WARNING: VIOLENCE, BLOOD, TRAUMA, SOCIETAL PRESSURES AND EMOTIONAL DISTRESS TO THE READERS.

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Sunday, June 24th, 1918

"OH, Nikolai!" Adrienne happily skipped through the foyer of the Abobttoir, despite herself.

The heat from the harsh sun seeped through the thick walls, even though it faded a few hours ago. Summer had finally come and she was ready for it, even though it only caused her to feel more fatigued.

She had no idea where Klaus and Marcel had been and time was moving closer to ten at night. She only saw Rebekah and Kol at dinner and assumed that Elijah was spending more time with Clementine.

"What can I do for you Enny?" Kol laughed at her excitement as he stood up, watching as she entered the library.

She halted abruptly and rocked on her heels, "I have something for you."

He didn't have time to make an innuendo because she presented him with a small page full of writing.

He carefully took it, "What is this?" he asked, then quickly studied the paper, decorated with her handwriting. It was mostly Latin, Haitian Creole from what he could make out and the rest was clearly Old Norse, Clever girl. The words seemed rather familiar to him, but also different, "Wait..."

"The spell," she rushed out, not able to contain her happiness.

His mouth gaped open, and realisation took over his face, "The spell?"

Vigorously nodding, she exclaimed, "Yes, the spell."

Kol joyfully snatched her off of the ground and spun her around. Squeals and giggles escaped her lips as she placed her hands on his shoulders. He laughed loudly, still reeling from the fact that all it would take was this spell and his magic would be back. Well, they still had a few more things to accomplish, but he was soo close, he could almost feel the magic flowing through his veins.

She patted his back, "Alright, put me down, you don't want me to have another dizzy spell, do ya?"

His happiness didn't waver as he placed her on the ground, still keeping his hands respectively on her sides and steadied her.

"Thank you," the genuine smile on his face didn't falter, and neither did hers.

All the work they had done, all the time they had spent, had finally paid off and it was all in his hands.

Their laughter and contentment all seemed to fade away when Klaus rushed into the book-filled room, with a look that screamed wrath.

His vicious smile grew once he noted their closeness, "Well isn't this a lovely sight?"

Adrienne senselessly took a step away from the vampire, "Nik..."

The hybrid shook his head, "By all means, continue."

Her shoulder's slumped, "Stop that. You should be happy."

Klaus let out a humourless chuckle, "I should be happy, and why is that?"

Blinded by his delight, Kol neglected to see the rage burning in the hybrid's eyes, "Brother, we should celebrate a new beginning."

Flashing in front of him, Klaus hissed, "Between you and my girl?"

Adrienne tilted her head and sighed, "Nik, just listen."

Klaus snapped his head towards her, "So what you can lie to me?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, "Lie about what?"

"I know how talented you are with your tongue Adrienne, according to you, you've only used it on me, but stop fibbing and tell me the truth."

A slap echoed through the grand room, loud enough to blow away the dust that coated the archaic books that towered them. Astonished,  Adrienne lowered her aching hand and glared up at the hybrid, watching him move his jaw back into place. Kol was both annoyed and entertained by what had happened, yet his brother's anger practically grew and the slap certainly helped increase it.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that," Adrienne snapped, hurt that he would ever say such a thing.

Lowering his hand from his face, Klaus tauntingly cocked his head to the side, "And why shouldn't I, I know my brother has had a go."

Kol's mouth gaped open, "Brother..."

Hurt, Adrienne took a step back and looked at the hybrid in disbelief, "You really think I would touch another man?"

"I don't know what you're capable of Adrienne," Klaus spat, coming closer to her.

"Fuck you!" she yelled.

"You already have," a dangerous smirk grew on his lips, "and half the city I imagine."

"Fuck you," she repeated loudly, hitting his chest, but he didn't move away.

Kol noted her quivering lips and stepped forward,  "Enny..."

Klaus stiffened at his voice, "Oh yes, that incessant name," he growled, turning to the vampire, "You didn't think I would realise why you call her that brother?"

"It's a nickname Niklaus," Kol answered in a bored yet cautious tone, keeping an eye on the sullen witch who was over the moon only a few moments ago.

Klaus' eyes darkened, "Was that before or after you got into her knickers?"

Blood pulsed in Adrienne's ears as she shouted, "Son of a bitch!"

The loud altercation only drew the attention of the blonde original, who rushed into the library, wearing her loungewear and loose and unpinned hair. She had been trying to relax all day until she heard her friend yell. Upon entering the room she never thought to see her half-brother's primitive gaze on Adrienne or how Adrienne stared at him in soo much distress.

"What's with all the ruckus," noticing Adrienne's glare grow harsher, she turned to Klaus, "What did you do to her?"

Shocked, Klaus spun around to face his sister, "Me? She is the one who betrayed me."

"Oh shut it Nik," Rebekah pushed past and threw an arm over her hurt friend.

Kol had been so confused he hadn't noticed that the small piece of paper fell from his hand, too busy focusing on the angry couple.

Adrienne found her voice again, "Don't allow your insecurities to cast me in a role that tickles your paranoia. I have never lied to you. I have never betrayed you, not with anyone, least of all Kol!"

Klaus rolled his eyes, "Never? Oh, come off it Adrienne. You couldn't even be honest about the role you played in your mother's death."

His cruel statement had them all stunned. His siblings cast him a mean look, before turning back to the witch whose mouth opened then shut, not knowing what to say or do.

"Klaus!" Rebekah screamed at him with her head still spinning from his rage that was directed at Adrienne, and she didn't understand why.

That's rich, Adrienne had been known to stoop low when facing opponents, but she would never expose him like that. She wouldn't, it wasn't in her to betray the one she loves. She suspected that he had a part to play in his mother's death and he'd been the one to admit it to her, in the slyest of ways and because of her love for him, she wouldn't dare to voice it, not to anyone.

