𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - the vampire rescue squad

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𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 to wait long. She tapped away at the flawless keys of the piano, little melodic notes filling the air as the sun shone through the open doors of the balcony. Each breeze brushing past her lightly though she was perfectly warm inside of her cozy hoodie. Only a few minutes had passed before a knock sounded on the other side of her door, Hayley's head popping inside as she carefully opened the creaky door.

"Hey, are you okay? I heard you and Marcel having your uh, argument."

Ophelia smiled lightly and beckoned the wolf inside with a hand, "I'm fine Hayley, what about you?"

The wolf slumped onto Ophelia's bed with a groan, her hands tracing circles into her bulging stomach, "Klaus is sending the vampires to kill my family and there isn't anything I can do about it."

Ophelia stared at the woman, watching the frown on the wolf's face deepen as she continued to think about the bloodthirsty vampires that were getting ready to go and feed on whatever family she had left in the world. Ophelia rose a brow, her fingers tapping at one last key of the piano, "Nothing you can do? We can go help them, or warn them, whatever."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, Hayley. That's your family out there and I'm sure if I called Elijah and Rebekah, they wouldn't mind helping." She chuckled lightly as she wandered over to the wardrobe to pick out a jacket, "Elijah is adamant on paying me back for saving your asses."

A knowing grin licked at the wolf's lips as she sat upright, "Oh, I bet he is."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, nothing... just the fact that Elijah looks at you as if he's never seen a woman before."

"No, he doesn't." Ophelia shook her head in bemusement. The siphon and the suited original were closer than the others, trusting of one another, but there was certainly no way that Elijah Mikaelson looked at her 'as if he'd never seen a woman before.'

"He does! He's been kind to me ever since we met, but with you? Come on, Ophelia!"

The siphon shook her head as she closed her wardrobe with a little more force than necessary as she clutched her black windbreaker in her hands. It may have sounded strange, but in all honesty, she truly hoped that it wasn't the case; that Elijah didn't see her that way.

She was... well, a mess. She feared trusting others so much so that she had neglected any relationships that could have been made since she had come back from the prison world. From the moment her abilities came to fruition she was shunned and locked away with her brother.

It was toxic. Malachai, no matter how much he cared for his little sister, would scream and yell; it was of course due to their parents and the abuse sent their way. They were still young when they had experienced the darkest parts of their lives and so, their view on any kind of relationship was shrouded in a hazy cloud.

Ophelia had put up with her brother's tantrums, after all, there was nowhere she could have run to escape them... and no matter what he did, he was her brother and she loved him. But the problem with that was that she knew how bad things could be.

Even those who had claimed to love her the most sent sharp words and harsh hands her way. Her parents who were devoted to their children turned into the monsters of a child's nightmare, in just a blink an eye. Her own brother could scare her at times, threatening to leave her in the dust if she didn't help him become the leader of the coven.

Her view on meaningful relationships was skewed. She didn't know what a healthy relationship with even a family member looked like, let alone a romantic one. That is why she wished that Elijah didn't have the misfortune in seeing her as a woman he wished to devote himself to.

She was broken, and whilst he claimed that broken things could be mended, some of her pieces were missing and she would never truly be whole again. She couldn't offer anything. She didn't know how to offer love without the fear of being thrown to the side. She didn't know how to offer loyalty or commitment without having nightmares about waking up to the glaring face of a monster.

The thought of having someone love her immediately turned sour. She couldn't be loved. And she couldn't entirely blame it on others; she was at fault. She was the person that people deemed a monster, an abomination. She had committed those atrocities on that fateful night she had been tossed into the prison world... she didn't deserve love. Because whilst her parents had been the monsters that hurt and haunted her every moment, she still had that choice to do what she did and she did it nonetheless.

And she didn't regret it.

That's what made her the monster; the unlovable and defective person that she was because she would repeat her actions twice over if she knew that Kai's plan would have worked that night. She would kill all over again.

