Tilting her head back, Audrey took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of the water washing over her body. While Elijah saw to Klaus, he insisted that she take a moment to compose herself, despite how much she didn't want to leave his side. He promised her he wouldn't be long, so she reluctantly agreed, hoping a shower and change of clothes would help her feel more herself. Yet as she closed her eyes, she felt that familiar burning sensation building up inside of her lungs, and she was quick to snap her eyes open. Swallowing hard, she turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel, making her way into their bedroom. 

   Whatever Celeste had done wasn't going away, and she didn't know how to make it. Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, she dug out some clean clothes and put them on, roughly drying her hair before tying it up out of her way. 

   "Camille is going to watch over Niklaus." Elijah began as he walked in. "Which is gives us time to track down Hayley, and it gives Rebekah and Marcel time to get far away from here."

   Audrey rubbed her face with a nod. "Where do we start?"

   "Monique Deveraux." He told her. "It's time we end this witch business once and for all, before Celeste tries to make a final move against us. I think the Deveraux girl will be helpful in doing just that."

   "Alright." Audrey agreed. "Then I guess we're going to the cemetery."

   "In a moment." He said as he walked closer to her, gently stroking his thumb across her cheek. "How do you feel?"

   "Elijah, I'm fine." Audrey assured, pulling on a tight lipped smile. "Really."

   "My love, one thing about us is that we don't lie to one another. Now, I can wait all day for you to tell me, and let myself assume the worst until it happens." He told her simply, making her sigh. "Or you can tell me, and I can help you find a way to fix whatever it is."

   "She was in my head." Audrey admitted after a moment, her eyes falling to the floor. "She was making relive some memories. Ones that she thought would make me see how terrible you and your family are. The times Klaus snapped my neck, Mikael stabbing me at homecoming, getting hit by an arrow in the bayou, dagger pain..." She swallowed hard. "The night my parents car went off Wickery Bridge, and I--"

   Elijah's eyes widened in horror, cupping her face in her hands. "You felt all of that?"

   "On repeat." Her voice cracked. "Until you broke the cycle, but now every time I close my eyes, I can feel it starting all over again."

   "Audrey, I need you to listen to me." He said in a firm voice, looking her in the eyes. "I give you my word, I will find a way to fix this. You will not be forced to deal with this for much longer, okay?" The Gilbert girl just gave a small nod, tears pooling in the corner of her eyes, making his face fall sadly. Elijah pulled her into his arms, and Audrey broke in that moment, crying into his chest as she held onto him. His hand rubbed her back soothingly, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. "I am not going to let her hurt you anymore."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

   For a while, Elijah and Audrey remained in their room at the compound, neither of them wanting the moment to end. In the end, they knew they had to leave. They needed to find where Hayley had gone, and they needed Monique's help to do it. It took some convincing, but the young witch agreed to help them, before she directed the couple out to the bayou. When they reached the werewolf encampments, they spotted Hayley and Eve, the transformed crescent wolves spread out around them. They had Celeste tied up and sat on a tree stump, appearing to be mixing something over a fire. 

   When they saw her handing Hayley a jar, the couple moved into sight, causing the wolves to growl as they approached. "Whatever she's promised you, it's a lie."

   "Elijah, it's okay. I'm okay." Hayley assured him, her face softening when she looked at Audrey. "Thank God, you're okay."

   "Mostly." Audrey muttered with a nod, her eyes narrowing on Celeste.

   Elijah gave Hayley a look, pointing toward the witch in question. "She cannot be trusted."

   "She's the only one who can help my pack." Hayley told them. 

   The Original grew frustrated at her stubbornness. "Do you have any idea what she has done to our family?"

   "I know you want revenge, and come the next full moon, when I'm sure her cure works, she's all yours." The Marshall girl said simply.

   He looked at her in disbelief. "Are you suggesting that we hold her-- her-- captive for an entire month? It would take an army."

   "And I have one." Hayley stated, all the wolves around them howling agreement. "So help me or get out of my way."

   Elijah looked at her for a long moment, before he snatched the mason jar from her hands, grabbing Celeste before rushing them both away. Hayley gasped in surprise, her eyes widening as she looked at Audrey. "What is he doing?" 

