𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 57

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise and Marcel gave each other bored glances as Rebekah continued to bicker and moan about having to stay protected whilst listening to jazz music.

"I won't stand for this chauvinism!" the Mikaelson shouted. The heretic pursed her lips and gestured over to the witch as a sign for him to take up the task and calm her.

Marcel rolled his eyes at Annalise before approaching the distressed Rebekah, "It used to be called chivalry, and back then, you liked it just fine." he steered her to sit upon a bar before going behind to grab a bottle of liquor.

Rebekah narrowed her eyes at the vampire just as Francis waltzed in, he blinked before glancing over to Anna who raised her glass at him.

"I can't do magic in here?"

The heretic meekly nodded, "Well, I would hope not."

Francis glanced over at Rebekah, "How's she doing?" Annalise snickered as she gestured towards the Mikaelson, "Absolutely losing it."

"Look, I am not sitting out this fight in some musty club!" Rebekah shouted at Marcel who glanced at Annalise with pleading eyes. The brunette shook her head before taking another sip from her bourbon.

Marcel glanced back at the witch and sighed, "This 'musty club' is the only place in the city where magic can't hurt you." the vampire explained while pouring the girl a drink, "And, it has the best bourbon."

Rebekah's demeanor turned serious, "Elijah needs me."

"'Lijah can manage on his own, Beks." Anna spoke up from her seat at a table. The witch turned to gaze at her friend, "Why aren't you with him? He needs all the help he can get."

"I know. But I'm actually here, to help you." Annalise stood from her chair and began to approach her friend who glanced back at Marcel.

The vampire nodded, "Anna's here to de-link you."

Rebekah's eyes went wide with hope, "Can you do it, Anna?"

"Well, it will be a tad trickier due to it being dark magic but I can reverse engineer Mrs. Sinclair's work." Anna nodded at her friend whilst Francis plopped down onto the couch.

The heretic turned towards the male witch, "Francis, make yourself useful and return my father's grimoire from the compound."

Francis blinked at his friend, "A simple 'please' would do nicely."

"Since when am I nice?" Annalise sent the male a teasing smile before gesturing towards the door, "Go."

Francis rolled his eyes before reluctantly standing from his seat, "Can't even sit for more than two seconds."

"Move those legs." Annalise rushed before turning back towards the bar, "I need another drink."

Rebekah merely watched at the brunette screwed off the top of a bottle of whiskey and began to drink straight from it.

Annalise chugged down a large gulp of alcohol before turning to watch Rebekah sort through a crate of records. The witch pursed her lips, "What good's a jazz club with no bloody jazz?"

"Ask the owners." Anna took another sip from her drink just as Elijah strutted into the club holding what seemed as a file box before setting it down on a chair, Camille followed quickly behind the vampire.

"I'm afraid we have more pressing concerns." Elijah shortly spoke as he began to rummage through the box. Rebekah turned towards her older brother with her brows furrowed, "What's all this?"

Cami licked her lips anxiously, "Dark objects. Because apparently, now I'm a dispensary."

Annalise set down her bottle of whiskey as she approached the vampire, "Elijah?"

The original held a serious gaze, "It seems that Niklaus' distrust of Freya was not entirely misplaced. Our sister wants to use Hope to lure Dahlia in to a trap."

Annalise looked visibly taken back, "What?"

"And, I assume you told her she's out of her lunatic mind?" Rebekah incredulously said Elijah pressed his lips into a firm line, "I have another idea. Hope is something of a beacon for this new terror. But, now that she's been cloaked, perhaps we can use something else to ensnare Dahlia." he turned towards his soulmate who gazing at him intently, "These enchanted objects should generate power to create a decoy of some kind."

Annalise nodded as she thought, "I'm going to need a golem." the heretic watched Cami tilt her head in confusion, "A clay doll. I can replicate little Hope's power source and transfer it into the doll. That will be our decoy."

Rebekah crossed her arms over her chest, "Would Dahlia be fooled so easily?"

Anna shook her head, "Obviously not. Which is why I need a vial of Hope's blood."

