Après Moi, Le Déluge

Lola wakes in the middle of the night with a weird lingering feeling at the back of her mind that something is going to happen. She looks to her side to see Klaus is still fast asleep, not wanting to be bribed with tea again, Lola quietly gets out of bed. She slides open the double doors of their bedroom and walks into the attached living area, grabbing her laptop.

She clicks open her search history, to continue searching through what Lola deep down knows is a dead end. And yet there's a part of her that feels as though she's close to finding what she's been looking into for weeks now. Hours go by without Lola even realising, not noticing the sun rising and beaming through the windows.

Lola jumps out of her thoughts when the doors open to reveal Klaus looking over to her concerned, "What's wrong?"

Quickly closing the laptop down, Lola smiles over to Klaus as she places it on the sofa beside her, "Nothing is wrong, I just couldn't sleep."

Klaus pushes the laptop to the side as he sits beside Lola, a hint of mischief gleaming in his eyes, "Well after last night I think we have both came to the conclusion that our bed isn't just for sleeping." Klaus' hand runs through Lola's hair, pulling her closer to him as he leaves soft kisses against her jawline, "Just like we have on many, many occasions prior to last night."

In one swift motion, Klaus picks Lola up off the couch and carries her back to their bedroom, bridal style before lowering her down onto their bed. Lola raises a brow at Klaus as he remains standing, "Again?" Klaus remains silent, he smirks over to Lola as he removes his own shirt before climbing onto the bed, hovering over her. Lola smiles when Klaus leaves an array of kisses along her neck, "Well, it's not like you can get me pregnant again."

Feeling Klaus' smirk against her skin and hearing a low rumble chuckle escape his lips sends shivers up Lola's spine. He slowly moves away from her neck, towering over her as he traces his thumb along her lips, "We should go on a trip, just the two of us."

Lola frowns slightly, a hint of a smile appears, "A trip where?"

Klaus shrugs, pushing stray hairs out of Lola's face, "Anywhere you'd like. Perhaps we could start in Mystic Falls."

Klaus lowers himself towards Lola but she pushes him away slightly with her hand against his chest, "What have you done?" Klaus laughs breathlessly staring down at Lola confused, Lola pushes Klaus fully off her, he lays beside her until Lola climbs off the bed, "You said before that you can read me like an open book but in case you've forgotten, Nik, I can do the same with you. There's that little spark in your eyes that tells me you've done something but you're using sex to avoid telling me."

Klaus rolls his eyes as he sits up, propped up on his elbows, "Or maybe I know how much you are missing those brothers of yours so thought it would be a good thing you go back to your home town."

Lola laughs, wearing an exasperated expression, "Don't do that. Don't make me look like I'm being crazy, Nik." She narrows her eyes towards him as she walks around the bed to his side, "Tell me what you're hiding." Klaus doesn't move from the bed, he lays back down and stares up at the ceiling making Lola scoff, "Fine." She purses her lips as she turns to walk out of the bedroom, "I guess if you're not hiding anything then you won't mind if I go and speak to Elijah."

"Wait." Klaus sighs as he sits up in the bed, moving to the edge of the bed, "You need to know what happened last night."

Klaus explains everything that happened between him, Elijah, Marcel and Davina and how it ended with Klaus compelling Davina's first love, Tim, to drink water with poison in it and also making Davina drink it. Much to Klaus' despair, Marcel forced Sabine to cast a protection spell on Davina so she would survive, however, Tim was not so lucky.

Lola scoffs as she paces around their bedroom, "You killed her first love?"

"She's a child, love." Klaus shrugs as he walks out of their bathroom fully dressed, not even bothering to hide his smug expression, "I'm sure she will have at least one more in her lifetime."

"Exactly, she's a child!" Lola snaps, "She's just a 16 year old girl, Nik. Do you honestly think she's going to help you in anyway after that?" She shakes her head as she turns away from him, "Stronzo!"

Klaus narrows his eyes towards Lola as he steps closer to her, "You're insulting me in Italian? Since when did you-"

He gets interrupted when there's an array of scatty knocks at the door, "Lola?" Lola frowns when she hears a fragile sounding Hayley on the other side of the door. Lola opens the door slightly seeing an anxious looking Hayley, "Can I speak to you for a second?"

Lola nods as she walks out of the room, following Hayley around the compound until she stops at an isolated corner beside the balcony. Lola frowns over to her, "What's up?"

Hayley glances away for a moment, unable to keep still until she reveals Lola's phone from her back pocket, "I've really messed up, Lo. After you left your phone at the house, I answered it when Sophie rang."

