•|•

"Say not in grief that she is no more, but be thankful that she ever was and though she was taken far too soon, may her enduring light show us a way through this darkness. Let us mourn as we cannot move on until we do."

Isabel was sat down next to Andrew helping him tie his tie while Kol fixed his jacket.

"And though the pain may at times seem like more than we can bare, make no mistake, we will move on."

Josh downed a glass of whiskey while Marcel finished up putting on his own suit for Davina.

"And even now, the words of Ecclesiasticus are ringing in my ears, they're saying vengeance as a lion shall lie in wait for them."

Isabel stood with Kol, Josh, Andrew, Marcel and Vincent in front of Davina's tomb and Josh stepped forward to speak next.

"A while ago, forever ago, I told Davina a story about my first boyfriend but what I didn't tell her was that I had never shared that story with anyone else. She was like a sister and a best friend and I loved her. I wish th... uh..."

"It's okay Josh." Isabel reached over and grabbed his hand and gave it a pat. "I'm so tired of death but I don't think Davina will be gone forever. It just doesn't feel right."

"Well, I just wanted to say Davina was a strong witch and a real great friend. And I hope Isabel's right."

Vincent looked toward Marcel and Andrew noticing the silence.

"I'm sorry, I have nothing I could say."

"Words aren't any good, someone needs to answer for this. And I'm gonna make the Mikaelsons talk." Marcel then rested a hand on Davina's tomb stone. "I promise."

≪≫•≪≫•≪≫

While Marcel, Vincent, and Andrew stayed behind Isabel walked with Kol to meet up with the rest of their family to walk behind Cami's coffin along with other mourners. Two funerals in a day, she thought, what a life.

The jazz band started a different song to play at Cami's wake, while mourners are gathered inside and Isabel approached the kitchen where workers are scattered.

"Okay, we can't run out of whiskey at an Irish wake, it's like the one rule, okay? Whiskey is important come on now."

Isabel turned around as Kol walked up from behind her.

"Whiskey is important. And as much as I'm certain Camille would have appreciated all of this don't through yourself through a loop today."

"I know." She sighed before looking over at Camille's coffin.

Klaus takes a swig of his drink as an unfamiliar man approached behind him and said, "excuse me, don't I know you? Sorry.. you just look so familiar."

Klaus turned to look at him and said, "I have one of those faces."

"Did you know her well?" The man asked glancing at the coffin.

"I did." The hybrid said solemnly.

"She was a very special girl." The man noted.

"There's so polite summation that will do her justice, but you're brave to try and she would have admired that."

"I haven't read anywhere how she died, do you know?" Will inquired.

"An accident." Klaus told him cautiously. "Are you here in a professional capacity officer?"

"No, just came to pay my respects," Will said noticing his defensive stance before walking away.

Marcel placed a rose on Cami's coffin silently before walking past Klaus who watched him sadly.

"I think Marcel needs a little more time." Kol told Klaus as he walked up to him.

"Time will not bring Davina back, the one chance to save her was ruined by us for our ends. Marcel's anger is justified. It's best I reach out to him before that anger hardens into something worse."

≪≫•≪≫•≪≫

It was later at night when Klaus and Elijah faced off with a very angry Marcel.

"Give it to me now," Elijah demanded. "I won't ask you again Marcellus.

"My name..is Marcel." The man grunted out. "And I'm not giving you a damn thing."

"I can't allow you the means to destroy my family." Klaus was practically pleading with him.

"Your family. Right. Thank you!" Marcel exclaimed sarcastically.

"Klaus...Marcel will betray us." Elijah warned his brother. "I saw it with my own eyes."

"I will betray you? I asked, begged for your help and you left Davina to rot. You put down Lucien because he was coming for you, for your family, but the thing is, you made Lucien. You turned him, taught him, and then abandoned him. And you blamed Lucien because it's always somebody else's fault. But maybe you were the villians in his story. After all, that is the Mikaelson way, right? Kill, maim, torture, all in the name of family. Always and forever," He said, emotionally. He was done with the way Mikaelsons handled things and getting angrier with every second he remembered what they have done to people. "I used to admire that vow. It gave me the thing that had been beaten out of me. Faith in those you love. I was a fool. Always and forever is just an excuse to do whatever the hell you want. Maybe...It's time someone put an end to that."

"You are treading very close to a dangerous decision." He stepped forward menacingly. "I'm asking you to choose wisely."

"Fair enough." Marcel looked at the vile knowing he made his decision; Klaus rushed forward but Marcel threw him back against the bridgel. The hybrid got up with a grunt knowing he couldn't give up on the man who used to be like a son. "You can't stop me Klaus."

