▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

CHAPTER 29: MY GHOST

❝ we're so going to hell for this. ❞

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

WE ALL HAVE GHOSTS HAUNTING US. We all have invisible scars that keep reminding us of the tragic pasts we have been forced to live. But you know what? Some of us are still out here living, doing our best, fighting every day to keep the monsters away. We are on the battlefield everyday and we fight.

You win some, you lose some. That is just how it goes. But you never, ever give up. Because when you give up, you let the demons win You let every bad thing that ever happened to you be for nothing. And it is so easy to just give up, but you can't. You can't give up. You keep fighting. With every breath, with every step. You keep fighting. And that is how you win.

"I know you are locked in battle. However deep in your mind our mother had set the stage, hear my voice. Our mother thinks she will win because she has left you alone. But you are not alone." Klaus promised. Whatever ghosts haunted his brother, he would always be there to ward them off. "Let me in. Let me help end whatever torment she has forced upon you."

Klaus stood next to the bed an unconscious Elijah occupied. He had fortunately been able to save his brother from their mother. He had unfortunately been able to wake his brother from dreamland. He took a deep breath before he tried to push his way through the mental barriers. He pushed so hard that blood began to leak from his nose before he was finally cast out completely. He gasped as he stumbled back into a solid body, making him whirl around in fright.

"What are you doing?" Enola wondered, steadying Klaus with firm hands on the shoulders.

"I'm trying to enter his thoughts to wake him," Klaus confessed. "Esther has locked me out."

Enola grabbed a tissue box off of the bedside table before moving back to Klaus. She took a soft cloth out of the rectangular box before wiping the blood off of his upper lip. She discarded the box on the bedside table before tossing the bloody tissue in the trash and moving over to the bed. She stared down at its occupant, immediately spotting strange markings on his neck. She reached out and moved the collar of his shirt out of the way.

"Is this rash a side effect of the witchy acid trip he's on?" Enola inquired.

"I haven't seen this since I was a child. Mikael would return home from battle more blindly temperamental than usual and our mother would use the petals of a rare Merlock orchid to put him to sleep. She would mend his mind with a spell and then wake him with the roots of the same plant. If she has access to it now, then maybe it also grows in the bayou." Klaus muttered thoughtfully. "You stay here with the wolves and mind the fort."

"I'd rather rip your mothers head off," Enola scoffed.

"Stay clear of her," Klaus warned, sending Enola a pointed look. "I mean it. She already got to you once and I don't know what I would do if she got to you once more."

"I won't go after her," Enola huffed. "I promise."

"I don't believe that for a second," Klaus declared.

Enola just smiled, giving Klaus a gentle kiss. He was hesitant to leave her alone, but he would just have to trust her not to do anything stupid when he wasn't there to stop it. She was completely capable of taking control of a situation. If she could survive his father, she could handle his mother. He just wished that she didn't have to.

"I have learned a few things from your mother," Enola noted, looking down at Elijah. "I won't go after her." A slow smirk spread across her lips. "I will go after everything she loves."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Enola walked down the dock to Jackson. She had searched the entirety of the bayou for him. It was obviously empty. Most of the wolves were at Lafayette Cemetery following Esther. But there were a handful who were at the compound under her command. Deep down she knew it wasn't her that they needed. That was why she was out here. They needed a real alpha. A real werewolf. Not some dollar store knock off.

"I am so sorry, Jackson." Enola whispered, setting a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder.

"This is bullshit!" Jackson growled, throwing the half empty bottle of scotch against the nearest tree. "Crescent tradition says you have a funeral at dawn, and no one is here."

News of Oliver's death traveled fast and far. It was not a surprise when no one bothered to show up for the funeral. He had betrayed everyone at some point—the wolves, the witches, himself. He betrayed so many and in the end it was all for nothing. Because now he was dead and nothing had changed. Their people were still being treated as slaves. He wanted Jackson to save them, but Jackson was hardly ever sober these days.

"You are standing around moping over Oliver when there is a war to be fought," Enola reminded as softly and sensitively as possible. "I understand you have to grieve. But our people need their Alpha."

"Don't you see?" Jackson frowned. "You are their alpha."

"No," Enola protested.

"Yes," Jackson countered. "You have always been a better leader than me."

"Look—I am going after Finn. I am getting our people back." Enola blurted. "I could really use your help."

"You don't need me," Jackson muttered. "You never did."

"Don't talk like that," Enola begged. "We will always need you."

"Look at me!" Jackson huffed. "While I am sitting on my ass doing nothing, you are out there changing the world."

"What happened to loyalty?" Enola frowned.

"It died," Jackson muttered.

"No," Enola scoffed. "It turned its back on us just like you."

"That—That is not true," Jackson shook his head in protest.

"It is. Because while everyone is fighting for their people in the real world, you are sitting here moping around and whining about the past." Enola pointed out. "But this is the present. This is the here and now. We need our alpha. If that isn't you, I guess I will have to find someone else."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

"Where is your alpha?"