Lola raises a brow as she slowly takes her phone out of Hayley's hand, "Okay..."

"The reason she was calling was because she wanted your help to find where Elijah buried Celeste. She was never consecrated and Sophie wanted to do it so she could make herself an elder to complete the harvest."

Lola laughs slightly as she rolls her eyes, "I'd like to think you would have told her where to stick that request." Lola's laughter dies down when Hayley begins to look even more nervous, "Hayls, what did you do?"

The guilt weighs heavy on Hayley's chest as she starts to pace around, "It was Sophie's family that put the curse on the wolves, she said if I helped then she would remove it from them. I'd be able to meet my family properly." Hayley stops pacing, standing opposite Lola as she lowers her head, sighing heavily, "When Elijah wasn't here, I wanted to feel like he still was so I would read through his journals."

Lola steps closer as she frowns, "Elijah didn't give you permission to look through them?" Hayley continues to have her head low as she shakes her head. Lola sighs as she turns away from Hayley, running her hands through her hair before looking back at her, "Hayley, they're his private thoughts."

"I just wanted to know more about him!" Hayley's eyes a dark with guilt when they become glossy with tears looking towards Lola, "Then after Sophie called, I looked through them again which is when I figured out where Elijah buried Celeste and then I told Sophie."

Lola shakes her head in disbelief, looking away for a moment, "So not only did you invade Elijah's privacy about something he holds close to his heart, you also went behind his back when he started to trust you. Elijah doesn't speak about Celeste to anyone because how hurt he is after what happened to her and because of the guilt he carries." She crosses her arms against her chest, narrowing her stare at Hayley, "I can see what's going on between you both, you have feelings for him and I am pretty certain it's mutual. Elijah doesn't trust easily, Hayley. He doesn't let people in, we are both in that rare category." Lola turns when she hears movement, she sees Elijah walking up the far stairs and heading towards the living room. Lola sighs as she looks back to Hayley, "You need to tell him. Tell him, or I will because I'm not keeping something like this from him."

Hayley watches as Lola walks away and heads in the same direction that Elijah walked to. Hayley plays with the edges of her jumper sleeves, trying to work up the courage to confess to Elijah and also trying to figure out how to say it to him.

Elijah's warm smile greets Lola as she walks into the living area, she glances down at Davina's drawings, all connected to show Celeste, "Are you doing okay, Elijah?"

He chuckles softly as Lola sits beside him, he glances down at the book in his hands, "Surely that's a question I should be asking you, Charlotte. How are you feeling today?"

"So far, so good." Lola crosses her legs, getting more comfortable on the sofa, "Haven't stabbed Klaus with a fork yet or threw up so that's progress."

Elijah smirks in amusement, "The day is still rather young."

Lola leans forward looking towards the book Elijah was reading, "What are you reading? A book about witches?"

"The Italians call them strega." Elijah begins as he stands up from his seat and begins to pace, "The Yoruba of West Africa call them aje, meaning mother. Where my mother was from, they called them häxa, and here we call them witch. Over the centuries, vampires have fought them and fought beside them, bedded them and burned them. Whether adversary or ally, they have been a force to be reckoned with. Their ancestral magic anchors this city. There's never been one all-powerful witch until Davina."

"Who is now tucked in safe and sound down the hall under my protection." Klaus walks into the living area, he smirks slightly as he glances down at Davina's drawings, "Your Celeste was quite beautiful and a portent of evil, according to our volatile artist in residence."

"Yes. Perhaps Davina's mistaken what she calls evil for power. Celeste was certainly very powerful in her day, but she's been dead for over two hundred years. I don't understand." Elijah sits beside Lola on the sofa, his stare not leaving the drawings, "Why all these sketches now?"

Klaus purses his lips unequivocally, shrugging his shoulders as he sits in a chair opposite the pair, "Why does any witch do anything?"

Lola narrows an annoyed glare towards Klaus, "It's as though you want me hurt you."

Klaus can't help but grin at Lola's annoyed expression, his eyes gleam with tease which soon vanishes when they can all hear things being smashed from Davina's room, "Well, that's going well."

Elijah glances over to his brother, unimpressed, "If you were trying to win the girl's trust, perhaps poisoning her one true love was not the most splendid idea."

"Oh." Klaus tries to fight back a grin as he shrugs, "Are there any more inopportune deaths you'd like to wave in my face?"

