"Sssh. Sshh." Audrey whispered softly, as she swayed a crying Mira in her arms. Another crack of lightning hit outside, causing her to start crying even more. "Oh, it's okay. It's okay." She soothed, rubbing her back as the little girl hide her face in her mothers chest. "It can't hurt you, baby girl. You're safe."

   Mira continued to cry into the fabric of her shirt, despite Audrey's best attempts to calm her. A storm had started raging across the city, the thunder and lightning instantly waking Mira from her sleep. Kissing her forehead, Audrey bundled her up in her blanket and carried her out of the nursery, knowing she'd only cry worse if she tried to place her back down. 

   Elijah glanced away from the window as they walked into the study, moving closer and carefully lifting Mira into his arms. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asked gently, bouncing her in his arms.

   "The storm scared her." Audrey sighed, rubbing her hands with her face. "I can't get her to settle again."

   "You're alright." Elijah kissed Mira's forehead, and the little girl looked at him, her brown eyes filled with tears and lip quivering slightly. "The storm can't hurt you, little one. I am never going to let anything hurt you." Slowly but surely, Mira began to calm down as she rested her head on his shoulder, her little hand gripping onto his finger. A small smile pulled at Elijah's lips as he swayed her, and surely enough, she closed her eyes as she started to settle in his arms. "I give you my word."

   The Gilbert girl looked at the father and daughter gently, and couldn't stop the way that her own smile grew. "Well..." She said quietly, giving Elijah a playful pout. "I think this answers who the favorite parent is."

   Elijah smirked and chuckled slightly, gently pulling her closer and connecting their lips in a kiss. "Well, she is her mother's daughter." He mused, gazing at her softly. "She has exquisite taste."

   "It's done." Rebekah announced cheerfully as she walked in, causing the couple to look away from one another to her, to see Marcel walking in right behind her. "I'm de-linked from those children, the coven's almost grateful, and we even beat the rain!"

   Elijah nodded as he raised a brow. "I trust that Davina will play her part?"

   Marcel nodded, though made no attempt to hide his frown. "Yeah, against my better judgement."

   "Stop being so overprotective." Rebekah told him. "If Davina's made Regent to all nine covens, she'll be granted the power to resurrect Kol and the political clout to unite the witches to our cause."

   "Don't pop the champagne just yet." Marcel still looked skeptical, nodding his head toward the window. "Dahlia said she'd come for the babies, and now a storm springs up out of nowhere? You really think that's a coincidence?"

   "Well, regardless of her power, she needs to be dealt with." Elijah turns to look at Freya, who sat preparing the spell they needed. "Fortunately, we have a weapon."

   Freya sent him an unimpressed look, as Marcel just frowned more as he glanced at her. "Look, no offense, but are we really going to put all our eggs in one still kinda mysterious basket?"

   "I assure you, I am quite motivated to aid in Dahlia's defeat." Freya said, rolling her eyes. "Particularly now that Elijah has forced me to be the bait." 

   Audrey crossed her arms, giving her a narrowed look. "Yes, because your plan to place our daughter and Hope in the firing line was much better." She glared at her harshly, causing the newest Mikaelson sister to look away from her.

   Elijah placed his free hand on Audrey's shoulder calmly. "And, if we should fail, Davina and the witches will take up the task, at the very least distracting Dahlia long enough for Hope and Hayley to disappear and for myself and Audrey to get Mira out of the city."

   Thunder and lightning hit heavily once again, and the new parents both looked worriedly toward their daughter, who this time remained content in Elijah's arms. Rebekah moved toward the window to pull it shut, pausing as she sees a crimson red coating the top of the pane. "Elijah!"

   Quickly, Elijah passed Mira over to Audrey and walked closer to examine it, the two siblings exchanging a look. Instantly, Rebekah and Marcel rushed downstairs to where they were storing Klaus's coffin, and looks of horror appeared at what they found. Klaus was gone, the golden dagger nowhere to be seen, and none of them had any idea where he had gone.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   As morning hit, the storm came to an end out of nowhere, just like it had started out of nowhere. Klaus was nowhere to be found, adding another worry onto the already long list that they had. "Until Niklaus is found, Marcel and I will scour the city." Elijah said determinedly, as he, Rebekah, and Audrey made their way through the courtyard.

