•

___________________

But for her, your lover wills that you lose all desire
Love, when at its brightest, seeks to quench that fire
Dissolution in that love, they say, resembles death
Yet it is the paradise where single hearts draw breath.

- Rumi, Lose All Desire

__________•__________

Adelia giggled when she felt him nip her throat teasingly, her hands tugging the tie binding her to the bedpost.

Elijah looked up with a smile. "What is so amusing, my love?" the Original asked, unbuttoning her shirt dress down the front as it fell around her in folds.

He sat up and discarded his sweatshirt when she winked, appreciating the wonderful creation her husband was.

"Why are my hands bound tonight?" she asked with a mischievous smile and he playfully glared at her. He went to bite her lips when the witch placed her foot on his chest, stopping his descent. "Na-na-na, you shall get your reward only if you answer me."

"And if I oppose your orders?" Elijah raised his brow and took her foot in his hand, caressing it gently. Not breaking eye contact, he dug his fingers into the pressure points of her sole, making her squirm in pleasure.

"You play unfair," Adelia huffed, snatching her foot away with a pout on her lips.

"Hmm. It would seem so," he quipped, trailing a finger over her brassiere-clad breast. "If I want my reward, then I shall get it." The Original's hand slithered inside her panties when his phone on the nightstand rang loudly and the witch closed her eyes in annoyance.

"Our times were much better, at least we weren't interrupted by ringing phones," Adelia commented and looked up at the ceiling.

Elijah kissed her cheek and took his phone when he saw Rebekah's name displayed on the screen. "Rebekah, what is the matter?" he enquired, concern lacing his voice.

"Did you know that the doppelganger was alive?" the female Original questioned as soon as he answered. Elijah and Adelia stared wide-eyed at each other when the sister continued. "Well, your silence answers it all, brother."

"Did something happen?" Elijah asked hurriedly and moved to untie his wife who hopped down the bed, buttoning up her dress.

"If you consider the scenery around Mystic Falls High School, I can assure you that something is definitely going to happen."

"I will speak to you soon," the elder Original replied and hung up before putting on his sweatshirt. Adelia extended his jacket to him and he took it immediately.

"We're going," she ordered making him frown.

____________________

June 1862
Fleureau Manor

"I have brought these for you," Elijah's voice startled her as the books she was arranging tumbled to the floor. "I apologize," he helped her pick them up immediately.

"You should not have made the effort to get me anything," Adelia said while keeping the books on the table.

"I am lending these for you to read. I will take them back accordingly," the Original smirked at her dumbfounded expression.

The witch turned away and shuffled through the books on the shelf to get one out and handed it to him. "I do not lend books, I give them to the needy."

The vampire glanced at the title and hid a smile. How To Be A Gentleman.

She moved past him when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, his warm breath hitting her neck.

"Care to elaborate, Miss Laurentis?" Elijah humoured and she looked back at him while trying to free her hand at her back from his grip.

"First lesson, unhand me. This is not gentleman-like behaviour," she said and he obeyed instantly. "Second lesson, step back. The distance is inappropriate," Adelia continued and he obeyed with a smile, taking a step back, "Third lesson, read the book."

She made to leave the book when he spoke again. "What if I do not wish to follow any of them?"

"You are then a savage," the witch said with a tilt of her head.

"I sincerely thought you'd like these," the Original said as he started collecting the books he brought when she snatched them from his hand, making him smile.

"I will return them soon," Adelia said, clutching the books closer to her.

Elijah looked at the witch and stepped closer to her. "You can keep them," he told her and she bit her lip to contain her happiness. He tucked a piece of hair behind her ears and she stiffened when he went to whisper in her ear.

"I know you prefer them old but fossils may have to wait," he said, making her frown when he touched her hair to pull off a pin before putting another one in its place.

"You gave me a compass as a present when I visited Cloverville for the very first time. It is fair I give you one in return for coming to New Orleans."

The Original placed the first pin in her palm before leaving the room.

