𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 39

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Annalise strut down the streets of the French Quarter as she made her way back to the Mikaelson compound after a successful trip at the grocery store.

The heretic felt her cellphone vibrate making the girl shuffle the bags into one hand to answer the call.

"I'm a bit occupied at the moment, 'Lijah."

"Niklaus is on a rage rampage with his canvases." her soulmate sighed.

Anna shook her head, "Is it the obsession with using blood to paint? You know what, I'll be right there."

The Martin heir hung up the phone and picked up her pace as she arrived in the courtyard. She placed her bags of grocery on the table top before walking upstairs into Klaus' room where she could hear the hybrid and her soulmate speaking.

Elijah picked up the canvas his younger brother had thrown and examines it as Anna joins his side, "I suppose we shall have to call this your 'white period.'"

Klaus furrowed his brows rather angrily, "I'm missing a crucial color in my palette, that of my enemies' blood."

Annalise turned to glance at the vampire, "What did I tell you?"

Elijah pressed his lips into a firm line to avoid chuckling before raising a brow at the hybrid, "Well, I recommend a Venetian red, with a dash of rust..."

Anna watched as Klaus now completely lost his temper. Nothing new.

"It's been months! I've adhered to our plan, sit and do nothing, sell our grief. And now, my child is safely away, and another full moon is upon us, another night of pathetic weakness as the moonlight rings steal my strength!"

The heretic's gaze dropped to the floor, she was the reason he weakened on a full moon. She should have known the spells had been swapped, but she hadn't. Now, Klaus had to suffer the pain of every wolf in possession of those moonlight rings.

Elijah frowned, he knew these past few months had been hard on his brother.

Klaus sighed as began to calm down slightly though he is still upset, "The inertia is killing me. I need to act. I-I need- I need to spill blood."

Elijah clasped his hands together as he spoke up, "Well, then, you'll be pleased to know that I've located the last of the twelve rings forged with your blood."

Klaus' mood brightens up, "Then, it's time."

Annalise nodded as she brought in another discussion, "I'm concerned about Hayley."

Klaus visibly tenses at the mention of the other hybrid and turns away, towards his canvas clearly not wanting to speak on the topic, "She looks well enough."

Annalise harshly scoffed, "She looks no better than you. Maybe if the two of you wouldn't act like you barely knew one another-"

"Aren't you her friend? Take up the job." Klaus sharply answered. Anna clenched her jaw, "Well she's stubborn, exactly like the father of her child."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Anna watched from the balcony as Camille entered the compound in search for a certain original hybrid. The heretic sped down, "Cami, what a nice surprise."

The human jolts back as she comes face to face with the brunette, "Anna. Where the hell did you come from?"

Annalise raised a brow, "Last I checked, I lived here."

"He doesn't wish to see you."

The two females turned to see Elijah approaching them. Cami frowned knowing he was talking about Klaus.

"He doesn't care much for conversation these days. And, he certainly wouldn't care for the fact that you've put yourself in danger by coming here." the vampire crossed his arms over his chest.

The blonde looked frustrated, "I'm already in danger. I have Guerreras following me like it's a police state. The city's being run by gangsters, and you guys aren't doing anything about it. Marcel took them out a hundred years ago without any of you. Don't you think he might be up for lending you a hand?"

Anna watched the human then glanced at her soulmate who had an unreadable expression.

Elijah pursed his lips for a moment before speaking up, "Thank you for coming, Camille." he gestured towards the door for her to leave. Cami reluctantly followed but stopped for a moment, "I know your family is grieving. But I know you don't believe those rumors that Marcel killed the baby. So, if you want help taking down the Guerreras, you have a weapon across the river just waiting to be fired. Use it." and with that, she walked out.

Anna grinned widely, "I like her."

Klaus appeared behind the two and sadly frowned, "So do I."

Annalise watched the hybrid glumly disappear into his room. "Well isn't this family a bundle of joy." she glanced over at the vampire who was already watching her.

Not much had happened between the two, Elijah was too busy dealing with a moping Klaus and Anna was trying her best to keep Hayley in line.

Annalise sent the original a smile which he returned. The heretic knew there was still some reluctance left in Elijah though she couldn't blame him. Too much was going on at the moment.

"I miss the moments we had when it was just the two of us." Elijah frowned. He truly hated having to give the hybrid all his time but his brother would go off the rails if he didn't have help or attention from someone and Annalise was busy trying to get Hayley's attitude in check.

The heretic pursed her lips, "As have I."

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Annalise was in the middle of pouring herself a glass of bourbon when Klaus walked into his compound signaling his return after the errand he ran. Elijah strolled into the courtyard joining the two.

"We have the Guerreras where we want them. We have them waiting, we have them worried, and now, we know they're an army with no defenses against an Original." the hybrid smugly grinned.

Anna sipped her drink as Elijah spoke up, "We don't know that for certain."

Klaus merely shrugged, "I'm willing to gamble."

"It's too risky! The stake didn't just disappear, someone has it." Elijah rubbed his temples nervously.