"Give me a month." Elijah looks over to Klaus, showing no emotion and sarcasm in his tone, "I'll get you list."

Lola hides her amused grin behind the mug in her hand as Klaus chuckles at Elijah's dig. He rolls his eyes when he can hear more smashing coming from Davina's room, "Young, old, dead, or alive, witches are a pain in the arse."

"Say that again, I dare you." Lola raises her brows, shrugging her shoulders waiting for Klaus to quip something back to her. Instead, he vamp speeds over to her, kissing her gently against her cheek before rushing out of the room towards Davina's bedroom.

"I did say the day is still young." Elijah mumbles as he continues to flick through the book, he smirks over to Lola, "Perhaps you should find one of your trusted antiques."

"Lola!"

Lola drags herself off the couch, rolling her eyes when she hears Klaus shouting for her. She starts walking out of the room backwards, a hint of mischief in her eyes looking back over to Elijah, "Don't tempt me."

"What is it?" Lola walks into Davina's room when her eyes widen to see the young girl hunched over on her bed throwing up dirt, "What the hell..."

As Lola steps closer towards Davina's bed, the house begins to shake violently, as though it's an earthquake. Klaus immediately takes hold of Lola's hand, pulling her closer to him as his grip tightens as protection. He guides her out of the bedroom, Marcel following them both. They all reach the balcony outside, at the same time Hayley and Elijah do from above.

Rebekah walks around the compound looking up at them all confused, "What the hell is going on?"

Klaus sighs, his hand still not leaving Lola's as the house continues to shake, "Davina."

Once the shaking has calmed down, Lola rushes back into Davina's bedroom, with a glass of water and a bowl with a cloth, to see Davina still hunched over in bed, staring down at the pile of dirt in horror.

Davina looks up at Lola panicked, "Hey, you're okay." Lola closes the door behind her, sitting on the edge of Davina's bed and holding out a glass of water, "Drink this."

Lola keeps hold of the glass as Davina takes a sip, placing the bowl and cloth to the side. Davina takes a deep breath as Lola lowers her back onto the bed. Davina's brows furrow towards her, "Why are you being nice to me?"

"Remember what I said the other day?" Lola questions, placing the glass of water on the bedside table, "I'm not your enemy, Davina. We could be allies." Davina tries to sit up again but Lola stands up, guiding Davina back down, "You need your rest, lay down."

Davina watches as Lola takes a cloth, dipping it into the bowl of water before gently dabbing it across Davina's forehead, "It was hard to believe that anyone linked to Klaus could be this nice."

"Would it surprise you that you wouldn't be the first person to say something like that?" Lola jests, "I'm also blaming it on the pregnancy hormones that I'm on the soft side today. I'm sorry about your friend." Davina's face drops as the sadness over her friend overcomes her, Lola sighs as she dips the cloth into the water once more, "I think we're quite similar, Davina. I know what it feels like to feel like an outcast from people you thought cared about you."

"Really?"

"I wish when I was your age I had someone like Marcel." Lola swipes the cloth against Davina's skin, removing any traces of dirt, "I know it's hard to trust him after what's happened lately but he cares about you so much, Davina. He fought for your life from the second he met you, before he even knew your name. His intentions have always been good towards you, he just has a crappy way of showing it sometimes."

"How do I know you're not just saying all of this to get me to trust you?" Davina questions with a harsh tone, she sits up slightly in bed, "Then you'll just use me like everyone else does."

Lola stays silent for a moment before removing the cloth from Davina, "Only you can decide on how you feel, Davina. If you choose to not trust what I've said then that's fine. I'm not going to put words in your mouth or try to change your mind on anything."

Davina frowns as she shakes her head, "You're with Klaus, whoever is linked to Klaus can't be trusted."

Lola purses her lips, glancing around the room, "If we're being technical, you're a New Orleans witch, by definition I shouldn't trust you." Lola clears her throat, looking down at the cloth in her hands, "After everything they've done to me and my baby, I don't trust any other witch in this city. And yet I'm here because I want to trust you, Davina." Lola's calm stare meets Davina's uncertain one making Lola sigh, "You feel like you're the only person you can trust right now, right? I know the feeling sometimes. I just thought you may have wanted some company during this because I know I would have."

—✤—

Once Davina has drifted off to sleep, Lola walks back into the living room to see an anxious Marcel pacing around. He stops when Lola walks in, "How is she?"

Lola nods as she stands beside Klaus, he wraps his arm around her waist, "She's sleeping, for now."

