𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙍𝙏𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍
ミ★ ( reign of wolves, act two ) ★彡

It was the next day, and Rhea Lockwood was as helping Klaus set up for brunch. After he had left, he had apparently caught up to Freya to speak—a little harshly—about her appearance in town. They had come to a small understanding and Klaus was willing to hear her out. They had set up the dining room and Klaus was waiting in anticipation for Freya's appearance when Elijah arrived to the compound.

"There you are. Finally." Klaus threw his hands up.

Elijah stripped off his coat and hung it up before heading toward Rhea, who was standing by the table, to press a kiss to her head, "I was delayed."

Klaus smiled at them as Rhea turned to Elijah, "Is she okay?" She asked about Rebekah, knowing he was dealing with the witches that were after her again.

"For now." Elijah nodded.

"Our guest of honor will be here momentarily." Klaus informed them.

"Strange, our house is conspicuously absent of our lupine guests. I do hope you haven't killed them off already." Elijah bemused.

Klaus only laughed, "I sent Hayley and her poorly groomed husband off to spend the day with their werewolf brethren to test the limits of their new abilities. Leaving me to deal with family business as I see fit." He explained the absence of the Crescent wolves.

Elijah instantly grew suspicious, "Niklaus, Rebekah's situation has taken a turn. We may need Freya's assistance. So, whatever you are planning here? Don't." He warned his younger brother.

Klaus only rolled his eyes, "All I'm planning is a simple chat with a long-lost relative. You yourself said to hear her out."

"And you yourself said that would be idiocy." Rhea reminded him with narrowed eyes.

"Did I?" He asked with amusement before he feigned as though he was straining to remember when he said it, "Well, it does sound like me. Regardless, on the off-chance Freya has some information that could protect my daughter, I'd prefer she share it on my terms." He then pointed toward his ear, "Ah! I think I hear her now!" He turned to the door just as Freya walked into the dining room, smiling at her brothers and future sister-in-law, "Sister! Well, come in! Come in! Make yourself comfortable."

Freya looked slightly nervous, but smiled warmly at them anyway before her eyes spot a small, round artefact and goes to pull it in her hands to examine it carefully, "This witch-hoop, it's Danish." She realised before looking at Klaus to ask, "Is this from when you all lived in Copenhagen in the 1500s?"

"Quite the eye!" Klaus complimented.

"Forgive me—are we here to discuss family heirlooms, or do we have more pressing concerns?" Elijah asked impatiently.

Klaus held a hand up to his brother, "Please excuse my brother's lack of decorum. He's been in a foul mood of late. But, he is right. I did ask you here in the hopes that you would share some of Dahlia's secrets. So, without further ado, let's get to it!"

The four of them took their seats at the table, which was covered in plates of breakfast food, and Freya cleared her throat awkwardly before she began to speak, "The first thing you should know is that Dahlia is the most powerful witch I've ever seen. She craves more power still. Right now she is like me—limited to one year of life in a century. But, she wants to be free of that restriction. To gain true immortality. And that is why she will come here—drawn by your daughter to take the child's power for herself. And she would kill anyone who would defy her." She started.

"And yet you would defy her?" Elijah spoke, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't have a choice. She will never let me be free. My one chance is to align with you and kill her." Freya shook her head and Elijah looked troubled by this revelation, while Klaus didn't seem convinced.

"Well, now that we're all suitably motivated, let's talk specifics!" Klaus urged.

Freya took in a deep breath, "For you to understand, I need to start from the beginning. After taking me from my family, Dahlia used me to forge a new brand of connective magic, one that augmented my power even as it allowed her to draw from me. Once we were bonded, Dahlia became unstoppable. She wasted no time proving her might. The chief of a nearby village threatened to run us off, accusing Dahlia of witchcraft. She decided to make an example out of the entire encampment—men, women, children. She killed them all with a wave of her hand. That was my first inkling of the power Dahlia had. Over the course of a thousand years, she's only grown stronger." She turned toward Klaus, "And she will bring all her power to bear against you when she comes for your child."

Klaus looked terrified by this revelation. The story is interrupted when Elijah's phone rang. When Elijah saw that it was Rebekah, he immediately turned to Klaus, Rhea and Freya, "Excuse me."

He stepped out into the hall and answered the call, "Rebekah, how are you feeling?"

"As if I walked straight into a brick wall. Any luck with Freya?" She answered.

"Luck is not the word that I would use." He whispered and turned backwards so he could look at Freya, "You should be here."

"Fine. I'm on my way now." She said and then hung up the phone.