Elijah gazed at his lover curiously, "What for?" The heretic pursed her lips before speaking, "Dahlia won't be tricked easily. She'll need to hear a beating heart, so, my plan is to inject the blood into Freya. Once that is done Dahlia will then be hunting her down, so when witch bitch confronts her, Freya will have the decoy doll while Rebekah chants an illusion spell so that to the eye, it looks like baby Hope."

A wide smile spread onto Rebekah's lips, "You're a bloody genius, Anna!"

The Martin heir shrugged, "This will only work if we work together and make it believable."

The Mikaelson witch blinked as she realized that she had to perform a spell, "Wait, why do I have to do it?"

"I will be hiding with Elijah as backup considering Dahlia's strength while Freya attempts to fool her."

Marcel finally chimed into the conversation, "What if Freya refuses?"

Elijah's gaze hardened, "She does not have a choice. Using Hope shouldn't have been a resort."

Silence fell over the group as everyone took the plan into thought, but no one objected.

Annalise gazed over the others, "Well don't just bloody stand there. We have until nightfall people."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise stepped into the courtyard to see Elijah glancing at his cellphone whilst Rebekah lingered a few feet away.

"What's wrong?" the heretic curiously questioned as Elijah swiped through his phone, "Hayley left a voicemail."

The two females herded around the vampire who played the recording, "Elijah... I'm calling to say goodbye. Hope and I... we can't be part of your family anymore. All Hope's life, her family has tried to destroy her. That can't be my little girl's story."

Anna's lips parted in shock as Elijah looked taken back by the hybrids impulsive decision, "Family is supposed to love you. Even if she is free of Dahlia's first-born curse, Hope would still be Klaus' daughter. She'd inherit a thousand years of enemies, all his anger and rage... I don't want Hope to be a Mikaelson, all the pain that comes with that name... She doesn't deserve that."

The trio heard the hybrid mother take a deep unsteady breath, "Goodbye." and the line went silent.

Annalise took a few steps back as she processed what she had just heard, "She just— left?"

Rebekah paused for a moment as she hesitated to speak, "She's right, Elijah."

Annalise pursed her lips to keep from saying anything. In her mind she understood Hayley's reasoning, she truly did, but that didn't give her the right to just take Hope away. No matter how messed up the Mikaelson's were, they were still her family.

Anna glanced over at Elijah who had stayed silent.

Neither of the three had realized a hurt hybrid who had quietly listened in. Klaus grit his teeth before angrily speeding away.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise finished lighting up the candles that were placed in an alter outside the lycée as she prepared to unlink Eva's body from the other New Orlean witch's.

The heretic sat on the ground as Rebekah did the same before her. Davina watched the two females and pursed her lips, "You ready?"

Rebekah took in a shaky breath, "All right, then. Just a little bit of witchy business. How difficult can it be?"

Anna gave her friend an encouraging smile, "You'll be fine. The hard part was Eva linking herself to the children. And now, it's your body, so all you have to do is unlink yourself."

The Mikaelson witch swallowed nervously as Annalise continued, "I wrote everything perfectly clear on the spell. I will be here to help guide you as well as be a source to channel. You can do it, Beks."

Rebekah reluctantly nodded, "Lovely. I guess I'm hoping I don't turn us all into a horde of bull frogs."

The heretic rolled her eyes as she held her hands out for the witch to take. Davina lingered a few feet away as she watched the other two link hands.

"Sai por ce kai sai ma nous couve gran. Sai por ce kai sai ma nous couve gran."

Annalise's hand twitched as she began to channel her magic into Rebekah. The Mikaelson flinched at the sudden power that flushed through her.

"Sai por ce kai sai ma nous couve gran. Sai por ce kai sai ma nous couve gran."

Their hands were suddenly thrown apart and Rebekah gazed at the brunette in confusion, "Did it work?"

Annalise glanced over at Davina who reached for a knife, "Only one way to find out." Rebekah held out her hand as the teenager created a small cut on her index finger.

Anna watched Davina look at her own hands before smiling proudly. The heretic met her friends relieved gaze, "Unlinked? check."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise hurriedly walked after Rebekah as the two entered the compound followed shortly by Marcel.

