𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 61

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise laid back on the couch as Elijah paced around the fireplace. Klaus watched his brother whilst he sat on the wooden desk centered in his study. The hybrid folded his hands together before speaking up, "Given the circumstance, Lucien qualifies as both friend and foe, and according to Freya's prophecy—"

Elijah swiftly cut off the male, "You are to beware both friend and foe. But, let us not forget family, Niklaus."

Anna glanced down at her hands that were placed upon her lap, "Elijah's right, there's someone prophesied to betray you all."

Klaus pursed his lips as his expression morphed into a hurt one, he paused for a short moment before shrugging the thought off, "Lucien's two out of three— I say we put him down. Just like old times."

The original heretic scoffed rather loudly which caused for Klaus to frown at her action. Elijah gazed intently at his lover for a moment before turning towards his younger brother, "Just like old times? Brother, I wonder who among our family do you suppose has the greatest predilection for betrayal?"

The hybrid pressed his lips into a firm line in frustration, "Brother, please—"

Annalise narrowed her eyes at her old friend, "We owe you absolutely nothing, Niklaus. You're upset because you're alone? Because you've finally driven everyone away? Well, suck it up. You brought this upon yourself."

Klaus watched the brunette with a pained expression, "Anna, you have to know—"

"I'm not going to take your half-assed apology. Forget it, Klaus." The Martin heretic turned to meet her soulmate's gaze, "Continue with what you were going to say, love."

Elijah curtly nodded, "Now, before we murder Lucien, there are certain questions that need to be answered. Chiefly, what is he doing here?" the original vampire tilted his head slightly at Anna, "It couldn't be because of his affections for you, could it?"

Klaus looked taken back upon hearing this as it was news to him, "I beg your pardon, affections? For Anna? The heretic?"

Annalise rolled her eyes, "You can hear, wonderful." the brunette glanced back at her lover, "I don't suppose so, what we had was merely more of a fling. I doubt he'd keep his feelings towards after all these years, not to mention the fact that he's in love with another."

"You can always love more than one person. That's not really a stopper." Klaus voiced his comment to which Elijah grew uncomfortable upon hearing the possibility of another holding such emotion for his soulmate.

The original vampire cleared his throat before changing the topic, "And the wolf venom... Why would he lie to you, his sire?" Elijah looked ahead at Klaus who seemed in deep thought.

"Well, he's not here for a friendly reunion. That much, I've gathered." Annalise chimed in as Elijah picked up one of the hybrid's paintbrushes and began to toss them in his hands, "I'm afraid we might have to resort to something deliciously medieval here, brother."

Klaus attention perked upon hearing the vampire speak, "'We?' I take it you will lower yourself to associate with your bastard brother?" the male stood to his feet as Elijah gave the hybrid a fake smile.

"Are you even considering, forgiving me?" Klaus bit back a hopeful tone to mask his eagerness.

"Perhaps," Elijah trailed off to which the hybrid certainly looked pleased and Anna looked annoyed. The vampire clenched his fists as an image of Anna thrashing against Klaus' hold as she watched her beloved friend get torn away before her eyes, flickered through his mind.

Elijah took a deep breath to calm his anger, "When Annalise forgives you, Francis rises from the dead, and hell freezes over. For now, however, let's just hope your little friendship with Lucien doesn't disrupt our mission." the vampire sharply spoke before strutting out the study.

Annalise stood from the couch, "As I said, you crossed a line. Deal with the consequences."

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The original heretic watched as Klaus and Elijah kicked through the door to Lucien's penthouse before striding inside, the trio treaded into the apartment carefully as the hybrid called out, "Lucien.... Come out, come out, wherever you are."

But as the male spoke, the witch, Alexis, emerged into the living room wearing a sly smile, "I'm afraid you missed him."

Klaus narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "Where is he?"

Alexis eyed the three creatures, "At the police station. A detective, Kinney, had some questions for him."

"And he allowed himself to be arrested?" Annalise skeptically questioned. The witch smirked smugly at the brunette, "He has nothing to hide."

Elijah slipped an arm around the heretic's waist before speaking up, "Lucien's occupied. Perhaps we should entertain ourselves right here?"

