WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE

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Friday, October 21st 1917

Each faction leader sat around the round rustic table on the second floor of the church. A dim light hung low, illuminating each stoic face.

Adrienne Lumière, Clarence O'Connell, Elijah Mikaeson and William Kenner.

Klaus Mikaelson didn't bother to show his face during council meetings, only when it suited him, according to his brother, he had prior engagements today that couldn't be rescheduled.

"To be perfectly candid, the ration portions in the city are causing a stir amongst my people," Clarence stressed, placing his hands on the table.

Food shortages were sadly becoming a prominent issue throughout the country, many feared that the population would die from hunger...well most of the population.

Adrienne tutted at the blonde human, "All people Clarence, all people, you understand that the witches eat too." she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair, all eyes were suddenly on her.

William snapped his head towards her with a vexed expression, "what, the souls of the dammed or the innocent?" anger laced his tone.

The wolves were not a fan of witches, they never were. They believed that witches were most wicked and cruel, especially since they were the beings that created the supposed 'the sun and the moon curse'. That they were the self-proclaimed keepers of balance, but they just tore the world apart for power, that's what the wolves perceived them as.

Elijah went to object but she was quick to respond, "Depends on our mood or our tempers, but as we're speaking of tempers, how are the wolves dealing with this?" her brows raised in ridicule.

"We struggle, as does anyone."

Clarence raised slowly raised his hand, "May I suggest that the workers at The Euphoria lower their prices on baked goods."

The Euphoria, also known as the best bakery in the city, is run by two Èquilbre witches. Specialising in everything from, beignets, croissants and doughnuts.

The establishment was often seen as one of the few neutral and non-violent places around, that and The Saints. Although some people refrained from entering either, considering they were owned and run by African Americans, who just happened to be witches.

Adrienne sighed at his suggestion, "I may be good friends with Clementine and Valarie, they are part of my coven but that doesn't me I can get them to lower their prices."

"You are their queen, are you not?" William scoffed.

"I doubt Ms Lumière rules with an iron fist Mr Kenner," Elijah ejected, finding his attitude unbearable.

Adrienne inhaled sharply, "I believe in running a democracy, not a dictatorship," she said staring explicitly at the werewolf, "They control their own prices, not me," she rolled her shoulders back, "I have a question."

"It's a free country, shoot," William said through clenched teeth.

Adrienne refrained from commenting on his words. America is not the land of the free, it's the land of the privileged and entitled. "William, you're a handyman, why can't you lower the price of your fees," she then nodded toward the O'Connell man, "Clarence you're a tailor, why can't you lower your prices?"

"Because I have to make money somehow." The tailor responded, sounding defeated.

Her eyes narrowed onto the two mortal men, "But why do my witches have to cater to you and not the other way round, or at least equal?" She was met with silence. "All I'm saying is, we all should make sacrifices, especially with the rations that we receive in the city."

They all sat in silence for a moment, being held down by the weight of her words.

"What's next on the agenda?" William asked hastily, straightening his overcoat. He wanted to change the topic, knowing that he couldn't rebuttal, which deeply infuriated him.

"Marie Laveau," Elijah spoke up, eyeing the wolf in slight disdain.

He didn't particularly like the wolves or the many pack leaders, but he had to remain civil, regardless of any past discrepancies.

Adrienne shifted in her seat, "Marie Laveau doesn't get involved with politics."

Marie Laveau; the voodoo queen. She had her own witches, those who claim to come out during the night. Although many of them didn't claim to be witches as they hated the term. However many believed that those who practitioners of Voodoo or believed in Voodooism were 'Dark witches' who were scarier, according to legends.

The Laveau queen claimed to put down Delphine Lalaurie and condemned her for her crimes against slaves. She was a powerful witch, even more, powerful since she obtained immortality, how? No one knew. that much power requires sacrifice. But how much?

The original was about to respond, but was interrupted by William, "But she will if you go and converse with her." He spoke in an aggravated tone.

"Is that your way of asking for me to do your bidding Billy?" She straightened up and waited for his rebuttal.

"I was actually advising you, teen queen." He condescendingly replied, she let out a humourless laugh.

In all honestly the Kenner wolf was used to having to deal with Keyara during meetings, finding comfort in her maturity and decorum, in his eyes, she wasn't controlled or encouraged by the vampires, something he despised about Adrienne, foul behaviour, his father used to say.