"Ophelia?" Hayley called out with a slight frown as she made her way over to the siphon who had been staring at her own reflection in the mirror for a solid minute or two.

Ophelia snapped out of her own dark and cruel mind; her face completely blank as she turned to the wolf. It seemed to have shocked the mother to be, Hayley blinked at the lack of emotion and expression, it was almost scary seeing her so devoid of emotion and the wolf could help but wonder why a simple and light-hearted conversation about the smitten original had made the siphons mood do a complete one-eighty.

"We should go and warn your wolves," Ophelia spoke, monotonously and made her way towards the door, Hayley trailing behind like a scolded child as she twiddled her thumbs.

The two walked in silence and it was as if something had snapped and transported Ophelia back to the time before the Mikaelson's had arrived; the siphons head was held high, her strides fast and solid as she led the pair towards the exit.

Before Ophelia and Hayley could take their leave, however, Diego appeared in front of them. He was as smug as ever with his lips curled in a scowl as he faced the pair. "Going somewhere?"

"Don't Diego." Ophelia almost growled, her patience already wearing thin as she stared at the arrogant vampire before her. Her hands itched to wrap around his wrists and drain the magic from him.

"Or what?"

The question wasn't a question to Ophelia, no, the cockiness of his tone and the way he shifted his weight onto one leg with his arms spread open was more so an invitation for the siphon. She stepped closer with that dead look in her eye as Hayley watched with bated breath, her thumbnail between her teeth in apprehension.

Without a word, one of Ophelia's hands latched onto Diego's wrist and the man's eyes immediately widened; he knew what would come next. Ophelia watched blankly as the vampire tried his best to keep his pained yells from slipping from his mouth, and thankfully he succeeded. Ophelia dropped her hold and the man panted as his body tried to regain the energy she had stolen.

Diego brought his eyes to hers, the smug smile reappearing, "That all you got, witch?"

She rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist as she muttered something beneath her breath; with the magic she had stolen, the vampire's neck snapped and he slumped to the ground at the exact moment Elijah sped through the door in a fast blur.

His eyes latched onto the vampire that sank to the ground before drifting up to Ophelia's, her usual bright whiskey eyes were dull, almost void as she stared back.

Before the original could utter a word, Hayley stepped forward, "Elijah, you shouldn't be here. Klaus has his guys watching me."

"I wouldn't worry about them." He shrugged nonchalantly, and after a moment two bodies fell from behind them with their necks snapped. Rebekah stepped out from around a corner, her expensive heels steeping over the vampires as if they were nothing but a log in a forest.

The blonde original was just as quick to notice the change in Ophelia, usually the siphon would offer a grin or even a nod of acknowledgment; she got nothing.

"Come, we mustn't linger. We'll get you someplace safe." Elijah ushered the pair causing Ophelia to narrow her eyes just slightly.

Sure, Hayley might not have wanted to stay there, but Ophelia was perfectly content. She had a fair arrangement and a place to stay, why on earth would she leave? It was safe for her, and by all accounts, it was safe for the pregnant wolf too. Klaus cared for his unborn daughter, Ophelia could see it, so for all intents and purposes, Hayley was safe and sound.

"No, you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine. I've been deemed under protection by the almighty Klaus." the wolf spoke with a scoff, her hands caressing her stomach before her face dropped, "It's the werewolves who need help. He ordered a wolf hunt as some jacked-up peace offering to Marcel's crew. You have to help them."

"Out in the Bayou?" Rebekah exclaimed incredulously, "Do we look like a bloody vampire-rescue-squad? I think you should be grateful we came to save you!"

"Listen. Rebekah. All my life, I've wanted to know who my real family was, and just as I find out that they're out there in the Bayou, Klaus orders them killed. You wanna help me? Help my people. Please."

Ophelia shared a small look with the wolf before she let out a sigh and walked forward, past Elijah and towards the door, "If your family maul me to death I'm not gonna be happy."