Rebekah smiled proudly, "It's done! I'm de-linked from those children, the coven's almost grateful, and we even beat the rain."

"If my hair would have gotten wet on the way here there would be consequences." Annalise sweetly smiled as Francis stuffed a chocolate croissant into his mouth as he laid across the couch.

Freya continues waving her sage smudge stick in preparation for her spell as Elijah leaned away from the windows while gazing at Marcel expectantly, "I trust that Davina will play her part?"

Marcel nodded, "Yeah, against my better judgment."

Rebekah rolled her eyes at her ex-lover before speaking up, "Stop being so overprotective. If Davina's made Regent to all nine covens, she'll be granted the power to resurrect Kol and the political clout to unite the witches to our cause."

Annalise watched Marcel cross his arms over his chest, "Don't pop the champagne just yet. Dahlia said she'd come for the baby, and now a storm springs up out of nowhere? You really think that's coincidence?"

"Nothing that happens in this city is a coincidence." Anna gazed at the vampire who nodded in agreement with her.

Elijah took a step forward before intervening, "Well, regardless of her power, she needs to be dealt with." he turned towards the blonde Mikaelson witch who was still in the midst of casting a spell, "Fortunately, we have a weapon."

Freya blinked at him clearly not pleased with her role in the plan as Marcel's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, "Look, no offense, but are we really going to put all our eggs in one still-kinda-mysterious basket?"

Freya looked over at the vampire with an unamused glint in her eye, "I assure you, I am quite motivated to aid in Dahlia's defeat. Particularly now that Elijah has forced me to be the bait."

Elijah held back a smug smile as he spoke, "And, if we should fail, Davina and the witches will take up the task, at the very least distracting Dahlia long enough for Hope and Hayley to disappear."

Annalise smiled brightly, "Plan A and B, people."

Thunder and lightening crashed outside and Rebekah moved as she went to shut the window to prevent more rain from entering the compound. When the Mikaelson witch pulled down the window pane she found the top completely covered in blood, as if someone had escaped.

"Elijah!" Rebekah shouted in complete panic. The original vampire went over to his sisters side to see what caused her nerves to wrack up, the moment he saw the blood he inhaled sharply.

Annalise glanced between the siblings in worry, "What happened?"

Rebekah rushed across the courtyard with Elijah quickly at her side. Anna and Marcel glanced at each other before strutting after the brother and sister.

The heretic walked into a room where a coffin laid, but it was open and more importantly— empty.

Rebekah's eyes went wide with horror, "No." she turned towards Marcel who looked taken back at the sight, "Where is he?"

Annalise clenched her fists in hopes to hide her nervousness, "Tell me you didn't lose Klaus."

Elijah grimaced as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Oh bloody kill me."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise sank her fangs into a blood bag as Francis stirred his tea at the coffee table. Rebekah paced anxiously as Elijah spoke up, "Until Niklaus is found, Marcel and I will scour the city."

Anna harshly scoffed, "Assuming Nik doesn't slaughter them."

Rebekah gazed at her older brother in worry, "You know as well as I do he'll be on the warpath. Which again raises the question— how in the hell is he even awake?"

The heretic glanced at Klaus' three paintings of which contained Norwegian soil and Mikael's ashes that were hung up in the courtyard.

Freya's voice cuts through the air, preventing Elijah from speaking, "It was Dahlia. This was all part of her plan. No doubt, she killed Aiden, hoping that the blame would fall on Klaus, the family would divide, and she could win Klaus to her cause."

Rebekah narrowed her eyes at her oldest sibling, "That is absurd! Nik would never align with Dahlia."

Annalise stayed quiet as the others argued, she herself didn't think Niklaus would side with Dahlia, but when the hybrid was betrayed and angry, there was no telling what he would do in retaliation.

Freya sent Rebekah a patronizing glare, "You continue to defend him."

"He'd kill anyone who'd try to take his daughter." the Mikaelson witch was quick to defend the hybrid making Freya scoff harshly, "Isn't it Hayley who's trying to take his daughter?"

