𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 52

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Annalise pushed open the doors of Marcel's loft and strutted inside, the heretic walked into the living room and pursed her lips spotting Rebekah and Marcel.

"What the rutting hell happened?"

Marcel sighed, "She was going about territory Rebekah isn't familiar with."

Rebekah crossed her arms as she huffed, "I think I'm capable on my own."

Annalise shook her head, "Not as a newly born witch. You can barely contain your magic, Beks."

The witch frowned as she glanced towards the floor. At that same moment, Elijah stormed in.

The original vampire faltered catching his soulmates gaze but he reluctantly looked over at his sister, "Are you alright?"

Marcel groaned as he pinched his nose in annoyance. Anna stuffed her hands into her pocket as Rebekah spoke up, "Barely. They attackers knew me, Elijah. Not me-me, but-" she gestured down at her body, "this. Her. Whoever she is... They want her dead."

Elijah clenched his jaw as an unpleasant glint shone in his eyes, the vampire glanced over at Marcel, "Then we find them and show them why their anger is unwise."

Annalise pursed her lips as she thought about their situation. Marcel shook his head, "You don't want to mess with that crowd, alright? We want answers, we need to ask Josephine LaRue. She serves as matriarch to the covens outside the Quarter. She'll know who wants Rebekah dead."

The heretic quirked up a curious brow, "How can you be so sure?"

"She bankrolls Fauline Cottage." Elijah's eyes widened in surprise as the other vampire continued, "She'll know who you are and why you were locked up in there."

Rebekah shuffled anxiously, "And what if she wants to lock me right back up? I won't go back to that horrid place-"

Elijah swiftly cut his sister off, "The two of you go and see what you can find about this body you now possess. I shall pay a visit to Josephine."

"Elijah. Josephine is an eccentric old bat with no love for vampires. Your charms might not work as well as you think. Your best bet is taking Anna with you, since she's half witch." Marcel spoke up.

Annalise let out a laugh, "As if the witch's have any love for me. But, I agree with Marcel." the heretic turned and gave her soulmate a smirked, "It has been awhile since we ventured together." she patted his shoulder before walking out the loft.

Elijah couldn't help the small smile that spread onto his lips, the original shook away his thoughts and followed after the heretic.

The pair had arrived before Josephine's rather large house and the brunette hesitantly knocked. A butler opened the front door and slightly bowed before leading the two into the house.

Annalise pursed her lips as they walked into the living room where an elder woman sat in a chair, she had raven black hair and piercing blue eyes.

"A Martin witch?"

Annalise sucked in a sharp breath at the way she was addressed, it had been far too long since someone called her a Martin witch.

The heretic smiled, "The one and only."

Josephine hummed, "I've heard plenty about you." The brunette straightened up and Elijah placed a comforting hand onto the small part of her back.

"Thank you for letting us in." Elijah kindly spoke.

The witch blinked at the vampire, "It's best not to insult those more powerful than you, which is the only reason I allowed you into my home. Now, if you will excuse me, I have many things to do."

Elijah held Annalise closer to himself so he wouldn't do anything rash, "My goodness, I had expected a more cordial welcome here."

The witch narrowed her eyes, "And why would I be cordial to you?" she leaned back in her seat, "Since your family has returned to this city, our Elders have been murdered. Promising young witches have been inhabited against their will."

Anna clasped her hands together at loss for words but her soulmate spoke up, "I can put an end to all of it."

Josephine knitted her brows together, "With all due respect, I can believe that... as much as I believe I will play my violin again someday." she glanced down at her hands and Anna looked taken back to see them shaking and extremely swollen. Her fingers along with her joints were incredibly stiff, "Because, Mr. Mikaelson, beneath your formal attire, and behind the lovely traitor, " the witch nodded at Anna, "you are all the same. Liars. Monsters wearing the skins of humans. Good day to you both."

"Ms. LaRue, we needn't be unpleasant." Elijah urgently spoke.

Josephine looked calm as she sighed, "I hold no animosity, nor do I want to do you any favors. I simply want you to leave my home."

Annalise took a step forward, "LaRue. Your last name, it sounded familiar and I couldn't figure out why. I now remember. My mother, she had a close friend. Her name was Jolinda LaRue, I remember the visits she paid when my mother fell ill with her sickness."

