"Ah, ah, ah." Elijah tutted as he walked into the kitchen that morning, removing the knife from Audrey's hand. The Gilbert girl sighed, giving him an unimpressed look as he gently moved her to the side, taking over chopping up the pieces of fruit she was cutting. "My love, you were holding it by the blade." He defended.

   "I was not." She pouted, to which he gave her a look of his own. Audrey kept her lips flat for a moment, before she slowly felt herself crack under his graze. "Okay, it touched it for a second at most!" She gave in, and Elijah chuckled in amusement, shaking his head at her. 

   "Go. Sit." He ordered, pecking her lips which instantly made her pout disappear. "I'll bring it through to you."

   "I'm pregnant, not incapable." She mumbled against his lips.

   "You're nine months pregnant, and while still very capable, I am allowed to look after you." He shot back simply, pecking her lips once more before he pulled away. "Go get comfortable."

   Knowing there was no point in arguing, Audrey shook her head with a smile smile, before making her way into the living room. Before she could sit down, her eyes snapped to the door as she heard a knock, Elijah raising a brow at her. "Probably Gia." She shrugged, as she made her way to answer it. 

   Neither of them would be surprised if it was Gia. Once they got word Freya had safely taken care of Eva Sinclair, giving Rebekah full control of her new body back, Gia had escorted Audrey the whole way home. Audrey insisted she would have been fine, but Gia wasn't taking no for an answer, and she didn't leave the loft until Elijah got back. In all honesty, Elijah was rather grateful that she had, as it gave him peace at mind knowing she wasn't alone. Not only was the threat of Dahlia looming over their heads, Audrey could go into labor at any moment, and it was a fear of his that he wouldn't be there for it. 

   With everything going on, he knew there was a good chance it could happen while he was taking care of another issue, and he didn't want her to be alone when it happened.

   Opening the door, Audrey was met with the mailman, who held a box out to her. "I need a signature, please."

   "Of course." She nodded, taking the clipboard to sign where he pointed. "I wonder what she's ordered this time." Audrey mumbled as she scribbled down her signature, knowing full well it was likely another baby gift from Caroline. 

   "And here." He pointed to another area of the paper.

   Audrey nodded and went to do as told, but her hand stopped as her eyes scanned the page. A promise made is a debt to be paid. A promise made is a debt to be paid. A promise made is a debt to be paid. The same line was wrote over and over again, making a lump form in the back of her throat. 

   "Elijah--" Audrey completely stopped as the mailman's hand gripped her wrist, the clipboard and pen clattering to the ground. 

   The mailman's eyes turned entirely white as he stared at her, his face blank and expressionless. "I'm only here for what is mine." He spoke in a monotone voice. "A promise made is a debt to be paid. I intend to collect."

   Suddenly, Elijah appeared in front of her and grabbed the man by the throat, throwing him back into the hallway wall. The mailman groaned as he looked back at that them, his eyes back to normal and face filled with confusion, rubbing the back of his head in pain. As if that had never even happened, he pushed himself to his feet and walked away, glancing back at the couple with a mixture of emotions on his face as he went. 

   "Was that...?" Audrey began shakily, keeping herself hidden behind him.

   "Dahlia." 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   After getting word Dahlia had played the same trick on Hayley, Hope, and Jackson while out on a walk, the couple made their way to meet up with everyone at the compound, trying to figure out exactly what do next. Of course, when they arrived and joined everyone in the dining room, Hayley and Klaus were bickering over the incident. 

   "Isn't that the point of fortress?" Klaus glared at the Marshall-Kenner woman. "It does a better job of protecting you when you stay within it's walls!"

   "Okay! We get it." Hayley snapped in annoyance, shooting him a glare in return before she let out a sigh. "Now, let's just figure out what the hell we're gonna do."

   Klaus, however, continued to glare at her angrily. "What I would like to do is a take strong leash--"

   "Children, please." Elijah cuts him off quickly, stopping the pair from arguing any further as he stepped between them. "Niklaus, your ire is justified. However, Hayley is quite right." Hayley shrugs and sends Klaus a smug look, Audrey rolling her eyes at the pair as she sat down at the table. "We need a new strategy." He looked toward the newest Mikaelson sibling. "Freya, if you please?"