"Their daughter." Anna corrected in a bored tone as she tossed her empty blood bag into the trash before glancing over at Francis who was munching on popcorn while watching the Mikaelsons fight.

The heretic sent the male a look to which he innocently shrugged, "It's a free drama show happening before my eyes."

Elijah narrowed his eyes, "Let's not forget Dahlia is the true enemy here."

Freya sent the original vampire a fake smile, "How good, then, that I finished my spell." she stood from her place and approached one of the paintings that were hung up on an easel, "The paint of his artwork, combined with my blood, will render Dahlia vulnerable. The moment she passes between these paintings—" the blonde Mikaelson gestured towards the other two paintings, "she will be mortal."

Annalise watched as Freya pulled out a familiar knife before handing it to Elijah, "You can kill her... using this."

The vampire knitted his brows together, "Father's knife?"

Freya merely shrugged, "I thought it appropriate."

Elijah met Anna's gaze and as if realization hit him, he visibly tensed.

The heretic noticed the sudden movement and narrowed her eyes. What was wrong with him?

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise walked into the study where Elijah was pacing around anxiously, the vampire stopped as he felt his lovers presence and turned to face her.

"What's wrong, darling?" Anna softly questioned. Elijah clenched his jaw, "I'm— worried."

The Martin heretic furrowed her brows, "About?"

"You." Elijah truthfully answered which made Anna look at him in surprise, "Me? Why?"

The vampire fought his thoughts as he attempted to remain calm, "Whenever I have done something to anger Niklaus, he is known to go after the ones I love."

Annalise's lips parted with realization, "Your past lovers were all killed by Nik."

Elijah hesitantly nodded, "And I'm afraid I have gone too far this time, and if he is to take his revenge on me by hurting you, I would never be able to survive—"

Annalise was quick to approach the panicking original as she cupped his face in her delicate hands, "Hey, I'm going to be alright. Nik may be ruthless but I doubt he would kill me, okay?"

Elijah's eyes were filled with fear, "That won't stop him from finding another way to make you suffer."

Anna leaned up as she placed a tender kiss to his lips. Elijah relaxed immediately before the heretic pulled away, "Nik won't do anything. In three hundred years the most he's done is insult me, which I promise I can handle."

Elijah couldn't shake the awful dread brewing up in his mind, something was going to go horribly wrong and if Anna paid the price for his actions, the vampire would go off the rails.

Annalise gave her lover her true smile, one he was always able to bring out of her, "Everything's going to be okay. Trust me."

Elijah's gaze softened as he stared into her emerald eyes, "I will always trust you."

Anna felt a hue of pink dust her cheeks before leaning up to place another chaste kiss on his lips. She back and held a determined glint in her eyes, "I love you."

Elijah felt his chest tighten, bloody hell did he love hearing her say those three words, "And I love you."

"We're all going to make it out of this."

Annalise was indeed wrong. Not all of them would.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise shoved Francis into the ballroom where Elijah, Rebekah, and Freya were gathered as the blonde witch sprinkled herbs over the clay golem.

Elijah pursed his lips in worry, "Now, you're certain this will work?"

"Let's not toss around words like 'certain.'" Rebekah chuckled nervously. Francis patted Elijah's back, "Have a little faith, mate."

"I'm trying."

Freya licked her lips as she spoke up, "You grow more adept with magic each day, and this spell is flawless. Though, I might have preferred Elijah ask my permission before volunteering me as the bait."

Elijah held an unamused gaze, "Yes, I'm not in the habit of asking permission."

Francis sent the vampire a look, "Better be bloody careful about who you say that to." Anna slapped a hand over her mouth as she attempted to stifle in her laughter.

Elijah bit back a chuckle as he rolled his eyes dramatically.

Freya glanced at trio who looked amused with one another before intervening, "No matter. We have all that we need. Rebekah and Francis will perform the spell, using my heartbeat and the golem to craft the illusion of Hope's presence." the blonde turned towards Elijah, "Once Dahlia is lured into the killing ground, you will do what is necessary." she then turned towards Annalise, "You will be by his side to make certain Dahlia is killed."

