𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 40

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Annalise walked downstairs and stopped when she saw a puddle of blood and dead bodies flooding the courtyard. The heretic grit her teeth as one person came to mind.

Hayley.

The brunette groaned in annoyance, "Hayley! If you don't clean up your bloody mess, I will take it upon myself to drag you down here and make you clean it with your tongue. Do not test me!"

Elijah strolled into the room, "Anna, love, everyone in this compound has super hearing. There's no need to shout so loud."

The heretic chuckled, "Right. Anyways, would someone like to tell me why Hayley went on a witch hunt? This mess was not needed here."

Klaus walked in, joining the two soulmates. "I would be responsible for that. I simply wanted to persuade those witches to locate the white oak stake for me. When they proved unable to do so, I let Hayley have her fun."

For some odd reason, Hayley turning into a rabid vampire didn't sit right with her. "I'm not sure this is the right approach for her. She's falling apart, Nik."

"Hayley is one of us now. Being a vampire only exaggerates what you truly are, and wolves are wild things. Your judgement only hurts her more." Klaus nonchalantly shrugged.

"Because we let ourselves be driven by it. The hunger controls us to the point where it begins to consume our entire being. Hayley was never one to brutally kill like how she's doing now. What if when she comes down from her high all she feels is regret, remorse, and guilt? What happens then?"

Klaus scoffed, "You should have seen her last night! Covered in witches' blood and smiling from ear to ear! She is embracing this. A little less criticism from you, and Hayley will be just fine."

"I'm not criticizing! I am simply stating the fact that once she finally calms down from all this mess she could feel guilty. I am trying to help. Not everyone wants to become a ravage vampire with a kill list that could wrap around the planet!"

"You're one to talk. You kill anything in your way."

"Because I was exactly like Hayley is now! I killed because of the unending hunger in me and for a while I didn't stop, there was no one to stop me. Until all the memories of what I had done came rushing into me. I felt guilty. I was drowning in guilt, if Hayley is happy killing then that's fine. I am only trying to prevent that she ends up regretting her current actions. It's a nasty road to take is she ends up feeling guilt." Anna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Had she gone too far?

Elijah placed a hand on her waist as he looked at Klaus who had an unreadable expression, "You'll take her to the Bayou. Find any remaining wolves. Perhaps her people can reach her. Now, more than ever, she needs a connection to something, some of her humanity."

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Anna curiously glanced around her surroundings as Elijah had a displeased look on his face.

"Marcel building a new army of vampires, wow shocker. Why are you surprised?" the heretic questioned her soulmate. Elijah clenched his jaw, "When Marcel approaches us I'm going to threaten Davina as a way to attain information. I assure you, I won't do anything to the teenager. I know how much you care about her."

Anna looked a bit taken back, she hadn't expected Elijah to hold back on a threat just because of her. "Alright." she nodded.

Elijah glanced down at her and his gaze became warm and welcoming. Anna loved how he only looked at her with that expression, she adored it. She was the only one who could ease his anger, pain, and frustration.

The original sensed Marcel begin to approach them and lifted his attention towards him as his gaze hardened seeing the vampire.

"Elijah. Anna. Didn't expect to see you two on this side of the river." Marcel certainly looked displeased.

"Didn't expect to see you assembling a new vampire community. I guess we're both full of surprises?" Elijah raised a brow, he secretly placed a hand on the small part of Anna's back. The touch brought comfort to them both.

"My community was fine until Klaus had the brilliant idea to make moonlight rings. Now that Harvest girl's making more, offering them to the wolves in exchange for their allegiance. And the wolves are just kneeling at her feet. The Quarter's become a dangerous place, and you, Elijah? You're the last true vampire left! You ask me, you're better off joining my community! Maybe that's why you're here?" Marcel slyly grinned.

"Watch it, Marcel." Anna grit through her teeth. The vampire glanced over at the brunette, "How do you know she's not working with the witch's? Feeding them information from the inside."

Elijah's mood became angered as Anna spoke up, "I would never aid the witch's. Last thing I want is for them to have more power."

Marcel smiled, "That's one way to know someone's on your side."

Elijah pulled the heretic closer to him, "Hmm, no. I came to make you an offer, find me the white oak stake, and I'll let this little social experiment continue."

Marcel gave the Mikaelson a fake smile, "Aw, even if I wanted to help, I don't have a clue where the stake is."

