•

____________________

Whatever comes to beauty
Is beauty's reward
For a good woman, the good man
For the empty scabbard, a sword.

- Rumi, Beauty

__________•__________

March 1862
Cloverville, Louisiana

Adelia sat on the steps of the lake and splashed her feet over the water. Deep in thought, her fingers fiddled with the boot laces kept beside her, thoughts plagued by the recent encounters with Elijah.

Feeling a presence, she turned her head to notice Jasper unlacing his own boots. He joined her, dipping his feet alongside hers and the witch blushed, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Is this where Rafael threw you into the water?" he started.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Adelia replied with a chuckle before a silence ensued.

They stared at the floating lilies as she splashed a fistful of water to push it away.

"Will you ever regret marrying me?" Jasper asked her all of a sudden.

Adelia, startled, looked at him before a smile crept over her face. "My father won't settle for anything but the best for me. So if he chose you then I already believe regret will be the last thing I will ever feel in our marriage," the witch answered honestly.

"Your belief in your father is astounding," he chuckled, shooting a pebble into the lake.

"Father gave me a choice."

"So you do want to marry me," Jasper smirked. "Already in love, are you?"

"Oh, you are so very kind to say that," Adelia smirked, giving him another pebble.

"Truth is kindness, my sweet," he inferred, throwing the stone as it jumped over the surface thrice before submerging under water.

"You do not believe I am kind?" she questioned, suddenly unnerved, remembering Elijah's words.

She used to be kind, the Original had said.

"You are very compassionate but kindness only comes with acknowledgement and I think you fear your own heart."

"You fear my heart will never come to love you?" she asked, raising her brow.

"It already does, Miss Laurentis," Jasper replied with a smile. "But I fear you will come to resent it."

"What do you think is kindness then?"

"Being kind is not always about happiness, sweetheart. Sadness, grief, death, every form of emotion that might give you a semblance of peace is kindness," he answered while caressing her nape. "Are you kind?"

Adelia blinked in thought and took a deep breath. "No, I am afraid not," she softly confessed, staring into his eyes.

"No, you very much are," Jasper said.

"How would you know?"

"I always know," the man hummed. "When your father was put under my medical surveillance in the camp, he would narrate tales of his daughter who managed her father's ledger. A curious mind with an affinity for knowledge and kindness were all he spoke of for days. One day he asked me whether I wanted to marry such a soul and I said yes. I tripped on the carpet the first time I saw you."

A blush coated her cheeks and he chuckled, making her pout. "I heard Seattle is very beautiful in winter."

Jasper softly kissed her cheek as it flushed red even more. "Your father is watching us from the window with his binoculars."

Adelia smiled and pecked his jaw, lips lingering for a while as Jasper sat frozen at her action. Seeing his dumbstruck state, she winked and got up. "You might have to commission a room with no windows in Seattle. I adore children but I would prefer if they are delayed by choice and not because of their grandfather."

Jasper smirked, getting up on his feet and leaned closer. "I would absolutely prefer to keep you to myself for a few more years. What do you suggest I do, Ms. Laurentis?"

The witch bent to whisper in his ear with a mischievous smile, "You tell me."

Taking her boots from his hands, she started walking away and he followed her with a grin on his face.

___________________

"Stop staring!" Adelia exclaimed pulling the sheet over her head and Elijah chuckled. He lightly pulled down the sheet and traced her cheekbone fondly.

"I was not staring," the Original replied and she opened her eyes.

"Do not lie to me. I have eyes everywhere," she mused and snuggled closer to him.

"Oh you do, my love."

"You look happy," Adelia observed after a minute.

Elijah pulled her closer, resting his chin overhead. "I missed Rebekah."

"Hmm," she hummed absentmindedly, making patterns on his shoulder when he got up, breaking her out of her daze.

"Did Niklaus contact you?" the Original asked his wife and she nodded.

"Told me to return Rebekah."

"I am sure," he pointed out while looking through his suits.

"Very devious you are," Adelia bit her lip and Elijah turned to look at her with a smirk.