Anna nodded firmly as Rebekah spoke up, "You're rather calm, which is odd, because there are a million ways this plan can fall to pieces."

Freya let out a heavy sigh as she began to pace around the room to examine the paintings, "I admit... First, I was upset when Elijah ignored my plan in favor of his own. You are all so determined to protect Hope at all cost. Perhaps I'm envious— no one ever fought so hard to protect me." she stopped at the picture of a certain original hybrid and looked over at Elijah.

"Then, I recalled what I saw when I looked inside your mind. The day you all swore an oath to stand by one another— always and forever. There's strength in such vows."

Elijah scoffed softly, "I can assure you, it has not been free of consequence."

Rebekah scrunched up her features, "That is an understatement. Ask me, that vow has been more trouble than it's worth."

Freya walked over to her youngest sibling, "And yet, here you are— proving my point. Family defines you, even if it demands sacrifice." she took Rebekah's hand and squeezed it encouragingly, "My entire life, I have longed for what you have. It is better to at least glimpse it, facing death, than run forever and know nothing of family."

Elijah gave the witch a small smile as he felt touched by the blonde's choice of words.

Anna nudged Francis' side, "You ready?"

"You bloody know it."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise watched Freya stare at Hope's car seat which held the golem in it. The heretic breathed nervously as she used her vampire hearing to hear Francis and Rebekah beginning to chant the spell for the illusion, "Sinete exa vana vintante com. Sinete exa vana vintante com."

Freya picked up the clay doll and examined it, as the spell finally kicked it and it now appeared to be Hope. The blonde clutched the imitation of her niece as she anxiously waited for the next step to begin.

Elijah tapped the handle to Mikael's knife nervously as Annalise clenched her fists. The two soulmates glanced at each other as they heard heels begin to clack against the concrete floor. The two hide further into the hallway as Dahlia emerged into view, she continued walking but stopped right before the doorway.

"I come all this way to collect what is owed to me, and whom should I find?" Dahlia raised a brow at her niece.

Freya breathed heavily as she wore a terrified expression, "Tante, please, please listen. I betrayed my siblings so I could procure this child."

Dahlia blinked at her niece as she paced the courtyard but did not make a move to enter the room where the paintings were.

Freya licked her lips anxiously, "I offer her to you now, and in exchange, I only ask that you release me from my obligation to you."

Dahlia tilted her head curiously until she caught sight of one of Klaus' paintings. She began to walk towards the blonde but stopped just short at the doorway.

Annalise shuffled as she braced herself beside Elijah.

Dahlia held an amused glint in her eyes, "How curious, that you should bargain with me for that which is already mine. But, by all means, make your case for why you should be freed. And then I will decide whether to release you or kill you, once and for all."

Freya clutched the illusion of Hope tighter as her aunt continued, "You surprise me. Betraying the family you meant to coax to your side? How very ruthless of you."

The oldest Mikaelson sharply inhaled, "I had hoped that they would welcome me as a sister. I was wrong."

Dahlia clicked her tongue as she feigned sympathy for the witch, "Of course you were, you poor little fool! To think that Esther's wicked little progeny could ever care for you? They are known the world over for obscene acts of violence, and yet, you sought them out instead of staying where you belong. With me."

Annalise grit her teeth as she watched the witch stalk towards Freya.

"I offered to protect you for all time, and you left me. And now, it is you who is alone! But then—" Dahlia paused for a short moment as a sinister smile spread across her lips, "Who could love a deceitful little wretch?"

Annalise watched in complete horror as the illusion spell crumbled away, revealing that Hope was really nothing more than the golem.

Dahlia watched Freya with hateful eyes, "What have you done?"

Freya struggled to find a response to she quickly yanked the witch into the room, "Anna, Elijah. Now!"

Elijah pounced with Mikael's knife in his hand but was tacked away by Klaus who rushed into the room.

Annalise watched in fear as she sped to help her soulmate but was suddenly telekinetically sent flying into a wall. The heretic groaned as she rolled onto the ground.