Annalise licked her lips, "I could do for a drink."

Klaus smiled at the two people he still trusted most before turning to gaze at Alexis, "Oh. Well, I've never been one to turn down a snack."

Alexis rolled her eyes as she shuffled around the room, "If you wanted another prophecy, you could have just said that. You people are so concerning."

Anna rolled her shoulders back, "Well, it's not like they aren't going to feed on you."

The witch patronizingly smiled at the Martin heir before setting up the ingredients to her spell around a small table centered in the living room. The trio watched the girl with interest.

Klaus crossed his arms over his chest as the witch began to light up some candles, "How much longer is this going to take?"

Alexis glanced between the two brothers, "Elijah and I can begin now, but just us. Sadly, I've already shown you what visions of yours I've managed to divine."

Anna narrowed her eyes at the witch as the hybrid spoke up, "The warning was for both of us— friend, foe, and family. I'd like to see his, please."

The witch's expression flushed with curiosity, "Since family is one of your concerns, and you two are brothers, are you so sure you want to see what I have to show you?" she questioned before swiftly brushing her hair away from her neck.

Elijah's gaze held an amused glint, "Oh, I never could resist a good spoiler."

Klaus sped towards the witch's neck as he sank his fangs into the skin as Elijah bit into her wrist.

Annalise poured herself a glass of bourbon as she watched her lovers brow furrow, her guess was from the vision he was seeing.

The original heretic lifted the glass to her lips as Klaus began to pull away from the witch but in doing so, snapped her neck.

Elijah retracted his fangs and staggered backwards as the hybrid laid the witch's limp body across the table. The brunette approached the vampire and laid a gentle hand on his bicep.

Klaus grit his teeth in anger, "Well, at least your visions were specific. It seems Lucien has intentions for Camille."

Annalise lips parted in shock upon hearing such news, Elijah's expression became agitated as he spoke, "And what of Marcel— family and friend? Where do his loyalties lie?"

Anna knitted her brows together, "Marcel wouldn't betray you all. Not without cause, and last I checked the only one on his bad list as of right now is Klaus. Quite frankly, I don't blame him at all."

Klaus narrowed his eyes at the heretic, "He cannot be trusted."

Annalise took a menacing step towards her old friend, "Well, he's a lost more trustworthy than you will ever be."

The hybrid blinked as he fought back a saddened expression. Anna didn't trust him. Klaus never thought hearing his friend trust another more than himself would ache so much. Perhaps, because no matter what, Anna had believed in him.

But all that was now gone.

Klaus shifted his attention over to his older brother, "Find him and question him." the original hybrid turned as he made a move to leave just as Elijah called out, "And where are you going."

Klaus clenched his jaw rather tightly, "I'm going to eliminate an old friend before he gets his teeth into my therapist."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise stood before the front door to Marcel's loft, she side-eyed Elijah before speaking up, "You will let me do the talking."

The vampire pursed his lips, not entirely happy with the idea, but nodded nonetheless. The heretic pushed open the wooden door but her steps faltered upon seeing Marcel's vampires all sprawled out on the floor.

The two soulmates approached Josh, who was laying flat on his back with blood decorating his face. Elijah gave the male an amused yet patronizing look, "Joshua. Would you kindly enlighten me as to what happened here?"

The original vampire took his pocket square out before dropping it on Josh's chest to clean himself. The male slowly sat up which caused for pained groans to leave his bloodied lips.

"Oww.... God, this woman—"

Anna tilted her head in curiosity, "What woman?"

Elijah gazed over the room to take in the sight of the vampires, who have either been beat senseless or have had their necks snapped.

Josh hissed in pain before answering the heretic question, "I don't know. She walked in like she owned the place. Said she had to talk to Marcel in private." he stood up from his place on the floor and began to dab the cloth on his bloodied lips.

"We tried to get rid of her, and boom— Smackdown City. Which obviously went quite well."

Annalise bit back a laugh, "I would've paid good money to have seen that take place."

Elijah crouched down beside a vampire as he caught sight of a black business laying on the floor next to the creature. The Mikaelson male picked the item up to examine, the card held a stylistic looking owl stamped on the front in white ink.

Elijah pursed his lips, "Does this woman have a name?"