"My mother?" Adrienne uttered.

Klaus mockingly nodded his head, "Yes, you scorching your mother from this mortal coil."

"You know I had to lie."

Klaus clasped his hands together as a smug smile appeared on his face, "A right little trickster, perfect for you Kol, isn't she?" he laughed, looking at his little brother, "Just make sure to read her that insipid little book of yours or she might wake up screaming out for her mummy."

Right when Adrienne pulled out of Rebekah's hold and her hand reached for his face again, he effortlessly caught it and roughly let it drop to her side.

The action made her heart almost beat out of her chest, whilst she glanced at him in agony. She barely even noticed Elijah speed into the room shortly after hearing them all once he stepped into their home. Rebekah went back to comfort her, whilst Kol's eyes darted between them all.

"Niklaus!"  Elijah stepped in front of the hybrid, not before giving the witch a quick once over, "I think you've said enough."

Klaus pushed him away, "Oh yes, Elijah, my noble brother. Don't think I haven't seen how you look at Adrienne, from time to time," he seethed, "have you taken her for a spin as well?"

Adrienne's heart broke at his words. She didn't understand what was happening and why he had let his anger boil and pour all over her. What had she done to make him see her in a different light? The last couple of months she had spent devoting most of her time to making him feel adequate and yet she barely received any tenderness or a moment of warmth from him and now his scorching tongue lit a match that sparked his malignity.

"I haven't touched another man Klaus, why don't you get that?" Adrienne's voice was breaking and he didn't seem to care.

Elijah raised his finger and jabbed it in the hybrid's direction, "Careful what you say, brother. The grave that you are digging is flourishing and I will not be able to pull you out."

"Well, I don't need you!" Klaus roared in his face.

Recovering quickly from the ache in his chest, Elijah shook his head and took a step back. And although he wasn't surprised by the words, they stung.

Klaus was a madman and that's what he looked like to them all as he paced and growled when he glanced at their faces, but as his eyes zeroed onto his so-called witch, he started to hear the taunting of his inner beast. She's made you so soft that you have been blinded by her love. You've turned a blind eye to everything she's done. You're weak. You're soft and Weak.

"You've made me soft Adrienne," his voice broke the uncomfortable silence he dragged them into.

"I've made you soft?" if it wasn't for Rebekah holding her up, she would've staggered back due to the pure viciousness of his tone.

He halted his movements and nodded, "And weak."

Adrienne started to breathe erratically, recalling every moment that she spent with her mother, you made me fragile and weak, she blinked back the memory and stared ahead at the man who continued to break her down. His words used to be so adoring and kind, but now they had grown rotten and putrid.

Klaus had always shown himself for who he was and perhaps Adrienne had neglected to see. That's a lie, she did see, she just thought she was the exception against his true nature.

Shaking her head at her brother, Rebekah scowled at him, "Spare us the dramatics Niklaus, stop while you're ahead."

This grabbed his attention, "Don't lecture me on limitations, you don't know you're own bounds sister."

"I know when I've caused enough damage that is far beyond saving," she stated, softly dropping her hold on Adrienne and standing in front of her.

Klaus scoffed at her, "And yet, sadly you cannot tell which man truly loves you. No, You are too captivated by their manipulation to realise how foolish you've been, leaving me to clean up your mess, time and time again!"

He continued wielding his words, like swords that pierced their hearts and carved new scars.

It was Adrienne's turn to pull Rebekah back. The action emitted a mocking laugh from the hybrid, whose taunting smirk grew after catching tears pooling in her eyes.

Kol tutted at his brother, "The same can be said for you Niklaus. Oh yes, Aurora was it, does that ring any bells?"

The Mikaelsons tensed at the mention of Klaus' first love and second heartbreak. Elijah turned away, fortunately, everyone missed the guilty expression on his face. Rebekah couldn't help but look at the hybrid with slight satisfaction, whilst Adrienne didn't know what to think, she didn't know who this Aurora was, but judging from the devastation swimming in Klaus' eyes, she deduced the part Aurora played in who he was today.

Aurora De Martel, the woman who once occupied Klaus' mind and ripped out his heart.  No one dared to speak her name for centuries, fearful of his reaction. Klaus himself didn't know how to process the loss, painting didn't do anything to ease the sting on his soul, which is why he had the face of his first love covered up with bricks in his art rooms so he didn't have to think about it.

Flashing in front of his youngest brother, Klaus bellowed, "Do not say her name!"

But Kol didn't back down, "And why is that? how foolish you were to believe that she cared for you? She was using you to turn into the beasts that we are."

"She cared for me far more than I can say for the teen queen over there," Klaus snarled, nodding towards the shaking witch and ignoring the disapproved looks he received.

"I love you," Adrienne whispered Until hell freezes over. Her gaze dropped to the floor when he turned to her.

Throwing his arms up in the air, he gritted out, "But not enough to keep your legs shut, is that it?"

"Niklaus," Elijah warned, turning back to his brothers and pushing them apart.

Rebekah couldn't believe him, "Stop this, you've gone too far."

"If you believe I cannot go further then you do not know me at all," Klaus said lowly, narrowing his eyes on her.

"We all know you," Rebekah stepped forward, after recovering from his verbal attack, "I knew the sweet boy you were and the vile man you've grown to be. We've all endured your pain."

"You know nothing of my pain!"

Adrienne flinched at his loudness.

She desired the peace he promised her and so far she had only received pain.

"You truly believe that I would be unfaithful to you?" Adrienne spoke up again and was met with silence, provoking a single tear to trickle down her face.

"Oh spare me your tears teen queen," he mocked, annoyed that she was gaining more sympathy from his siblings, "I know everything."

"You know nothing."

"I know what I saw inside that little devious mind of yours."

As the words left his mouth, several gasps were heard and his siblings all looked at him in disbelief.