"I only mean to keep you from crossing a line you would most certainly regret."

"No, you meant to keep your precious upper hand. Don't you get it? Whatever I have to do, Klaus I will find a way to hurt you. You will never be safe, not as long as I am alive. You can call me family all you want, I am done being your friend." Marcel grabbed ahold of Klaus. "From this day forward, I am nothing less than your worst..." Suddenly Marcel's words were cut off and instead replaced with a grunt followed by a squishing noise. Klaus' eyes widen in shock and horror as he looked behind Marcel to see Elijah with Marvels heart in his hand. Marcel stumbled and fell over the bridge.

Klaus raced to the side of the bridge before he could even comprehend what he just saw. "No!" He screamed, watching Marcel's body splash into the water.

Klaus turned and glare at Elijah, who panted, holding Marcel's heart in his hand, absolutely horrified by what he had done.

≪≫•≪≫•≪≫

Klaus and Elijah stood on the bank of the river just below the bridge by a little fire. Klaus' eyes stared intently into the flames of the fire as he spoke to Elijah.

"The current took him." He spoke plainly.

"Niklaus, I saw Freya's vision." He tried.

"What did you do. I could've talked him down. I could..."

"You could've what?" Elijah said, cutting him off. "You could've watched our family's extinction at the hands of Marcel Gerard."

"HE WAS ONE OF US!" He roared in rage.

"He despised us. Yes, he was our friend. Yes, he was our family. The moment Davina Claire was lost, he became our foe, and a formidable one at that. He was the leader of the Strix, entrusted with all our secrets and then, Klaus, we betrayed him. I had no choice." The noble man explained.

Klaus stepped toward him, looking him in the eyes before saying, "do you really believe that?" When Elijah couldn't answer, Klaus brushed past him, leaving Elijah alone.

≪≫•≪≫•≪≫

Isabel walked into her room to see Kol sitting on her bed waiting for her. "Kol."

He looked up at her and she gulped. He immediately stood up and took his hands in hers. "What's the matter, darling?"

"Elijah he... he killed Marcel. Took his heart right out. He said that he and Freya saw Marcel becoming our enemy." She teared up. "Everything is falling apart around us and I don't know what to do anymore. I cant keep doing this."

Kol cupped her face and stared into her eyes. "Calm down Bella. Deep breaths." He wiped at her cheek and gave her a small smile. "I know it's hard right now. But you got me and I'll always be here for you," he said just as Isabel launches herself into his arms and hugging him tight.

"Promise me you won't leave me again?" She asked. "Promise me."

He knew he couldn't promise her that. After dying two times he wasn't quite sure what would show up next to take them down. And now he knew he wasn't as invincible as he once thought. "I can promise you that I'll fight to stay by your side. Forever. But that's all I can promise, darling." He pulled back and locked eyes with her to show her the promise in his eyes. And he wasn't one to break his promises much like his oldest brother.

"I love you Kol." She told him. "So much. And I want to be with you."

Kol grinned down at her and immediately cupped her neck to pull her into a kiss.

Isabel pushed herself as close to him as possible. It felt incredible. To feel what she felt when kissing him was rare and she knew that. Despite the bond they formed through blood being the thing that connected them and caused her to want to be close it was all him that made her stay. Kol was her safety and her trouble. He's the one that had touched her in a type of way that she could never imagine even leaving him behind.

Once she pulled back she leaned her forehead against his and breathlessly said, "I have come to realize that no one here is truly immortal. Not even you." She looked into his eyes. "And I don't want to push you away I want to spend whatever of my life I can with you... Loving you."

"You have no idea how happy that makes me my darling wolf." He smiled slightly as she beamed up at him. He pulled her into a searing kiss and dipped her low.

After a moment she broke away and smiled at him. "What are you doing?"

Kol pulled her up and kept her in his arms. "Dancing with the love of my life. Under the stars."

She bit her lip to contain the smile. "But there is no music?"

"We don't need it." He led one of her hands over his heart. "This is the only beat we need."

Isabel let her eyes trail to where his heart lay and listened to the picked up rate it was beating at. Her eyes went back to his as she moved her hand to hold his, his right arm already securely wrapped around her waist. She leaned her head against his chest listening to his heartbeat as they danced.

Hey y'all! Some exciting news! I had my little boy Damian Todd Morris 11/26/22 and had taken a little break but he's ready to watch me write again :)

Here's us now and him with his Grogu