"This is madness." Klaus shakes his head as he continues to grow more concerned, "How can a 16-year-old girl shake the entire French quarter?"

Marcel crosses his arms against his chest as he begins to pace again, "I've seen her rock the church, but I've never seen anything like this."

"How did you control her when she was in the attic?"

"I didn't have to." Marcel glares over to Klaus, "But then, I never killed her boyfriend."

"Yes, yes." Klaus rolls his eyes, "We've been over this part already. The point is in her present state she's useless as a tool against the witches."

Lola pulls away from Klaus, walking towards the sofa as she scoffs, "Stop talking about her as though she's an object in your games, Nik."

"She's not a tool." Marcel snaps, "Something's wrong with her."

"She has too much power that she cannot control. That much we already knew." Elijah leans against the arm of the sofa beside where Lola is sitting, "But why is it manifesting itself in such an aggressive manner?"

Elijah pushes himself away from the sofa, grabbing his jacket before walking out of the living room. Klaus watches as he does so, confused, "Where are you going?"

"This is witch business." Elijah turns to face all three of them as he reaches the doorway, "Let's ask a witch who has somewhat experience with Davina."

—✤—

Klaus and Rebekah later join Lola who is still sat in the living area, Klaus walks over to Lola handing her a water before taking a seat at the bar in the corner of the room. Lola watches as Rebekah sits beside her as though she's lost in thought. Lola nudges Rebekah's leg slightly, smiling towards her, "You okay?"

Rebekah shakes her head as though she's shaking away her thoughts before she nods. All their attention goes towards the door when Elijah walks in with Sophie following soon after. Her eyes widen when she sees the drawings of Celeste still laid across the coffee table.

Elijah clears his throat as he takes a seat at the desk, "So you have stolen the remains of the very person that Davina's been drawing for months. Would you care to explain this startling coincidence?"

"I can't." Sophie glances between all of them, looking flustered, "I didn't even know who Celeste Dubois was until I--" Sophie is cut off when the house starts to shake violently, just like earlier in the day and Davina screaming. Sophie looks panicked but everyone else in the room isn't fazed by it in the slightest, "...Was that Davina?"

Klaus rolls his eyes as he brings his glass of bourbon to his lips, "Charming little habit she's developed."

Sophie glances over to where Rebekah and Lola are sitting, "And the earthquake I felt today?"

Rebekah nods, "Also Davina. And, she's taken to vomiting dirt."

The colour completely drains from Sophie's face, eyes flood with even more panic, "Oh. We have a huge problem. I thought that we had more time, but we need to complete the Harvest now."

Klaus' brows raise in amusement, "Said the desperate witch, conveniently."

"I'm serious!" Sophie snaps with a stern tone, "That earthquake you just felt is a preview of the disaster movie that is about to hit us."

Elijah's expression is calm, not buying Sophie's plea, "Why should we believe you?"

"You've met Davina, you know her story. For months now, she's been holding all the power of the three girls sacrificed in the Harvest ritual." Sophie explains, "A force that was meant to flow through her and back into the earth. One person was never meant to hold that much power. It's tearing her apart, and it will take us down with it."

"How do we know you're not just saying this?" Lola edges forward on the sofa, glaring over to Sophie, "It wouldn't be the first time you've said one thing but meant something completely opposite. Especially when you've been trying to get to Davina for months."

Sophie shakes her head, taking a seat opposite Lola, "I wouldn't lie about this."

Lola glances towards all three Mikaelson siblings, each beginning to look as concerned as the other, she clears her throat as her attention goes back to Sophie, "What will happen if we don't complete the Harvest?"

"The end of the world. As Davina self-destructs, she'll cycle through four stages that represent the four elements that bound together the Harvest. That earthquake this morning, that's the first stage; Earth." Sophie sighs heavily, staring down at her joined hands in her lap, "Then comes wind, and since each stage is more intense than the last, Davina is more than likely going to-"

"Blow the roof off this place as though she's the big bad wolf of this fairytale?" Lola jests, receiving a nervous nod of agreement from Sophie, "Then what?"

"Water. I'm talking constant rain, mass flooding." Sophie comes to a stand, walking towards the windows, "The kind of flooding you'd think it couldn't get any worse."

"But it does."

Sophie nods, "Next is fire. And since it's the last stage, it will be the worst." The pleading tone in Sophie's voice becomes more desperate, "Davina will be able to come back. Once we complete the Harvest, all four Harvest girls will be resurrected."

Both Elijah and Lola watch as Klaus and Rebekah leave the room, who seem to believe what Sophie has told them all. Lola and Elijah share a knowing glance, not feeling as sure as the other two.

