𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔 𝙏𝙃𝙍𝙀𝙀
ミ★ ( reign of wolves, act two ) ★彡

     There are days where Rhea really hated how accustomed she had become to the stench of death in the house. Some days the smell is so thick that you choke on the smell, and there are times where it makes the gums itch in delight because the animalistic side of her knows there's blood right around the corner. But, there was always someone dying in the compound that it was just ignored. She remembered how distraught she felt the first time she killed; how she was practically catatonic for days just replaying that night over and over again, but with every kill, she became more numb.

     Rhea wasn't normally the type to blame bad parenting in her life choices, but her dad really did a number on her when it came to compartmentalising and burying emotions deep down. Richard hated any type of weakness in the house, including any time of emotion besides rage—rage that was used correctly, he liked however. He liked his family practically being like a stone wall with how unemotional he wanted them. It was why she believed she could relate to the Mikaelsons. They both had bad parenting that ended them up the way they were. It was probably how she had become so numb with killing and accepting that she now had a bloodlust.

Rhea guessed that the thought of her acceptance should've made her feel sick, but she couldn't bring herself to. She had done so many bad things and killed so many people that feeling regretful of it now seemed pointless. But, there were people like Hayley that were still in the process of either becoming that way or struggling to accept their new life.

"You've been busy." Is the first thing that comes out of Rhea's mouth after she had followed the stench and trail of blood stains to the bathroom. Hayley had left quite the mess in the home—starting with the puddle of blood on the floor in the courtyard that had a trail of paw prints that turned into human footprints. Those very footprints lead to a dead woman's body that was propped up against the fountain with her neck practically torn off. There were another set of prints that lead to the bathroom, where Hayley was taking a bubble bath; with another body propped up against the wall next to the tub.

"I was having a crappy day," Hayley shrugged and Rhea sent her a pointed look, the newly turned hybrid only let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, "So, Klaus took me to the Cauldron, and wouldn't you know, we ran into some witches!"

"And you decided to bring them here?" Rhea asked her sarcastically, "Where they could come and find their coven member dead and decide to try and kill us for it? We don't need more enemies than we already have, Hayley!" She exclaimed before walking over to the dead body and moved them off of the wall, "Also, I know you're in your 'I don't care about anything' phase, but, could you not leave dead, bleeding bodies against the paint? It's a pain to get out and I know you're not going to clean up after yourself." Hayley rolled her eyes at her again as Rhea stepped over the body to grab her a towel, "Also, hurry up and get out. We have things to do today." She said while holding out the white fluffy towel to her.

"Oh, don't judge me, Rhea!" Hayley scoffed when she stood up, Rhea not even flinching at her bubble-covered naked body, "What I did is no worse than anything you or Klaus have ever done."

"I would hope you wouldn't be able to do anything as bad as he could considering he's a thousand years old and you're only twenty-one. Me, on the other hand, I've never really been a good person." Rhea retorted, "And again, we're trying to sort the Quarter out so we can bring Hope home, not make more enemies."

"Those witches tried to kill my baby, and to me, they are worth nothing more than food." Hayley said back and Rhea rolled her eyes at how anything she was saying to her was going in one ear and out the other, "And now that I'm a hybrid, I have a werewolf temper to go with my new appetite."

"Believe me, I'm well aware about it." Rhea grumbled as Hayley got out of the tub and moved passed her to change. Rhea waited as she heard the door close to the wardrobe before she walked out of the room.

     "You took Hayley on a witch hunt!?" Rhea snapped at Klaus as she stormed into the study where he was, currently having a drink in his hand like the world was at peace and there was absolutely nothing wrong.

     Klaus only shrugged, "I simply wanted to persuade those witches to locate the white oak stake for me. When they proved unable to do so, I let Hayley have her fun."

     She blinked at him in surprise, "Are you really that blind that you can't see that she's falling apart?" Rhea sputtered.

