chapter twenty

the secrets that we keep

━✧━

JORDANNA GROANED AS she rolled off Klaus' bare chest, swiftly grabbing her phone as it rang. "What?" She snapped in annoyance. What was it with people in Mystic Falls and waking her up?

"Now, now," Rebekah tutted into the phone mockingly. "That's no way to greet your friend now is it?"

"Fuck off," Jordanna mumbled. "What brain injury did you endure to ring me this fucking early?"

"Early? It's bloody 1 O'clock," Rebekah replied.

"Like I said, early."

Rebekah inwardly rolled her eyes, "no time for dilly dallying, Jordanna. Get up and dressed, we're meeting with the mayor."

"Why?" The witch questioned as she leant up on her forearms.

Rebekah sighed, "perhaps if you get dressed and meet me you shall find out. Chop, chop darling."

And she ended the call.

Jordanna groaned as she fell back into the bed sheets, her head tilted and lips pursed as she studied the sleeping hybrid besides her. From his dirty blond hair; where in which she could see the odd blond curl. To his eyes, they were very, very blue; they were pretty. Not as pretty as hers, but a close second. The small, barely noticeable, litter of freckles that scattered across his cheeks. To his pink plump lips. His jawline—his very, very nice jawline.

"You're staring," the supposedly 'sleeping' hybrid noted, his voice still raspy having not been awake long.

"Am not," Jordanna denied, placing her gaze on the ceiling above her. Though there was not much to look at—for a one thousand year old vampire, his ceilings were very bland. Jordanna shook her head in slight disgust, if she was going to be staying here a lot she'd need something to avert her attention away from the extremely attractive hybrid laid next to her. Perhaps a self portrait. Oh! Or maybe she could have Klaus paint her like a French girl. Now that, would be a delightful addition to the room.

"No need to be ashamed love, I am quite irresistible," Klaus sent her a sheepish grin.

"Cocky much?" Jordanna rolled her eyes, turning her body aside so she was face to face with the man.

"Very much," Klaus smirked, lightly his hand trailed up and down her waist before stopping at her hip—giving it a squeeze as he pulled her body on top of his.

Jordanna scoffed as she let her hands glide across his shoulders, coming to a stop as she noticed his tattoo. Her hand traced over the ink, Klaus' eyes watching her. Sceptical of her next moves. He could never tell if the witch wanted to hurt him, badly. Hug him. Kiss him. Annoy the fuck out of him. Or bang him. 

Quite frankly, he wouldn't mind any of the former.

Though the last was probably out of the question as he recalled of the witch's previous words. In all honesty Klaus hadn't the slightest idea of the words the witch uttered a few days before hand, he knew she mentioned something along the lines of her being naked—hence the reasoning behind why Klaus began picturing her naked.

He let out a content sigh as she pressed a light kiss on the tattoo, her lips trailing up his shoulder, they brushed against his neck as she took a second to look up — flashing the Hybrid a taunting smirk. Klaus' grip on the witch's hip tightened, his hand slipping under the sheer fabric of her skimpy vest top, thumb rubbing patterns into her bare stomach as her lips trailed up his neck, slightly sucking under his ear. Klaus' free hand laced around her jaw, pulling her lips to his. The kiss was rough, passionate, lustful. Her hands travelled from his shoulders to his hair, tugging on it, electing a groan from the Original.

Before the witch could even blink, Klaus had flipped them over. His hands rested either side of her head, knee placed between her thighs. His hand dragged across her neck, pushing her hair back as he traced his finger along his necklace that resided on her neck. The witch shivered slightly at his feather like touch before gripping onto his own necklaces, pulling his face down to hers — reconnecting their lips.

Jordanna let out an involuntary sigh, her eyes fluttered shut as he slowly laid kisses down her neck, his lips slowly moved across to her ear, hot breath fanning the side of her face. "You alright there, sweetheart?" He taunted, smirking in amusement upon hearing her erratic heartbeat. 

"Fine," Jordanna grunted, gasping as he nipped on her ear. Klaus hummed, making his way down her shoulder, suddenly unlatching his lips as his face formed a scowl.

Jordanna frowned at the abrupt action, his eyes narrowed on her shoulder. His cold finger traced over the skin, lightly. As if he was afraid to hurt her.