Anna muttered a curse, no one knew where the bloody stake was. She had tried to perform a locator spell, but it was no use. It was as if someone had cloaked the object. She had tried multiple times and was given the same result. Nothing.

"Yes, but you do have an ally in Davina. She can find it. Thing is, I'd speak to her myself, but I feel the conversation might become a little... unpleasant." Elijah narrowed his eyes at Marcel. The vampire's smile fell and his expression became serious, "You don't go anywhere near her."

Elijah smiled contently, "Then, it's settled! You'll deal with the matter personally."

"Why not have Anna locate it? She's a witch." Marcel glanced at the heretic for a moment. Anna sighed, "I did try but seems as if the stake is being hidden with magic. The more witch's and people we have looking for the damned piece of wood, the quicker it is returned to it's rightful owners."

Elijah nodded in agreement and patted the vampire's shoulder patronizingly, "Best get to it."

Annalise and Elijah stood by an alley as the original watched two men play chess.

"What is entertaining about this? Much less wanting to watch it?" Anna shook her head. Elijah rolled his eyes playfully as he slipped his hand into her own. Annalise glanced down at the ground to hid her smile, but she felt two fingers gently grip her chin forcing her head up to meet Elijah's oak brown eyes.

"Do not hide your smile from me."

Anna's lips slightly parted as she felt her chest tighten. Her cheeks began to heat up from the simple sentence. The effect this male had on her was truly something else.

Elijah glanced down at her lips that were parted. The vampire quickly leaned down pressing his lips against hers in an urgent kiss.

Anna groaned feeling the originals hands hold the nape of her neck as she gripped his coat to pull him against her own body. Elijah slid his hands down to grip her waist, the feel of her lips on his was one he would never get tired of. 

Elijah pulled away from her lips and leaned down placing a chaste kiss onto the curve of her neck making the female suck in a breath. The Mikaelson straightened up as he smiled down at the heretic who held a questioning gaze.

"Davina and Marcel have arrived."

Anna's lips made an O shape as she nodded in understanding before realizing she had ruffled the vampires coat. The brunette patted the wrinkles down and fixed the button. Elijah watched her with an amused smile as she fixed his appearance.

"I know. But, what if I do find it? I mean, I-I'm not just gonna give it to Klaus! He and Elijah are both brutal, sadistic monsters!"

Anna and Elijah glanced up at each other both having heard the witch's voice.

The two sped and approached the vampire and teenager, "I do wish I could disagree with you. Tragically, however, you're quite right." Elijah spoke up making himself as well as Anna known.

Davina glared at the original making Marcel shake his head in annoyance.

"Although, you and I both have excellent reason to find that weapon. I want to protect my family, and you want to protect your friends. We'd do well to forget our grievances and join forces."

The witch clenched her teeth, "No."

"Davina, just-" Anna tried but the girl cut her off quickly, "No! No, I'm-I'm done listening. For a long time, you and your family have had all the power. You manipulate and kill anyone who gets in your way. That time's over. From now on, you can know what it is to be afraid." and with that the witch angrily stormed away.

Annalise rubbed her eyes as Elijah glanced over at Marcel who looked furious, "I asked you to stay out of sight!"

"I needed to speak to her face-to-face." the original simply spoke. "Why? So that you could piss her off?" Marcel scoffed.

"I wanted to see for myself. She cares for you, and yet, how cavalier she was at the jeopardy that you now face."

Marcel furrowed his brows, "What are you saying?"

Anna glanced up at Elijah with wide eyes, he couldn't mean that she-

"She knows the stake will not be used because she knows precisely where it is. She's had it all along."

The three walked down the streets of the Algiers. Anna had her brows furrowed, she knew Davina must have been planning on using it but the sireline. She wouldn't risk her friends.

"The stake is safe. Davina won't use it on Klaus if it would kill me." Marcel told the two as if it was any comforting to hear.

Elijah pursed his lips, "Of course, she has no reason whatsoever not to use it on me." Anna frowned upon hearing this, she would make sure that stake got nowhere near her soulmate. She wasn't going to lose another person she loved to death. She was tired of it.

"I guess you better behave!" Marcel smiled making Annalise glare at him. Elijah held a worried expression, "And how long before someone else should make this discovery? What if it falls into enemy hands?"

Marcel falls silent as he was not able to argue with that point and became more concerned. "Huh. I'll get her to give the stake back! Alright? Just give me some time."

Anna quirked a brow up, as if the vampire had given them any reason to trust him.

