》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

Hundreds of nightmares later, Chelsea stopped the spell hours before she left. Only the nightmares never left Candice. They stayed with her. They haunted her. Deemed her a monster. Originally, she wasn't effected by the others, the only one that broke her was the memory of killing her father. Candice opened her eyes when she feels another presence. She thought this was another nightmare courtesy of her mother. Chelsea knew the only thing that could break her were Candice harming the people she loves. Marcellus, was one of them.

Her eyes land on Marcel's blurry figure before she sucked into another memory. This time it was a nicer one.

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

~ ¹⁸²⁰, ⁿᵉʷ ᵒʳˡᵉᵃⁿˢ ~
ʷʳⁱᵗᵗᵉⁿ ᵇʸ ˢˣʳᵉᵈ_ˢˣʳᵉⁿ / -ᵃᵈʳⁱˢʷʳˡᵈ

Candice walks beside Rebekah and Elijah, trying to get comfortable. She huffed, trying to breathe, but slightly fails due to the corset, she has on underneath the white cotton dress that has embroidery all over the fabric with gold accents. The ivory embroidered boots suffocating her feet. Of course her outfit was frowned upon seeing as normal people would wear black to funerals. She glances over at Niklaus, giving him a glare. She was being forced to attend this funeral when she didn't even care about the lad. But, she also needed to be there for Rebekah.

Candice smirks a bit, twirling her finger so Niklaus's hair flies in his face. Nik turns to shoot her a disapproving look, she grinned, her hair curled, pulled back with a white bow. She rests her head on Rebekah's shoulder, rubbing her back to comfort her. She glances over at Elijah, noticing his eyes held sympathy for his sister. She huffs and rolls her eyes, this would've never happened if Elijah would just stand up to his bastard brother. Niklaus was always hurting Rebekah, whether it was emotionally or physically with daggers.

Candice goes to say something to comfort the girl before she's forced to shut her mouth when the sounds of whipping is heard. With a frown, she looks over to see a dark-skinned boy, his beige colored shirt has holes in it, his trousers covered in dirt. She, along with Niklaus and his two siblings notice a man sitting upon a horse, whipping him, and she couldn't help but feel disgusted. How could someone do that to a child, hell, to a person?

She frowns sadly, ignoring the stares of the Elijah and Rebekah as she goes to stand beside Niklaus. Both of them seemingly bothered by this situation. The boy goes to grab an apple from a grass, throwing it at the older man. The man gets his whip ready only before he could target the child, Niklaus picks up an apple, throwing it so hard it hits the man in the head, knocking him unconscious but that wasn't enough for Candice. She throws out her arm, pulling the man to his knees before she snaps her fingers, his neck snapping.

The boy jumps back, startled by the magic. Candice smiles softly and sweetly as Niklaus marches to the boy. "What is your name?" The boy looks up, still down on one knee as Nik stops before him. "Don't got one. Mama wouldn't name me, 'til I turned ten. 'Case the fever took me. Then it took her." The boy explains. Candice frowns, nobody ever deserved to go through that.

Nik bends down in front of him, "You're a survivor. And survivors need names. How 'bout Marcellus?" Nik suggests. "Marcellus?" The boy questions, testing the name on his tongue. "It comes from Mars, the God of War." Nik explains before slowly standing up. "And it means, "little warrior." Nik outstretched his hand, Marcellus takes it with a smile. Elijah and Rebekah watch on with a look of hope, maybe this boy could change Niklaus for the better.

Nik and Marcellus approach Candice. "You're a warrior if I've ever seen one." she says to him. He smiles a bit. "What's your name, little warrior??" She asks politely. He smiles proudly, sharing a look with Niklaus. "My name is Marcellus." Candice smiles, taking his hand in hers, she eyes the blood on his back due to the whips. "That is a lovely name."

He nods and asks, "What is your name?" She smiles, "I am, Candice. Candice Parker." She says and holds out her hand politely for him to shake her hand. He smiles and shakes her hand as the two lead him back to an awaiting carriage. They see Elijah and Rebekah out of the carriage, standing in front of the door, smiling in admiration. She leads him into the carriage, noticing his hesitance to join them. "We would never harm you. You're safe now. I will protect you."

