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chapter twenty ━ when the past comes knocking

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❝ who came to taunt you? ❞

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FATHER KIERAN HAD passed away not long after the bombings at the bayou occurred. Everyone around the city seemed to be dropping like flies and the thought was not soothing, considering how it was crystal clear that more people were going to die. Now it was only a matter of who and when. For now, they got to relax in the somber atmosphere, mourning the passing of the human which was full of booze and music, something that was rather odd. Athena felt out of place since she did not know him well, but knew that it would be rude of her not to show and pay her respects.

That morning she had been woken up a bit earlier by Thomas who made her a healthy breakfast full of fruits she had never tasted before. He explained that she needed to begin eating better foods if she wanted to become stronger, despite the fact that she could live off blood and be perfectly fine. Still, he insisted that she at least try each fruit. From what she was given, she found out she loves raspberries and strawberries but hates bananas and blueberries.

Right after eating he let her take a ten-minute break before he took her out for a jog to help build up her stamina and stay in shape. All of this was ironic to her. Since she didn't have any athletic clothes yet, she had to use a shirt of us and tie it at the end so it wasn't as long and she used some sports shorts of her's she already had. Thomas? He decided to go shirtless, leaving his chest visible, wearing only shorts and the proper running shoes. She had blushed and looked away, not catching his smirk.

They ran for around twenty-five minutes at the park before they stopped and then he took her to an empty field, showing her some stretches which she assumed was his excuse of showing off because he did not have any shame in giving her demonstrations of each one. She did one push-up and called it quits. In Thomas's opinion, it wasn't even close to a push-up. To provide motivation, he told her that for every push-up and sit-up she did successfully, he would give her a kiss.

She only got one. And it was for pity.

They headed back to his apartment and she showered first but he just had to offer for them to shower together which left her a blushing mess and him laughing away. They got dressed for the day and headed out by the time the clock hit ten o'clock.

Klaus and Elijah were drinking away at a table when they arrived at Rousseau's, both looking rather glum. The couple sat in front of them at the table after Thomas pulled out Athena's chair for her, making her smile softly at him.

"Didn't you read the sign, sister? No pets allowed."

"Oh Nik, always so cheerful," she replied with a sigh, the waiter bringing her water and Thomas a whiskey bottle and a glass. She glanced to her calmer brother. "What crawled his ass and died?"

Before Elijah could reply, Klaus could not help but cut him short. "It seems rather uncivilized to laugh and dance around the body of a loved one."

Thomas poured some whiskey into his glass, politely disregarding the pet comment he made, used to the countless insults already. "Everyone grieves differently. Some cry, some party. It's surely better than keeping a stash of daggers and a lot of coffins in your basement for when you're feeling especially rageful." Athena hummed in agreement, sipping on her beverage while Elijah raised his glass to the ginger in agreement. Hayley joined them, sitting between the two brothers. "Watch yourself, Hayley, Klaus is ready to bite some heads off."

"Sod off."

Hayley didn't look surprised honestly, looking to the male hybrid. "What's the deal with these moonlight rings? Oliver's trying to set a revolution every five seconds. People are scared, angry, and frankly, I'm tired of stalling."

The rulers immediately turned their attention towards her, now worried because Oliver still causing chaos and not even Jackson could do anything to stop it. Nathan and a few others in the pack seemed to be the only ones who were thinking straight. Most of the wolves were convinced that the vampires killed their fallen brothers and sister, ready to fight back against them for what they caused.

"It's a day of peace, Hayley," Klaus pointed, sounding exasperated. "Try and enjoy it. And, in the meantime, with all manner of unknown enemies conspiring against our family, you'll move back in with us since Athena has left and moved in with her new boy toy."

"Sod off," Athena mocked, rolling her eyes.

He was getting frustrated from the looks of it, taking a moment before addressing Hayley's concerns. "The rings are in progress. I will live up to my word. We will find and punish whoever launched the attack on the Bayou, and you will return to the compound for your own safety! But, right now. . ." He grabbed his bottle of scotch. ". . .I'm gonna finish this bottle. . ." He opened it. ". . .and the next, in the hopes of drowning the demon who has chosen today to haunt me." He looked up at the ceiling before chugging the alcohol. "Cheers, Mikael. Impeccable, Freudian timing."