Enola entered the loft with Aiden following close behind. She had reached out to him earlier that day with a proposition. She was surprised when he had agreed mainly because he had seemed to take immense pleasure in running the wolves. But he was no alpha and all he wanted was to be free. Especially after the witches attempted to break his little brother's werewolf curse. He was more than ready to aid in the downfall of those pesky witches. All of that depended on whether Marcel cooperated.

"Unavailable," Enola sighed.

"So you brought junior varsity?" Marcel scoffed. "You know, I am getting a little tired of you people using my place as a den for wayward wolves."

"We have big plans today—take down Finn Mikaelson," Enola grinned. "Considering how he treated your vampires, I assumed that you would want in on the bloodbath."

"I'm listening," Marcel grinned.

Enola and Aiden shared a look before taking a seat on the couch across from Marcel. It was just the three of them at the moment. Their people were unaware of their plans only because a plan hadn't been made. However, when they figured more things out, they would clue the others into what they were planning. They just didn't know what they were planning quite yet.

"Well," Aiden cleared his throat awkwardly. "It isn't going to be easy. He is surrounded by a pack of juiced up wolves. He doesn't have a weakness

"He actually does," Marcel grinned wolfishly. "And I just so happen to have her on speed dial."

"Do I want to know who you plan to use in our plan to dismantle the witch empire as we know it?" Enola quirked a brow.

"Finn has a thing for Cami," Marcel smirked.

"Who doesn't?" Enola quirked a brow. "Nik will go ballistic if we get Cami involved in this."

"Klaus will go ballistic when he finds out that you are involved in this," Marcel shot back.

"Then we will just have to make sure he doesn't find out," Aiden shrugged.

"Cami, well, she has this thing about people telling her what she can and cannot do." Marcel hummed simply, giving Enola a pointed look. "I trust you of all people would understand."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Enola was now joined by Hayley, Marcel, Josh, and Aiden. They gathered around a large table in the loft. A map of the city was spread out between them as they went over their plan for the thousandth time that day. They had to make sure everything was in place before they acted too rashly. Thankfully things were falling perfectly into place.

"Cami said Vincent wants to meet at Preservation Hall," Aiden announced. "But he won't be left unprotected—there will be wolves positioned here and here."

"Can we keep this alley open?" Marcel inquired, pointing to a specific area on the map.

"Shouldn't be a problem," Aiden hummed.

"Great," Hayley smirked deviously. "I'll wait there and rip Finn's head off."

"No—he will just body jump." Enola pointed out.

"His head stays on," They all turned to Cami who was just now arriving. She carried a box of sorts in her arms that she immediately dropped on top of the map with a mischievous grin. "He will have a hard time answering our questions without it."

"Sweet. It is a big box of dusty old junk. We are saved." Josh spoke sarcastically.

"They are dark objects my uncle left for me," Cami smiled in amusement. "I cataloged them according to Kieran's notes." She pulled rusty metal handcuffs out of the box. "As far as I can tell, these can be used against witches specifically."

"Kinky," Hayley grinned.

"I remember these," Marcel hummed.

"You use those on Rebekah?" Enola smirked.

"What? No!" Marcel panicked in obvious embarrassment. "A hundred years ago, the Human Faction waged a war against the voodoo queens. They had a traitor spell these manacles. Slap them on a witch, they can't do magic as long as they're on."

"Okay, well, we won't get the handcuffs of doom on him while he is surrounded by a werewolf entourage." Josh reminded.

"We just lure him away," Aiden shrugged. "I can do that."

"Cami, if we do this, you're bait." Hayley pointed out.

"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Enola questioned softly.

"Make it look convincing," Cami decided. "The guy is really smart."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Cami entered the alleyway in a rush. She gasped in surprise when a hooded figure jumped out of nowhere. She immediately relaxed when she took note of the amber eyes that shone through the darkness. She gave the familiar assailant a ready nod before tilting her head to the side. She screamed out in pain when she felt the sharp fangs pierce through the delicate flesh on her neck. But she wasn't afraid.

The same could not be said for Finn. He had been enjoying their date when she had stepped away to take a call. He glanced away for a second and she was gone. He immediately rushed out of the Jazz Club to find her getting attacked by some sort of beast with glowing eyes and sharp claws.

"Hey!" Finn called out in a panic.

The hooded figure pulled away from Cami to look back at Finn before scaling up the brick building with ease. He rushed over to her with fear in his eyes before dropping to her side. Her breathing was shallow as blood poured from the wound on her neck. He wanted to help her, but he was no vampire. He didn't have magical blood that could heal her. And before he could even think about using his magic to at least help with the pain a sudden whistle from above drew his attention. He looked up to find the hooded figure staring down at him. It only took him a moment to realize that it had been a distraction. By the time he turned back towards his date, she was gone.

Enola and Hayley used enhanced speed to rush Cami to St. Anne's church where Josh and Aiden were waiting. They were so close to victory that they could practically taste it. No thanks to Marcel. He had left them to handle Finn. It wasn't a problem—they all knew what role to play. They just needed to make some last minute adjustments to their plan.

"Well, he bought it." Aiden announced, lowering the phone from his ear. "His locator spell will bring him here without the bodyguards."