   Freya nodded, and looked over at Hayley and Audrey. "The spell you described...Dahlia calls it kenning-- using proxies to watch over her enemies from afar." She explained with an overwhelmed look. "But, I've never seen it done on quite this scale."

   "Awesome." Hayley mumbled with a false smile which quickly faded. "So, basically every Hurricane chugging, boob flashing tourist on Bourbon street is a potential spy."

   "So what?" Audrey rubbed her face tiredly. "I need to be on alert every time I open the front door now?"

   Freya shook her head. "The good news is, I know a little about how her magic works." She explained, before gesturing to the tea tray she'd set up that held six cups and saucers, each filled with a brown liquid. "This tonic will at least prevent her from using any of us."

   Both Freya and Rebekah reach for a cup each, and as none of the others go to take one, Rebekah looks at all of them. "Well, come on! This should work like a charm." Elijah sat beside Audrey, passing her a cup and taking one for himself, as Hayley also reached and grabbed one. However, Klaus stays stood silent and makes no attempt to take one, earning an eye roll from Rebekah. "Bottoms up."

   As they drank, Elijah took the final cup and held it up to Klaus, who simply stares at it. The eldest of the two brothers sighed in annoyance. "Niklaus, is there something you wish to contribute?"

   The Original hybrid shrugged. "I prefer biscuits with my tea."

   Elijah rolled his eyes and set the cup down, muttering quietly. "Of course."

   Klaus ignored his muttered, leaning his hands against the back of the empty chair as he continued. "Besides, our minds are far too strong to be invaded by kenning spells." He says and shakes his head. "No, what we experienced was a test-- Dahlia's watching to see how we respond to aggression. She's preparing for battle. My guess is sooner, rather than later."

   "Well, if she is watching us, she would know we have our own army." Hayley pointed out.

   "She also knows where we are." Elijah argued firmly. "And, given the immense nature of her power, we simply do not know what expect from her. What we need is to create a new stronghold. Something that Dahlia knows nothing about. A sanctuary from any witchcraft."

   "That's a fine strategy. I offer another-- we can use Jackson to trace her magic back to it's source." Freya offered, her eyes falling onto Hayley as she spoke. "Find out exactly where she is."

   Hayley was silent as everyone's eyes fell on her, and she glanced at Klaus, who merely smiled and raised his eyes brows at her. Letting out a sigh, she reluctantly nodded. "Fine. Do it."

   "Good!" Klaus smirked in pleasure. "Then it's settled. Off you pop to your respective tasks. Me? I've always been of the opinion that the best defense is a good offense. So, I'm going to find a way to murder that godforsaken witch."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   At Elijah's request, Audrey stayed with Rebekah, Freya, Hayley and Jackson at the compound, while he went to go find a solution for a new stronghold. Once she had what she needed for the spell, five gathered in the dining room, Jackson laying down on top of the table when he was told. Once his shirt was undone and open, Freya began to draw an infinity symbol on his skin using the burnt end of sage smudge stick, as the other three women watched warily and worriedly. 

   It wasn't hard to tell Hayley wasn't fully on board with the plan, and neither Rebekah or Audrey could blame her. While they were choosing to trust Freya, and she had told them her history, she was still just a stranger to all of them. 

   "By doing this, we should be able to trace Dahlia's signature all the way back to the source of her power." Freya explained to them. "But, I'll need to dig deep." She told Jackson, before she looked up at Rebekah. "Rebekah, if I may channel you?"

   Rebekah looked uneasy, but nodded in agreement, as Hayley looked down at her husband in concern. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

   Jackson gave her an assuring look, though couldn't hide the nerves in his chuckle as he spoke. "Piece of cake."

   With a deep sigh, Hayley stepped back and gave the girls a nod to start. "Hey." Audrey whispered, grabbing her hand and giving it a light squeeze. "He's going to be okay." 

   "I hope so." The Marshall-Kenner hybrid mumbled, keeping a tight hold of her hand as they watched. 

   Standing on either side of the table, Rebekah and Freya join hands over Jackson's body as they begin to chant the spell. "Inveniere potencia reparon malifica. Inveniere potencia reparon malifica."