Everyone at the table became concerned. Thomas tensed up beside of her and she did not understand why. She reached over and placed a hand on his arm, her eyes trained on her brother, her expression softening since she was now worried for him. "You've dreamt of our father?"

"Go ahead, have a good laugh."

Elijah shook his head, agreeing with his sister's troubled tone. "We can assure you there is no piece of this that we find even remotely amusing, Niklaus. Especially considering I've been dreaming of him, too."

Athena went wide-eyed. "What? I haven't at all." She was perplexed as to why both her brothers were being plagued by the nightmare they were forced to call their father and yet she had not seen him or even thought of him in ages. It was odd that they both were experiencing the same thing. "That cannot be a coincidence."

Thomas was quiet, looking down at his empty glass, not moving a muscle.

Genevieve entered Rousseau's, catching the eldest Original's eye as he stared back at her. "Perhaps our elusive, unknown enemy is orchestrating a further attack?"

They all turned to look at the redheaded witch. Klaus was pleased with how this was going from the way a dark smile appeared on his face. "Well, then. What better way to punctuate a day of peace than by killing someone?" He smiled at her and waved.

The second Genevieve slipped away, the three Originals followed, leaving Thomas and Hayley alone at the table. She was confused by his behavior but he told her that he was fine and not to worry about him. So she left the room reluctantly, following the two males after the witch. Klaus appeared first, then Elijah, and then her.

"Not going to lie, giving visions of our dead father is low," Athena spoke, making the female turn towards her, eyes widening a bit at the sight of the Queen before collecting herself, standing there firmly. "Then again, given what you did to Rebekah I'm not that surprised."

"Your father?" she repeated, sounding genuinely surprised. "I didn't. I wouldn't!"

"Of course, how foolish of us," Elijah apologized with the least amount of sincerity she has ever heard. "It must have been that other witch that's been parading through our house in scraps of lace."

Athena did not understand what he was saying but figured that Klaus and Genevieve were sleeping together. Scraps of lace though? Did she not have any clothes to wear? But why lace of all fabrics? She frowned to herself, considering the idea that maybe wearing lace was a sexual thing. Her cheeks went crimson. Thank goodness she moved out because she did not want to see the witch in that state.

"I know how talented you are with your tongue, Genevieve," Klaus smirked, making his sister scowl in disgust. "Might I recommend you use it to provide answers? I would so hate to tear it from your mouth."

She laughed nervously in reply, eyes darting between the three faces. "As much as I enjoy these repeated accusations of wrongdoings, I don't know what you're talking about. But, if you've both been seeing your dead father, I can try to get you answers."

He stepped forward and stroked her neck menacingly. "Fine. Go." Elijah protested but before he could finish, Klaus demanded her to leave again and she did, scurrying out the door and out of sight. "You don't trust her, and you're right not to. Only a fool would. But, she certainly wants us to, doesn't she?"

"So you want to trick her?" Athena questioned, coming to stand beside of them.

"I need a witch to make those rings for the wolves. Perhaps we'll get both answers and cooperation?"

———

Athena joined her brothers back at the compound, involving herself in the situation as much as possible. She had brought Thomas with her only because he was still acting strange. Not to mention that he had seemingly vanished once they got to the compound, making her even more anxious to figure out what was going on with everyone.

Genevieve approached her when she was on the balcony, looking over the courtyard that was currently empty of people. "I asked around. It's not just your father. The purgatory where supernatural souls are trapped is disintegrating."

She looked at her, now intrigued. "Disintegrating?"

Klaus walked towards them, nodding his head. "She's right... more or less. It's actually imploding. A made a call to a rather reluctant Bennett witch in Mystic Falls who said the same thing. The dead are being torn away into nothingness. And, they're not interested in going quietly."