She got up and looked in the mirror. Taking a deep breath the witch tied up her hair and stretched. She exhaled and put on a smile before exiting the room to knock on Rebekah's door.

When a muffled groan replied, Adelia entered and switched on the television as the voice of the morning news anchor startled the blonde vampire.

"What is that!?" Rebekah shrieked and sat up.

"Welcome to the twenty-first century, Bekah. Klaus will be honoured to teach you everything about technology."

___________________

Klaus and Stefan sat in a clothing store, drinking champagne while Adelia was busy collecting dresses from the stands and waiting for Rebekah to try them on.

"There has to be more to this dress," the female Original echoed from inside the fitting room.

"There's not," Klaus replied dryly when Rebekah came out wearing a short black dress.

"So women in the 21st-century dress like prostitutes, then," she commented and then turned to the witch who was wearing a chiffon turtleneck tucked inside high-waisted pants, "You know, I got dirty looks for wearing trousers."

"You wore trousers so women today could wear nothing," the Original hybrid said.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Nik," Adelia retorted, examining the clothes in her hand.

"And what is this music? It sounds like a cable car accident," Rebekah questioned.

"It's dance music," Stefan answered.

"Rock, Pop, Jazz, Hip-Hop," the witch sighed, "I prefer classical, to be honest."

"People dance to this?" Rebekah raised her brow.

"Hmm," the Salvatore hummed in agreement.

"Are we done?" Klaus asked, annoyed.

"And why are you so grumpy?" the sister questioned her older brother.

"Yes please, encourage his childish behaviour, Rebekah," the Laurentis heir rolled her eyes.

"I needed one thing from you for my witch to find out why my hybrids are dying, one thing. Your necklace. And you lost it and Maeve wouldn't help me," Klaus replied, ignoring the witch.

"I didn't lose it. It's just been missing for ninety years," Rebekah answered and looked at Stefan, "so what do you think?"

"I like it," the Salvatore said which the Original didn't believe. "What? I said I like it."

"I can always tell when you're lying, Stefan," she replied, agitated and went back inside the fitting room.

Klaus turned to Stefan, "Nice one. Good work."

"Let her do whatever she wants, Klaus," Adelia said, riffling through her bag.

"Who is encouraging who now?" the hybrid smiled innocently when the witch glared at him.

"You're the one that pulled the dagger out of her," the Salvatore commented beside him.

"I heard that," the female Original shouted from inside the room.

"All right. I'm going to get some fresh air," he sighed, getting up and leaving the store while Klaus poured himself some champagne.

"You must be the alcohol benefactor of the entire world. It's not even 10 a.m.," Adelia said, pointing towards his flute as she took a seat next to him, heels tapping with the flowing music.

Klaus wrapped his arm around her neck, pulling her closer suddenly as her forehead hit his jaw. She rubbed her head while glaring at him.

"I might need the strongest absinthe while dealing with our family," Klaus hummed drinking the champagne when Rebekah came out wearing a dress.

"No. Try that red one," the witch ordered and Rebekah grumbled before going back inside.

"Why are you not helping me?" the Original hybrid asked Adelia.

"The coffins?" she raised her brow when he didn't look impressed. "I am helping with the necklace, aren't I?"

"Did you really have to tell her that I will be the one to teach her everything?"

"You should face the repercussions of keeping your sister daggered for over nine decades. I wonder what will you do with the eldest brother."

"You mean Finn?" Klaus asked the witch.

"How am I supposed to know? I have never seen him except the number of times the name got thrown around, which I can sum up to four, including today five," Adelia rolled her eyes.

"How precarious! I was thinking of keeping him daggered for another nine centuries."

"You haven't changed, Nik," Rebekah shouted from the stall.

"Do you ever expect him to?" Adelia echoed her thoughts.

"Elijah might say the opposite," the Original hybrid mused.

"He is another idiot," the sister said.

"What about you, Maeve?" Klaus winked at her.

"I tolerate you because you are my friend. Doesn't change the fact that you are a mighty arse," Adelia replied. "You shouldn't be drinking that much," she said and took the glass from his hand, keeping it aside.