Lola takes a deep breath as she stands, "You need to say all of that to Marcel."

Lola sits beside Marcel on the sofa as Sophie begins to explain everything to him. Marcel matches the same unsure stare as Lola and Elijah, unable to trust Sophie's word.

Elijah paces around the room, "You've convinced my siblings. You have yet to convince us."

"We don't have time to waste!" Sophie exclaims, she gestures towards the windows, "The first sign's already come and gone."

Marcel's glare hasn't left Sophie since he entered the room, "So fix her!"

"She can't be fixed."

"This is all a tad dramatic, Sophie." Lola sits forward, arms resting against her lap, "Surely there's something else we can do to help Davina."

"She can't be saved." Sophie shakes her head before glancing between Marcel and Elijah, "This will not stop at the earth sign, and if you wait it out, you immortals will be the only ones left to argue about it."

Lola flinches when the wind begins to pick up outside, making the outside shutters bang against the windows. They can all hear Davina screaming from her bedroom as Rebekah attempts to sedate her. It's obvious when it works as the wind dies down.

Sophie looks between all three, with a hint of smugness in her tone, "Convinced now?"

—✤—

Marcel walks into Davina's bedroom when he can hear one of her jazz records being played. As he walks further in, he frowns seeing Lola standing in the corner with folded up bed sheets in her hands, "What are you doing?"

Lola glances up, almost startled at Marcel's presence, she shrugs glancing over to the record player, "I don't know if she can hear anything, but I figured if she can then she'd want to hear something that's of comfort to her."

Marcel smiles faintly, stepping closer to Lola and holding his hands out to take the sheets, "I'll do it."

Lola shakes her head, stepping back slightly, "You may think I don't care about her but you're wrong, Marcel. She's just a child, she doesn't deserve this." Lola clears her throat as she steps closer to Davina's bed, "I'll stay with her."

Marcel watches as Lola removes the dirt covered sheets covering Davina and replacing them with fresh sheets. He looks back towards the record player, stopping it. Lola turns around to face him, looking confused until she sees him flipping the vinyl record over and playing it before smiling towards Lola, "This one is her favourite."

Lola matches the same faint smile, she nods towards Marcel before he leaves the room. Her heart breaks looking down at an unconscious Davina, a young girl who just wanted a normal life who now has people fighting against the other because they all believe they can decide on her life.

She sighs, pushing stray hairs out of Davina's face, gently placing her hand against her forehead. Lola closes her eyes, concentrating to get into Davina's thoughts. Her thoughts are pure panic, until Lola uses her magic to turn Davina's thoughts calm. As though she's dreaming about her purest desires. Feeling that she's done as much as she can do right now, Lola leaves the room.

Klaus is standing on the balcony, staring down towards the courtyard as he smiles, feeling Lola's arms wrap around him. Lola's embrace tightens around him as Klaus turns to face her, running his hands through her hair, "Are you okay?"

Lola releases a pent up breath, then taking in Klaus' intoxicating scent as she buries her face into his chest, "Yeah, I just really needed this."

Klaus wraps his arms around Lola, both enjoying the small bit of peace they have right now. Klaus kisses the top of Lola's head before pulling away slightly, "Have you noticed something is going on between Elijah and Hayley?"

Lola looks over to Klaus amused, "Who'd have thought you'd be the family gossip."

He shrugs, "Well, it's hard not to be when Elijah is being cold towards someone who isn't myself for once."

Lola rolls her eyes slightly as she sighs, realising Hayley must have came clean to Elijah regarding Celeste, "I'll talk to her, I know what this is about."

Both of their attentions go towards the courtyard when they can hear Hayley trying to conceal her sobs, carrying a cardboard box full of tinned food. Lola clears her throat as she pulls away fully from Klaus, "Guess that talk will be now."

Lola approaches Hayley, softly placing her hand against Hayley's shoulder, "Have you told him?" Hayley wipes away fallen tears as she nods, "Hayley, come here."

Hayley's sobs continue as Lola pulls her in an embrace, "He hates me."

"Elijah doesn't hate you, Hayls. You just need to apologise to him." Lola pulls away from Hayley, she swipes her thumb under Hayley's eyes to wipe away tears, "Take it from someone who has known him for decades, Elijah is accomplished in many things but he is a master in forgiveness." Lola gestures towards the cardboard boxes full of the tinned food, "I'll finish packing all of this, Ade is waiting for you at her place."