   "Assuming Nik doesn't slaughter them." Rebekah scoffed knowingly. "You know as well as I do he'll be on the warpath. Which again raises the question-- how in the hell is he even awake?"

   "It was Dahlia." Freya's voice stopped the three in their tracks, making them turn to look at her. "This was all part of her plan. No doubt, she killed Aiden, hoping that the blame would fall on Klaus, the family would divide, and she could win Klaus to her cause."

   Audrey looked at her in disbelief. "You're insane."

   "That is absurd!" Rebekah argued strongly, shaking her head. "Nik would never align with Dahlia!"

   "You continue to defend him." Freya tilted her head with a patronizing look.

   "He'd kill anyone who'd try to take his daughter." The youngest of the two sisters stated.

   Freya gave them all a look. "Isn't it Hayley who's trying to take his daughter?"

   "Their daughter." Audrey reminded her firmly.

   "Let's not forget Dahlia is the true enemy here." Elijah reminded her in a gruff voice.

   The eldest witch pulled on a false smile. "How good, then, I finished my spell." She wanders over to one of the three paintings hung up on the walls. "The paint of his artwork, combined with my blood, will render Dahlia vulnerable. The moment she passes between these paintings--" She gestured around to the other two similar paints hung. "--she will be mortal. You can kill her, using this." She pulls a small blade from her pocket and held it out toward Elijah.

   "Father's knife?" He looked at her in surprise.

   She nodded as she crossed her arms. "I thought it appropriate."

   "Now, you're certain this will work?" Elijah raised a brow, as they followed her through into the ballroom, where she began to sprinkle herbs over two clay golems.

   Rebekah watched her old sister, skeptical. "Let's not toss around words like certain."

   "Nonsense." Freya glanced up at her from what she was doing. "You grow more adept with magic each day, and this spell is flawless.  Though, I might have preferred Elijah ask my permission before volunteering me as the bait." She gave her brother a look

   He simply looked amused. "Yes, I'm not in the habit of asking permission." 

   "No matter." She shook her head. "We have all that we need. Rebekah will perform the spell, using my heartbeat and the golems to craft the illusion of Hope and Mira's presence." She turns back to Elijah. "Once Dahlia is lured into the killing ground, you will do what is necessary."

   Elijah looked at Audrey. "Where is--"

   "Safe." Audrey cut Elijah off knowingly. "She's still wearing her bracelet. Gia came and got her, and has taken her over to the Infirmary. I'm going to head over there once we're done here."

   "You're rather calm." Rebekah commented, looking at Freya. "Which is odd, because there are a millions ways this plan can fall to pieces."

   Freya just sighed and began to pace around the wall, looking at the portraits of her siblings hung up on the wall. "I admit..." She began. "First, I was upset when Elijah ignored my plan in favor of his own. You are all so determined to protect Hope and Mira at all cost. Perhaps I'm envious." She looked down sadly. "No one ever fought so hard to protect me." She then turned back to look at Elijah. "Then, I recalled what I saw when I looked inside your mind. The day you all swore an oath to stand by one another-- always and forever. There's strength in such vows."

   Elijah looked at her for a long moment. "I can assure you, it has not been free of consequence."

   "That is an understatement." Rebekah piped up. "Ask me, that vow has been more trouble than it's worth."

   Freya walked over to her. "And yet, here you are-- proving my point. Family defines you, even if it demands sacrifice." She takes her hands and squeezes them encouragingly. "My entire life, I have longed for what you have. It is better to at least glimpse it, facing death, than run forever and know nothing of family."

   As the three siblings looked at one another, touched by her words, they only took a moment before they got to work. As Rebekah went to go prepare for her spell with the golems, Elijah caught Audrey's wrist gently as she went to leave the compound. "Listen to me." He spoke, gently touching her cheek with his hand. "If you don't hear from me after a long time--"

   "Elijah--"

   "Audrey." He cut her off, shaking his head. "If you do not hear from me after a appropriate amount of time, you take Mira and you run. You disappear, meet up with Hayley and Hope if you can. You get you both somewhere safe." Leaning closer, he rested his forehead against his and closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a shaky breath. "If this doesn't go the way we have planned, I need to know that both of you are safe. Please, my love." He looked at her emotionally. "I need your word."

