The girl above is Nole Monroe, played by Aja Naomi King

Klaus's POV at first - later Talia's 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Loud music, cheap booze and laughter filled the air as a pissed off Hybrid walked into the previously-named Mikaelson Compound, now it was Marcel Gerard's Castle. 

His eyes raked over the dancing vampires, searching for one in particular. The self-proclaimed King of New Orleans. 

A voice came from above and his gaze turned upwards to the dark-skinned man leaning confidently against the rails. "Ladies, gentlemen, welcome to fight night!" 

Whoops, cheers and applause came from the crowd but Marcel's voice silenced them again. 

"The first rule of fight night is, the vampire left standing at the end of the night is one step closer to the inner circle and one of these--" he held up his right hand, showing off the silver ring, "a daylight ring." More cheers and calls of demands. 

Klaus looked around in disgust at the sight, an eye roll showing up on his face. Marcel's tactics were intelligent but chaotic, and almost animalistic.

"If you can impress me with a little ultra-violence, you too can enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face." 

The applause was deafening and the Hybrid vamped out of there, needing a more dramatic entrance to interrupt Marcel's little night of dramatics. 

Hayley and Talia were missing and the Mikaelson was absolutely furious. 

The Hybrid paced outside for a moment, his advanced hearing picking up the sounds of fighting and laughter within. He'd need the perfect entrance. 

He heard cheering and then vamped in again, snapping the victorious vampire's neck, instantly silencing the crowd. 

The nightwalkers were staring at Klaus is shock and fury, but Marcel just looked annoyed. "Good evening, I'd like a word."

Marcel's face twisted into a glare, dark eyes fixated on the Hybrid. "What do you think you're doing?" 

Elijah weaved his way through the crowd as his younger brother lazily kicked away the body of the victorious vampire. "It appears that we've interrupted a collection of filthy amateurs. We've come here for the girls. Give them to us, or . . . we will kill everyone here. Starting with you." Elijah's hands moved, motioning to the group as Klaus smirked sadistically. 

On the inside, however, he was in great turmoil. His soulmate kidnapped once again along with the mother of his child. A coincidence? He didn't believe in coincidences. 

"You two got a lot of nerve coming into my home and making demands." Marcel's hands were placed a good five feet away from each other, his body leaning forward against his arms, muscles taut in his biceps. It was clear he was angry, but he also appeared slightly amused. 

Klaus couldn't stop himself as he rose his eyebrows, red lips pressing together into a wider smirk. "Your home is it?" 

"The girls!" Elijah interrupted, putting their focus back on track. "I will not ask again."

Marcel seemed to twitch slightly on the word 'girls'. Something unreadable crossed his face but Klaus could've sworn it was concern. "I'll assume you're talking about Hayley-- yay high," he held up his hand, "dark hair, bitchy attitude. Who is she, anyway?" 

Marcel didn't ask about the second girl, but Klaus almost shouted her name. He would've shouted her name off rooftops, screaming just for his best friend to be safe. Talia Monroe was not someone that should be messed with. She was family. She was a Mikaelson and she was his. 

"She's an old friend. Her and Talia, the other one missing. I didn't think you'd sink so low as to kidnap your own girlfriend, Marcellus, but it appears here we are." 

Marcel flinched slightly at the word 'girlfriend', his lips twisting in a sneer.

Klaus continued, the smirk dropping from his face. "You know how sentimental I am about old friends." 

The vampire pressed further against the railing, his dark eyes blazing. "Well, I ain't got them, and before you start whining, I did pay her a little visit earlier tonight. Talia was more than welcoming and I was feeling nostalgic. So, I took a trip out to the plantation where I used to be a slave. And imagine my surprise when I realized that the Original family of vampires had taken up residence." 

Elijah crossed his arms and Klaus popped his jaw, feeling even more rage brewing in his gut. 

"Talia let me in and your girl Hayley answered the door. We exchanged hellos. That was it. You don't believe me, look around. Hell, I'll even help you find them. You know I wouldn't touch Talia, Klaus. But the question I'd ask is, if they aren't here . . . then where are they?" 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Talia groaned, rubbing her forehead as she sat up. She was in the middle of the Bayou, covered in mud and a blinding pain was coming from her temple. 

It was dark and owls hooted in the trees, in the distance she heard the lone howl of a wolf, too. Hand pressing against her forehead, it came away slick and warm. She was bleeding. Of course she was bleeding. 

The last thing she remembered was Marcel driving away, then someone had grabbed her. 

Hayley. 

She had to find Hayley. 