Adrienne's teary eyes widened, "It was you," she breathed out. All the headaches, the migraines she had been waking up with were his doing. How could he betray her privacy like that, "You've been going into my head," she shakily pointed to her head, gaining a smirk from him.

"Niklaus," Elijah breathed out with sudden alertness. "Have you know no bounds?"

"What is wrong with you?!" Rebekah screamed at him.

Klaus merely shrugged, "And I'm glad I did, I wouldn't have known about your little walks with my brother."

Truthfully he only managed to see her most recent memories because her mind was far too hard to penetrate. The first couple of times he felt some sort of guilt as he knew the pain it could cause, however, that guilt gradually subsided with every flickering image he saw. Whether it was incriminating or not, he believed he was right, so to hell with her.

"It was a walk! But that doesn't excuse me you getting into my head," Adrienne cried out, feeling her chest caving in at his constant accusations.

She didn't even want to hit him or hurt him, she just felt sick, sick of everything.

Klaus pushed his brother away, to stand closer to her, "You've been with Kol admit it."

"No, because I haven't!"

Their screams grew louder, distracting the nobleman from the cruel grin tugging at Kol's lips, that no one but Rebekah caught.

Adrienne wiped her tears, before uttering, "I'm tired of this. Tired of you."

"Of me? Say that again," he threateningly demanded.

Adrienne let out a bitter laugh at his tone. It would've hurt her more if he hadn't already broken her down tonight. It's not as if he could say anything worse.

"I'm tired of this situation," she reiterated, sending him a grimace.

"Because your lies have finally caught up with you, you mean?"

"I've had enough, Kol just tell him that nothing happened."

And with that, they turned to the vampire who had been rather quiet, too quiet. Adrienne's heart pounded against her chest and the sound carried to her ears, she needed him to defend her, so they could all be rid of this situation. Klaus had already slandered her name and their relationship without proof.

She couldn't take anymore.

But the hope she had in Kol slowly started to wither away as the cruel grin crept onto his lips and the menacing glint in his eyes rose to the surface.

Her heart plummeted to the ground after hearing his next words, "I'm afraid I can't do that darling."

Klaus raged, "I knew it!"

"He's lying!" Adrienne's voice trembled and Rebekah was quick to pull her back.

"Kol, Stop this at once," the blonde original pleaded with him, not believing a word that spilt from his lips. Not even Elijah could de-escalate this.

Kol darkly laughed in Klaus' furious face, "Did you think I couldn't do it? I took her from you and it was rather easy. It was happening right under your nose this entire time, and you're right brother, she's quite the screamer."

Klaus went to lunge at him and Elijah struggled to push them apart. Between the insults thrown and condescending laughter bouncing off of the walls of the room, Adrienne felt defeated.

The two cats she thought would never make an appearance, stepped out from the shadows and broke her once more. Kol, her friend and Klaus, her partner. She almost laughed at the thought, but she wondered if she even had the energy to defend her name. Blinded by love yet again, how could you be so stupid, Adrienne?

Elijah was horrified by his youngest brother, "Do not listen to him Niklaus, we both know how Kol behaves and spins yarns to get under your skin."

"Why are you doing this?" Adrienne whispered, staring at the unnerving grin on his face, "We're friends." 

Ignoring her, Kol continued taunting the hybrid "I took your girl and it's only right since you lied about mine."

His statement confused the room, not only had everything gone awry, more information was brought to the table and many doubted if it was true.

Klaus yelled, "Lied? When have I ever lied about you?"

"Think Niklaus. All those years ago."

The hybrid didn't bother to consume his words, he only wished to break his face, tore his limbs from their sockets and gouge out his eyes. Perhaps he would burn Kol's hands for touching the curves he nurtured for months, the lips that he loved and the core he ploughed into. He slept with Adrienne. They lied and betrayed you.

Rebekah turned to the Lumière witch after a small gasp escaped her lips, far too quiet to catch her brother's attention.

"Solana," Adrienne breathed out, planting the memory of the Bennet witch in their minds, "You told me that someone lied about you, to her and that was the reason you didn't marry. You said that you didn't know who."

"It was Nik?" Rebekah dared to ask as the realisation dawned on her.

Although neither of them had heard the name Solana in centuries, that didn't mean they could forget how much she enamoured Kol.

Elijah turned back to the hybrid in contempt, "Niklaus?"

Klaus scoffed and managed to get a hold of Kol's collars, "You bedded Adrienne all because of Solana?"

"I did a lot more to Adrienne than you think brother."

That earned him the first punch of the night. Rebekah quickly left Adrienne's side and aided the nobleman by pulling them apart. 

"Silence," Elijah raised his voice.

"I was a pawn in your game?" Adrienne choked out, placing her hand over her mouth and turning away from the scene.

She couldn't believe she didn't see it sooner. She was a tool used to get one over Klaus. Kol was never really her friend, he used and abused her trust by creating an illusion, a trick that Niklaus fell for and so did she. Telling her stories about his childhood, his feelings and his aspirations, making her feel sympathy for him and invested in getting his magic back. A fucking pawn in his game.

Well, Checkmate.

It was Klaus' turn to laugh in his brother's face, "And you know what? I don't even remember lying to Solana. I'll admit I was jealous that she was spending so much time with you. I didn't like it, so I may have told her a fib or a few," he spat as rage overtook his features again, "But this too far."

"You don't even remember ruining my life?" Kol screamed as the blood from his healing nose trickled down his face.

"You used Adrienne to get back at me?!"

"As if you wouldn't do the same!" Kol bellowed.

The shouting pair neglected to see the horrified looks on everyone's faces. All this for revenge and paranoia. Rebekah could barely remember the simpler times and adolescence and although the memory was vivid, she knew that Kol had fallen for Solana and that they would've married if it wasn't for Klaus. She didn't know whether to be disgusted or sympathetic, but she quickly settled on the former after glancing back at her friend.

