.

"What are her weaknesses?" Elijah inquired.

"If she has any," Enola muttered.

"She is paranoid, obsessed with power." Freya informed. "She hungers constantly for what has been denied her, be it love or revenge."

"Yes, I think I am familiar with the type." Elijah nodded, shooting Klaus a not so subtle look.

"When I was a child, she would tell me tales of her own youth. Being victimized by those stronger than her. Dahlia vowed never to be weak again. She bargained for the first born of Esther's bloodline, intending to raise us in her own image, forming a coven of her own from which she could draw endless power." Freya whispered sadly. "The plan was foiled the day she learned that Esther had ended her bloodline by turning her children into vampires. And so the burden fell to me. Dahlia demanded I bear the firstborn that would add to her power. But I would not allow a child of mine to live as I did. As a slave. As an object." A single tear fell down her cheek. "So I vowed never to love. Never to have a child of my own. Of course the more I resisted, the harder Dahlia fought to control me. Until the day when she took the last of what little freedom I had left—and so we slept. Our magic accrued over time, until we woke, filled with immense power and allowed to live a single year of life. That has been the existence I have suffered for the last ten centuries."

"It is quite the ordeal, isn't it?" Klaus chuckled in amusement. "But it does beg the question; why not end yourself?"

"Nik—"

"A high enough bridge, a tight enough noose." Klaus continued. "You must have considered it."

"Long ago, I did consider it." Freya confessed. "But Dahlia would never give me even that freedom. I would later learn the spell made me like her. Immortal and impervious to harm." She wiped the fresh set of tears from her rosy cheeks. "So you see, I am like you. A creature of great power, cursed for all time."

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Rebekah showed up to the compound a couple hours late with no recollection of the missing time. She paced the study back and forth as she tried to remember what she had done that day. She remembered meeting with Vincent Griffith and then talking to Davina Claire. And then everything just goes blank.

"It was this witch. Eva." Rebekah ranted. "The nasty little cow is inside me, trying to bust her way out."

"Freya is waiting downstairs," Elijah pointed out. "Perhaps we—"

"Have you lost your mind?" Klaus scoffed in absolute disbelief. "Tell me we are not considering opening our sister's head to someone we barely know."

"Nik, she is our sister for god's sake!" Rebekah groaned. "I have known her since she saved me from the Fauline Cottage."

"An act no doubt meant to secure your trust, perhaps for this very moment to strike when we are vulnerable." Klaus ranted. "No. We have no way to prove that anything she said today is true."

"Enola, would you please talk some sense into your husband?" Elijah sighed.

"Nik, honey, I understand your concern and I agree that we should be cautious." Enola nodded. "But either we leave Rebekah to suffer or we place our faith in Freya."

Klaus stared at Enola for a long moment. He hated that look she gave him. He hated that no matter how hard he tried to stand his ground all it took was a small smile from her and he was giving in. And the worst part was that everyone knew it except for her.

"Fine," Klaus grunted. Elijah did not hesitate to go fetch Freya. It only took a few moments for him to return with her in tow.

"Rebekah," Freya smiled excitedly, pulling Rebekah into a tight hug. "It's good to see you again."

"And you," Rebekah grinned, pulling Freya down onto the couch. "Though I would prefer better circumstances."

"You needn't worry. Elijah explained the problem on the way up and I can help." Freya explained.

"Rather confident, are we?" Klaus muttered, pouring himself a glass of scotch near the desk.

"The spirit of the host body is powerful, but I can cast a spell." Freya reassured, ignoring Klaus completely. "Put you in a deep sleep and then suppress this other essence. You will be just fine."

"Lovely. When do we start?" Rebekah nodded.

"Oh, you have gotta be kidding me." Klaus groaned loudly.

"Nik," Enola huffed.

"What?" Klaus scoffed. "She spouts off some magical diagnosis and we are all supposed to applaud?"

"She is just trying to help," Enola argued.

"Yes, but for the sake of keeping our options open, why not write down your spells and incantations?" Klaus inquired. "That way, we can have them double checked by an impartial third party—say Davina! She would love to prove me wrong."

"I doubt she would understand my magic, let alone have the power to execute it." Freya shrugged.

"Oh, so you are our only hope then." Klaus narrowed his eyes. "Seems rather convenient, doesn't it?"

"I knew it would be difficult to win your trust, Niklaus. Your reputation precedes you." Freya nodded. She slowly rose from the couch to address her arch nemesis head on. "But if we are to face Dahlia together, you will have to trust me. Given the peril that Rebekah now faces, are you truly incapable of giving me even a chance to prove myself?" Klaus rolled his eyes and turned away. "I know I appear as an outsider, but I have dreamt of you all for a thousand years. Elijah, when you were in Esther's womb, she would ask me to sing to you. I would feel her belly as I did. How you would kick. She would say it was as if Thor himself had raised his hammer—"

"And summoned thunder and lightning," Elijah finished softly. "Mother rarely mentioned you. When she did, she would say how enchanted you were by the prospect of my birth."