     "Hayley is one of us now. Being a vampire only exaggerates what you truly are, and you of all people know wolves are wild things. Your judgment only hurts her more." Klaus responded and she raised her hands up and choked the air to imitate as if she was choking him.

     "You're supposed to help her—"

     "I am helping!" Klaus shouted as he rose to his feet, Rhea didn't even flinch and she could only laugh because once upon a time she would've, "You should have seen her last night! Covered in witches' blood and smiling from ear to ear! She is embracing this. A little less criticism from you, and Hayley will be just fine."

     "You're helping?" Rhea scoffed sarcastically as she crossed her arms, "You weren't there when she broke down to me saying how much she hated what she had become—how much she hated how different becoming a hybrid made her feel. She sobbed because she missed the purity of being a wolf, and this?" She hissed, pointing at the door where Hayley was, "This is doing exactly the thing that is breaking her."

     Klaus' jaw clenched as he glared at her meddling, "She is fine—"

"She's not fucking fine, Klaus!" Rhea snapped, "And even if she was—which she isn't—fine isn't good enough. She needs to be reminded of who she was, not who you're trying to mould her to be. You need to take her to the Bayou and find any remaining Crescent wolves. Maybe her people can reach her. She needs a connection to something like her humanity—or some dignity apart from what we can give her."

"What do you know about that?" Klaus retorted, "You speak like you know what Hayley is going through and how she feels about being a hybrid, when in reality you're trying to push your agenda on to her to try and make her 'better'." He mocked, "It's a bit hypocritical, don't you think? Since you're a killer yourself. Is it because you don't want her being better than you in the only thing you're good at?"

Rhea's jaw clenched in return, "I'm choosing to ignore that last part because I know you're trying to get a rise out of me to deflect from this conversation." She stated. She knew Klaus better than he realised and she wasn't going to let him manipulate her to avoid tough conversations, "But, you're right; a lot of the time I really don't get it—I don't understand to the full extent what Hayley is going through with her transition, Klaus, since I was just a werewolf for only a couple of months before you killed me and made me into this. But, I can see how much it means to Hayley, and you are taking advantage of her trauma and straying her further away from herself to suit your agenda."

The both of them stood staring—or more like glaring—at each other for a short moment before Rhea let out an annoyed sigh, "Just—just take her to the Bayou, okay? It'd be good for her to remember that she's more than 'just one of us'." She requested in a calmer voice, "Maybe then she'll be more focused on making New Orleans safer and then we can bring Hope home."

At the mention of Hope, Klaus' eyes softened and he relaxed. Rhea wasn't intentionally attacking him because she was annoyed—she was attacking him because his methods were only making it harder to bring his daughter home. They were making more enemies than allies and it would mean more people that would try to come for the most vulnerable one of them. Eventually it would be too hard to keep track and she would be stuck away from them forever.

Everyone just wanted Hope back, that much was clear.

"Okay." He relented with a sigh.

     "Hey, what's going on?" Rhea asked with slight confusion, her eyebrows furrowed tightly as she approached her fiancé and his adoptive nephew, "Why'd you bring me out here?"

     Elijah was watching two older gentlemen playing chess outside on the side of a street with Marcel by his side, "I have entrusted Marcellus to help us find the White Oak stake; and in turn, we need Davina in order to locate the weapon. Since she doesn't particularly like myself or anyone with the Mikaelson name, I assumed she would warm up to the idea if you were asking for it alongside her trusted friend."

     Rhea bit on her bottom lip, "Elijah, that's putting me in a very awkward position." She stated, "Our friendship isn't exactly strong. I don't want to ask too much of her."

     "She cares about you and if you ask her to help you, she would." Elijah told her.

     Marcel sighed, "He's right. She does." He admitted even though it physically pained him to agree out loud with him. His dark eyes then looked at the Original, "But, seeing your face, she won't help us. So, by the time she gets here, you need to be gone."