"Unfortunately, Marcel, unlike these wretched souls that you recruit here, your promises do little to inspire my faith. One way or another, Davina will comply." Elijah pressed his lips into a firm line. Anna glanced down at the ground, she cared for Davina, but she also wasn't going to allow her to harm Elijah or Klaus.

Marcel looked agitated, "Look. Hey, do you ever wonder why your family has so many enemies? It's because you make stupid moves like this! It really makes me wonder how the hell I ever survived you people."

Anna stuffed her hands into her coat as the three stood in an alleyway near Marcel's loft.

Elijah looked over at the vampire, "I don't fault you for your suspicion, nor Davina for her contempt. That does not alter our present dilemma. She has that stake. I want it back." he glanced at his soulmate and the two sped away.

Leaving a concerned Marcel to question his options.

The two soulmates were walking by Rousseau's when the two perked their head up at the sound of commotion.

"What the-?"

Anna's eyes widened as she caught sight of a vampire preparing to feed on Davina. Elijah followed her line of sight and they quickly sped to the heat of things.

Anna yanked the vampire back by the neck making him drop the witch. The heretic checked the witch for injuries as Elijah gaped at the person before him.

"Father?"

Anna glanced back to see Mikael grinning at Elijah, "Hello, son. I'd hoped to see your brother first, but we have some unfinished business as well."

Elijah lunged at his father and began to fight the older male. Annalise glanced back down at Davina, "What the hell did you do?"

"What I had to." the witch pursed her lips.

Anna gasped as she felt a sharp pain impale her chest. The Martin heir glanced over at Elijah and her eyes widened in fear as she saw her soulmate pinned to a wall with his father shoving the white oak stake in his chest. Elijah used all his strength to hold back the vampire's arm.

Anna stood from the ground and opened her palm before muttering, "Errox femus" the heretic watched contently as Mikael groaned in pain from the sound of his bones breaking. Mikael yelled and fell to the floor making him leave the stake embedded in his sons chest, Elijah ripped the stake out and wearily watched his father.

Davina caught the bracelet Marcel had thrown towards her, "Anna let him go."

The heretic glanced back at the witch, "No."

"Anna, I can control him now."

"I don't care."

Marcel sped and gripped Annalise by the neck pinning her harshly to the wall making her break the spell she had cast on Mikael who had been ordered by Davina to head back to the church.

"Let go of me, Marcel. Before I get angry."

Before the vampire could remove his hand it was twisted back making his bone snap in half. Marcel groaned as he clutched his broken arm, the vampire glanced up to see a fuming Elijah.

"Lay a hand on her again and I'll do something much worse."

Marcel merely walked away from the two and Elijah noticed a curly headed boy watching the scene play out from behind the bar, "Something to say?"

Kaleb/Kol slowly shook his head still feeling stunned from seeing their father, "Not me, mate. Not a bloody thing."

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Elijah and Annalise slipped into the compound where they found a pacing Niklaus.

"It's worse than we thought." Niklaus began to rant as he broke the neck off of a bottle of liquor before taking a long gulp then continuing to speak, "I met the witch, Cassie. I studied her, her presence, the way she carried herself, the fervor with which she voiced her hatred of our kind. I looked into that girl's eyes, and, I swear to you, Elijah, she's not just guided by our mother. She is our mother."

Anna's jaw dropped, bloody hell who else was going to come back to life?

Elijah gaped at his younger brother who had just told him their mother was alive, "What is happening?"

Klaus' expression suddenly becomes furious, "I'm going to kill her. I will boil her bones and feed them to the dogs, if that's what it takes."

"Nik-" Anna tried but the hybrid sharply cut her off, "What? What could possibly be more important than the return of my mother?"

Elijah sighed as he spoke up revealing what he had learned, "Our father. I saw him standing there in the flesh as you do now. He was enslaved with some spell cast by Davina. He holds the stake. If she chooses to release him..."

Klaus stops dead in his tracks as his eyes are wide with shock, he purses his lips as a look of determination flushed through his face, "Well, then there's only one question we need to ask, isn't there? Which of our parents do we kill first?"

Anna turned towards the entrance where Hayley was leading a group of Crescent wolves who weren't aligned with the witches' into the compound.

"Take any of the rooms on the first floor." the hybrid announced to her packmates. Elijah tilted his head curiously as Klaus addressed the hybrid, "Are we running a kennel now?"

"I'll handle them." Hayley reassured. Klaus crossed his arms over his chest, "Our family is under siege. It is not the time for guests."