"How I wanted more brothers and a sister. More than anything." Freya confessed. "But between Esther and Dahlia, that wish was taken from me. I was ruined by those who raised me. If nothing else, at least we have that in common." She looked down at her feet. "There is nothing that can replace what was taken from us, but I hope we can make something better in its place. All you have to do is trust me."

Enola was starting to feel rather out of place when Klaus suddenly moved forward with enhanced speed just to snap Freya's fragile neck. She wished she could say she was surprised, but he was being a little too quiet in his little corner. It was only a matter of time before he did something rash.

"Nik!" Rebekah snapped. Elijah scowled. Enola sighed.

"Well, that's enough of that, don't you think?" Klaus hummed, dropping Freya's unconscious form to the ground. "Right. Now we can have a proper family meeting."

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"Was that absolutely necessary?"

Rebekah looked down at Freya with a deep frown. She wanted to trust her sister more than anything. She had always been that way. Far too trusting. It had been her downfall on many occasions. But she couldn't help it. She wanted to trust and she wanted to love. She knew it was childish, but she would rather love too much than not at all.

"Oh, please." Klaus rolled his eyes. "She was insufferable."

"That was ridiculous," Elijah spat. "Even for you."

"That poor girl," Enola frowned sympathetically.

"We have only just met her. Let's not get sentimental." Klaus scoffed. "Besides, if she was telling the truth about being immortal, she will awaken shortly. If she was lying, good riddance."

"Yes, of course, if she wakes, she will be willing to help us with our unbridled enthusiasm." Elijah shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"She played you all for fools. Can you not see that?" Klaus tried to reason. "She spins a sad yarn about a small child taken by an evil witch and you all fall over yourselves to mend what is broken."

"How can you be so certain?" Rebekah frowned.

"Simple. It is exactly what I would do." Klaus shrugged.

"We can't all be as paranoid as you," Enola shot back.

"But you could be a little more cautious," Klaus pointed out. "She is obviously playing us. My only question now is what is in it for her?"

"Whatever the truth may be, she is in no position to help us now." Elijah sighed in disappointment.

"Well, then we should try Marcel. Perhaps he has had luck on his end." Rebekah announced, shooting Klaus a dirty look. "Surely he has put in a better effort."

Rebekah stormed out of the room with Elijah following closely behind. Enola turned to Klaus with a raised eyebrow. She silently scolded him for a long moment and he let her. She was going to have to get used to his mini temper tantrums sooner or later. They are married now. It's not like she's going anywhere.

"You know I am right, little monster." Klaus sighed. "We cannot have an alliance with someone we cannot trust."

"If you do not trust her, then that is your choice." Enola said. "I only hope that choice comes from a place of reason. Not fear."

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Enola laid in bed with a sketchbook in hand when Klaus finally entered the room. She had decided to wait up for him. As husband and wife, they made a rule to never go to bed angry. She wanted to make sure that he wasn't upset with her for their difference in opinion. She knew how he could get when he felt as if everyone was against him. The last thing she wanted was to be viewed as just another enemy.

Enola watched Klaus from the corner of her eye remove his coat. He stripped down until he was in nothing but his boxers before making his way over to the dresser. He kept his back to her as he pulled on some gray sweatpants along with a black tee shirt that clung to his body nicely. He was silent as he slid his wedding band off and set it in the dish beside hers. He stared down for a long moment before finally turning to face her.

"I was moved by what you said about my decision not to trust my long lost sister," Klaus began. "So I waited until she revived and when she did, we had quite the chat"

"And your position remains unchanged," Enola hummed knowingly, keeping her gaze locked on the sketchbook in her lap.

"I looked in her eyes and I saw only anger and fear and a will to do whatever it takes to survive no matter who she hurts," Klaus continued. "I can use her to my own ends, but I could never allow so damaged a creature to have a say in my plans."

"You allow me to have a say in your plans," Enola pointed out. "Why else would you be so moved by what I said?"

"Because you are my wife and I trust you," Klaus answered honestly.

"Then trust me when I say that we will employ the same amount of caution we have always exhibited towards our allies," Enola promised.

"Fine," Klaus sighed reluctantly, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. "But should Freya betray us—"

"If Freya even thinks about betraying us, I will bury her beneath a thousand wretched torments." Enola announced.

"I don't doubt it," Klaus chuckled before becoming much more serious. "But what if you are too late? What if Freya is duplicitous? What if Hope is harmed through her actions? You will never forgive yourself. You will suffer a guilt that will be impossible to endure. A terrible fate for one who cannot die."

"Nothing will happen to our daughter," Enola spoke with finality, giving Klaus her undivided attention. "But we have to consider every weapon at our disposal. Dahlia is coming. The only question is when."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
only a few more chapters until we reach the end of act two. there is still a lot that is going to happen until that point. anywhore,, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. until next time, my loves!!!