Josephine's lips parted, "She is my ancestor. A woman looked upon by my heritage."

Anna nodded, "She was a kind woman, she always brought me meals as I was but a child when my mother passed. My father was crept up in Elder work, so she took care of me."

Elijah watched the conversation silently, it was the first he had heard Annalise speak of her mother.

Josephine sighed, "My ancestor aided you in your time of need."

The heretic smiled, "We do not wish to cause you problems. Elijah is a man you can trust, I can promise you that."

The witch glanced over at the vampire who was watching Anna with a tender gaze, Josephine glanced between the two and softly smile, "Perhaps, I should hear Mr. Mikaelson out."

Elijah looked back at her in surprise.

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Annalise took a stack of files from the butlers grasp and handed a few to Elijah who began to skim through them. The vampire cleared his throat before speaking up, "Thank you. One of the witches that escaped the Fauline Cottage is of particular importance to my family. My request to you, tell your people to leave her to me."

Josephine pursed her lips, "You have no idea how dangerous these witches can be."

"She will cause you no further trouble." Annalise told the witch as Elijah nodded his head in agreement, "I can assure you that. In return, I shall find all of the remaining witches and deliver them safely back to you."

Elijah flipped through the file he was given, which contains psychiatric evaluations of Eva Sinclair, along with a photograph of the witch. The evaluation details her violent tendencies, criminal and antisocial behavior, numerous arrests and incarcerations, and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He pulled out the page with the photo of Eva and hands it to the raven haired witch.

"Consider this the first step in a new and mutually beneficial alliance."

Annalise watched Josephine's eyes widened with surprise, "Eva Sinclair. Powerful and sadistic. If I am to relinquish someone like her into your custody, I will require someone equally powerful in return." the witch explained causing Elijah to look at her expectantly.

The witch glanced up looking at the two soulmates, "The Tremé Coven wants Vincent Griffith returned. How you expel your brother Finn from his body is your concern."

"Consider it done."

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Elijah and Annelise hurriedly made their way towards the cemetery, "You know Klaus will become livid for interfering."

The vampire pursed her lips, "I know."

Annalise sighed, "Well, no backing out now."

The heretic sped quickly with the original trailing behind. Annalise caught sight of the hybrid about to pierce Finn's abdomen with a pike and quickly shoved Klaus away from the witch.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Klaus glared at his friend who was panting.

"I'm not too sure myself." the heretic breathed as Elijah appeared by her side, "You didn't answer my call."

The hybrid flared his arms up, "Well, I was clearly busy."

"I need him alive." Elijah sternly spoke to his brother who gaped at him, "You've lost your bloody knickers if you think I'll let him live."

Klaus went to approach the witch once again but Annalise flicked her wrist, causing the hybrid to be shoved back with an unexpectedly strong force.

The hybrid watched his friend in disbelief, Elijah took a step towards his brother, "The witch's want that body unharmed."

Klaus scoffed in anger, "And what else do they want? A parade? Free broomsticks for all?"

The vampire narrowed his eyes slightly, "This alliance could be greatly beneficial to us all-"

The hybrid cut him off rudely, "Yes, well currying some witch's favor does not concern me!"

Freya suddenly appeared the trio and looked unbothered as she spoke, "It should. Witch allies can prove valuable."

Annalise looked startled as she watched the blonde who walked over towards Finn who was whispering, "Freya. Freya. Help me."

The blonde kneeled next to him, "Don't worry, brother. I won't let them hurt you." She uses her fingers to lift the blue pendant on her talisman toward him as she starts to cast a spell, "Yovara vimuna virael." her pendant glowed a vibrant blue causing Finn to scream in agony as his body began to heal up. "Yovara vimuna virael."

Once the Mikaelson witch stopped chanting, Vincent sat up and stared at the siblings and at Annalise in confusion, "Who are you?"

"That's what I'm bloody wondering." Anna muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Freya lifted two fingers over the witch's face and made a sweeping motion, "Sleep." the male felt back as he went unconscious.

Elijah gripped the heretic's hand protectively as he wearily eyed the blonde.

"What the hell did you do to him?" Klaus raised his brows.