Annalise looked over her lovers shoulder as Josh spoke, "I don't know." the vampire paused for a moment, "Wait— uh... Aya?"

Elijah closed his eyes before sighing in recognition, "Aya. Let me guess— Five-foot-seven, vicious as a viper?"

Anna knitted her brows together in confusion, "You know her?"

The original vampire stood as he met his soulmate's gaze, "I sired her."

"Oh, bloody hell."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise and Elijah hurried down the French Quarters street when the heretic's pace faltered. The original vampire took notice of this and turned to meet the heretic's emerald eyes.

"Is something, wrong?"

Anna pursed her lips, "What kind of history do you have... with Aya?"

Elijah gazed at his lover intently before sighing, "We used to care about each other until I left."

The heretic licked her lips in annoyance, "Seems as if the people in our past can't stay in the past." she muttered before speeding away.

Elijah rubbed his temple before reluctantly speeding after the brunette.

The duo sped before a rather elegant room to find Aya standing over Marcel, "The oldest society of vampires this world has ever known. We are called The Strix."

Annalise chuckled rather loudly, "Really? You named yourselves? Like a band?"

Aya turned to meet the heretic's patronizing smile, "Well, if isn't the world's original heretic." Annalise's smile widened, "I seem to be becoming famous."

The heretic took another step into the room, "Isn't your organization responsible for countless wars, numerous plagues, assassinations— I mean the list could go on."

"You have to break rules if you want to build a new world." Aya haughtily spoke as Elijah and Annalise circled around the vampire.

Aya finally met Elijah's gaze, "Hello, Elijah. It's been a while."

The original vampire pursed his lips, "That it has been."

Marcel glanced between the two old species, "You two know each other."

Annalise blinked at her friend's statement, "Wonderfully done, Marcellus. You can read the room."

Elijah immediately sped as he plunged his hand into Aya's chest and took ahold of her dead heart, the vampire gasped in pain but the original did not look even the slightest bit amused, "Whatever you are doing here, I know you're not alone."

A familiar voice called out for the Mikaelson from the doorway. Tristan De Martel stepped into view, accompanied by at least a dozen vampires.

"Let her go, Elijah. No need for this to become vulgar."

Elijah rolled his eyes with a smirk as Aya continued to writher in pain, "And there he is." the Mikaelson turned to meet Tristan's gaze, "Tristan."

Anna blinked in confusion.

Marcel stepped into the heretic's side as the Strix vampires began to circle around them, "I don't like this." Annalise grit out.

Marcel glanced towards his friend, "You go left, I go right?"

Elijah narrowed his eyes at the vampire in suspicion. He ripped his hand out of Aya's chest and the female let out a relieved sigh as she staggered backwards.

The Mikaelson male looked over at Marcel, "Why don't you stay where I can see you?"

Marcel looked visibly offended by what Elijah had been implying. The vampire glared angrily at the original as Annalise spoke up, "Do not start something, Elijah."

Tristan raised his brows in amusement upon hearing the heretic speak to an original in such way.

Elijah looked away taking in his soulmates words.

Tristan looked bemused as he spoke up, "It's been ages since I've enjoyed a good scrap, but, uh... It's not why I'm here." the vampire reached for Elijah's pocket square and handed it to the original assuming he would want to clean up the blood on his hand.

Elijah took the cloth and began to wipe his hands as the male spoke up, "Mr. Mikaelson and I require the room. Please leave us."

The Strix vampires filed out of the room without another word but Marcel still stood beside Anna.

"Elijah, your sireline— your life— is at stake. You want to hear what I have to say." Tristan gazed intensely at the original.

Elijah turned towards Marcel, "Marcellus, please."

The male glanced over at Anna who nodded encouragingly. Marcel pursed his lips in annoyance before turning to leave but Elijah spoke again, "And you would do well to be selective about the company you keep in the future."

Annalise narrowed her eyes at her lover for saying such things as Marcel defensively retorted, "Maybe you should remember who your friends are. It looks like you're going to need 'em."

The heretic watched Marcel fade from view and turned to see Tristan's gaze intensely on her, which only seemed to fuel up Elijah's anger.

