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

Having tension in the room during breakfast seemed to become the norm lately. Klaus Mikaelson usually loved to hold a meal during inappropriate times where they face an enemy or to celebrate; while the rest of the family didn't necessarily agree with each other's previous actions. Like currently, where the siblings were at a disagreement with how Klaus handled killing his father and driving away their best chance at killing Dahlia—otherwise known as his eldest sister, Freya. Klaus was drinking a mimosa, seeming quite pleased with himself with successfully killing his step-father again; hence the large spread that was placed in front of them all. Either he didn't care for the disapproved glances and the tension in the air, or he didn't even notice it all together.

Either instance, Elijah was not happy with his brother.

Klaus let out an annoyed sigh when he had enough of Elijah's glaring, "Is something the matter, brother? Can I fix you a drink, perhaps?" He asked him as he sipped his own drink with a smirk.

      Elijah just rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Strangely enough, Klaus, I'm not in a mimosa mood." He responded and Rhea let out a sigh as she noticed the interaction was going south very quickly with their passive aggressive tone.

Rhea needed that mimosa.

"Fantastic! More for me." Klaus grinned as he took another sip of his drink and Rhea rolled her eyes at him this time.

"Let's discuss strategy, shall we, Niklaus?" Elijah suggested, "Just wondering if you actually have one. We can begin with Mikael's ashes—given that they are the main ingredient in our weapon against Dahlia, would you care to tell me where they disappeared to?"

Klaus set down his drink, looking annoyed before he plastered a fake smile on his face, "Elijah! I have compelled the city's finest pastry chef for your own personal edification, and yet, you ignore my efforts in favor of needless concerns!"

"That's one way to deflect from answering the question." Rhea said to Klaus, to which he winked at her in response.

Rebekah then walked into the room, clearly hungover from the night before as she looked tired and cling to her head from the pain of a headache, "Can we stop talking so loudly?" She groaned and then sighed in relief once she spotted the pot of coffee, "Give me that." She said as she walked over to pour herself a mug.

Klaus smiled in amusement at his sister's state, "What's the matter? New witch body not up to last night's bender?"

Rebekah only rolled her eyes at him, "So? I had a few." She responded as she sat down at the opposite end of the table from Klaus, "It's not every day you lose your father at the hands of your brother. Again."

Klaus laughed heartily at her, "Whoever said opportunity only knocks once, eh?" Elijah and Rebekah only stared blankly at him while Rhea coughed awkwardly. Klaus scoffed at them, "Oh, come on! We all fled Mikael's tyranny together for centuries! I would have thought the mood this morning might be a bit more jubilant!"

"Under normal circumstances, the annihilation of our father would be rather commendable, Niklaus. Unfortunately, we have a greater threat to contend with." Elijah reminded him with a glare.

Klaus hopped to his feet to pour himself another drink, "You know, for someone who's been invited to a celebratory breakfast, you're proving quite the buzzkill."

Elijah sighed deeply at him, "Well, Niklaus, if anything indeed has killed the 'buzz', as you say, perhaps it was because murdering father alienated the one person who truly knows how to defeat Dahlia!" He exclaimed.

Klaus threw his hands up at how difficult his brother was being, "If Freya wants to be part of this family, she should be willing to accept us, warts and all!"

"Coming from the person who daggers his siblings when he refuses to accept their own said... warts." Rhea commented and Klaus sent her a warning glare for her pointing out his hypocrisy. She only shrugged innocently at him in return. It needed to be said. "Either way, Elijah's right. It's clear that Freya loved Mikael. And to be fair, she probably didn't know anything about the asshole he truly was—we all saw how strangely affectionate he was with her."

"And you've likely ruined everything." Rebekah added with a snappy glare.

Klaus rolled his eyes petulantly as he went to sit back down in his chair, "Pity. Whatever shall I do?"

"Whatever you please, apparently!" Elijah snapped with aggravation.