"If they're not with us, they're with the witches. You asked me to step up. This is me stepping up." Hayley told the hybrid.

Klaus grinned, "Well, it seems I'm a good influence on you after all."

Anna groaned, "Now look what you've done. You've boosted his ego."

Klaus glanced around the herd of wolves and quirked up a brow, "I don't see Oliver amongst them. Am I to assume you finished him off?"

Hayley shook her head, "We made a deal. He'll pledge his loyalty to Cassie, report back, and tell me everything that he learns."

Klaus' expression looked proud as he smiled at her, "Well done."

Annalise watched as the wolves made their into their respective rooms as one purposely bumped into her shoulder.

"Watch it." Anna glared at the werewolf who merely scoffed and walked away. Elijah clenched his jaw and went to rip the dogs arm off but before he could Annalise gripped his forearm, "Leave it be. I'm half witch, it's expected for them to hold some sort of grudge."

Elijah pursed his lips, "That does not give them the right to treat you horribly. You weren't the one who set them up. They should take their anger problems elsewhere."

Anna laced their hands together and headed towards the entrance, "Let's just go."

The vampire led the heretic into an alleyway where Marcel was waiting for them.

Elijah glared at the vampire as he spoke, "Let me guess, Davina's nowhere to be found. She wasn't in the attic, wasn't anywhere near the Lyceé."

The original sighed, "I have people looking all over this city. She is gone. No doubt to protect Mikael while he recovers from the wounds he sustained."

"I tried locating her and it was no use. The girls smart, she cloaked herself."

"She's scared, what do you expect?" Marcel raised a brow.

Elijah turned to glance at him, "If I discover that you had even the slightest suspicion that she brought Father back-" but he was cut off by a scoff, "Yeah, what? You gonna threaten me? My people? I mean, get in line. The witches hate us, the wolves can kill us any time they like. I can't even go into the Quarter without risking my damn life, and I used to run the Quarter. And now, Mikael's back, the vampire who hunts vampires. You really think that works in my favor? You want my help finding Davina? I need to know where you two stand. Now, Klaus is on Team Wolf. What are you?" Marcel looked expectantly at Anna and Elijah.

"Are you asking me to choose sides?" Anna pursed her lips, Marcel nodded, "I like you Anna, and before Elijah rips my head off, I mean in a friend way now." the vampire added already noticing the glare the original was giving him, "Us vampires could use an ally as strong as you."

Anna glanced down at her joined hands, "Why should I choose a side?"

"Well, considering you aren't fond of werewolves and especially the witch's, I assume you want to do something about it. You come from the Martin bloodline. Your blood runs through this ground longer than mine has. Klaus is planning to destroy the Marshall."

Anna's attention snapped towards the vampire, "What?"

"Word has it, your coven was massacred on those grounds. You would want to protect it, would you not?"

Anna preserved that area of land for centuries, but because her mother was buried there. Of course, no one knew that.

Annalise pursed her lips, she had never worked against Klaus. He was her best friend, but Niklaus knew what that land meant to her. He knew because she had trusted him enough to tell him the connection she felt with that landscape.

Yet he was going to create it into a play pen for his leashed dogs? No. For the first time in three hundred years, she wouldn't allow it. Her mother's soul remained attached to that soil, if it was run down by werewolves that would perish.

Annalise clamped her mouth shut and did not answer. She wouldn't allow Klaus to destroy the Marshall, but she wasn't going to join Marcel.

Marcel glanced over at Elijah who shook his head, "I don't do teams."

The vampire shook his head, "I'm sorry, but that's not an option. See, you're an Original. Every vampire that's ever been sired is an extension of you and your family. Now, you can walk away from that, and side with Klaus and the wolves, but you're not one of them, and you never will be. You want allies, right? Look around! This is ground zero for a new vampire community. Now, you may think that you're better than us, but we're all you got."

Elijah looked amused, "And why would I play benefactor to a collection of lost children?"

Marcel rolled his eyes, "That's right. You never were any good with children. But, like it or not, vampires exist because of you."

Marcel walked over at a female named Gia and nodded at her. The vampire squeezed her shoulder in comfort before quickly snapping her neck. Anna's eyes widened, did he just kill her?

The vampire looked at the Mikaelson, "Her name's Gia. I fed her my blood a few hours ago. When she wakes up, she's gonna need a mentor. I hope that you do better with her than you did with me."