The Companion slowly stood up, her knees aching as she rested her weight against a nearby tree. A bout of dizziness came over the young woman as she pressed on, further into the Bayou. Her boots were slick with mud and her socks were wet, but Talia couldn't take the time to care. 

Avoid any fae, witches, vampires or werewolves and just find her soulmate's baby mama. 

Groaning, Talia felt her knees give out under her as her vision went black and she sunk back into the mud. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

"Not the most attractive community, are they?" Elijah's voice caused Klaus to lift from his overwhelming thoughts of never seeing Talia again and enacting revenge on whoever touched her. 

The Hybrid looked up at his brother, feeling uneasy and easily aggravated. "You do realize they can hear you." 

"You do realize I don't care." Elijah placed his cup of tea back down on the metal table, leaning backwards in the patio chair he was situated so calmly on. Where his brother was relaxed and at ease, Niklaus was stiff and ready for a fight. Two halves of the same coin, but two halves indeed. 

Marcel approached with some groupies on his heels, hand lifting to point at the elder Mikaelson. "You know, Elijah, I liked you better in that box, but, Klaus, my sire, you I owe the world." Klaus smiled lightly, staring up at his adopted son with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "And I always show respect to my elders." Marcel's voice was a mix of sarcasm and utter indignation. "If your special lady friends are missing, you could benefit from the help of a witch, and since I control all the witches in this town, I'll grant you one little locator spell. Sabine is the best guide in the quarter." Two vampires had come up during Marcel's mini speech, dragging along the beautiful dark-skinned witch. Fear clear across her stunning face. "You need to find someone, I guarantee she's your girl." 

The witch rolled her eyes, looking between the two Originals and their current enemy and ally. 

Marcel spun, as if walking off to somewhere far more important than the location of his missing girlfriend. "Where are you going?" Klaus tilted his head, watching the 'King'. 

"I hate to cut this short, but the sun is coming up soon. My nightwalkers need to get inside, and I've got a city to run." Marcel placed his hands on his hips, head tilted slightly. "I'll leave you to track down your lost sheep." 

Marcel chuckled, turning again but the Hybrid had one last thing to say. 

"I always knew you didn't deserve her. Even in a time of crisis, you don't dare try to find the one you claim to be your Queen." Klaus inhaled slowly, drawing in the smells of everyone around him, but particularly Marcel. "I can still smell my sister on you. You couldn't even be patient for a month. When I find Talia - and I will - I'll make sure she knows just how much she doesn't matter to you." Klaus rested forwards slightly, his lips twisting up into a Cheshire smile, "Because, Marcellus, you will never get the girl that matters, and however much I love my sister, she isn't Talia and will only throw herself at any man." 

Klaus fell backwards again, chuckling softly at the rage clear on the vampire's face. 

Elijah turned his attention to Sabine, intent and angry. "Can you find them?" 

"I can try." 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Sunlight blinded the girl who lay on the floor of a shabby cabin. Rotted wood made up the walls and the whole thing creaked when she sat up, looking around in confusion. A dark-skinned girl was sitting next to a cauldron that was filled with some sort of poultice. 

"Where am I? Who are you?" The Companion groaned as her head pounded dully, fingers lifting to touch it but the girl darted over, patting her hand away. 

Talia looked up at her, meeting chocolate eyes and a deep frown. The girl couldn't have been more than sixteen, but she had eyes that had seen things a kid shouldn't see. "I'm Nole. Don't touch it, I just bandaged you up. Found you in the woods, freezing to death, soaking wet, unconscious and bleeding. Not smart to fight with vamps around here, you'll end up missing." 

"You know about vampires. How do you know it was a vampire?" Talia groaned faintly as she shifted, peering at the girl. Nole's dark curls were pinned up and she was dressed in ragged clothes, a vast difference from Talia's designer jeans that were now ripped and muddy and her tattered white blouse. 

Nole shrugged, stirring the small cauldron. "There's a hybrid in these woods. His name is Tyler and he kidnapped a pregnant wolf. I saw him come to the nearby camp with her. She was beautiful, but very pregnant and loud. Since you don't seem to be from around here, I'm assuming he had grabbed you too and left you out here. She a friend of yours?" 

"Hayley," Talia whispered, jumping up but a flash of red crossed her vision and she stumbled, grabbing the wall. "I have to protect her. I have to protect the baby." 

"Woah, there! You're hurt. Concussion, most like." Nole grabbed Talia's arm, guiding her to a mattress on the floor. "Just lay down, you ain't in a condition to fight." 