   The whole idea made an uneasy pit form in her stomach, but she knew why he was doing it. "Okay." She said quietly, biting her lip. "I give you my word." She promised, causing him to let out a breath of relief. "Just..." She looked at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Please be safe."

   Elijah wiped her eyes with his thumb softly, before tilting her chin up and kissing her passionately. "I give you my word." He mumbled as he slowly pulled away. "I will do everything possible to get to you both." He then kissed her once more. "Now, go."

   Audrey gazed at him a moment longer, before forcing herself to pull away and headed out of the compound, Elijah watching her go until she was completely out of sight.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   In the courtyard, positioned perfectly between the three paintings, Freya stood beside the car seats holding a golem each. As Rebekah began the spell in the study upstairs, Freya picked up one of the golems and held it in her hands, staring at it patiently. Suddenly, as the spell kicks in, the golem she held took the form of Hope. Her eyes glanced down to the other car seat, where the other golem had transformed into the illusion of Mira. Freya clutched the imitation of Hope in her arms as she waited anxiously for the plan to begin.

   Footsteps began to fill the air, and Freya looked toward the carriageway nervously as Dahlia slowly walked inside, stopping in the doorway. "I come all this way to collect what is owed to me, and whom should I find?"

   Freya looked at her fearfully. "Auntie, please listen." She pleaded in a terrified tone, as Elijah listened from where he hid out of sight, holding onto Mikael's knife tightly. "I betrayed my siblings so I could procure these children. I offer them to you now, and in exchange, I only ask that you release me from my obligation to you."

   Dahlia looked at her a long moment and tilted her head, an amused smile twitching onto her lips as she started to walk closer, but still didn't step between the three paintings. "How curious, that you should bargain with me for that which is already mine. But, by all means, make your case for why you should be freed. And then I will decide whether to release you or kill you, once and for all." She spoke coldly before looking at her closely a moment. "You surprise me. Betraying the family you meant to coax to your side? How very ruthless of you."

   "I had hope they would welcome me as a sister." Freya spoke as Dahlia nodded in understanding. "I was wrong."

   Dahlia held back a chuckle, giving her look of feigned sympathy. "Of course you were, you poor little fool! To think that Esther's wicked little progeny could ever care for you? They are known the world over for obscene acts of violence, and yet, you sought them out instead of staying where you belong. With me." Freya gulps nervously as Dahlia continued to walk toward her, but tries her best to remain still to lure her into the killing ground. "I offered to protect you for all time, and you left me. And now, it is you who is alone! But then who could love a deceitful little wretch?"

   Before Freya could utter even a word, the golem of Hope in her arms crumbled into dust, the golem of Mira doing the same in the car seat beside her. Dahlia's face instantly becomes enraged, , and Freya, who is terrified beyond all measure, gasps and looks at Dahlia with wide, fearful eyes. 

   "What have you done?" Dahlia sneered.

   At loss for options, Freya jumped forward and yanked Dahlia back into the killing ground. "Elijah, NOW!" She bellowed over her shoulder.

   Elijah rushes into the courtyard with the knife, but Klaus tackles him before he can get close to Dahlia, knocking the knife down to the ground. "And so the wheel of betrayal circles around once more." He glared furiously, pulling Elijah to his feet and throwing him up against the wall, causing the wall to shatter slightly as he landed on the ground of the balcony above.

   Klaus then jumped up onto the balcony, picking Elijah up in choke hold against the wall before spinning him around so his body half hung over the railing. "She's controlling you." Elijah gasped out raspily as Klaus squeezed tighter on his throat. "

   "The only thing she did is pull out the dagger out stuck in my heart!" He sneered angrily.

   Breaking free of his younger brothers grip, Elijah elbows him in the face before striking him across the jaw, taking advantage of his momentary distraction and kicking him in the stomach. Klaus slammed back against the wall at the force, growling angrily before lunging at his older brother once again, only for Elijah to knee him forcefully in the stomach several times, slamming him into the wall hard enough to shatter the concrete. Losing the little temper that had he left, Klaus grabbed him and threw Elijah back once again.

