ELIJAH crouched down to examine Papa Tunde's corpse, which was lying on display in the middle of the Mikaelson courtyard, while Marcel, Valentina, and Klaus stood around beside him.

"Can I get you anything, brother? A magnifying glass? A pipe, perhaps?" Klaus questioned sarcastically.

"You have a theory you'd like to share with us, Niklaus?" Elijah asked back in aggravation.

"Back in the day, the witches wanted to send a threat, they'd just kill a chicken and leave it on your doorstep." Marcel explained as he stared down at Papa Tunde in perplexity.

Elijah stood to his feet as he fixed his jacket and raised an eyebrow at him. "It's rather a large and ominous chicken, wouldn't you say?"

"Papa Tunde defeated Rebekah with ease, almost got the two of us as well. If he was supposed to be the prize fighter, why leave him for dead in our front yard?" Klaus questioned with a suspicious tone of voice.

"Well, don't you look cheery. Listen to this--" Rebekah started as she strolled into the room." A girl literally exploded from a grave today as Sabine was giving a tour of the city of the dead. It was Monique Deveraux."

Klaus’ head snapped up with this news and he turned toward his sister with a face of disbelief. “What?”

"The tourists thought it was part of the show, but the witches are celebrating like it's some kind of bloody miracle." Rebekah scoffed as she walked up to them.

Marcel paused for a second before he looked up at her with a smile. “Maybe it is. They think that all hope is lost, but now suddenly a Harvest girl is resurrected. This is how we’re gonna get Davina back—kill the witch who took her place.”

“So then we just have to figure out who. That’s gotta be easy, right? There’s only, what--- dozens of them in the city?” Valentina rhetorically asked earning an unamused scowl from Elijah and Marcel.

"Perhaps this is what Davina was trying to warn us about with her drawings." Rebekah assumed as she looked between them.

"You think it's Celeste?" Valentina questioned curiously with a raised eyebrow then turned to her husband with a pointed expression. "Actually, i wouldn't put it past her."

"First, Papa Tunde returns to settle old scores. Now your murdered lover is back." Klaus pointed at Elijah and anxiously paced the concrete floor. "This isn't witches attacking vampires. They're declaring war on us."

Upstairs in the den, Elijah stared down at the charcoal lines sketched out to create Celeste's face. Footsteps echoed on the hardwood, and he turned his head to see Rebekah walking in to join him.

"It's not too early for scotch, is it, with all the witchy shenanigans and subterfuge afoot?" The blonde asked while she approached the minibar and poured herself a drink.

"It is entirely too early if one intends to drive, yes." Elijah remarked dryly, standing by the fireplace with his hands placed on both of his hips.

"Funny, I don't have any plans to go anywhere." She raised the glass to her lips and sipped slowly.

"She's not safe here." He commented vaguely then proceeded to clarify his request. "You have to take Valentina to the plantation house until this is over."

"Are you worried about Val, or whether or not you can trust me?" Rebekah questioned, her lips tugged down into a frown.

"It's precisely because I trust you that I'm asking you to do this." Elijah responded.

"She's not gonna like it. She's as stubborn as a mule. Instead of fighting with her--- why don't you let Valentina decide for herself?" Rebekah inquired curiously and smiled passive-aggressively at him.

"I'd prefer that, actually." Valentina commented as she waddled in through the doorway. "I'm not going." She refused sternly with her eyes trained on Elijah.

"Valentina---" Elijah started to argue after letting out a heavy sigh.

"Nope." She shook her head while glaring at him.

"You heard Niklaus. This is war." He reminded her harshly. "With his and my attention split, it leaves you unprotected. We cannot risk your safety because of your discomfort. I'm not giving the option, Valentina. You will go with Rebekah. She will stay with you until it's safe. Understood?"

Valentina took a slow, deep breath to soothe her anger and glared furiously at him. She wanted to argue, fight against it but knew there was no point and she didn't stand a chance. "Understood." She responded through gritted teeth and paired it with a passive-aggressive smile.

"I wouldn't bother complaining to Niklaus." Elijah called out to her when she started toward the door. "He and I have already discussed it. We're in agreement."

