WARNINGS: BLOOD, MENTIONS OF DEATH, VIOLENCE AND GRIEF.

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Sunday, January 4th, 1920

FORGIVENESS was allegedly the final form of love and that was certainly something Adrienne didn't believe nor want to do. Yes, she was told keeping grudges was childish, but she thought it was justice for being played, bamboozled and betrayed. It was something she held and that felt right to her, no matter the amount of energy she had to put into keeping up the ruse.

Now when she and Kol made their way to the sitting room of the Abattoir, he was quick to pick up a glass from the drink caddy and pour some gin.

Adrienne was content after checking on her son, who somehow cheekily tossed away his bracelet and showed off some of his abilities to her by floating a few objects around before Clementine waved her off.

She was aware that Finn was around, no doubt being told more historical facts and words by his younger sister, whilst Marcel remained by her side.

The house was surprisingly peaceful, contrasting yesterday's mean display.

Kol turned to face Adrienne who sat with legs crossed on the leather couch, staring back at him.

"I'm sorry to hear about Ms Laveau," he started, "she was a lovely woman."

Adrienne snorted, "She was a bitch."

"She was still your mother, a better one," than Keyara, but that goes without saying.

"Yes, she was," Adrienne inhaled deeply, trying to suppress the melancholic ache itching in her chest.

Ever since discovering the sad truth, Adrienne felt numb, of course, some emotions slipped through but overall she didn't know what to do. Usually delving head-first into responsibilities would do the trick but the conflicts between the council were none nonexistent and the morale of the city was up to a new high. The spells, grimoires and sacrifices she took to ensure the ritual would go swimmingly were all done. Malachai and her relationship thrived, despite the days when she believed she was the worst mother and that he truly hated her sept through.

Everything was okay and that for some reason was suffocating.

Was Hadeon right? That she craved chaos or she just didn't know how to operate without it?

Clearing her throat, she started, "There's something I wanted to ask you, no, there's something I need to say."

"Go on," he rounded the adjacent sofa and sat down, prepared for the drilling he was going to receive.

Gritting her teeth she said, "When you did what you did I wanted nothing more than to see you suffer. I wanted you to burn, shriek, yell, cry, all of it. Watching you take pleasure in my pain and hearing you lie and scheme because of revenge fantasy was something that took me a while to comprehend. I mean, sure Niklaus insulted, berated and broke my heart, but so did you," Kol kept quiet, "I spent hours and hours replaying that day in my head, then I spent more than you or Klaus planted more seeds in there, scoping around like some twisted exploration. I didn't know what or how to act so I stopped acting in general, I couldn't hide my feelings, carrying a baby prevented me from doing so, so I just stopped, but the one thing I never stopped was wondering if you ever loved me or truly hated me."

Kol shamefully bowed his head, "I never hated you, I hated what you did for Niklaus."

"Which was?"

"Give him hope, when I had nothing." he huffed.

Adrienne's jaw clenched, "So that makes everything all better, your selfish reasonings?"

He placed down his glass, and started, "It's not an excuse, no not anymore, my transgressions went too far, they were twisted and harsh and severe, and you deserve none of that. I was so roped up in the idea of besting Niklaus, I forgot all the moments we shared, the times were discussed our childhoods, our feelings, and our regrets. The moments I held and still hold sacred, never left me, they could never leave me because that's what you do, you put your mark on someone then forever live on in their memory. That's true immortality."

Adrienne turned away, annoyed yet hurt about what he had to say, how he viewed her, how he perceived her, it still felt like he didn't truly know her and instead only liked what she could do for him.

"You broke me," she whispered.

"I broke you," Kol finally admitted, "but I would give anything to take it all back, I received no pleasure in my ploy."

"Don't lie," she shook her head, with very hard eyes.

"I wouldn't – not again. I regret everything I did against your name and I would take it back in a heartbeat," he rushed out, pulling her devested gaze.

"But you can't. All you had to do was have my back."

In that moment, that's all she wanted, Klaus was a brute force that she couldn't handle and she thought that if Kol just defended her the nightmare would stop, but he just made sure she couldn't move and rendered fear-stricken and defenceless.

"And I'll spend the rest of eternity burdened with this sin."

"Don't try to get me to feel pity for you," she snapped.

"That's not my intention. You know my motivations and even if I succeeded –"

"-- you did succeed," she insisted.

He nodded, "If I didn't take you for granted, your friendship, your love, then none of this would have happened."

"I don't believe that, you and Klaus love to play games, I was just caught up in it all. And I can't forgive you Kol and no I haven't forgiven him either. I may wear the ring and smile but I haven't forgiven him. Your words cut deep and it's a scar that is impossible to heal... right now."

There was a silence that encircled them, it wasn't awkward, it was tense and just when she thought he wouldn't respond, he did.

"I understand," he said, despite the hint of annoyance in his tone, he understood.

Just being in a room alone with her was a privilege that he took for granted. It had been months since the incident in the nursery and he'd been paying for it ever since. Supervised visits with Malachai or a quick one over whenever he saw the little mikaelson stumbling past. He thought Malcahai took after her, but then on some occasions, he saw his brother, the cheeky dimple on his cheek, or the blue specs in his mismatched eyes.

Adrienne's subtle movements brought out his line of thinking.

"There's something else," she said, eyes roving over his face, "It's about the spell, the spell to get your magic back."

"I threw it away," he blurted, to prove a point, shortly after she furiously wrote it out he discarded it, showcasing how he didn't want to prioritise a spell over their... friendship.

