Sinners and Saints

Five showers within less than twelves hours would surely wash away the entirety of the bayou away from Lola, however, she felt like a sixth one was necessary. Lola feels satisfied as she wraps a towel around herself, feeling less swamp than she did beforehand.

Lola opens up the mirrored cabinet within the bathroom to take her daily pre-natal vitamins that Adrianna nags her to take. Knowing if she doesn't, she'll get yet another lecture from Adrianna that they're important. Yet, Lola would always argue back that in the eras they were both human, they didn't even exist.

When Lola closes the cabinet, she jumps when she sees Klaus standing behind her. She drops the bottle of vitamins which Klaus grabs before they fall to the floor with ease, with a smug grin he closes the gap between him and Lola, putting the vitamins onto the side. His hand presses against Lola's waist, sending shives up her spine. He faces Lola fully once more, his hands running through her honey coloured hair and pressing his lips against hers, he smiles when he can feel Lola's broad smile against his.

Lola pulls away from him, lightly hitting him against the chest, "You promised you would stop with the hovering."

Klaus shrugs as he follows Lola out of the bathroom into their bedroom, "Is it wrong that I just wish to be close by you as much as possible?"

Lola turns back to face him with a teasing grin, "When you are watching everything I do like a hawk, then yes." Klaus wraps his arms around Lola's waist from behind and begins leaving soft pecks against her shoulder blade, up towards her neck. Lola smiles as she wraps her arms around Klaus' on her waist, "What's got you in such a good mood?"

"As side from the fact you're here?" Klaus turns Lola round to face him fully as he wears a devilish smirk, "I'm going to make sure that Elijah comes home to us today."

Lola's eyes brighten up, "Really?"

"Whatever it takes." Klaus places a kiss against Lola's forehead before he leaves their bedroom, giving Lola one last smile at the doorway before leaving.

Lola is unable to wipe away the dumbstruck grin as she gets ready for whatever is going to happen today. As she walks back into her bedroom, she frowns slightly when she notices that Elena is calling her, thinking this is not what she was expecting to happen today.

A smug expression appears on Lola's face when she answers, "Elena, if this is some plea for me to unblock Damon, I'm sorry but you've just wasted your time. And yes before you ask, I did save your number. Let's just say I'm still in that okay-ish mood."

She hears Damon sigh on the phone, "Lo, it's me."

"Hello, brother." Lola drawls out as she lays down on the bed, "Calling to beg me to unblock you I take it? It's annoying isn't it?"

"Lo, please." Damon's voice breaks slightly, "This is serious."

Lola frowns as she sits up, "What's going on? Is it Stefan?"

"Bonnie's dead. She wasn't really with her mom all summer, she had Jeremy lie to us all because she didn't want to upset anyone."

"How did it happen?"

"Bringing Jeremy back to life was too much for her. Jeremy is still able to speak to her with him slowly building up a list of ghost girlfriends."

Lola's heart sinks at everything Damon is telling her, knowing how important Bonnie was to everyone in Mystic Falls, "I'm so sorry, D."

"Stefan isn't Stefan right now. He's planning on leaving town. Everyone is in shock and trying to come to terms that Bonnie is dead and has been all summer." She can hear Damon's voice breaking slightly, he sighs heavily, "I don't know what to do and I just really needed to speak to my sister. I miss you, Lo."

Her lips tighten in a thin line as Lola tries to fight back completely falling apart to her brother over the phone, "I miss you too. You know I would be there if I could. It's just-"

"I know, I know." Damon laughs softly, "Just speaking to you is making this whole situation that bit better."

"How's Elena?"

"Devastated. Full of guilt." Damon sighs, "I don't know how to be there for her."

"Just be by her side. That's all you can do." Lola frowns when she can hear a loud crashing sound through the phone, "What was that?"

"Elena. She is stressing out looking through all her clothes, trying to find something black for the funeral. Hey, listen. I know you have never been able to give a definite answer but are you coming home soon? Even if it's just a visit? It's not the same here without you."