     "I'm not going anywhere or leaving Rhea vulnerable out in the open until I know the whereabouts of the stake." Elijah refused, shaking his head. With her dying recently, he didn't want to let her out of his sight in case it happened again—especially if the weapon that could kill her and him was out and possibly in enemy hands.

     "Then stay hidden." Rhea pleaded, "You asked me to help but I can't if she's too distracted with wanting to set you on fire because your face makes her angry."

Elijah let out a displeased sigh at her suggestion but he knew his face would indeed anger her and the conversation would go astray from what they would need. He didn't trust Davina entirely even though Rhea did and didn't want to leave her alone with the young witch, "Fine," he relented and Rhea let out a breath of relief, "But, I will be right around the corner—watching, so, if I see any sign that you might be harmed, I will intervene, okay?" He compromised.

She nodded her head, "Okay." She agreed before reaching up on her tippy toes to press a kiss to his lips, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Rhea smiled lovingly at him before a smirk appeared on her face as she playfully shoved his arm, "Now, go." She ordered, "And try not to kill anyone."

Elijah kissed her head and murmured, "No promises." Rhea chuckled as he disappeared.

Marcel turned to her, "I've literally never seen him agree to anything he doesn't like so quickly."

Rhea shrugged, "He loves me too much to want to see me unhappy." She told him, "He wants to keep me safe—and I know that's his upmost priority—but, he also wants to make me happy."

"It's just strange to see." Marcel stated, "He doesn't even do things like that for Klaus, and he's his brother and they've been as thick as thieves for over a thousand years."

Rhea only smirked, "Klaus may be his brother but I'm his soulmate, Marcel. If you ever get the chance to have one yourself one day, you'll understand."

Marcel offered her a smile, "I hope so."

     Marcel and Rhea had moved to a café that was down the street from where they had originally met. They also wanted to move away from Rousseau's, just in case there were any prying ears that could overhear the fact that the White Oak stake exists and it's open for the taking. Davina walked over toward them with a smile, "Hey! Long time, little D!" Marcel greeted her as he stood up from his seat with his arms open wide for a hug, his chair scraping against the floor as he pushed it out.

"I got your message. What's going on?" The witch asked, looking in between him and Rhea. The two of them weren't exactly close so she didn't know what was going on to expect them to be wanting to meet her together.

"Come on, I don't get a hug?" Marcel jokingly frowned and Davina laughed as she moved to hug him, the two holding the embrace for a moment before they let go and Davina hugged Rhea as well.

"It's good to see you guys." Davina spoke.

Rhea offered a smile, "Yeah, we haven't really gotten out much these days." She says and Davina sent her a sympathetic smile, remembering how much the Mikaelsons took a hit after losing the baby. She didn't necessarily like any of them sans for Rhea and Hayley, but, it didn't mean that she didn't feel for them after finding out that it was her old coven that sacrificed the baby, "But, never mind that. How's school? Make any new friends?" Rhea questioned excitedly.

Davina shrugged, a small hint of a blush on her face as she said, "I don't know. This one guy asked me out... but then, he stood me up."

"He stood you up?" Rhea asked in disbelief while Marcel scoffed, "Is he stupid or insane?"

Davina laughed at her and Marcel pointed at her, "Say the word, and he's dead." He joked and Davina laughed once more in delight. His face then turned to one of seriousness, "Okay, I hate to ask for a favour, but... I need a locator spell. Something's missing... a White Oak stake that's powerful enough to kill an Original."

Davina's smile fell and she looked both horrified and betrayed at what she had just heard. Her eyes almost turned accusingly as she sneered, "Did one of them put you up this?" She asked her father figure, as if they were all on seperate sides.

"Davina, I know you don't like him but if that stake is used on Klaus, every vampire he's sired dies, too. Including Marcel, me, Josh and a lot of other vampires that don't deserve it." Rhea softly reminded her.

