𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙀𝙉
ミ★ ( reign of wolves, act one ) ★彡

     The next morning, Rhea Lockwood walked downstairs from her new shared bedroom in the compound. She saw Klaus sitting downstairs by himself and sighed. She's still pissed off at him, and as is most members of the family, but now they're under the same roof again, it's hard to ignore him, "Looking a bit lonely there, Klaus." She commented stiffly as she approached the table and sat down across from him, picking at the various bits of fruits and pastries on the table and putting them on her plate. She smiled at the compelled waitress who poured her coffee.

     "Well, Rebekah is still sore at me and Elijah is a little preoccupied by making sure Hayley doesn't accidentally walk into a wall." Klaus responded, "So, unfortunately, yes, I am a little lonely."

     "No shit, she's going to be mad at you, Klaus." Rhea rolled her eyes, blowing on the hot mug of coffee to cool it down slightly so it didn't burn her tongue, "You daggered her and snubbed her out of the cure less than a few months ago—just to give it to Silas, of all people. You dragged her out here to protect your baby and then you bit Elijah. She's gonna try and retaliate, she's your sister after all. It's all you Mikaelsons know how to do best; retaliate."

     "I'm surprised you weren't up there with them after everything that's happened." Klaus commented, "I know they offered you an in on their plan."

     "The thought crossed my mind." Rhea responded casually without hesitation.

     One of Marcel's daywalker vampires then walked into the room, "Davina's gone."

     Klaus, Rhea and Marcel were in the living room moments later, discussing their current predicament, "You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to know the obvious. Our secret weapon has escaped." Klaus snapped.

     "Don't you have a small Victorian doll to take control over?" Rhea snapped as she crossed her arms in annoyance at the way he's treating the situation as if it affects him most, "She's not a secret weapon, Klaus. She's a scared child. Have you ever thought she might've left on her own to escape being used by everyone around her?"

     Marcel shook his head, "She wouldn't just leave. She knows the witches want her back."

     Elijah appeared from around the corner, and Marcel turned towards him, "Her violin is missing. She may have left of her own volition."

     Rhea threw her arms up in the air, "Like I said."

     Marcel's eyes narrowed on her soulmate accusingly before stepping into his face, "What did you say to her in the attic? She lied to my face so she could stay up there, thinking that you'd help her control her magic. How do we know you didn't take her?"

     "What on earth do you think we would want with Davina?" Rhea snapped as she pushed Marcel away from Elijah. Marcel went to take another step but Rhea held up her hand threateningly to hit him, "I suggest you give us five feet before I give you five fingers."

     Elijah held onto her hand and pushed it down gently so their hands were enclasped by their sides, "I have no idea where Davina is, or why she ran away." He told the Gerard man, "But, I do suggest you take a step back." Marcel eyed him for a moment before turning away, "I can assure you I have absolutely no desire to see that child come into harm's way. She's suffered enough with this Harvest ritual nonsense."

     Rhea had never met Davina, she was always far away or being kept hidden for Rhea to ever meet her. But, she felt bad for her. Davina was being used and abused by everyone around her—her family pushed her to do a ritual, knowing she would be slaughtered, her coven betrayed her by hiding the truth, then used by Marcel for him to stay in power against the witches. Klaus only then tried to use her for the same reason because of her power.

     "That child, to whom you refer to so affectionately, is the most powerful witch in New Orleans." Klaus reminded them all angrily, "If she's fled, what's to stop her from destroying us? In fact, destroying all we've worked for? No, if she's not a friend to this family, then she is our enemy."

     "She is a friend, Klaus." Marcel snapped.

     "She might be powerful but she's still a child who's scared. She doesn't know who she can trust and you aren't making it any easier." Rhea groaned, "If you push her too far she will retaliate—and that's not because she's an enemy, it's because you forced her hand by hurting her and the people she cares about."

     It was as if her words triggered an idea, "I know how to get her back. Follow my lead." Klaus says.

     Klaus then left and Marcel was about to follow him, eager to get Davina back when Elijah stopped him, "You know how Niklaus operates. If he perceives a threat, he can become quite ruthless. This would not bode well for Davina."

     "I'm not going to let anybody lay a finger on her." Marcel stated.

     "Nor will we." Elijah decided.