Lola smiles faintly to herself, remembering that Elijah coming home is one step closer to the entire linking mess being sorted for good, "I'm working on it. I'll come and see you soon. I promise."

"Good." It's as though she can see his annoying smirk, "I'm in need of a drinking partner."

Lola laughs awkwardly, her hand rests against her stomach, "Yeah, definitely."

"I'm gonna go and check on Elena. We'll speak soon, okay?"

"Damon." Lola raises her voice slightly, making sure Damon doesn't hang up, "There's a black dress in my closet, give it to Elena. I'm really sorry, D."

"I'll speak to you soon, Lo. Love you."

"Love you too." Lola moves to the edge of her bed. She sighs to herself until the door opens up to reveal Klaus standing there, she laughs slightly, "Are you coming back to hover?" Klaus doesn't say a word, instead he opens the door further and steps to the side to show Hayley broadly smiling over to Lola. She immediately gets up from the bed, rushing over to Hayley and pulling her in a hug, "You didn't tell me you were coming back so soon, Hayls." Lola looks over Hayley's shoulder to see Klaus standing behind them, smiling over to her before walking back downstairs.

"Ade was freaking out after you called her about what happened in the bayou." Hayley pulls away from the hug, taking hold of Lola's hands, "She's still got a few things to sort out so I said I'd come back to make sure you're okay. And I haven't came empty handed." Hayley smirks as she pulls away, she walks backwards to the doorway and grabs a large box from the side walking back into the room with it, "Klaus spoke to Ade about your little meltdown about clothes so Ade made sure you had plenty."

Lola smiles sincerely to Hayley as she places the box onto the bed, "Thank you."

Hayley sighs slightly as she sits on the edge of the bed, "What happened out in the bayou?"

Lola sits next to Hayley, "I know you're going to be the only one who will understand but I swear, Hayls, the wolves saved me."

Hayley frowns, shaking her head, "But it wasn't a full moon?"

"No, which is why none of this makes sense." Lola edges closer to Hayley, "I think we should go back and look for ourselves."

"Are you crazy!?" Hayley snaps in a hushed tone, "Lo, it's a bad idea! You were almost killed!"

Lola flashes a smug grin over to Hayley as she stands up from the bed, "But I wasn't. The reason you came here was to find answers about your family and I think this is going to be the way for you to get answers." Lola walks towards the door, closing it before leaning against it and narrowing her eyes over to Hayley, "Be grateful I am willing to be in the swamp yet again."

Lola flinches slightly when there's a knock at the door, she opens it slightly to see Rebekah who smiles over to Hayley, "You're back."

Lola clears her throat, leaning against the door, "Everything okay, Bex?"

"Nik has gone to get Sophie, thought you'd want to be there when he brings her back here."

Lola smiles over to her, "I'll be down in a second." She watches as Rebekah walks away from the door, heading downstairs. Lola looks back over to Hayley, "This stays between us, okay? Stay up here."

Lola walks down stairs, meeting Rebekah in the living room where they both wait for Klaus to return with Sophie. It's not long after that Klaus vamp speeds back into the house, straight into the living room and practically throwing Sophie onto a chair opposite the sofa Lola is sitting on.

"We had a deal!" Klaus snaps, getting straight into his rant, "You protect my unborn child, I dismantle Marcel's army." Klaus walks around the coffee table to then sit beside Lola, "And whilst I've been busy fulfilling my part of the bargain, you allowed Lola to be attacked and almost killed by a gaggle of lunatic witches."

"I had nothing to do with it, I swear." Sophie pleads, a hint of panic setting within her tone, "Lola and I are linked, remember? She dies, I die."

Lola scoffs as she crosses her arms against her chest, glaring over to the witch, "No offence but I get the feeling that you're a bit of a martyr anyway so it wouldn't surprise me if you were involved."

Sophie's brows pull together, looking over to Lola, "I promise you I wasn't."

Rebekah wears a deathly calm expression, "Then who were they?"

"They are a faction of extremists." Sophie scoffs, rolling her eyes, "Sabine stupidly told them about some vision she had about the baby."