"You're both as bad as each other," Adrienne's shaking voice grabbed their attention once more.

Kol masked his shame with an eye roll, "Come on darling you knew who I was. A psychotic maniac, always and forever."

Klaus falsely hummed, "She certainly knew who you were. Clearly too much isn't that right, love?" he hissed at her, "How long have you been sleeping with the both of us, hmm?"

"I haven't slept with him."

"Lies."

He managed to pull out of Elijah's hold, lunging at her with a vengeful look, avoking a scream and stumbling backwards, almost colliding with the floor if it wasn't for another familiar set of arms scooping her up.

Hadeon had appeared in the room alongside a pissed-off Marcel who held Klaus back along with Elijah. Tears flowed down Adrienne's face as she sobbed against her brother whose onyx-coloured eyes flashed inflicting pain on the hybrid, who never meant for her to fall.

His family remained shocked, but that didn't stop them from screaming at each other.

"Thanks for the neck snap," Marcel growled at his adoptive father, who could barely make out his words, groaning from the blood vessels bursting in his head.

The youngest vampire had woken up alone on the street, briefly forgetting all that happened in the Fauline mansion before everything dawned on him. He immediately sped to the Lumière estate, yelling at a surprisingly sober Hadeon to come to the Abattoir.

"Touch my sister and you'll lose your hands," the oldest Lumière screamed, keeping a tight arm wrapped around a trembling Adrienne, "You're crying about rumours of her infidelity, instead of asking her in private, that's low, even for you."

"I would never cheat on you," Adrienne yelled for what felt like the tenth time.  

Klaus's response seemed to drag everyone kicking and screaming into a shocked silence, "Then tell me why I hear a second heartbeat coming from your stomach?!"

Mouths snapped shut and eyes bulged out of their heads as they all turned to the shaking witch, who also froze against her brother. The sound of a faint heartbeat pumping in her lower abdomen caused a few to reel back, whilst Adrienne slowly followed their gaze and placed a hand on her stomach.

Pregnant? All those mornings she fell ill and spilt her guts in the bathroom toilet she assumed that it was a hangover. Countless hangovers or at least that was what she had told herself to push any intruding thoughts to the back of her mind to focus on Klaus. Fucking Klaus. She couldn't recall a time that they had sex where it was passionate and not all about him. She doubted a child could've been made recently, it would've had to be...the full moon. Fuck, her hair had thickened, her skin became glossier, but her balance was off, fainting was as familiar as walking at the moment.

"I'm pregnant?" her tone was questionable, hoping someone would tell her no. you made me fragile and weak, she quickly pulled her hand away from her stomach at the very sound of not just her mother's voice but sadly Klaus' too. What if she turned into her mother? What if she hurt the child that they made?

Fuck.

And what she didn't know was that Klaus discovered her condition shortly after noting her growing breasts and her emotions heightening. At first, he thought it was that time of the month, however, when that time didn't come he knew the answer and how the child residing in her stomach could not be his.

Judging from Hadeon's restoring eyes, he knew. He knew that she was pregnant. Klaus caught the lack of shock soon after he recovered, but someone else mirrored that same reaction.

"Sister, I'm not surprised that you were aware," the hybrid snarled at the blonde, "You girls drop your knickers for just about anyone."

Snaps echoed through the room, shortly followed by a groan from Klaus.

Marcel and Elijah had broken his arms without a second thought, bringing him to the ground and with the help of the dark magic coursing through the air managed to keep him there.

"I dare you to say that again," Hadeon took a threatening step toward him, holding up his hand and drawing a cry from the hybrid.

Klaus was like a caged animal, that monopolized Adrienne's attention. How could she look away, when she feared that he would pounce once more?

She was carrying his child and he still couldn't care less. Her chest rapidly rose and fell at the thought. Perhaps in another world, his reaction would've been different, but no, if only she had hope. Hope that he would take back everything and wrap his arms around her, before pressing a kiss to her stomach and reassuring her everything would be okay.

If only reality were so kind.

It was then she could feel the shakes begin, starting with her bottom lip and then sweeping throughout her body with the ferocity of a wildfire.

"Hadeon mate, how could that child possibly be mine?" Klaus mustered up the strength of the talk, with his eyes flashing gold.

"It's yours!" Rebekah and Hadeon screamed in unison, while the rest of the family were still taken back by what they had heard.

Klaus yelled, "Franklin, Easton, Emerson, the list just gets longer with you, doesn't it?"

Adrienne wished she would stop crying,  "I haven't slept with anyone but you."

"Then explain the fetus residing inside of you!"

"It's yours!"

"Please, come on love you've told me more convincing lies."

Adrienne was slowly becoming numb to the humourless laughter between his words.

"Why won't you believe me?"

"Keep up the performance, you would be a great film star," he grunted and growled once he broke another bone.

This time neither, Elijah nor Marcel played a part in the pain, it was all Hadeon.

Adrienne's teary gaze turned cold, "This is no performance."

"Tell me why I smelt your scent all over my brother's room. On his bed?"

The question made her stare at him in genuine confusion that he instantly scoffed at.

"He's been with Melinda," Adrienne hissed, glaring at the Kol who just angrily stared at her stomach.

"Then why have I been told he's been with you?"

Adrienne threw up her hands in distress, "Because someone is out to get me."

"Didn't I tell you that this self-centred streak is a bit tired love?" Klaus was suddenly brought into the fetal position, his body shook with pain as bones threatened to break through the flesh.

"Listen!" A shriek tore through Adrienne's tired voice and all eyes were on her, but she continued to stare at the shuddering hybrid, "I haven't slept with your brother, nor would I want to. Melinda had borrowed a few of the dresses that you bought me and obviously worn them when she spent many nights with Kol. Ask her if you don't believe me."

Hadeon lessened the pain only so he could hear Klaus' response.