   "Making sure you're not being lied to." Audrey told her knowingly, giving her a calm look. "He'll be back, Hayley." 

   The Marshall girl sighed, reluctantly nodding before she moved closer, wrapping Audrey in a hug. "I was worried about you." She mumbled.

   A small smile twitched on Audrey's lips, returning the embrace with ease. "When you get kidnapped as much as I do, you kind of get used to it." She said, earning a snicker from the pregnant  woman. "I'm okay, or at least, I will be."

   "Will be?" Hayley frowned as she pulled away. "What does that mean?"

   "Her magic has left some side affects." She admitted. "I'm managing, I just want to find a way to get rid of them."

   Hayley made a face, holding up the shotgun she'd been carrying with a suggestive smile. "I'm sure I can convince her." 

   An amused smirk grew on Audrey's lips. "I don't doubt that."

   Elijah returned at that moment, mason jar in hand with Celeste following behind him. Hayley's eyes lit up hopefully as he handed it to her. "Take it. It will work."

   "Eve and I will round up as many of our people as we can." Hayley glanced at Eve, a bright and excited smile on her face. "Come full moon, I can finally meet my family." Not sparing Celeste a glance, she smiled at the couple before she and Eve left, the wolves following behind them. 

   As they left, Celeste's eyes fell onto Audrey. "How are you finding my little gift?"

   Instantly, the Gilbert girl spun on her heel and narrowed her eyes on her, storming closer. She backed Celeste against a tree angrily, grabbing her by the chin. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you here and now." 

   "It wouldn't do you any good." Celeste looked at her, unfazed. "I liked the spell I used on you to me. The effects won't end until I die, and as you both know." She glanced over Audrey's shoulder at Elijah. "I'm immortal."

   Elijah walked up behind Audrey, placing his hands on her shoulders calmly. "Then what's the point in all this if you can't possibly win?"

   The Dubios witch smirked. "But, I have. The side effects of this spell will only drive Audrey to inevitably leave you, which is the only other way to end it. Which means you'll lose the girl. And your family now also lies in ruins."

   "I'm not going anywhere." Audrey glared at her.

   Gently, Elijah pulled Audrey back flush against his body, kissing her temple as he mumbled something in her ear. Reluctantly, she took a deep breath and nodded, stepped out of the way so he could confront her. He cleared his throat as he focused back on his former love. "My family, despite all you have done, will heal in time."

   "If you had time, maybe." Celeste shrugged in agreement. "But, do you really think Rebekah ran far and fast from here? I bet she didn't."

   "She's long gone." Elijah brushed off.

   "Is she?" She tilted her head. "She's with Marcel. Now, Marcel loves Davina. Davina is dead, but could come back under the right circumstances."

   "They wouldn't dare." Elijah shook his head in denial, but the exact same thoughts ran through his and Audrey's head.

   They both knew that they would, if they thought it was worth the risk. Celeste's smirk just grew, noticing the worried expressions that formed on them, and tutted. "If you hadn't been so worried about Hayley, you might have figured it out sooner. But you know who did have the time to think about it? Your brother. I wonder what he'll do." Furiously, Elijah grabs her by the neck, his face transforming. "Do it." She dared.

   And with no hesitation, Elijah bites into her neck, feeding from her viciously.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   In the cemetery that night, Elijah and Audrey stood waiting for Celeste to wake up, who'd they'd laid unconscious beside one of the tombs. Celeste blinked her eyes open, looking around groggily before she smirked at the waiting couple. "Now, you didn't have to bite me to get me here." She said. "I wanted front row seats to this show."

   Elijah raised a brow at her. "And what show would that be?"

   Celeste pushed to her feet. "The one where you see your "Always and Forever" pact come crashing down around you. It's a myth, Elijah. A myth I died for." Her eyes flickered to the Gilbert girl. "The same one you'll die for in the end."

   Audrey looked at her flatly. "I'm not you." 

   "And unfortunately, here you stand alive...for now." The Original said with a look toward her.

