𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 21

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Anna walked downstairs heading into the kitchen as she passed Elijah and Klaus who were stationed in the living room.

The hybrid looked over at his older brother who watched the heretic when she passed by. He noticed a slight smile linger on his lips as he set down they're mother's grimoire and walked after the brunette.

Elijah finds Annalise rummaging through the refrigerator. The original held an admiring expression and leaned on the doorway.

"I can feel your eyes burning through my skull. Do you need something?" the heretic questioned as she met the eyes of her soulmate.

"No. Just admiring your beauty." Elijah smiled innocently. Anna straightened up feeling her like her dead heart was about to jump out from her chest. She cleared her throat and pulled out a bowl from the cabinet.

Rebekah enters through the back door, dragging a trashcan behind her.

Annalise looked through the fridge once more and groaned, "Alright, just because I'm half vampire doesn't mean that I don't need real food. Can someone please put oat milk on the grocery list?"

"Don't you mean regular milk for cereal?" Elijah curiously tilted his head.

"I'm technically lactose intolerant. I got used to making milk from oats when I was a child so now regular milk tastes gross to me. And don't even get me started on almond milk." The heretic raised her hand as she scrunched up her features.

Elijah chuckled lightly, "Will do."

"Speaking of, add bleach." Rebekah chimed in. She stomps through the kitchen and into the living room to clean up the mess her brothers left.

Annalise pulls out a basket of strawberries just as Hayley walks in. "Morning." the werewolf smiled at the brunette girl.

"Morning. There's milk on the far end of the fridge if you want cereal." She told Hayley. The pregnant werewolf simply smiled, "Thanks."

"I hope my siblings were hospitable to you in my absence." Elijah said to Hayley.

"In your absence, as you like to call it- which is a way-too-polite way of saying that your brother put a dagger in your heart- I have been attacked by French Quarter vampires, I've had to live in a house with a secret dungeon full of coffins, and I was nearly murdered by witches who are convinced my baby is Lucifer."

Annalise laughed, "And she's not even exaggerating."

Hayley sighed as the heretic handed her the box of cereal, "They've been fine. Your siblings are weirdly protective, and Anna has been helpful."

Annalise was chewing a strawberry when she spoke, "What kind of monster would I be if I let a helpless pregnant werewolf get killed?"

Hayley rolled her eyes playfully, "Thank you for your charity work, it's much appreciated."

The Martin girl grinned, "My absolute pleasure."

"So, back to the murderous witches. I have some concerns." Elijah intervened. The werewolf sighed, "They're evil. And, my life is still magically linked to Sophie Deveraux, which is not comforting."

"Evil lunatics, you mean." Anna corrected.

"I think it's time we took care of that little problem." Elijah nodded. Rebekah suddenly re-enters the kitchen, dragging the corpse of the girl Klaus killed across the floor behind her, "I am all for it. As soon as they're unlinked, we get to leave this crap town. Who do we have to kill?"

Elijah thought for a moment, "Probably no one." Anna crossed her arms and gave the vampire a look.

"Alright, potentially everyone."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Elijah and Annalise walked back into the kitchen just as Klaus spoke, "Nonsense. Elijah's back. In his presence, all problems turn to pixie-dust and float away!"

"Strange, I don't recall any pixie-dust from the darkness of the coffin I was recently forced to endure." Elijah said to his brother as he flipped through his mother's grimoire.

"What are you doing with Mother's spellbook?" Rebekah questioned the original. "Well, in exchange for my freedom, I promised the witch Davina that I would share a few pages from Mother's grimoire. To help her learn to control her magic. I thought we'd begin with a little unlinking spell."

Anna crossed her arms, "You want to use her to unlink the Deveraux witch from Hayley." she stated.

"Sophie brought us here under false pretenses. She doesn't just want us to take down Marcel and his minions, she wants to take Davina back. So, she yolked her own cause to ours with magic, threats, and half-truths. Well, no more. As of now, our deal with Sophie Deveraux is null and void."

"Wonderful, I'm not the only one who think the witch's are lying backstabbing bitch's." the heretic grinned.

"Niklaus, I need you to come with me. I need five minutes alone with Davina. You need to make certain that I am not interrupted. Anna and Rebekah, you two stay here and watch Hayley." Elijah ordered the three.

"Hold on. How did we get elected super nannies?" Annalise raised a brow.