Freya held up her pendant for her brothers to see, "Finn is now safe from harm. And his hatred of you can no longer do to damage to our cause."

Elijah narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "Our cause?"

Freya nodded, "Yes. Ours. And now, if you two can stop arguing long enough, perhaps you'll allow your older sister to offer you a deal."

Annalise's lips parted in realization as Klaus scoffed rather harshly, "What could you possibly offer us besides fairy tales and lies?"

The blonde witch pursed her lips tightly, "Whatever you think of me, brother, know this, when I speak to you, it is the truth. If you have any doubts, remember that it was I who rescued Rebekah from the Fauline Cottage."

"And was it not also you who led Finn on his vile mission to take Hope's life?" Elijah grit out.

Freya shook her head, "The threat to Hope came from Finn. Not me." she glanced towards the ground clearly upset by the thought, "The brother I knew would never have stooped to threaten a child. Our mother destroyed him. Like she did me." the witch gazed at Klaus, "You. Everything she touched."

The hybrid looked severely appalled, "Do not talk speak as though we are familiars! We know nothing of you."

Freya held up her palms so they were facing her two brothers, Annalise furrowed her brows in concern before realizing the witch was showing her a memory.

Anna glanced between the three as Freya opened her eyes and stared ahead at her brothers, "Do you still think me a liar?"

"That proves nothing but your ability to conjure illusions." Klaus snarled at his oldest sister.

Freya sighed at her brother's hostile personality, "Before you dismiss me, you should know this, if I've woken from my slumber, Dahlia has as well. Once she's sensed your child's magic, she will come for her. And she has the power to kill anyone who stands in her way... unless we kill her first."

Klaus wailed his arms up, "That's quite convenient, isn't it? You show up in the nick of time to help us kill the woman with whom you've spent a thousand years!"

The blonde grit her teeth in frustration, "You have no idea what it took to escape her! Or what I lost in the trying. Her punishment will be profound."

Annalise thought carefully about her next words, "And you know how to stop her?"

Freya glanced at the heretic and gently nodded, "Given the proper materials, yes. I've sent Father to procure them."

Anna furrowed her brows as Klaus gaped at the witch furiously, "You put the life of my child in the hands of Mikael?" the hybrid turned abruptly not wanting to hear more.

Elijah called out for his brother, "Niklaus. This woman has knowledge of the threat we now face and is willing to share that information."

Klaus scoffed, "Well, you'll excuse me, Elijah, if I'm not inclined to trust the mysterious sister we only just met! But, by all means, if you wish to entertain this idiocy, have at it." he stubbornly sped away leaving Annalise and Elijah with Freya.

Freya glanced at her brother, "Thank you," she smiled softly, "Your kindness is much appreciated." the blonde glanced over at Annalise, "As is yours, Annalise."

"How do you-?"

"Annalise Martin. A name that almost every witch alive would know." Freya held a kind expression towards the brunette which caught her off guard.

Elijah pursed his lips before speaking, "I may be willing to accept your identity, Freya- it doesn't mean I trust you."

The witch nodded, "Then I will look forward to earning that trust."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise tossed her coat onto the couch as she glanced around at Elijah's new loft. Elijah shrugged off his jacket as he watched the heretic's every move.

"Might I say, it's lovely."

Elijah smiled, "I'm glad you think so."

Annalise instinctively toyed with the familiar chain around her neck, the vampire's eyes narrowed as he recognized it.

"You still wear it?"

The heretic gazed up at Elijah who was looked at her neck, Anna blinked as she realized what he was talking about.

"Why wouldn't I?"

The vampire felt his chest tighten as the familiar sense ached his heart, a sensation that only Annalise had ever been to rile up in him.

The heretic licked her lips as she met Elijah's oak-brown eyes. She swallowed nervously as a flash of desire flickered through his expression.

Elijah clenched his fists, he was a mere second away from taking everything he had been craving.

Anna exhaled as her cellphone began ringing, the heretic cleared her throat before glancing at the device that currently rested upon the coffee table by Elijah's side.

The original clicked his tongue in annoyance before glancing down, his irritation only grew seeing a certain witch's name pop up. "It's your lover." he bitterly spoke.

Annalise furrowed her brows as she glanced at her phone, "Francis isn't my lover."

