CHAPTER FIFTEEN | WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS

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THE CONVERSATION ABOUT KLAUS MURDERING MIKAEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS SIBLINGS EYES WAS NOT ONE RILEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN. Instead, she remained in the courtyard eating her breakfast whilst she could overhear the discussion about Klaus' actions. She felt for Freya the most. He denied her a chance to even get to know her father again. Of course, Mikael was not any sort of father to the Mikaelsons, he was a tyrant, but he softened almost every time he was within Freya's orbit. 

She took a bite of her toast and aimlessly scrolled through her social media, as she did every single morning, though her attention was taken by footsteps. She looked up and noticed that Josephine LaRue had entered the courtyard. Almost as soon as Josephine's footsteps were heard, Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah all rushed out to the courtyard.

"Josephine." Elijah greeted in his usual tone, though Riley could see that there was something off about the woman before them. 

"Forgive me for calling so early, Elijah. But, I've come baring a message from your Aunt Dahlia." Josephine simply stated as Elijah's posture stiffened. "She is owed a debt and she means to be paid."

A small scoff left Riley's lips as she placed her empty plate on the table in front of her. "Why don't you tell that psychotic little cow to rot in Hell?" 

"For merely taking what Esther promised her?" Josephine's attention then moved toward Klaus. "If you must harbour hatred, isn't it better spent on the one who traded your child away a thousand years ago? Blame Esther, if you must. But I seek only to fulfil a bargain. A bargain that consequently resulted in your very existence. Perhaps you should be thanking me." 

The use of the word me confirmed everything. Josephine was being used as a vessel for Dahlia to speak freely and make her demands without fear of another altercation. The matriarch of the witches had been used as a pawn. "Dahlia." Elijah stated coldly once he looked into Josephine's eyes and recognised that it was not her.

"My child. I prefer, Aunt Dahlia."

Klaus strode past his brother and got face-to-face with the enemy. "You dare enter my home."

"I only came for what is mine. The time has come to add the child's power to my own." As she spoke, blood began to pour from underneath Josephine's conveniently placed neck scarf. "Though, I do not detect her here. I see you've used a spell to cloak her. No matter. Such spells will yield, as will you. Say your farewells. You have 'till nightfall tomorrow, and then the child shall be mine. Be a dear and inform the mother, no reason we can't be civilised about this."

Klaus wore a threatening look on his face, his gaze flickered between Riley and Elijah before he thrust his hand against Josephine's neck and decapitated her. Josephine's body fell to the ground, whilst her head was launched across the courtyard. 

"Okay. Well, good thing I stopped eating." Riley heavily exhaled. 

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"I know it's probably a stupid question but, how're you doing?" Riley asked toward Hayley as she lifted Hope out from her crib. She watched as the Hybrid gently bounced her daughter against her hip. "None of this can be easy with for you."

"I hate it. I hate all of it. The thought of someone coming and taking my daughter—" Hayley began to choke up as she placed a kiss against Hope's head. "I would rather die, Riley."

"It's not gonna happen. There's no way that Klaus and Elijah will let Dahlia get her hands on Hope, you know that." Riley had so much confidence in the Original family. She had seen firsthand the way they dealt with threats, and she knew Dahlia would be no different. "Just try and have a little faith in them, okay?"

"Like you do with Elijah? You know he's in love with you, right?" Hayley voiced the obvious as Riley continued to furrow her brows in confusion. The Hybrid tilted her head toward the strawberry-blonde witch. "Oh, come on. Don't pretend you don't feel it, too." 

"Whatever I feel right now is not important. We've got far too much going on to have a conversation about whether or not I—" Riley's attention was taken by ivy that started to grow around the windows nearest Hope's crib. "What the hell is that?"

"They're Dahlia's. She knows we're here." The two females pulled their phones from their pockets, desperately trying to call for help, but the phone lines were down. She then turned to one of the wolves assigned to protect her. "I need you to go get help. Now!"

Following Hayley's orders, the wolf ran straight out of the exit to the safe house. Almost immediately after, they heard a soft whistling echo through the halls that made them stiffen up with fear until eventually, Dahlia stepped into view.

The moment she saw Hope in Hayley's arms, she gasped. "What a beauty. Hello, my child. I—" She stepped at the threshold of the room, realising that once she entered, she would be powerless. "I was hoping for a more intimate chat, though I sense by entering, you would have me at a considerable disadvantage."

Hayley clutched her daughter tightly. "Why don't you come on in. I'd love to show you some Hybrid hospitality."

"I only wanted to see the little one who's been promised to me. Won't be long now." Dahlia grinned, though her eyes remained fixed on Hope. "Surely you've noticed that the spell protecting you is growing weaker."

Riley moved closer to the threshold which kept Dahlia from entering. Her eyes darkened as she made eye contact with the witch. "If you touch a hair on that little girl's head, I will tear you apart." 

"What a treat! An Evans witch— a first born at that. What a rarity. Your bloodline is considered special, though not as special as mine." Dahlia eyed Riley up with a pointed look. "Even inside that room, I can feel your magic. Rather powerful, aren't you? And stupid. You would stand against me, and die, in order to protect that child from her destiny."

"Her destiny?" Hayley scoffed in disbelief.

Her gaze finally moved back to Hayley with a small smile. "Esther made this bargain long ago. It's unfortunate that you've been dragged into it."