Watching Hayley walk out of the compound, Lola sighs heavily before she starts packing up the food until Klaus walks over to her, confused, "What are you doing?"

Lola seals up one of the boxes, "I was gonna take these to-"

"If you say, Bayou, I will find a nice comfy dungeon and throw you in it." Klaus' tone is stern, he sighs, "This is not the night to be out there--"

"To anyone who needs them." Lola finishes what she was trying to say, she shrugs as she continues to pack them up, "Some people aren't as fortunate having a roof over their head."

"Right." Klaus takes the heavier box before glancing towards another, "Grab that lot and come with me."

—✤—

Lola laughs slightly as her and Klaus both enter the church, "Didn't think I'd ever see you walk into a church. I just always imagined you'd burn into ash like a phoenix or something."

Klaus glances over to Lola, slightly stunned yet amused, "That's charming. Imagining the father of your child turning into ash."

Lola flashes a playful grin towards Klaus as Father Kieran walks over to the pair, "We still haven't gone through all that you've already provided, Klaus."

Klaus passes the boxes of food towards Father Kieran, "Well, this newest bit isn't from me."

"Oh?" Father Kieran then hands the boxes to someone else before furrowing his brows towards Lola, "That's very kind of you...?"

"Lola." She smiles politely before looking around at the group of people lingering around the church, "And these people are?"

"I asked Father Kieran to give them shelter. He suffers from an incessant desire to do good." Klaus jests with a hint of tease in his tone until his expression turns serious looking back towards Father Kieran, "But now, I need you to be useful. Marcel and Davina have disappeared. I assume from the stupefied look on your face they haven't sought refuge in your attic."

"No. Those days are gone."

"Then energise your resources." Klaus orders in a stern manner, "I don't need to remind you how important it is they be found."

Father Kieran lowers his head, taking his phone from his pocket as he starts to walk away, "Yeah."

Klaus turns his attention back to Lola who continues looking around confused, "These people, they're werewolves... And the priest, he said that you donated the food." Lola's stunned stare meets Klaus', "You're helping them?"

"They're not Lebonair werewolves. They're my clan. From very far back. They've fallen upon hard times, and their plight has brought out the philanthropist in me." Klaus shrugs, the corner of his mouth twitches with an amused grin, "What can I say? Must be Elijah's influence."

Klaus begins to walk out of the church until Lola places her hand against his chest to stop him, "There's more than just the wolf who had your mother's ring?"

"The blood that runs in their veins runs in mine." Klaus looks towards the scattered wolves in the church, "And in our child's."

Lola laughs breathlessly as Klaus places his hand against her lower back guiding her out of the church, "You're really messing with my hormonal feelings right now."

—✤—

Elijah has gathered Lola, Klaus and Rebekah in the living room as he discusses his newest idea to finish the Harvest ritual. He informs that when Sophie tried to consecrates Celeste's remains, nothing worked, it was as though there was no magic within the bones. 

Rebekah doesn't seem so convinced as Elijah proposes they consecrate their mother's ashes, "It's taken a thousand years, but you've finally gone mad. Our own mother?"

"Yes, our beloved mother, who Niklaus has affectionately placed in a coffin in his basement-- not daggered, but quite dead."

Klaus smirks as he shrugs his shoulders, "Well, she did try to kill us all."

"Well, I say we put her to use and put her to rest once and for all." Elijah continues, "Now if we bury our mother on land owned by one of her descendants, she becomes a New Orleans witch, and we, as her family, share in that ancestral magic."

"We're vampires, Elijah." Rebekah scoffs, "We can't practice magic. Or own property, for that matter. And I really hope you aren't going to expect Lola to do this given her current condition."

"Being pregnant doesn't stop you from doing magic, Bex. Besides, I'm not a New Orleans witch so I can't perform ancestral magic." Lola looks towards Elijah, indicating for him to continue, "But..."

"That's where Sophie Devereaux will come in." Elijah stands beside where Lola is sitting, "And, as for owning property, not all of our mother's descendants are dead..."

Klaus straightens up in his seat, "The baby."

"The baby." Elijah echoes as he walks towards a set of drawers, revealing the deeds for the plantation, "The parish Tax Assessor's office is just steps outside of the Quarter. Charlotte now holds the title to the plantation. So, if we bury our mother there, and we consecrate those grounds, we can finish the Harvest ritual."

Klaus smirks as he takes the paperwork from Elijah, "You're a bit of a mad genius, Elijah. Count me in."