Klaus then angrily slammed his hand against the table, "Do not mistake my high spirits for lack of clarity! I know full well the threat we face. And, I intend to deal with it—personally." Elijah gave him an annoyed and skeptical look, but their conversation is interrupted by the sound of high heels clacking loudly against the stone floor in the next room. Klaus was immediately unnerved of the noise, "Someone's here."

He quickly stood to his feet and rushed into the courtyard as Elijah, Rhea and Rebekah follow behind him slowly. Upon entering, they find Josephine, who was wearing a conspicuously-placed velvet choker around her neck that made Rhea's head tilt considering she's never seen her wear anything like it before.

Josephine looked at them calmly as they approached her, "Josephine." Rhea greeted her with confusion before putting a hospitable smile on, "We weren't expecting you here today, I'm sorry."

Josephine smiled at her, "Forgive me for calling so early, but, I've come bearing a message from your aunt Dahlia." She told them and Rhea stiffened at the name, causing Elijah to immediately place her behind him protectively, "She is owed a debt, and she means to be paid."

Klaus gave her a fake smile, "She can writhe in Hell first."

The LaRue witch looked at him with a eerie look in her eye as she tilted her head, "For merely taking what your mother promised her?" Klaus' fake smile fell at her words and it turned into a glare, "If you must harbor hatred, isn't it better spent on the one who traded your child away a thousand years ago? Blame Esther, if you must, but I seek only to fulfill a bargain. A bargain that, consequently, resulted in your very existence. Perhaps you should be thanking me?"

Elijah, Klaus, Rhea and Rebekah all began to scowl and glare at her as Elijah stepped toward her, staring at her intently, "Dahlia." He realised—Josephine was being possessed.

Dahlia grinned, "My child—I prefer Aunt Dahlia."

"You don't deserve the niceties." Rhea scowled at her.

Klaus took a deep breath and walked toward her until they were face to face, "You dare enter my home?"

Dahlia sighed with boredom, "I only came for what is mine." She stated but as she spoke, the spell that reanimated Josephine's body began to weaken, and her throat began to bleed profusely from underneath her choker which made Rhea grimace at the sight, "The time has come to add the child's power to my own. Though, I do not detect her here. I see you've used a spell to cloak her. No matter—such spells will yield, as will you. Say your farewells. You have 'til nightfall tomorrow, and then the child shall be mine. Be a dear and inform the mother? No reason we can't be civilised about this."

Klaus smirked at Dahlia and gave Elijah a look before completely losing his temper and chopping her in the neck, decapitating her and sending her head flying across the courtyard. Both Rebekah, Rhea and Elijah look horrified about what they've just heard, but Klaus smiled as he looked at Josephine's lifeless body on the floor.

If there was another thing that became the norm... it was that breakfast was also always ruined.

Freya was up in the bell tower of the church, where she had moved the memorial for Mikael from the cemetery to a table, which, like the rest of the room, was filled with lit white candles. After a moment, she paused when she senses someone behind her and called out to them without turning around, "I had a feeling I would be seeing you two."

Elijah and Rhea stepped out of the shadows, holding hands, and joined her in front of the memorial, "Hi." Rhea smiled and Freya sent her one back.

"I understand you built a marker for father. I wish to contribute this." Elijah stated and he held out his other hand to show her a small hunting knife in a sheath.

Freya took it from him and removed it from its sheath to examine it, and seemed surprised to see the blade as she looked up at him, "How did you...?"

"Niklaus stole it from Mikael long ago. He used it to carve these tiny little wooden figurines for Rebekah and myself." Elijah explained, "Like your own, his was not a happy childhood. Art was something of a sanctuary for Niklaus. It remains so to this day."

Freya's surprised look turned to a glare at the mention of Klaus, "Do you tell me this so I might sympathise with him, as you do incessantly?" She sneered and Elijah looked at her curiously, "I assume Rebekah gave you my ultimatum."

"She did." Rhea nodded, recalling the newly turned witch telling them that Freya had approached her and told them to make a choice between her and Klaus—which Elijah would never accept, "And we won't make that choice, unfortunately."