The Original internally sighed, "Can we get back on theme please?" Elijah's eyes darted around the table as he brought the attention back to him, "Regardless of Ms Laveau, the witch hunters won't stop, that means they will come after anyone who aligns with witches-"

"Or sleeps with them," William muttered spitefully and Clarence turned away, in an attempt to conceal his amusement.

"If you want to say something William I suggest you should speak up before I confuse you with someone without a spine, or with someone who might potentially lack one by the end of the night, so do you want to repeat yourself or drop it completely?" Adrienne cocked her head to the side, having enough of his side comments, "huh?" She asked when she was met with only a scowl, which satisfied her ego. She motioned for the Original to continue, "Please proceed Elijah."

The Original suppressed an eye roll at the wolf's quips, "As I was saying, it won't just be the witches' problem to bare, this council was founded to keep the peace and its hard to do that if we are foes."

"I agree."

"What do you suppose we do? Because I don't want my people to suffer because of something we didn't have a hand in." Clarence asked and a deep frown etched its way across his face. He shared a knowing look with William.

"We show a united front."

William narrowed his eyes at the witch, "I thought we were doing that."

"I am. I don't know about everyone else." She shrugged innocently, he went to counterclaim, but Elijah held his hand to silence the wolf.

"Next agenda, curfews." The Original immediately gained outraged expressions.

"What?" they exclaimed and turned to him in shock.

Elijah's face remained blank despite feeling the growing irritation itch at his composure, "I only advise that we put one in place because staying out past a specific time will only attract a bigger threat."

Adrienne and Clarence considered his words, discovering that he did have a valid point.

William angrily scoffed, "So do we also have bedtimes now? Are you our master, bloodsucker?" The wolf met with a deadly stare.

Adrienne huffed out a laugh, all men turned to her, seeming angry and dreary "I would refrain from calling anyone names especially since you fall victim to something as harmless as the moon." she clasped her hands together, eyeing the offended wolf, "It's for safety precautions, you would see that if you put aside your pride."

Elijah stared at her in intrigue, curious as to how she managed to deliver her words so sharply.

Clarence placed a hand on his friend's arm, "They're right Billy, especially because Sonny works at The Saints alongside Ms Adrienne and I wouldn't want anything to him if he's caught outside on a wrong day."

Emerson Wilks, known as Sonny to his friends; a twenty-two-year-old passionate trumpet player and a friendly face.

He was only a human, but he had many contacts amongst the supernatural community, whether they were witches or wolves. Emerson kept his distance from the vampires, not because he disliked them, he just wasn't stupid.

William sighed, his anger was now simmering, "So you suggest we cower?" He asked, turning towards the witch and the vampire.

Elijah motioned for her to speak, "Until the time is right." Adrienne mused, feeling irked that she didn't have a definitive response.

"And when will that be?"

"Nowadays, everything is unclear, but it won't be long."

Clarence leaned forward with a sad smile, "Isn't that what everyone said about the war?"

His words caused everyone to become slightly disheartened.

The war was only supposed to last a couple of months, yet it's almost been four years.

Almost four years have passed since many parents had to send their children across the country for better living conditions.

Almost four years since the city was safe.

Almost four years since the Mikaelsons had to bid adieu to Marcel, who still hadn't returned despite Klaus' manipulation, he stayed with the soldiers in muddied and bloodied trenches.

Of course, Hadeon didn't bother to sign up to fight for his country, believing that a black man had no place in a white man's army, so he stayed.

Adrienne hummed, "Touché."

"So we're all in agreement, a one am curfew?" Elijah questioned, awaiting a response, the other factions agreed despite their differences. "Meeting adjourned."

The four all stood from their chairs, William and Clarence left, whilst the other two stayed.

Elijah waited until he heard the front door close before turning to the witch, "I must say, you managed to control your anger in ways that many people your age could not."

She pursed her lips and adjusted her attire, "...everyone has expectations of what and how I'm supposed to be Elijah. 'Teen Queen' is a new name and I hope I don't hear that often."

"Judging from how you composed yourself today, I doubt you will," he stated as his eyes bored into hers.

She snorted, "Tell that to William and Clarence."

"Do their opinions mean that much to you?" Concern furrowed his brows.

"No, I could snap their necks without blinking but I choose not to."

"So why don't you just 'snap their necks without blinking?'" Amusement laced his tone.

"For peace, there is very little of that nowadays." She exclaimed sullenly, "If I let my demons come out to play, New Orleans will turn into another battlefield." and that is the last thing we need.

She thought back to the events of her coronation and how well that turned out.

"I don't disagree, but can I offer a word of advice?" he straightened out his suit.

"Sure."

"Work with your demons, before they work against you."