Klaus narrows his stare over to her, "What kind of vision?"

"She has them all the time. They are totally open to interpretation. I'm guessing she's wrong on this one."

Klaus edges forward in his seat, his elbows rest against his lap, "Well, how, may I ask, was this particular vision interpreted?"

Sophie squirms slightly, glancing up at the ceiling in thought, "...Pretty much that your baby would bring death to all witches."

"Ah, well." Klaus smirks, "I grow fonder of this child by the second."

Lola rolls her eyes as she kicks Klaus' leg, "I really hope that doesn't include me considering I'm the one who has to carry her for another five months."

"Sophie, look--" Rebekah sits on the other side of Lola, "I promised Elijah that I would protect the Mikaelson miracle-baby whilst he tries to win your witch Davina's loyalty. Why don't you tell me just how extreme this faction is?"

Sophie's eyes widen at the mention of Davina, "Elijah's talking to Davina?"

Rebekah nods, "Yeah. As we speak, I imagine."

Sophie smiles, she laughs almost spiteful, "I'm guessing she'll have plenty to say about that crowd."

Klaus grows intrigued, "Do tell." All three sit back on the sofa awaiting Sophie's story.

"I..." Sophie drawls out, slightly cringing at herself, "Wasn't always an advocate for the witches. My sister was devoted like my parents and our upbringing was very strict, which drove me nuts. The minute I turned 21, I left the Quarter to travel and play."

Lola smirks over to Sophie, she laughs slightly as she thinks back to her and Adrianna's conversation with her a few weeks ago, "I could have told you that. You didn't travel long though, did you?"

Sophie sighs as she shakes her head, "No. I wanted to be a chef so I came back to Rousseau's. When I came back Jane-Anne told me that the elders had spoken and it was agreed the Harvest was going to take place."

Rebekah's brows knit together, looking over to Sophie, confused, "What the bloody hell is a Harvest?"

"It's a ritual our coven does every three centuries so that the bond to our ancestral magic is restored." Sophie explains, "We appease our ancestors, they keep our ancestral power flowing."

Klaus glances to his side where Lola and Rebekah are sitting and then looking back over to Sophie, "And why haven't I heard of this?"

"Because a Harvest always seemed like a myth. A story, passed on through generations like Noah's ark, or the Buddha walking on water." Lola frowns to herself as Sophie continues to explain, feeling as though she's heard of all this before, "The kind some people take literally, and some people don't. They had the girls of our community preparing for months. Four would be chosen for the Harvest. They said that it was an honour, that they were special. I thought it was a myth."

Lola sits forward, growing more intrigued at her story, "Was it?"

Sophie looks guilty, but before she can say anything, Klaus's cell phone rings. Lola watches as he stands up from his seat and answers it, "Marcel. Bit early in the day for you, isn't it?"

"I know, I make this look easy, but I still have an empire to run."

Klaus flashes a fake smile, "Rather you than me. All that responsibility seems like such a bore."

"Well, this might spice things up-- I just heard about a bunch of dead witches out in the Bayou. The kinda damage a werewolf might do, only there was no full moon. I have an informant out there I need to meet, and I would love for you to go with me."

"Dead witches in the Bayou." Everyone glances over to a smug looking Klaus, "Sounds like less of a problem, and more like a cause for celebration."

"Well, something killed them. And may still be out there. And with your blood the only cure for a werewolf bite, I would love for you to accompany me."

"Oh, why not? Haven't been to the Bayou in ages. I'm on my way."

"Peace out, brother."

Sophie starts to panic, "You can't go out there now. I need to gather the witches' remains and consecrate them. If I don't get to them before sundown, we'll lose the link to their magic."

Klaus gestures towards Lola who continues to sit on the sofa beside Rebekah, "Those witches tried to kill Lola. I'd prefer for Marcel's informant not to find anything that would lead him back to us, to her, or to our unborn child." Klaus points over to Sophie as he starts to walk out of the room, "Stay put. And save the rest of your story 'til I return."