"Am I the only one thinking?" Rebekah rolls her eyes, glancing around everyone in the room, "Our mother was the most powerful witch in history. If we bury her, we hand that power to our enemies to use against us."

Elijah crosses his arms against his chest, "Given our circumstances, I hardly see that we have a choice, Rebekah."

Rebekah sighs in frustration, glaring at her brothers, "I don't know why I bother. You two will just do what you want anyway."

"No." Elijah shakes his head, "Our decision must be unanimous."

"This is not a democracy." Klaus snaps, stepping closer to Elijah.

"You're quite right. This is family." Elijah stops speaking when thunder begins to rumble outside, louder than before and a heavy cast of rain begins to hit against the window, "Water. The next sign's begun. Rebekah?"

Rebekah hesitates for a moment before giving in, "Kill a demon today, face the devil tomorrow. Count me in."

Klaus claps his hands together as he smirks, "Well, this is no family reunion without our mother. I'll fetch her."

—✤—

Father Kieran stands before a shallow grave where Esther's coffin now resides, holding a crucifix out in front of it. Klaus and Lola are standing underneath one umbrella beside him as Rebekah and Elijah stand under another.

"Did you find them?" Klaus questions his sister, glancing over to where she's standing, "Will he bring her?"

Rebekah sighs, staring out in front of her when she nods, "He'll bring her."

Father Kieran lowers the crucifix as he looks towards the four of them, "Are you ready to do this?"

Klaus removes a dagger out from his back pocket, he holds his hand out before glancing towards everyone, "Always and forever."

Klaus slices his palm open with the blade, he looks over to Lola who gives him a reassuring nod before he does the same against her palm. Klaus passes the dagger over to Rebekah and Elijah who both do the same against their palm.

Father Kieran takes the blade from Elijah, throwing it into the shallow grave, "It's done."

—✤—

In LaFayette Cemetery, Sophie stands in the pouring rain while everyone else stands beside her under umbrellas. There's an eery feeling amongst them all, each one of them hoping that the Harvest will go to plan. The other three Harvest girls lay along a stone altar, everyone waiting and praying Marcel brings Davina.

Thunder rumbles louder, everyone attention goes towards the corner of the Cemetery where bursts of flames erupt. Sophie looks over, slightly startled, "Fire."

Marcel walks further into the Cemetery, carrying Davina in his arms with flames following them in their trail. Marcel lowers Davina down when they approach the altar. Four columns ignite as Davina stands upon the altar.

Sophie hovers the ceremonial athame over the flames before approaching Davina, "Do you believe in the harvest?"

Davina's entire body trembles, she closes her eyes and takes deep breath before nodding, "I believe."

Sophie raises the blade and slits Davina's throat without hesitation. Marcel catches Davina as she begins to fall back, not letting go of her as he lowers themselves to the ground. Lola bows her head, not caring about the sting of tears that begin to fall. Klaus wraps his arm around Lola's waist pulling him closer to her. Everyone looks up towards the sky as the rain suddenly stops. Everyone lowers their umbrellas before looking over to Davina as her skin glows red as the magic leaves her body.

Everyone remains silent, the eery feeling becomes stronger as Marcel lowers Davina beside the other Harvest girls. Marcel starts to pace around on the opposite site of everyone else, his anxious stare not leaving Davina.

"After the Harvest comes the Reaping. Their sacrifices made and accepted. We call upon our Elders to resurrect the chosen ones." Sophie looks up to the sky, but nothing happens. Everyone glances towards the other with an uneasy feeling. Sophie clears her throat, "We call upon our Elders to resurrect the chosen ones..." Sophie becomes panicked as nothing happens once more, her eyes become glossy, "Resurrect your chosen ones... Please? I beg..." When it becomes clear that something has gone wrong, Sophie falls to her knees and sobs, "No!"

Sophie begins to sob even harder, everyone lowers their heads, all hoping this would have worked. Klaus looks across the altar to see Marcel glaring over to him, eyes dark with hatred before vamp speeding away. 

Lola pulls away from Klaus, gesturing for him to follow, "Go."

Elijah and Lola slowly walk back towards the compound, neither of them saying a word. Both as mentally exhausted as the other after what has happened today. Lola sighs breaking the silence, "I really thought this was going to work."

Elijah's expression softens, he wraps his arm around Lola's shoulders pulling her closer towards him, "As did I." Elijah's posture stiffens when he looks in front of them to see a nervous looking Hayley appear, "I'll see you back at home, Charlotte."