Harlow grinned wickedly as he stepped into view, "How about we finally end this, Annalise?"

The Martin girl grit her teeth in anger as she slowly stood, she hissed as her fangs made an appearance while her eyes went blood shot red before veins protruded under her eyes.

"There it is. The face of the Martin coven killer." Harlow seethed as he rolled his shoulders back, "Today's the day I avenge our coven."

Anna breathed heavily, "No, today's the day you die once again, at the hands of your own daughter."

The heretic sped quickly as she kicked the male's abdomen before jagging her palm upwards to uppercut the witch's chin.

Harlow stumbled back as blood began to seep from his parted lips. A hearty laugh escaped him as he healed himself, "I'm going to enjoy this."

Elijah grunted as Klaus pinned him against the wall, "She's controlling you." He rasped out, "You have to fight her."

Klaus clenched his jaw as he began to release his pent up anger, "The only thing she did is pull out the dagger you stuck in my heart!"

Elijah broke free of Klaus' grip and quickly elbowed him in the face, following it up with another right-cross to the jaw. Elijah, taking advantage of the hybrid's distraction, kicks him in the stomach so hard that he slams up against a wall.

Klaus grunted in pain before angrily speeding to throw the vampire backwards.

Elijah let out a soft wince as he landed near Anna who in the midst on pulling out a knife from her thigh.

"Well, you definitely won't be winning father of the year award." Anna panted out before gazing over at her lover. Harlow smirked at her distraction before focusing on the heretic's heart.

Annalise began to choke up blood as she felt her heart slowly begin to be ripped out of her chest.

Elijah's eyes went wide with horror, "No!" The vampire went to attack Harlow but Klaus gripped his brother punched him in the face before tossing him across the room.

Elijah yelled in pain before turning to meet the hybrid's glare, "He's going to kill her."

Klaus held a blank expression as he clenched his jaw, "She should have thought about that before betraying me."

The original vampire bared his fangs, "You're going to regret saying that."

Anna gripped her chest in pain as Harlow smiled down at her, the heretic sharply hissed before forcing herself to concentrate.

The brunette flicked her wrist causing a knife to fly right at her father, the dagger hit the males spleen and he doubled over in pain, causing him to let go of the spell.

Annalise took in a big breath as she felt the pain in her chest subdue. The heretic stood back up on her two feet as she slowly approached her father who was in the midst of ripping the knife out.

The Martin heir gripped the male's shoulder and twisted it backwards, causing the Elder with to let out a cry of pain. Anna held an emotionless gaze as she plunged her hand into her father's chest, grasping his pulsing heart.

Harlow gasped as he coughed up blood, Annalise stared into the pair of green eyes that reminded them of her own. "All I wanted," tears began to well up in the heretic's eyes as her lower lip began to tremble, "Was for you to care about me."

Harlow looked taken back by his daughters confession. A single tear escaped her eyes as she watched the male, "I never wanted to kill the amount of people I have. Why did you do this to me?"

The Elder witch didn't respond as he began to weaken. Annalise tightened her grip on his heart, "Why did you do this to me?" she repeated her question.

"Just kill me." Harlow rasped out. Annalise swallowed down a lump in her throat, the heretic ripped her hand out of the witch's chest, her father's heart that once beat now laid in her grasp.

Annalise watched Harlow's body fall limp as he collapsed onto the ground. She dropped the heart beside his body and pursed her lips, "All I wanted was a father."

Annalise let out cry as a familiar pain struck her chest. The heretic whirled around to see Elijah fall to the floor, with Papa Tunde's knife embedded into his chest.

The Martin heir reacted quickly as she sped, the girl used the point of her heel to kicked the hybrid's leg out causing him to yell in agony.

Annalise's gaze saddened as she watched her beloved friend, "Don't do this, Nik."

Klaus grit his teeth as his anger only fueled up as he watched Anna, "What choice did you leave me with?"

Annalise readied herself but Niklaus was much faster, the male gripped her neck and pinned her to the wall in a choke-hold position.

"Nik—"

Klaus stared at the heretic in betrayal, "I never expected you to turn your back on me."