As she unpinned her hair later that evening, her nimble fingers examined the pin that Elijah gave her and sensed a preservation spell on it.

The witch watched it closely and her eyes grew wide when she recognized it to be the same flower she helped bloom with the magic she siphoned off the Original, the incident taking place more than two years ago.

Encased within a small glass structure, the flower was hard-pressed but perfectly preserved in the same condition, the hues of the petals mixing with the shade of the glass.

Adelia clutched it within her hand, ignoring the prick of the pin as she stared at the figure leaving the house.

Elijah turned back and glanced up at her window and she met his gaze firmly. The witch closed the curtains and walked towards the vanity to throw the pin inside one of the drawers.

Feeling the burn from the sting, she put the finger in her mouth to suck away the blood as the sound of carriage wheels slowly diminished to absolute silence.

____________________

"We won't be able to reach them in time, Miss Laurentis," he said as they entered the room.

"You forget I am a witch," Adelia rolled her eyes and handed him a sage to light up which he did instantly.

Getting the salt container from the corner of the spell room, she started making the circle, finishing it within seconds with practised precision.

Elijah put the burning sage in a bowl and extracted Rebekah's necklace from the drawer before entering the circle.

"Do you think the necklace will work? She hasn't worn it for over a century. The locator spell might fail," Elijah asked, handing the necklace to his wife.

"For all intents and purposes, it should," Adelia answered.

Asher observing them from the couch barked and the witch looked at him. "Not now, dear."

Adelia took a deep breath, looking at Elijah across from her. He smiled assuringly and she closed her eyes, chanting the spell.

Nous apparaitre

Immediately the pendant around her neck glowed as Elijah felt his smile disappear when within seconds they were transported to a dark place.

"This doesn't appear to be a school, 'lijah," Adelia said and looked around to find nothing but darkness.

She hissed as the necklace turned hot and the Original immediately took the necklace from her to drop it to the ground. They both stared at it when she felt the heaviness settling around them—dark magic.

____________________

Klaus pulled the doppelganger through the school hallways by her arm. "You put a rather large kink in my plans, sweetheart. The whole point of breaking the curse and becoming a hybrid was to make more hybrids. I haven't been able to do that. Now my bet is, it has something to do with the fact that you're still breathing."

He paused and looked at her intently, "But then even after everything dear Elijah has done for me, he left you alive. He knew the consequences so why?"

"If you're going to kill me, just do it!" Elena said.

"Not until I know I'm right. But I do have ways of making you suffer," he said before they entered the gym. "Attention, seniors. You have officially been busted. Prank night is over. Head on home," the hybrid shouted in a fake accent making the students groan when he noticed Dana and another student. "You two. I remember you."

"I'm sorry. Who are you?" the teenage girl asked him.

"Oh, don't worry, I wasn't in my right head the last time we met," he smiled before compelling her. "Lift your foot up, please, Dana." The girl on accord did so when Klaus looked at the boy. "If she drops her foot, Chad, I want you to beat her to death. Understood?"

"Don't, Klaus. You don't have to hurt anybody," the doppelganger requested him.

"Oh, come on, love. Of course, I do," the hybrid smiled.

____________________

Her grandmother always said magic had no distinction. Every kind of magic could be used equally for the good and the bad. It was upon the witch to draw the line between the dark and light. It was different for all.

The magic suffocating this place felt bad and Adelia clutched Elijah's suit to get his attention.

"We have to leave," she told him and he looked at her when his eyes caught a silver coffin lying in the corner of the room. She followed his gaze and stopped him when he went to walk towards it. "We are in the wrong place, Mr. Mikaelson."

"Where are we?"

"I do not know. The necklace brought us here," Adelia replied and picked up the jewellery from the ground. "But we have to leave. This doesn't feel right."

The Original sensed the urgency in her voice and nodded but glanced at the coffin once more. The pendant hanging from her neck glowed and Elijah stilled in horror, realizing the implication.

The witch coughed and suddenly threw up blood as it splattered on the hard ground. His eyes grew wide as she clutched her head, whispers increasing around her.