"More importantly, who put him in charge?" Niklaus whined as he followed Elijah out the house.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

"Ah!"

Annalise and Rebekah looked at each other in alarm, they vamp-sped upstairs and met with Hayley who had her hand latched onto her neck.

When she pulls her hand away, she notices blood on her fingers from a small puncture wound that is already starting to heal.

"What the bloody hell happened?" Anna asked her.

"Hell if I know. It felt like I was being stabbed."

"Nothing good then."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise sat at the table as she ate some cut up kiwi's. What was she doing here? Aside from helping Klaus with his child or whatnot, what was her purpose in this town?

The only thing that New Orleans has done for her was flood in old memories she kept locked away for decades. So why was she doing this to herself?

"Because you know you deserve it."

Anna's head twitched at the small voice that rang in her ears.

"You deserve everything coming towards you."

The heretic clutched her fork rather tightly.

"After all, you did kill your own father."

The fork snapped in half and Annalise felt her magic wanting, begging to be let out. Too much magic never did any witch good.

Rebekah walked in and headed towards the fridge. "Apples are good for pregnant women, right?" The blonde turned only to see the heretic looking down at the fork. Her eyes looked empty, almost lost.

"Anna?"

The brunette didn't even move at the sound of her name being called.

"Annalise?"

Nothing.

"Annalise Martin!"

Her head shot up and looked at the blonde vampire who looked worried. "Are you alright?"

Anna smiled, "Yeah, just zoned out for a bit. Nothing new. Did you need something?"

"Anna that wasn't-"

The heretic got up from her seat and picked out an apple from the basket, "I bet Hayley's hungry."

Rebekah frowned knowing she was trying to avoid talking about what just happened.

The original knew she wasn't going to talk about it. She'd never met someone as stubborn at Anna.

The two girls walked upstairs to Hayley who was sitting on an armchair. "Time for the demon spawn to snack!" the original grinned.

"I really wish you wouldn't call her that." Hayley laughed.

"Believe me, that's not even the worst of it." Annalise joked. Rebekah held out the basket of apple's for the werewolf to take, "Take one, the plantation's lousy with them."

Hayley took an apple as she thought for a moment, "I feel fine... which is weird. I'm sure it's Sophie-related."

"If it's Sophie related, then it's definitely not good." Anna raised a brow.

"Do me a favor, and don't die on my watch. I'll never hear the end of it." Rebekah sighed as she set down the basket. "You know when I first met you two, I thought you were real bitch's." Hayley said to the two girls.

"I'll take it as a compliment." Annalise shrugged.

"What changed your mind?" Rebekah questioned the wolf. "I still think your bitch's, I've just grown to like that about you two."

"You see, eventually everyone grows to like me." the heretic held a cheeky grin.

Rebekah's face grew a bit more serious, "Remember it when I'm gone."

"Gone? Where are you going?" Hayley furrowed her brows.

"I only came to town to make sure everything was okay with Elijah. He's fine, and he hasn't punished Klaus for daggering him, so... as usual, they'll be thick as thieves, and I'll be left to clean up the mess. It's time for me to fly the coop."

"Oh.."

Annalise chimed in, "And depending on how the situation goes, I should be gone after the baby is born."

By situation, the girl meant Elijah. Everything in her was saying not to wait, she would just be disappointed, but the other part was screaming he's your soulmate, of course he'll be with you. She wanted him to choose this, to choose their bond. Not be with her because of the bond. She wanted Elijah, them being destined aside.

Hayley went to take a bite from the apple but she felt dizzy and stumbled, Anna caught her quickly. "What's wrong?"

"I dunno, probably morning sickness..."

Anna gently placed her palm onto the werewolf's forehead, "Not morning sickness, you're burning up, love."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise ran upstairs with another cloth and handed it to Rebekah who placed it onto Hayley's head. "Stop fussing, will you? Elijah will be here any minute."

The werewolf groaned loudly, "I feel like I've been microwaved."

"Hey! Just because you're carrying a baby doesn't mean you get to act like one! I'm sure my little niece is healing you up as we speak."

Anna tapped her foot onto the ground rather impatiently just as Elijah walked in... with Sophie.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Rebekah gaped at her brother.

"I'm trying to help." the witch sighed.

"Help? You're the reason we're in this bloody mess! Why aren't we unlinked with this witch already, Elijah?"

"Rebekah, let her do what she can."

Anna angrily spoke out, "If I knew performing a spell would take this long, I would have done it myself."