Marcellus takes her hand and she gently helps him into the carriage, him taking a seat in between herself and Rebekah as Elijah and Niklaus take the seats across. Candice turns in her seat and looks down at him. "What do you say we get you all cleaned up and take you home? Are you okay with that, dear?" Finding comfort in her eyes, he nods, she grins and he lays his head on her shoulder, feeling safe and protected with his new family.

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

"Candice, wake up. Come on, wake up." The woman is slowly pulled to the present, smiling tiredly at Marcel who had let out a sigh of relief. "Marcellus? You came for me," she breathed out. Marcel smiles with a small shrug, "well, I'm your knight in shining armor, right?" Candice chuckles softly and Marcel stands up, trying to pull off the chains but clearly they were spelled. Candice eyes the hourglass. "Marcel. The- the hourglass. Break it."

Marcel speeds over to the hourglass, grabbing it and throwing it against the wall, the sounds of glass shattering. As Marcel goes to break the chains, they both hear a voice. "I was hoping to have you here a little longer, Candice." Marcel quickly breaks the chains and turns to see the unfamiliar woman. "Candice, who's this?" He asks. Candice grunts as she pulls off the chains and stands up tiredly. "Marcellus, meet the woman I killed a thousand years ago. Chelsea Parkerson, my mother."

Chelsea smiles, though they found no warmth in it. "It's nice to meet you, Marcellus. I wish it was on better circumstances. It would've been nice to meet the boy my daughter once saw as a son." Candice glares ahead, taking Marcel's arm and siphoning some of the magic in him. "You don't belong here, mother. So, you can go now, or I will rip off your head and send you back to hell. May Arcadius have mercy on your soul." Chelsea crossed her hands, pretending to think it over. "You know, I came here with the intention of breaking my daughter. I'm quite certain, I succeeded."

Candice threw out her hand, but Chelsea was stronger and lifts her head, forcing Candice to her knees. Marcel speeds behind Chelsea and effortlessly rips off her head, the woman's body dropping instantly. "That's about enough of you." Marcel drops her head and quickly walks over to the weak Candice. "Let's get you out of here." Marcel lifts her up and carries her out seeing as she could hardly support her own weight.

"My little warrior's all grown up, I suppose." Candice mumbles before she's pulled into another memory.

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

"Kol's information was actually useful. I found her in the tomb, her mother was there doing the same thing Esther did to Elijah. I had the pleasure of killing her." Marcel walks into the Mikaelson compound with an unconscious Candice in his arms, seeing Elijah and Klaus standing in the middle of the room discussing what to do with Finn, Anthony and Kol. Who mind you, the three were chained up against the staircase on opposite sides. Anthony was next to Kol as Finn was across then.

Elijah was the first to react, feeling sympathy for Candice as they could probably relate to each other more than ever. "Let me take her." Elijah says, taking Candice from Marcel's arms. Kol and Anthony both watch, concerned for her. Klaus furrowed his brows, watching as Elijah carries her up the staircase. He turns to Marcel who had been glaring at Anthony. "Her mother? As in Chelsea Parkerson? In the flesh?" Klaus questions.

Marcel nods, taking his glaring eyes off of Anthony. "Yeah. She was there. She was real. She said something about coming back to break her daughter? Said she succeeded." Kol's eyes divert to the ground, he wasn't sure how she could possibly succeed. What could she have shown Candice that would break her? Klaus's eyes land on Finn who stares at the ground. "What is she talking about, Finn?" Klaus storms over, pushing Finn against the rail harshly. "What is she talking about?!"

"Candice killed her father!" Finn exclaims in hopes Klaus would release the harsh hold he had. Noting everyone's confusion, he further explains. "When Candice was a little girl, she was sleeping next to him, and she siphoned him without knowing. She broke his link to the coven which would end up taking his life. She was young! She didn't know what she was doing! Chelsea tweaked her memories to make her believe he died of an illness. We thought it would heal her. I didn't know she was gonna use it to break her."