Adelia looked around once before she dropped unconscious, a trail of blood trickling down her nose.

Elijah went to pick her up when the silver coffin burst into pieces as Esther emerged from the depths. The splinters sat frozen in the air as Elijah looked in horror at his very dead mother and staggered back.

"You must help me, son," the Original witch said and extended her hand towards him.

The vampire immediately crouched down beside Adelia and pulled her up to pat her cheek lightly. The necklace continued to dim lightly and Elijah realized that the imposter was very much channelling his wife.

"I am your mother, Elijah. Please help me," Esther repeated as the Original contemplated all the reasons as to why his dead mother would appear all of a sudden.

Elijah looked at Adelia to see her nose bleeding continuously. There was only one way to escape this place. "Forgive me, my love," he said and closed his eyes before snapping her neck with a loud crack.

The pendant around her neck glowed furiously as his mother disappeared in front of him. The splinters of the ruined coffin, rushed away with his long-dead mother not in sight anymore.

He looked at his wife, the spell ending with her temporary death and the pendant glowed brighter before he found himself in the study, stumbling with Adelia in his arms.

The Original glanced around to see the room destroyed, just like the witch's cottage in Chicago. The smoke sensors blared the room as the sprinklers went to work. He exited the room with an unconscious Adelia and trudged to their bedroom.

A bark resounded when he laid his wife on their bed and Elijah sighed in relief at the sight of the dog, alive.

Asher climbed the bed and sat down beside his mistress as Elijah left the room, his finger automatically dialling Rafael.

____________________

August 1862
New Orleans

The witch put her hand in his as Jasper helped her jump over a puddle of water with a laugh. The summer rain brought along a wave of humid air around their forms as he kept the umbrella over them tightly.

"I seem to have caught a malady," he mused and she glanced at him in worry, "here," the betrothed pointed at his heart with a mischievous smile and the witch rolled her eyes.

"I think the location is this," Adelia gestured at his head, making him chuckle.

"I listen to my heart, sweet," Jasper commented and she nudged him.

"Grandmother has called the seamstress for my wedding gown this afternoon," she informed him and he looked unabashedly gleeful.

"Am I allowed to see my bride then?"

"No, you are not. My handmaiden says it brings bad fortune," the witch admonished him with a smile.

"Your superstition will indeed bring about a real malady."

"Shall I inform father that you intend to put his little girl through misery for the rest of her life because of your apparent disbelief in rituals," Adelia threatened him playfully and walked ahead of him as he stood there dumbfounded.

"Why would you threaten me with your father?" Jasper asked her with a betrayed look.

She turned around suddenly with an innocent face, "Are you not scared of him?"

"He carries a revolver with him! I am an ordinary human who is scared of a weapon pointed at his face every time I mention Seattle," he elaborated and she chuckled.

"Sshhh," she interrupted him, putting a finger over his lips with a smile. "Father might be lurking around."

Jasper looked around and then blinked at Adelia when she kissed her finger placed over his lips and ran away with a laugh. He shook his head when he saw her enter the garden.

Sharel watching the scene from the study smiled at the scene. "My great-grandchildren are going to be absolutely beautiful," she said, perking up and then frowned, "Am I too young to be a great-grandmother?"

The younger Original staring at the scene beside her rolled his eyes, "Oh Beauchêne witch, you never die. You'll be alive to even see the next hundred generations, in turn tormenting me for two millennia."

Elijah sitting in the chair didn't bother seeing the betrothed pair and merely replied, "Niklaus, be polite."

"Oh hush you two!" Sharel gleefully smiled. "I must tell my son to hasten the wedding. My little Lia will have her little ones."

"Mother! There will be no little ones! My son-in-law has no interest in looking after his estates and only wishes to practice medicine. My grandchild must wait until their mother has perfected the ledgers," Arnold said as soon as he entered the study. "May I know what are you staring at?"