It was later in the night and the Casket Girls Festival was in full swing in the French Quarter, with marching bands and people in costumes dancing around the streets while everyone else roamed the streets searching for Davina. Marcel approached Rhea and Elijah, who were searching the festival for the young witch, holding each other's hands as the Original used his size and strength to push through the crowds, "Kieran is gonna call me first if he hears anything." He tells them quietly, but stopped from saying anything further as Klaus approached them.

"Ah, you all look rather cozy." He commented.

Marcel scoffed, "Hardly. I was just telling Elijah how we're wasting time." He lied smoothly.

Klaus looked around, "You don't like festivals?" He asked.

Rebekah then joined them from the street, "I don't see why not. Who doesn't love a street fair?"

"Sister, come to help us find our stray?" Klaus asked his sister.

Rebekah smiled serenely, "We can't let your secret weapon get in the wrong hands, can we?"

"Then I suggest we keep her away from Klaus'." Rhea remarked and Marcel chuckled at her.

Klaus pointed at them all, "For the record, we're moments away from retrieving her."

Elijah halted and his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at his younger brother, "I recognise that tone of voice, Niklaus. Clearly you have some diabolical machination. What is it?"

Klaus smirked before he left them, following an unidentified person walking toward a car parked nearby, "Timothy..." He greeted the person before he put a hand on his shoulder to compel him, "Might I have a word?

With a blink, Klaus grabbed Timothy and took him back to the compound, where Rhea and Elijah reconvened with him.

Klaus then looked around, noticing that someone was missing, "Where's Rebekah gotten off to?"

"It's not Rebekah that I'm concerned about." Elijah stated, "How can you be so certain that Davina will come?"

The Original hybrid smirked mischievously, "You of all people should know what it's like to be in the grip of an all-consuming infatuation. She'll come." He insisted.

Elijah sighed but didn't respond to it, only shooting his soulmate a small glance to see her glaring daggers at Klaus. He was right. If he had caught wind that Rhea was in any type of danger, he would go to her immediately to save her—there wouldn't be a mountain that he couldn't move or a person he couldn't kill to get to her. Davina would come to save Timothy from Klaus. He then looked up at Timothy, who was sitting up in the rafters, compelled to play his violin from above, "Are the maudlin theatrics absolutely necessary, Niklaus?"

Klaus laughed, "That's a fair point." He looked up at the young human boy that was scared out of his mind, "Timothy, play something a little more upbeat, please. That's a good lad." He said as Timothy's tune changed just as Marcel returned to the compound and joins them, "Took you long enough to spread the word."

"Well, his nightwalkers aren't exactly the brightest bunch." Rhea commented, "They're a bit on the dumb side."

Marcel held his hands up, "All that matters is I got it covered. When Davina gets here, you need to let me do the talking."

Klaus sensed Davina's presence nearby and smirked, "Well, I'm sure you'll have your chance." He says as he turns to Davina, "Hello, love." He greeted and then looked up at Timothy, "Silence is golden, Timothy. Thank you."

Timothy stopped playing the violin and looked confused as he saw the familiar face of Davina walk into the room, "Davina?"

The young witch's eyes narrowed on Klaus, "You got me here. Now, let him down." She demanded.

     Klaus held up a finger, "Well, first, we have to have a little chat about you returning to the fold." He instructed.

     Marcel turned to Klaus with a frustrated look on his face, the Original hybrid clearly chose to forget everything he had just asked of him moments ago, "What did I say, Klaus? I got this." He turned back to Davina, "D, what happened? Why'd you run? Talk to me." Davina didn't answer and he softened his voice and held his hands up, "Hey, I can make it right."

     The young witch's eyes narrowed onto him with a deathly glare, "How? By threatening my friend?"

     Klaus held up his hand, "Actually, that was my idea. Apologies. I've been known to go too far to make a point." He admitted, a small smirk on his face as he added, "But, I do always get results."

     Davina snarled, "You pretend to be so confident, but I know the truth. You're afraid everyone can see what you really are—an animal." She said before she then casted a pain infliction spell that brought him to his knees, he groaned in pain, "A beast. Why don't you show us your real face?" She added as she magically forced Klaus to partially transform into a werewolf before telekinetically snapping his neck, "That's enough of you."

     Rhea looked impressed for a moment before Elijah spoke, "Davina, you don't have to do this."

     Davina glared at Elijah, turning her attention and desire for vengeance towards him, "You! You looked me in the eyes and lied to my face—pretending you wanted to help me."