"Well, you're in luck, because waking up Finn was a small part of the plan," she told, now rising from the sofa.

He suddenly leaned toward, "You don't mean?..."

"I do, having an original with magic just increases our chances at winning," she replied, unbothered by his change in demeanour.

"Adrienne, you want me to have my magic," his hands tingled with excitement but he asked lightly, as if walking on eggshells.

"For Malachai," she said with indifference, "Klaus and discussed this," before he decided to be an idiot. "And he said it was best for our son."

Although, she missed the days when they would spill secrets it hurt too much to think about.

Kol couldn't shake his excitement, despite being surprised his brother would agree, "You should know Adrienne...you were my first true friend in centuries and although I can't undo my wrongdoings I need you to know how deeply sorry I am for the pain I caused you."

She could tell he meant it, his face was the brightest she'd seen in years.

"I know Kol," she stepped towards the door, "Just... meet us at the Couturie forest, three pm," she paused, "and perhaps you'll find a witch of your own along the way, or someday, like a Bennett if you can stomach their holier-than-thou attitude."

Kol chuckled, oh how he missed her. In another lifetime, he wished.

"Three pm Kol," she repeated and slipped out of the room, leaving him silently celebrating.

Celebrating alone.

─────── •✦• ───────

"We need to start now."

Hearing Adrienne's command, the équilibre witches turned to the sky, seeing the grey hugh breach the winter sky.

"It's time," Valerie agreed.

Kol materialised in the forest, leaning against the tree, watching the witches congregate around a singular pillar situated perfectly beneath the sky where not one leaf, tree or branch concealed it.

Clementine and Valerie placed each blade on the side of the pillar, one containing the powers and life force of Erebus Lumière and the other of Marie Laveau. Two vials of Doppelganger blood, necklaces with a black obsidian stone and a grimoire were situated next to them.

Hadeon joined his sister in the centre as the other witches made a circle around them, using different elements of the earth.

"You ready?" he asked Adrienne, eyes darting between the sky and the forest beneath them.

"As ready as I can be," she replied, shivering in the cold climate.

Valerie placed a necklace around Adrienne's neck, and Evania did the same with Hadeon.

"Once the spell is done, you cannot take these off, ever," The LaMarche witch stressed, glancing between the siblings who nodded. "Good, then we shall begin."

Valerie, Clementine and Evania formed a triangle around them, each holding something sacred to the ritual. Valerie had Erebus' blade, Clementine held Marie's and Evania carried Adrienne's grimoire, staring at the spell over and over again.

Considering she wasn't familiar with Haitian Creole, she took lessons from Hadeon, needing to perfect the words, not only knowing them but thinking in the language otherwise it would put everything in jeopardy.

Kol's eyes never left the scene, he felt the shift in the atmosphere, and hairs at the back of his neck stood to attention when each witch started to chant. The rest of his family was coming soon, to witness the spectacle, the first immortal grey witches, a whole new species created after centuries.

Only in New Orleans eh?

Limyè

Fènwa

Lux

Tenebris

The combined voices of the équilibre witches rumbled through the ground.

Hecate

Polykleitos

Naukydes

The wind picked up and the day became night.

Leaves from branches fell, branches snapped off trees and trees aged at accelerated speed.

The witches drew from the darkness, the moon and the stars.

new life. never end. immortality won't bend.

new life, hear us. come forth, to bind us.

new life, come and take, ensure they can't break.

The daggers began to vibrate, and tremble in Valerie and Clementine's hands, pulling the sibling's attention. Their eyes flittered black and their hands magically were drawn together.

The circle forged around them caught fire as the chanting around them grew louder.

"Keep going," Valerie instructed, feeling the struggle from the earth. It's not natural, nature screamed, stop this at once, but they didn't. "Keep going!"

Hecate

Polykleitos

Naukydes

The necklace around Adrienne and Hadeon's necks glowed as the magic surrounding them penetrated their skin, making them glisten in the moonlight sky.

Kol was entranced but it all, but he knew nature was fighting against it, knowing the power residing in their blood wasn't pure, it was dark, it wasn't good.

Sharing a look with Clementine, Valerie nodded.

They knew they needed to tap into expression, it wouldn't work if they didn't, and they wouldn't fail their Queen again, the power from the Nexus Vorti was strong, but not enough.

Evania felt the shift, seeing the dark viens spreading on their skin.

"Keep going!" they yelled.

Limyè

Fènwa

Lux

Tenebris

Kol rushed over, sensing the circle almost rip to shreds and rested a hand on Velarie's shoulder, allowing her to channel from him, so they all could.

Let them keep their spirits, keep their souls!

Hecate hear us, you have your offerings.

Iwa's see your new creations!

See the new life!

Trees around them started to fall, snap, and blow away with the harsh winds.

"Nikolai!" Elijah was heard from the distance.

"Keep going, it's working!" Valerie's loud voice was low, she had the darkness within, she just needed to let it go, let it all go and explode. "They're listening!"

The Lumière couldn't hear anything around them, nor could they see, their eyes darted left and right, but everything was a blur.

"Adrienne!" Klaus yelled.

"Don't interrupt them," Kol pleaded, "it's working."

"It's killing them!"

Elijah had never looked so scared in his life, Clementine seemed possessed. Valerie looked maddened. Evania was balancing out the expression, siphoning it whilst exploding it onto the siblings.

Kol shook his head, "No, it's helping them! Trust them, trust me!"

new life. never end. immortality won't bend.

new life, hear us. come forth, to bind us.

new life, come and take, ensure they can't break.