"Hmm..." Valentina hummed, turned on her heels, and stormed out of the room then walked into her bedroom and slammed the door loudly behind her for dramatic effect.

Elijah rolled his eyes and turned to Rebekah, who chugged her drink and gave him a displeased scowl.

Klaus entered their bedroom to find Valentina throwing clothing into a bag and muttering to herself under her breath. Chuckling, he walked over and sat down on the bed. "I take it Elijah has told you."

Valentina glared up at him through her eyelashes and continued aggressively packing without saying a word.

"I understand that you're upset, and I knew you would be, but this is the safest option for you right now. The plantation is in your name. No vampires may enter without your permission." Klaus began to justify their decision.

"Okay, and that's great, but it does nothing for the witches." She pointed out sternly, stopped packing, and stood in front of him with her arms folded over her chest.

"You'll have Rebekah to protect you." He reminded her with full confidence.

"Who has had her ass handed to her many times by witches." She remarked with an eyebrow raised. Sighing loudly, she lowered her body so she could sit beside her husband. "I love you. So much. You know that, right?"

"Yes." Klaus acknowledged calmly and nodded his head, waiting for her to finish her thought.

"But you and Elijah really have the stupidest plans. Half the time, they don't make any sense. You are so smart but so fucking dumb, Nik. Sometimes I just want to---" She growled in frustration, which caused him to laugh. "I'm being serious."

"I know you are." He mused with a smirk tugging at his lips. "While they may seem stupid to you, I do have a method and a reason."

"I know there's a reason, Nik." She said softly, placing her hand on the bottom of her baby bump.

He reached over to rest his palm on the top of it and rubbed soothingly. "I understand your unwillingness to return to the plantation. It shouldn't be for long. Just until I can remove the witches threatening our family."

"Okay." She reluctantly agreed then craned her head to press her forehead against his. "Just... Promise not to do anything too stupid and stay out of trouble."

"I should be saying that to you." Chuckling, he brushed their noses together and pulled a strand of her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "You seem to attract danger wherever you go, my sweet."

"Nik." Her tone stern as she gave him an unamused expression.

"Alright. I promise." He immediately reassured her, cupping her cheek in his calloused hand.

She closed her eyes with a small exhale before closing the distance and kissing him affectionately on the lips.

Rebekah pulled her car into the driveway of the plantation and put it in park. Valentina undid her seatbelt, threw the passenger door open, and carefully climbed out of the vehicle. The blonde followed in her footsteps, and together, they walked up the steps to the front porch.

"I thought I was gonna have to drag you here kicking and screaming." Rebekah commented in amazement.

"We all know that wouldn't be beneficial and don't stand a chance." Valentina mused bluntly as she walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, exhaling loudly. "Plus, it's not like I have much of a choice. I mean, when do I ever?"

"Hey. I'm on your side, okay?" Rebekah snapped defensively as she strolled into the room. "While I hate to admit it... Elijah has a point. I suggest just getting comfortable here until he says it safe."

"Yup. It's not like I'd get very far anyway." Valentina remarked, gesturing at her baby bump, then leaned over, grabbed the television remote, and turned it on.

"Are you okay?" Rebekah inquired in genuine concern. "Usually, you'd argue more but you're just giving up."

"I'm not giving up, Rebekah." Valentina responded aggravatedly. "I'm trying to keep the unnecessary stress to a minimum. Especially for these babies. I could argue until I'm breathless and blue in the face but it doesn't make a difference. I really don't have the choice because you three would just force me to do it anyway then make me out to be some spoiled brat for not getting her way. I know you know how that feels. So why bother making everything harder than it needs to be? I play along with dumbassery, do as I'm told, and make it to term with my tribrid babies."

"Alright." Rebekah accepted her response and nodded her head in understanding. "Well, let me know if you need anything." She offered kindly, spared Valentina another glance, and left the human to herself.

Hours passed, the sun set beyond the horizon, and Rebekah sat outside by the pool in boredom.

A sudden twig snapping in the distance caused her to rise to her feet and turn her head toward the sound. Looking back at the house, Rebekah listened for Valentina and decided to investigate when she only heard the television echoing from inside. She got a few feet away from the house before werewolves in their animal forms surrounded her and growled ferociously.

