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CHAPTER 02: CLAWS AND TEETH

❝ looking to kill a wolf? ❞

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THERE IS A SPECIFIC FIGHT THAT YOU CAN ONLY HAVE WITH YOUR SISTER. It's the kind where you say things you can't take back. You say them because you can't help but say them, because you're so angry that it's coming up your throat and out your eyes; you're so angry that you can't see straight. All you see is blood. Sisters love each other like animals. There is something ferocious and unselfconscious about it. They don't guard themselves like they do with everyone else. No one trained them to shield their hearts from one another. With sisters it's total vulnerability from the beginning. Their skin is bare and soft. They love with claws and teeth. The blood is just proof of how much. It's feral and it's relentless.

Enola hadn't spoken to Elena in three months. They had just lost their brother. They had just lost their childhood home. They had nothing to say to each other. Especially with the burning desire Enola had to leave and the sadness that forced Elena to flip the humanity switch. They had a lot to say to each other, but they chose not to. Until now. Enola was getting ready for bed when the shrill cry of a cell phone rang out. Her friends from Mystic Falls had been trying to reach out for months, but she ignored it every single time. She had nothing to say to any of them. She needed space and they needed to respect that. So she went to end the call and leave it at that. Until she caught sight of her caller i.d. She paused only for a moment before lifting the device into her hands. Her eyes flickered across the screen before she hesitantly answered the call and pressed the device to her ear. She stayed silent, waiting for something tragic to happen.

"Enola? It's Elena." She received nothing but silence. "You don't have to say anything. Just listen." More silence. "I turned my humanity back on. I suppose I have you to thank for that. I read your letter. It was the push I needed to realize that I am not alone."

"You were never alone," Enola muttered.

"I know," Elena sighed. "But I felt like I was alone, so I turned my humanity off. And in doing so, I ended up leaving you alone. I just need you to know that I am so sorry." More silence and then a shaky inhale of breath. "What's wrong?"

Elena knew Enola better than anyone else. She had no idea how to express how scared she was right now. It has been a month since she found out that she was pregnant. Elijah was gone and Klaus was too busy plotting the downfall of Marcel to have an actual conversation with the mother of his child. They slept in separate rooms—and that's if they slept at all. The only person she really had was Hayley who was easily becoming her favorite person. Even so, there were some things that she could only express to someone who has seen every part of her and loved her regardless.

"I'm pregnant," Enola blurted. "And the father of my baby is Klaus."

There was a long silence. Then a large intake of breath. Enola knew Elena would be angry. How could she sleep with the man who had spent a year terrorizing them? How could she love a man who had spent a year terrorizing them? This was it. The thing that ruined their relationship once and for all. There was no coming back from this.

"You happy?" Elena then inquired.

"What?" Enola blinked.

"Are you happy?" Elena repeated.

"You're not mad?" Enola hesitantly questioned.

"Why would I be mad? Klaus is your epic love." Elena reminded. "So I'll ask again; are you happy?"

"I . . . " Enola struggled to find the words. "I don't know."

"Well, do you love him?" Elena questioned.

"More than I've ever loved anyone," Enola confessed.

"Then what's the problem?" Elena wondered.

"The problem is that he has barely spoken ten words to me this entire month," Enola huffed. "I—I love him so much it hurts and he is off doing god knows what."

"So," Elena began. "You're lonely."

"If you want to get technical . . . " Enola sighed. "Then yeah. I'm lonely."

"Then why don't you tell him that?" Elena hummed. "You need to meet him halfway. That is how every healthy relationship works."

"So . . . " Enola frowned. "In order for him to know how I am feeling, I have to tell him?"

"That's usually how it works," Elena confirmed.

"But that is so embarrassing," Enola cringed.

"If you love him and he loves you . . . " Elena began. "Then it will all work out in the end."

"Thank you," Enola sighed. "And Elena? I forgive you."

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Enola paced outside the study where Klaus was holed up in. She was working up the courage to knock, but the fear of feeling vulnerable was too much for her. For an hour she stood out there just hoping he would open the door so that she didn't have to. But the sudden flash of headlights through the window drew her attention away. She made her way into the foyer where Hayley stood at the ready with a fire poker. Though a voice on the other side of the door stopped them in their tracks.

"Elijah, if not answering your phone is part of your clever plan to get me back to this godforsaken city, then well done. I'm here and I'm worried. Now pick up before I kick in the door." As if on cue, the door was kicked in by force to reveal the one and only Rebekah Mikaelson.