Elijah returned to the table and sat back down next to Rhea so Freya could continue her explanation, and it seemed that no one had touched the large amount of food on the table.

"Your stories are fascinating, and Dahlia does indeed sound dreadful, but Elijah and I have killed our fair share of evil witches." Klaus feigned kindness.

Freya shook her head, "Not like her."

Rhea only reached for her tea cup and took a sip before asking, "What are her weaknesses?"

"She's paranoid. Obsessed with power. She hungers constantly for what's been denied her, be it love, or revenge." Freya answered her.

"Yes, I believe we're familiar with the type." Elijah stated as he looked over at Klaus and gave him a knowing look, but Klaus just smirked.

"When I was a child, she would tell me tales of her own youth, being victimised by those stronger than her. Dahlia vowed never to be weak again. She bargained for the firstborn of Esther's bloodline, intending to raise us in her own image, forming a coven of her own from which she could draw endless power. That plan was foiled the day she learned that Esther had ended her bloodline by turning her children into vampires." Freya looked at Klaus, who looked as though he had something to say, but she kept talking, "And so the burden fell to me. Dahlia demanded that I bear the firstborn that would add to her power, but, I would not allow a child of mine to live as I did—as a slave." Her eyes filled with tears, "So, I vowed never to love. Never to have a child of my own."

She started to cry, and Elijah looked as if he felt troubled with the thought of never finding love. If he didn't find Rhea, he wouldn't know how he would've survived the last couple of months, "Of course, the more I resisted, the harder Dahlia fought to control me. 'Til the day that she took the last of what little freedom I had left. She forced me into this eternal life, but in order to receive it; we sleep for a century and wake with a power unlike any that's ever been seen. And so we slept, our magic accruing over time until we woke, filled with immense power and allowed to live a single year of life. That has been the existence I've suffered for the last ten centuries."

Klaus began to laugh fakely, and Freya shot him a glare while Rhea sent him an unimpressed look, "Well, that's quite the ordeal, isn't it? But, it does beg the question: why not end it yourself?"

"Klaus!" Rhea scolded him while Elijah shook his head in disgust at Klaus' words.

"A high enough bridge, a tight enough noose? You must have considered it." Klaus continued, ignoring Rhea's protests and Elijah's disapproving look.

Freya closed her eyes and sighed in frustration before she continued, "Long ago, I did consider it. But, Dahlia would never give me even that freedom." Klaus was surprised by her answer, and almost looked guilty for what he said, "I would later learn that the spell made me like her—immortal and impervious to harm." She laughed bitterly and wiped the tears from her face, "So, you see, I am like you: a creature of great power, cursed for all time."

Rebekah had finally made her way back to the compound, hours later after Elijah had called her and she immediately began to explain what had happened to her to Klaus, Elijah and Rhea anxiously, "It was this witch, Eva! The nocturnal cow is inside of me trying to bust her way out!"

Elijah looked at Klaus expectantly, "Freya is waiting downstairs. Perhaps we shou-"

"Have you lost your mind?" Klaus cut him off, "Tell me we're not considering opening our sister's head to someone we barely know!"

"Nik, for God's sake, she is our sister!" Rebekah scoffed frustratedly, "I've known her since she saved me from the Fauline Cottage."

"An act no doubt meant to secure your trust! Perhaps for this very moment, to strike when we are vulnerable!" Rebekah scowled at Klaus, but he shook his head in refusal, "No, we've no way of knowing that anything she said today is true."

"Klaus, don't be ridiculous. She's your sister and we can all see it—you're the only one that's too paranoid to accept it." Rhea scoffed, "Also, in case you need reminding; all of us are powerless to help Rebekah. Now, either we leave Rebekah to suffer, or we place our faith in the hands of someone that is your blood."

Klaus looked appalled but Elijah looked proud of her standing up to him, "Rhea is right, and I'm also inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to family." Elijah agreed with her and Klaus glared at them all.

"Fine." He grumbled and Elijah went downstairs to grab Freya and bring her upstairs to the living room, where everyone else was waiting for them.

Freya immediately walked toward Rebekah to greet her with a smile, "Rebekah!" The Original vampire stood up and the two squeezed each other's hands, "It's good to see you again."

Rebekah's smile matched Freya's as she said, "And you!" Her face then slightly fell, "Although I'd prefer better circumstances."

The two sat next to each other on the couch while Elijah and Rhea stood off to the side. Klaus was sitting in the corner with a drink, he back turned to them, and obviously pouting due to being overruled by Elijah and Rhea.