The Monroe pushed off the girl, glaring at her in annoyance. "No, I have to. I have to get to Hayley. I have to protect her."

I have to. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Sabine's red-painted nails were what caught Klaus's attention as she whispered a spell, fingers running over the map of New Orleans. One locator spell, two girls. 

Klaus's blood to find both of them. 

The blood moved from their location across the territories, over roads and woods and neighborhoods. "They're in the back country. Way out past Houma, deep in the Bayou. But, they're not together." 

"I don't suppose you could be more precise." Elijah's voice was strained, his dark gaze fixated on the blood. 

Klaus chuckled lowly from where he paced, hands behind his back and plotting clear in his mind. "What's the matter, Elijah? You worried a bit splashing around in the bog might ruin your expensive shoes?" 

"As a matter of fact, after my recent confinement, I could use a decent stroll through the countryside." Elijah's snip made his brother smile slightly, but Klaus's thoughts were elsewhere. 

Whoever had abducted his girls would be torn limb from limb, and then sewn together again and healed with his blood so he could do it all over again. An agonizing torture that would last a good decade or so. Whatever fit the crime, and taking what was his was a crime he killed for.

Sabine looked between the duo as the Hybrid paced, her red-painted lips smacking together. "There are stories of exiled werewolves. Encampments. If Hayley went out that far, chances are, she went to find them." 

"Talia, though?" Elijah queried, studying the map. "Perhaps to guard Hayley?" 

Klaus shook his head, studying the Bayou. "No, she would've called. Hayley, clearly however, chose to make the acquaintance of more like herself. I suppose our company wasn't good enough for her." 

Elijah tapped the map, something unreadable in his dark eyes. "That doesn't explain Talia, and you know it, Niklaus. You said they aren't together?" 

Sabine shook her head, curls flopping. "Close, but no. They aren't together and from what I can see, one is moving - or trying to move - towards the other." 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

The two brothers walked through the woods, Elijah still dressed in his fancy suit while Klaus had chosen a more hiking outfit. "We should head south towards the water." 

Klaus glanced back at his brother, feeling his stomach flip. "You seem quite determined to find the little wolf. We are looking for both of them, if you recall, brother." 

"If I'm moving too fast for you, Niklaus, you're welcome to wait in the car." Elijah chuckled softly to himself for a second before continuing on with his sass-back. "Do be certain to leave the windows down." 

Klaus clucked to himself, a smile clear across his face, masking the incessant ball of worry and anxiety. "Ah, so I've touched a nerve. You've begun to admire this girl." Klaus quickened his step, inhaling slightly to see if he could catch a taste of Talia's vanilla scent. "Perhaps that's why you've been barking orders since your return, hoping to impress Hayley by assuming the role of family patriarch." 

Elijah had come to a stop, his back to the Hybrid, but he quickly spun around, his sarcasm gone and replaced with anger. "If you want to insist of treating her like a walking incubator, then that's your mistake. The same goes for Talia, who I know you saw only as a weakness until the bond was cut." 

Klaus would've made a sharp retort, but a familiar smell touched his nose. An eerily familiar smell. 

"Have you found her scent?" Elijah's intense gaze was fixated on his brother who's head tilted as he inhaled. 

Klaus shook his head, rage growing inside him like a hot air balloon. "No, but I found someone else's." 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Talia drank the herbal tea that Nole provided her with, the duo sitting on the creaky porch, staring out at the water. "Why did you help me?" 

"I'm not a monster. Why is this girl so important, anyway? I know she's a Labonair, werewolf royalty, but that didn't seem to matter to the hybrid boy." 

Talia turned her head, staring out at the direction Nole had told her the hybrid would be. "She's important for a thousand reasons, but for me it's because she's one of my only friends. My family. I have to protect her and that baby. I'm going to die soon, I am dying, and protecting Hayley is something I refuse to fail at." 

Talia's death was coming close, she could feel it deep in her bones. She had only a few months left, six at best. She wanted to survive until the baby was born and after that . . . after that she would accept whatever Mother Nature would do. There was a natural order to things and she had defied that order. 

Nole didn't ask about the Companion's dark words, instead she stood and walked back into the house, leaving Talia alone. With her healer out of sight for a few minutes, the girl took the opportunity to slip away. 

She had to protect Hayley. To protect the baby girl growing inside of her friend. To protect her family. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

The two Mikaelson brothers stood next to the beaten up old blue rig. Klaus had popped open the driver's side door, breathing in the smell of Tyler Lockwood. He pulled out numerous clothes, beer cans and other odds and ends. "This vehicle," he tossed a wad of clothes at his brother, "reeks," another wad, "of someone I thought I was rid of-- Tyler Lockwood." His pale gaze fixated on Elijah who stood there in the midst of the chaos. 