"Don't worry," she took a small step towards him causing him to quirk up a brow, "I'm not a Mikaelson." She innocently shrugged.

"Was that an insult, Adrienne?" He mirrored her action until they stood an inch apart.

She hummed before her eyes narrowed onto a piece of lint that rested on his blazer, "Don't insult your intelligence by asking that question Eli, you know it was." She went to swat away the lonely piece of fluff, but he caught her wrist in a gentle hold.

"Perhaps if you were someone else-"

"My head would be rolling?" she mused and tugged her arm away from him.

"Possibly."

She placed a hand to her heart, feigning offence, "Was that a threat, Eli?"

His lips twitched, "Don't insult your intelligence by asking that question, Adrienne."

They both smirked at one another.

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Saturday, October 22nd 1917

The Lumière witch sat on a soft blanket in the garden of the Mikaelson compound, she was accompanied by none other than the bastard brother of the family, while the rest of his siblings, daggered or not had no choice but to occupy themselves inside the walls of their home.

Adrienne and Klaus' shoes were placed to the side as they talked and rested amongst the nature that encircled them in a friendly grasp. The sun was fading but the flowers continued to blossom and grow, despite the threat that winter was coming.

With a sketchpad in one of his hands and a pencil in the other, it tainted and engraved on the clear sheet of paper, Klaus continued to draw whilst she ate the food that surrounded them.

He provided fruits and pastries from her friend's store, remembering that was where they had their first date, talking the night away as they shared.

"Are you going to keep staring at me or will you open that loud mouth of yours?" she spoke after feeling his heated gaze burn into her face, he smirked and his stare only deepened into hers, "this is the quietest you have ever been Niklaus."

"It might be due to the fact I'm trying to focus on my muse," he responded smoothly, they kept eye contact, despite the pencil in his hand continuing to move, she shuffled closer to see what he was drawing, but he pulled the paper back, preventing her from seeing his work, "patience, wait until I'm finished."

"Patience isn't a strong suit of mine and it definitely isn't a trait of yours."

He hummed then he tilted his head at his artwork, "yes I was delighted to hear that you threatened to rip out William Kenner's spine during the council meeting last night." she noticed the malice flash across his eyes as an innocent smile etched its way across his face, "if only you did it, it would've been spectacular."

"Are all Mikaelsons gossips?" she wondered, despite knowing the answer, he watched her every move. Her fingers traced over the strawberry she picked up from the plate that sat close to his thigh, she placed the fruit in her mouth and gently bit into it, moaning as she consumed its flavour, she wiped the secretion from her chin and sucked it away, whilst keeping her eyes on his.

He cleared his throat, snapping himself out of her alluring act, "We like to consider ourselves socialites with homicidal tendencies."

"Is that right?" she smirked when she noticed him shift uncomfortably, before settling again.

"Maybe." he paused and he quickly turned the sketchbook to the side, "you know I was aware of that little smirk that appeared on your face when you burned that wenched at the stake?"

"Of course, you caught that," she muttered,

"I catch a lot of things."

"I'm sure you do." she shook her head as a crooked smile appeared on his face.

"So are you enjoying the power?" he asked, settling the sketchpad to the side, after feeling rather peckish, he purposefully reached over her exposed calves, grazing them, ever so slightly causing a shiver to flow through her body, he chuckled lowly at her reaction, he picked up a vine of grapes and tossed a few in his mouth.

She surveyed his arrogant demeanour with a playful glare, "Of being a queen?" he nodded and motioned for her to continue as he ate the fruit, "are you saying my title gave me power?"

"You had power long before you were crowned, I'm referring to the feeling of being able to control your little subjects and whatever witches do."

"Flying on brooms and wreaking havoc is what we do, haven't you heard?" she teased, emitting a deep chuckle from his throat, "but it's empowering for everyone else to see how I already saw myself."

Adrienne didn't want to get drunk on power, but she didn't mind getting a little squiffy.

"I must say, you were royalty in my eyes before you were crowned love," he spoke lowly, he smirked when he heard her breath hitch. He tugged on her legs, pulling her in closer to him, causing their limbs to become entangled, a sensation that he wanted to grow familiar with.

She wanted to ignore the feeling that spread through her body, but she couldn't, "you have such a way with words."

"I've been told," he replied, unaffected by her mocking tone.

"I'm sure you have," she playfully shoved him back after seeing him lean closer. "I have a question." he leaned back on his hands, then nodded for her to continue, "have you ever been in love?" she felt him stiffen and when she looked towards him, hurt flashed through his eyes.

