CHAPTER SIXTEEN | THE DEVIL COMES HERE AND SIGHS

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RILEY HADN'T GOTTEN A MOMENT OF SLEEP SINCE SHE WATCHED FINN MIKAELSON DIE. Of course, watching anyone die was horrific, but now she worried about the fate of everyone she loved. Lucien was able to kill an Original vampire— nothing can kill an Original, or at least, that's what they thought. Riley knew more than ever that nothing is promised, least of all for people like them.

She sat upright in the bed, her head rested in her hands as she exhaled. Elijah's eyes fluttered open to notice Riley's current position. He lifted his hand up to trace the skin against her bare back while he sighed. "You have not slept."

"What's more concerning is that you have." Riley muttered back. She finally dropped back against the pillow and rolled onto her side, looking him in his eyes. "How'd you do that?"

"Do what?" Elijah hummed.

"Act like you aren't afraid. Like you're not completely terrified about what's around the corner. I mean, Lucien can kill an Original, Elijah." 

The vampire exhaled again and lifted his hand up against her cheek, to cup it gently. "I prefer to live in the moment. And right now, laying here with you, I feel alive. So, tell me, Riley, how could I possibly worry about death?"

Riley took a deep breath, tucking her hair behind her ear as she listened to Freya's stressful grunts from the study. "We should get up. Freya sounds like she could use a hand."

Obeying the suggestion of the woman he loved, Elijah nodded in agreement. The couple quickly dressed themselves for the day ahead and then headed into the study where Freya had tasked herself to find a way to take down Lucien. 

"Freya, we're out of time." Elijah reminded his older sister once they arrived in the study.

"A sigil is a complicated magical symbol, weaponised and condensed to its most potent form." Her eyes flickered up from the sketch. "If I combine the right elements, we'll have a chance at stopping Lucien. And, if I don't—"

A loud knocking interrupted Freya. Riley, Elijah and Freya all shared panicked looks until they heard Cami helplessly yelling from just outside the courtyard. She was unable too freely enter, given the deed was now in Freya's name and she needed an invitation to enter.

"What's wrong?" Hayley arrived at the doorway, furrowed brows.

"It's Klaus. Lucien has him."

"Freya, invite her in!" The Marshall-Kenner woman yelled in Freya's direction as the three hurried down to the courtyard.

"Yeah, come in. You're invited." Cami took a breath and stepped past the threshold. Hayley glanced outside once more before she slammed the courtyard door closed. "Lucien ambushed him. He knocked him around like it was nothing."

Riley's breath grew shakier. "Did he— did he bite him?"

"No. I think he wanted him alive." The blonde vampire shook her head. "I followed them. Lucien took Klaus back to the penthouse."

As soon as Cami gave Klaus' location, Elijah's phone started to vibrate in his inner jacket pocket. He read the text, scoffing quietly as he did so. "Lucien is demanding my presence at the Whiskey Cask. Alone and immediately. He says if I delay, Niklaus will die."

Riley couldn't just let him go. She couldn't just let Elijah walk out of the compound given the possibility that Lucien could end his life within a moment. Shaking herself from her thoughts, Riley looked up toward Elijah, who had started toward the door. "No." She spoke aloud, speeding in front of him to block his way. "No. Elijah, it's a trap. This is what he wants. Lucien can kill you."

"Yes, when you put it that way it does sound a little reckless." The Original hummed in response, though his intention of leaving the compound did not falter. 

Elijah's hand rested comfortably against her cheek— a feeling of warmth and admiration that Riley adored. "I know I can't change your mind, but—" Riley whispered, her eyes fixed on his. "—I need you to come back alive, Elijah. Promise me."

"You know that, given the circumstances, I cannot make that promise, Riley. Don't make me lie. Not to you." Elijah whispered back before he delicately pressed his lips against hers then he disappeared the moment she opened her eyes. 

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Hayley enlisted the help of Riley and Cami to recover Klaus from Lucien's penthouse, given that Lucien was preoccupied with Elijah. The Evans girl was quick to agree, especially since she needed a distraction from thinking about Elijah.

With Aurora poised to stake herself and become yet another Hybrid with an incurable bite, Cami stepped into the foyer of Lucien's penthouse. "Well. It appears we have company." The redhead dropped the stake in annoyance. "This day just gets better and better. Cami, it's been a while. How's vampirism treating you?"

"As a matter of fact I'm enjoying it. That's why I'm here—" Cami opened her jacket pocket to reveal an old blade. "—to express my gratitude."

"Ooh, you cheeky little minx." Aurora feigned surprise as Cami pulled the knife out, but then chuckled. "Have you come to have a go at me?"

"Get out of here, Camille!" Klaus protectively roared. He knew that there was no way Cami could take Aurora alone.