"What?" The witch inquired, resting her hand on his cheek.

"I'm going to kill him for hurting you," Klaus murmured, talking more to himself than her. The witch's head tilted in confusion before she figured out what the Hybrid was going on about.

The bruises Damon had left.

"Hurting me?" Jordanna scoffed, laughing slightly. "Puh-lease, for a vampire he's got a pretty weak grip."

She lied, he had a strong grip.

She just didn't want Klaus going all psycho on Damon—she and Stefan had had finally made up and she didn't need Klaus killing his brother because of her and potentially fucking up her friendship with the younger Salvatore. Though she appreciated the gesture.

There was something oddly heart warming about hearing a guy threaten to kill for you, or maybe that was just her.

"Jordanna-"

The witch patted his shoulder, as she awkwardly got out of his grip — heading to the bathroom. "I have to get ready to meet your sister and you can sort that out." Her eyebrows raised in amusement as she gestured to his hard on.

Absolutely wonderful.

"Or perhaps you could sort it out for me, sweetheart," Klaus smirked, looking up at her, mischievous glint in his eyes. "You are the one who caused it, it'd be fitting if you dealt with it."

"Fuck off."

✧ 

"Thank you for meeting with us, Mayor," Rebekah smiled politely. Jordanna subconsciously rolled her eyes at the kind act the blonde had put on. It was almost unnatural seeing Rebekah in such a manner. "I figured as head of the Preservation Society, you'd be a good person to ask about the oldest trees in this community."

"A long line of Lockwood women used to keep those records, back before any of them had actual jobs," Carol informed the pair with a small smile.

"I've been to the Founders archive but I can't seem to find any record of the tree I'm looking for," Rebekah sighed slightly, feigning a stressful expression.

Carol hummed, taking a sip of her wine, "it probably got cut down. Big old trees built half of this town in the 1900's."

Jordanna's eyes narrowed in suspicion as Stefan and Damon walked in the Grill, heading for the bar. She met the former's eye, the mousy-haired Salvatore sent her a flash of his teeth, nodding in greeting.

"Do you happen to know who kept the milling ledgers during that period?" Jordanna spoke up sweetly.

Carol gave the two girls a strange look before answering, "back then all the logging mills were owned by the Salvatore's."

Jordanna grinned at the woman. "Thanks Mrs. Lockwood." The witch picked up her bag and made her way over to the two brothers, Rebekah following after her.

"At least in 1912 they killed a Salvatore," the girls heard Damon speak as they stopped in front of them.

"Care to share which Salvatore that was, D?" Jordanna questioned, smirking at the look of annoyance which the elder Salvatore's face held.

✧

"So, Zachariah Salvatore was your nephew?" Rebekah asked in false curiosity.

"Well, our father knocked up one of the maids during the Civil War, she had a son. But as far as everyone else knew, Stefan and I were dead. Family name had to go somewhere," Damon explained as they all stood by the bar, Jordanna next to Stefan as he rested an arm around her shoulder.

"And uh, your family owned the logging mills back then?" Rebekah asked. The witch sighed, Rebekah wasn't exactly being subtle.

"You're full of a lot of questions," Damon smirked, eyeing the blonde causing Jordanna to gag quietly and Stefan huff out a laugh.

The witch sent the vampire a kind, innocent smile, "she's helping me with a history assignment, Damon. Real big history buff, I am. Love it."

She hated history.

"Yes, besides I'm just researching the town history. I grew up here after all," Rebekah stated shooting Jordanna a look.

"You know you don't have to disguise your true motives Blondie-Bex, if you want more sex, just ask for it," Damon teased. Jordanna scoffed out a laugh, the ego on this man.

Rebekah rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on," Damon teased looking at the blonde. "It was too good for you to be this hostile."

Stefan grabbed his glass and snatched the bottle of whiskey from Jordanna's hands as he moved closer to the witch, face holding discomfort.

"You have to excuse my little brother, he's jonesing for some O positive," Damon mocked, earning a scowl from his brother.

"I'm not jonesing," he muttered. Jordanna patted his shoulder patronizingly, to which he swatted her hand away grumbling under his breath.