The moon's rays drifted onto the necklaces the siblings wore, vibrating and dancing over them like a gentle waltz.

Klaus held up his hand, trying to see through the harsh and chaotic winds.

"The blood, allow them to consume the blood!"

On Valerie's command, the vials lifted from the pillar and broke, hovering over the Lumière siblings and spilt onto their skin.

The Mikaelson brothers watched as their flesh devoured the blood, it sunk in and left no trace.

The witches' chanting bellowed through the forest.

Phasmatos tribum...

Lumière tribum...

Statera tribum...

"Yes," Evania praised, "We're almost there."

The Lumière's eyes snapped shut as everything around them felt different, their hearts beat faster, and their nerves bumbled at rapid speed.

Voodoo, the Darkness, and Expression all rolled into one.

Limyè

Fènwa

Lux

Tenebris

Light and darkness found balance, no longer pushing against each other, determined to align.

The flames slowly started dying down.

The Lumières whimpered, the icy wind struck their faces like a slap, but soon that pain faded and drifted away.

The blades were the ones screaming out in pain, all their energy, all the magic was ripped out of them. Valerie and Clementine held them high as blood poured from their noses.

Elijah desperately needed it all to stop, fearful of his love's life, but he couldn't. So he remained at Klaus' side, equally as defeated and horrified as ever.

Let them keep their spirits, keep their souls!

Hecate hear us, you have your offerings.

Iwa's see your new creations!

See the new life!

Adrienne and Hadeon gasped, feeling a tsunami of power consume them, mingle with their beings, change their genetics, and morph their magic.

The light from the moon became their friend, kissing their skin and feeling the strong pull of light from their bodies forced them into the air.

They never felt this power before, it was different, and it was wonderful but terrifying. Majestic yet petrifying.

Fire and Blood. The Moon and the Sun. Life and Death, all as one.

Adrienne was the first to fall to the ground, heart panting as the fire all around her died down, along with the witches chanting.

She absorbed both the light and the dark with one sharp inhale.

Soon Hadeon would follow her place, but first, her eyes snapped open and then his.

But they weren't black or white.

Were they grey? No, they were silver.

"It's done," Valerie said, in shallow breaths as everything fell to the floor.

Adrienne was reborn as an immortal witch, an immortal grey witch, the first of her kind, alongside her darling brother.

"We've done it," and with that, all the witches collapsed to the ground and the fire blew out.

The Mikaelsons swarmed around them, Elijah pulled Clementine's head onto his lap, watching fearfully as all the dark veins disappeared from her skin.

"Promise me, never do that again," he mumbled against her head, and she just tiredly smiled. He wiped away her blood, ready to feed her some of his, though, he knew she never wanted to drink vampire blood, she reluctantly did this time.

Kol ensured that Evania and Valerie were okay, leaving Klaus to cater to his wife and brother-in-law.

Klaus trembled with fear, when he sped over to Adrienne, holding her head in his lap and gently tapping her face, hoping she would stay awake. Hadeon stumbled as he rose from the ground and joined him.

The hybrid stared at him, looking to see the difference in his appearance he could smell that his scent changed, just like Adrienne's.

Their auras were slightly darker but it was well managed.

"Sweetheart..."

"It's done," Adrienne breathed out, leaning against his touch. To her, he felt like fire and love all rolled into one. "But I'm not finished," she disregarded his worry and turned to her brother, he dazedly smiled, feeling his limbs heal very quickly, "We're not done."

Their witches knew what that meant, tiredly smiling at each other as they found the strength to sit up.

They felt stronger within themselves.

The sky hadn't returned to daytime almost like nature knew what was coming.

"We need to do Kol's spell, we need to do it fast," Adrienne suddenly pulled away from Klaus and turned to face the vampire who just finished feeding Valerie his bitter blood.

"You just collapsed, you're different... you need to rest – Elijah," Klaus looked at his brother for help, but with one subtle pat from Clementine he remained silent.

"I'm fine," Adrienne said confidently.

Kol said, "Enn – Adrienne, don't push yourself."

"It's time Kol," she replied, exchanging a nod with her brother, "It needs to be done now."

Klaus and Elijah begrudgingly stood back, with Valerie, Clementine and Evania beside them, and watched, anxious but the witches were excited, ready to witness the immortal's first spell, their first ritual, first everything.

The Lumières stood on either side of Kol, who laid his dark objects – that Klaus apprehended – across the forest floor, in doing so, Adrienne could feel them, it was like the magic rumbling through and around them spoke to her.

"Kol, your blood," Hadeon withdrew a knife from his back pocket, flicking it up to the original who eagerly allowed to nip at his skin, pouring a few drops over a rune drawn in Adrienne's grimoire. Kol's rune. ᚴᛟᛚ, "And now lie down."

Kol's brothers had never seen him be so willing before.

He lay across the forest floor with a growing grin.

His rune hummed as his blood trickled over it, joined together in a circle as the siblings chanted.

Kol could hear the dark objects rattle near him.

The chanting reminded the Mikaelsons so much of their mother, the nice times they had, no matter how fleeting it all was.

Byrðr

deyja

höfn

vikingr

Kol shifted uncomfortably.

Adrienne channelled the darkness from the sky and the energy from the objects, whilst Hadeon dripped his own blood over Kol's lips.

The Mikaelsons could smell it, it was alluring, inviting, almost mouth-watering.

Veins started to grow beneath Kol's but he couldn't move, frozen to the ground.