"I am a hybrid, it doesn't affect me," Klaus replied, annoyance laced in his tone.

"Sure it doesn't," she answered and gulped down the contents of the tumbler. The witch slid two envelopes over to him making him raise his brow. "For you."

"What is it?" he opened one of them to find it blank and he glared at her. She gestured at the other one and he huffed before pulling out the paper to see an address.

"Werewolves, rogue ones who volunteered to be your hybrids," Adelia said and a flicker of a smile crossed the Original's face. "There have been many who come to my doorstep seeking a way to avoid the transformation and the pain that comes with it. To some of them, this prospect is very attractive."

"And the other one," Klaus asked holding out the blank envelope.

"Where you keep your coffins. You give me that and I will let you keep the werewolf location with the transition solution."

"You have already shown me the address," he smirked. "What makes you think I will even agree to this?"

Suddenly the envelopes in his hand turned to ash and Adelia smiled before pouring a drink for him. "Poof," she mocked and the Original clenched his jaw.

"I remember the location, little witch."

"They are called rogue for a reason, Nik. It wouldn't take a minute for them to get out of there," the witch smiled at him.

"You and Elijah are being very stubborn, Maeve," Klaus stated with hard eyes.

Adelia rested her chin over her hand and with a fond smile, she replied, "It runs in the family." She ruffled his hair and he slapped away her hand.

"My brother had to get saddled with a witch this annoying," he said while glaring at her and she continued to smile.

"You snapped my neck remember?"

"I also dagger my siblings. Were you expecting hospitality? I will impose my rights."

"Even Asher?" she asked humorously after a moment.

"Even the dog, yes," he rolled his eyes.

"His name is Asher," the witch clarified with a pout.

"Even Asher, yes. Happy?" Klaus quipped and she smiled.

Rebekah got out and looked at the two of them with a grimace. "Ugh, why are you two even friends?"

___________________

Sometime later in a warehouse, Elijah opened a coffin to find it empty.

"Decoys brother," the hybrid smirked as Elijah clenched his jaw.

"My girl's dead. I'm bored," Rebekah said.

"Get used to blood bags in this century or take inspiration from your past lover's extraordinary diet," Elijah commented, leaning against a crate.

"Diet?" she frowned.

"Stefan here kills squirrels and bunnies and every other kind of four-legged specie. My wife refers to it as bunny diet," the eldest Original informed his sister, earning a snort from the hybrid.

"Well, I am rather fond of the ripper," Klaus stated and Stefan rolled his eyes.

"I am surprised PETA isn't running after you. Remind me to keep Adelia's pet away from him. She gets quite anxious if her beloved things mysteriously disappear," Elijah continued.

"And of course like every good brother, Elijah here is more worried about his wife's anxious state than my little hobbies," Klaus quipped before turning to Stefan, "You weren't kidding about being hungry."

"Yeah. It's been a long day," the Salvatore said.

"Try being related to her," he replied with a laugh.

"Your inclusion is mandatory, Niklaus," the elder Original commented.

Rebekah frowned at the comments directed at her. "You're being mean. And why are you being mean? You used to love me."

"It's been ninety years, Rebekah. Give him a minute," the hybrid sighed.

"Why are you taking his side?"

"Because, my dear sister, I feel pity for any man who doesn't give you what you want."

"Niklaus, she is our sis-" Elijah started.

"Will you stop making me out to be a brat? I am not a brat!" she defended herself, interrupting her brother.

"A thousand years of life experience says otherwise," Klaus quipped.

"Well, you're no picnic, either. I mean, I've only spent one summer with you and I feel like I want to blow my head off," Stefan said to Klaus.

Rebekah laughed at his comment. "Fantastic."

"Children, please," Elijah pinched his forehead in frustration.

Stefan dropped the girl he was feeding, "I need to go." He got up and walked away.

"Where's he going?" the female Original asked.

"To write a name on a wall. It's a long story," Klaus answered.

"You would know about that, of course. Stolen letters are exemplary," Elijah said and took a deep breath.