"Oh really?"

The heretic scoffed at his attitude, "What is up with you? Why are you being so hostile towards him? Francis has done nothing but aid us in this chaotic war and you seem to have a deep problem with him."

Elijah scoffed as he met the heretic's gaze, "Do you seriously have to ask me that?"

"Yes! Why? Why do you hate him so much? He hasn't done anything to you."

Elijah grit his teeth, "He is constantly getting rather comfy with you."

Anna gaped at her soulmate, "What? No he is not. What I felt for him was over three hundred years ago. So, why do you care so much?"

"Just leave it, Annalise."

"No. I'm so sick of you refusing to answer this anytime I ask you. So, tell me. Why do you care?"

"Drop it, Anna."

"Tell me."

"Anna-"

"Just bloody tell me, Elijah!"

The vampire ran his hands through his hair in frustration as he gazed into her luring emerald eyes, "Because I am in love with you."

Anna's jaw slacked open as she looked taken back. Had she heard him correctly?

"I am so irresistibly in love with you, and seeing him anywhere near you fuels up my anger. You loved him, he was your first love. How could I ever mean anything to you compared to him?" Elijah's voice sounded so vulnerable that he himself didn't recognize it.

Anna's gaze softened as she took a step forward, "You're right. I did love him. Three hundred years ago. Then, I met you."

Elijah's lower lip began to tremble as he watched the woman he so deeply cared for, approach him.

"You, Elijah Mikaelson, you who made me feel more alive than I had ever felt. For the first time in centuries, I felt all bubbly inside. I would take one glance at your smile and that was all it took for me to feel as if all my problems had been solved. Feeling your lips on mine, it was as if nothing else mattered in the world. I didn't care for anything else."

Elijah sucked in a sharp breath as he listened to every word the heretic had to say.

"When Francis came back, none of that changed. As of right now, I only love him as a dear friend. Because I am in love with you."

The vampire's lips slightly parted as Annalise continued, "I love you, Elijah."

Elijah was right in front of Anna in a split second, claiming her lips rather urgently. The heretic gasped as he wrapped his arms around the lower part of her back, flushing both of their bodies together. The Martin girl reached up and tangled her hands into his chestnut hair.

She tugged a bit earning herself a low groan from the vampire. The heretic mentally smirked before slipping a hand down to press against his chest.

"Say it again." Elijah heavily breathed as he rested his forehead against hers.

Anna softly chuckled, "I love you."

The vampire gently gripped her chin before smashing his lips onto her again, hearing her say those three words, it made him feel complete.

Elijah gripped her waist as he walked the brunette backwards into his bedroom. Annalise allowed herself to be guided by the male as she swiftly unbuttoned his white shirt.

Elijah gripped her body closer to his as if it was even possible, he needed to feel her. All of her.

The heretic finished the last button and pushed the fabric off his shoulder, the vampire pulled his arms back as he discarded the cloth.

Anna's hands roamed over his chest and the two relished in the way sparks ignited their skin. Annalise felt her legs hit the bed and she fell back.

Elijah gazed down at her before quickly latching their lips together once more. Anna pushed herself further into the king sized bed.

Elijah left her lips and began to trail down her jaw with chaste kisses before finding the heretic's tender spot.

Anna bit back a groan as she relished in the ecstatic sensation coursing through her body. The brunette flipped their positions so she was now straddling the vampire's waist.

Annalise leaned down, reconnecting their lips. Elijah's hand found it's way into her short oak brown hair as the other tugged up her shirt.

Anna pulled back before reaching up and tossing her shirt across the room, the vampire watched her movement in awe but was left no room to say anything as she tackled him into another heated kiss.

The heretic softly moved her hips causing Elijah to groan loudly. She smirked at the sound she had earned.

Elijah reached up and smoothly unclasped her bra, the vampire pulled back as he gazed into his lovers eyes, "You're absolutely beautiful."

Anna smiled shyly that lasted short as Elijah leaned down pressing a chaste kiss to her chest, "I love you."

The vampire shifted so that she was back on the bed. Annalise groaned as Elijah took his sweet time with her.

The rest of their clothes had been discarded onto the floor.

It was going to be a long night.

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a/n:

Thank me.