Lola watches as Sophie doesn't listen to Klaus' demand and walks out of the house, she stays silent when Rebekah leaves the room and heads upstairs, passing Hayley on her way up. 

Hayley raises a brow over to a calm looking Lola, "You're not really just gonna stay here, are you?"

Lola scoffs as she stands up, "Of course not. Come on."

—✤—

Lola and Hayley both follows Sophie to Lafayette Cemetery, they both linger at the entrance of the mausoleum Sophie is in, gathering things and putting them into her bag not noticing their presence. 

Sophie zips up her bag and starts to walk out which is when she then notices a smug looking Lola and Hayley blocking her way out, she glances over to them confused, "Hey. What the hell?"

Hayley steps further into the mausoleum, "You're going out there anyway, aren't you? We wanna go with you."

Sophie scoffs, shaking her head, "No, thanks. Already got assaulted by Klaus this morning. Don't need a repeat."

Lola purses her lips, putting her arms around her back and blocking Sophie from walking away, "What if whatever is responsible for all those dead witches is still out there? We've already established that it likes me and hates every other witch in this town, so you'll be safer with me."

"Sorry if I'm not buying your sudden concern for my safety."

Sophie attempts to walk past Lola but Hayley blocks her path. Sophie rolls her eyes, and looks over to Lola wearing a fake smile, "Marcel may not trust me as much as he used to but I'm pretty sure he will trust me more than you. So if you continue to being an annoying little bitch and refusing we go with you, how about I make my way over to Marcel and tell him how the reason Jane-Anne used magic all those months ago was because you linked yourself to me?" Lola shrugs as she begins to circle around Sophie, "I'm sure if I asked nicely he would get his little witch to remove the link from us, losing your leverage. Then I would take great pleasure in handing you over to the wolves so they could have their little witchy dessert."

Sophie ignores Lola, she attempts to walk out once more but Lola harshly slams her hand against the stone wall making Sophie step back slightly, "Listen, maybe I haven't made myself clear. The whole reason I came to this stupid town in the first place was because you lured me here and used Hayley as bait." Lola gestures to Hayley standing by her side, "And the only reason Hayley came here was to learn more about her family. I know that your sister's the one that told Hayley that Marcel ran the werewolves out of the Quarter into the Bayou. And last night, I'm pretty sure that some guardian-angel-wolf saved my life. So, we're coming with you. We aren't taking no for an answer."

"Could you three be more idiotic?" They all turns to see an unimpressed Rebekah loitering at the entrance. She narrows her eyes over to Lola, "Two can play the follow-game, you know! You heard Klaus, he and Marcel are headed right where you're going."

"So distract them." Lola smirks as she steps closer to Rebekah, "Because unless you wanna lock a hormonal, stubborn Salvatore in a tomb, I'm coming with you. And wouldn't Elijah be mad if he hears that the baby and I died of asphyxiation?" Lola glances between all three of them standing, speechless at Lola's stubbornness. She flashes a smug grin to Sophie, "Shotgun."

—✤—

"What's the matter, Rebekah? You cross that I'm out with your ex?"

Rebekah's face twists with disgust at the noise in the background of Klaus' call, "What is all that dreadful hillbilly ruckus in the background?"

"According to the dreadful signage, it's Big Auggie's Bayou Bar."

"Well, order up a few rounds of moonshine and steer clear of the dead witches for a few." Rebekah sighs as her, Lola, Hayley and Sophie venture further into the bayou. Lola leading the way to where she was attacked last night, "The witch is on a burial mission, your baby mama is being stubborn while her little wolf friend is on a spirit quest, and one of us needs to make sure Lola doesn't end up in some tiff with more witches. So, stall, please?"

Lola and Hayley both walk ahead of the other two. Rebekah stands beside Sophie, "So, this Harvest thingy— tell me more."

"Klaus said to wait."

Rebekah rolls her eyes, "Yes. He also said to stay out of the bayou and yet here we are, amongst the crawly, buzzy creatures."

Lola stops walking as they reach the exact part of the bayou she was in last night, "We're here."