She stiffened, being reminded of their mother whom she had murdered. And yet, she saw no sign of her which was a good thing. "What you're saying is Mikael is about to disappear for good and he decided to come to visit you and Elijah to torment you until his extinction. Lovely."

"Well, on the plus side, we'll soon be rid of his abhorrent soul forever. And what a good riddance that will be!"

She could not argue with that, nodding in agreement as she turned her head to look back out at the courtyard. Genevieve made a move to leave but stopped in front of Klaus before she did. "I have to get back to the girls. Perhaps tomorrow, after the funeral, you and I could spend some time together. Alone?"

"I suppose we'll have to see."

With that, the witch huffed in annoyance and left. Athena saw Thomas appear from one of the downstairs hallways and quickly sped walk to the stairs, hurrying over to him and grabbed his arm. Klaus was watching the entire thing.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem. . .upset about something."

Thomas forced a smile and shook his head, rubbing both of her arms up and down. "I'm perfectly fine, Ena. Look, I'm going to go grab my suit back at my place, I'll meet you here in a bit." He kissed her temple, putting his hands in his pockets. She stood there and watched him go, frowning deeply.

The King was walking back to his apartment complex, cutting through an alleyway before he stopped in his tracks upon feeling a certain presence. "If you've come to taunt me, I'm happy to announce that what you have to say won't bother me in the slightest."

Klaus clasped his hands behind his back, approaching him with a prideful smirk on his features, chuckling lightly. "Oh, I'm sure you are right about that. I did have a question for you." Thomas turned around, putting his hands in his pockets, facing him with a neutral expression. "Who is haunting you, hm?"

"What?" he laughed, concealing his nerves well, but not good enough to get it past the determined hybrid. He was not keen on anyone finding out about his past, he would rather keep it to himself until he felt ready to tell his story. And when he was ready, he most certainly was not going to pour out his feelings to the male standing in front of him.

"I have seen that look in your eyes before. I've seen it looking in a mirror at my own reflection." Surprisingly, very, very surprisingly, the cruelty in Klaus's eyes faded away but that did not matter because Thomas was beginning to lose his patience. "I have that look whenever I think about my father. So tell me, has your father come to torment you as well?"

"That's none of your business," Thomas growled, clenching his fists, stepping towards him. "You don't know a damn thing about you. You wouldn't give two shits if I died tomorrow."

Klaus shook his head, not bothering to conceal how he felt one bit; there was no point in doing so. "No, I wouldn't. But my sister would and as you can tell, I'm trying to make an effort to give you a shot. I gave Rebekah a chance at freedom and I'm allowing you to be with Athena."

Thomas scoffed, his tongue poking into the inside of his cheek as he glanced away for a moment. "That is not your choice to make. Athena is her own person, she can be with who she wants to be with."

"Don't try and change the subject. I asked you a question."

"And I'm not answering it. So piss off." He spun on his heel, walking away and Klaus let him, standing there as he watched him go. He didn't need an answer from him because he already got it without the redhead saying so. The boy was obviously disturbed about someone who had come back from his past to visit him. And if the Original had to place a finger on who, he would say that Thomas's father had come back to see his son. For what reason, he didn't know.

———

The funeral had begun so citizens were walking down the street, jazz music surrounding them, the priests acting as pallbearers for Father Kieran. Athena was towards the end of the parade, wearing a typical black dress, walking along as she let her brothers and Hayley walk behind her. She exhaled, getting a bad feeling in her stomach about the pregnant wolf because all she kept doing was coughing, her heartbeat faster than normal.

Elijah asked Hayley how she was, complimenting how she looked right after. Athena kept her pace, head down, keeping her arms around her waist. She was worried for Thomas, hoping that he was alright. He had just gone to get his suit and yet it has been much longer than she expected. However, she did not want to come off as possessive or clingy so she stayed quiet, waiting for him to return.

"Do you think I was the target of those bombings?" Hayley asked suddenly, drawing in her attention.

"Of course you were the target!" Klaus exclaimed. "Were I to wage a war on the wolves, you'd be my first kill! I would string you up, for all your worshipers to see."