The matriarch closed the curtains instantly and walked towards him. "Son, I would prefer to start my knitting lessons soon regardless. I chose an appropriate name for your daughter and with her permission, I insist I be the one to name my great-grandchild as well."

The male Laurentis ignored her and pulled open the curtains. Witnessing the chase in the garden, he popped open his binoculars as all the inhabitants in the room groaned loudly.

____________________

"What do you mean you don't know?" Rafael asked Elijah over the phone who was visiting another witch to perform the same spell to send him to his siblings.

"I saw mother, Rafael. My mother who is very much dead for over a thousand years and I saw her. Something is very wrong," the Original explained, watching Adelia's trusted protege preparing for the astral projection spell.

"I never trusted your mother, even in your stories so if she appeared then she must have done something," the Desmond replied.

"Adelia must not know," Elijah said and Rafael hummed in agreement. "I will see you later." He cut the call and extended his hand. "Use my blood."

The witch nodded and a while later he stepped inside the circle.

____________________

September 1862

"What are you anxiously waiting for?" Elijah asked the Beauchêne witch who seemed tensed.

"Oh Elijah, when did you arrive?" Sharel asked.

"I have been sitting here for the past five minutes," he replied.

"Forgive me, I have been very preoccupied with the upcoming wedding. The seamstress is here and I want Lia to look perfect! She will leave us and Arnold has been precariously moody because of it," she huffed out an answer.

"Mr. Reynolds is a good man. He will not keep you two away from Miss Laurentis," the Original said.

"I might suggest Arnold get us home up North, closer to the Reynolds. Adelia is our only heir, we have no one and I wouldn't know what to do without my sweet Lia," Sharel elaborated and sat down on the sofa with a frown.

"Mistress," a maiden came into the room, "Miss Laurentis is asking for you."

"Oh dear, I might cry now. Elijah, please escort this old woman upstairs."

The vampire nodded and took her hand before climbing up the steps with the witch in tow. As Sharel opened the door to her granddaughter's room, she gestured for Elijah to come in who hesitantly entered.

____________________

Elena sat comforting Dana when Stefan arrived inside the gym. "Stefan..."

"Klaus," the Salvatore said.

Klaus looked at him, "Come to save your damsel, mate?"

"I came to ask for your forgiveness. And pledge my loyalty."

"Well, you broke that pledge once already."

"Elena means nothing to me anymore," he replied as a hurt expression appeared on the doppelganger's features, "and whatever you ask of me... I will do."

"Fair enough. Let's drink on it," the hybrid said and pointed to Dana and Chad. "Kill them." Getting no response, he looked at Stefan again, "What are you waiting for? Kill them."

"No! Stefan, don't. He's not going to hurt me. He already said..." Elena tried and Klaus in retaliation hit her hard as Stefan rushed over to the Original, his fangs out.

Klaus grabbed his throat, "She means nothing to you? Your lies just keep piling up."

"Let her go! I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!" the Salvatore proposed.

"Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, during which time I never had to resort to this..." the hybrid finished and compelled the younger vampire, "Stop fighting."

Stefan begged him, "Don't do this, don't do this."

"I didn't want to. All I wanted was your allegiance. Now I'm going to have to take it."

"Don't... don't..."

"You will do exactly as I say when I say it. You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."

"No. Stefan!" the doppelganger exclaimed in horror.

"Now kill them. Ripper," Klaus ordered and veins appeared underneath Stefan's eyes as he rushed over to Dana but before he could touch her, a blur came forward and his neck was suddenly snapped.

Elijah stood behind him, clearly unhappy. "Oh Niklaus, you haven't changed."

____________________

Adelia examined herself in the mirror and touched her stomach lowly. "Grandmother, this one makes me seem bloated. I adore this one but it's bloated."

She glanced up to find Elijah in the reflection and immediately turned around.

"I shall see you later, Sharel," the Original said, little uncomfortable.

"You must stay. I cannot very well call Arnold for suggestions, he might put an end to the wedding. With Rafael accompanying Jasper, you are the only one left!" Sharel said while walking over to her granddaughter. "Now how does my little Lia look?"