"Don't worry Stephano, I believe in you," Jordanna quipped in false sympathy.

"So did they ever catch the killer?" Rebekah asked as she moved to sit besides Damon.

"Nope," Damon shook his head. "Wrote it all off on vampires."

"Maybe it was a vampire," Jordanna shrugged, taking a shot with Stefan.

"JJ's right. Maybe it was a vampire, Damon," Stefan said suggestively, pouring himself and Jordanna another shot.

"Don't think for a second that you didn't cross my mind too, brother," Damon smirked at Stefan. "But these murders weren't your style, were they? Plus there was no other vampires circulating then."

"Well, there was one other vampire," Stefan leant against the bar, facing Damon. "Remember Sage?"

"Ohh, right Sage," Damon grinned brightly. "Speaking of great sex."

"Who the hell is Sage?"

✧

"I knew a Sage one," Rebekah told them as Damon finished his story. "Trashy little thing."

Jordanna snorted, "I had a fish called Sage when I was 9, it died. I forgot to feed it."

The three vampires gave the witch a funny look as she laughed at the memory.

Damon shook his head, looking back at Stefan, "town questioned every grown man in Mystic Falls. Probably never occurred to them that a woman could've done it."

"So, tell me more about your old relatives. I heard they tore down half the woods to build this town."

A bartender placed a new bottle of whiskey in front of the four. Jordanna reached for it, but Damon got it first.

"Easy there," Damon sent Jordanna and Rebekah a fake smile. "It's been a hoot and a half but it's boys night and you weren't invited." Damon walked off, Stefan following, two glasses in hand before he turned and sent the Jones witch an apologetic look.

"Rude," Jordanna called, rolling her eyes before turning to Rebekah. "All right I'm off, I can't stay in the same building as Damon any longer. I'll blow my head off."

"Off you pop then." Rebekah smirked, "tell Nik I said hi."

"Will do," Jordanna winked in response.

✧

"Nikky!" Jordanna called as she sauntered into the Mikaelson mansion. "Klaus, where are you? Helllllo?"

Silence.

Jordanna groaned, throwing her head back in annoyance. She made her way to the art room where Klaus would probably be. Throwing the doors open she found the original sat on the couch sketching. She rolled her eyes and took a seat next to him.

"Have you magically gone deaf or something?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Hello Jordanna, lovely to see you," Klaus rolled his eyes, tone sarcastic.

The witch scoffed, "I don't know why you're being pissy but don't take it out on me."

Klaus sighed in irritation, not answering the witch.

Jordanna scowled, grabbing onto the sketchpad Klaus was drawing in before throwing it across the room, watching as the papers scattered across the floor.

The original gritted his teeth, turning to the witch who innocently smiled at him, "what do you want from me, sweetheart?"

"I'm bored," she told him, placing her legs in the hybrid's lap.

"And? Go find someone else to torment, I'm busy," he patted her leg before pushing them off.

Jordanna clenched her jaw, getting up she grabbed a bottle of whiskey. She ignored Klaus' eyes on her and walked around his art room, observing his paintings. She didn't take lightly in being ignored. Perhaps she could set all of his art work on fire, she smiled at the thought. That would certainly earn his attention.

Just as the witch went to pick up a drawing, she felt a presence behind her. Klaus sighed as he took the whiskey bottle from her hand, taking a large gulp himself before setting it down onto a small table beside them. His fingers feathered across her neck as he moved her hair, lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "you have my full attention."

Jordanna smirked, finally.

The witch turned around and Klaus couldn't help but smile at the little smirk on her lips. "What is it that you wish to do?" He asked, twirling a piece of her hair around his finger.

Jordanna shrugged, "talk? I wanna know your deepest, darkest secrets, Nikky. I wanna know what skeletons you have hidden in that ridiculously large closet."

Klaus rose his eyebrows, "your wish is my command." Taking her hand in his he led her back to the couch, perching her legs in his lap once again.

"Okay," Jordanna hummed in thought. "Favourite colour?"

"Seriously?" Klaus questioned in amusement. "I thought you wanted my 'deepest, darkest secrets'," he mocked. "That's hardly a complex question."

"Yes, seriously," Jordanna rolled her eyes. "Just answer the question."