"I always thought having a woman's mouth on my neck would be more erotic," Cami muttered.

"You'll heal fast," Hayley promised, handing a goblet full of hybrid blood over to Cami. "Here you go."

"Let's get all these lights off," Enola hummed, watching Aiden saunter over to the lit candles with Josh following close behind.

"We're so going to hell for this," Aiden sighed.

"You'll get used to it," Josh teased, earning a small chuckle from Aiden. "Hey, uh, I know this probably isn't your ideal Friday night. I'm sure you would rather be, like, doing pushups or drinking beers with your bros or whatever."

"It's not so bad," Aiden smiled lightly, giving Josh a quick glance.

Enola watched Josh and Aiden with a knowing look. She would be a fool not to notice the chemistry between them. It was like electricity crackled every time they touched. She knew that feeling all too well. She only got it every single day of her life for the past two years. And it was all thanks to Klaus.

"Okay," Cami clapped her hands together. "Tell me the plan one more time."

"Aiden is going to get Finn to the altar and then we are going to jump him," Hayley explained.

"He is powerful though, so you only have a few seconds to get the shackles on him." Enola warned Cami.

"Where is Marcel?" Cami wondered.

"He is looking for Davina," Hayley sighed. "He heard she was back in town."

"Overprotective dad stuff?" Cami hummed.

"If you want to call ripping Kol Mikaelson into a thousand little pieces protective dad stuff . . . " Enola trailed off in amusement. "Then yeah. Protective dad stuff."

"Either way," Hayley began. "You are stuck with us."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Aiden was thrown through the doors to St. Anne's church. Josh used enhanced speed to rush forward as Finn slowly stepped past the threshold with an anger like never seen before. The candles suddenly flared as Finn passed, causing Josh to take a protective stance in front of Aiden. Finn easily snapped the neck belonging to Josh with a simple flick of the wrist before finally taking in the luminous surroundings.

"Camille? Camille!" Finn called out.

Hayley shoved Finn down with supernatural strength. She took a protective stance in front of the unconscious vampire and werewolf before turning to face him with a glare. She had been warned of his intelligence, she just hadn't been expecting him to catch on so quickly. Now that he had, she had no choice but to hurt him. Even if the body wasn't his.

"First I am gonna kick your ass, and then I am gonna take my pack back." Hayley spat.

"Your pack?" Finn echoed, pulling himself back up to his feet. "Last time I checked, your pack was blindly following me."

"Wanna talk about following? How do your mother's boots taste?" Hayley taunted, kicking Finn back down.

"What have you done with Cami?" Finn grunted out. When Hayley failed to answer, a simple flick of the wrist sent her flying backwards. "Hybrids die by losing their head or their heart. And given the choice, I am gonna take the organ that got you into this mess in the first place."

Finn abruptly stood to face Hayley. His hand was outstretched as the chanting began and she could do nothing but take it. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as blood poured from her mouth. Her heart was beating in overdrive as he used magic to separate it from her body. But before he got the chance, he was knocked back by a harsh blow to the stomach.

Enola stood in front of Finn as Hayley collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. He had attempted to take her down with a little bit of magic. But he was unfortunately met with a boot to the face. He rolled onto his stomach in a lame attempt to crawl away only for an arrow to lodge itself into his leg. Everyone looked up to the balcony to find their hero in Jackson Kenner.

Finn panicked attempting to pull the arrow out. He was shunned when a set of rusty shackles found their way around his wrists. He looked up with wide eyes to find the woman he was trying to rescue standing there—against him. He raised his hands to use magic to weasel his way out of this, only his magic wasn't working. Hatred and betrayal shone in his onyx eyes as he looked up at her.

"You would have done the same thing to me," Cami began. "Finn."

Jackson rushed down from the balcony. He had a bow and arrow strapped to his back as he made his way forward. He gave Aiden and Josh a quick glance before rushing towards Hayley. His hands hovered above her shoulders almost as if he was afraid to touch her, but that didn't dim the worry in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Jackson whispered. "I am so sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"Your timing was pretty awesome actually," Hayley breathed in relief.

Enola wanted to celebrate the success with the others. She was distracted when a dull buzz met her ears. She frowned as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She couldn't help but grin at the name on the caller i.d, excited to share the news of Finn's capture.

"Nik," Enola began. "Hey—"

"I killed him," Klaus breathed.

"You killed who?" Enola frowned.

"My father," Klaus confessed. "Ansel."

Enola knew Ansel looked familiar. His eyes reminded her of the ocean. Blue and lonely. Calm and deep. It suddenly made so much sense. Why he kept looking at her like he knew her. Why his werewolf lore was over a thousand years old. Why he despised vampires so much.

"How was he even alive?" Enola questioned in exasperation.

"My mother," Klaus spoke bitterly. "I—I had to kill him! He knew that Hope was still alive. He needed to die."

"It is okay. You are okay." Enola tried to soothe. Her eyes flickered around the room before landing on Finn. "I have something that just might make you feel better."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

AUTHORS NOTE.
it has been a really long time since i have updated two days in a row. i hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. there are a lot more changes in this book than there were in the last. until next time, my loves!!!