Davina and I were at the attic, staring at Elijah's coffin.

Davina knelt over Elijah's body, removing the dagger from his heart.

I was watching curiously

"Can I see?" I asked, holding my hand to her. Davina handed me the dagger. I examined it curiously, humming "Curious little thing"

"What?" Davina asked

I shrugged, chuckling "Nothing. Absolutely nothing" I answered, plunging the dagger back into Elijah's heart, wincing slightly

Davina chuckled in amusement

~8~

Marcel was here now, leaning over Elijah's coffin, staring at him. Davina was looking out of the window. I was reading another book Marcel had brought, my head hanging upside down from my bed.

"This sucker's resilient" Marcel told us. I chuckled in amusement "He's like a cockroach in a suit. Doesn't matter. Time to give ol' Elijah back to Klaus, anyway"

"You asked us to figure out a way to kill the Originals" Davina told him. "I'm not done!"

"The silver dagger hurts them" I told him without looking at them "But that's it. And I don't even wanna try out anything. As old as he is, he probably has a lot of magic. We don't want to exhaust my body to the brick of dead, do we? So, we still need to find a way to kill him"

Marcel sighed, "Davina, Beth. We've been through this" He told us "Klaus saved my life, I owe him one. Since he wants his brother back–"

"Tonight's the annual Dauphine Street Music Festival" Davina interrupted. I smirked "I wanna go. Please?"

"The whole point of you being up here is so you're never spotted out there" Marcel told her "You know who works smack in the middle of Dauphine Street? Sophie Deveraux. Pain-in-the-ass witch? And you know what the witches will do to you if they find you"

I lowered my book, looking at them, seeing Davina pouting "But you control the witches. You can make her go away"

Marcel tilted his head, "Is that your way of telling me you want to go as well?"

"Is it working?" I asked innocently

Marcel shook his head

I sighed in defeat "Come on. One night" I rolled over in the bed, placing my hands together, as if praying "Please? Doesn't Davina deserve being out a little bit?"

"Or, Beth?" Davina copied my stance, giving Marcel puppy eyes "I mean, there's no one out there wanting to kill her anymore. And she can defend herself if so"

"Not all the coven was killed so the possibility of more witches going after her are still high" Marcel replied. "I said, 'No' and 'Hell, no' to the both of your pleads"

Marcel turned around, walking toward the door

Davina and I dropped our hands. I huffed in annoyance

Davina looked toward Marcel "I do anything you say, but sometimes I think you forget what I'm capable of. Did you know I can make someone's blood boil? All I have to do is focus"

Davina stared at Marcel, magically making his blood boil, making him start to sweat profusely.

I clapped as Marcel wiped his damp brow, looking impressed

I stood, walking closer to him "And I can easily drop you to your knees with a touch" I said smugly, touching his arm. My hand started to glow a faint red aura making Marcel gasp in pain, falling to his knees, his skin paling a bit. I dropped my hand, the red aura disappearing, watching his strength return to him. "We can protect ourselves"

Davina and I exchanged a smug smile

Marcel seemed impressed, standing up, smiling "Fine. We compromise, all right? You two going out alone? Too dangerous. But, I'll introduce you to a friend of mine that's going to be there. Alright? Nice lady. You three are really gonna hit it off" He looked between us. He looked at me seriously, "But you keep to yourself what you can do, okay? No more taking magic or we don't know what they'll do to you"

"I'll protect her" Davina nodded, smiling "No one will touch a hair of her head"

I smiled "Aw"

Marcel smiled

Davina and I exchanged a look, smiling widely. Davina bounced on her heels in excitement. I clapped my hands together, placing the tip of my fingers near my mouth

~8~

At night, Marcel finally took me and Davina out of the attic and toward the festival, walking down Dauphine Street.

Davina was smiling widely, wearing a white sundress, looking at the people and listening to the music

I was smiling small smile, wearing a blue dress and a light blue jean jacket, walking with a slightly jumping beat in my steps.

We along Marcel entered a restaurant called Rousseau's which was teeming with people drinking and listening to a brass band play up front

"So, is it everything you hoped for?" Marcel asked us

Davina nodded enthusiastically, giggling "Yeah"

I shrugged, smiling "It could be better"

Davina shoved me aside playfully making me laugh.

I noticed a boy near the band, talking to other guys, smiling in surprise.