     Rhea looked nervous as she could tell where this was going, "Davina, listen—"

     "You call yourself the noble one, but, you're a killer just like your brother. For a thousand years, you've fed on innocent blood. Why don't you choke on it?" Davina interrupted her and casted a spell on Elijah that caused him to regurgitate all of the blood he's consumed, quite literally choking on blood while Rhea gasped for air.

     Elijah fell to his knees while Rhea's throat felt like it was closing up. It didn't take long for Elijah to fall unconscious while Rhea fell to her knees and she crawled over toward her soulmate, checking on him while his state of unconsciousness made it feel like she could breathe again—but, only slightly holding her breath out of fear because she didn't know what damage Davina had caused against him.

     Davina then looked at Marcel, who was clearly frightened of her, "And you! I trusted you. I loved you, but you were just using me to stay in power. You don't care about me." She sneered.

     "You're wrong!" Marcel pleaded, his hands over his heart, pleading at her.

     Davina shook her head, not believing him for a second, "When you lost to Klaus, you handed me over like some trophy. Maybe I should boil you in bronze."

     Marcel's skin began to heat up and boil when her eyes focused in on him but he didn't pay it any mind, "I care. I took you in like you were my own blood."

     Rebekah suddenly appeared and stabbed Marcel through the chest with a wrought-iron poker. He choked for a moment before he, too, fell unconscious onto the ground, "Come on now, love. Don't tell me you were falling for that." She pouted, "Isn't it time for us girls to have a chat?" She looked around at the neutralised bodies of Klaus, Elijah, and Marcel, and went to Rhea's side to help her up off of the ground, "Now, that is impressive. And well deserved, in my opinion." Davina looked at her suspiciously, "Now, before you turn on me, I have a surprise for you."

     Josh then entered the courtyard and the witch's eyes widened, "Josh, what are you doing? Get out of here!" She begged, not wanting another one of her friends hurt.

     Rebekah suddenly grabbed Josh by the throat and held him up in the air, "What are you doing?" Josh choked.

     "Now, if I were Klaus, I would rip Josh's head from his neck, feed it to a nightwalker, and that would be the end of your friend." Rebekah stated, "But, hurting people is such a boyish thing to do, like how Klaus compelled your fiddler on the roof. And, while I am many things, I'm certainly not my brother." She then looked up at Timothy, "It's okay, Timothy. You can come down. No one is gonna hurt you."

     "He told me I couldn't climb down off this beam." Timothy said nervously.

     Rhea rolled her eyes as she croaked, "Then jump, dummy." She said, her throat still hurting from the feeling of choking on blood. Davina sent her a confused look and Rhea held back a glare. It wasn't her fault—like she had said before, Klaus forced her hand and she retaliated. Davina didn't feel like she could trust Elijah and through their bond, she felt her magic. While she didn't blame her, it still hurt.

     Timothy jumped down and Rebekah caught him before gently setting him onto the floor. Timothy rushed over to Davina almost instantly and Rebekah smiled at their reunion, "Davina, how did you do all that? How did I even get here?" He asked her.

     Davina pulled away, "I'll explain everything, I promise." She then turned to Rebekah, "Why are you doing this?"

     "Seems to me that you're the one holding all the cards, but, you don't know who to trust." Rebekah stated, "I've just proven that you can trust me. Now, I'd like to show you one more thing. Won't take long. You can bring your friends." She said, taking Davina, Tim and Josh down into the Garden.

     Davina and Timothy looked terrified of the desiccating vampires while Rhea turned her nose up at the stench, "Oh, don't worry. They're not really dead, just really hungry... and I'm not helping." Josh spoke out loud.

     Rebekah looked at the witch, "You think my brother Nik is awful? Marcel learned from the best. This is how he treats his so-called friends who betray him. Most of what these poor souls did is no worse than what Josh did." She then pointed to Thierry, "Take Thierry, for example. He was Marcel's most trusted friend. Klaus tricked him into breaking one of Marcel's rules. Marcel knows this, and yet, he keeps Thierry locked in here day after day, suffering."

     Timothy's eyes widened, "This is insane."

     Davina's eyebrows furrowed, "Why are you telling me this?"

     "Because she wants you to know who you're dealing with—who you can trust." Rhea crossed her arms, seeing through Rebekah's ploy but wasn't planning on saying anything in fear of getting obliterated by the teenage witch beside her.

     Davina looked at her, "And you?" She asked, "What are you doing here?"