Anna's eyes widened as she set down her drink, "I'm sorry, what?"

Klaus glanced at the heretic, "The white oak stake has been stolen, keep up." Annalise glared at the hybrid, "No one told me, hence the reason I didn't know."

"It has been stolen, which means it is now a weapon someone can use against us." Elijah crossed his arms over his chest. Anna tore her gaze away from the vampire, she found the crossed arms very attractive when her soulmate did it.

Klaus sighed in annoyance, "One enemy at a time! In the end, we'll slay them all." The hybrid took a seat at the table just as he feels one of the moonlight rings activate which begins to weaken him. "Tonight, we just have to plant the right seeds, and for that, we need help."

Just as those words left his mouth, Hayley waltzed into the room.

Anna gasped, "What a surprise actually seeing you."

"Very funny." Hayley deadpanned before the two turned to glance at Elijah who began to explain the plan, "We're taking the twelve original rings. Now, four of them sit on the hands of the Guerrera brothers. One on Oliver, one on Francesca, three with the home security detail, and the rest scattered amongst her lackeys. Now, each ring is distinguishable by its setting, gauche, like those that wear them."

Anna furrowed her brows as she spoke up, "Finding and acquiring them should be fairly easy."

Klaus nodded, "If they believe they can get their hands on the stake, they will come for me when I am weak. Each ring you retrieve will strengthen me, but I will still at a disadvantage."

"Ergo, any hope of our success depends entirely upon our working together." Elijah looked at Hayley, "The two of you can no longer afford to retreat to separate corners."

Anna glanced at the female hybrid and awaited her input on the situation.

Klaus pursed his lips, "This is our fight. Are you ready for battle, Hayley?" The newly turned hybrid clenched her jaw, "Just promise me that Francesca doesn't come out of this alive."

Niklaus gave her a weak smile, "Her head will be delivered to you on a silver platter, little wolf."

Elijah glanced at Annalise who nodded. The vampire turned to leave as Anna followed him, "Anna and I will deal with the last piece of the puzzle."

Elijah and Anna sped over to the werewolf's mansion. "I haven't had my nightly coffee yet, I'll make sure to end this quickly." the heretic grinned, Elijah hid an amused smile, "Try not to make too much of a mess, my love."

Anna's stomach always did odd things when the vampire called her sweet endearments, it warmed her dead heart.

"No promises, darling. The wet dog was one of the main reasons I had to endure hours of torture." the heretics demeanor suddenly became angry and violent. She wanted blood.

"After you then." Elijah smiled as he gestured towards the mansion.

The two soulmates caught sight of a few werewolf guards that had rushed out the house. Annalise grinned, the heretic sped quickly, using the element of surprise to her advantage as she stood behind the male and plunged her hand into his chest before yanking his heart out. The heretic watch in content as the body dropped dead onto the ground.

Anna walked around the body and smiled when she saw a moonlight ring placed upon his ring finger. The brunette crouched out and slipped the ring off, "I'll be taking that."

Annalise glanced up to see Elijah ripping a werewolf's inside's out. She glanced around to see a werewolf with their fangs bared, attempting to bite the original.

Anna narrowed her eyes as she muttered, "Phasmatos navaro pulsus sanguinox."

She watched as the werewolf dropped to their knees as they felt their blood turn to acid, the creature began to scratch viciously at their skin. Anna watched the werewolf scream in pain before raising her palm to snap their neck with the use of magic.

Elijah ripped a wolf's arm off before removing it's head.

The vampire and heretic glanced around at their work. Several dead bodies laid on the ground, Elijah noticed blood had been able to reach the windows of the mansion.

"You alright?" the vampire questioned his brunette. Anna turned to glance at him and smiled, "Never better."

The two soulmates approached the front door and amusingly watched as Francesca cautiously approached the entrance from within her house as her brothers reluctantly followed behind.

Elijah took out a pocket square and wiped his bloody hands with it, Anna glanced over at him. "Seriously?"

The vampire innocently shrugged as the werewolves before them tried to play their anxiousness off, "It's fine! They can't come in."

Annalise turned to gaze at Francesca, "Your voice is concerningly irritating. Ripping out your vocal cords should fix that."

The wolf nervously chewed her lip as Elijah spoke up, "Can't we?"

Francesca laughed, "Don't bluff me! You can't win."

Annalise shook her head as Elijah smiled, "You mobsters all suffer from such hubris."

"It's truly a problem." the heretic added.

The original placed his cloth back into his pocket as he continued to speak, "Did you know Al Capone thought himself invincible back in his day? And, in the end, he was sentenced to the wretched filth of Alcatraz, for which of his atrocities? Anyone?"

The two watched the wolves remain silent signaling for the vampire to continue, "A failure to pay his taxes! I suppose the devil's in the details, isn't it?" he looked around the inside of the mansion from the porch, "My, my, you have a beautiful home, here." Francesca and her brothers began to look nervous making Anna smile.

"I was so pleased when the city took my suggestion to protect its heritage status and invoke imminent domain." Elijah sighed contently, Francesca's face flushed with horror as Annalise spoke up, "I suppose that means this house now belongs to the public. And, as such, anyone can enter without invitation."