"Bex?" Enola blinked in surprise.

"Little devil!" Rebekah grinned, rushing over to engulf Enola in a bone crushing hug that only lasted a few moments before they pulled apart. Her eyes instinctively flickered down to her flat stomach with a small frown. "I was expecting some sort of supernatural miracle baby bump. Guess you're not showing yet."

"Who the hell are you?" Hayley demanded, sizing Rebekah up.

"Ahh. You must be the maid." Rebekah hummed. "My bags are in the car. Get them, will you?"

"Hello. Not the maid." Hayley scoffed in disbelief.

"Then who the bloody hell are you?" Rebekah quizzed through narrowed eyes.

"Hayley," Enola spoke up. "Her name is Hayley."

"Right. The werewolf girl Elijah mentioned." Rebekah realized.

"You have your brother's manners," Hayley noted.

"And his temper too, so watch it." Rebekah warned. "Where's Elijah?"

"No clue," Enola shrugged honestly.

"He's long gone," Hayley drawled.

"What do you mean long gone?" Rebekah question.

"Well, one minute he was here making all these epic promises and then Klaus is saying that he bailed." Enola explained.

"Guess that's what we get for trusting a vampire," Hayley huffed.

"Elijah is not just any vampire and he doesn't break promises," Rebekah announced. "Which means Niklaus has done something dastardly and Klaus-like." She stormed into the parlor. "Klaus, get out here and tell me what you've done with our brother you narcissistic, backstabbing wanker!"

"Enough with all the shouting," Klaus groaned, throwing open the doors to the study in a dramatic fashion.

"Are they always like this?" Hayley wondered.

"Worse," Enola muttered, taking a seat at the bottom of the stairs as the show began.

"Little sister," Klaus smirked. "I should have known. I assume the six dead vampires were your doing."

"They were very rude. Trying to victimize a poor innocent girl just trying to find her way to the Quarter." Rebekah mocked. "So sorry. Were they friends of yours? Oh, that's right. You don't have any friends."

"I do have friends. I have Marcel. You remember him, don't you? Yes, of course you do." Klaus grinned. "He fancies himself the King of the Quarter. And he has these rules about killing vampires. It'll be fun to see what sort of punishment he comes up with for you."

"I don't care about Marcel or his rules," Rebekah said. "Elijah doesn't welsh on deals. What did you do to him?"

"Perhaps he's on a holiday or taking a long Autumn nap upstairs," Klaus shrugged. "Well, go on. Take a look around. You remember this house as well as I."

"I remember everything," Rebekah breathed. "I remember how the drunken fool of a governor hid away all our vampire sins in exchange for gold. I remember the lavish parties the governor threw as if to impress you. I remember that even Elijah was happy. I remember finding a moment of affection with the governor's son, Emil.

"Well, he wasn't good enough for you." Klaus announced.

"No one was ever good enough for me, Nik. You made sure of that." Rebekah pointed out as Klaus read a text message. "Now where is Elijah?" She narrowed her eyes when he smiled down at the device before brisky making his way towards the front door. "Where are you going?"

"It appears the night is not quite over yet," Klaus hummed. "I'm off for another drink with Marcel."

"Elijah told me your plan to take apart Marcel's empire piece by piece," Rebekah informed. "I don't remember it involving you two drinking New Orleans dry together."

"I know you don't have many friends, Rebekah, but what some friends do when they get together is they drink, and when they drink, they tell secrets. Marcel has somehow found a way to control the entirety of the witches in the Quarter and I aim to uncover the how, so I might take it for myself." Klaus announced, opening the front door. "Finding Elijah didn't make my to-do list today. But welcome home, little sister." He paused in the doorway, tossing a quick glance over his shoulder. "Oh, and Enola, love? If you want to pace in front of the study like a lunatic, I recommend being a bit more discreet about it."

Enola wore a scowl as Klaus disappeared into the night. She needed to have a proper conversation with him. But that was impossible considering the fact that he was never there. She knew the reason he went along with the plot against Marcel had nothing to do with her. It was just because he liked winning.

"You two," Rebekah turned to Enola and Hayley. "I'm gonna search this house inch by inch until I find what my evil brother has done to my good one. You two are helping."

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Enola and Hayley followed Rebekah down a long flight of stairs with flashlights in hand. The house was old. There were no modern light switches where they were going. However, there was a string in the middle of the room. One tug and the entire cellar was illuminated by a dull glow to reveal four familiar coffins.