"I am not little, grandmother," Adelia replied with a pout.

"Oh hush," the matriarch gestured and looked at the vampire.

"Miss Laurentis looks beautiful," he said with a small smile.

"But grandmother! This one makes me look bloated."

"There is a gentleman in the room. Be appropriate, will you?" Sharel admonished her granddaughter and moved behind her. "Do not move, the strings are loose."

"There is a gentleman in the room, the entire thing is inappropriate," Adelia whispered under her breath.

"I asked you not to move," the Beauchêne witch said and pulled the strings hard, making the breath knock out of her.

Adelia clutched the bedpost and stood in silence as the matriarch started lacing it properly. When the last one got tied properly, Sharel turned her to look at the mirror and patted her granddaughter's stomach.

"Now this is perfect, not bloated at all. The lace is so fine. I bet Jasper will marry you today itself if he catches a glimpse," she continued and Adelia's cheeks flushed.

"Hmm," Adelia hummed and twirled side to side, biting her lip. She ran a hand down the front of her dress when her eyes met hazel ones in the mirror and she stilled.

____________________

"You two," Elijah looked at Dana and Chad and his pupils dilated, "Go home and forget everything suspicious you have seen tonight."

Klaus rolled his eyes at the gesture as he watched the teenagers flee. "It's always nice to see a vampire in his true element. The species has become such a broody lot and you have ruined the fun, Elijah, as usual," he sighed, glancing at his elder brother. "How did you come here? We were just getting started."

"No. You did this to him," Elena pointed towards Stefan.

"I invited him to the party, love. He's the one dancing on the table."

The hybrid finished the sentence when Rebekah marched in to approach the doppelganger, "Where is it?! Where's my necklace?" she shrieked.

"What are you talking about?" Klaus asked his sister.

"She has my necklace. Look," she handed him the phone and turned to Elijah, "Oh hello, brother."

"Well, well. More lies," Klaus said with a smirk.

"Where... is it?" Rebekah repeated.

"I don't have it anymore," Elena replied and glanced at Elijah.

"You're lying!" the female Original said and went to bite her when Elijah took his sister aside.

"Enough, Rebekah," he narrowed his eyes, trying to hold her off.

"Make her tell me where it is, Nik! Make the doppel-b*tch confess!" Rebekah requested the hybrid, ignoring Elijah.

Klaus looked at the doppelganger, "Where's the necklace, sweetheart? Be honest."

Elijah took a step forward, "I have it. It is in my possession."

Klaus rolled his eyes, "That's quite surprising when you and Adelia were aware that I was looking for it in Chicago. Quite a chase."

"It is in safe hands," the elder brother nonchalantly replied.

"Well, that's unfortunate. If we had the necklace it would make things a whole lot easier for your witch, but since we're doing this the hard way, let's put a clock on it, shall we?" he finished with a grin as a buzzer sounded with the clock appearing on the board.

The hybrid went over to a stirring Stefan and started compelling. "Twenty minutes. If Bonnie hasn't found a proper solution by then, I want you to feed again. Only this time, I want you to feed on Elena. You know you want to."

"No, Klaus! Don't do this to him!" Elena shouted in horror.

"I will tell you whatever you wish to know but I suggest you stop this terror. There are children around," Elijah requested his brother.

Klaus tilted his head, "Your answers are too hard to decipher, now we get a trial run on my idea." He turned to the Salvatore, "No one leaves. If she tries to run, fracture her spine."

The elder brother took a deep breath. "I will tell you everything."

"The thing is brother, I cannot trust you anymore," the hybrid mused with anger in his eyes. "You hid the fact that Elena was alive, you know how to make my hybrids, you had the necklace. Your secrets refuse to end."

Elijah slammed him against the wall. "Everything I did and am doing is for you and our family! Do not question my trust when you refuse to give us any."

"Have you forgotten our vow?" Klaus shouted. "I tried to make up to you for daggering you! All this is the result of your deceit along with Adelia's."