"You needn't worry. Elijah explained the problem, and I can help." Freya told her.

"Rather confident, aren't we?" Klaus muttered loudly and Freya turns to look at him, partly amused and partly confused, but when Klaus doesn't even acknowledge her, she just scoffed and turned back to Rebekah.

"The spirit of the host body is powerful, but I can cast a spell." She brushed Rebekah's cheek with her hand, "Put you in a deep sleep, and then suppress this other essence. You'll be just fine."

Rebekah seemed slightly nervous but said, "Lovely. When do we start?"

Klaus groaned at his sister, "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. She spouts off some magical diagnosis, and we are all supposed to applaud?"

"Nik, she's trying to help!" Rebekah snapped with annoyance.

Klaus stood to his feet and walked toward them, "Yes, but for the sake of keeping our options open, why not write down your spells and incantations, that way we can have them double-checked by an impartial third party? Say, Davina? She'd love to prove me wrong." He suggested.

Freya seemed almost offended by his suggestion, "I doubt she'd be able to understand my magic, let alone have the power to execute it." She told him.

"Not to mention she's focusing on bringing Kol back." Rhea reminded him, "She doesn't need you pestering her right now."

"Oh, so, she's my only hope, then?" He scoffed while pointing directly at her, "Seems rather convenient, doesn't it?"

Rebekah looked appalled at Klaus' attitude and rolled her eyes dramatically, and Freya was both hurt and betrayed by it also, "I knew it would be difficult to earn your trust, Niklaus. Your reputation precedes you." Klaus only smiled mockingly at her as she stood and walked toward him, "But, if we are to face Dahlia together, you will have to trust me. Given the peril that Rebekah now faces, are you truly incapable of giving me even a chance to prove myself?"

Klaus rolled his eyes and turned back toward the bar, so Freya addressed Elijah, Rhea and Rebekah instead, "I know I appear as an outsider, but I have dreamt of you all for a thousand years." Rebekah and Elijah shared a glance before they turned back to Freya, "Elijah—when you were in Esther's womb, she would ask me to sing to you. I would feel her belly as I did." She laughed, "How you would kick. She would say it was as if Thor himself had raised his hammer—"

"—And summoned thunder and lightning." He finished her sentence and Elijah was visibly touched that she would remember that memory, "Mother rarely mentioned you, but when she did, she would say how enchanted you were with the prospect of my birth."

"How I wanted more brothers. And a sister more than anything." She looked over at Rebekah, who smiles at her affectionately before he turned to Rhea, "I even thought about the people I'd get to welcome into our family when my siblings fell in love—and I have to say I am impressed so far."

Rhea offered her a smile and reached for Elijah's hand to entwine their fingers while Klaus continued to stew in the corner, upset to be left out from Freya's speech, "But, between Esther and Dahlia, that wish was taken from me. I was ruined by those who raised me. If nothing else, at least we have that in common." She looked over at Klaus, who continued scowling silently across the room, before turning back to Elijah, "There is nothing that can replace what was taken from us. But, I hope we can make something better in its place. All you have to do is trust me."

Before anyone can say anything, Klaus sped over to her and snapped her neck. Rebekah tried to intervene, but she wasn't fast enough, "NIK!" Rebekah snapped furiously.

Rhea stood to her feet, "What the fuck is wrong with you!?" She snarled.

Klaus only smirked, "Well, that's enough of that, don't you think?" He asked them before he dropped Freya's body carelessly onto the ground, and Rebekah, Rhea and Elijah both swarm around him, livid at what he has just done, "Right. Now we can have a proper family meeting."

Rebekah went to check on her, looking over at Klaus furiously while he paced along one side of the room, "Was that absolutely necessary?"

"Oh, please, she was insufferable." Klaus scoffed in response.

Elijah pointed at him with anger and exasperation, "That was ridiculous, even for you!"

"You've only just met her! Let's not get sentimental. Besides, if she was telling the truth about being immortal, she'll awaken shortly. If she was lying, good riddance." He shrugged carelessly.

"Yes. Of course, if she wakes, I'm sure she'll be willing to help us with absolute enthusiasm." Rhea remarked sarcastically, "You've just ran off—or possibly even killed—our best chance at saving Hope from your aunt Dahlia. Or did you forget that none of us stand a chance against a thousand year old powerful witch?" She reminded him with a glare.

Klaus only scoffed, "She played you all for fools! Can you not see that? She spins a sad yarn about a small child taken by an evil witch, and you all fall over yourselves to mend what's broken!"