"I will not trust my freedom to an alliance with Klaus!" Freya hissed, "Which means you will fight Dahlia alone, and you will lose." Rhea sighed. Freya was truly a Mikaelson with her stubborn tendencies.

"You came to us—tired of running, desperate to be free, and searching for the kind of strength that can only come from family." Elijah reminded her calmly and Freya gave him a look, although it's clear she knows he's right, "Now, with or without you, we will defeat Dahlia, and we would prefer you to be on our side."

Freya blinked in offence, "You would ask me to stay and watch as we all become Dahlia's chattel?"

Elijah walked toward Freya, letting go of Rhea's hand and stared her in the eye, "Stay, and we will defeat Dahlia together. Or, you may leave, and consign yourself to a life of solitude. My sister, is there really any choice?"

Freya sighed in frustration, but knew that in the end, she had to side with him if she were to stand a chance against her maternal aunt, "Swear to me that you will not allow Klaus to be our undoing."

Elijah paused for a moment, not saying anything and Rhea offered a weak shrug, "That has been the game plan all along."

After getting an urgent call from Hayley, Rhea met her at the safe house; as did Elijah after he tried to speak with Klaus about rejoining the cause with Freya. Apparently, Dahlia had been quite busy today and held her own confrontation with Hayley about her handing over Hope to her, "Why did you only call us now?" Rhea asked, "You shouldn't of been alone with her."

"I tried to call all of you! But, since Dahlia was able to take down both Klaus and Mikael, I'm guessing that a cell phone tower was a piece of cake." Hayley snapped and Rhea shrugged, the excuse making sense to her.

"And where were the wolves who stood guard?" Elijah asked her unhappily as he looked around for the wolves who were supposed to be looking after them.

"Getting their asses handed to them by Dahlia, just like Klaus did." Hayley said with frustration.

Klaus then walked into the club and pointed at Hayley, "That's it—you're coming with me to the compound."

"Where Dahlia sent Josephine this morning? No way!" Hayley snapped incredulously, "We'd be sitting ducks, just like we will be here as soon as that spell breaks." She then sighed, "Which is why we have to go."

Rhea and Elijah looked at her in alarm and Klaus didn't seem happy about the news either, "Why?" Rhea tried to ask calmly.

"Jackson is out getting supplies, and then we're taking the wolves and we're headed to the Bayou." Hayley answered and Rhea sputtered at how stupid the plan sounded.

"The swamp?" Klaus asked, unamused, "So my child can be protected by the very wolves Dahlia so easily defeated? Absolutely not!"

Hayley shoved past Elijah, shoulder-checking him in the process, and aggressively got in Klaus' face, "You know, I am so over taking advice from you, Klaus. All it has done so far is put Hope in danger. From now on, I am going to do what I want to do. We're leaving."

Hayley went to push past Klaus as well, but he shoved her backwards to stop her and point at her, "You're not going anywhere unless I tell you to."

"I am not your prisoner, Klaus!" Hayley yelled furiously.

Elijah sighed and held his hands up, "Both of you, please—we're playing into Dahlia's hands." He tried.

"Not doing as I say plays into her hands!" Klaus argued, "While you two have been kow-towing to Freya and devising ways to flee with your tail between your legs, I've been forging a new path. I know what Freya was planning, and I know how to kill Dahlia."

"How?" Rhea asked.

"Freya objected to us making a single weapon because it spoiled her plan." He started but was interrupted by the sound of Jackson's angry voice calling out from the entrance hall.

"KLAUS!" Jackson roared furiously and they all turned to look at Jackson, who came in with Aiden's body over his shoulder and another werewolf guard following behind him.

"Jack?" Hayley called out, recognising his voice and wondering what was wrong.

"KLAUS!" Jackson only roared again.

It was then that Hayley saw Aiden's body and gasped in horror, "Oh, my God." Jackson and the other werewolf placed Aiden's body on a table in the next room, and Klaus, Rhea and Elijah follow Hayley in to investigate, "What happened?"