Hayley let out a small laugh as she watched the woman lean against the large wooden doors. Her hazel eyes had caught the small looks the suited original had sent her way, confusion clearly eating away as he too noticed the change in Ophelia's attitude. She didn't feel bad for bringing it up though, she was right, Elijah looked at her in a way she had never seen a man look; it wasn't with lust or greed, it was awe and respect.

Clearly Ophelia didn't want to acknowledge that, and instead retreated behind her shield of stoicism. The wolf would have to have a chat with the siphon later, she wasn't one to let things go.

"Thank you, Lia," Hayley spoke with a thankful smile as she brushed her brunette curls behind her shoulder.

"Well," Rebekah breathed as she clapped her hands together, "If Ophelia is going, then so am I... Elijah?"

Ophelia cast her gaze to the original in question with a single brow raised that caused him to tightly smile and nod, "Of course."

"Great," Ophelia confirmed as she turned her back to them and opened the door, an annoyingly loud creak echoing through the compound due to the rusted hinges. The siphon threw a look over her shoulder, one they were privy to, a look of teasing, "If you get yourselves into any trouble, I'm leaving you behind this time."

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The trio arrived in the awfully humid bayou with speed, Rebekah had held a hand out to the siphon and whisked her away with her vampire speed, leaving Elijah to shake his head in the metaphorical cloud of dust the girls left behind before ultimately following.

Upon their arrival, everything from tables, chairs to pots and pans were being thrown about by the pesky vampires of New Orleans. They were always ones to put on a show to make themselves seem bigger and stronger than they were.

Rebekah gracefully placed Ophelia on the ground; the siphon feeling as light as a feather due to her small stature and the vampire's supernatural strength that had only continued to grow throughout her one thousand years roaming the earth.

Both girls watched on completely unamused by the racket the baby vampires were making, and once Elijah joined their side, his face conveyed the same, only with a sprinkle more of disgust and the beastly little vamps.

"Fan out, find them, and bring me some heads," Diego ordered his bunch of miscreants whilst he watched onwards.

"I'd rather you didn't," Elijah spoke monotonously as he stood tall, hands in his pockets.

Diego spun on his feet, his face full of annoyance as he eyes the two originals and the siphon that stood between them. He kept his eyes trained on Ophelia for a moment longer before the woman rose her brows, his rolling eyes focused back on the noble one, "The hell are you doing out here?"

"I've come to suggest you seek other hunting grounds."

Diego merely shrugged, his cocky attitude getting the better of him, as per usual, "Suggestion noted..." but rather than heeding Elijah's warning, the vampire instead tried to brush past the trio but Rebekah stepped forward, a grin on her face.

"Oh Diego, it would be such a shame to have to rearrange that pretty face." Ophelia allowed a small smirk to curl at her lips as the original reached out to touch the vampire's face, Diego stopping her by grabbing her arm.

"What the hell do you care about wolves?"

"Generally, I don't. However, this particular clan is not to be touched." Elijah paused, a fake smile settling on his features as he eyed the vampire down, "Goodbye."

Diego scoffed as he dropped Rebekah's arm, his eyes narrowing in on Ophelia who tilted her head, "Look at you, all snug with the Mikaelson's. Your loyalty to Marcel didn't last long."

Ophelia openly laughed as she moved closer to the vampire, the leaves and twigs crunching beneath her platformed shoes until she stopped just a meter in front of the man. "I was never loyal to him, and he knows that."

"Is that right?"

"Yes, Diego, it is. I saved him and Davina, and to repay me he let me stay at the compound. I'd say that evened us out, don't you think? Although I did help him with those pesky witches, on multiple occasions might I add, so..." she brought a finger to her chin, tapping in mock thought, "If anything, he still owes me."

"Marcel doesn't owe you jack," Diego growled as he pointed a finger towards the brunette. Diego seemed to have made it his priority to piss the siphon off for the day. The man pointing his grubby little finger towards her had irritated her to no end and so, without hesitation, Ophelia latched her hand around his wrist and began to drain the magic from him.