"So, we should probably go over the rules" Marcel told us

I looked at them, scrunching my nose in annoyance

Davina sighed "We won't talk to anyone about anything. We won't say anything about witches, or vampires, or Originals, or absorbing magic or you"

"Scout Girl's honor" I mocked saluted

Marcel chuckled, looking at me "B?"

"Knowing you, there won't be any witches around us for the entire night, so the possibility of me encountering one of the Seven Families is zero to one-hundred" I answered, rolling my eyes. Marcel gave me a look. I sighed "But, if that were to happen, which I doubt it will. I'd just absorb their magic until I disable them, using it as my own and against them and that way Davina can find me while I defend myself"

Davina nodded in agreement

"Okay" Marcel nodded, smiling.

I shoved my hands in my jacket, tilting my head, realizing Marcel was still with us, giving him a look

Davina groaned, "You said you weren't going to hover"

I wriggled my fingers in a goodbye, raising my eyebrows expectantly

Marcel looked at us incredulously

Davina laughed

~8~

Davina and I watched the band playing on stage.

I noticed Davina was watching intently a boy playing the fiddle.

I smiled to myself, looking around and noticing the guy from earlier, talking with some guys, holding a guitar. I smiled slightly

I also noticed Marcel was still close to us, talking with a pretty blonde woman named Cami, the one playing babysitter for us tonight

"It's good to see you" Marcel told her "I was worried you thought I was some hothead after that display at the Masquerade"

Cami smiled, "We all have our hot-headed moments" She told him. Cami shrugged "Anyway, I'm almost done here until clean-up, so the three of us girls can hang out if you need to go shmooze, or whatever"

I leaned over to butt into their conversation "You know, he was supposed to stop hovering like, ten minutes ago"

Marcel looked exasperated, pointing at me, looking at Cami "See what I mean? Authority issues!" Davina walked closer, and I noticed she was still watching the boy with the fiddle. "I'll go talk to the mayor" Marcel looked at me "He actually knows how to show some respect"

I smirked, shrugging.

Marcel walked away, leaving.

I looked at Cami for a moment before walking away toward Davina. "So, D. Who's the guy with the fiddle? His name?"

Davina looked at me startled, chuckling shyly "Tim"

I nodded slowly, smiling

"And the guy with the guitar?" Davina raised her eyebrows teasingly. I huffed "Don't think I didn't notice. I'm keeping an eye out for you too"

"Right" I smiled sarcastically, "Lucas"

Davina and I smiled

"He seems cute" Davina told me

I shrugged, "I didn't know he'd be here. And we were close friends before the whole, you know"

Davina nodded in understanding, noticing that Cami had walked closer "Well, I knew Tim would be here, he always performs at these kinda things"

Cami smiled, looking from Tim to Lucas, to Davina and I "How long have you two known each other? And you and Lucas?"

I chuckled, "Since we were twelve"

"Since we were ten" Davina answered. "I had to leave school, and I didn't get to say goodbye. So, I was just hoping to talk to him tonight"

Cami looked at me

"My family was strict with me seeing boys they didn't approve of" I explained. "So, our friendship was kept a secret for a while until my family decided to take a trip around the world. I didn't want to go and asked to stay with Davina and Marcel because they were the only ones who understood me. I couldn't see Lucas anymore. Like I told Davina, I didn't know he'd be here. But now that he is, I'd like to talk to him again"

The band finished their song, and all the patrons of the bar whooped and applauded them.

Davina continued to smile and watch Tim play

I looked back at Lucas, who was clapping along the people, smiling widely at the band, seeing him walk closer toward Tim and clap him on his back, realizing they knew each other

Davina and I looked at each other, stunned, smiling happily

~8~

After the band had finished playing, they had dispersed.

Davina, Cami and I were looking for Tim and Lucas, after realizing they were friends.

"We could have met differently" I exclaimed, excitedly linking my arm around Davina's, "I mean, Tim and Lucas know each other, they could have introduced us"

Davina giggled, "What a small world"

I looked around, seeing neither of them "Where could they be?"

"They couldn't have gone far" Cami reassured after seeing our crestfallen expressions, "Tim just got off-stage a minute ago"

I bit my lip, shaking my head sadly, knowing involving them was a bad idea "It doesn't matter"

Davina seemed to be thinking the same, blinking tears from her eyes, "It was a stupid idea anyway"

"No, it wasn't" Cami looked at us, sympathetically "Davina, Beth..."