"Klaus made Aiden spy on us. Instead, he told me everything—" Jackson turned to Klaus and gave him a mutinous look, "—so you killed him and left his body in an alleyway for anyone to find!"

Klaus looked at Aiden's body with a blank face, and Hayley looked at Klaus with a look of betrayal, "You killed one of the wolves sworn to protect our daughter?" She, Jackson, and the other werewolf stare Klaus down, and Elijah looked at Klaus, not sure what to believe.

There was just a nagging feeling at Rhea that she couldn't shake, there was something not right about that accusation. Normally she would've been all for believing that Klaus would do something like that, but he wouldn't do anything to jeopardise Hope—especially if that meant not harming any of the wolves that were sworn to protect her. Klaus looked upset for a brief moment that she would believe that, but then pushed it down and lied, "So what if I did?" He asked and pointed at Aiden's body, "This is what happens to anyone who dares cross me!"

"This isn't something to be fucking proud of, Klaus." Rhea hissed at him but her glare turned to one of the werewolves that told Jackson to give the order and he would attack Klaus.

"Yes! Come and have a go!" Klaus shouted, "But you'll be putting your life on the line for one who is all too willing to betray you. Perhaps this never would have happened if he'd had a real alpha."

Jackson lunged for Klaus and punched him in the face, which is all the invitation Klaus needed to fight back with all his pent-up rage but Rhea intervenes and pushes them off of each other, "Don't even fucking think about it." She warned the both of them harshly and she glared at Jackson, "Do you wish to die?" She asked him and betrayal flashed across his face that she would take his side.

Hayley grew furious at the warning, "You wanna kill me, too, Rhea?" She asked, since if Jackson died, she would too.

"I don't particularly want to considering I've grown to like you, but this is not the time to turn against each other with Dahlia coming." Rhea reminded the other hybrid.

Klaus smirked, "You lot should make better use of your time. I suggest burying your dead." He taunted and Rhea turned to look at him with a glare since his comments were not helping whatsoever.

"GET. OUT!" Hayley roared with rage at him and Rhea had to practically hold her back from attacking Klaus.

"Niklaus, you mentioned a plan. I recommend you begin." Elijah suggested, "Hayley and Hope are safe for the time being and not going anywhere."

Klaus only smirked smugly at Hayley and the werewolves, "Shan't be long." He whispered before turning to walk away.

The nagging feeling didn't leave Rhea and then suddenly, she remembered.

"Do you think I was the target of those bombings?" Hayley asked as they walked along the streets of New Orleans to celebrate the life of Father Kieran.

"Of course you were the target!" Klaus answered her, "Were I to wage a war on the wolves, you'd be my first kill!" Hayley sent him a glare, "I would string you up, for all your worshipers to see." He said fondly, pointing up at the balconies of the other houses in the French Quarter as they walked by them.

     It was in that moment, she knew she needed to follow after him, "Stay here." Rhea told the rest of them and walked after Klaus. It didn't take long to find him since he was using human speed and he was still out the front of the safe house when she got there herself, "You didn't kill Aiden, didn't you?" She yelled out to him and he stopped walking dead in his tracks.

He sighed before turning to face her, "What makes you think I didn't?" He asked, putting a facade on that she could see through.

"Because I know you better than you think." Rhea crossed her arms, "I remembered Father Kieran's funeral and how you said to Hayley that if you were to try and send a message; you'd string her body along the balconies of Bourbon Street for her worshippers to see." Rhea told her and Klaus huffed a laugh at the memory and how crass he was, "Then I realised that you love the dramatics—you wouldn't kill Aiden and dump his body in an alleyway for just anyone to find. If anything, the kill is too... lazy."

     Klaus seemed almost relieved that she didn't jump to believe that he would kill Aiden; he was relieved that she knew him better, "You're right. I didn't."