Fèt

Mouri

Haven

viktwa

Adrienne drew power from the sacrifices, but not all, she didn't need to, she required only half of that power.

Klaus' worry subsided and his pride grew.

They all saw what huge amounts of energy did to the necklace the siblings wore, it made it glow, and connect with the spells its master spoke.

reveye majik retounen

reveye majik retounen

reveye majik retounen

Kol grunted against the floor, worrying his brothers, Elijah could see the concern on Klaus' face.

Their youngest brother shook as the slits appeared on his skin, only no blood appeared and he didn't heal.

The witches marvelled and yearned to join in but they stayed to the side.

expergiscimini magicae reditus

expergiscimini magicae reditus

expergiscimini magicae reditus

Kol grunted and groaned.

The magic erupted from the objects, bellowing throughout the forest and searching for a body to live, yearning for a home, a belonging.

And as the Lumières chants almost defeated Kol's ears.

nine centuries, nine lives, nine objects.

reveye majik retounen.

expergiscimini magicae reditus.

The magic reached the slits across his body, dancing alongside his flesh and kissing his skin. He gasped at the feeling, it was overwhelming, gut-wrenching, agonising.

Byrðr

deyja

höfn

vikingr

A scream escaped Kol, as all magic flowed into him and he had no choice but to absorb it all.

Old magic, new magic, dark magic and light.

It moulded his skin, washed over his organs like a wave and attacked his nerves.

"Kol," Klaus breathed out, watching his brother writhe and shoot off the ground and shake.

Fèt

Mouri

Haven

viktwa

"He's changing," Valerie gawked.

Clementine nodded, "I can feel it."

"He's in transition," Evania murmured, informing Kol's brothers, "It just needs one neck snap and –"

A snap filled the forest and Kol crumbled onto the floor.

Adrienne lowered her hand with a smirk and Hadeon went to check on him as their eyes flitted back to brown.

Elijah and Klaus were by their younger brother's side, reaching out to touch him before a spark had them reeling back.

"Bloody hell," the hybrid muttered.

Elijah's mouth gaped open, "His magic..."

"It's back," Hadeon grinned, alongside his sister.

The moment Kol Mikaelson woke up, he would become the first-ever vampire-witch hybrid and the Lumières made it possible.

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne and Hadeon were linked and luckily if one was in pain, the other could feel it, not only that, but they could sense it. Their sibling bond had upgraded so it seemed and they loved it.

After the ritual, the night turned back into daytime in seconds, almost like nothing happened, but civilians were wary and stayed indoors. The dark objects were collected, blades were stored away and Kol's unconscious body was placed into his room by his brothers.

Elijah nervously waited by his side, and soon after he made sure all the witches were cared for and catered to. Rebekah checked on her brother, along with Marcel, though they didn't stay for long, wanting to check on their friends who swiftly greeted and then dodged any attempts of comfort or care much to the couple's confusion.

In commemoration of their new supernatural status, the Mikaelsons had planned a feast.

For their brother, for Adrienne and Hadeon.

"Malachai is still sleeping," Adrienne said, pouting hoping her son would be up since he napped earlier in the morning. "What?" she asked after seeing Klaus' unwavering gaze.

He stepped towards her, marvelling at what he'd seen today, "Do you understand what you've accomplished? What you've become?"

"Yes Niklaus, I was there," she joked, internally screaming at how she felt.

"But — it's all, your scent, you smell different, you feel different," he expressed, standing in front of her, he couldn't get enough of her, the smell... it was magic, like she lathered in it, head to toe.

"I feel different?" She cocked her to the side, curious as to how he would know that.

She shivered, at the look he gave her, was it lust or yearning?

"You're different, yet the same. You won't age," he continued.

"So vein," she teased.

"As if you're not," he said, playfully scoffing, "your witches are extraordinary, but you're an enigma, Adrienne." My enigma.

"As I've been told," a smirk played on her lips, "And you complimenting Valerie is a first."

"And the last," Klaus replied, smiling down at her, getting lost in her eyes, "Truly fantastic, I've never witnessed anything like it. First of your kind," like I'm first of my kind, and so is our son. "The first grey immortal witch."

Adrienne tried not to blush at her he was looking at her, it felt good but at the same time, she wasn't sure.

"And Hadeon is the Voodoo elder or priest or prince or whatever he will start calling himself," she added, creating some space between them, which he shockingly didn't seem hurt by.

"Rebekah the first vampire, And Kol... he hasn't woken up yet."

"He'll wake and when he does, he will never shut up."

"More defences for Malachai," he grinned, earning a smack to the arm. "And Kol regains the powers he lost."

"And Kol regains the power he lost," she surprisingly couldn't wait to see Kol in action.

She wondered when he would wake, three hours, six or nine? All she knew was it was soon, she could feel it.

Klaus cleared his throat, "Sweetheart, I need to apologise for what I said yesterday –"

"Stop," she hated how easily she could forget the things he'd done when he spoke in that sweet tone of his.

"I shouldn't have said it, I'm aware of your assumptions, that you believe something is blossoming between Lana and I, but there isn't," He hoped she believed him, he didn't look at anyone the way he looked at her, he couldn't, "I shouldn't have been so irrational in mentioning your mother."

"It wouldn't be the first time you mentioned one of my mothers in vain," she muttered, referencing the day she discovered she was pregnant.

"I know."

Forgiveness didn't come easy Adrienne, it just hurt too much, especially when she realised how spitefulness came easy to Klaus, it was all so easy to him, even when it came to her, which was why she was glad that she wasn't ready to be with him.