Sophie looked over at the heretic with curious eyes and the brunette just glared at her.

The witch decided to focus on the baby, "I may know a way to slow the fever down. But, I'm gonna need some special herbs." she turns towards Rebekah, "I'll text you a list."

Elijah nods at her in encouragement, and though Rebekah does not look pleased to be being ordered around again, "Fine. Happy to play fetch girl." she stomps out the bedroom.

Annalise placed another washcloth on Hayley's chest as her phone rang, she pulled out the cellphone and groaned.

"No one speak."

The girl answered, "Marcel, a pleasure to finally hear from you."

Elijah's attention snapped towards the heretic and the vampire on the phone.

"Hey Amber. I'm so sorry I've been MIA lately, I've been a bit busy."

"Don't fret on it darling, I haven't been just wandering around either."

The original clenched his fists, something about the tone she used with the other vampire made him very unsettled, even if he knew she didn't truly feel for him.

"Well, I'll keep in contact more often."

"Happy to hear. I'll have to call you back, I'm a bit busy at the moment."

"Alright, don't worry about it, I'll call back later then."

Annalise hung up and rushed over to Hayley, "We need to submerge her in water."

"Let's get her to the pool."

The heretic wrapped a clean towel around her and smiled reassuringly. Elijah lifted up the werewolf into his arms and walked downstairs followed by Sophie and Anna.

Elijah set her down at the edge of the pool just as Rebekah returned with the herbs. The older Mikaelson shrugged off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves.

"She's burning up. If your going to do this, do it now Deveraux!" Anna shouted.

"Get her in the water!" the witch yelled as she worked with the herbs. Elijah jumped into the pool and helped Hayley in. Sophie mixes herbs in a cup and follows them into the water as well.

Rebekah groaned frustratingly, "I don't see how a midnight swim is supposed to help."

"It'll work Beks." Anna said.

"Her temperature is sky-high. The water, with the help of the herbs, should cool us down." Sophie hands Hayley the herbal concoction, "Drink this!" she turns towards Elijah, "You're going to have to get her heart rate down."

"How do you suggest I do that?"

Anna grit her teeth, she couldn't be selfish, now was not the time for that. "Hold her. It's a natural human remedy to slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure." the heretic told the vampire.

"This is never going to work."

"Would you shut up for two secs Bekah. Please."

Elijah picks Hayley up and holds her bridal-style in the pool, "Davina will break the link, we just need time."

Hayley begins to gasp for breathe, "I can't breathe!"

"Okay, long deep breaths, Hayley! Take slow breaths." Elijah told her. Hayley tightly held him as she groaned.

Hayley beings to scream in pain and thrashes in the vampires hold. Sophie looks up at the sky, looking almost disappointed, "I just felt it lift."

Rebekah and Anna sighed in relief. Hayley starts to breath normally and stands up. Elijah looked relieved the spell had worked.

The older Mikaelson leads Hayley out of the pool since she was still a bit weak.

"Elijah... as soon as your brother finds out that the link is broken, he'll kill Agnes. I know you don't owe me anything, but please, don't let him kill her." Sophie pleaded.

Anna clenched her jaw tightly. Elijah zoomed out the pool and towards his jacket that was next to the heretic.

He pulled out his phone. "Elijah! She's our only access to the power we need to survive. Promise me that you'll stop him!"

The original ignored her as he dialed a number, "It's me, where are you? Don't hurt her. I'll be there shortly." he turned towards the witch, "I'll make you one last promise. I won't let my brother kill Agnes." and he vamp sped away.

Anna walked over to Hayley to help her out the pool, the werewolf held a hard glare towards Sophie, "I know you were just using me to save your people, but try it again, and I'll kill you."

Annalise covers her with another towel and leads her inside with Rebekah following behind.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

The heretic went for a walk on the streets of New Orleans. Rebekah was long gone and she decided to stay behind. This wasn't the first time the two girls parted ways but it was never goodbye with them, they knew they would see each other again.

Her phone began to vibrate and Anna picked up the call, "Hello Marcel."

"Amber, always nice to hear you. I wanted to invite you over for Fight Night."

"May I ask what exactly that is?"

"Vampires fight, the one who wins gets a daylight ring."

Annalise shook her head, how was that entertaining? "Sure, it's been a long night."

The girl turned and started to walk towards the Abattoir, not knowing a certain werewolf that was missing.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»