"Once, but that was a long time ago." he spoke as if he were in a dream or a beautiful nightmare, "it's been years and I haven't even given the feeling a second thought."

"Why, because it inspires vulnerability?" she pressed on, unfamiliar with the feeling entirely unless it related to her family.

Adrienne had grown up wondering what love looked like, she thought that what her parents shared was more of an obligation, an agreement than love, however, they did seem content with one another before her mother passed.

He nodded stiffly, "Precisely, love is a vampire's greatest weakness." he recited sternly, emphasising each syllable.

She pondered his words, believing that they were something he forced himself to believe, to live by. She frowned at his tone, cautious that it was a facade to conceal his truth, the truth she wanted to uncover.

"But there's a reason why the heart is the organ of love, if it rests we die."

He stilled momentarily until he recovered and adorned a confident grin, "But as you can see I'm very much alive." he motioned to himself but was met with a blank stare.

"For now." she clicked her tongue, "everyone can be destroyed." she turned and picked up more grapes, offering some to him, he took them, but not before he ran his ring-clad fingers over her soft skin.

She played with his hand, until she pulled away first, turning away from his playful expression as a smile threatened to pull at her lips.

Klaus hummed with a smirk still largely on his face, "Not me, for I am the hybrid, I can not die." he shrugged then consumed more fruit.

"I never said you had to die to be destroyed Niklaus, my mother told me that."

"And what else did she tell you?"

She pursed her lips as she went to reply, "That what is dead may never die." She annoyingly recited.

"You know more about your mother's death than everyone else thinks."

"I could say the same thing about yours."

They both stared at each other, maintaining their dominant eye contact, his head cocked to the side as her breathing increased and her harsh facade fell, but neither planned on backing down.

Their eyes stayed on one another, Blue on brown, perhaps soon to be gold and black, until laughter broke through their pursed lips and filled the garden.

She concealed her amusement in her hands, feeling like an idiot for laughing so much, that was until he pulled them away, wanting to see the gleeful expression on her face, loving that he was the cause of her joy.

"Although I believe that Hadeon, being a bastard and all, has more indignation to hold towards your mother."

She shook her head, "Surprisingly she treated him as if he were her own son." she voiced softly, trying not to come across as bitter.

She liked that side of her mother, despite being on the receiving end of her angst.

"If only all parents were like that." his tone was barely above a whisper, images of his childhood flashed through his mind, and his pretty blue eyes were full of thoughts, "Apologies for mentioning your mother, I know you miss her." he reached out and held her hand, unaware that his desire for her touch was so strong.

She leaned into his hold and squeezed his hand, "Yes, I do, but I have to move on." despite the smile that remained on her face, he could hear the sadness in her tone.

"Living in the past is something I aspire not to do." as his eyes gently raked over her form, he caught the fainted scorch mark on her arm, "how did you manage to do that?"

Her eyes followed his concerned gaze, and her breathing hitched before she quickly recovered "Val was practising one of her spells and she must've nipped me," she waved him off, pulling her hand away from his and pulling down on her thin wrap.

He tried to not sneer at the mention of Valerie, "Ah the LaMarche witch."

"Is that disdain I detect in your tone Niklaus?" she teased, deflecting from the injury that she wore.

"Your hearing doesn't deceive you."

"The feeling is mutual, she doesn't particularly like you." she quipped as she tried searching for something to drink, wondering where the bottle of champagne went.

He noticed her wondering gaze and pulled the bottle out from behind his back, emitting a squeal from the witch, he chuckled at her excitement and popped the cork.

They watched the foam dribble over his hands, she caught the viens that tensed when he moved around in search of the uniquely shaped glasses, pouring the alcohol to the brim, before passing her the drink.

"So I supposed she loathes the burning desire, the tension that beckons our souls together." he motioned between the two of them with a teasing grin as he took a sip of his drink.

She raised a brow at his declaration, "My God, I wouldn't go that far-"

"You should." he interrupted and then swallowed the rest of the champagne as did she, tossing the drink back without blinking.

He wondered what else she could stomach, chardonnay, liquor or something else...

He was aware she was quite a flapper girl as well as a party girl, Rebekah accompanied her on most nights out, along with other Èquilbre witches. His sister was shocked that her coven showed a likening for her, as was he since they showed nothing but hatred towards him, some more than others.

Klaus waved her off and poured them another drink, "Never, but don't fret, it's not like they would or could stop me from seeing you." she reassured him, despite her father's words that echoed through her mind, he will hurt you. She shook away her thoughts.