They all walk further into the bayou, looking around at all the deceased bodies of the witches. Their bodies are all bloodied, ripped apart with several dismembered joints dotted around. Sophie's face twists, the colour drains from her face as she kneels down to dig through her bag for all the ingredients she needs to begin consecrating the witches.

Lola's hands find comfort against her stomach as she begins to grow uncomfortable, reliving what happened the previous night. Rebekah noticing this, steps closer to her, taking her hand and giving her a slight squeeze of reassurance. 

Hayley frowns as she notices a huge paw-print in the mood, "Lo, look at this." Lola steps closer to see the paw-print for herself but spots deep scratches within a tree nearby with blood dripping from it.

Sophie narrows her eyes at the prints on the ground, "Is that a wolf track?"

Their stares all go to the same part of the woods when they hear the sound of sticks breaking and footsteps approaching. Rebekah stands in front of Lola, "Who's there?"

A man approaches the group, his eyes widen as he notices Rebekah first, "What the hell? An Original?" The man begins to get frightened and immediately rushes away with his vampire speed.

Lola scoffs as she watches him scurry away, "He's one of Marcel's men? Stefan is scarier when he's on his bunny diet."

Rebekah sighs as she grabs her phone from her pocket and dials Klaus' number to inform him of what has just happened.

"Let me understand this-- against all logic, you and Lola went to the Bayou, where you ran into a man you think may be Marcel's informant, and then you lost him?"

Rebekah rolls her eyes, "Yes, and now that we've established that I am a failure as a sister, and a friend, and an Original, you should probably know he's on his way to Marcel right now to rat me out. Skinny guy in a hurry, looks like he saw a ghost."

"I'll handle it, but I'll need a distraction."

"I'm on my way." Rebekah swats a mosquito that landed on her arm as she hangs up. She scoffs as she walks back over to the group, she pulls Lola away from them, "I'm needed where Nik is with Marcel. Are you going to be okay?"

Lola nods as she glances over to Hayley, "Yeah, Hayley is with me. We'll be fine." Rebekah hesitates making Lola laughs slightly, she gestures for Rebekah to leave, "Go. I'll see you back at home."

—✤—

Night fall soon approaches as Sophie continues to consecrate all of the witches remains while Lola and Hayley wonder around the woods, but not too far, to see if they can find out anymore clues regarding the wolves from the previous night. 

A deflated Hayley sighs deeply as the pair approach where Sophie is. Lola picks up on how fed up Hayley looks, she links her arm as the continue to walk, "Don't lose hope, Hayls. I'll make sure we find these wolves because I am certain they'll lead us to your real family."

Hayley smiles over to Lola, she places her hand on top of Lola's, "You're my real family, Lo. You and Ade." She sighs as she shrugs, "But it would be nice to know where I actually came from, I guess."

They both approach to where Sophie has just finished consecrating the witches and she starts to pack up her things once more. Lola clears her throat as she steps closer to Sophie, "I've heard about the Harvest before." Sophie looks up at Lola as her interest piques, "I remember my Aunt telling me stories about it when I was a child but back then I just thought it was make believe."

Sophie sighs as she comes to her feet, "I thought it was too. Until my niece paid the price."

Lola's brows shoot up in surprise, "Your niece was used in the Harvest?"

Sophie blinks rapidly, as though she's attempting to blink away tears as her face drops with guilt. She clears her throat as she zips her bag up and walks back towards her car, "We should go."

They all remain silent as all three get back to Sophie's truck. Lola watches as Sophie places her bag into the trunk, "Those people," Lola gestures back towards the woods, "All this, because of a vision about my baby you don't think is true?"

"Look, I love Sabine, but she's the witch equivalent of a drama queen." Sophie sighs as she closes her trunk, "I've learned to take little stock in whatever she says or sees. Just kinda wish she'd kept her mouth shut."

"The Harvest ritual-- you said you didn't believe in it. Were you right?"

Sophie's eyes darken with sorrow when she shakes her head, "No. I saw it with my own eyes. It was working. It was real."