"What makes you think I would believe her, I don't even believe you?" the hybrid growled.

"I know you know she's been spending the past couple of days with Kol."

"Kol?!" Hadeon looked at the vampire who blankly stared at him, so he started bursting his brain vessels, "Tell the truth!"

Rebekah moved from the manic vampire as he clutched his head and fell to the floor, mirroring his older brother.

"It's no use, Deon. He'll just keep lying," Adrienne spat as no more tears fell from her eyes.

"That's rather rich don't you think?" Klaus retorted, provoking the dark brown pools of her eyes to fade.

"Oh shut up," she hissed, wanting to mirror her brother's actions however, she feared that it would harm her child and possibly become her mother.

Huh, her child... it was still odd to even call it that and yet she didn't give it a second thought. 

"Watch how you speak to me under my roof Adrienne."

Rebekah chose to stand between the Lumières before stating, "It's just us much hers as it is yours, brother."

"No it isn't," Adrienne countered before he could, "He's right."

Everyone turned back to her, confused by her words, she motioned her brother to drop his hand resulting in the tortured brothers to stop writhing on the floor.

"And that's the first bit of honesty I've gotten from you tonight," Klaus choked out, still on the floor, "I would like my mother's grimoire and my daggers back before you pack your belongings and leave."

"Enough!" Elijah angrily pulled him from the ground and ordered, "Adrienne will not be leaving brother!"

Rage took over Klaus once more, quicker than logic ever could, "She's a lying bitch Elijah!" he yelled, before turning to her, allowing more unforgivable words to spill from his lips, "Your mother was right about you."

It was Hadeon's turn to lunge for the hybrid and everyone allowed him to, in fact, Rebekah and Elijah held their brother as blood poured from his nose and ears.

Adrienne stood back and watched it all happen. How easy it was for him to hurt her. How easily he could disregard the trust and love they shared all because he believed she was disloyal. 

"She tricked me," Klaus gagged on the crimson liquid falling from his mouth.

"And you've betrayed her based on speculation." Hadeon spoke through clenched teeth as he look between the bloody-faced Mikaelsons, "You both have," he made sure neither of them could heal as he inflicted pain on Kol once more, motioning for Marcel to hold him, "I thought I could trust you with her."

Klaus coughed out, "A-and you don't think I could trust her. I let your sister in. She knows things about me that I would utter to another living soul and she-"

"What? Betrayed you? She didn't and I think you know she didn't you just don't want to admit that you're wrong. Nor does Kol want to admit that he fell for her, but also let his revenge get in the way."

Adrienne's cold eyes drifted between them and took a step back. Everyone's warnings about them, especially Klaus were loud in her mind, he will hurt you, why didn't she listen? If only she listened.

Now she was nineteen, unwed and pregnant. She was sure her mother was cackling at how right she was from hell. A man who once claimed to love her was doing everything in his power to show her that he never did or regretted doing so.

Maybe she should've kept her heart in its cage and never let it out no matter the promises that he told her.

After all, promises are the sweetest lies.

"Mary-Alice Claire told me everything! How you wanted to use a dagger against me. How you two are lovers and that he even moaned her name whilst in bed with her!"

Klaus's furious words caused their eyes to widen once more, before turning to a bloody Kol, who didn't know where to look, whilst Adrienne shifted in discomfort until another scowl appeared on her face.

Of course, Mary-Alice had it out for her, she wouldn't be surprised if Kol told her to say all of this, but again Adrienne didn't want to overlook his feelings towards either of them.

"Marcellus, I dare you to say I am wrong!" Klaus hissed, clutching his head and hoping his adoptive son would defend him.

But instead, Marcel joined Hadeon and shook his head, "It's what we've been told but her words were coated in envy and vengeance, not the truth. That witch was saying a whole lot of bull and shit, you believed it."

He shot Adrienne a small smile, that she could not return, not out of spite, but out of exhaustion.

"And this dagger?" Rebekah suddenly asked, facing the young vampire, it intrigued Elijah also.

"Kol wanted to enact revenge against me, conspire against me and you're taking his side!" Klaus angrily stated, shaking in pain.

Kol groaned as he too itched at his bloodshot eyes, "Boohoo Niklaus, get over yourself."

Their siblings exchanged a look. For years, they'd yearned for a dagger that would be used to incapacitate their half-brother, however, they knew how much damage it had caused so far and the look on Adrienne's vacant face and slumped posture was enough to put those feelings to rest, for now at least.

And if I fall I'll bring you down with me, Kol's taunting voice echoed through Klaus' aching mind. He underestimated his younger brother deeply, if only Adrienne hadn't distracted you.

"Shut it, the pair of you," Rebekah screamed as Hadeon dropped his arms, halting their torture and rejoining his sister.

Adrienne couldn't help but laugh, "You believe that woman over me?"

Klaus managed to sit up and shoot daggers in her direction, "Oh please, I know it's true and that you would happily allow my traitor of a brother to latch his fangs into you and drown in your blood if needed for that damned ritual."

Adrienne's dry eyes darted between him and Kol, who just mustered up the strength to lie on his elbows.

"What?"

"Don't act as if you didn't know," irritation laced Klaus's tone as he rose to his feet,  "The ritual requires Lumière blood."

Realisation flashed across Adrienne and Hadeon's faces until the latter merely rolled his eyes at the notion.

"I wouldn't have let him. I would've asked Hadeon to do it, because I know how intimate blood sharing is," the witch queen stated, raising her voice. "And I know how much that would hurt you."

Hadeon's eyes drifted to the manic vampire who finally stood up, "I would've. But there is not a chance in hell I would ever help you, not now."

Kol clenched his jaw and averted his gaze back to Adrienne's stomach, the teen was too distracted by her anger to notice his glare, so Elijah took a firm stance in front of her.