He huffed out an empty laugh, "They could try, but their heads-" now it was her turn to cut him off.

"Would stay on their shoulders and attached to their necks?" she held up her hand, stopping him from continuing his threat, "don't threaten witches, Mr Hyde, it's not wise, especially not before their queen." she tossed back her drink, "You should hold your tongue next time."

"Or should I implore you to do that for me," he wiped away the alcohol that trickled down and escaped her lips with his thumb, before sucking up the secretion.

She eyed him as her face heated up, luckily her chocolate-coloured coloured skin concealed the blush that kissed her cheeks, she knew he was aware of the effect he had over her, and she would never live it down.

The sky produced an orange tint on its horizon, soon fading as the night was near, A light chill attacked her form, causing a visible shiver to be seen, Klaus wasted no time and place his blazer around her shoulders, whilst simultaneously pulling her closer, she offered him a small smile before he picked up his pencil again.

He stared at her for a while, his eyes darted over her every feature, crease and curve, before they travelled to her physique, he adored the way his clothes looked on her, he only hoped she would adorn his garments more often, that way his scent would engulf her, wherever she went.

"What?" her sultry voice snapped him out of his trance.

"Nothing" he bashfully smiled, before it fell from his lips when he noticed that he spilt some champagne on his drawing. She heard him curse in a language she was unfamiliar with.

"What language was that?" curiosity furrowed her brows.

Of course, she caught that, "well that was Aramaic," he licked his lips, drawing her eyes to them, "it's not my mother tongue but I did enjoy speaking it."

He remembered the days when his family used to speak Ancient Nordic, more specifically his parents whenever he and his siblings were being chastised, him and Kol more than the rest, which caused the pair to dislike it.

"That's a dead language."

"Correct."

"Dates back to biblical times," she spoke trying to rack her brain, "I know it was adapted for other languages. Sounds pretty,"

He hummed, "perhaps I could teach you some as well as Nordic," he stared up at the sky as if he were pretending to think, "if you teach me Haitian Creole."

Her tongue poked at her cheek, whilst considering his proposal, "deal." Their hands joined together, but before she could pull away, he pressed a soft kiss to her hand, she shook her head as a smile etched its way onto her face, "you're so infuriating."

"I know."

"I might have one more question for you."

"Go ahead beautiful."

"Would you ever transform into a wolf again?" she asked cautiously, apprehensive about his reply, "you told me that you haven't since you broke the curse a couple of years ago, so I was wondering-"

"Only if I can give my mind, body and soul over to someone, then they can see my true self," he said abruptly, speaking in nothing but honesty. then I can see my true self again.

Klaus tried to not think about the aches that erupted through his body when he turned after draining the blood of the doppelganger. Despite that, the delight he felt when his curse was finally broken, he was free himself, finally Niklaus Mikaelson.

He finally found a part of himself that he lost over nine hundred years ago, a part that was torn away from him and confined to a small rock that Katerina Petrova stole during the fifteen hundreds.

Luckily she alerted him to a new doppelganger who was born during the nineteenth century, with the name; Elena Gilbert. Klaus and his brother hastily made their way to the town where she resided, the same town they used to live in; Mystic Falls.

He managed to use the help of Hadeon Lumière to help break the spell, however before he could capture the vampire again, Katerina escaped his grasp for the second time but was sadly on the run.

Adrienne hummed as she traced the veins on his hands, "Are you afraid to do it? Because I would be surprised that you fear anything at all."

"If I wasn't afraid of something I would be an idiot love."

He feared many things, not that he would mention them at the drop of the hat, no he wasn't foolish. He was afraid that his demons were hell-bent on consuming him and anything he treasured.

"I guess."

"Are you afraid of anything?" he questioned, lifting her chin, holding their gaze.

She inhaled sharply before she replied, "betrayal and loss."

"Another thing we have in common." he offered her a genuine smile, and she returned it rather quickly, before swatting his hand away.

As the stars skipped across the night sky, Klaus allowed Adrienne to flip through the range of drawings he created over the week, however, he didn't let her see his most recent one.

"Maybe you should open an art museum." her earnest comment made him tongue-tied, she turned to him once she saw how still he became in her peripheral. "Cat got your tongue?" she quipped.

He swallowed his initial shock, he felt part of the ice that shrouded his heart melt away, "Well one of my pieces is hung in the Louvre, not like anyone would notice, have you been?" he asked neatly packing up the sketches into one pile.

"No but I love the french language," in her mind, creole was a beautiful mix of a range of languages, and French was one of them. She wanted to visit the country at some point in her life.