But now she had protection, far more than he could promise her, her immortality might not have been her peace but it was something.

Her magic felt like warmth like a rain of fire had been cast upon her and kissed her soul. It was beautiful, and magical, just like she wanted to feel when she was growing up. She was helpless during her childhood, hopeless and she could never shake that feeling and she never would.

"Are you okay?" Klaus' voice called out to her, snapping her from her trance.

"I'm fine," she nodded, not meeting his eye.

"Not tired, exhausted, anything?" usually after an immense and powerful spell Adrienne would be sleeping for hours and yet now she was up like nothing happened.

Klaus was getting used to all, her changes and perhaps now his constant questions were just him overcompensating for his callous words yesterday, but he needed his love to be safe.

"I'm okay," she restated. "But I want to know something," he nodded for her to go on, "You mentioned that Lana will supply you with a few wolves for your hybrid experiment."

"She will, and they're all willing. William's death must've sparked a sense of fear across the pack. How easily they can succumb to death, even at the hands of a distant cousin."

"How many wolves?"

"Not many, nine to be exact, but their transitions, them becoming something bigger and badder will shine a light on what I can do for my people, my species. That they won't have to be subjected to the pain of turning on the full moon, the torment of breaking bones again and again until we reach a high, that is only confined to once a month." Adrienne didn't say a word and let him continue, "Soon the word will spread like wildfire and more flock to us. And then we will build an army so big, not one will ever touch us, and our survival will haunt our parents for all of eternity," he rested his forehead on hers, "you, me and Malachai."

"You, me and Malachai," she quietly repeated. "Malachai... we should go and see him."

Klaus was stunned at how quickly she rushed out of the room, but followed nevertheless, trailing behind her to the nursery, where their son slept so peacefully.

"So beautiful," Adrienne murmured watching his chest rise and fall, "to think it's almost been a year since he came out of me, seven long hours."

"Seven hours," he smiled, trailing his fingers over the crib, "of me thinking I would lose the both of you."

Adrienne hummed, staring so fondly at their baby boy.

"Wait..." she noticed the smile began to appear on his face, "is he?..." a giggle escaped his little mouth, "he was pretending to sleep."

"So cheeky," Klaus chuckled, plucking Malachai out of the crib when his eyes snapped open, "tricking your mother and you haven't yet reached your first birthday."

Malachai then reached out to adrienne, but as soon as he was in her arms, his eyes drifted to her new necklace and widened at the change in energy his mother was emitting.

But the necklace was his sole attention, he wouldn't stop staring at it, even trying to put it into his mouth, whining when his parents wouldn't let him.

"He's stubborn," Adrienne remarked, amused by his attempts.

"And where do you think he gets that from?" Klaus teased.

"You."

"Your mother seems to have forgotten herself," he said lightly to his son.

"And so has your father, my beautiful boy." Adrienne cooed, then quickly remembered the time, "You bathe him, change him, comb his hair, whilst I get ready."

"The feast doesn't start until nine," Klaus said, gently bouncing their son in his arms after Adrienne passed him over.

"Perfection takes time," she pressed multiple kisses against Malachai's head, who continued to try and eat her necklace.

"I assume that's why god had plenty with you," Klaus quipped.

"Cute."

Klaus and Malachai watched her leave the nursery.

"Now you know my hjarta, your mother and I, will always protect you, we'll never leave you," he promised again, but this time was certain, "We'll remain by your side always and forever."

─────── •✦• ───────

Finn Mikaelson irritably strolled into the dining room, already anxious with the number of people sitting around the table, he recognised a few faces, his siblings being some, his sister-in-law and her lovely friend Clementine. He was freshly washed and his hair was cut like most current style of today because he no longer wanted to stick out like a sore thumb. But that didn't mean he liked his appearance, how he dressed or how he carried himself because he didn't know how to. He flinched whenever the servants helped him, even when he bathed he just lay there confused. He drank vials of blood because he had to. He was still without a day-light ring, so he spent all day inside, trapped, which meant there wasn't much difference between the house and the coffin.

"You cleaned up nicely, brother," Klaus quipped from where he sat at the head of the table, immediately receiving looks from all around. Adrienne was on his left side, with Hadeon next to her, and Valerie and Evania next to him, with an additional empty chair. On Klaus' right, was Elijah, Clementine held his hand on the table, and there was a vacant seat between her and Rebekah, which she seemed grateful for. Marcel was at the end, opposite Klaus, next to his lover. "I'm glad you decided to join the feast."

Elijah rose from his seat, smiling at his older brother, almost timidly with his hand resting in Clementine's.

"I've failed to introduce you to the delightful witches around the table, you've already met our remarkable sister-in-law," Elijah smiled warmly at Adrienne, then bopped his head towards her friends, "These women belong to her coven."

"Valerie LaMarche," Valerie greeted, readying herself for whatever reaction he would give her, but luckily he only nodded.

"Evania Parker," Evania was next, cautious of any judgements for being a siphon, which she knew he was aware of, but no judgements came.

She felt Hadeon's smile but she was quick to shrug him off.

"And you've already met Clementine," Klaus couldn't suppress his grin, Elijah's face fell when Finn sent Clementine a calm smile.

Adrienne kicked her husband under the table, earning a low groan.

"Hello Clementine," Finn quietly greeted, just as Elijah sat down, keeping his gaze on him.