"Any why would your little hybrid sidekick from Mystic Falls have any interest in Hayley?" Elijah's innocence to everything that had occured was starting to become a nuisance, but Klaus didn't exactly have the time to fill his big brother in on everything. 

Klaus groaned, recalling Caroline Forbes who was nothing in comparison to Talia, but that didn't matter either, right now. "He wants revenge because I went after his girl." 

Elijah sucked in a deep breath, looking very irritated. "Why do I suspect this is the least of your offenses?" 

"Back when I had the means to sire hybrids, he was my first. Although, I didn't give him much choice in the matter." Klaus leapt onto the truck, inhaling slowly in the back. He immediately caught Hayley's scent. "He was loyal in the beginning, but he grew insubordinate. Turned my other hybrids against me. I couldn't have that." Jumping from the truck, he stood in-front of Elijah. "So, I massacred the lot of them. Tyler ran like a coward before I could finish him off." 

Elijah approached slowly, looking more and more pissed off. "Anything else that you would like to share?" 

"Well, there was this business with his mum." 

Elijah's hands were tossed in the air and he groaned, "You killed his mother. Wonderful." 

"He needed to be taught a lesson." 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

It took Talia awhile to locate the camp, by the time she did, she heard fighting. Talia broke through the trees but paused a good two hundred feet away from the commotion. Klaus was locked in a fight with a vaguely familiar Tyler Lockwood. 

They were spitting words at each other that Talia didn't catch, tussling violently. Finally, as they drew closer to her, but had yet to notice her presence, she began to pick up what they were saying. 

"Where is she?" Klaus's voice was aggravated and loud, he shouted the words as he threw hits. Talia's first assumption was that her best friend still had yet to find Hayley, which was concerning, but his next shout diminished those thoughts. "Where's Talia?" 

"Right, your little girlfriend." Tyler sneered, ducking and moving away from Klaus. "Dead, probably. Froze to death or bled out or got eaten. Head injuries are a bitch. How'd you meet, anyway? Probably abducted her off a slave plantation, forced her to like you. Is it stockholm syndrome that keeps her around? Did you compel her to love you? Because I sure as hell know someone like her wouldn't do it from the goodness of her heart." 

Talia watched silently, not willing to get in the middle of the fight. Klaus could handle himself and he had to know that the Lockwood's words weren't true. 

But, she saw the change on his face, from anger to worry to hatred. 

Talia slunk backwards, further into the shadows as her soulmate continued his ruthless attack. Hands resting on her hips, Talia sighed and began to pace, feeling her chest compress. It was hard seeing Klaus kill someone. She had seen it a thousand times, but it never differed. 

The brunette crouched down, when suddenly she heard Tyler's screams. Moving out of the shadows, the Companion saw Klaus with his hand in the boy's chest. "Kill me! Kill me!" 

Slowly, Klaus looked up and his blue gaze met her dark one. She saw his entire body relax, the sadistic smirk faded as he stared at her and she slowly shook her head. 

Klaus Mikaelson then did something she had never seen him do. He gave mercy. 

His hand retracted from the boy's chest, his gaze fixating on Tyler. "You're free to return to Mystic Falls, mate." 

Tyler sped off and Talia broke through the trees as Klaus pulled her in for a hug. His lips pressed against her forehead and he touched the bandage on her temple. "You're hurt." 

"I'm fine. Just a concussion." The brunette studied her best friend who gently bit into his wrist, bringing it to her lips. "Thanks." The injury healed and she rested against his chest, her nose buried in his shoulder. "You wouldn't believe the crap day I've been having." 

The Hybrid chuckled, his hand resting on her dirty curls. "It's alright, love." 

Over his shoulder, though, she spotted something strange. A body with golden eyes and veins and its heart ripped out. "Nik, is that a hybrid?" 

He turned, seeing what she saw and the duo approached, examining the body. "How is this possible?" 

The Companion looked to the blond who seemed just as confused as her. Almost angry, and worried, too. 

A snap of something breaking and Talia spun, finding Elijah and Hayley. "There you are, I see you found our wandering stray. Perhaps she could shed some light on the situation?" Klaus kicked the body, his hand holding Talia's waist so she remained at his side. "This appears to be the body of a hybrid." 

"His name was Dwayne," Hayley hissed, looking bitter. 

Klaus shrugged, his eyebrows lifting and a frown permeated his handsome face. "Well, whoever he was, I didn't sire him. Any idea how that's possible?" 