Annalise shook her head as she struggled against his hold, "Nik, please. I had nothing to do with the daggering."

The hybrid gripped her tighter, "But you did nothing when you found out. You left that dagger in me. Sided with my brother and allowed my child to slip away from me." Tears began to cloud the males vision, "You, who I trusted more than my own family. You, who I would have done anything for. You hurt me the most, Annalise."

Annalise felt as if her friends words burned through her, "I never wanted to hurt you. I was trying to save Hope. Your little girl. I have always stood by you, Nik. But this? What you're doing, siding with Dahlia?"

Klaus grit his teeth, "You're no better than I am. A ruthless creature with the need to kill."

"No." Annalise firmly spoke, "I am nothing of the sort."

The hybrid let out a bitter laugh, "Enough with the righteous act, Annalise. You claim to be this savior when in reality, you have become the very monster you resent."

Annalise felt every word the original spoke pierce her mind like a knife, her eyes glossed up with tears.

Klaus blinked away his tears as he wickedly smiled, "I have a gift for you."

The heretic felt fear run through her as she glanced over to see Marcel shoving Rebekah and Francis into the room. Both witch's had been shackled to bound their magic.

Klaus tore his gaze away from the brunette as he gazed at Marcel, "Be a good lad and take ahold of my dear friend Francis' heart."

Annalise's eyes went wide with terror, "No! No! Marcel, please." the heretic began to thrash against Klaus' hold as she cried out for her friend.

Marcel felt a guilty sensation settle into his stomach knowing exactly what Klaus was planning.

Klaus bitterly spoke to his friend, "If I feel even a flicker of your magic, Annalise, I'll have Marcel kill him."

"No, please don't do this. Klaus, I'm begging you." Anna pleaded as her hands began to tremble in fear.

Marcel attempted to stop himself but the compulsion wouldn't let him, "I'm sorry, Anna." the vampire apologized sadly as he plunged his hand into Francis' chest, taking ahold of the male's beating heart.

"No!" Anna screamed as her friend began to spit up blood. The heretic glanced back at her friend, "Please, don't take him from me. I'll do anything, please."

"Seeing you in mental pain is enough to bring Elijah into devastation since he could not save you from such atrocity. Two birds, one stone." Klaus slyly grinned.

Francis coughed violently before smiling at Annalise, "It's okay. I was always on borrowed— time anyways." he choked out as Marcel struggled to fight the compulsion.

Anna viciously shook her head, "Please don't say that. I can't lose you again." The brunette had just gotten him back, and even if she didn't love him romantically she definitely loved him platonically. He was her friend. He had been there for her when no one else had been.

Francis smiled sadly, "Let me go."

Anna met the hybrid's cold glare, "Please, he's my friend."

Klaus' lower lip trembled, "So was I."

He turned to gaze at Marcel in the eye and gave him a firm nod. Marcel used all his willpower to stop his movement, but it was no use. The vampire ripped his hand out, and in his grasp, what used to be the witch's heart.

"No!" Anna shrieked as she struggled against Klaus' hold. The hybrid held an unbothered expression as he watched Francis fall to the floor, lips parted and eyes dim.

He was dead.

Violent sobs wracked through Annalise as she crumbled onto the floor, Marcel glared at Klaus in pure hatred for what he had made him do.

Rebekah stared at her brother in pure horror at what he had done.

Klaus grabbed a sharp piece of wood and clutched it tightly before plunging it into Anna's chest, barely missing her heart.

The heretic gasped in pain as she slid down the wall, blood beginning to seep from her wound.

Camille strutted into the courtyard wearing a determined expression, her steps faltered upon seeing Anna's injured self on the ground as Elijah laid disabled due to the Papa Tunde knife and shock took over her features as she saw Francis' dead figure.

"Klaus?" she whispered in disbelief. The hybrid clenched his jaw, "You shouldn't have come here, Camille."

The human narrowed her eyes, "I came here because you need me."

Marcel and Rebekah eyed the human in worry, "Cami, I wouldn't." the vampire warned.