"You look more relaxed, remind me I must bring you some pastries tomorrow," Clementine expressed, with her wide smile.

Now that he learnt what the word pastries meant Finn nodded, hoping he would get a taste of delicacy.

"I will," Finn murmured, now slightly more relaxed sat down in the empty seat next to her and Rebekah, looking over the various food, he knew he would barely touch.

He felt his sister's warm smile, which he tried to return, but it soon fell when she attempted to rub a soft hand over his arm. She quickly retracted it, whilst Marcel sent a nod his way.

"Finn, this is my brother," Adrienne introduced him to the anxious original.

"Hadeon Lumière," Hadeon didn't smile or even nod at the man, he only stared, "Nice to meet you."

"And you," Finn recognised the same tortured look in Adrienne's eyes in Hadeon's how striking, he thought. "You've transitioned," he blurted, instead of mentioning the death of his mother.

"We have," Hadeon answered, with a hint of a smirk playing at his lips.

Finn had nothing else to say on the matter.

Valerie whined, "At some point are we going to eat?"

"You can stuff your gob in a second Valerie," Klaus rebutted.

"Niklaus," Elijah and Adrienne chorused.

"But there is one last person that Finn has not met," Klaus cleared his throat, "Would you like to meet your nephew, dear brother?"

"I've met Marcellus," Finn said, slightly confused.

"Hello," Marcel awkwardly waved, slightly uncomfortable until Rebekah grabbed his hand on top of the table.

"Our son," Adrienne reiterated, nudging Klaus for purposefully confusing his brother, "Klaus got him dressed, just for him to nap again, he loves to sleep, but right now I think he's –"

"Awake," Klaus heard the little heir mutter gibberish, stirring awake from his nap, making him flash out of his chair and out of the dining area.

Finn didn't know what to do with his hands, they shook under the table, he was anxious, still overwhelmed by the constant chatter, but very few things calmed him. Since being undaggered, he always tried to focus on something, anything, but it was hard, everything screamed out to him, this isn't real, you're not here, you're still trapped, locked away. He tried so hard not to listen, but that's the thing, it was hard, everything was.

"Finn, I would like you to meet your youngest nephew, Malachai Mikaelson," Finn snapped out of his spell, only to find his gaze landing on cyan eyes.

His younger half-brother was holding up his nephew, the tribrid he's been so... frightened, no, cautious to meet. The baby was dressed in the finest clothes he had ever seen an infant wear. The curls resting on top of the baby's head reminded them of Niklaus' when he was a child on darker, the complexions were clearly from his mother, but the innocence or the innocence radiating from the little bundle of joy reminded him of littlest brother, despite the mischievous side he often saw in Henrik, which grew more prominent as their adolescent years went on.

The room immediately smiled and doted to the squealing boy, whose new favourite thing was to shriek and shout.

"Or trouble as I call him," Marcel exclaimed, winking at his little brother.

"Or sweet boy," Evania smiled.

Clementine sweetly waved at him, "Handsome."

"Little Aesir," Elijah added, catching his older brother's attention.

Valerie teased his parents, "Or the devils —"

"Val," one haste look from Adrienne had her hands raised in surrender.

Klaus promised to not make a scene so he suppressed a comment.

"Mally," Rebekah said quietly to Finn, not wanting to startle him.

"Hjarta," Klaus said, then motioned to one of the maids to get his high chair.

Finn was surprised with how gentle his brother was being, how caring, and loving, but it didn't seem right. It felt like a game, a cruel game.

"He looks like you," he said, eyes flickering over to Adrienne, "But I see traces of Niklaus of course."

Finn nervously gulped at the sight of the tribrid. How can something so powerful be so tiny?

"Do you want to hold him?" Adrienne asked, after sharing a look with her husband.

Klaus wasn't happy about this in the slightest, but he felt like should allow this to happen.

"Oh... Ummm, " Finn stammered.

Klaus already strolled by and started passing his babbling son over, with all the care in the world.

Finn sucked in a deep breath, holding the wide-eyed baby, whose chubby legs shook as his feet found his uncle's lap. Finn firmly held his waist, watching his every movement and little squeals.

Malachai shocked him by touching his face, his light taps made Finn's heart hammer.

"He's beautiful, nothing like Niklaus."

Finn was shocked by his own words, but the sound of laughter allowed him to calm down.

Klaus wasn't amused, but before he could talk back his son, Malachai started kicking his feet out wanting to stumble around.

"He can walk," Hadeon informed, "He just doesn't like to do it for me."

"I wonder why," Adrienne quipped, receiving a playful glare.

"He does it for me all the time," Elijah exclaimed, watching as Finn carefully passed their nephew back to Klaus.

"Lie," Valerie joked.

Elijah shot her a look, "What would lead me to spread lies about my nephew's accomplishments?"

"So you can win the title of a favourite uncle," Hadeon defended, laughing at the look on his face.

"I'm his favourite aunt," Evania claimed innocently.

That kicked up quite the stir.

Adrienne and Klaus were amused themselves but that all stopped, when it seemed Malachai needed some attention and he knew the best way to get it.

"Pa... P... Papa," he spoke, for the first time, patting Klaus' stunned face, giggling when everyone suddenly stared at him.

And for a minute not one word was spoken, a pin could've dropped and even the mortals would be able to hear it.

Adrienne's jaw was on the floor, "Did he just..."

"...Say his first word," Clementine tried to keep her excitement to a minimum, wary of the emotions flooding his little body at the moment. 

"And it was my name," Klaus breathed out, his heart was swelling and his eyes were glued on his son.