Rebekah turned to look at Elijah with a raised brow but the man couldn't tear his eyes away. He still constantly found her abilities fascinating.

Diego sunk to his knees, his teeth gritted in pain as he directed his eyes up to the woman who stood tall, with her head held high. She looked down at him with a smile before she slowly lowered herself into a crouch, her fingers still clasped around him, "I think it's time for you to leave, Diego. You've made quite the fool of yourself." her hand retracted and with a light and airy sigh she was back to full height. "Stay away from the wolves."

Diego, from his position on the ground, panted heavily as his eyes swept over the trio, his eyes landed on Rebekah who was grinning at the show Ophelia had graced them with, the blonde brought a hand and with a sweet smile she wiggled her fingers, "Bye."

Diego's fingers gripped at the soil beneath them, anger flooding his veins and by the look in his eyes, Ophelia knew he'd be back, he'd try and show off to his posse of bloodsuckers that he wasn't afraid; when he was. He pulled himself to his feet, staring down at Ophelia who looked incredibly bored with his display of 'masculinity' if you could call It that.

He turned to his group of vampires and tilted his head, ushering them to leave with him as he tried to sound unbothered by what had happened, "Nothing here anyway."

Ophelia and the originals that stood behind her all watched in silence as they left and once they were out of sight Rebekah let out a joyful laugh, her blue eyes glistening with mirth as she placed a hand n the siphon's shoulder, "I absolutely adore you."

Ophelia hummed with a small twitch of her lips, twice now Diego had stood in front of her, treating her like a lowly child... like a witch, he'd pay. If she saw him again, well, she wouldn't be opposed to using the magic she had stolen from him. "And I hate Diego."

"I can see why, arrogant little beast... well," Rebekah huffed in delight at a job well done as she spun to face Elijah, Ophelia copying the action, "I guess our job here is done."

Elijah smiled lightly at the pair, seeing Ophelia's dynamic with the rest of his family stirred something within him; the way she could get Klaus to joke by using light insults, the way she and Rebekah seemed to click like sister's. She seemed to gravitate towards the Mikaelson family and Elijah was happy about the fact, though his mind still couldn't seem to move away from the blank look on her face before they had left. She'd often greet him with a smile that made his skin feel like electricity, her warm eyes filled with a certain emotion that made her look like the most delicate being; though she was far from it.

He wasn't letting it go.

Ophelia frowned at the noble original with question as his head snapped up and his eyes narrowed. Elijah's head tilted just slightly as his hearing concentrated on a twig snapping not far from where the trio stood. His supernatural senses picked up on breathing, "Not quite." he murmured in response to his little sister before speeding in the direction of the sound.

"I do wish he'd use his words." Rebekah complained as she dropped her gaze to Ophelia, "Ready?"

With a nod from the brunette siphon, Rebekah grabbed ahold of her and sped them both in the direction Elijah had rushed off to.

Ophelia blinked as her surroundings swiftly changed and brushed the wily strings of her from where they had gotten caught in her eyelashes. Her whiskey eyes narrowed as they landed on the woman Hayley had met, "Eve?"

Eve nodded towards the siphon, "Ophelia." her attention shifted to the originals, "Hayley sent you here to protect us, didn't she? Tell her we appreciate the concern, but we've been looking out for ourselves for a while now. Nobody finds us unless we wanna be found."

"Well, we found you, so..." Rebekah drawled out sarcastically.

Eve gave the blonde a look, "Like I said." she paused for a beat as she held up what seemed to be a map, "There's something I thought you and your family should know about." without another word she began to make her way down the dirt path, her stake tightly gripped in one hand, the map in the other.

Ophelia sighed. Of course they couldn't just come out, send Diego and his bloodsucking friends away, and leave. No, of course they had to play out a whole damn mission. Ophelia knew voicing her complaints and annoyance wouldn't make the day go by any faster or easier, and so, with a roll of her eyes, she trailed after the white-haired woman leaving Elijah and Rebekah no choice but to follow after the brunette with the bouncing curls.

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11-11-2020