[ Chapter Seventeen ]

RAYLYNN HAD forgotten how big the Mikaelson family was at theatrics.

It had been Kol's wonderful idea to stop for a bite to eat. His words, not Raylynn's. And by bite, he meant slaughter an entire prison transport van full of convicts. He was not one for subtlety.

There little reunion needed to be cut short, due to the bounty still out for their heads. So far, they had not encountered much trouble. Although, they only traveled the backroads from Texas to Louisiana.

Raylynn stood on the side of an almost deserted dirt road. The carnage from the Mikaelsons snack littered the area. Dead men in orange jumpsuits laid on the ground, while the empty prison van sat nearby. Kol busied himself with a chase through the forest, and Elijah gorged on one of the police officers.

Not the prettiest of sights, considering it had been five years since Raylynn witnessed bloodshed from a vampire. She always hated to see them feed.

Screams from Kol's convict resounded through the air and through the countryside. Raylynn rolled her eyes at his actions. Dramatic as always.

"Good lord, that one has some lungs on 'em," Rebekah exclaimed as she dropped her meal to the ground. "He should've been an opera singer. Might've ended better for him, actually."

"Is this absolutely necessary?" Freya questioned, striding up from the prison van.

"That depends. Do you want us at our full strength, or do you plan on rescuing Nik on your own?" Rebekah quipped, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.

"Ah, death rattles are distracting, and I'm trying to break a cloaking spell."

Elijah sighed, pulling a white cloth from his suit pocket. "KOL! Would you please?" he shouted, causing the screams in the forest to cease. "Thank you." He turned to his older sister and wiping his mouth. "You were saying?"

"I can sense Klaus is still in New Orleans, most likely somewhere underground," Freya said.

"I could've told you that," Raylynn voiced as her heeled boots crunched on the ground. "I've been able to detect his location over the years, but I've just never been able to pinpoint him to a certain building or street."

Freya nodded along with her words. "We can't get a read on exactly where, unless we are in New Orleans itself."

"Yeah, that's gonna be a problem," Hayley voiced, walking closer with Kol at her side. "Ray and I have contacts in New Orleans. As you can imagine, the place is crawling with vampires, all of whom hate all of us. Whatever we do, we need to do it fast."

"No, I wasn't planning on a pub crawl. I don't want to stay any longer than we have to. But, we need to go," Freya stated, glancing around at her siblings.

"Whoa, wait," Kol spoke up. Blood still dripped down his chin onto his grey shirt. "We're not doing this today."

Raylynn and Rebekah snapped to him. "Hasn't Nik suffered enough?" the blonde questioned.

"Yes. And I've died, twice. I'm not about to give Marcel a shot at third," Kol exclaimed, causing the two women to roll their eyes. "Now, I say we draw that muppet out of town, and when he's gone..."

"Ray and I have been away from our kids long enough," Hayley cut him off, raising a brow toward the youngest Mikaelson brother. "If you're afraid..."

"It's called being sensible," Kol interjected. "Until Freya can make enough cure with her werewolf hostage, Marcel can basically chew through our bloody throats."

"Enough," Elijah voiced from where he continued to kneel on the ground. "We're all in danger." He tossed his police officer aside and stood. "We free Niklaus today. Even if I have to burn that city to the ground." He turned on his heel and strode into the middle of the road.

Raylynn followed after him and fell into step at his side. "If we do, I would like the liberty of lighting the first match."

Elijah lips quirked up. "The pleasure is all yours, Raylynn."

Raylynn smiled in a devilish manner as they headed off to save Klaus.

_______

The plan was simple. As simple as the Mikaelson family could make it. Raylynn and Freya were to find a safe place to track Klaus's location, while Elijah and Rebekah pay their old friend, Josh, a visit.

Raylynn could not say that she missed the young vampire. Not after everything that went down the last time they saw each other. Freya might be the only one to keep her from ripping the boy's heart from his chest.

Raylynn, Hayley, Freya, and Kol made their way to the ruins of the St. Louis Cathedral. The only place they knew of where Marcel held no influence. And the place was Freya's used to concoct her hidden agendas back in the day. The perfect spot for a locator spell.