"Of course," Klaus smirked when he noticed Elijah leaving, "Where are you going?"

Elijah didn't look back as he answered, "I have an appointment."

___________________

Adelia woke up in a house that she remembered coming in with Elijah and looked around to see everything around her in pieces, with singed bodies lying away from her. She sat up and touched her forehead to see a healed-up wound and traces of earlier blood caked on her fingers.

Suddenly Elijah sat down next to her, startling the witch and she scooted back until she saw it was him. In his scorched suit with soot all over him, he touched her forehead and she threw herself into his arms.

"What happened?" she asked in a low voice and he held her tighter.

He clearly remembered getting a call from the witches residing here who had agreed to assist them but as soon as they entered the house, he found his neck snapped along with Adelia's.

The Original looked around at the bodies and guessed what their intentions were. He ran a hand through her hair and kissed the side of her head, his fingers involuntarily clutching the pendant around her neck in relief.

"Some spell must have gone wrong," he said and she nodded.

"What happened to them?" Adelia asked.

"I have no answer, my love," he replied, averting his gaze before he assisted her in getting up. "We should leave."

Adelia glanced around and saw everything burnt, from the curtains to the frames. Her gaze drifted to the bodies as Elijah wrapped his jacket around her which was almost falling apart.

"You are not hurt, are you?" the witch asked her husband.

"I am an Original, my love," Elijah answered before guiding her out of the house.

Asher barked as soon as they entered the house and wagged his tail at the sight of his keepers. He got silent when he saw their dishevelled appearance and croaked in disapproval.

"I am so sorry you had to see us like this," Adelia crouched down and rubbed his head gently. "Those witches were very bad, darling."

The dog tilted his head and looked at her curiously.

"Don't go to strangers, my love, but if they approach you, be polite and be cautious," the witch kissed his mane and hugged him tightly. "I might let you sleep in my bed tonight. I need the fluffiness and warmth."

Asher jumped around at the mention of their bed which had heaps of blankets. He had a cute bed but he wanted a bigger and better one. The other man had glared at him when he tried to climb it once the other night, and at the demon's insistence, his sweetling had agreed to keep him out–how rude.

"Suffice to say, I refuse to share a bed with him," Elijah said as he came with a bag of blood and gave it to her.

"He is an obedient little boy and so smart!" Adelia complimented him, ignoring her husband and caressed his fur as the dog wheezed in approval.

___________________

April 1862
New Orleans

The hooves of the horses clicked against the ground as the carriage dragged itself over the busy roads of New Orleans.

Lithe fingers moved the curtains aside a little and froze seeing litany of people passing the area. She immediately left the curtain and took a deep breath when a hand touched her knuckles.

"Sweetheart, no need to be afraid," Arnold reassured his daughter who scooted into her seat.

"I wish to return home," she said softly.

"Until the matters are resolved in Alexandria, it is not safe to reside in Cloverville," he said firmly and Adelia looked at Jasper in contemplation who gave her a brief nod.

The driver came and opened the door as Arnold got down. Jasper gave her a reassuring smile before he followed her father, holding out his hand.

She looked at him and he gave her a smile, calming her heart. Putting down her veil, Adelia took his hand as she stepped out hesitantly.

Her feet touched the soil of New Orleans for the first time and the reason they left this place became much more apparent. Her mother and grandparents were killed here and looking around at the sudden descending silence, she knew this place would never accept her as one of their own.

They had nine covens but none had the generosity to offer kindness, their purpose of attaining superiority blinding their path. They had the power, magic in their veins but their ambition was too diluted.

Jasper offered his elbow and Adelia gripped it instantly, the familiar presence easing her mind. Without volition, a tear slid down her face and when she looked up, her teary gaze behind the veil directly met Elijah's.

"Arnold, Mr. Reynolds, it is a pleasure to see you here," the Original greeted them with a handshake and approached the witch. "Miss Laurentis, welcome to New Orleans." He took her free hand to place a chaste kiss.

"It is an honour, Mr. Mikaelson," Adelia gently replied, not meeting his eyes.