   "Is that a threat? Oh, there's always another pretty, young body for me to jump into. Who knows, I could jump into your precious Audrey and you'd never know it." As she talks, she backs away towards the entrance. "You'll trust no one and spend the rest of eternity alone." She crosses the threshold, and when Elijah tries to run after her, he's stopped by an invisible barrier. "Hahaha! I'm afraid you're trapped. Boundary spell. The Originals can enter, but they can't leave." 

   "You wouldn't." He looked at her dangerously.

   "I would." She nodded. "And I did." Audrey moved to grab her, but found herself caught by the barrier, making her brow furrow in confusion. "You didn't think I'd make it that easy, did you? I adapted the boundary spell to trap you too, using the soulmate bond you share with Elijah. You're stuck here, just like them." She informed her. "Don't worry. It's a lunar spell. You'll be free by the next moon rise. My guess is, your sister won't last that long." She continues to smirk. "Ah, while this body has been a hell of a lot of fun, I do think it's time I find someone else to play in, don't you?"

   Bending down, she picks up a glass candle jar and smashes it against the cemetery wall, grabbing one of the shards that broke off. Rising to her feet, she stabs it into her neck, killing herself and Sabine's body instantly. She coughs and splutters as she falls to the ground, before she went still and lifeless, though the couple weren't surprised. They simply looked to the tree behind her, where Monique Deveraux stood watching the whole time, disappointment clear on her face. 

   "You were right." Monique sighs, looking from the body to the couple. "In there." She pointed over her shoulder, toward one of the many tombs.

   Moving toward the tomb, they found Celeste alive in her original body, clutching a sheet around herself. "Hello, Celeste." Elijah said, making her eyes snap toward them in shock and confusion. 

   "How is this possible?" She demanded in horror.

   "Monique Deveraux and I had a little wager regarding your ability to keep a promise." He began as he walked closer to her, Celeste fearfully backing away until she hit the wall behind. "It appears I won. You were so consumed with my downfall, that you lost the trust of one of your own."

   "Non. Mon cheri, non. Tout est possible. Ce n'est pas fini." She pleaded in French, her eyes filling with tears.

   Elijah paused as he looked at her, though his look held no sympathy. He simply pulled the Tunde blade from his pocket and held it out, and Audrey took it, a cold look on her face as she approached Celeste. "Va au diable." Audrey hissed, before she shoved the blade into her stomach, causing her to gasp in agony. 

   There had never been a moment where Audrey had needed to kill someone. Someone had always been there to do the job if it was needed, and keep her from having to deal with that burden. Yet, as she twisted the blade into Celeste's abdomen, the Gilbert girl didn't feel any guilt or remorse. After what she had put her through, what she had now done to Klaus and Rebekah, there was no doubt in her mind about what she was doing. As Celeste's body fell lifelessly to the ground, she closed her eyes with a small gasp as it felt like something was lifted off of her. Her eyes were closed, and the feeling of drowning didn't form in her lungs, which made her smile in relief.

   Celeste was telling the truth. The effects were broken with her death, just as she said they would be. 

   "My love?" Elijah said softly, turning her to face him as she opened her eyes.

   "It's over." She assured quietly. "I felt it lift."

   Letting out a relieved sigh, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, before he bent down and picked up the Tunde blade. Taking her hand in his, they walked back out into the cemetery, looking around to see if anyone else was there.

   "Elijah? Audrey?" Rebekah's voice spoke up, making them look toward where the blonde stood ahead of them.

   "What are you doing here?" Elijah asked, shaking his head as they walked in front of her. Any hope they had Celeste was wrong about Rebekah was now gone. "Rebekah, you should be on the other side of the world by now."

   Rebekah swallowed hard. "You and I both know that wouldn't have been far enough."

   "GET AWAY FROM HER!" A furious voice bellowed, and the three looked to see Klaus stood just ahead of them, clutching the white oak stake in his hand. His eyes shone gold as his face transformed, glaring toward his sister. "She's mine."

So I had Audrey kill Celeste instead of Elijah. After what Celeste put her through, it wasn't undeserved, and to me it felt fitting that Audrey be the one to do it. Sadly, we say goodbye to Rebekah next chapter, which is going to suck. I love the friendship that her and Audrey share ever since they met in Anomaly. 

The plan is to have the next chapter out today also, so I will hopefully have another update out to you all in a couple hours. 

I hope you all enjoyed!