Davina but her lip, trying to find an excuse to not give herself away. So, she lied, "I know. But, what if I do find it? I mean, I—I'm not just gonna give it to Klaus! He and Elijah are both brutal, sadistic monsters!"

"Careful, D." Marcel warned, knowing how dangerously protective Rhea could get when it came to her soulmate and she could get set off just by someone saying the wrong thing about him.

"Hey, please watch what you say about Elijah around me. I'm very protective over him, Davina, and I don't want to lose control about it." Rhea reminded her a bit more firmly, "And you might be angry and vengeful against him and Klaus—and it is your right for you to feel that way—but, would you be able to handle the guilt of letting those people die because of revenge against two people?"

"But, it's Klaus!" She snapped.

"And despite that, you and I both have an excellent reason to find that weapon. I want to protect what family I have left, and you want to protect your friends—I also have friends that would be affected if that stake ended up in the wrong hands." Rhea told her, "You don't have to speak to them directly, but we should work together to sort this out."

"No." Davina refused coldly.

Marcel turned worried and something almost registered in Rhea's mind because of her response, "Davina, just—" Marcel started.

"No!" Davina stood, "No, I'm—I'm done listening. For a long time, the Mikaelsons have had all the power. They manipulate and kill anyone who gets in their way. That time's over. From now on, they can know what it is to be afraid." Davina then stormed off and Marcel let out a sigh while Rhea angrily rested her chin in her hands, with her elbow resting on the table as she tried to think her thoughts through.

Elijah entered the cafe seconds later, "How did it go?" He asked them. He was close enough that he could hear every word, and wanted to intervene when things got intense but he'd to trust that Rhea had it under control. He didn't know Davina that well so he wasn't sure if the interaction with her went well or not in their eyes.

"We pissed her off." Marcel stated as he shook his head, annoyed at himself.

"I don't think it's just that." Rhea stated and they turned to her, confused. She licked her lips and sat up straighter before she tried to explain, "Davina cares for you—not so much me now. She's so protective of you and Josh that she would do anything to make sure you weren't harmed, including working with the people she hates most, but, even after mentioning the danger we face, she didn't even react protectively for them—she reacted defensively for herself."

"What are you trying to say?" Marcel asked her, still slightly confused as to what she was insinuating.

"I think that Davina not only knows where the stake is—but, I think she's the one that has it. She's had it all along." Rhea assumed and Marcel's eyes widened while Elijah looked proud of how she quickly pieced it all together, "That's why she was so calm about you not being harmed. Because if it's in her hands, she knows the stake won't be used unless extremely provoked or she's figured out a way to keep you safe from the sireline kicking in."

"Then you know the stake is safe." Marcel stated, "Davina won't use it on Klaus if it would kill me."

"But, she has no reason whatsoever not to use it on me." Elijah responded sarcastically, "Her loyalty and friendship with Rhea wont be enough to stop her from trying to kill me."

Rhea's jaw clenched as Marcel grinned, "I guess you better behave."

"And how long before someone else should make this discovery? What if it falls into enemy hands?" Elijah argued again.

The couple could tell that Marcel was unable to argue against this point and becomes slightly more concerned about their predicament, "Huh." He huffed, "I'll get her to give the stake back! Alright? Just give me some time." He offered.

Elijah went to open his mouth but Rhea quickly cut in, "And we'll give you time." She told him kindly before her face fell, "But, you know as well as I that the stake cannot fall into the wrong hands—and if Davina becomes that person that points it towards Elijah, I won't be able to hold myself back from trying to stop her, even if that means I have to hurt her."

With those last words, Rhea stood up and left the cafe with Elijah in tow.

Rhea had returned home after that. She didn't want to stick around while Marcel and Elijah stayed behind to try and speak with Davina to get the stake back. Rhea did truly care about Davina, but she couldn't fathom being around her when there was a chance that Davina planned on killing Elijah and his entire sireline with the White Oak stake. Her instincts were driving her crazy and she feared she would do something rash before she could control herself—her need to protect her family was too strong. The thought of Elijah dying made her physically sick and she just couldn't be around the person that wanted to kill the most important person in her world.