"Fine, red."

"What, because it's the colour of blood?" Jordanna mocked.

"Exactly," Klaus grinned, rubbing shapes into her ankle. "You know me so well love."

"Hm, okay. Ask me something."

"What is this? Twenty one bloody questions?" He sighed upon seeing the agitated look on the Jones' face, finally he gave in, "fine, what's your favourite colour?"

"Red."

"And why's that?" Klaus questioned boredly, earning a kicking in the stomach from the witch.

"Because I look amazing in red, duh."

Klaus shook his head, letting out a laugh. "Can't say I disagree with you there."

"Okay, okay," Jordanna clasped her hands together, sitting up in anticipation as she thought. "Have youuu . . . ever been with a man? I mean, c'mon, you're one thousand years old, you can't tell me you haven't tried to experiment once."

Klaus shrugged in answer causing Jordanna to roll her eyes. "That wasn't a no."

"It wasn't exactly a yes, either," he told her. 

"So, what? Does that mean kinda?" She asked upon noting his hesitation. "Okay, tell you what, you tell me about what you may or may not have experienced and I'll tell you about Rose."

"Rose?" Klaus lifted a brow, the name itching the back of his head in familiarity.

"Rose," Jordanna confirmed. "Tall, hot, sexy accent, dead." 

Klaus' face still held the same confusion.

"Rose that helped that—oh God, what was his name. Uh, oh! Trevor! Rose that helped Trevor hide Katherine from you."

"Right. That Rose." Klaus still hadn't a clue as to who she was talking about, but he recognised the names faintly. 

"So, do we have a deal?" She asked, a teasing tone to her voice as she held her hand out.

Klaus narrowed his eyes down at her hand before he met her eye again and clasped his hand in her own, shaking it. "You have yourself a deal, sweetheart."

A grin laced Jordanna's face. "Can't wait to hear all about it, but I'm not done with my questions yet." 

"Of course you're not," Klaus muttered in frustration. 

"Plus it's your turn so, ask away."

This 'thing' between them was weird. It was like a friendship of a sort, and if Klaus were to be honest, he hadn't really had a lot of friendships before—obviously there was Marcel, he saw him as family up until he 'died,' and he hadn't really allowed himself to get close to anyone again, he hadn't allowed himself that sense of friendship.

But with Jordanna it was . . . nice. He felt as though he could talk to her for hours, like he could share things with her—he could trust her. They understood one another. And as much as he hated to say it, as he deemed it 'childish,' he did like her, ( cue the dramatic eyeroll ). 

And it was the same for her, she did like him, but she was hesitant. She knew she felt something for him, and that's what scared her. That feeling. 

Sleeping with him was one thing, but all that other shit? She didn't know if she could do it. She wasn't particularly the type to have boyfriends and girlfriends, she had, of course, but none of them had good outcomes and that's what scared her.  

Jordanna grinned at his obvious irritation. "How sweet of you to contribute, Nikky. Favourite sibling?"

"Rebekah."

Jordanna whistled. "No hesitation," she sang before a teasing pout pulled at her lips. "Poor Elijah will be crying himself to sleep now." Klaus sent her a deadpanned stare as they sat in silence for a minute whilst the Mikaelson thought of his next question.

"What happened with your father?"

Jordanna raised her head to look at him, eyes meeting his.

"I killed him," she told him bluntly, shrugging her shoulders lightly. 

Klaus rolled his eyes, "I know that. Though I never heard the full story."

Jordanna groaned, "is this you asking to hear how it happened?"

"Indeed it is."

"All right then," Jordanna sighed. "So it was the day of the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.."

founders hall, mystic falls — february, 2010
(flashback)

Jordanna was walking around the venue with Caroline, politely greeting guests with a fake smile on her lips. They had just finished their dance and speeches so they had a few hours to spare before the judges decide on a winner. 

Jordanna looked around the Lockwood gardens for Stefan, though she had no luck in finding him. She knew he was going through a hard time with his little blood addiction and just wanted to be there for him. 

Jordanna frowned as she suddenly felt something in her hand, opening up her palm,  she found a note. She opened the folded piece of paper, eyes widening faintly at the words.