___________________

Adelia swung her legs in the air as she looked down the roof ledge she was sitting on.

Klaus arrived and sat down next to her, breaking her out of her reverie. "After New Orleans, Chicago was my preferred residence."

"A home," Adelia sighed, "and it still wasn't enough for you to seek us out for decades."

"Maeve..." he started.

The Laurentis interrupted him, "When are you going to undagger them? You have broken your curse, he is not a threat anymore, what more do you need?"

"I need my hybrids," he told her.

"You aren't going to undagger them even after that, are you?" she asked and he went silent. "I will not risk Rebekah and Elijah for this. She has just been undaggered even if to fulfill your pursuits but I cannot do this to her," she continued in a defeated tone and got up.

Klaus gripped her wrist and got down himself, "Where will you go?"

"Back to Seattle," Adelia answered with a smile. "I cannot afford running after you every time. Elijah might find it his life mission to trail you but I have things to do. You are not my priority, Niklaus, and you know it."

"I can only tolerate so much of Elijah at once," the Original hybrid said and she cracked a smile. "Elijah can stay with Rebekah and me for the time being."

"And see you rise up to world domination, absolutely," Adelia replied with a chuckle and straightened his bead necklaces before looking up at him. "Take care," she said and walked away, the frown not leaving his face.

___________________

Klaus had gotten her message concerning him, but it was too late. He knew they were somewhere in Chicago and would provide him with time to flee safely.

An onslaught smell of blood hit his senses and he knocked the roof of the carriage to stop it. He opened the curtains and saw a trail of bodies littering the alley. The offenders were unknown when suddenly he saw them coming out of a building under construction.

Hands linked even under these circumstances–Elijah and Maeve. His brother's suit was rumpled with having splotches of blood stains over it and she remained untouched, pristine—just how his brother preferred her to be, away from his chaos.

Neither noticed the carriage across the street as the Original peered at the couple walking away when he drew the curtains shut and closed his eyes.

He would never say it but he did appreciate them looking out for him–it felt good to not be alone.

___________________

"And where are you going?" Elijah leaned against the doorframe and watched Adelia put her book inside her bag.

"Home," she answered, buttoning up her dress and turned to look at him.

"I figured you'd want us to stay with Niklaus," he replied, his finger drumming against the cabinet beside the door.

"I want you to stay with him," Adelia said.

"And what if I get daggered myself?"

"Your little trick is very old, Elijah," she chuckled and walked towards him to peck his cheek. "Kindly shave, I can only get through burns for a few days."

The Original smiled and kissed her forehead. "You shouldn't bother since you are leaving me."

"Better find yourself another wife," she mused, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"If only I were that lucky," the vampire quipped, nuzzling into her neck making Adelia squirm in his arms delightfully.

Rebekah was running her fingers through Asher's fur when Elijah entered the room and the dog wagged his tail, spreading himself over the couch leaving no space for the vampire to sit.

The elder Mikaelson huffed and took a seat across them as the female laughed at the dog's gesture.

"You don't like him, do you?" she tickled Asher's muzzle and he barked in agreement. "He is so adorable. Where did you find him?"

"Niklaus' fun has endangered my sanity," he replied.

"Well, that hasn't changed."

Elijah looked at the dog and raised his brows, "Your mistress is currently putting away your things. Kindly go and retrieve whatever amuses you the best."

Asher perked up at the mention of his ball and dashed inside his servants' room with a bark when Klaus moved out of his way, looking at the creature curiously.

"Maeve has too much normal in her life, the dog was an unnecessary element," the hybrid said.

"I wholeheartedly agree," Elijah replied with a sigh. "At least for a few days I won't be bothered by his barking at ungodly hours."

"Why?" Rebekah asked.

"Adelia is leaving," he answered.

"I thought you two are staying," she said.

"Elijah is staying, Maeve has chosen to leave for Seattle. Either our company is not enough for her or she has gotten tired of her husband," Klaus explained while gulping down a drink.

"You know that is not why she is leaving," Elijah replied, glaring at his brother.