Adrienne gently moved the nobleman to the side and rushed at the hybrid, with mixed emotions, "You really think the worst of me? Haven't I given everything to you? My devotion, my love even my fucking body but is that not enough for you, is it? And wanna know what the worst thing is? I don't regret it. Somehow I still love you and you couldn't care less. About me, about us or even about the child that I carry? I don't regret it."

They could all hear the sincerity in her tone and the crack in her strong voice, she was on the verge of another heartbreak.

Klaus only stared down at her with a vicious smirk as he heard the pounding of her heart, not bothering to desist the truth behind her words because he trusted his paranoia over anything she could say. It's what had kept him alive all these years and quite frankly, he would choose it over Adrienne as of now.

So instead, he replied with the most hurtful thing he could think of.

"Loving you has been my greatest mistake, Adrienne."

He rendered everyone speechless.

The witch in question choked on the volatile nature of his words as she stared into his savage eyes, hoping to see an ounce of regret or remorse, but she couldn't see anything at all, which ultimately shattered her heart and forced her to take a step back and protectively settle a hand on her stomach. Images of their relationship flickered through her mind, whether they were passionate or sensual or even upsetting they were almost always able to recover.

Until now.

Letting out a shuddered breath, she dared to ask, "Is that what you think?" Adrienne could barely recognise her own voice as she spoke it was so raw and weak.

He nodded his head, "It's what I know."

Rolling her shoulders back, Adrienne didn't bother to look at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, having been far too embarrassed by her ex-partner, so instead she turned to his manic brother, who was anything but.

He didn't appear ashamed only infuriated.

"All I wanted to do was help you Kol, help you get back the part of yourself, you lost over 1000 years ago, but you used me as a ploy to get back at your brother," her voice grew quieter with each word, yet they all heard her clearly, "I comforted you, aided you whenever you sought me out and I even came here to tell you about the spell I made, to restore your magic, but you chose to lie about me when I've been nothing but loyal to you and our friendship, defending you at every turn because I knew what it was like to have no one that will believe you," her eyes lowered onto the ground and located the paper that must've dropped there, so she swiftly picked it up, then turned to the hybrid. "All I ever did was love you Klaus, all of you, every twisted part that people warned me about and you chose to think that I'm nothing but a common whore when I was more loyal to you than some members of your family. More honest with you than most people in your life and you discard me in a matter of seconds as if I mean nothing to you, that I am nothing to you. Wow." 

She averted her gaze to the ceiling and blinked back all the tears clinging to her lashes, fuck why do I keep crying? Heartbreak was her biggest teacher, thank you for making me wise. So when she finally looked back at Klaus' bloody face she mustered up a facade, knowing it would fall, but she needed some protection as did her child.

"But if you truly think I have ever betrayed you. Look inside my head, properly this time."

Hadeon cast her an annoyed look, "He doesn't deserve to."

She nodded, still not taking her eyes off the hybrid, "Look and then you'll know the truth, not the one your bastard of a brother has been spinning, or his witches or anyone else in this fucking city. But the truth from the woman who has always been there for you."

Klaus' chest rose and fell like waves during a storm, rapid and dangerous, earning worried glances from his siblings, believing he would cause more damage. His hands once touched her with all the care in the world, were now balls of fury. His crude eyes oozed misery and betrayal. A snarl still tainted his face as he licked his bottom lip, sampling the deception he believed thrived in the air.

"Look!" she screamed and in that second he became entranced by her eyes and was pulled into her mind.

His heart hammered against his chest as she danced around on the stage, adoring a sickening smile and dangerous glimmer in her eyes, looking onto the crowd that she encaptured with her voice. Her sultry voice. "Stop peeping at my sister," her brother caught his attention, "she's a treat," he responded with a shrug, "Yeah, not a dog treat Niklaus," hadeon received an eye roll due to his response.

Adrienne caught the interaction from where she performed and later left the stage, she couldn't help but stare at the hybrid with a coy smile, that he noticed and offered her a smirk.

She vowed from that day, she wouldn't settle for anyone else in the city... apart from him.

"Has Mr hyde come out to play then?" her voice teased from her bedroom. Her coronation was finally finished and she wanted nothing more than to be in the comfort of his arms, "Perhaps he'll go away if his woman stops teasing him," he retorted, allowing the butterflies that swarmed her stomach to take flight. Adrienne couldn't deny that he had her right where he wanted. She felt so safe.

Everything she felt when she looked at him couldn't be replicated, glancing at other men was futile, not when he made her feel so special, "I must say you were royalty in my eyes before you were crowned love," Adrienne internally squealed at his declaration.

Every word that blessed her ears, every smile that lit up her eyes and each touch that warmed her soul, couldn't stop what she felt for the big bad wolf. "Your pretty eyes make me want to tell the truth."

Adrienne constantly craved him, just as much as he craved her. She wanted him in any and every way possible. His smile pulled at her heartstrings and his touch warmed her soul.

"Mrs Mikaelson," Rebekah called out as she sped into her room, "That's not my name, Bekah and you know that," Adrienne replied feigning annoyance, "But you would like it to be," the blonde sassed and left the room, not before hearing the witch mutter, "Maybe I would."

One day she wanted to wake up with a ring wrapped around her finger and roll over to see the man of her dreams. "You look like a dream," his voice broke her out of her thoughts as he helped her with her shoes, "and you look like you are about to propose." Adrienne laughed, then her smile widened when he shrugged, "Would that be such a bad thing?" he waited for her response, "No... it wouldn't Mr hyde." Klaus smirked, "Just you wait, Mrs Hyde."

Despite his possessiveness, her love never faltered, not even in the face of others, "He'll hurt you," her father's voice echoed, "He's a beast," Kali screamed, "I don't trust him," Marie added and they all heard the same thing back, "I love him."