"Just forget it" Davina told her, starting to run forward

I looked at Cami, sadly. "You wouldn't understand"

I tried to follow behind Davina, losing her in the crowd, groaning, placing a hand in my head

~8~

Cami had told us one of the musicians gave her a note. Suspicious, but she had the way to contact them so we followed her. We texted Tim and Lucas to meet up in St. Anne's church, that way we were together and if something were to go wrong, we could just ran toward the attic.

The three of us walked inside, seeing Tim and Lucas standing in the aisle, staring at the statues and lit candles at the altar in the front of the room

Cami smiled at us encouragingly

Davina bit her lip, whispering "I can't do this"

Cami smiled, gently pushing Davina toward Tim.

Davina walked closer to Tim

I fidgeted nervously, seeing that Lucas and Tim turned around.

Lucas spotted me, smiling warmly, waving at me.

"It's been a while since I last saw him" I whispered at Cami

Cami chuckled, whispering back "Don't be nervous, he's your friend"

I took a deep breath, nodding, walking toward Lucas as he walked closer to me

"Elizabeth Ross" Lucas smiled, wrapping his arms around me. I returned the embrace, closing my eyes "Alive and in the flesh. Long time no see my best friend"

"I got your note" I opened my eyes, pulling away "I'm sorry"

Lucas shook his head, leading me to one of the pews a few feet away from the awkward reunion of Davina and Tim, sitting down. "You sorry? Come on. You're never sorry" I chuckled nervously "You seem like a bag of pure hesitation, right now. What happened to the reckless, 'I'm not following the rules of my family' girl?"

"Um, that girl is trying to change" I answered, shaking my head "I went through some things I'm not sure you'd believe-"

"Your family?" Lucas cut me off, seeming serious, "Did they found out you were sneaking out to see me? Did they do something?"

I widened my eyes slightly, shaking my head "Not really. They just gave a long lecture of going behind their backs. Nothing serious"

While all of this was a lie as I didn't want to involve him, it hurt me to lie to him. I had kept a secret from him the whole supernatural that surrounded me. Lucas being the only one who was out of the witchy loop, I could be normal. Not the freak my family called me every day. With him I was just Beth, 'The normal, human, reckless, not following rules' girl.

Lucas sighed, seeming not convinced, "At least you're okay" he grabbed my hand, squeezing it. I bit my lip, smiling slightly "Are you coming back to school?"

My smile faded, slowly looking up.

Lucas' smile faded.

I cleared my throat, "I don't think so. Um, my family went on a world trip. And they left me here" Lucas frowned. "But, it's okay. I'm with Davina and she's amazing. I just missed you and wanted to see you"

Lucas' frown changed to a smile. "Good to know"

We heard a violin starting to play, turning to face Davina and Tim. The moment the song began, Lucas stiffened making me look at him in confusion.

"Are you okay?" I asked, touching his shoulder "Lucas?"

I felt someone sitting next to me. I tensed, slowly looking around, seeing a blond man sitting next to me, not taking his eyes away from Tim and Davina

"That boy has talent, don't you think, love?" He asked. His voice had a noticeable accent. I didn't answer, looking away nervously. He turned to face me, "Care to tell me your name, sweetheart? And when you're on that, your connection to Marcel and Davina"

I looked at him incredulously "I'm sorry, were you talking to me?"

The man pursed his lips, tilting his head aside. "I asked you a question" His voice grew slightly, leaning forward as if to compel me. I knew the whole ordeal as Marcel explained it to me once, "Answer me please"

I hid a smirk, "I'm sorry. Compulsion doesn't work on me" I shrugged at his confusion, "Yeah, I know. You're not the only one who reacted like that"

The man turned away, chuckling "You don't shut up easily, do you? Well, my name's Klaus" He told me. I tried to keep myself from reacting. Shit. This was the old one Marcel was talking about. "And if you don't talk..." he trailed off, looking over my shoulder, "Lucas. Answer this, what is her name?"

"Elizabeth Ross" Lucas answered monotonously

I looked at Lucas in realization.

He was compelled.