She had visited a few, but none of them ever quenched her foreign thirst. She just blamed it on the fact she was American.

"I'll take you there one day," he announced definitively, she laughed in disbelief.

"I would like that."

"Can I come?" A feminine voice was heard from behind them, They both turned around to meet the blond original.

Klaus tossed his head back in annoyance, "begone, Rebekah."

She ignored her brother and wiggled her fingers at her friend, "Hi Addy."

"Bekah." She grinned at the girl.

"Leave, " Klaus snapped at his sister, irritated with her presence. I bribed her so she could stay inside. He only hoped that his older brother didn't join them.

"Spoilsport." The blond original playfully rolled her eyes with a pout, "Just because you want her all to yourself," Adrienne giggled, causing Rebekah to turn to her, "Promise that we will spend time at The Saints soon, just to dance you won't have to sing?"

"Of course." The witch promised, winking at her.

"Now, off you pop, go torture the next victim of your venus fly trap." Klaus snapped impatiently.

Adrienne slapped his chest, "Niklaus." She scolded but he held her hand, kissing her palm, making her suppress a smile.

Rebekah's eyes darted between the bickering pair she smiled, happy that her brother had found someone special, despite it being her friend, "So rude." She tutted at her brother, "Bye Addy." She waved the witch goodbye.

"Bye pretty girl," She mirrored her actions, watching the youngest original's retreating figure, "Be nice," she said in a teasing tone to Klaus.

"On our third date, I will."

"And where will that be?"

"Perhaps France," he poured another glass of the remaining champagne, handing her one, "to Paris, Ma Reine,"

Their glasses clinked and shone with promise, "To Paris, Vieillard." she chuckled, then swallowed the rest of the alcohol.

"Old man?" he cocked up a brow, "Is that what you think of me?"

"Fine, show me how young you are Mr hyde," she dared him.

"Challenge accepted," she squealed when he picked her up and sped him inside the compound.

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne sat in the office at the Saints, it was larger than her father's at their house, however, this one was rather confined due to the small couch that was positioned a few inches away.

A large window took up most of the wall space, although she and her family liked the way the light shone through during the day and how the stars winked at them during the night,  it had to be replaced many times due to hecklers who couldn't believe people of colour could run an established as fine as The Saints.

Ever since the curfew was put into place, it did cause a slight uproar amongst the civilians of New Orleans, but they happened to agree that it was a wise choice to make.

Adrienne was going through the numbers that the club generated this week, they were normal, so fortunately their workers continued to make an honest living.

She feared that one day her family's business would be burnt down, but just like Black Wall Street, it was thriving, creating economic hope and success.

She looked up when she heard a knock at the door, which was cracked open, allowing the soft music that rang throughout the building to be heard.

The place was closed, though her employees continued to clean up.

"Come in." She smiled when she saw her closest friend wonder in, "Kal."

"Adri," the Sinclair witch, made her way over to the empty seat, adorning a long overcoat, it concealed her flapper dress, similar to the one that Adrienne wore.

"What can I do for you?"

"I was hoping we could talk," Kali said cautiously, she played with her fingers as she nervously locked eyes with the witch queen.

The two women had been friends for a while, despite Kali being almost five years her senior.

She watched as Adrienne sat back in her leather chair, harshly packing up the various papers that rested in front of her. She nodded her head, motioning for her friend to continue, "Can I be Frank with you?"

"Yes, is there something or someone on your mind?" Adrienne teased, her mind unintentionally wandered back to the dirty blond Mikaelson and his dangerously enticing words.

Although their date was only two hours ago, his touch still lingered on her body. Nothing explicit happened when he whisked her inside the compound, not that he minded. They only continued their wholesome encounter in his art room, away from the chilly air and eavesdropping of his siblings.

Kali shook her head with a smile, although it didn't reach her eyes, "No, it's about you."

Adrienne glanced sideways at the girl, "Alright, go ahead."

A thin layer of sweat appeared across the Sinclair witch's forehead, "I personally believe that it was the wrong call to condemn Lou-Anne to the stakes." She swallowed harshly as she kept eye contact with her close friend.

"And why do you think that?"

She flinched at Adrienne's gentle tone since she could hear the simmering anger beneath it, "Because she's one of us and it might have sent out the wrong message."

"I had to make a statement and it was the right one."

"Are you sure or are the Mikaelsons getting in your head?"

As one of her confidants and advisers, Kali believed that she could speak her opinion and in this instance, she thought that the Lumière witch had made the wrong decision.