Love was fickle as was trust. Looking into her mind Klaus searched for the honesty he needed to see, all the times she was alone with his brother and how they rarely touched, let alone hugged, even the words that spilt from her lips were all in favour of him, always defending him, even when she was alone with Elijah or her witches.

"He's not a monster!" he heard her yell at her old friend, "a savage sure, but not a monster, trust me there are worst men out there." Adrienne never faltered or caved into such discourse. She was kind, trusting and loving. Devoted to him, his mind, body and soul.

"Dedicated and devoted until hell freezes over," she exclaimed, looking at him, "you have my heart," Klaus remembered his words and continued, "You've ripped it from its cage and now it's in your hands." Adrienne chuckled, "Lovely."

"You know me," she whispered as the sun was starting to rise and creep through their hotel room, "Just like you know me," he insisted with a smile, tugging her closer and kissing her forehead, tracing a finger down her spine, reminding her the memories they made on their first full moon together. Their connection was beyond spiritual, it was beyond their comprehension, it was as if nature bound them together in a loving hold.

Sometimes her words couldn't connote her feelings, so she preferred using her actions instead, "And now our angel will never be destroyed," she promised, holding up the carved sculpture that he had gifted her not long ago, drawing a small smile from him, "Our angel will never be destroyed."

Searching her mind, Klaus was taken aback by the many blessings that she bought him. The angel among sinners, a familiar voice echoed through her mind, one that he couldn't decipher no matter how much he tried to, it wasn't his brother. A female that he once knew but he couldn't picture their face. All he knew was the prophecy they stated surrounding their blessing, one he was unaware of at the time.

"Oh Adri, this is perfect," Melinda squealed, twirling in the dress she received from the witch queen, "are you sure you want me to wear it?" She sheepishly asked, staring around Adrienne's shared room, in awe of the size. "Of course, I barely wear half of them, take a look and pick out a few more and then either give them back if you don't like them, even keep them if you do." Melinda's smile broadened at Adrienne's kindness, before quickly asking, "Would your man care?" Adrienne simply waved her off and said, "I doubt he would notice."

"I don't think I will love a man as much I love your brother. My heart would forbid it," Klaus's eyes widened when he caught the most recent conversion between Adrienne and Kol,  "and when he inevitably breaks your heart?" his brother asked with a pointed look, that she quickly disregarded, "don't sound so cynical," she spoke, pursing her lips, much to the vampire's dismay, "I'm being realistic," Adrienne simply shrugged at his reply,  "If he were to break it, my heart will still only beat for him."

Klaus couldn't believe what he was seeing. No ill thoughts or feelings were directed towards him unless they were a joke or a way to tease him.

The way she comforted him after Marcel was bitten by a wolf. How she listened and learned about the things he loved and was passionate about. His artwork, paintings, both finished and incomplete, she didn't care she just wanted to know him.

Each stroke, thrust and bounce was only between them. She only allowed his hands to glide over her skin, sample from her core and wander her every curve. The kisses they shared, hugs held and displays of affection stayed between them.  Not once did her eyes wander.

Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, various celebrations and blessings, the only person she had laid with was him. The full moon blasted them into a new world where only they existed to each other. The illuminating presence from the sky may have pushed him towards her and forced him to be out of control, but he had never felt so alive before.

Between her moans and whimpers, she had given herself over to him, constantly, not just that night but all the nights before. Letting him know that she was his and only his and no one would ever see the bare Adrienne Lumière but him.

His blood coursed through her veins, seeping into her every being, restoring any bruise or damage that he caused and now the child he planted inside her was doing the same thing, even without her knowledge. The fetus made sure its mother was safe, strong and healthy even though she didn't feel like it. Their child had been protecting her when he didn't.

Their child. He was the father and they were having a baby.

Which only meant...

They all watched as he sucked in a deep breath after pulling away from her.

As her quiet words echoed in the air, the red haze over his vibrant eyes began to dissipate. The clench of his jaw softened. The fists curled at his side loosened. What tension in his body drained rapidly as reality sunk in.

But it was too late.

"An now you know the truth to my words," Adrienne said bitterly and moved towards her brother.

Klaus' Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly, with his voice coming out like molasses.

"Adrienne."

Wobbling on his feet, all he could see was her and all she could see was the suffocating hurricane of emotions playing across his face and in his eyes. She could see when the realization of what he had just done hit him. Broken wasn't a word that could describe what he'd just committed, not to them, to her.

The trust he had broken, shattered, annihilated in a single moment.

Despite the bubbling buildup of his mistrust and scepticism, it took less than half an hour to destroy what they had.

Klaus slowly reached his hand out, a silent pleading in that one word, an apology wrapped up in horror and regret.

She let out a laugh, watching him attempt to coax her into forgiveness, it was futile as it was shut down with one look he received from her brother.

"I'm done with you Niklaus," the finality of her statement made him flinch, and jolt awake the tears coating his eyes.  "I'm done with both of you," she reiterated, glancing at both bloodied-faced Mikaelsons.

Klaus gulped, "Adrienne-"

"You've got your wish and now relish it. You're rid of me and my family, congratulations Klaus."

The hybrid's heart thumped loudly, preventing him from hearing the insults levied by his siblings, his grief-stricken gaze deepened as he gripped the chain gifted by the witch. What have I done?

He could barely think, think about what he was going to do to his youngest brother, revenge whispered in his ear, but his dispirited stare remained on the Lumière witch who had the whole of his heart in her hands.

Adrienne ignored Rekebah's words as she tried walking to the exit with Hadeon in tow, but they were intercepted by slow clapping.

Everyone turned to where she stood and who had blocked the door.

Neither of them knew when Erebus walked in, but all he could do was stare at his daughter with a disappointed yet sympathetic look on his face. His presence was unwelcomed just like it was bewildering.

He lowered his hands and begrudgingly spoke, "If only that were the case Adri, you'll never be done with them, nor will they be rid of you."