"The governor had lots of secret rooms. This is his favorite." Rebekah announced.

"You think Klaus killed him?" Hayley questioned, unable to tear her gaze away from the coffins.

"Originals can't be killed," Enola breathed as the realization slowly hit her. "Nik has a set of mystical silver daggers. One in the heart can send an original into a deep slumber that can only be broken when the dagger is removed. That must be what he has done to Elijah." She frowned, looking around the room in disappointment. "How did I not realize?"

"Because you are too blinded by the love you have for Nik to remember how horrible he truly is," Rebekah pointed out, eyeing the room for a moment. "Elijah's coffin isn't here. He must've stored him elsewhere." She stopped beside a specific coffin. "This one is mine."

"He keeps your coffin on standby?" Hayley scoffed in disbelief.

"He likes to be prepared for when his family members inevitably disappoint him," Rebekah shrugged as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"I feel sick," Enola muttered, setting her hands over her stomach.

"Welcome to the family, love." Rebekah hummed sarcastically. "You should have run the second you realized Elijah was gone."

"Yeah, well, the witches have put some sort of hex on her." Hayley informed. "As long as she is carrying this baby, she can't leave New Orleans."

Enola couldn't leave New Orleans regardless of the baby. She just started school. She had been forbidden to leave the plantation which meant she had to find another way to attend classes. Thankfully she was able to sign up for the online courses before it was too late. That way she could finish her education and have this baby. But the more she thought about it, the more unsure she became. Especially after the words that were spoken next.

"Well, knowing Klaus, he is planning a box for you the second you give birth to whatever is cooking in your tum. He might love you, but he loves power more." Rebekah sighed. "I'm leaving as soon as I find Elijah. Being daggered in a box for decades sucks. Trust me. You best find a way to break that hex and run."

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Enola knew Klaus. She knew he was hiding. He had been quite distant since finding out she was with child. She couldn't possibly do this without him. So she made up her mind. She slept that night and spent the entirety of the next day thinking about it. By the next evening, she dragged Hayley into the quarter without so much as an explanation why. She had her sights set upon a famous tourist attraction in the middle of the quarter called: JARDIN GRIS. It sold many different herbs and witchy trinkets. She had heard that the place was owned by a witch named Katie. She wasn't much older than either of them. She stepped out of the shop, readying herself to lock up for the night.

"Hey, wait!" Enola called out, rushing across the street with Hayley close behind.

"We're closed. Sorry." Katie apologized, turning to lock up.

"I just need one teeny tiny herb," Enola informed. "Please."

"Which herb?" Katie sighed, caving in.

"Crushed aconite flower," Enola spoke hesitantly.

"Wolfsbane?" Hayley gaped in surprise.

While Enola was one hundred percent human, this baby was still part Klaus. She knew this method was very unorthodox, but she didn't want there to be any record of a pregnancy at a clinic. She wasn't ready to be a mother and she knew that he wasn't ready to be a father. Maybe he will learn how to use a condom from now on.

"That's a poison," Katie realized, eyeing Enola in suspicion. "Looking to kill a wolf?"

"Just a little one," Enola confessed, setting a hand over her flat stomach.

"Give me a minute," Katie decided, opening the door to the shop before silently stepping inside.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Hayley questioned softly.

"I have to," Enola muttered. "This baby will never know peace and what kind of life is that? A life without peace?"

Hayley went to respond, however, the bell above the door jingled as Katie stepped outside. Enola immediately spotted two vials of a dangerous liquid that would terminate her pregnancy. Katie handed Enola the vials with a sympathetic smile.

"Cut it with jimson weed, a few drops in some hot tea. That should do it." Katie instructed. Enola went to hand Katie some cash for the trouble only to get shut down. "It's an ugly town for wolves. You're doing the right thing."

Enola gave Katie a tight smile before taking off down the street with Hayley close behind. They stopped inside a cute little cafe before purchasing a cup of tea. They found a comfortable spot on a park bench to sit before mixing one of the wolfsbane vials into the concoction. They sat there in comfortable silence as the sun began to set in the sky and the street light flickered on.

"Come on, Nola." Hayley spoke softly. "One upset stomach and all this stupid drama is ancient history."

"You're right," Enola breathed. "I can do this."

Enola took a deep breath at the words of encouragement. She slowly raised the styrofoam cup up to her lips. Her heart beat seemed to increase the closer she got to terminating the pregnancy. And as if fate had intervened, a twig snapping in the distance drew her attention. She immediately stood to her feet before turning around to find the street empty.