Hey J, 

He's here and he's waiting for you. I heard he has the dagger, so be careful.

Kill that son of a bitch, end this.

Also, before I forget, Nandi wants you to babysit that brat of hers, she said she'd pay you, I told her there was no money in the world that she could pay to get someone to look after that kid. You're welcome for that. 

I'll see you on your birthday kid.

Good luck.

- Gloria.

"Some witchy business?" Caroline teased from besides her. Yes, she knew. Jordanna told her, obviously.

"Yep," the witch mumbled in annoyance as she shoved the crumpled piece of paper in a bin besides them.

"Seriously, now?" Caroline whined, looking around the garden as she watched Mayor Lockwood laugh with the judges, smiling widely as he turned to face the two girls, sending them a curt wave. 

"Look, I'll be back before they announce the winner, okay?"

"You better or I swear to God I won't talk to you for a month," Caroline threatened, arms crossed.

Jordanna scoffed, "good luck with that Blondie."

"Just . . . be careful, okay?"

"Aw, Caroline Elizabeth Forbes, you absolute sweetheart," the witch teased, pinching the blondes' cheeks. "Of course I'm gonna' be careful, who do you think I am?"

"Just hurry up," the blonde snapped, waving Jordanna away.

"I hate my life," Jordanna mumbled as she walked out of the building. 

✧

Jordanna looked up at the abandoned house where her father was apparently waiting for her.

"Ew." The witch grimaced as she strolled up the porch steps, silently. Waving her hand, she watched as the doors opened without a sound. 

She glanced around the empty house, the atmosphere was eerie—sending chills down the witch's spine. She pursed her lips at the silence. This is how he wanted to play it? Then that's how they'll play it.

Her eyes caught sight of a door, it was open slightly. The witch rolled her eyes, of course.

She knew it was a trap but she was going to let him believe she had fallen for it. She wasn't stupid, she was her mother's daughter after all.

But then again . . . Mary may have been smarter than her father but that didn't keep her alive.

With another wave of her hand the door opened, without a sound. She treaded lightly down the staircase, careful to avoid the click of her heels, she followed the path. The basement was cold and quiet but she could feel it, his presence. 

As her foot finally graced the basement floor a knife came flying at her, just skimming her head.

The witch looked up, pouting in false sympathy, "aw, daddy you missed."

"Hello, Jordanna," the gruff voice of her father greeted, stepping out of the shadows.

"No times for formality's Howard, let's get this over with," she rolled her eyes. Pulling the knife from her thigh holster, twirling it in her fingers.

"What happened to dad, huh?" The older Adams asked.

Jordanna snorted, "you lost that title a long time ago."

"That hurt me," Howard said, holding his hand to his heart. "You hurt your old man, Danny."

"Stop talking," Jordanna snapped. "You want to kill me, so go ahead, give it a try. But I can assure you, you won't succeed."

"I will finish you," he threatened.

"Okay," Jordanna nodded, pursing her lips. "You do realise you're basically an old man. You can barely walk up the stairs without your back fucking cracking every five seconds. Give it a rest already, if you stop now I'll kill you nicely. I'll smother you with a pillow or something, how's that sound?"

"Always so full of yourself," Howard tutted. 

Jordanna rolled her eyes, fed up of the talking, she waved her hand sending Howard flying into a pillar. 

The man groaned, hand on his stomach. He looked up to his daughter and started laughing, "that all you got? I thought I taught you better than that."

"You haven't taught me shit," she responded as she flicked her wrist, listening to the cracking sound of the man's leg. 

Ignoring the pain, shooting all over his body Howard stood, grinning at his daughter. His crimson, bloodied teeth on show.

With a wave of his hand he sent Jordanna flying into the wall besides her, the witch groaned as her body came into collision with the wall. Howard stalked towards his daughter, pulling the dagger from his jacket. He bent down, eye level with her, "you'll be missed, dearly."

Jordanna chuckled, "I'm sure I will." She swiftly sent her foot to his stomach, watching as he stumbled back, rising from her place on the ground she sent her fist flying to his face. His cheek split from the impact. Her foot flew between his legs, the only sound in the entirety of the house was the grunts coming from the man's mouth.