Klaus smiled, "Thank you, mate" I glared at him. Klaus stood, "That wasn't so hard, was it?" Klaus walked toward Tim and Davina, "You two are absolutely adorable! Warms my heart, it really does" Tim stopped playing in confusion. "But, I do need a word with the young lady. So, Tim" He gripped Tim's shoulder, compelling him "Go sit down next to the other girl and her boyfriend. You two would be counting to one-hundred-thousand. Heard me, Lucas?" Tim walked toward me and Lucas, siting next to Lucas. They began counting "Quietly, now, there's two good boys" I looked at the boys worriedly, looking back at Klaus. He turned to Davina "I assume you know who I am. Then, let's get right to it, shall we?" I stood, walking around the pews to them but further away from Klaus and closer to Davina "Your current dilemma strikes me as a case of poor alliances. You're loyal to Marcel and yet he keeps you tucked away in an attic" He looked at me, tilting his head aside, "I assume with dear Elizabeth as well. Surely you prefer just a little bit more freedom. And yet Marcel keeps you prisoner"

"Marcel doesn't keeps us prisoner, he keeps us safe" Davina told him "He's our friend"

"Well, I've no doubt he is" Klaus told us. He smiled. "For two girls caught in a war between witches and vampires, I might be a better friend. I would keep you safe. And, I'd allow you your freedom" He began to pace up and down the aisle "If Marcel could do that, why hasn't he done so already? And it does beg the question: If Marcel can't protect you, then what of those you care about?"

Klaus gestured at Tim and Lucas

"If anyone tries to hurt anyone we care about, I'll kill them" Davina told him

"Well, then. Sounds like you don't need Marcel at all" Klaus told us. "Perhaps you've suspected it all along. Your dear friend Marcel tricks you into doing his bidding, and all the while, you rot in an attic, alone, while young Timothy and young Lucas move on with their life"

Davina stared intently at Klaus, clearly angry "You feel that? That's your blood starting to boil"

I looked between them in worry

Klaus groaned as his blood boiled, hissing. Sweat started to drip from his forehead, so he composed himself rushing to Tim and Lucas, pulling them up, standing behind them, his hands in each of their necks, as if ready to snap them

"No!" I exclaimed in horror and worry

"Such a shame to lose either of them, just as you found them again" Klaus told us. He turned to Tim "And I really did admire your skill with that violin"

"Don't you dare hurt them!" Davina told him

"Oh, I hope I won't have to, sweetheart" Klaus told us "But, then, that depends on you two"

"Let them go now!" I told him angrily

"You should know, I don't do well with demands" Klaus told us. Davina pushed her open hand out, twisting it, using her magic to break the bones in his leg. Unfortunately, it took only a moment for Klaus to reset his bones and heal "Impressive. But you don't want to fight me, love. Innocent people have a way of ending up dead. Your choice, little witch. Swear allegiance to me alone and the boys live. Stand against me--"

The candles behind us flared as Davina got angrier. This got me worried as at any moment she could get out of control and all of us would be screwed

Davina pushed both hands in front of her, yelling in anger. Her magic caused the Bibles in the pews to be blown around by wind, all the papers blowing around the room and all the windows in the church shattered.

I grabbed one of Davina's hands, letting our hands glow a faint red as I absorbed a little bit of her magic, rooting me in place from the strong telekinetic force from her magic that threw Klaus, Tim and Lucas violently toward the entrance.

The magic that was used before I started to absorb her magic was too strong that even the two of us got knocked backwards and thrown onto the ground

~8~

I woke up after passing out from the use of magic. I groaned, sitting up seeing the disaster in horror

"Davina?" I called out, remembering what happens whenever I absorb her magic. I stood, looking around me, seeing a still passed out Davina "Oh, God! Davina!" I ran to her, kneeling at her side, shaking her, "Wake up!" Davina groaned weakly, opening her eyes. It looked like she had bled from her nose, making me look at her in guilt and worry. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I helped her up, letting her lean on me

"Where's Tim and Lucas?" Davina asked, looking around in horror.

"I don't know" I answered, helping her up, placing her arm around my shoulders. "Let's find them"

Davina and I walked toward where we had seen the three of them being blown backwards, running out of the door.

~8~

We returned inside the church after a while, having not found either of them. Davina could now walk on her own, having gotten her strength back, realizing I hadn't actually absorbed too much of her magic to stop her.

As soon as we got inside, we found Tim and Lucas lying on the floor surrounded by broken glass. They were severely injured, their breathing shallow.