"He won't hurt me." The blonde faithfully spoke but Rebekah cringed, "Considering he just hurt Annalise I wouldn't put it past him. Run."

Cami straightened up as she watched the hybrid, "You are better than this."

Dahlia strolled into the room after having neutralized Freya and rolled her eyes in boredom, "Is there a problem?"

Klaus firmly shook his head, "Not at all. Just another victim." the original began to stalk towards her but the human stood tall, "No, Klaus. I know you won't hurt me. I've known that from the second we met."

The hybrid stopped as he stood face-to-face with the blonde who sighed, "I trust you." Klaus caressed her cheek before speaking, "Then you've already lost."

The hybrid pounced as he sank his fangs into her neck causing the human to yell out in pain.

Rebekah yelled out, "No!" Marcel had the witch under a tight grip unable to break free from the compulsion but watched in pain as he couldn't do anything.

After a long moment, Klaus stops feeding and releases Cami, who is now unconscious, before dropping her onto the floor.

Rebekah gaped at the scene as she met Klaus' blank gaze, "Have you lost your mind?"

Klaus merely shrugged as he looked over his work, his eyes lingering on Annalise who was quietly crying yet she made no move to remove the stake embedded into her body. He glanced back at his sister, "My mind is quite clear. I just decided to purge it of treacherous barnacles."

Rebekah thrashed against Marcel's tight hold, "You bastard!" she felt her heart ache at the absolute chaos her own brother created, "How could you?"

"Actually, it was rather simple— I just recalled what Elijah did to me and reciprocated ten-fold. Be careful, or I'll apply the same equation to you." Klaus bitterly spoke.

Rebekah stared at her brother in complete horror as Dahlia held an amused expression.

"Marcellus, keep Rebekah here. If she tries to leave? Well..." The original hybrid gazed at his youngest sibling, "You do like life as a mortal." Klaus turned to look at a raging Marcel, "You can punish her by taking that life away."

"Go to hell!" Marcel furiously spat as the hybrid remained unbothered, "If by Hell, you mean somewhere you are betrayed by those you hold most dear, then it's from Hell I've just come! I didn't much care for it." he gazed into the vampire's eyes, activating his compulsion, "Do as you're told. There's a good lad."

Dahlia stepped over Francis' dead body and approached the hybrid, "The child's magic is still cloaked. I shall need your blood to track her."

Rebekah struggled against Marcel's tight hold, "No. Nik, don't!"

Dahlia held out her hand as Klaus smirked at Rebekah for a moment before he bit into his hand and let his blood drip into it. Rebekah looked absolutely appalled by her brother's behavior as Marcel dragged her upstairs and away from the grinning hybrid.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Anna stared at the ground numbly as Camille awoke with a gasp. The human blinked rapidly as Klaus' words echoed through her head.

The human glanced over at Anna who was still impaled with the stake, "Anna?"

The heretic finally shuffled as she ripped the piece of wood out of her, she threw the weapon at the wall before gazing over at her lover who was withering in pain. She quietly stood and made her way over to him, she gazed at his face for a moment before stabbing her hand into his chest as she grabbed ahold of the Tunde knife and yanked it out, finally relieving Elijah from the pain.

Anna tossed away the knife as her soulmate began to sit up. The vampire shook with anger as he recalled all the events that took place.

Cami carefully approached the couple, "You guys have to listen to me. He got in my head, he spoke to me."

Anna didn't bother paying attention to the blonde as she walked over to her friends limp figure. She shoved down a cry as she softly closed the males eyes.

"This, all of this, it's a trick!" Camille breathlessly spoke making Elijah scoff harshly, "You've lost your mind. He's lost his mind."

The human shook her head, "He needs her to trust him, so he can do what he needs to do."

Anna blankly stared down at Francis' body as Cami continued to speak with Elijah, "He had to make it look convincing."

The original vampire held a baffled expression, "What? To... to... to what possible end?"

Camille took in a deep breath, "He told me her secret. I know how we can kill Dahlia."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

a/n:

This is officially the longest chapter I've ever written. Please vote and comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Thank you loves xx