   As the two chanted together, Jackson groaned as he back arched, scrunching his face in agony as his groans got louder. Suddenly, Rebekah let out a startled gasp and dropped Freya's hands, stepping back as she stared at her older sister in fright. Freya furrowed her brow in confusion, giving her a look. "Rebekah, we need to continue." She urged gently.

   But Rebekah made no effort to take her hands again, still staring in shock. "I..."

   "Rebekah?" Audrey looked at her in concern. "Rebekah, what's wrong?" 

   Hayley glanced between the two sisters, her face holding the same concern as she focused on Rebekah. "What is it?"

   Rebekah stared at Freya with an appalled expression. "You. You're the reason Dahlia is able to cast such powerful spells." Freya looked alarmed and began to shake her head in denial, but Rebekah continued. "She's channeling you!"

   "All this time, you've been helping her?" Hayley glared at Freya in betrayal.

   Freya continued to shake her head desperately, looking almost ready to cry. "I had no idea!" She insisted as she began to pace anxiously. "She must have found me." She mumbled and walked toward her younger sister. "She wants to use you against me!"

   However, Hayley intervenes and pushes Audrey back protectively, before lunging at Freya and shoved her backwards. "Get away from my husband!" She snarled furiously.

   Rebekah quickly placed herself between the two women. "Stop!" She orders before placing a hand on Freya's shoulder. "Freya, I want to trust you, I do. But, you said it yourself-- you're bonded to Dahlia. I'm sorry, but it's better that you go. Please." Hurt still clear in her eyes, Freya nodded as she didn't attempt to argue, looking at the three defeated before she turned and walked out of the compound.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   "What do you mean, she's gone?"

   Hayley, Audrey, and Rebekah each glanced at one another as they stood in the study, Elijah giving them a look after hearing about what had happened. Hayley took a deep breath, refusing to feel guilty. "She was a risk--"

   "--She was also the only one who intimately knew the enemy we now face." Elijah cut her off quickly.

   Rebekah sighed and looked between them calmly. "Both of you, just stop it--"

   But Hayley cut her off, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. "I was protecting Hope from someone who it's obvious none of us completely trust."

   "Correct, we've done nothing but doubt Freya." Elijah agreed, looking over at Rebekah who looked down guiltily. "Nevertheless, she kept her promise, and she saved your life. We certainly haven't demonstrated the same kindness towards her."

   Rebekah rolled her eyes in frustration, knowing he had a point. "So, what the bloody hell do we do now?" 

   "There is a jazz club in Algiers by the name of the St. James Infirmary. Marcel has acquired it, and Josephine is fortifying it as a sanctuary against magic." He turns back to Hayley, who looked unimpressed. "Pack your things. Marcel will escort you and Hope there tonight at nine o'clock." The hybrid rolled her eyes in distaste of the plan, as he looked back at his sister. "You, wait with me."

   "What for?" Rebekah furrowed her brow in confusion.

   "If Freya shall return, we will be here. Now, whether we trust her or not, we cannot win this fight without her." He pointed out firmly, and looked toward Audrey, who'd just been silently listening to them all. "My love, a word."

   With a nod, the Gilbert girl followed him out of the room, the pair leaving Rebekah and Hayley alone in the study. As they approached their old bedroom, Elijah stopped in his steps and turned, giving her a firm look. "Gia is coming to take you back to the loft." He began. "She'll wait with you while you gather some things, then she will escort you to the jazz club like Marcel is Hayley and Hope."

   "Okay." She nodded quietly, knowing it was best not to argue.

   "I need to know you're both safe." He gently tilted her chin up so their eyes met, pressing a kiss softly to her forehead. "Dahlia won't be able to do anything to you there."

   "I know." She nodded gently. "I trust the plan, okay? I'm just--" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, resting a hand on her stomach. "I'm scared."

   "She will not get her hands on either of you." Elijah spoke firmly, resting his hand over the top of hers. Within a second, both of them felt small, strong kicks against their hands, which made small smiles appear despite everything going on. "I give you my word. No one is going to hurt my family." He kissed her softly, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you."

   "I love you."

I decided to end this episode here, purely because there is nothing else for Audrey to take part in. The final four episodes of the season begin next chapter, and everything is about to kick off. It's gonna be...interesting, to say the least. The first of the four chapters should be out later today, hopefully.

I'm not ready, but here it goes anyway. 

I hope you all enjoyed!