"At least we know who his favourite parent is," Marcel snickered to himself, whilst his lover choked back a sob.

"I carried him for nine months and this is the thanks I get," Adrienne joked, but couldn't shake the sense of pride she felt and pressed kisses all over Malachai's face, to which he gurgled.

Elijah exchanged a look with Clementine, the former caught the tear his lover shed.

"Well I guess who the favourite son is," Valerie quipped, sending a tight-lipped smile to the oldest prince of New Orleans whose jaw clenched.

"He said his first word," Klaus whispered, pulling Malachai towards his chest, and muttering things in his mother tongue.

"The firstborn of a new generation, constantly exceeding expectations," Elijah expressed.

Firstborn, Finn stiffened at the phrasing, it was like an itch he needed to scratch.  Firstborn, firstborn, firstborn, he shifted uncomfortably catching Clementine's attention.

She offered him a warm smile, "Did you need some lavender, Finn? It helps me with my discomfort," she whispered, despite feeling Elijah's movement next to her, "I can get more for you."

Finn nodded, averting his gaze to the food prepared, though he only caught Hadeon dabbling in some of it, disregarding the disapproving looks from the nobleman.

"His first word," Hadeon smiled at his nephew who settled in his high chair, between his parents.

"I bet Niklaus bribed him one way or another," they all turned to see Kol descending the stairs, beaming and all dressed up.

"Kol...." Adriennne trailed off, checking Klaus' pocket watch, seeing that it was nine minutes passed nine.

"You're awake," Clementine gawked, sheepishly sharing a look with Valerie who encouraged her to not hold back, and that she was allowed to be excited.

"And here I thought it was my day," he teased, being welcomed by Elijah's brotherly embrace.

"Our day," Hadeon reiterated, standing up and surveying the original.

Rebekah was next to hug her brother, whilst Finn stayed silent and in his place. Marcel acted indifferent.

Adrienne and Hadeon both felt his arm, laughing at each other, feeling more magic flow through him, just like he felt them going through them.

Kol sent a wink to Valerie and a smile to Clementine, before resting his hands on his nephew's high chair.

Malachai gurgled at him, eyes widening briefly.

"Well done, lad, I'll give you an advance on your inheritance if you can say Kol," Kol tried bribing his nephew.

"Shove off Kol," Klaus nudged him, giving a reprimanding look to his son, hoping he didn't attempt to say a thing. "Though, I have a question, how do you feel?"

"New and approved, brother," Kol imagined this is how Klaus felt after his ritual. It felt right, rewarding? No, deserving, something he lost all those centuries ago, was back, and the look on Klaus', he knew he could relate, "Nia darling," he called out to Evania, "Would you like to do the honours," he stalked around the table, holding out his hand to the siphon.

"Of course," Evania agreed rather quickly, slipping off her glove and smiling up at him, something Hadeon didn't look too happy about. A red hue encircled her and Kol's hands. The feeling she got from him, was different this time, like the magic swam through his veins. "It's like your vampirism is heightened by the magic, and magic is a separate feeling, it's different, it raves on its own if that makes sense," she explained, taking her hand away, overwhelmed it all.

Her smile never fell, and neither did Kol's.

Evania noticed he didn't wince, and of course, took some time to pull away.

Hadeon tried not to scoff, instead stuffing his face with a basket of bread.

"Thank you, Darling," Kol found his seat next to her, whilst she slipped back on her glove, attempting to not let the borrowed magic flowing through her veins go wild. "Almost set my room on fire, when I woke up."

That gained a few laughs. 

"Bloody pyromaniac," Klaus snorted.

Kol grinned, "Just like your lovely wife."

"I am not," Adrienne gasped at the fact, then gasped again when no one disagreed.

"You are love," Klaus murmured to her, much to her annoyance.

"There's more than one hybrid in the family brother," Kol jested, with a sly glint in his eye.

"Two," Adrienne spoke, wiping the dribble from her son's mouth.

"Three if you are counting Malachai," Marcel added, going to reach for his drink but one look from Valerie made him stop.

"He's a tribrid," Klaus pointed out, letting his son hold his pinky finger, "a very special one, the only one," Malachai babbled in response, "our enemies won't have a clue the forces they face. Six witches," he said, nodding at his little brother, who seemed very bashful, "Five originals and two hybrids."

Evania was grateful he called her a witch.

Kol's eyes darted between the Lumière's, "Thank you."

They smiled in response.

Kol glanced around the room, remembering all the reactions he received, but one in particular stood out. Finn didn't look at him, nor did he say a word, reminding him of all the times he sought his eldest brother's attention as a child, but just like his father's he never got it. He knew he angered his eldest brother and put in a lot of effort to keep it that way, but he wanted praise and he wanted it now. 

"Just keep your pyromania under raps, we have an Opera house to go to soon," Hadeon suddenly stated, pulling out two tickets, and showcasing them to the room. "Le Huguenots."

"And when did you get those tickets," Adrienne asked, raising a brow.

"Lana gave them to me," Hadeon informed, and Klaus stifled a laugh.

They all caught the frown on Evania's face.

So she asked, "And do we all get free tickets or just you?"

Hadeon remained silent, pocketing the tickets and slumped in his chair.

Valerie groaned, "Can we finally eat now? Enough about the Opera."