     "Keeping an eye on my sister-in-law so she doesn't do something stupid to warrant a dagger in her chest." Rhea answered, keeping her eyes on Rebekah, "But, she's right. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket with Marcel—he learned everything from Klaus, it's all he knows, even if he won't admit it."

     "You're Rhea." Davina realised, "Elijah spoke about you in the attic. He told me about the only reason he came to New Orleans was to make this place a home for you."

     "Yeah, strange way of showing it when he's chasing his brother around, encouraging his shenanigans." Rhea rolled her eyes, "But, yes, Elijah has no interest in using you. He told me himself that he wants to help you. You're a child, he doesn't want to see you harmed because you're stuck in the middle of a city at war with a power you don't understand. It's why he gave you a page out of his mother's grimoire, he wouldn't share that with just anyone."

Davina looked guilty and nervous from her words and Timothy was by her side almost instantly, "Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay. I mean, you're gonna be all right. Here. Drink something." He says and hands a bottle of water, and Davina drank from it.

"Davina, we have all been lied to and taken advantage of by Marcel and Klaus. Maybe together, we can get a little payback." Rebekah smirked but it fell as Timothy starts coughing and fell to his knees.

Davina was by his side on the ground, "Tim?" She asked with worry.

"It was Klaus. He made me do it. I didn't even know what I was doing until I made you—"

"Made her what?" Rhea snapped.

"Drink." Timothy answered in a quiet voice.

Rhea grabbed the water bottle and sniffed the rim of it, smelling a faint, yet potent scent that wouldn't normally be in water, "Klaus poisoned the water." She realised, completely horrified he would do that to a child—but then again, she remembered what happened in Mystic Falls and it wasn't much different from what happened there. His victim was only much younger than her and her friends.

"Tim?" Davina asked frantically before Davina started to get dizzy too, and she fell to the floor in a coughing fit.

     Rebekah and Rhea returned to the compound with a sleeping Davina in the Original's arms. Davina had survived the attempted poison attempt thanks her Rhea and Elijah's side deal with Marcel, knowing that Klaus would most likely do something to harm Davina as punishment. Thankfully, they had a witch cast a protection spell on her and she survived, but, Timothy did not, and she was heartbroken. When Marcel saw her return, he rushed toward them, "Is she okay?" He asked them.

     Rhea stepped protectively in front of her, "She's devastated and exhausted." She answered solemnly, "She needs sleep and to be away from people who cause her stress. Where's her room?"

     Marcel shook his head and held out his arms for her, "No. I got her. I got her." He says and Rebekah hesitated to give her to him but he took Davina and headed up to her room. Rhea followed after, glaring at Klaus on the way. Marcel laid her on her bed and sighed, "She'll never trust me again." He said, staring at her sleeping form.

     "Maybe. She's been through a lot, and I wouldn't blame her if she didn't." Rhea responded before she hesitatingly laid a hand on his shoulder, "But, if you really care about her like you claim, you won't ever give up on trying to win back her trust when she's ready to open up and be around you. Family always forgives each other eventually... you know that."

     With that, she left Davina's room to go find Elijah, finding him in another room, staring over at the drawings Davina had created from when she was in the attic.

     He had changed out of his bloodied clothes and he had his shirt rolled up to his elbows, and the intense gaze of concentration on his face as she started at the charcoal drawings, only for his expression to turn into a smile as he saw his soulmate walk into the room, "Hi." She greeted.

     "Hi, darling." Elijah said back, placing the drawings down to greet her with a kiss, holding her face in his hands gently, "How was your day?" He asked and she chuckled.

     "Oh, killer." She responded sarcastically, wrapping her arms around his waist, tucking herself into his side, "What are you doing with Davina's drawings?"

     "Marcellus stated that these are different from
the others she drew in the attic. She said they were evil." He explained.

     Rhea's eyebrow raised, "Evil drawings, that's new." She said as she looked down as he had them arranged them in a pattern.

     "I cannot help but wonder if they represent some kind of premonition. They seem to suggest something is coming—something sinister." Elijah thought out loud as he finally finished arranging the sketches, revealing that they are one big sketch of a very familiar looking woman's face.

     Rhea's dark eyes widened when she realised who it was, "Oh, my God. Isn't that..."

     "It's Celeste." Elijah confirmed.

     Unbeknownst to them, Hayley was right in the other room, trying to call Sophie when she realised they had just made a terrible mistake and tried to stop her. However, it just goes to voicemail, "Come on, Sophie. Pick up. Pick up."