     "Then why did you lie?" Rhea asked him softly, taking a step toward him, "Why do you insist on pushing everyone away and making them fear and hate you?"

     "If I've spilled Crescent blood, then Hayley will be forced to question her pack's loyalty to Hope, and she will not run." Klaus answered.

     "Right. If they want revenge on you, she can't trust them to protect Hope in the Bayou." Rhea breathed in realisation.

     "Only we can save her and I need them to fear me." Klaus added, "I need them to believe I'm the monster they would paint me as."

     "But, in doing that, what do you lose in the process?" Rhea asked him but Klaus couldn't answer.

Rhea was back at the compound later that night, picking up Hope's toys from where she was playing with her aunt in her old nursery when Hayley walked into the room, looking furious, "Nice job today." She remarked angrily, "First Klaus kills Aiden, and then you defend him?"

"Don't start with me, Hayley." Rhea breathed out, "I'm not in the mood."

     "Klaus killed Aiden!" Hayley persisted, "And you don't even care—you protected him from getting what he deserved!"

     "Oh, for God's sake, Hayley, he didn't kill Aiden." Rhea snapped at her, "And the fact that you believe he would endanger Hope like that shows you don't know him at all which is disappointing."

     Hayley's jaw clenched at her for doubling down instead of backing down, "Yeah? Well, if that's true, then what happens now? Somehow, I don't think that Klaus is going to be able to save us from Dahlia." She remarked sarcastically, not really believing her and thinking she was crazy for thinking that Klaus was the good guy.

     "He loves her. We all do." Rhea assured her sternly, "He'll do anything to protect her if you just give him the chance."

     Hayley sent her a desperate look and lowered her voice to a whisper, "We have a chance if you and Elijah let us leave."

     Rhea grew stunned at her request, "Are you crazy!?" She whisper yelled, "If you went to the Bayou, we can't protect you from Dahlia—or Klaus once he finds out you left. He'll kill us all!"

     "We have a way to keep Hope from doing magic. Dahlia won't be able to track us down." Hayley admitted and Rhea could only blink at her in shock at how much she had thought this through, "Jackson knows every inch of the Bayou—he can protect us. And I know that Marcel will help us get out of the city. The only thing standing in our way is you and Elijah."

     Rhea let took in a deep breath to contain her rage and ran a hand through her hair before looking at her friend sternly, "Hayley, think about this. Think about what you are fucking telling me, and how stupid it is." Rhea begged and Hayley looked offended that she was disagreeing with her, "The wolves were able to hide in the Bayou for so long and survive because they were up against witches who couldn't practice magic and vampires who were terrified of getting bitten. This is Dahlia—a powerful witch that has a lot of magic. If you go into the Bayou, you're unprotected. You're unprotected from Dahlia and you're unprotected from the very vengeful, Klaus Mikaelson. What you are suggesting is a terrible idea—and what the hell do you think I'd be able to do?"

     "We know we can't run from Dahlia and hide from Klaus at the same time." Hayley admitted and Rhea threw her hands up in the air that she was finally getting a hint, "But, if you and Elijah really want to protect us like you say? Buy us some time."

     Hayley then turned and walked back over to see Jackson, leaving Rhea to consider her options. But, something tells her, no matter how much time she had to evaluate; she knew it was still going to be a bad idea.

     Klaus was teaching Rhea how to paint in his art room. The younger hybrid had asked him if she could teach her so she could surprise Elijah with a portrait for their wedding gift as she knew her husband-to-be held a great appreciation for art—as did his brother. Klaus was happy to oblige and they often had lessons whenever they could; and Klaus was happy to considering he knew his sireling was a quick learner, "Hayley's still thinking about leaving, you know?" Rhea muttered as she painted shadows onto the canvas with the paintbrush in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other.

     "She won't." Klaus sounded so sure of himself.

     "She's seriously considering it though." Rhea insisted, "She really thinks you killed Aiden and wants to leave because she's scared of you."

     "But, you know I didn't kill him and that's all that matters." Klaus said back and Rhea sighed at him being so difficult.