"Did you hear that?" Enola questioned in concern.

Hayley didn't respond, taking the spot beside Enola. They two peered into the darkness for any sign of movement. When they found nothing, they both decided to turn back around. A startled gasp left both of their lips when they came face to face with a burly looking man. They would have been confused if it wasn't for the demon-like eyes the man had been flashing. He was a vampire. It was no coincidence that he happened to find them.

"Dumb move coming to the quarter," He snarled. "You're coming with me, wolves."

"I have had it up to here with vampires telling me what to do!" Enola snapped.

Enola did not hesitate to toss the wolfsbane tea into his face, burning his face and rendering him unconscious. Hayley grabbed Enola by the arm before they turned to leave. However, they came face to face with two more vampires who seemed to be looking for a fight. Thankfully they had a guardian angel. Rebekah used her enhanced speed to snap one of their necks and pull the heart out of the other's chest.

"Now that is no way to treat a pregnant lady," Rebekah said. "I do hate bad manners."

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Klaus was pissed. Rebekah not only arrived back at the plantation with Hayley and Enola in tow, but three dead vampires. He needed to destroy the evidence of foul play. So while the three women stood idly by, he put them in a pile in their front lawn and drenched them with gasoline. This night was far from over.

"This is why I told you never to leave the house. Especially with her." Klaus seethed as he pointed an accusatory finger at Hayley. "Werewolves are banned in the Quarter. I had a plan and your little nighttime stroll put it all in peril—leave him!" He gave his sister a pointed look as she moved to finish off a vampire that still appeared to be alive. "You've done enough, don't you think? Leaving a trail of bodies like a roadmap to my door?"

"If I hadn't overheard this lot bragging about werewolf heads, everyone here would be screwed." Rebekah defended. "And don't give me that crap about having a plan. You've had all the time in the world to execute a plan, and no one's seen you do a damn thing! Elijah made a deal to protect your child so that he could save you from your selfish, rotten self. You obviously don't give a damn about the child or Enola or Elijah because what have you done to honor it?"

"I have done everything. From the day I arrived, Marcel hasn't trusted me. He had insisted that his vampires ingest toxic vervain, which as you know, protects them from my mind control. I needed a spy, someone on the inside with me who Marcel would never suspect, so I created a day zero and got there first." Klaus ranted. "Marcel had just lost six vampires thanks to your little murder spree, and he needed new recruits, so I made the new one mine before he had even a drop of vervain. But we all know the real way to a man is through his heart, so I compelled the bartender he is interested in to give him another chance." He grabbed the vampire who was still alive before dragging his limp body into the house with the three women following close behind. "And this one—I'm going to drain him of vervain, compel him to believe his mates found religion, and moved to Utah so that he can explain to Marcel why he lost three more vampires tonight." He closed the door behind them before turning to face them once again. "Does anyone have any more questions? No? good. Because I have a question, Enola. What were you and your little friend doing in the bloody French quarter in the first place?" He earned nothing but guilty silence. "Answer me!"

"Leave her be," Rebekah defended.

"You wanna know what we were doing?" Hayley spoke up, fearlessly. "We were buying poison so we could put your little baby out of its misery."

Enola couldn't look Klaus in the eye. Even so, she could see the way he tensed at the words. And in the blink of an eye, he had Hayley pinned to the nearest wall. He had a murderous look in his eye that she remembered all too well. It was like he was losing Kol all over again and she would do anything to get rid of it. But before she could make her move, Rebekah shoved him away. And instead of comforting him, she rushed to her friend who struggled to regain her breath.

"I haven't seen you interact with the woman carrying your child once since I arrived and now you're surprised when she decides to cut her losses?" Rebekah scoffed in disbelief. She sighed, taking a seat on the stairs in exhaustion. "It's okay to care. It's okay to want something. That's all Elijah was trying to do, all he's ever wanted for you, all we've ever wanted."

Klaus was quiet for a long moment. His stare was locked on the woman he loved as she tended to her friend. He knew that he was at fault. He had been neglecting her all month. But he had a good reason! He was working to build an empire so that she would never have to worry about anyone hurting her and their unborn child. He would never admit it out loud, but he was nervous to be a father. Especially since his father tried to kill him on multiple occasions. He didn't know what it meant to be a father because he never really had a good one.