Lola nods as she begins to walk ahead of Elijah, she takes hold of Hayley's hand as she walks past her giving her a reassured squeeze. Lola is startled slightly as she enters the compound, seeing several pieces of furniture smashed around the courtyard, she looks above to see one of the balcony railings completely shattered.

Pools of tears form when she looks over to where Klaus and Marcel are standing, Klaus hugs a sobbing Marcel but break apart when they see Lola walk towards them. Lola doesn't say anything as she walks up to Marcel and pulls him a tight embrace, letting him continue to weep over Davina.

"She loved you so much, Marcel." Lola's voice breaks as she sobs, Marcel's arms tighten slightly around Lola as though hearing her words are bringing him somewhat comfort, "She knew your intentions were good and she knew how much you loved her." Lola pulls away from Marcel, she places her hands against his cheeks, "We're gonna find a way to get her back, okay?"

—✤—

Lola rests her head upon Klaus' shoulder as they sit within the courtyard, in a comfortable silence. Lola stares out in front of her as Klaus sips on a glass of bourbon when Rebekah walks into the compound, sitting opposite them both.

"This whole thing was doomed from the start, you know?" Klaus mumbles into his drink, "Yes, we saved the city, and I'm not complaining about the witches losing their power, but this did not go down the way I thought it would." Klaus looks towards his sister, "You surprised me, though. You were quite resourceful today. How did you find them down at the docks?"

Rebekah's smiles faintly as she shrugs, "You're not the only one with clever little spies in the quarter, Nik."

Klaus smiles slightly, "Sometimes I think I don't give you your due, little sister."

"I knew Elijah's plan was mad." Rebekah smiles, staring down at the glass of bourbon in her hand, "But I really thought it would work."

"So did I. I was sure Davina would survive." Klaus sighs, wrapping his arm around a silent Lola beside him, "There was so much life in her."

"When I found Davina and Marcel at the docks, she was describing a dream she had. You've spent a great deal of time with Davina today, Lola." Rebekah speaks softly, Lola sits up as she looks over to Rebekah, "Was it thanks to you that Davina's last thoughts were of something so pure?"

"Perks of being a witch from the Whittaker coven, I can go into people's thoughts and change them if I desire." Lola sighs as she sinks further into her seat, "I figured Davina deserved to imagine what her life would have been like if none of this happened."

Rebekah sits forward in her seat as she frowns, "What about the power?" Both Klaus and Lola perk up slightly as Rebekah's realisation, "Four were supposed to rise, and none did. Where did all that power go?"

—✤—

A defeated looking Klaus walks into his and Lola's bedroom, he looks over to the outdoor balcony where Lola is standing. Klaus wraps his arms around Lola, kissing her against her shoulder. "You should get some rest, love."

"I know. I just-" Lola exhales heavily, turning around to face Klaus with an uneasy look on her face, "I thought maybe the bad feeling I had this morning was to do with Davina and yet there's still that lingering feeling. I don't think it was about Davina at all."

Klaus raises a brow in slight amusement, "Is this your way of wanting me to make you tea?"

Lola laughs dryly as she moves past Klaus stepping into their bedroom, "Definitely not."

Klaus watches as Lola walks towards the bathroom but he gets there first blocking the doorway, making Lola jump back slightly. Klaus cups Lola's cheek, pulling her in a loving kiss before breaking away slightly, "Ti Amo."

Lola's eyes shine as she smile over to him, "Are you trying to make me feel bad that I used Italian to insult you when you're using it to say you love me?"

Klaus shrugs, glancing up towards the ceiling in thought as he wraps his arms around her, "I'm just rather curious about your multilingual tongue."

"I spent most of the seventies in Italy with Adrianna." She laughs slightly, "Sometimes it feels more satisfying hurling insults at people in a different language."

Klaus' brows shoot up as his interest grows, "How many more shall I expect?"

Lola looks over to the bed where her phone is when it begins to ring. Lola reaches up to Klaus, leaving a soft peck against his lips, "I'm not ruining the fun of it all."

Lola sits on the edge of the bed, grabbing her phone to see Stefan is calling. She frowns slightly finding it odd he's calling her so late in the night, "Stef?"

Stefan sighs heavily on the phone, relieved to hear his sister's voice, "We need to talk, Lo. It's about Katherine."

—✤—

A/N: Off to Mystic Falls she goes, AHHHHH!!!

How's Stefan gonna react to the news I wonder...🤔

How's Damon gonna react to the news I wonder...🫣

Guess you'll find out soon😏

Holly xx