"All clear, guys," Hayley called out as she scoped out the bell tower.

Kol glanced around the place with narrowed eyes. "This is where the two of you absolutely have to do a locator spell?"

"Well," Freya sighed and pulled out a large map of the city she stashed on a shelf. "When I first moved to New Orleans, I primed the space. Marked it with my magic, and made it mine." She spread the paper out on a table in center of the room covered in old candle wax.

"This dusty bell tower may be your own, but this is Marcel's city and we are nothing but targets," Kol exclaimed, setting his hands on the table as he glanced between Raylynn and Hayley.

"All the more reason to let them get to work," Hayley said through gritted teeth. She then exhaled. "The sooner we find Klaus, the sooner we get out of here."

Raylynn could tell that Hayley began to grow beyond frustrated with the unhelpful Mikaelson. In truth, she felt the same way. Kol could try to help, instead of hindering their progress at every move. Did he even want his brother back?

If not, Raylynn would not be afraid to put his ass back out and store him in his coffin until they were done.

Raylynn positioned herself next to Freya and held up her hand. She halted the woman's intention of slicing her finger for the spell. "Hang on. Since we are probably within a mile or so of Klaus, I'm pretty sure I can hone in on his location without blood."

Freya's brows furrowed. "How are you going to do that? The last time you tried doing a locator spell all you see were flashed of the person -not their actual location.

Raylynn smirked, while Hayley smile. "She's actually gotten a lot better since then, Freya."

Raylynn cleared her throat and held her hands above the map. "You might want to stand back," she said, before she began her chant. "Cerco il se ra ci. Cerco il se ra ci. Cerco il se ra ci." Her power built in her core and spread through her torso to her palms. She gasped when it released into the map. She opened her eyes to find the map engulfed in flames. In seconds, the paper reduced to ashes and left a circular piece with a location.

Klaus's location.

Raylynn plucked it from the table and read the smoldered paper. "He's under the compound," she said, dropping back to the filthy surface. Her eyes lifted to where Freya and Kol stared at her with wide eyes. She looked over to Hayley, before the two of them strode toward the tower's exit. "I do believe we all need to catch up after we get Klaus. You guys really have missed a lot."

_______

After they sent a text to Rebekah and Elijah about their brother's whereabouts, their plan was put into motion. Rebekah would lure Marcel away to Lafayette Cemetery to keep him distracted, and the rest of them would rescue Klaus from the underground tunnels.

They convened at Rousseau's now under the ownership of Josh Rosza. Convenient for them. All five of them waited in the kitchen, while the young vampire ushered the patrons out the front door. His excuse had been that there was a gas leak.

If a gas leak was five highly pissed off family members threatening his life, then yes, they were indeed a gas leak.

"Everyone's out!" Josh called out as soon as he locked the door. "The place is yours."

Raylynn ripped open the kitchen doors and strode into the now empty restaurant. She glanced around at the vacant tables and chairs to the long bar against the back wall. The placed had not changed.

"See, now wasn't that easier than us having to try and kill everyone," Kol exclaimed, walking over to the closest table.

"Yeah." Josh wrung his hands together. "So, what now?"

"Would you be so kind as to move that freezer, you know, so we might be able to access the tunnels?" Elijah pointed to the stainless steel appliance that blocked the entrance to the intricate tunnel system under their feet.

Josh paused. He did not make a sound. No one made a move.

"Time's a ticking, Josh," Hayley voiced, nodding to the back room.

Josh simply sighed and moved into the kitchen.

Kol stood from where he sat at the table, setting his gaze on the Montgomery woman. "Are you absolutely certain we are looking in the right place?"

Raylynn crossed her arms over her denim button-up. "Have I ever steered you wrong before?" Kol stared at her. She exhaled. "Look, these tunnels lead to a system that runs under the entire French Quarter. Marcel must've carved out his own personal dungeon under the compound."

"Genius and sadistic," Elijah drawled. "Well done, Marcel."