Valentina pulled herself up off the couch and meandered into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, realized it was empty, and shut it with an irritated scowl. "Hey! There's nothing to eat here and I wanna order pizza. Is that allowed?" She called out into the mansion, waiting for a response. When she was met with silence, the pregnant woman walked over to stand at the bottom of the stairs. "Bekah?"

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and removed her phone from her pocket. Valentina dialed her sister-in-law's phone number then paused to listen for the ringing. She followed the noise down the foyer, into the kitchen, and toward the back door. She was about to step out into the backyard but was stopped by the doors slamming shut with a harsh gust of wind.

She gripped onto the handle and attempted to break free with all the strength she had but it was use. Knowing it would be pointless to call Rebekah again, Valentina hit Elijah's contact as she rushed through the house to the front door.

"Valentina!" He greeted after two rings, panting heavily and slurring slightly like he was disoriented. "Listen to me. Celeste is back. Niklaus, Rebekah-- you're all in danger. You stay with Rebekah until I get there."

"I think it's too late! I can't find her anywhere. I'm stuck in the house. I can't get out!!" She started to panic and slapped the palm of her hand against the large door.

Flames lit ablaze around the perimeter of the house and Valentina jumped back in surprise, gaping at the scorching, burning red lights around her. "Oh, my God! Elijah. Please hurry. They've set the house on fire with me inside of it."

She ran into the dining room, grabbed onw of the chairs, and threw it through the window but the chair bounced back and fell to the floor. Valentina was blocked by an invisible boundary spell. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

The flames creeped inside the house, torching the curtains and carpet, and she backed away with a horrified expression. Smoke filled the air and she held her hand up to her nose to keep it from entering her lungs. The smoke detectors beeped loudly causing her ears to ring with the volume and drowned out the sound of Elijah's terrified yelling echoing from the speaker of her phone.

Coughing loudly, the middle Salvatore sibling grabbed the tablecloth off the table and drenched it in the water from a vase of flowers nearby.

With shaky hands, she folded the cloth a few times, brought the fabric to her, and covered her nose and mouth with it, creating a temporary filter. She then lowered herself onto the ground, staying low under the smoke and bettering her chances of survival.

The window beside her shattered by an unseen force and she turned to see that it was Elijah. He quickly glanced around the room, spotted Valentina, and rushed over to grab her off the floor. He held tightly as he sped them through the window outside onto the front lawn.

He eased her onto the grass and watched her rip the cloth from her face and take deep, desperate breaths of air. "Are you alright?" He asked frantically, rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

"Yeah. I'm peachy." She joked flatly and rolled over onto her side.

"Where is Rebekah?" He questioned quickly in concern after he saw the flames increase in size.

"I dunno." Valentina wheezed honestly with a shake of her head. "Last I know, she was outside." She pointed a finger above her head at the house. "Her phone is in the backyard."

"Stay here." The oldest living Original commanded before speeding away from her sight.

"Yeah." Valentina said through coughs and held a thumbs up in acknowledgment.

After steadying her breaths, she sat up with a low groan. She was going to roll over onto all fours so she could stand up when Elijah suddenly rushed over and helped her to her feet.

"Thanks." She said in appreciation and her face slowly fell upon seeing his expression. "What's happened?"

He placed his hands on her shoulders and licked his lips to prepare himself to give her the news. "I'm afraid we're not in the clear yet."

"MARCEL!!" Elijah returned to the compound with Valentina struggling to follow his pace and he furiously stormed toward Marcel. "Where is my brother?"

"I got guys out looking for him right now," Marcel said calmly.

Elijah, enraged, started tossing vampires against the walls so Valentina backed away from the confrontation.

"Klaus threw one of his classic temper tantrums, snapped my neck, tried to take on a coven of witches by himself. He got dropped. I don't know where he is or how to find him." Marcel explained in frustration and glared at the Original for throwing his friends around like rag dolls.

"They also have Rebekah." Elijah informed the younger vampire then raised his voice to be heard despite them all having supernatural hearing. "Every one of you will help me to find them. I'm gonna kill them all." He declared in stern determination with a furious scowl.

---
Comment
Vote
Share
Xoxo
-the1andonlytifftiff