"Why are you not going with her?" the sister asked and this time Klaus turned to glare at her.

"I refuse to leave you under Niklaus' protection."

"I am honoured to have Elijah's vote of confidence," the hybrid smirked and the siblings ignored him.

"Nik wouldn't do anything," Rebekah looked at Klaus, "not if he knows what's good for him."

The eldest glanced at the hybrid before looking at his sister, "I was hoping to convince you anyhow to leave with me in the next few days."

Klaus immediately turned to fix him with an angry stare. "As if I would let he–"

"You know I would not leave Nik. I am glad that you want me to come with you but I cannot imagine what I would do living with Adelia and you, brother," Rebekah interrupted him swiftly.

"Sister, I want you to reconsider," Elijah took a deep breath and looked at her.

"I have never left Nik's side and I refuse to do it even now," she replied, her voice quivering.

"I looked for you and all our siblings. I wanted you safe and undaggere–" Elijah's jaw clenched.

"I was keeping them safe!" Klaus raised his voice.

"They are not safe from you!" the eldest glared at him.

"What's going on?" Adelia entered, closing the door behind her.

Klaus stood up looking at the witch, "You should take your husband and leave. If he continues berating me for another minute, I will put him in a coffin. He shouldn't be around the bast*rd if he doesn't feel safe."

The siblings watched as he left the room in a rush.

"What was that?" she demanded from the remaining two.

Rebekah looked at Elijah, "If you only want to stay with us for my sake then I suggest you not do it. He wouldn't do anything."

"All these years I haven't sat idle, scouring the Earth for you all. He daggered and impersonated you to keep us in the dark. He had the audacity to walk into my home and blatantly tell me that he had thrown you in the sea. Avoided us, threatened us and daggered me once already and you want me to believe he wouldn't do the same to you again?" Elijah narrowed his eyes as he slowly lost his composure when she refused to see his point.

Adelia held his hand to calm him down. "Why don't we talk of this later?"

"I will always choose Nik and you know it, 'lijah!" the youngest Original said. "You have a home," she looked at the two, "but Nik and I don't. We only have each other and he understands me the best even if he is unreasonable at times."

Elijah opened his mouth in disbelief. "You all are my family, my home. There is no greater joy I would find in anything more. Niklaus has refused me that for almost a century."

"I get it, you are at odds with Nik but I will not go with you, and for the sake of both my brothers, I request you go with Adelia."

Elijah closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he left the room, shutting the door to his bedroom with a loud bang.

"You do understand, don't you?" Rebekah looked at Adelia who did not respond.

The witch gently closed the door behind her and noticed her husband packing his own bag. "Do not be harsh on her," she started.

"How can she stay with him after all he has done?" Elijah stopped his task and looked at her.

"Don't be a hypocrite, Elijah," she commented before sitting over the duvet. "She chooses to stay with him just like you do. Your anger with him is justified but give it some time and you'll be thick as thieves."

"She should come with us."

"You are displeased with Niklaus, it is fine, but do not take it out on your sister who is just doing what she has always done," Adelia reasoned with him. "She has made a choice, respect that."

"He daggers us, that is not our choice," he replied.

"Nik takes away your choice by keeping you all with him the way he finds reasonable and even acceptable. You are attempting to do the same with Rebekah. I think you should stay."

Elijah looked away and sat down beside her. "I will apologize to her," he said quietly, caressing her knuckles.

___________________

Elijah and Adelia stood awkwardly in the study as Jasper left them alone to follow the younger Original.

"I apologize for denying your request to accompany you back to Cloverville earlier this year."

"You do not have to," Adelia answered, looking at him. "You had no obligation to fulfill."

Elijah looked towards the doorway from where voices could be heard. "He is a good man."

"He is," she replied with a fond smile, rubbing her thumb over the emerald stone on her finger.

"Do you love him?" the Original asked hesitantly, staring at the myriad of expressions on her face, each hurting more and more.

"I do," the witch declared and Elijah nodded before extending his elbow. She grabbed it as they exited the room.