"Save the compliments when he comes to kill us. Your flattering might give him pause," Kol said, causing a smirk to form on his brother's lips.

"Okay, you're all set here," Josh voiced as he moved back into the main room. "So -uh -good luck. Break a leg. And I'll just, be on my way." He made a move to leave, but Raylynn grabbed ahold of his arm to hold him back.

"So you can rat us out to Marcel? Not bloody likely," Kol stated.

Freya sighed. "Uh, just snap his neck. We'll be done by the time he wakes."

"And if he wakes before that?" Elijah questioned.

"Then kill him."

"Uh, I'm right here guys," Josh let out.

Raylynn released her grasp.

"We're not killing him," Hayley told them and turned to enter the kitchen.

Raylynn nodded. "Unless you guys want to do the honors. He's not dying today." She left the young vampire's side without a glance and followed after Hayley into the tunnels.

"Yeah, you're both probably right. For some reason he's of value to Marcel. Kol would you..." Elijah trailed off.

"Happy to stay and have a drink, and incinerate anyone who tries to follow you."

"Good, then let's go. We're wasting time," Freya said as she trailed after Raylynn.

"Splendid," Elijah added, before he did the same.

_______

The four of them rushed through the underground tunnels for any sign of Klaus. The closer they got to the compound, the larger the tug Raylynn felt as her magic led her to his location.

Klaus was down there. She could sense it.

They rounded a corner to find metal gate that blocked their path. Beyond it, a circular room opened up with a crumpled body in the center.

"Niklaus," Elijah exclaimed and ran for the gate.

The rest of them followed suit, but they were all stopped by the locked metal.

Raylynn grabbed the gap filled structure, peering through them to where Klaus laid on the ground. A spelled salt circle encased him. His clothes were covered in dirt and grime, while he twitched as if in pain. By the blood stain on the front of his shirt, Raylynn could only imagine that Papa Tunde's blade still resided in his chest.

"Klaus," Raylynn called out, even though she knew it was no use. Her gaze lowered to the large padlock that sealed the gate shut form the inside. She raised her hand and focused on the lock. The metal melted, steaming in a pile on the dirt floor.

When it dissolved, Raylynn and Elijah took hold of the gate and pushed it open. Freya immediately stepped up to the salt circle and raised her hands to the invisible force that surrounded Klaus. Raylynn joined her, kneeling to break the spell. Elijah dropped next to them and tired to gain his brother's attention, but the hybrid only writhed in pain on the stone boulder behind him.

"The spell is strong," Freya said, placing her hands on different spots of the barrier. "It's been reinforced over time, which means its going to take time..."

"We don't have time," Elijah cut her off.

"I can try brute force, overwhelm it, but I'll need someone to channel."

"I'll do it," Raylynn volunteered, pulling one hand away to hold out to Freya. She glanced over her shoulder Hayley and Elijah. "You two keep watch. With my magic, this shouldn't take long."

The two of them backed away from the barrier. Freya took Raylynn's hand and allowed their magic to mingle together. She began to chant the spell under her breath, while Raylynn closed her eyes for a moment to steady herself as her magic rushed from her body.

Elijah perked up from behind them. "Freya, Raylynn. Whatever happens, do not stop until Niklaus is free."

Raylynn nodded, keeping her eyes closed, and heard him and Hayley sped from the tunnel. Her head began to lighten as more and more magic pulled from her veins. A moment later, Raylynn felt the barrier lift beneath her hand. Her eyes snapped open and felt to the salt circle. The white grains split down the middle and opened just enough for a person to slip through.

Raylynn snapped to Freya and saw her nod. "Go. I can't keep the spell down very long," she said.

Raylynn did not have to be told twice. She jumped to her feet and rushed into the circle. She dropped next to Klaus, ignoring the pain that flared through her thighs. Klaus's shirt appeared ripped down the middle and covered in blood. Raylynn pulled the edges apart, finding a faint red line over his sternum. Definitely Papa Tunde's blade.

Her hand hovered above the wound as her gaze fell on the pale features of his face. "Alright, Klaus. You gotta work with me on this one." She took a deep breath and willing the blade to be pulled from his chest.