"No, Klaus. That woman is coming for Hope, whether you like it or not. I'm sure of it." Rhea glared at him, "And if we're to stand a chance against her, we need Rebekah at her best and we need Freya—and that's if she's still willing to help us after what you've just done, you idiot."

"How can you be so certain that she's playing us for fools?" Rebekah questioned him with annoyance.

"Simple—it's exactly what I'd do." Klaus stated and Elijah rolled his eyes in annoyance and knelt down to check on Freya, "My only question now is, what's in it for her?"

"Well, if you listened to her instead of having a sook in the corner; you'd know that she wants freedom and a family for once." Rhea pointed out, "Something we've all wanted our entire lives."

"Well, whatever the truth may be, she's in no position to help us now." Elijah sighed in disdain. They were so close to sorting out their problem and even gaining another family member, but Klaus had ruined it.

Rebekah glared furiously at Klaus, "Well, then we should try Marcel. Perhaps he's had luck on his end?" She turned to Klaus and shot him another glare, "Surely he's put in a better effort."

Rebekah then stormed out of the room to leave for Marcel's apartment, and after a moment, Rhea closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, "You really are an idiot, Klaus." She expressed before turning around to follow after her; Elijah doing the same.

"You know I'm right!" Klaus called out to them loudly and Elijah and Rhea stopped to turn back to face him, Elijah clearly fed up with his attitude, "We can't have an alliance with someone we can't trust."

"You don't trust her, and that is your choice." Elijah stated, unamused, "I only hope that choice comes from a place of reason... not fear." He said before they left, leaving Klaus alone in the living room with Freya's unconscious body.

Elijah had went with Rebekah to go find Marcel while Rhea decided to go home to her apartment that she shared with Elijah. After brunch and with Klaus killing Freya, Rhea just wanted to go home after being swarmed with severe disappointment in her future brother-in-law. It seemed like he just wanted to make everything difficult and refuse any type of help from anyone—even if it meant putting his daughter's safety at risk by making more enemies that are potentially stronger than him... like Freya. She wanted to help but if pushed in the wrong direction, she could easily destroy them all with a flick of her wrist.

Klaus then walked in the room while Rhea was in the middle of cleaning up the main room after she and Elijah had a night-in type of date night the night before. The only mess that was there were a couple of emptied wine glasses and the blankets and pillows on the couch were just a little untidy; but the inner clean-freak in Rhea room wanted it fixed.

"So, this is where you live? It's nicer on the inside." Klaus commented and Rhea only rolled her eyes at him and continued to pick things up and put them away.

"Can I help you, Klaus? Or, did you cross the river purely to critique the décor?" She asked him as she lit the nice smelling candles to make the apartment smell like citrus.

"I thought you might like to know that I was moved by what you and Elijah said about my decision not to trust our long-lost sister. So, I waited until she revived, and when she did, we had quite a chat." Klaus told her and she looked up at him inquisitively.

"And let me guess... we wasted our breath and your opinion remains unchanged." Rhea sent him a sarcastic smile.

Klaus shrugged at her, "I looked into her eyes, and I saw only anger and fear. The will to do whatever it takes to survive, no matter who she hurts. I can use her to my own ends, but I could never allow so damaged a creature to have a say in my plans." He told her.

"You may not trust her, but trust me, Klaus." Rhea cut him off, "If it makes you feel better, we can be more cautious around her like we do with anyone that poses as an ally."

Klaus rolled his eyes at her this time, "Fine. I'll let you pursue it. But, should Freya betray us—"

"If Freya should even attempt to betray us, I will put her in the ground myself." Rhea interrupted him sternly.

"I don't doubt it, little gremlin." Klaus said with amusement and she glared at him for the nickname that she thought he had forgotten. His face then fell to one of seriousness, "But, what if you're too late?" He asked and Rhea sighed in frustration because she thought they were making progress and that she had convinced him, "What if Freya is duplicitous? What if Hope should be harmed through her actions? You will not have to worry if I will never forgive you, because you will never forgive yourself. You will suffer a guilt that will be impossible to endure." Klaus walked over to Rhea and she looked away from him in shame. He was right; if Freya were duplicitous and Hope got hurt, she would never forgive herself, "And that is a terrible fate for one who cannot die."

"Nothing will happen to that child. I love Hope as if she were my own and I will do whatever it takes to protect her... including considering every weapon at our disposal. Dahlia is coming." Rhea insisted as she looked back into his eyes, "The only question is when."