Annalise raised a questioning brow, "Is there something you need?"

"Are you going to stay?" Tristan quickly questioned which caused for Elijah to step back into her side, "She is."

The Mikaelson narrowed his eyes at his progeny, "You waltz into my city unannounced with your flock of sycophants flaunting news of a threat. All the while, your little lapdog Aya is conspiring with none other than Marcel Gerard."

Tristan rolled his eyes, "Conspiring. How grandiose. I thought I was the one with a flair for the dramatic."

"Watch your tongue." Elijah coldly hissed at the male, "I am not the patient, fun-loving social butterfly you might recall."

Annalise glanced up at her soulmate, "You were social?"

Tristan bit back an amused smile as he spoke, "Your Marcel is a potential recruit. He has nothing to do with the larger issue we face."

The heretic narrowed her eyes skeptically, "The larger issue?"

The old vampire nodded before turning towards Elijah, "You've no doubt heard about the war between the sirelines? Well, as it happens, your line, thanks to my Strix, has wreaked all manner of havoc on Lucien and his assorted interests. As a result, he's desperate to exterminate the lot of us— me, Aya, everyone you've sired. Of course, the economical way to complete this task would be for him to kill you."

Elijah clenched his jaw but kept his guard up. Annalise furrowed her brows as she took in what the male was sputtering.

Tristan watched his sires expression and sighed heavily, "You don't believe me. Perhaps you underestimate Lucien's ambition? While I doubt he'd have the gall to attack you directly, I believe he might try and find someone else to do it— namely, Niklaus."

Elijah's demeanor darkened, "What makes you so certain that Niklaus would select Lucien over his own family?"

"From what I hear, he tortured his friend Marcel, cursed the mother of his child, and killed Annalise's dear friend right before her, all because he thought it the logical way to defeat his enemy. With Lucien in his ear, how long before the logical thing is to get rid of you?"

Anna sucked in a sharp breath as images of Francis' unlively body flashed through her mind. Elijah placed a comforting hand on the heretic's back, "Well, how very fortunate, indeed, then— Niklaus is on his way right now to put Lucien out of our collective misery."

Tristan's expression grew alarmed, "You have to stop him."

"And why would we do that?" Annalise raised a brow at the male.

"Lucien's seer believes there's an object capable of killing you." the vampire spoke to his sire who merely shrugged, "I'm well aware."

"Well, I don't have it. I'm quite certain my sister doesn't have it, either. Logically, then, one must assume that Lucien has it, or he knows where it is. If he dies, none of us will find it. Not until some other assassin attempts to use it against you. If you've any hope of finding that which can kill us all, Niklaus needs to be stopped."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise gazed intently at the crackling fire as she drank whiskey straight from the bottle. Her demeanor morphed into irritation as Klaus stepped into the study.

"Please, leave."

The hybrid frowned, "Annalise, please, let me fix this."

Anna didn't bother to turn and face the original, "There's nothing you can do to fix anything." the heretic paused for a moment as she swallowed a lump in her throat, "There was a time where I believed that nothing you could do would ever drive me away. I knew you had trust issues and the fear of being abandoned so I wanted to be at your side, so that you could finally have someone you could fully trust, someone who you could always rely on. I wanted to be there for you through it all, Niklaus."

The original hybrid's gaze saddened upon hearing his friend's emotional tone. Annalise stood and turned to meet Klaus' glossy eyes, "Why did you have to drive me away? Why did you have to completely shred all the faith, all the trust, all the love between us? You were my brother, Nik."

A single tear escaped Klaus' eye, he missed the heretic, all their bickering, all their arguments, and how they fought side by side.

Annalise pursed her lips to keep herself from crying, she refused to shed anymore tears for him, "Every night, I wish... you hadn't betrayed me, because maybe, things could go back to the way they were." the heretic let out a harsh scoff, "But, who am I kidding? There are some things you can't fix."

Annalise walked across the room to leave but stopped just beside the hybrid for a short moment, "The friendship we shared, Klaus, that's gone. Have a goodnight."

With those final words, the Martin heretic was gone.

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a/n:

My motivation is completely gone but I'm trying to gain it back to give you loves more chapters. Thank you for reading xx

-b