     Klaus was in a bad mood when he came home and he went straight to his art room. Rhea left him alone, she didn't want to bother him with her own bad mood and make it worse; she figured he needed his alone time with his art in order to calm himself before he returned to civilisation again. Otherwise if it didn't, bad things would've happened to anyone around him.

     Eventually, Rhea went down to the wine cellar to find a bottle of wine to unwind. It had its perks of being over a thousand years old because they had the best collection of vintage wines and the most lush ones. She loved wine—she got that from her mother—but since becoming a hybrid, she tended to yield towards a different type of red liquid to quench her thirst.

     At hearing the sound of the cork being popped, Klaus appeared down into the cellar with her, a solemn look on his face as he silently asked for a glass of his own by pushing an empty one toward her. Rhea shook her head. It wasn't a glass type of night as she just handed him the bottle instead. Klaus looked at her with a raised eyebrow, thinking she wanted him to pour it but she only brought the bottle up to her lips and took a swig of it.

     "Oh." He mumbled and Rhea winked at him before handing him the bottle again, to which he did the same thing that she had done previously.

     The two sat in the wine cellar, drinking in silence for a while, just finding comfort in each other's company but not daring to ask about it. It was how they coped—silently and by themselves usually, but it did help having another presence in the room. They stayed that way until Elijah came home. He found his brother and soulmate in the cellar, silently drinking straight from the bottles while clean and empty glasses laid around the tables among the various now-empty bottles of wine.

     Rhea stood as she almost instantly noticed how he was clearly upset and anxious about something but Klaus was too distracted to notice right away, "It's worse than we thought." Klaus started as he walked towards the wine rack to pick another bottle up, broke the neck off of it and drank a large gulp before he continued, "I met the witch, Cassie. I studied her—her presence, the way she carried herself, the fervor with which she voiced her hatred of our kind. I looked into that girl's eyes, and, I swear to you, Elijah, she's not just guided by our mother. She is our mother."

     "What is happening?" Elijah whispered, completely flabbergasted by the revelation of his brothers' and his own encounter with his father earlier in the day. Rhea's eyes also widened at the idea of Esther Mikaelson returning to the land of the living.

     "I'm going to kill her." Klaus' nostrils flared furiously, "I will boil her bones and feed them to the dogs, if that's what it takes."

     "Klaus, calm down." Rhea tried nervously. She was also nervous of accidentally running into her considering the last time she was alive, she tried to kill all her children—and in turn, every sired vampire that ever lived.

     "Niklaus—" Elijah tried to interrupt also.

     "What?" Klaus snapped in a panicked tone, "What could possibly be more important than the return of our mother?"

     Elijah sighed as he answered, "...Our father." Rhea gasped and Klaus stiffened, "I saw him standing there in the flesh as you do now. He was enslaved with some spell cast by Davina. He holds the stake. If she chooses to release him..."

     Rage filled Rhea. Davina knew how much Elijah meant to her and she now held two weapons that could kill him—the stake and Mikael. She poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue, holding back the urge to tear into Davina's neck right then and there and stop this madness before it continued on any further, "So both your parents—who have a vengeance against all of you—and the stake are now in New Orleans?" She grit, "Why the fuck are we still here? Let's get the hell out of here, grab Hope and live somewhere where they won't find us."

     "Running isn't the answer." Elijah shook his head.

     "Well, running kept Katherine alive for five hundred years and it kept you alive for a thousand—running sounds a whole lot better than dying at the hands of my future mother and father-in-law." Rhea retorted.

     Determination washed over Klaus' features as he understood both arguments before he said, "Well, then there's only one question we need to ask, isn't there? Which of our parents do we kill first?"