"I gave Elijah to Marcel," Klaus quietly confessed.

"What?" Rebekah gasped in shock.

"Marcel was nervous. It was bad enough that one original returned to town, but two?" Klaus explained. "His crew was getting antsy. He wanted Elijah gone, so I gave him a peace offering."

"You bartered our brother?" Rebekah growled angrily.

"I have a plan—gain Marcel's trust, dismantle his empire, honor Elijah's wish that the baby be born. I am executing the plan the only way I know how. If you don't like it, there's the door." Klaus huffed at the judgment he was receiving. "See if I care."

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Klaus paced outside the bedroom Enola had been occupying. He was trying to build up the courage to knock. He realized how early it was and decided that he didn't want to wake her. So instead of knocking, he simply opened the door himself. He peered into the room to find her laying in the middle of the bed with her eyes closed. Taking his chances, he tiptoed into the room before making his way over to the unpacked bags on the dresser. It had been a month. Why hadn't she unpacked yet? He fought thoughts of her disappearing into the night as he dug into a side pocket on the bag to retrieve a singular vial of wolfsbane with a deep frown.

"I didn't use it," Enola muttered.

"You're awake," Klaus muttered in embarrassment as he put the vial back where he found it and turned to face her with a wary look on his face.

"I couldn't sleep," Enola confessed. "We don't have air conditioning."

Enola slowly sat up as Klaus wandered over to the window. His back was toward her again as she pulled her knees to her chest. She had so many things she wanted to say to him and yet nothing would come out. He deserved an explanation. Then again, so did she. They were so happy in Mystic Falls curled up next to each other. This past month they were nothing but strangers living under the same roof.

"What stopped you?" Klaus wondered. "You could've been free of all of this—of me."

"When I was fighting off those vampires, I realized that I wasn't just protecting myself." Enola muttered. "Maybe it is because I have lost everyone I have ever loved. Maybe it is because I don't want to lose you too. All I know is that push came to shove and I realized that I wouldn't let anyone hurt it."

"We are a lot alike—you and I." Klaus smiled softly, finally turning to face her again. "We are both castoffs who have learnt to fight when we're backed into a corner."

"Well, we're backed into a corner now." Enola huffed.

"Ah. That we are. It is time to fight . . . " Klaus hesitantly reached out to set a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Little monster."

Enola gave Klaus a soft smile. She watched as he turned to leave the room. But this couldn't be the end of this. Not yet. They still had so much to talk about. They still had so much to say and so little time to say it. She realized her chance was slowly slipping away.

"Nik?" Enola called out without thinking. Klaus slowly turned back around "This whole thing with Marcel—it sounds like you guys have quite the history. What happened?"

"I made Marcel everything that he is, I treated him like a son, and when my father chased me and my family from New Orleans a hundred years ago, we believed Marcel was killed, we each mourned him in our own way. Yet when I returned, I found not only had he survived—he had thrived. Instead of seeking us out, instead of sticking together as one, he made a choice to take everything my family had built and make it his own. Now he is living in our home, he is sleeping in our beds. That M he stamps everywhere is not for Marcel, it is for Mikaelson." Klaus ranted before taking a deep breath and confessing. "I want it all back and if I have to push him out to get it, then that is exactly what I will do. With you by my side."

"What?" Enola gaped.

"I have already told you; you are it for me." Klaus claimed. "Whether it is today, tomorrow, a year, or decades from now, that will never change."

"Then prove it," Enola said. "Because I have spent the last month completely alone. I don't know what you want. I don't know what you feel."

Klaus stormed over to the bed and grabbed Enola by the throat. His touch was gentle as he pulled her into a passionate kiss that she immediately melted into. His teeth grazed her bottom lip as they slowly pulled apart before resting their foreheads against one another.

"I am completely and utterly in love with you," Klaus confessed softly. "And this child—our child—is proof of that."

"Does this mean . . . " Enola began. "You and I are . . . "

"Go on," Klaus pushed with a teasing smile.

"Together?" Enola finished in uncertainty.

"Well, that depends." Klaus shrugged. "How do you feel?"

"I have spent these past few months of my life searching for what I was missing," Enola said.

"Did you find it?" Klaus inquired.

"I found it a year ago in that confessional," Enola informed. "And I don't intend on letting it go any time soon."

"Good," Klaus grinned. "Because I don't intend on going anywhere."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
remember; communication is key in every healthy relationship. that is something klaus and enola is still learning. until next time, my loves!!!