Lola's face drops as she shifts around in her spot, "So, how can you be so sure Sabine's vision isn't?"

—✤—

Hayley and Lola both walk back into the plantation where they see Rebekah in one of the living rooms pouring several glasses of bourbon. Lola smiles softly over to Hayley, "I'll see you upstairs."

Lola walks further into the living room when Rebekah starts drinking one of the many drinks, "I don't care if we have to get you a leash, that was your last trip to the Bayou. What is it with you and those wolves, anyway?"

"A guilty conscience maybe?" Lola laughs awkwardly as she shrugs, "When I seen the one wolf in the yard, I don't know, I felt connected to it. Exactly how I did when I first came here all those decades ago with the Lebonairs back then." She sighs as she looks out of the living room when she sees Hayley walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, "I know they are linked to Hayley's family some how and I tried to avoid Hayley from finding her true family because I wanted to protect her. It's not fair that I continue to keep her from them."

Rebekah smiles sadly at Lola and hands her a drink. Lola laughs slightly, she side eyes Rebekah making Rebekah suddenly remember, "Oh, right." Rebekah finishes the drink herself before placing it back on the drinks tray, "Well, if you ask me, family is a pain in the behind."

Lola shrugs, "To me and you families may be like that sometimes. But I know it won't be like that for Hayley. So if I have to continue finding her family on my own, so be it."

"Doing it alone?" Rebekah echoes, she flashes a gentle smile, "How dare you? I don't ruin a perfectly fabulous pair of boots traipsing through the Bayou for just anyone."

Rebekah continues to drink the remainder of bourbon until Klaus walks through the door. Rebekah sighs with relief, "Nik, finally! What–"

Both hers and Lola's stare look over Klaus' shoulder when they see Elijah walk through the door with a beaming smile. Lola matches the same smile as Rebekah rushes over to Elijah, hugging him tightly, "Elijah!" She pulls away, not wiping away her broad smile, "You're safe!"

Elijah looks over Rebekah's shoulder, smiling over to Lola but his eyes follow something else. Picking up on this, Lola follows his stare to see Hayley standing in the corner of the room, smiling over to Elijah before walking out of the room and heading outside.

Rebekah flashes a teasing grin over to Klaus before back at Elijah, "Now that you're home, is your first plan to kill Niklaus?"

Elijah smiles at his sister, he kisses her against her cheek, "Excuse me just a moment."

Elijah walks over to Lola, pulling her in a hug, "Charlotte, are you okay?"

Lola sighs in Elijah's hold, relived he's back, "Better now that you're back."

Elijah pulls away, his hand gently places against Lola's cheek as he smiles sincerely at her, "We'll speak more soon."

They all watch as Elijah walks out of the room, the same way Hayley did. Rebekah glances between Klaus and Lola confused, "Where's he going?"

Lola smiles in a mischievous way, "I think I have an idea." She closes the gap between her and Klaus, smiling lovingly at him before kissing him, "Hey."

Later, the Mikaelson siblings and Lola all congregate within the study where Elijah stands behind the desk, explaining everything he has learned from Davina, "Everything that brought us here to New Orleans was a lie. This story that Sophie Devereaux fabricated, this struggle for control of the French Quarter, this war between vampires and witches, wasn't over territory at all, this was over Davina."

Elijah glances over towards Lola, "Eight months ago, Sophie Devereaux and her sister Jane-Anne lost everything. Now, four months after that, a young pregnant girl wanders into their restaurant. Suddenly, all hope is renewed." Lola shifts slightly in her seat, Klaus notices he takes hold of her hand as the continue to listen to Elijah, "Jane-Anne actually sacrificed her life so that her sister can use you to find Davina. If Sophie Devereaux is successful in capturing Davina, she can return Jane-Anne's daughter back to life. We thought we'd come here to wage a war for power. This is about family. In order to return her niece to life, Sophie Devereaux will fight to the death. That makes her more dangerous than anyone."

—✤—

A/N: Exams are STRESSING me out so I'm really sorry if there will be delays in the story!!

Thank you for the love you all continue to give my story x

Holly x