◤ 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖊𝖓: ❛ deep affliction ❜ ◢

✧

MAGNUS BABBLED ON AS MARISOL PEERED DOWN ON HIM WITH A SMALL SMILE. It was a quiet evening, Katerina had gone out earlier with Niklaus, a broad smile spreading across her face when he appeared at her front door. Marisol had to turn away when she saw it, knowing that she was expecting a pleasant evening which would be recreated many times spanning across numerous years, while Marisol knew that Niklaus did not wish the same.

Her heart ached to tell Katerina the truth, to tell her how Niklaus did not love her the same way she loved him, but every time she opened her mouth to utter such a thing, her throat would dry instantly and the words she wanted to speak were caught. She could not out of the fear that Niklaus would turn on her and expose her as a beast to the man that wrongfully owned her heart.

No, but she had cut out her heart, determined that Elijah could never put it back together. Elijah did not need her and she could not have him forever. She had already begun to pack for her leave because there was no way she could stay after he kissed her, cementing that he had a leash on her actions and would hold her captive there forever. She had to escape before he found out the truth of all her lies.

And she felt terribly awful for not saying anything to Katerina, for lying to her and feeding into her dream that she would one day bear the name Katerina Mikaelson. If she were a better friend, maybe she could, but she wasn't. Self-preservation. It was her and Marisol before any friendship, especially since she hoped she would not have to see the fallout with her soon departure from England.

She needed to keep Magnus' best interest in mind before the best interest of Katerina, though she dearly loved the girl and hoped her the best in the future.

"Oh, my darling," Marisol whispered to her sweet nephew, watching as he began to levitate from the ground. She let out a quiet laugh at him, "You will make a wonderful warlock in the future. Ophelia would be proud."

Because she would. Ophelia loved magic dearly, it was her lifeline, and she doubted that her sister could ever imagine a life without magic. Anything else she could deal with, but magic was her blood and rock, tethering her to the world. Nothing was dearer to her than the magic in her veins, and she would be so proud if she could see Magnus now, already exhibiting signs of a great mage.

Magnus giggled at her, eyes sparkling, and she picked him up to give him a kiss on his head before setting him on the ground. She had actually gotten home at a decent time and needed to make dinner for the both of them, so she walked away from him to the table to begin preparing the meal.

It was then that she heard an insistent knock at her door, causing her to frown before going towards it. She opened it to find her frantic friend. "Katerina? Are you alright?" she asked immediately when she saw the state of the girl.

"Can you help me please?" the girl ushered out, looking behind her nervously.

"Of course," Marisol answered without hesitation, "What happened? I thought you were with Niklaus."

"I was, but...Marisol I heard him talking. He doesn't want to marry me, I am just his ticket to freedom," Katerina said and Marisol frowned, prompting her to explain more, "Oh, Marisol, I heard him with Elijah and – well, I hope you'll believe me – but he said there was a curse on him and my blood with break it. He said that he's a hybrid – a vampire and werewolf – and I knew then that I had to leave."

Marisol looked at her, "He's a vampire? The Mikaelsons...they're vampires?"

She dreaded the answer, knowing that if it was true, that if the Mikaelsons – if Elijah – were vampires, then everything they had wasn't true. Vampires and werewolves despised each other, and if Elijah knew that she was a werewolf, which he would probably be able to smell, then nothing that occurred between them was real. He did not truly love her, and she was nothing more than a thing to play with before slaughter. How did she not notice before?

Oh, because she was blinded by him. Blinded by his charm, by his smile, by his eyes, by his kindness. She could not see his faults, his vampire side, because she simply did not want to. She wanted to believe that he truly loved her, but it seemed now that he never did. That it was all a lie.

Katerina nodded. "Yes, and Niklaus said that he – that his werewolf side has been suppressed somehow by magic, which means witches surely, and that my blood – my death – will unlock that side. Oh, Marisol, I hope you believe me. I need to get away."

Marisol's face became clear as she placed the pieces together. The Original Hybrid in Niklaus' story was him. He was a werewolf and vampire at the same time, but a witch cursed him to suppress that side, and the death of a vampire, werewolf, and blood of a doppelganger – Katerina – would unleash that side.

No, she was not just a play toy for Elijah; she was probably the werewolf in this ritual. Her death and Katerina's would set Niklaus free.

"I believe you, Katerina, because I am a werewolf," Marisol admitted to her and Katerina began to back away from her, "Don't be frightened, please, I am not here to hurt you. Let me help, we can get away together."

Katerina nodded and moved towards her again when the door to her house slammed open. Both women cowered back in fear, Marisol going to protect Magnus, seeing Trevor with eyes trained on Katerina. He breathed out her name and came forward, "Come with me, I know somewhere you'll be safe."