"Tim!" Davina told him, running at his side

"Lucas!" I cried out, kneeling to Lucas, putting his head on my lap. "Oh, my God! Please be okay"

"No, no, no" Davina cried out, looking between him and Lucas "I didn't mean to hurt either of you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"

Lucas gasped in pain, briefly opening his eyes.

"Shh" I shushed him, keeping at bay my tears. "Don't waste energy" 

"One of the tragic consequences of war" I heard Klaus behind us. I didn't look up, "Innocent bystanders. What terrible guilt you'll have to live with young Timothy's and young Lucas' blood on your hands"

I looked up near tears, angry "Don't you dare touch them. Stay away!"

Klaus raised his hands in a harmless gesture "No, no, let's not be hasty. After all, I can heal them" Davina and I looked at him in confusion "All you have to do is ask"

Davina looked down at Tim, and after a moment, she nodded desperately "Please"

Klaus crouched down to her level, "For your Davina? With pleasure" He told her, bitting his wrist and feeding Tim his blood. After a moment, Tim pulled away, sighing in relief. Klaus tilted his heard toward him, compelling him "You will forget everything that happened after the concert, including the fact that you saw these two girls"

Davina looked at him in shock "What? No"

I wrapped an arm around Lucas protectively, a few tears falling down my cheeks that I wiped away with my free hand

"If he remembers seeing you, he might come looking" Klaus told her. "If the witches learn of him, if they know you have a weakness, then poor Tim might end up as leverage in an awful scheme to control you. Again"

Davina didn't say anything, looking at Tim worriedly and guiltily

Klaus helped Tim stand, looking at me. I shook my head "He'll die, love" he reminded me softly, standing and walking around Davina toward me, kneeling next to me and Lucas, "You don't want that, do you?"

I bit my lip, staring at Lucas.

Lucas fluttered his eyes open slightly, meeting my eyes "Beth. Please"

I looked away from him, taking a deep breath, looking at Klaus desperately "Help him" 

Klaus smiled slightly, "Of course, Elizabeth. As you wish" He told me, bitting his wrist and feeding Lucas his blood. After a moment, Klaus pulled away seeing Lucas close his eyes, relaxing in relief. Klaus grabbed his head, compelling him too "You will forget everything that happened after the concert. You left with your friend, you didn't meet either of this two girls"

I looked at Lucas sadly, "Why?"

Klaus helped Lucas stand, placing him next to Tim. "As far as I know, you're in the same predicament as Davina. If the witches learn about him, they'll use him as leverage against you. And until I don't know what that is, I can't help you further"

I looked away, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing why the witches wanted me.

Klaus compelled Lucas again. "Take your friend and go. You'd remember that your friend Tim forgot his violin case and helped him look for it with no success. You'd go home and continue ass if nothing happened" He turned to Tim, compelling him "Take your violin case with you. You'll remember losing the instrument backstage after the performance. You really should be more careful" Klaus clapped them friendly on the back of the neck. Davina and I embraced each other, watching them. Tim picked up his violin case, walking out, leaving. Lucas followed behind. We could hear them talking as if nothing happened. Klaus turned to us "All fixed! And now, you owe me a favor" He looked at me. "Next time we meet, it'd be nice if you tell me exactly who you are and what you're up to"

Davina frowned, crying silently, picking up Tim's smashed violin off the floor.

There were silent tears running down my face as I glared at Klaus, turning to embrace Davina, trying not to make a sound, letting her cry for the both of us

When we both looked up, Klaus had vanished

I wiped my tears, "We should go"

Davina nodded, holding the violin close to her chest. "We should"

Davina and I walked into the aisle

Marcel ran up to us, "Davina, Beth" He looked around in horror and confusion "What happened? What are you doing here?"

I frowned in irritation, crossing my arms

"We live here, remember?" Davina asked angrily, turning away, walking back to the attic.

I gave one last look at Marcel, turning to follow her

~8~

Davina and I were now in the attic.

I was in my bed, hugging my pillow, looking down sadly.

Davina was in her bed, holding Tim's broken violin. She turned sadly toward her wind chimes in her window, using her magic to telekinetically make them play the song Tim played for her.

I looked up startled, hearing a floorboard creak, turning around "What was that?"

Davina looked up, turning around "I don't know"

We stood up, walking closer toward Elijah's coffin.

We heard a voice a voice from behind us, "It's all right, girls" We turned around in surprise to face a not so dead Elijah, looking slightly grey still "I don't mean you any harm, though I do think it's time we had a talk"