She rolled her eyes at his words. "Way to be subtle Nik. If you wanted her to move back in with you, you should try asking politely first. It may work and help your case." He disregarded her words, ignoring her almost though she could feel the smugness radiating off of him.

"As much as I would hate to throw you over my shoulder, and drag you kicking and screaming to the compound, we both know I will for the sake of my child." He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer, whispering in her ear. "Let me put this into perspective: my father lived to torment me. It is not my intention to become him. This cycle of misery ends with my child."

Hayley, in reply, yanked his arm away from her with a fake smile. "You forgot one thing in your little attempt to plead your case: she's not your child. She's ours." She walked away from the siblings, heading down the sidewalk.

"Very heartfelt, Niklaus," Elijah spoke casually but sarcastically.

"I bloody hate funerals."

Athena sighed, picking up her pace a bit. She glanced to the side and once she did, Thomas was jogging over to her from one of the side roads. He was wearing his suit, looking a bit pale. She frowned, pressing a hand to his forehead, feeling him burning up and sweating. "What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I ran here," he lied swiftly, feeling a pang for doing so but he just was not ready to tell her yet, it would take some time before he could open up about the horrors he endured long ago and still, it felt like only yesterday. "You look beautiful."

"Don't try to distract me."

He closed his eyes briefly as they walked together. These Mikaelsons were surely stubborn and did not let anything pass by them that's for damn sure. "Athena I. . .I can't talk about it right now, okay? Just please don't ask."

She nodded right away, noticing his demeanor and did not want to make him feel pressured. "Of course. Whenever you want to talk, I'll be here, always." She stood on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek, intertwining their hands as they walked together. She leaned her head on his arm, hoping he knew that she would always be there for him.

Out of nowhere, Genevieve shouted for Klaus as Hayley collapsed on the sidewalk. The couply raced over as Elijah and Klaus picked up Hayley. People glanced their way, looking bewildered at the sight. They did not pay them any mind, racing to the compound as quickly as they could. Athena mentally cursed herself. She had gotten a bad feeling so why hadn't she done something about it?

The brothers laid her down on the table when they reached the compound. Genevieve was with them for some reason, moving to help but Elijah pushed her away out of protective instinct. Klaus hastily explained that she was a nurse and could help them, even though they did not trust her.

"There's a spell I can do. Klaus, get chamomile from the pantry." She looked at Hayley, who was barely conscious. "She's trembling. Your jacket, Elijah."

He did so, removing her jacket and laid it over Hayley's body, eyes wide with panic. "She's not breathing, I can hear the baby's heartbeat, but not hers."

Athena was trying to think of what could have happened. Thomas was just as puzzled as the rest of them. She ran a hand through her hair, indeed hearing no heartbeat from the female but the baby still had one. "This isn't normal. Something must have happened. What if the witches did something? Or those bloody humans she was talking about? Francesca?"

"It's possible," Elijah nodded, agreeing with his sister since it was still a mystery as to who executed the bayou bombings, even though the rulers still had a gut feeling Oliver was somehow involved.

Genevieve checked Hayley's pulse. Klaus returned with a bowl of chamomile and the witch wasted no time in pressing the damp bundle against Hayley's forehead, chanting a spell. "Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen. Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen."

Klaus was beginning to get impatient, frustrated, looking scared out of his wits. He bit into his wrist, dribbling some onto Hayley's mouth in the hopes that it will heal her in some way. "Come on!" He glanced at Elijah then Athena. "You try."

"Nik. . ." she trailed off, knowing it would not help but the look on his face made her stop. She straightened her back and nodded once before biting into her wrist and did the same as he did. Nothing. She gave him an apologetic look.

"She's still not breathing," Elijah told them as if they did not know that already. "It's not working!" He angrily threw a table against the brick wall, shattering it into pieces. Athena jumped from the sound, startled and froze up. Thomas instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her a bit closer to him. Elijah cooled down, pacing by Hayley's side as Genevieve continued on with the spell.

"Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen."

Elijah was done waiting, moving to pick the pregnant wolf up. "I'm taking her to a real doctor."

"If you move her from here, my spell will break," the witch told him, keeping him from moving her. "There won't be enough time to get her to a hospital.

Klaus was frantic, seemingly focused on one thing. "Will the baby survive if delivered now?" He lunged for Hayley's body. "I'll rip it out of her myself!"

The mere words caused Athena to speed to him, shoving her brother backward, snapping into protective mode just like that. "Show some kindness, Nik! Hayley will die if you do that, she deserves to live and your child deserves to have a mother. So step away." He listened, eyes trailing over to the body of the women carrying his baby.

"Battre avec mwen. Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen." Suddenly Genevieve paused, gasping as she went into a trance-like state. Several moments later she came too, looking stunned. "I know what to do. Get my bag, the gris-gris pouch! Now!" She dabbed a wet cloth on her head some more. When Klaus came back with her bag, she spread salt around Hayley on the table, still out of it. She crushed herbs with her fingers, spreading them over Hayley's body.

Hayley woke up with a loud gasp, Klaus's and Athena's blood covering her mouth and neck. Elijah helped her sit up while Klaus rubbed her shoulder affectionately. Athena and Thomas breathed in relief, both looking grateful that she was alright. They all assured the wolf that she was alright but she looked troubled.

"I saw him," she told them. "He tried to kill me. I saw Mikael."

———

The day was over thankfully, the moon in the sky, the stars glowing across the night sky and dark clouds scattered throughout. Athena brought some of her belongings from the compound to Thomas's apartment since she was convinced she would not have time to go shopping anytime soon. She had put her clothes in some of Thomas's empty drawer space and when he went to go wash up, he saw her toothbrush beside his. Only, her's was a pink one with sparkles and his was a generic blue color. He had chuckled to himself at the contrast.

She was sitting on the bed when he came back out, looking up at him as he walked over slowly. He sat next to her in the middle of the mattress, neither speaking. She was the first to say something. "I won't push you to tell me what's going on, it would be callous of me." Then her nose scrunched up. "Did I use that word right?" He smiled and nodded, making her grin back at him. "I'll be here whenever you wanna talk about it. For now, I think we should enjoy this quiet moment and watch some cartoons."

"I was hoping you'd say kissing but that works too."

Athena playfully slapped his arm, making him laugh for the second time that night. She bit her lip and reached her hand up, grasping the bottom of his chin and turned his head towards her before leaning forward and kissed him softly, letting their lips move together slowly. She pulled back after a bit and reached up, caressing his cheek with her knuckles. He was surprised, knowing she was still getting used to romantic affection. He did not push her away, leaning into the touch.

She brought him to the head of the bed with her, getting under the cover with him, laying her head on his chest. He reached for the remote and turned on the tv, going to Boomerang. Tom and Jerry appeared on the screen, Athena instantly invested. He did not know she loved cartoons but he supposed she must have discovered it not long ago.

"Ena?" he whispered. She hummed in acknowledgment. He opened his mouth to finish his sentence but then stopped in his tracks, sighing before leaning his head down and kissed her forehead, rubbing her back. "Thank you."

She looked up at him and shook her head. "Never thank me. I'm gonna be here, I'm going to make up for my lost memories. So don't you worry, you're stuck with my annoying ass forever and ever, got it?"

He chuckled once more. "Mhm. I think you said that wrong." Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You have a nice ass." She blushed deeply and made a sound of playful aggravation, ducking under the blankets and he smirked widely, hearing her whine. "Ena come back!" He dove under the covers with her, grabbing her, making her squeal.

One thing he knew: with her, he forgot about his past.

———

We will get into Thomas's backstory soon! This is only the beginning of the troubles that are going to arise regarding that so just you wait. For now, for those of you who don't already know, who do you think came to taunt Thomas and why do you think they did?

I hope you guys have a great day/night and don't forget to vote on this chapter, comment your thoughts, and follow me for updates!

( credit : @pepperronys )