"You talk like you don't have a choice. But, this is your doing!"

"When I give my word, I keep it and I expect other's to do the same. Esther and I made a bargain a long time ago and so you see, that child is rightfully mine." Dahlia's frustration began to grow as she pointed to Hope. "The only question that you need ask is would you deny me? Knowing that it would mean your death."

Riley shook her head again, Hayley's grip on Hope tightened. "You're not taking her anywhere."

"Hayley, you're frightened for your child." She rolled her eyes and grimaced. "I can assure you, anything that Freya may have told you about our life together— well, she always had a flare for the dramatic."

"Well, it seems to run in the family." 

"Of course, most of my troubles with Freya stemmed from the fact that I came for her too late in life. She had such a strong memory of the family that I took her from." Her eyes fell to Hope, who began to coo within Hayley's arms. "Hope is still young. She won't cling to the memory of you, or cry for you in her sleep. You can take comfort in the fact that, for her, it'll be as if you never existed."

Hayley's eyes began to transform and the veins underneath them grow prominent. "Come closer." She warned, viciously. "Let's see how a witch with no magic does against me."

Hope started to cry the moment Hayley threatened Dahlia, which only amused her. "Oh. You've upset the child. A pity, you ought not to waste your last hours with her this way. You should spend your time saying your farewells. Night fall, tomorrow, will come all too soon. Goodbye for now, little one."

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"What the hell did you think I was doing, Elijah? Of course I tried to call you. I'm guessing the bitch took down the cell towers, I don't know." Riley frustratedly spoke toward the Original. He learned quickly that Dahlia had paid them a visit at the safe house.

"And, where were the wolves who stood guard?" He asked, directing his attention to Hayley more than Riley.

"Getting their asses handed to them by Dahlia just like Klaus did." 

"That's it." Klaus sauntered into the room. The Hybrid was furious that Dahlia was able to enter with such ease. "You're coming with me to the compound."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "Is it any safer there? Dahlia sent Josephine there this morning?" 

"No way. We'll be sitting ducks there, just like we will be here as soon as that spells breaks." Hayley swallowed thickly as fear ran through her. She knew that she only had one option left. "Which is why we have to go. Jackson is out getting supplies and then we're taking the wolves and we're headed to the Bayou."

"The swamp? So my child can be protected by the very wolves Dahlia so easily defeated?!" Klaus raged immediately. "Absolutely not!"

Hayley pushed past Elijah and stormed closer to the Hybrid. "You know, I am so over taking advice from you, Klaus. All it has done so far is put Hope in danger. From now on, I'm gonna do what I wanna do. We're leaving."

She attempted to walk past Klaus, brushing his shoulder against hers, but he grabbed her forehead and yanked her back. "You're not going anywhere unless I tell you to!"

"I am not your prisoner, Klaus!"

"Both of you, please." Elijah's voice echoed in an attempt to defuse the argument that began to take place. "We're playing into Dahlia's hands."

"Not doing as I say plays into her hands. While you three have been kow-towing to Freya and devising ways to flee with your tail between your legs, I've been forging a new path. I know what Freya was planning, and I know how to kill Dahlia." As Klaus spoke, it was clear that he had captured their attentions. 

"If you've got a way to get rid of her, then you should probably share with the group." Riley hummed with an encouraging look.

"Freya objected to us making a single weapon because it spoilt her plan—"

"—Klaus!" The roar of Jackson Kenner echoed throughout the safe house. He hurried inside with Aiden's body over his shoulder and Josh following swiftly behind. "Klaus!"

"Oh, my God!" Hayley ran forward with a gasp once Jackson had delicately set Aiden's dead body down onto the counter top. He had been badly beaten and his heart yanked from his chest. "What happened?"

"Klaus made Aiden spy on us. Instead, he told me everything." Jackson's eyes locked with Klaus He wore a venomous look on his face. "So you killed him!"

Klaus remained completely silent as he stared at Aiden's dead body in front of him. Riley furrowed her brows, turning her attention from the dead wolf, to Klaus. "Is this true? You— you killed him?"

The Hybrid looked around the room at everyone's disgusted faces and noticed how quick the blame was shifted to him. His face hardened before he shrugged. "So what if I did? This is what happens to anyone who dares cross me!"

"Oh, my God."

One of the other wolves gritted his teeth viciously toward Klaus. "Just give us the word, Jackson." 

"Yes! Come and have a go! But you'll be putting your life on the line for one who was all too willing to betray you. Perhaps this never would've happened if he had had a real Alpha."

Jackson lost it. He grabbed klaus by the jacket and punched him directly in the face, sending him stumbling backwards a short distance. Klaus regained his balance and shoved Jackson into the wolves, causing Hayley to speed toward him. 

"Everyone stop!" Riley yelled out, extending her hands as the Hayley, Klaus and the wolves all dropped to their knees and clutched their heads in pain. "This fighting is solving nothing! Now, pack it in." Riley relented the spell and heard a sigh of relief leave their lips.

Klaus shrugged with a gleeful smile as Elijah and Riley moved to his side. "You lot should make better use of your time. I suggest burying your dead."

"Get out!" Hayley yelled hysterically.

"Niklaus, you mentioned a plan. I recommend you begin." Elijah told his brother, though his gaze didn't leave the wolves. "Hayley and Hope are safe for the time being. They're not going anywhere."

"Shan't be long." 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───