Adrienne's nails clicked against the surface of the table, she let out a soft laugh, baring her teeth for the twenty-three-year-old to see, "Kal, I make my own decisions, no one can dictate what I can and can't do, not even you." She took a shaky breath before continuing, the Sinclair shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "I was disrespected not just about my status, it was about my race and you more than anyone know what that is like. Yeah, my emotions were involved but so was my reputation, so don't ever question me about decisions like that, understand?" She raised her brow awaiting a response.

Adrienne was perplexed, to say the least, but she bit her tongue, she decided that she would wait for the next time her close friend would side with someone who isn't anything but a bigot. As for now, she will believe it was just confusion and not a coincidence.

After all, Kali was fairer skinned, but that didn't matter much to people with prejudicial ideals.

"I understand." The Sinclair witch nodded stiffly, "I'm just worried about what Cindy could possibly do in retaliation for what you did to her sister."

"If she knows what's good for her she will sit back and daren't repeat the same mistakes as her sister. Or at least have the decency to keep her opinions to herself, unless she wants the Hughs bloodline to cease to exist, " Adrienne spoke eerily calm turning her hands out.

She didn't want another Evangelical Christian whispering in her ear.  So despite not being religious, she prayed that Cindy Hughs kept to herself, grieved and shut up.

Adrienne nearly startled her close friend when she reached across the table and grabbed her hand, "you can always express your opinion around me but that doesn't mean I should consume the words that spill from your lips."

Kali sighed and pulled away, "But Klaus, that half breed is not... right." She stressed, clenching and unclenching fists.

"And we are?"

Kali stared at her in disbelief, "We're witches, we were made but he-"

"Was made and don't forget that it was the original witch who started all of this, she made vampires, but somehow every forgives and forgets that fact. I don't implore what the vampires do, nor do I condone it, it's their way of survival."

"I just-"

"Don't," Adrienne huffed out a laugh. "Kali, my relationship with Niklaus won't influence my position, I swear to Hecate." She rushed out her words, wanting to rest in her humble abode and also read more of her mother's grimoire.

The Sinclair witch knew she had nothing else to say, so she gave her friend a tight-lipped smile, "That's all I wanted to know."

"Good, now you should get home before curfew." Adrienne quickly glanced at the window, noticing how the crescent moon was prominent in the sky.

It was almost twelve o'clock and she wanted the Saints to be locked up by then.

"What about you?" Nervousness furrowed Kali's brows. She always looked at the newly turned queen like a little sister, she always feared for her safety, regardless of the power she held.

"Deon is coming." Her brother promised to come by and escort her home, providing he wasn't entertaining another woman.

"Night Adri." Kali dusted off her coat and stood up, she blew a kiss at the teen witch then turned and strolled toward the door.

"Night Kal."

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne was currently unwinding after bathing.

She needed hydrotherapy after her long day, relieving her mind of the demons that scratched at her most poisonous memories.

She was glad that the week was drawing towards an end, she managed to read through Keyara's grimoire, attempting to learn different spells, even presenting them to her brother who helped her understand the meaning behind the magic.

She hoped that she wouldn't have to use any of them soon, especially due to the finality and fatality that they inflicted unless it was toward the witch hunters.

Adrienne continued Lounging, wrapping her hair up in a silk bun for the night.

Her feet ached from her performance tonight, she loved her job, but it caused fatigue to spread throughout her body, therefore she wasn't performing at her best.

She was about to make her way over to her bed, but her brother's voice stopped her, "Adri, come downstairs," he yelled from downstairs.

It was a miracle that Erebus didn't wake up.

She sighed tiredly, just when I was about to sleep, "Why?" she muttered under her breath, she valued sleeping, even though her nightmares plagued her subconscious.

"Your beast is on the phone for you," he spoke through his laughter, having not heard her annoyance because of their spelled rooms.

Adrienne rolled her eyes and swung open her bedroom door, she sneered as she made her way passed the narrow and dimly lit hallway and down the creaky stairs of their house.

She rubbed her eyes as she neared her grinning brother, who was still in his suit, but his blazer was traipsed over the small sofa in their foyer, she snatched the phone from his loose grip and went to speak into the device but Hadeon still towered over her.

"Go away." she nudged him, keeping the phone to her chest and the cord wrapped around her wrist.

"I want to hear, maybe he wants to talk to me again." Hadeon was in a joyous mood, after being out on an immodest date with one of the tourists that visited the city.

He wasn't a fan of the curfew but he still managed to get his new lover and sister home safely.