Raylynn heard Freya pant as she continued her spell. "Ray, hurry! I can't hold it much longer!" she strained.

Raylynn's magic pulsated when each internal pull of the blade inside Klaus. She watched as his eyes fluttered in the dim lighting, trying to pry themselves open. Her jaw clenched and raised her hand with the blade.

At the last possible second, the skin of Klaus's chest ripped open and sent the blade into Raylynn's hand. Klaus's eyes snapped open as he let out a pain-filled gasp. He gulped in air, taking in his surroundings. After his bought of confusion, his stare landed on her.

As much as Raylynn wanted to have a heartfelt reunion, they did not have time. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hauled him to his feet. They raced across the spelled circle just in time for it to snap closed behind them, falling to the dirt next to Freya.

Raylynn pushed herself up and met his eyes. Tears brimmed her own, smiling in disbelief. "You're here," she breathed. "You're actually here."

"Raylynn," Klaus sighed, reaching out to pull the woman into a tight embrace.

Raylynn could not help but bury her face into his neck, clinging to him for dear life. The moment she dreamed of for the last five years, finally there. She had Klaus back in her arms, and she would be damned to ever let him go. A strained mixture between a sob and a laugh escaped her lips, while Klaus's chest shuddered against hers.

Raylynn reluctantly pulled away, reaching up to cup his cheeks. "I hate to do this, but we have to save your brother and Hayley from being killed by Marcel," she said and helped the man to his feet.

Klaus did not take his off her, even as she picked up Papa Tunde's blade that fell from her hand. "I can't believe you are here right now."

Raylynn smiled toward him. "Neither can I."

The three of them ran through the tunnels and back into the old Mikaelson Compound. Raylynn's heart constricted at the sight of their once beautiful home reduced to a scene from an apocalyptic movie. They emerged from the halls to the the middle of the courtyard. Hayley and Elijah faced off with Marcel. The beast stood in front of them, breathing heavily as he readied himself to strike.

Before he could make a move, Klaus took Papa Tunde's blade from Raylynn's hand and sped toward the man to plunged it into his chest. Marcel roared in pain as the blade sunk deeper into his flesh.

Elijah's eyes widened at the scene and when he saw his brother. "Niklaus," he exclaimed, catching the hybrid as he almost fell to the ground.

They did not hesitate, running from the place they once called home without a second glance.

_______

Their feet slapped against the rancid water that flowed through the drainage pipe out of the city. Elijah held Klaus up as they emerged out into the fresh air of the surrounding forest.

Rebekah jumped from her seat on a rock when she noticed them. "Nik." She ran over to her brother and helped drag him from the pipe. She pulled him into embrace when they hit sunlight. Kol followed suit.

"You can hug him later. We need to leave," Freya stated as she trudged through the dark water at their feet.

"Marcel's right behind us," Hayley added, glancing back into the hole.

Raylynn nodded. "So, we need to step on it. Let's go," she said and ushered them on with her hands.

They started up a small incline to where their car was parked for a fast getaway. Ready to drive them away from that God forsaken city.

Just when they thought they were home free, a voice stopped them cold in their tracks.

"Actually," Marcel called out, strutting up the dirt road perpendicular with the one that held their cars. "I'm right here." His eyes scanned the seven of them. "You shouldn't have come back here. None of you."

"Did you actually think we weren't going to come back for him?" Raylynn questioned, drawing the man's attention to her. "Family fights for each other."

Marcel tilted his head. "Yeah, so I've heard. Though, it didn't really turn out well for me, did it?"

"Oh, for God's sake," Kol exhaled. "You were never a Mikaelson. Get over it. Now, don't you have a city to run." He gestured in the direction of New Orleans. "Vampires to boot out of town."

Marcel began to move forward, but Rebekah blocked his path. "If you want to kill one of us, you'll have to kill us all," she told him.

"Hey, don't push me, Rebekah." Marcel pointed toward the blonde.

Rebekah shook her head. "Y'know get on with it. Let's end this once and for all."