"Shut up, Nik! This is between us girls. Though, I suppose I will let you listen to her cries as I tear off her limbs like the wings of a pretty little butterfly."

The blonde extended the knife out in front of her. "I'd like to see you try."

"Ooh! You're brandishing your antiques at me." Aurora took a challenging step toward her rival and out into the foyer. "I suppose I would be scared if I thought you were quick enough to use them. You really did not think this through, did you?"

"Actually, we did."

As the words left Cami's lips, the elevator ding caught Aurora off-guard. Both Riley and Hayley were quick to rush out and tackle the redhead into the apartment. With a few easy movements, Hayley thrust her hand through her Aurora's chest.

"Stop!" Klaus roared just moments before Hayley yanked the woman's heart out. "She drank the serum." Reluctantly, the Hybrid removed her hand, but as she did so, Aurora snapped her neck and threw her body across the room. 

Aurora's gaze met Riley's. The Evans girl knew that whatever she did, she could not kill Aurora. The redhead sped straight toward Riley, grabbing her by the throat, though Riley quickly peeled her hand from her throat and broke her arm with ease. 

"Motus." The girl whispered softly underneath her breath as Aurora was thrown a considerable distance backward. Assuming the throw had caused Aurora to fall unconscious, Riley sped over toward Klaus in an attempt to free him. "Let's get you out of h—"

Snap.

Riley's body fell to the ground in front of Klaus to reveal Aurora stood over her. "Aw. Poor dear. Should've made sure I was really unconscious. Anyway!" Aurora clapped her hands together. "Nik, what a conundrum. Mother of your child over here. Woman of your dreams over here. And, whatever she is to you." Aurora motioned to Hayley, Cami and then Riley. "Which one should I kill first?"

"I'm the one who betrayed you. I'm the one you hate." He swallowed thickly.

"And they're the ones you care for. So what a pleasure for me to watch your face as I rip them apart."

"Hey! I'm right here, ready and waiting." Cami yelled from the foyer in an attempt to get Aurora away from Klaus. 

"Oh, Cami, the hero was never a good look on you. Trembling and helpless is more your style." Aurora lunged toward Cami, dodging a few swipes from the knife until she gripped Cami's hand and caused her to drop her weapon. She then grabbed her by the back of the neck and forced her toward the threshold. "Cami, did Nik ever mention to you what happens when a vampire goes into a room without being invited?"

Just as Aurora was about to force Cami inside, Klaus broke. "Aurora!" He yelled, desperately. "Please."

The desperation and fear in his eyes as she held Cami just behind the threshold was intoxicating for Aurora. But, she wanted more. With one final smirk, she pushed Cami into Lucien's apartment and she dropped to her knees screaming in anguish. 

"Darling, I almost feel sorry for you." Aurora coaxed above Cami's desperate cries whilst blood started to pour from her eyes sockets. "Blinded by love as I once was, ready to give everything, even your life, for one who is and always will be unworthy."

Cami plucked up what little strength she had left to punch Aurora in the face. The pair both had each other by the throat until Riley's eyes flickered open, Klaus watched desperately as Riley sped over to Aurora and punched her so she would fall into Cami's arms. "Now!"

Once Riley yelled, Cami injected Aurora with a sedative that caused her to immediately fall asleep in the blonde's arms.

"Good night, sunshine."

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"Mission accomplished." Klaus mused as he glanced to Freya, Riley and Elijah. "And it only took you the better part of a day."

"Hm, what'd you guys think? Perhaps I should put those chains back on and hang you from the stairwell." Riley raised an eyebrow toward the Hybrid whilst her head laid rested on Elijah's shoulder.

"You'd be doing us all a marvellous favour. Perhaps you could fasten something to his mouth." Elijah chuckled, gently placing a kiss against Riley's head.

"Aurora's still out cold." Hayley informed the four as she headed back into the study after checking on the sedated redhead. "What are the chances of keeping her that way?"

"Oh, Riley's spell will keep her down long enough to use the serum in her blood to figure out how to kill both her and Lucien." Freya confidently spoke.

"I must say, I'm rather looking forward to it."

"You're welcome." The Mikaelson witch spared one final smile for her brother before she headed out of the study.

Klaus' eyes met both Hayley and Riley as he stepped closer to them. "I suppose I ought to be thanking the two of you, as well." 

"You can thank me in diaper duty." Hayley waved with a smirk before she left the room, too. 

Riley finally peeled herself from Elijah and sighed. "Oh, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Aurora get what she deserves. But, since you're feeling grateful, you should probably speak to her." 

"I believe Camille prefers I leave her alone."

"You don't seriously believe that, do you? I never thought I would see her stand against someone that could easily kill her the way she did today. And, you know why she did that? For you. She cares about you enough to put her ass on the line." The Evans girl tilted her head with a smile. "So, if I were you, I'd go over and thank her in person."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───