"I came here, so you don't carry out anything you will come to regret later," the elder Original told him calmly, "I suggest you listen to me. You want hybrids? I will give you one."

"You will notice that I am not in the mood for any more of your games! Things will finally go my way."

"It's imperative I return to Adelia. I give you my word, Niklaus," Elijah said in a grave tone as Klaus looked at his brother seriously.

The noble Original's gaze met the doppelganger's and the hybrid smiled wickedly before turning to Elena.

____________________

Rebekah once again checked how much time remained on Caroline's phone when Elijah entered the classroom.

"Elijah," the newbie vampire looked up in surprise when Tyler suddenly woke up.

"Where am I? What happened?" the transitioning werewolf asked.

"Tyler," Caroline rushed to him.

"Don't be shy about it," the female Original humoured.

"What's going on?" Tyler questioned his girlfriend.

"Klaus is turning you into a vampire. A hybrid. You're in transition," his girlfriend answered.

"Don't leave out the hard part, sweets. You'll only survive if your witch is successful," added Rebekah.

"You're going to be okay. Okay? It's going to be okay," Caroline tried to calm him down when Klaus appeared in the room.

"Certainly no thanks to Elijah," the Original hybrid smirked and passed a vial of blood to Tyler, "Elena's blood. Drink it."

Caroline's eyes widened. "No! No, no, no, Tyler, don't!"

"If he doesn't feed, he'll die anyway, love. Consider this the cure. It's okay," he replied and Tyler contemplated before finally drinking it. "There we go. Good boy."

Tyler coughed and rolled over the desk to fall onto the floor, groaning in pain. Holding his head, he screamed before his face finally changed as his eyes turned yellow and veins appeared under his eyes, followed by the fangs.

"Well, that's a good sign," Klaus smiled and walked to Elijah who was witnessing everything with an impassive expression. "You and Maeve do so much for me."

Elijah turned to him, "You have everything you want. I should leave. I do sincerely hope that your creations were worth it."

The younger brother gave him a mocking smile, "Seems you are not happy for me."

"I am glad," the elder Original sighed, "Goodbye Niklaus."

The smile disappeared off the hybrid's face.

____________________

"Elijah, would you mind getting me the flowers from the vase," Sharel requested and he nodded before handing them. "I have the jewellery with me! Give me a minute." She rushed out of the room leaving the two alone.

Adelia to distract herself started tidying up her hair and closed her eyes when her fingers touched his. She brought her hands to her front to fidget with it, caressing the gown material.

The Original worked on her hair without a word as she gave him the pins, one by one.

"Where did you learn to do that?" she asked curiously and he met her gaze through the mirror, giving her a little smile.

"Believe me but we all had long hair for centuries, Miss Laurentis, and Rebekah, my sister always insisted we assist her when she wanted to impress a village boy," he replied.

"Then you are not short of skills," the siphon-witch said.

"Certainly not," Elijah smirked and pinned a white rose to her hair before stepping back. "You look very beautiful."

"Thank you," she said, touching her hair.

"If you ever need any help then know that you can always come to us."

Adelia frowned in confusion, "Why would I need your help?"

"With Jasper or anything troubli-"

She interrupted him then, "Mr. Reynolds is a good man. I trust him."

"I am not insinuating," Elijah said.

"Why would you imply anything?"

"I know he is a good man and I believe that he will keep you happ-"

"I wish to undress, please leave," Adelia said, ending the conversation. She walked behind the changing screens and the Original sighed before leaving the room.

____________________

"Come on. Your humanity is killing you. All the guilt must be exhausting. Turn it off," commanded the Original hybrid while looking at the younger Salvatore.

"No!" Stefan exclaimed.

Elena murmured, "Stefan..."

Klaus interrupted them, "You're strong," he pulled the stake out of the ripper's body. "But you deserve to be punished for betraying me. Turn. It. Off."

Stefan pushed him away, "No!"

The Original pushed him back and started compelling him, "Turn it off!"

Elena watched in horror as her boyfriend's face went impassive, "What did you do?"