   Fighting one another viciously, Klaus grabs Elijah in a choke hold once more as he managed to pin him once again, but Elijah manages to stretch out his arm and gran Klaus by the throat. "She will take--" Klaus choked him harder making him gasp. "-- everything from us."

   "You took everything when you broke our vow! Perhaps I'll take something from you!" Klaus shouted angrily as he chokes Elijah tighter, and then twists his arm backwards, breaking many of his bones.

   "AHH!" Elijah yelled out in agony.

   Klaus then spun Elijah around and pins his face to the balcony so he's forced to watch as Gia walks into the courtyard fearfully, pulling someone in with her forcefully. Audrey thrashed and pulled in Gia's hold desperately, tears in her eyes as the young vampire forced her to stand still, and Elijah became frantic at the sight. "Elijah?" Audrey whimpered.

   A smirk began to twitch onto Klaus's lips. "Gia, please remove Audrey's necklace."

   "NO! Elijah yelled as he struggled against Klaus, as Gia yanked the necklace off the Gilbert girl with no other choice. "NOOO!"

   Gia shook her head in terror. "I can't stop myself."

   "Now, Gia, be a sweetheart." Klaus looked down at the two women. "Kill her."

   "No, no, no." Audrey began to shake her head, looking up at the Mikaelson hybrid with betrayal in her eyes. "Nik, please, don't do this. Don't do this. What about Mira?" 

   "Oh, she's perfectly safe already." Klaus spoke in a blank tone. "Myself and Dahlia already saw to that when we came across Gia earlier." Both Audrey's and Elijah's faces paled at his words. "Quickly now, Gia. As we discussed."

   "Audrey, I'm so sorry." Gia cried as she pulled her closer, her face transforming.

   "No, Gia, please. Fight it. Please." She begged as she tried to pull away with all her strength, tears rolling frantically down her cheeks. "Gia! Klaus, please, don't--AHH!" A loud scream of pain erupted from her lips as Gia sank her teeth viciously into her neck.

   "NO!" Elijah bellowed at the top of his lungs, his heart breaking as he watched the color drain from from his love's face. "NOOO! NOOO!" He struggled and thrashed but Klaus simply pinned him tighter, forcing him to watch all of it. "AHH! AAAHHH! NOOOO!"

   Gasping heavily, Gia pulled away with her mouth covered in blood, letting Audrey go and allowing her body to drop the ground in a heap. Audrey laid on the ground still and unmoving, blood flowing and pooling out from the large, open wound on her neck, her now dull and lifeless eyes falling shut. In that moment, Elijah felt as if a part of him had been ripped out, tears clouding his eyes as he stared down at her body in devastation. After so many escapes from it in the past, Audrey Gilbert had faced once death once again, and this time there was no coming back. Klaus had made sure of it. 

   Giving Gia a final nod, the vampire shakily slipped her daylight off of her finger, yelling out in agony as her skin began to burn and caught on fire. After a few moments, her screams stopped as her flaming body fell to the ground beside Audrey and continued to burn. 

   Klaus stared down at his brother emotionless, as Elijah's screams finally stopped. "You seem vexed, brother." He smirks gleefully, and Elijah, too enraged for words, elbows him forcefully and begins fighting him once again. Only this time, a lot more viciously then it ever was before. Tackling him, the two fall back and tumble down the stairs into the courtyard, where Klaus quickly hops to his feet. Elijah gets to his feet and allows his face to transform, hissing and baring his teeth toward his brother. "Is that a hint of the fabled beast behind the red door?" Elijah continues to glare at him. "Come on, brother-- let him out to play." Elijah leaps toward him and punches him forcefully in the head, but Klaus easily spins and wraps an arm around him, quickly stabbing him in the heart with Papa Tunde's blade before Elijah can react. "You should know better than to fight me in anger, for my anger is unending."

   Elijah tries his best to break out of Klaus' grip, but he's quickly overwhelmed by the excruciating pain of the cursed blade and screams in agony as the blade magically embeds itself in his chest. "UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. AHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHH!"

   As his body dropped to the ground in a neutralized state, Elijah's mind moved momentarily to the pain as once agonizing thought ran through his head. Despite wanting nothing more than to keep his family safe, he'd lost both his love and his daughter all at once, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

...

I hope you all enjoyed!