     "I'm not the mother of your child. Thank God." Rhea muttered to herself exasperatedly, "And nor would I ever want to be with the stress you give that poor girl."

     Klaus only glared at her, "She won't leave." Rhea humphed and side eyed him, the conversation she had with Hayley earlier where she was begging to buy her time so she could escape still fresh in her mind—yet, there was Klaus now... blissfully unaware of her plans, "And if she does leave, I'll make her regret it and I will never forgive her for trying to take my child away from me."

     Rhea could only snort, "Don't you vampires know how to let shit go?" She remarked. If that was the case, she was in for a ride with her known ability to hold grudges; if that ability is heightened and never settles, then everybody was screwed.

     "That's rich coming from the queen of grudges herself."

     "I forgave you, didn't I?" Rhea retorted with a glare for pointing out her habits, "I mean... I haven't forgiven you for killing my mom, so don't get your hopes up; but, you killed me and my twin the night before senior year and you terrorised my friends for months. That shit was traumatic."

     Klaus smiled as if he was thinking about fond memories back from Mystic Falls and she scowled at him; only he would think it was a good time. But she did have to admit how times had changed and how she had grown to like Klaus when she used to think he was the absolute worst.

     Elijah then walked into the room, "You put them in the paint." He realised and Rhea looked at him strangely as to what he was talking about since she was using the said paint he was referring to, "Father's ashes, the earth from sacred ground, all hidden in plain sight."

      "Oh, gross, Klaus!" Rhea exclaimed as she jumped back and dropped the paintbrush, the wooden tool clattering to the ground and the paint splattering at their feet, "Why didn't you tell me I was using that demon's ashes as paint!?"

     Klaus looked at her in amusement before it dropped when he turned to look at his brother, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding Hayley."

     "She's gone." Elijah announced calmly and Rhea's eyes widened, "She and Jackson took Hope, and you will not find them, brother."

     "You helped Hayley escape with her stupid plan!?" She snapped at her fiancé furiously.

     "With my daughter?" Klaus flared his nostrils before he looked at Rhea, "Wait a minute, you knew about this?" He asked, since she was bringing it up to him before.

     "She came to me earlier asking me to help her but I said no because the plan was ridiculous." Rhea stressed before glaring at Elijah, "But, clearly, she didn't want to take no for an answer."

     "Well, someone had to protect that child." Elijah responded and Klaus became so enraged that he sped toward him and shoved him backwards until Elijah was bent backward over the railing to the balcony overlooking the city.

     "HOW DARE YOU!?" Klaus bellowed at him. Elijah grabbed Klaus' arm, twisted it and him around, and threw him back into his room, where he crashed into one of his tables. Klaus tackled Elijah and threw him backwards onto another table as he held him down by the chest, "I'm a hybrid, Elijah. Why provoke a fight you cannot win?"

     "Klaus, let him go." Rhea could only plead gently, not wanting to see them fight. But, instead, Elijah pulled a golden dagger out of his jacket pocket and shoved it into Klaus' heart, causing him to scream out in pain while Rhea gasped in shock. Taking advantage of Klaus' distraction, Elijah pushed them both upright and shoved the rest of the dagger's blade into Klaus' chest. Klaus was so taken off-guard by this move that he had no time to fight back as the dagger begins to desiccate him. He fell to his knees, weakened by the dagger before he fell to the ground; fully neutralised and grey as he was desiccated on the floor. Rhea ran to Klaus' side and looked up at him in horror, "What did you just do?" She asked him with a whisper, afraid to ask knowing the consequences.

     "For Hope." Elijah simply responded as Freya and Rebekah walked in the room to watch the scene with blank expressions.

     The three of them looked at each other nervously while Rhea was still in shock. Elijah only turned onto his feet and walked out the door, looking horrified by what he had just done.

     They then hear the bell tower of St. Louis Cathedral playing Dahlia's tune to the city and Rhea's blood just ran cold.