"How can I trust you?" Katerina demanded, "You were close with him. You could be taking me to him."

"Katerina, I love you," Trevor declared, "I would never let him hurt you. Come with me, please, I can protect you more than her."

He looked at Marisol, and though she knew that it was true, she was still offended by the statement. She could not protect Katerina, she could barely protect herself when it wasn't the full moon. There was no magic in her bones anymore either, it was just her and a magical toddler.

Katerina gulped, looking to Marisol, who nodded. "Go with him," she told her friend, "Let him help you."

"If you say so," Katerina looked at her before wrapping her arms around Marisol tightly, not wanting to let go, as the Bigora woman did the same. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to remember this feeling forever in case they never say each other again.

When they parted, Trevor tugged Katerina away from her, and in a blink of an eye, they were gone, leaving just the Bigoras. Marisol blinked before closing her door and rushing through the place getting everything together to leave that night. She could not stay there any longer, especially not now that she was sure Niklaus and Elijah wanted to sacrifice her and Katerina.

Soon, there was another knock at her door, and she stiffened. Before going to see who it was, she grabbed a knife, opening the door slowly to see the man who she thought once was infatuated with her. "Marisol," he said her name, a small smile on his face.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him lowly, gripping the knife in her hand tightly.

He looked at her, looked at her defensive stance, the lack of trust towards him, and realization dawned on him. "You know. Katerina already came to see you."

"I know that you would have me sacrificed if you find her," Marisol agreed, "But I will not let that happen."

"Marisol, I would never –"

"Don't lie to me, Elijah, of course you would. You're vampires – Original vampires – and I am just a werewolf. And here I thought you could actually love me...clearly I was mistaken," she said the last part bitterly, knowing how that no one could ever love a beast such as herself.

"Marisol," he tried again, reaching for her arm before she tore it away, "You are not just a werewolf to me. I truly do love you."

She scoffed, "I'm sure. But it's no matter now, Katerina's gone and I don't know where she went and you won't either."

"Niklaus is very good at getting what he wants," Elijah warned her.

"Well, he can't have Katerina," Marisol declared.

"If you know anything, I can Niklaus spare you, but he is not a kind man when he doesn't get what he wants," Elijah warned her.

"I don't know anything," Marisol lied.

"Marisol, tell me," Elijah pleaded with her but she did not break this time. She could not break.

"I have not helped her, Elijah, and I don't know where she's gone now, only that she left after I said that I couldn't help her. Now please, if what you claim about loving me is true, you will let me go and let me get as far away from Niklaus as I can."

It was then that Magnus let out a cry from the back of the room, causing Elijah to peer in and see her nephew. "You have a child," he stated, looking between him and Marisol.

She swallowed, looking him in the eyes. "Yes," she lied, knowing that if she didn't, there might be a reason for Elijah not to let her go, but surely he would be kind enough to allow her to live now that he knew of Magnus and assumed he was of her own blood.

He looked back at her, a look of surprise and hurt, seeing how sure she was, and nodded. "I will leave and keep Niklaus far away from you for as long as I can, but know that he will always be searching for you as long as you live," he warned her.

She let out a breath. "Thank you," she could at least say to him. He nodded before rushing off, faster than her eyes could truly see.

She looked back at Magnus, feeling her heart break knowing that she was losing her best friend and the man she loved all in one night. She knew that it was foolish to call him that now, knowing what she knew now, but it was true that Elijah had stolen her heart and she truly did love him, and now he knew her secrets. Now he knew why they could never be together, and now she knew his secret.

Now she knew that it was all a lie, and now she had to leave her second home. She quickly packed, gathering Magnus in her rooms, before racing out into the night, hijacking a carriage to bring her out of London. She was leaving everything behind once again, but just like last time, there was a promise of life.

In her arms, she had Magnus, the light of her life. He was permanent, and Elijah had just concreted the fact that he was fleeting. Elijah would have her dead before, and only seeing Magnus changed that – she knew that. The man she loved was gone from her life, her best friend was gone from her life, and could only hope that Trevor had truly helped Katerina escape and that she would still be living the next day.

But for now, she could not think about who she was leaving behind and the worries she had for them, she had to think about where she was going, and how she would hide with Magnus. She kissed his forehead again, but this time as a promise.

She would protect him, she would keep him safe, and she would go to the ends of the earth so that the Mikaelson family would not find them and slaughter Magnus or herself. There was no turning back, there was only looking forward, and she hoped that she would never have to see one of their vampiric faces ever again as long as she lived.

But unlike last time when she left her home, it was not her and Ophelia against the world; it was her and Magnus, and for now it felt like it was only her. But she would be strong, strong for Magnus and for herself, and she would raise him and keep him safe. No one will ever hurt him and if they do, she would have her revenge.