"One second Miss LaMarche, I think it's time for a toast," Klaus ignored their sighs as he rose out of his chair, still keeping a hold on his son's hand. "Yes, yes I know food is more important than whatever it is I have to preach, but this goes without saying, I'm a very fortunate man, I'm a father and a husband," Adrienne glimpsed at Marcel and then her son, "I'm also one of many, many siblings — brothers and a bratty yet pure sister." Rebekah stuck out her tongue, drawing a few smiles, whilst Finn shifted again, "And I wouldn't be here without their support," he received an appreciative nod from Elijah. "Not only them but despite how much I tend to complain about them being a pain in my arse, you witches are tricky ones, but incredible," he didn't expect to gain so many genuine smiles nonetheless, he raised his glass. "So cheers, to us."

They all raised a glass, even Finn who didn't agree with the speech in the slightest, "Cheers."

Finally, they could all dig into their meals.

Finn poked around at his food, thinking back to all the clues itching at his brain... sister...firstborn... Freya... It hurt even to try and solve it, so instead, he focused on his plate.

Malachai started making little howling noises, mimicking his father, even though his mouth was full of food.

Elijah and Klaus laughed, the latter, even tried copying him.

Adrienne wiped away all the drool from her son's face, despite being amused herself.

Klaus leaned towards his wife, "Have I told you how ravishing you look tonight?"

Adrienne raised a brow, "Only tonight?"

She was met with a sly smirk.

Hadeon took a bite of his lamb, glancing at his sister who was being such a patient mother, which made him think of his. Truthfully he hadn't stopped thinking about her, even throughout the ritual, he couldn't. He didn't have much time with her, all their moments — if he knew were going to be finite, he would've done more, visited more often. He wasn't ready to say goodbye, perhaps that's why he's grateful she didn't want a funeral, but her bones to be kept in his possession just like the deed to her home.

"Enjoying the food, Hadeon?" Rebekah decided to ask, taking a sip of wine.

The immortal witch simply shrugged, wiping his mouth to say, "For people who went to war over spices, you don't know how to use them."

His friends burst out laughing, just like his sister.

"We hired a caterer," Rebekah said, fed up with the grins spreading across the table.

Finn kept pushing around his food, even after a few reassuring words from Clementine.

He grew irritated by the couples that caught his eye, especially Adrienne and Klaus. He didn't understand why they were allowed to be happy, even if he was told it was all an act when he was denied years — centuries of his life with the only woman he loved or had the time to; Sage. If only he could reach out to her if he had a sign she was still alive, but Rebekah and Klaus would rather stake themselves than allow her anywhere near him.

The thought alone made him lose his appetite all at once.

"Trouble in paradise darling," Kol teased the siphon, who hushed him.

"Stop it Kol," Evania was scared that Hadeon could hear, but he appeared to be lost in a bottle of wine.

"Perhaps I should move," he jested, taking a sip of his gin.

"Perhaps I should set you on fire," she retorted, making him raise a hand in surrender.

Adrienne noticed Klaus constantly checking up on their son, for any signs of him choking on the small bites of food they fed him, or just to see if he was simply okay.

Klaus was also looking for any new details on his son's face for him to sketch, draw and paint. He loved documenting Malachai's and he was never too fond of photographs.

Malachai eventually wanted to be carried, bored of his high chair so he kicked his dress shoes against the wood grabbing everyone's attention.

At first, they all thought that being held by his parents would do the trick, but no, so he was passed between uncles and aunts, Finn made sure to avoid the offer, but when Malachai reached Kol's hold, they were all shocked to see how easily the little tribrid settled.

Klaus wasn't too happy about this, but soon his mood would change.

A hard slap to the side of Kol's face had them all laughing.

Malachai didn't stop giggling, which made his uncle smile.

"Good boy," Klaus praised his son, thoroughly amused.

Adrienne nor Valerie could stop their laughter.

But as the festivities died down, a spark started to grow.

"You know what I've noticed," Rebekah slurred her speech slightly, "Dalia's. And I haven't bought them, no not once."

Everyone missed how Finn's lip quivered.

Elijah raised a brow, "You haven't bought a single thing in your life sister."

"Dalia's?" Finn suddenly spoke up, with a fearful look on his face. "Dalia's..." Everyone turned to him, seeing his trembling form.  "Firstborn," he whispered, though his voice reached around the room, his teary gaze found the tribrid, who began to whimper, "Curse of the firstborn... freya, my dear Freya," he missed Elijah rising from his seat and tentatively stalking towards him, "she's here and it's too late," Firstborn! Firstborn! Firstborn! All the words finally made sense. He jumped back when something grew in the centre of the table, they all did when they saw what it was, "Dalia is coming! Dalia is here!"

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

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a/n:

introducing the first ever immortal grey witches... can i get some cheers, a round of applause? and for kol... he ate with that one little thing. always wanted to see him as a witch/vamp hybrid in the show, but j*lie under-utilised that man.

i used, haitian creole, latin, old norse and english with the rituals, mixed in with some of the spells from the show but knew not to use all because the writers' dumbasses wrote actual spells.

finn finally remembered dalia and what happened to freya, don't hate on the man, he still struggles with everything. he couldn't understand his own consciousness, everything was a question or a fight.

i changed a lot about this act, originally klaus and adrienne were going to be back together earlier and kol was to be forgiven in this chapter but i couldn't let that happen. rereading the story, rewatching tiktoks and just seeing some analytical comments i wasn't gonna let that happen. the mikaelsons put people through hell and they made the decision to victimise a lumière, so don't be shocked if kadrienne never truly reconcile. 

2 more weeks left of updating before this story reaches its conclusion and trust me you'll be entertained.