"I fixed him. But I think a test is in order, don't you?" Klaus walked behind the doppelganger and turned to look at Stefan. "Ripper... perhaps you'd like a drink... from the doppelganger's neck?"

Stefan's face changed and he rushed over to Elena to bite her neck as she let out a loud scream.

Rebekah joined her brother and watched the scene with an amused smile.

"Shall we, brother?" the female Original pouted when the brother kissed her forehead before wounding his arms around his sister as they exited the school.

"So the doppelganger isn't the problem. Her blood is the solution. Elijah and his wife knew this," Rebekah pointed out.

"You have to give them credit where it is due," Klaus humoured, "Now we know how much the original witch hated me."

"A thousand years in the grave and she's still screwing with you."

"Well, it makes sense if you think about it from her perspective. It was her fail-safe in case I ever broke the hybrid curse. The doppelganger had to die in order for me to become a hybrid, but if she was dead..."

The sister looked at him, "Then you couldn't use her blood to sire yourself a new species."

"Leaving me alone for all time."

Rebekah asked in a curious voice, "Is that what this is about? Your obsession with hybrids? You just don't want to be alone?"

Klaus dismissed her questions. "What I want is to take my girl, take my hybrid the hell out of this one-pony town. Maybe go to Seattle and show my little creation to Maeve," he said with a small smile at the notion and noticed Rebekah watching him curiously.

"You know, why don't you, uh, why don't you get the truck? I'll get Elena," the hybrid changed the topic as the sister nodded and left when Damon arrived. "Well, look who finally decided to show up to the party."

"Where is she?" the Salvatore asked.

"Elena? Ah, she's making a donation to a greater cause," he informed as Damon moved towards the hospital only for the Original to stop him. "I'm afraid I can't let you interfere, mate."

"You'll have to kill me."

"Oh, I would love to kill you, but I made a pledge to your brother, and unlike him, I keep my word. Although, you know what, thinking about it now, he probably doesn't care that much anymore," he pushed the younger vampire against the hood of a car and went to plunge his hand when the Salvatore spoke.

"Don't you want to know about your friend Mikael?"

Klaus stiffened at the mention of his father, "What do you know about Mikael?"

"Just that he knows you're here," the vampire replied.

"You're bluffing."

"Katherine and I found him. Consider it our leverage," Damon finished when suddenly a wood pierced through his chest from behind.

Klaus stilled when Elijah appeared and twisted it harshly before snapping the Salvatore's neck.

"You have leverage, and so do we," the elder brother muttered.

The hybrid looked at his brother, "You did not leave."

Elijah continued to look at the Salvatore's unconscious form, "I cannot stay away even if I want to. Get Rebekah. We are leaving," he looked up to meet his brother's eyes, "together."

The noble brother approached his little sister as she sat waiting inside a car. "They have summoned father."

"No wonder we are running away like a hurricane," Rebekah rolled her eyes.

Klaus threw the Salvatore in the backseat. "Onto that, where is Adelia? She wouldn't let you be here alone so what did you do to her?" he enquired, remembering his brother informing them of Maeve's vulnerable state.

Rebekah turned to Elijah with a curious look, "You did something to her?"

"Miss Laurentis is fine," the elder Original pursed his mouth and looked at his watch, "I'll be disappearing in a minute. We'll think of something."

Rebekah turned to her hybrid brother, "And what are you gonna do?"

"You will not do anything but get to Seattle at the earliest. We also have Mr. Salvatore for company. I'll have Adelia track father," Elijah enunciated and gave them a nod before he disappeared into thin air.

The siblings stared at the empty space in contemplation.

"They do have those funky showers right?" Rebekah asked.

Klaus rolled his eyes at the query, "Guess we'll know."

____________________

Elijah entered the house hurriedly and climbed up the stairs to see his wife awake. Adelia glanced at him and smiled.

"I'll take my leave," Rafael told the pair before he got up. "I want to know everything," he whispered to the Original and walked past him.