The heretic was the first to place her foot through the front door. Anna grinned as the wolves surrounded her, prepared to fight.

Elijah placed a hand on the small part of the heretic's back, "I'm sure the walls will enjoy the color red just fine."

"Fantastic."

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Anna dusted off her hands as Elijah and her entered the compound the find Klaus painting with the blood of the werewolf's he killed.

"It is seriously an issue." the heretic deadpanned as she watched the hybrid.

Klaus ignored her comment, "I'm still not at full strength. Which of the rings are unaccounted for?"

Anna glanced at Elijah expectantly, "Only one. I must say, the brothers fought valiantly before Ms. Guerrera escaped."

Klaus turns towards the two, his face written in shock and anger, "You let her get away?"

"I was going to bloody murder her but a werewolf decided to jump me from behind." Anna crossed her arms over her chest and Elijah's gaze hardened, "I happily ripped the dog to shreds."

"He did. Quite a gruesome scene."

"What of Francesca?"

Annalise shrugged, "I imagine she's either a) being torn to pieces or b) having the life drained out from her."

The three heard a door slam shut and Anna pursed her lips, "Well, what a way to make it known you're home."

Klaus frowned as he watched the hybrids room, Anna sighed in annoyance, "Standing there like a lost dog isn't going to fix anything, now get your ass up there and talk to her."

The original hybrid glanced down at the ground, "Someone more suited for pep talks should go." and he sped off into his own room.

"Bloody hell." Anna pressed the bridge of her nose between her fingertips. Elijah walked over to her and placed a soft kiss to her head, "Go rest. I will handle Hayley for you."

Annalise smiled up at the vampire, "Bless your soul."

The heretic dragged herself up to her room and slipped her shows off before collapsing onto the bed. The girl closed her eyes and sighed.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

Annalise peered open her eyes and squinted one closed as the sun shined brightly in her room. The heretic let out a yawn before pulling herself out of bed, she slipped on her pajama slippers and groggily made her way downstairs to attain a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

The heretic noticed the two Mikaelson brothers staring down at the stones thinking of ways to destroy them.

"Could you not just take a sledgehammer to them?" The hybrid raised a questioning brow. Elijah shook his head, "These were forged by a witch, brother. And, as such, only the elements of fire and water can destroy them."

Anna didn't bother to make herself known as she sleepily lifted her palm and enclosed the stones with a sphere of fire.

The two brothers perked their head up at her as she released what was left of the rock, ash.

Annalise let out another yawn before dragging herself into the kitchen making Elijah and Klaus walked after her.

"Well, good morning to you too." the hybrid muttered.

Elijah smiled seeing Anna's sleepy expression. She looked adorable, her hair was slightly ruffled and she was barely keeping her eyes open.

The vampire reached for the oat milk in the fridge and poured a bit into a mini pot before setting it on the stove to heat up a bit.

"So, Nik. When are you going to get your head out of your ass so you can go speak with Hayley." the heretic questioned as she poured her coffee ground into the coffee strainer.

"Considering everything that happened was my fault, I doubt she would want anything to do with me." the hybrid sadly muttered.

Elijah and Anna glance at him in surprise at the sudden confession.

Klaus frowned as he continued to speak, "If I had just accepted Hayley's pregnancy instead of..." his voice croaked out the next few words, "playing king... I should have listened to you. Instead, my greed and my envy robbed me of my daughter. My actions led to the release of the weapon that can kill not just me, but you two."

Anna seemed more awake now as she sadly frowned at her friend. Elijah pursed his lips as he spoke, "In a thousand years, I've survived your attempts to destroy me, brother." the vampire let out a smile, "I imagine I can survive this."

"My own coven couldn't even rid themselves of me." Anna sighed trying to lighten up the mood. Elijah glanced down at his soulmate with concerned eyes.

The heretic watched the brothers share a worried glance, "What? I mean it's true."

Klaus softly chuckled before his expression became confused as he looked over at his older brother, "You chase my redemption, like a man rolling a stone up an endless mountain."

Elijah shrugged as he poured Anna's coffee into her mug, "Well, no mountain is endless, brother. Some are just steeper than others."

Anna fumbled with her hands, "The stones weren't your fault, Nik. They were mine. I should have known Genevieve swapped the spells and I didn't. I'm so so sorry." her voice came out a hoarse whisper.

Klaus' gaze softened at his friends guilty expression, "It was not your fault. You couldn't have known. I am not blaming you for it so you shouldn't blame yourself. The stones are destroyed and I'm restored to my full strength. Now, comes the next step."

The original vampire finished up his soulmate's coffee by placing the warm oat milk into the coffee before handing it to her. Anna smiled gratefully at Elijah who returned the gesture as he glanced up at his brother.

"The next step is you speaking with Hayley. No one will be bale to comfort her as you could."

Klaus frowned, "We lost our child... I mean, what could I possibly say to ease her pain?"

Elijah placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever she needs to hear."