"No thank you, I do not prefer liquor," Jasper told Klaus, denying the glass as the Original rolled his eyes before downing it himself.

"Maeve, your suitor is exceptionally dull," Klaus hollered over to Adelia who was being escorted down the stairs by his elder brother.

"Well, he is not your suitor. Please refrain from spewing further comments if you have no intentions of marrying him yourself," she quipped, leaving Elijah's hand to hold Jasper's.

"Your ring wouldn't fit Klaus, Miss Laurentis," the betrothed humoured.

"You'll be moving to Seattle this winter?" the younger brother waved off the couple's comment, smoldering the physical distance between his brother and the witch after her marriage.

"I'll be certainly inviting you to stay over but I think you might find our abode dull like myself," Jasper said making Adelia chuckle.

"Rafael is your cousin. I sure shouldn't have expected anything better with that mouth."

"Klaus! That is extremely rude," she exclaimed, hitting his arms lightly.

________________

"It is going to rain," Adelia said looking out at the Seattle sky as the Original put the passcode in at the front door when it clicked open with a beep.

"Or so it seems," Elijah replied, flicking the bright porch light on and the witch looked around happily.

"I still think you shouldn't have left Klaus alone," she hummed, closing the door behind her and moved to their bedroom.

"To remind you again, I still haven't forgiven him."

"But Rebekah needed you," the witch continued.

"She wants to be with Niklaus and Mr. Salvatore," the vampire elaborated.

"But that never implied that you leave her," she pointed out and switched on the lights to the room as Asher leapt from her arms before rushing downstairs to play with his ball.

"I did not want to leave you alone."

"I can take care of mysel–"

"I know you can but it never assures me unless I see for myself, not after what happened yesterday with the witches," Elijah said and removed his jacket.

"You worry too much," she shook her head in exasperation.

"I don't regret it," he answered with a smile as they retired to their room.

As the night dissolved into the howls of wolves echoing in the forest, Asher stared out of his mistress' window and dashed towards their bed hearing so many simultaneous howls. He climbed up and laid across the blanket in silence, hoping no one would scold him.

Elijah blinked his eyes open and stared at the weight over his legs and found his wife's dog lying there, his eyes closed.

Adelia moved a little and he caressed her head gently to get her to sleep. She turned on her side, her back facing him and he gripped her waist gently when the dog still showed no signs of moving. The Original sighed internally, choosing not to get him off the bed. He picked up the knitted throw blanket from the floor and put it over the his wife's pet.

The dog looked at Elijah and the vampire opened his eyes to look at him. The latter closed his eyes, with Asher laying over them, his tail moving along the sheets until he too fell asleep.

_______________

May 1862
New Orleans

Adelia stepped down from the carriage to stare at the looming building above them. Sharel joined her immediately and looped their arms.

"This is your mother's ancestral home, the Fleureau manor. Away from the covens and the hustle-bustle of the city," the matriarch informed her granddaughter and opened the door to the empty house.

"Am I the only one with this kind of magic?" Adelia asked her grandmother.

"There might be others but only you matter to me."

"I have told Jasper to look for a house near ours in Seattle," the young witch told Sharel while tracing her nails on her grandmother's sleeve. "If not then you two will stay with me. I refuse to live without you and father."

Sharel smiled and tilted Adelia's chin up. "You have?"

The witch nodded with a pout. "You are getting old and will need my assistance. Father forgets his belongings and Rafael is Mr. Reynolds family. You all must stay with me."

"And if Mr. Reynolds refuses?"

"He has agreed to it."

"Of course! That man would rather die than refuse anything you wish," Sharel commented when someone knocked and the ladies turned to see Elijah standing at the doorway. "Thank the lord you arrived in time, Adelia here makes me feel old," the matriarch said and invited the vampire in.

"I do not. You are old and you refuse to see it," the youngest said and crossed her arms. "I will go peruse the library while you knit and sew."

"I will knit scarves for my great-grandchildren!" Sharel shouted behind her.

"I will tell father that you suggested such a blasphemous thing," Adelia called out as she disappeared behind the doors.

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last edited: 03/2024