Hayley took a step forward, her voice breathy and filled with rage. "As if you didn't know."

Elijah caught her arm, pulling her back and stopping her attack on the father of her baby. "Ah . . ." Klaus looked between the couple while Talia shifted uncomfortably, confused and dirty and just wanting a hot shower and a goodnight's rest. "Aren't you two fast friends? Well, come on then. What horrible accusation have you conspired to levy against me?" 

"Tyler Lockwood brought Hayley here to test a theory," Elijah began, staring at his brother, "that the blood of her child could be used to sire hybrids. He claims you knew that."

Even one that didn't know Klaus as well as Talia did could read the shock across his face. The way his lips parted and eyes widened, eyebrows quirking in confusion. His Adam's apple bobbed and his grip on her tightened slightly.

"Furthermore, you intended to use this knowledge to build an army." Elijah was glaring at Klaus, his chocolate eyes were pools of furiosity. 

Klaus's head bobbed slightly, his tongue darting out to rasp over his lips. "And, of course, you assume it's true." He paused, eyes moving away from his brother for a moment. "I mean, why else would I show any interest in my own flesh and blood?" She saw that tears were beginning to form in his eyes, hand shaking where it rested so firmly on her waist. "A heartbroken little crybaby points his finger at me, and my own brother," Klaus pointed between Elijah and Hayley with his free hand, voice rising as he began to shout, "falls in line, eager to believe it. How quickly you assume the worst, especially when it comes from her." 

Hayley's face was twisted into a deep, furrowed glare and Talia felt trapped in the middle. Choosing her friend or her best friend or was there a point where she could remain without having to choose? But, Hayley's gaze was beckoning and Klaus's grip was tight. Both wanted her to make a decision. 

Elijah chuckled lowly and his attention was directed to the muddy brunette who was exasperated and exhausted and tired. "Talia, what do you think? You must know Niklaus the best of us all." 

She shifted, feeling her soulmate's gaze in the side of her head. "He didn't know, Elijah, he couldn't have. He didn't even believe Hayley was pregnant at first, remember? There's no possible way." 

"Oh spare me your indignation. The both of you. When have you, brother, ever demonstrated any kind of concern towards Hayley or her child beyond your own selfish pursuits? And what was it you once said to me?" Elijah lowered his voice for the next part, mocking his younger brother, "'Every king needs an heir,'" and his gaze turned to Talia. 

Klaus kept his voice soft but Talia knew it wasn't weakness, it was pure, unadulterated rage. "My big brother, so you doubt my intentions. Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Standing beside the noble Elijah, how can I be anything but the lesser brother--" he looked at his best friend who shrivelled under his gaze, "a liar, a manipulator, a bastard?" Talia's head began to shake, her lower lip wobbled slightly and she could feel his pain. Even without their bond, she could feel the pain he felt. Klaus stepped off the porch, leaving her there as he approached Elijah. "That's all I am to you, isn't it? And to Rebekah, and judging by the way Hayley hangs on your every word, it's clear she feels the same way. The only one I have left is Talia, and even then we all know that could change." 

Talia swallowed and looked down, scuffing her shoes against the porch. It was true, she had left him before. But Klaus had changed, it was obvious. She wasn't going to abandon her best friend again. 

"No doubt, my child will, as well." 

The Companion shifted, her heart plummeting in her chest. Oh, Niklaus, your only fear has always been being alone. 

"Brother, if I--" Elijah was interrupted by Klaus grabbing his collar, yanking him closer in a rage. 

"We've said all that needs to be said, brother." His voice went lower and lower and Talia took a step back out of fear. Klaus began to move back and away from Elijah, acting innocent but she didn't trust him. "I'll play the role I've been given."

She opened her mouth, speaking for the first time, but it wasn't fast enough. "Nik-" 

But Klaus's fangs were already out as he lunged forward, his teeth sinking deep into Elijah's throat. "Agh!" Elijah screamed from pain while Hayley just screamed and Talia's hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide. 

Klaus wiped his hand over his mouth, swiping off his brother's blood. "You two enjoy each other's company. You'll have much to bond over once the hallucinations and dementia set in. Consider that bite my parting gift to you both." 

He spun, staring at Talia who moved forwards, looking over his shoulder at Elijah who held his bloody neck and Hayley who doted on the Original. "I want to go home, Nik." 

Her best friend scooped her up, vamping them both far away. Guilt was a storm in Talia's stomach, her face pressed against his neck and the tears fell freely. 

"I've got you, love, I've got you."