"Father not now," Hadeon hissed as he stepped forward, wanting his sister to be safe and his father was only irritating him more.

"How can she ever leave him? My daughter is with child, his bastard child," his words grew more spiteful as he glanced down at her stomach then flickered to the hybrid who glared and moved forward but couldn't muster up the energy to fight.

He will not be judged for this, but you will be. Adrienne gulped and bowed her head, recalling his advice on the day of her coronation. It was louder and clearer than ever. She clutched her stomach at the thought, but in fact, it was no longer a presumption it was the truth and their child was proof of that.

A child conceived out of wedlock.

"I assume you are aware of Adrienne's condition Mr lumière?" Elijah spoke up, noting the lack of surprise on his face.

"Many seemed to," Rebekah murmured, receiving a pointed look.

"My daughter's condition was brought to my attention when I returned to the city," Erebus' words pulled a veil of concern over the library, "forgive my intrusion on this lovely occasion, however, I cannot allow her reputation to be damaged because of her foolish actions."

"Dad," Adrienne snapped, This has nothing to do with you."

"Your child has everything to do we me," he couldn't help but glare at her, "all of us," he paused and his gaze travelled over to the hybrid, who wanted nothing more than to join his daughter, "Since you took it upon yourself to lay with this man during the full moon, rumours spread between only the most elite of species', whispers of the danger that could come, the violence that will ensure, the wars that will commence. I will not allow any more harm to come to this family."

"You are not a part of this family," Hadeon snapped, a blaze of fury overwhelmed him, causing Marcel to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder that was quickly shrugged off.

Erebus turned to his son with a bored expression, "Don't lie to yourself dear boy, you ain't fit to be the head of this family," he hissed, clearly referring to his addictions.

A scowl grew on Hadeon's face, "And you are?" trying to conceal his hurt with anger.

"Well, I for one know there is only one thing that can remedy this issue," Erebus stated with a raised brow, which confused the masses, making him continue with his vision, "Something that will strengthen our families and our power." 

Dread stormed the room and took Adrienne as its first victim as she realised what her father was insisting.

She quickly shook her head, "No."

"So I've granted you my blessing dear daughter, you get to be with the beast that you call lover after all," Erebus proposed, clasping his hands together and sending her a rather ambiguous stare.

Worried and shocked looks were exchanged through the room as objections were quickly spoken.

Adrienne's breathing grew weak, "Father please," she pleaded in the arms of her brother whilst looking at him with teary eyes, she didn't dare to glance at the father of her child, too disgusted and too hurt to even bother. 

Erebus gritted out, "You will marry him and you will stay married..."

"No," she cried out.

"...until death do you part."

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

END OF ACT 2

a/n:

*grinning because i've been planning this since the beginning*

"he's a monster with everyone except the woman he loves." a man with violent tendencies is a man with violent tendencies.

this was always gonna be how it goes down. klaus' jealousy and paranoia will always blind him. although my baby adrienne lied to him she didn't deserve this. he not only berated her, betrayed her, he accused her of cheating, referred to her as a 'lying bitch' like her mother used to, disregarded their relationship and claimed his biggest regret was that he fell for her, defended is first love that broke his heart against adrienne but the cherry on top of that was that he lunged for her.

i just wanted to make it clear that I wouldn't write him putting hands on a woman despite that is in character for him to do. but interpret it however you want. but if klaus put hands on adrienne do you think he would still be alive. so how I see it, is that he was only about to get in her face, but his temper scared her so much that she stumbled back.

now onto kol's betrayal... this manic bitch. I needed kol to have a bigger motivation to betray klaus and in turn, betray adrienne as well as fall in love with her. (It was obvious why he did because look at her, she's fine asf) but I needed more than just one reason. the originals have a history is sharing or taking partners. tatia, mary porter, katherine, etc. but throughout this act, I had been name-dropping the bennett's, especially solana, her relationship with kol, friendship with klaus (i mention this once in the abomination chapter) and her tragic ending.

solana was kol's first love. they bonded over the place they lived, the life they might live and most importantly, magic. it was the driving force for their love and because he was human at the time that's all that truly mattered to him, solana and magic. in his eyes, klaus' constant interference was what ruined them and the fact that klaus barely remembered his actions only angered him more and drove him to concoct his plan whenever he was undaggered, the fact that adrienne sympathised with kol as well as understood him in ways that solana did was a coincidence and a lucky one that helped him get over a few of his issues and almost gain his magic back.

i love writing complex and layered characters and for kol, I needed his reasonings other than countless daggering to be deep-rooted. you cannot sit here and think klaus didn't deserve this but adrienne definitely didn't. i feel like gradually kol knew that his feelings for her were getting stronger and he could've backed out at any time but didn't. even when adrienne was left defenceless against klaus, kol could've jumped in and saved her but chose revenge.

can I blame him... yes I most certainly will, but I can understand his reasonings even though I wanna drive a white oak stake through his heart.

that being said, we have lost a few friends in this act. killed a few traitors and gained some loyal bitches.

now onto the future.

adrienne is pregnant. she will be forced to marry klaus and he will go along with it so she doesn't look like a whore in society. for obvious reasons I change the laws on interracial marriage, particularly in the state of louisiana.

a few more things I will like to state.

most of next act will not be happy. it will be dark (wink to the name of the fanfic). the aftermath of this day will be insane, especially with a baby entering the family. you can guess the gender all you want I'm not spilling shit. but the name of the child is hidden in clues (not saying where to find them though, and no it's not hope).

one last thing, I don't know when imma start writing the last act, so please don't ask me, but all I know is you'll enjoy it. watch out for little psa's on my wall or read some one shots on my tumblr about adrienne and klaus. (you can request ideas or just ask questions on there also)

please reread or show support to my other books.

sorry for the tragic cliffhanger, hope you guys aren't too mad or hysterical.

lots of love

- liv