"Where did you disappear off to?" she asked, stroking Asher's fur when her husband sat down beside her.

"Niklaus has his first hybrid," he answered and she opened her mouth to ask how when he nodded and she understood, their suspicions correct.

Adelia pulled him in for a hug and Elijah ran his fingers through her tresses in trepidation. "I don't remember anything," she informed him softly and he sighed in relief. When he did not respond, the witch frowned, "What happened?"

"Nothing. We were just at the wrong place," Elijah answered and kissed the side of her head. "They have found father," he said a moment later and she stiffened in his arms.

"Father... Klaus and Rebekah?" Adelia hastily questioned.

"They will be arriving soon," he informed her and she nodded. "Please go to sleep. You need to rest. We shall think of a way tomorrow," Elijah kissed her palm.

As the Original slowly caressed her nape to put her to sleep, he kissed her shoulder for long before slowly getting his hand out of her grip.

Asher lifted his head off the rug and watched him switch off the lamps it with a soft click. He turned his head to look at the sleeping woman and watched the demon join her again. The dog climbed on the bed to lay above the blankets, big eyes blinking up at the demon innocently.

The Original pecked her lips and she draped her arm over his shoulder, snuggling into him.

Sleep did not come for him that night as the lingering flashes of the Original witch begged him to help her repeatedly as a red door creaked open.

____________________

As he closed the door and turned around, Sharel stood there with a furious expression over her features. "You will immediately tell me what is going on between you and my granddaughter."

Elijah dumbstruck, looked away and closed his eyes with a sigh. "There's nothi-"

"Do not fool me. I do remember those thoughtful eyes when the obnoxious Celeste was around."

Elijah's face turned hard at the insult. "Do mind your words, Sharel."

"In the study, now," she walked at a faster pace despite her old age and shut the door behind them. "How long, Elijah?"

"Cloverville," he answered, looking away.

"Since almost three years?" Sharel stared at him wide-eyed, hands holding her granddaughter's wedding jewellery quivering at the thought.

"There was nothing, Sharel. There is nothing."

"Does she return your affections? Is she being unfaithful to Jasper?"

"No, she loves Mr. Reynolds and I am not aware of what she feels for me," Elijah answered, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

"Don't do this to my little girl anymore, Elijah," the grandmother said. "She is getting married. Jasper loves her dearly and she will be happy and you want her to reciprocate whatever that is you feel for her. It is wrong."

"I know it is," he gulped, "I am trying to do right by her, but every time she appears in front of me, I desire nothing but to have her acknowledge me as well."

The older witch turned him around, "Do not tell me you have fallen for her."

"I do not know," he admitted in a soft voice.

"I will request you to stay away from Adelia," Sharel declared in a hard voice. "Despite Klaus' fondness for her, I know what he does to whoever catches his siblings' eyes. I will not have my granddaughter pay for your affections."

"I give you my word that he wouldn't know."

"Good and you get the notion out of your head that you love Adelia, you don't. The man whose choices were limited to a wicked witch or every doppelganger there is, you do not deserve the love that my granddaughter can give you," she said harshly and Elijah's jaw clenched but he refused to retort knowing she was right.

"I shall take my leave," the Original said and without waiting for a reply, exited the study.

As he descended the staircase, Adelia ran past him hurriedly, taking him by surprise when she went and threw herself in Rafael's arms who was clearly waiting for her.

"I missed you, Raffie!" she clutched him tightly.

"And I do not get a sliver of affection," Jasper said from beside him and she rolled her eyes before discreetly looking around and pecked his lips hurriedly. The betrothed's arms enclosed around her lovingly as he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek in return.

Elijah walked past them without acknowledging any of the residents and sat inside the carriage, this time not catching a glimpse of his beloved.

__________•__________

A/N: Esther makes a surprising appearance, Elijah is hiding something from Adelia and Sharel now knows!

Of course, there's going to be a change in the scenario while dealing with papa Original and Damon is abducted by the siblings. How's that going to work out?

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last edited: 01/2024