"That's enough," Klaus voiced and moved forward to stand in front of his sister. "That's enough, Marcel, you've won. New Orleans was our city once -now it's yours." He took deep breath and said, "for good."

Marcel smirked. "Is the great Klaus Mikaelson accepting defeat? Or, is this al just another distraction?"

"Neither," Klaus stated. "In fact, despite your appalling behavior, I'm offering you a chance a peace. Attempt to kill us all, you'll be making a mistake. Anyone who survived would no doubt return to seek revenge, bringing our enemies back to your city in our wake. And even if you did manage to eliminate us all, one day my children would come for you. And their children after." Raylynn quirked a brown and exchanged a look with Hayley. "On and on for all of your day, an endless cycle of violence you'll bring upon yourself. Or," he trailed with a sigh. "Or, we leave. And we never come back."

Marcel scoffed. "After all that time buried in a hole, you still got some nerve. You know, you stand there with a straight face and try to sell this like it's your choice. But, here's the truth. I could kill all of you right now, and tonight, I would sleep like a baby. Hell, that's what you would do." He pointed to Klaus. "You've destroyed more people, taken more lives, ended more families than anyone who has ever lived. All because you can." He paused. "But, here's the other truth. Despite being raised by you people, I am nothing like any of you. In fact, I'm proud as hell I'm not a Mikaelson. I beat you all without turning into you, and now, you can live with the rest of your lives knowing that the only reason you exist -is because I am showing you mercy."

Raylynn's widened the smallest amount. Pot calling the kettle black, hun.

"Now, go. And don't ever come back," Marcel exclaimed one last time.

Raylynn met the beast's gaze head on, marching up to Klaus's side. She slipped her hand into his and pulled him away to the car. Never to return.

You know, if they were lucky.

_______

They drove through the afternoon and half the night to make it to Raylynn and Hayley's secluded home in Texas. Hayley entered first to tell Mary she could go home. The werewolf woman would not want to stay there when the Mikaelson entered.

Raylynn leaned against Ryan's bedroom door and smiled at the sight. The lights were off, except for the glow of his starlight projector that splayed the constellations on the ceiling. Instead of under his warm duvet, Ryan seemed to have fallen asleep on his roadmap rug. His dirty blond hair swept over his forehead and around his head in a kind of halo.

Raylynn felt a presence come up behind her. She turned her head to find Klaus there, staring down at his son with wide eyes. He had most likely just came from Hope's room. Hers sat closest to the front door.

All those years without a mere glimpse of his children, and now he could finally see them for the first time. At least, the first time as small children. No longer the babies who could hardly say a word. Raylynn could only imagine what went on in his head in that moment.

"He only falls asleep on the floor if he's trying to keep himself awake," Raylynn muttered to not wake the sleeping boy. "I called last night, saying that we would be home today. He must've tried so hard to stay up so he could meet you."

Klaus gaze shifted from Ryan to Raylynn. "You told him about me?"

"Of course, I did. He loves hearing stories about his fearless father and the family that would do anything for him and his sister," Raylynn stated, noticing the flash of relief that crossed his features. She looked back to the little boy. "Do you wanna put him to bed?" Klaus stared at the boy and hesitated. A small smile formed on Raylynn's lips. "It's okay. He's a heavy sleeper."

Klaus took a deep breath, before he stepped into the room. He moved over to Ryan and carefully kneeled at his side, sliding his arms under the little boy to lift him in his arms. Raylynn tiptoed across the few toys left on the floor and pulled back the duvet so Klaus could set Ryan down.

Klaus lowered Ryan onto the bed, watching as the little boy settled into the pillows and mattress. Raylynn covered him with the duvet and placed a kiss onto his forehead. Ryan did not move an inch. She turned to leave the room, stopping for a moment to see Klaus stare down at their son with a smile on his lips.

<February 22, 2019>

These chapters and Given are going to be so much easier to rewrite. Like, I think this is the fastest I've cranked out chapters in a while.

Raylynn and Klaus are so freaking cute! And Ryan! Ugh, my little family!

Don't forget to vote and comment.

-Jordan

P.S. Unedited chapter.