"Doubt it." Adrienne laughed bitterly and shoved him away,  "Move or I'll cut you." she waved her long nails in her face.

Over the years, physical fights between the Lumière siblings had resulted in scratches and bite marks due to knives, nails, teeth and magic being used.

Nothing was off the table. 

Hadeon's eyes glistened in amusement as he pretended to reach for the phone, "Feisty, might want to tone it down before you scare the white man away."

She groaned and ushered him away, "Do you want to get hexed? No well move."

Her brother bowed dramatically before leaving the room and walking toward the kitchen in search of something to quench his thirst.

Adrienne cleared her throat, narrowing her eyes at his retreating figure, she slowly placed the phone to her ear.

"Hello, beautiful." Klaus' deep voice sent a chill down her spine. She could imagine the enticing smirk that was engraved onto his lips as he spoke through the phone.

"And what can I do for you Niklaus?" she acted calmly, despite the warm feeling spreading through her chest. Her fingers dwindled over the numbers on the dial.

"Well, you can save me from your brother's insults."

"What did he say to you?" she turned around and saw her brother drinking a bottle of liquor, without even wincing when the alcohol burned his throat, he shot her a wink, and she swiped her finger across her neck, resulting in him blowing her a kiss.

She heard Klaus let out a dry laugh, "Other than calling him calling me a nine-hundred -year-old dog, he was being rather nice today."

"I supposed that is nice for Deon and the fact you haven't beaten him to death is nice for you." she cooed through the phone.

"I'm practising self-care," he announced rather confidently.

"By killing one less person a day?" she asked, indulging in his proclamation, amused by his wit.

"Is that not what self-care means?" he feigned shock.

A smile appeared on her face, "I guess it's up for interpretation."

"Mmm," he hummed in delight, "before I bid you goodnight, there is a gift in your room."

She squinted her eyes and turned to her staircase, "Well, I must say that doesn't sound creepy at all."

He cursed himself, annoyed by her sarcastic tone, "I thought it was romantic."

"Well, you are an old man so I can't fault you." she shrugged, continuing to play with the cord, her fingers itched to end the call, wanting to rush upstairs and see what he had gifted her.

"Twenty-one isn't old."

"But nine-hundred is." they both shared a low chuckle, aware that their siblings were around and listening to their 'chat', "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Beautiful." she ended the call, the clicking sound rung in her ears before she pulled the phone away.

"Goodnight," Hadeon slurred from the kitchen, lazily waving his sister away. She quickly walked towards him, worried that he would hurt himself whilst she slept.

She surveyed the room, she dipped down and pulled out a bucket from under the counter and placed it next to the bottle of liquor,  "Don't drown in your own puke, Deon." she kissed the side of his head as he reached for another drink.

"If I do, I promise I'll repent, dear sister," he teased before she left the room, making her laugh.

When she reached her room, she hastily shut her door. Her eyes widened when she noticed that her balcony door was left ajar, causing a light breeze to travel through. She caught a few things resting on her bed through her peripheral.

"Old man," she whispered with a crooked smile,  she jumped onto her sheets and picked up a single ivory coloured gladioli. The flower that symbolises power, he remembered what she told him on their first date.

Her gaze travelled over to the sketch he must've drawn on today.

It was of her, alone in a field of nature, her unruly hair was outspread like a crown, as a wide smile adorned her plump lips.

Adrienne's heart hammered against her chest whilst she read the note that was attached to it.

Your power has always been inside of you, embrace and control it. Do not let it tear you apart.

Just like you do to me.

- Your Mr Hyde.

"My god, I like him."

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

a/n:

andrew garfield as 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗸𝘀

(he'll be featured a lot but he won't have much dialogue, he's just a nice guy)

what do you think of the council? And how the meeting went. William is a lot like Jackson (cc) in that respect.

Adri and Elijah... I didn't even mean for them to have chemistry I swear.

Kali is quite an odd witch... you'll see that more soon.

Klaus and Adri had there second date and it was fun to write especially because he's already obsessed with her. I try to incorporate as much as I know about the mikaelsons and the languages they happen to speak. I got irritated that I didn't get to know more about their talents in the show.

More Adri x Rebekah scenes will be coming.

who do you want to see adri with next or who do you like to see her with already?

anyone here from tik tok?

Alcoholism is a big theme throughout the book, Whenever I think to watch anything based in the 1910/20s I've noticed that people drink liquor more than they consume water. (Peaky blinders, TVD/ TO flashbacks, The great gatsby , inspector calls...)