Raising his hand he watched as Jordanna winced, placing a hand on her head. A searing pain shot through her skull. Taking it as an opportunity he stalked towards the girl and thrusted his hand forward—dagger aimed at her heart.

His smile diminished as his hand went through her body.

 It was a fucking illusion.

"Missed again," Jordanna mocked from behind him, a bat in her hands. 

He growled in frustration, spinning on his heels he ran at his daughter. The plan he had made slipped his mind, he was acting on anger. Acting with anger, hatred, could be seen as a good or bad thing, it could motivate you or it could fuck up everything you ever worked for. In Howard's case, fate wasn't on his side. Jordanna knew her father would act out, let his anger get the best of him. Seemed like fate was on her side today. 

Jordanna smirked as her father neared, lifting up her bat she brought a rough blow to his head. The metal nails on the bat split into his head causing Howard's blood to splatter across the young witch. 

The witch pursed her lips as she watched her father fall into darkness, grimacing as she looked down at the bloodied material, "he ruined my fucking dress."

✧

It wasn't long until Howard woke, it just gave Jordanna enough time to sort everything out. The Adams man was angry to say the least, his anger only growing as he attempted to move his hands, merely to find that he was tied down. 

Looking around at his surroundings he noted he was still in the basement, he scoffed at realization. She tied him to a fucking pillar. His feet dangled at the uncomfortable angle he had been placed in, his hands behind him locked in magical handcuffs which, unfortunately for him, stopped his magic. 

A humming sound brought the man out of his thoughts, eyes narrowing as his daughter stepped out of the shadows. There Jordanna Jones stood, all bloodied up twirling the dagger between her fingers.

"Killing me won't change anything Jordanna," Howard scoffed. "It won't bring your mother back."

"I know," Jordanna simply answered, nodding her head along with his words. "But it sure as hell will make me feel a whole lot better."

Howard shook his head in anger, "you try so hard to be someone you're not. You kill and act like it's justified, you try and be good knowing if your mother saw you she'd be so disappointed in you. I know I am."

She scoffed, "you really think that I care what you think of me?"

"No," Howard told her honestly. "You don't care, I know you don't. Which makes this all the more better, you're a killer Jordanna. You kill. You torture people and tell yourself they deserve it so you feel better. But deep down you like it, you like the thrill of the chase. You like knowing someone's life lies in your hands, you like playing God. Which makes you like me in a way."

"I'm not like you," Jordanna denied shaking her head, nearing the man. "I'm better."

"No," Howard breathed out. "No, you're not. You're a shittier version of me. We could've been great if we worked together. If you let that part of you show. You'd bring honour to the Adams name."

"Your DNA may run through my blood, but there's no way in hell that I'm an Adams. The second you betrayed my mother I became a Jones," she sneered.

Howard tutted, "see that? That's why you're gonna' get nowhere. You feel, you sympathise."

"What? Caring makes me a bad person? I'm sorry I'm not a selfish bastard who only cares for myself."

"You're wrong again," Howard shook his head. "You can care as long as it's for the right thing—power."

"We're done with this conversation," Jordanna mumbled as she stabbed the knife into her father's shoulder. Shuddering as he screamed out, a smile pulled at her lips. 

Sweat dripped down his face as he looked down at the witch. "I shoulda' killed you all those years ago," he spat.

"Probably," she agreed as she harshly removed the knife and thrusted it into his abdomen.

"You'll pay for this," he breathed out as she walked away, soon returning with a large container.

"I guess I'll see you in hell then," she grinned as she threw gasoline all over his body.

"Jordanna! Jordanna!" Howard screamed out as he watched her cover the floors in the liquid.

Placing a cigarette in her mouth her lips upturned into a smirk, "it's been fun, dad."

With frantic eyes he watched as she brought the lit matchstick up to her mouth, lighting the cigarette before her eyes met his. She sent him a large smile and dropped the match.

Turning to the stairs she blocked out the antagonizing screams of her father and walked out of the house, the blaze of fire following after her. 

Her heeled feet greeted the floor beneath her as she stepped out of the house, turning to face the burning building one last time.

Pulling her phone out her bra she dialled a familiar number.

"Hey Stef, I need your help."

(edited 22/02/22)

{AN} absolute bollocks xo