Candice clears her throat from the top of the staircase. They all turn to look at her, she was cleaned up, new clothes and no longer drenched in her own blood. "That's about enough out of you, Finn." Candice walked down the stairs, followed by Elijah. Kol stared at her with sympathy whilst Anthony couldn't even look at her. "There is nothing my mother could've possibly shown me that would break me. So, you can stop staring at me like I just found out my puppy died." Candice took a deep breath, walking over to Marcel.

"Thank you, dear. You can go now." Marcel takes one last glare at Anthony and Kol before pressing a kiss to Candice's cheek and leaving.

Candice marched towards Kol, grabbing at his collar with a glare. "I gave you one simple task, and you can't even do that. Really, Kol? Getting yourself kidnapped by Marcel?" Kol sighs, rolling his eyes, he shrugs, "He was a very determined lad." Candice sighs, looking down. Kol examined her with concerned eyes. "Are you okay, love?" Candice doesn't respond, instead she backs away, taking a deep breath.

Her eyes scan over Anthony, she raised a brow. "Really, Anthony? Not even gonna look at me?" He doesn't reply, staring ahead, not even acknowledging her. "Fine. Have it your way." Candice walks away, not even acknowledging the two brothers. Klaus takes a breath before he and Elijah ultimately leave as well. Klaus related to her more than ever, having killed his own mother, only his wasn't much of an accident.

A few hours later, Elijah, Niklaus, Finn, Anthony, and Kol are gathered at the table for brunch, and as usual, Candice is late. Though they had no possible idea of where she could be. Kol and Finn sat on Nik's right, across from Elijah and Anthony who sat on his left. "Where the hell is this girl?" Klaus mumbles in frustration, looking down at all the unread texts he sent to Candice. "Niklaus, please. She's been through a lot. Have some sympathy." Elijah said.

The sound of heels clicking against the wood floors was heard, Candice walks in, wiping some blood from the corner of her lips. "Sorry, lost track of time. Wouldn't want to miss this little reunion." Klaus's eyes flickered to the red prints now left on the rug to the blood on Candice's soles. "Candy, that rug is ancient," he sighs in frustration. Candice smirks, taking a seat at the other head of the table. "Just like you, Niklaus."

Candice crossed a leg over the other and leaned back into her chair, gesturing for Niklaus to speak. "Today, a new future awaits. Forget your animosity toward Elijah and myself, and instead join us against she who truly deserves your ire, our mother. Do this, and we will welcome you with open arms." Klaus says. Kol raised a brow and went to grab some of the beignets only for Elijah to pull them away. "But if you continue to oppose us, a denial of pastries will be the least of your concerns."

Candice glanced over at Anthony who seemed pretty irritated with all the dramatics. He never did get along with the Mikaelsons. Candice tilts her head, taking a sip of the orange juice. "If all you wanted was my allegiance against mother dearest, you should have said so, save me a night shackled to the wall." Kol says, clearly annoyed by their inconsistency.

Elijah decides to voice his opinion, seemingly more impatient than Niklaus, which was quite rare. "Yes, this was Niklaus. My recommendation was to remove your limbs one by one until you comply." Candice raised a brow, surprised Elijah was being more violent than Niklaus himself. Klaus chuckles, standing up from his seat. "We've--we've no desire to torture you, provided you vow to stand beside us, as brothers. Same goes to you, Anthony."

Finn didn't seem all too pleased with their desire to turn them against their mother. "Brothers? Does that word even apply to us, after all these centuries of betrayal, and is loyalty to you ever really rewarded?" Candice pursed her red colored lips, he did make a good point. Nik and Elijah had no problem turning on their brothers. After all, watching Kol and Finn get daggered, Kol more times than many, it was clear that Nik and Elijah would always choose each other. She was pulled from her thoughts when Finn continues.

"If so, tell me Niklaus, where is our sister, Rebekah?" Candice tensed, averting her eyes to the dinner table. Anthony raised a brow at her sudden change of mood. "She was blindly loyal to you for a thousand years, and now nowhere to be found. Where did our sister go, and how did she escape your vile machinations?" Klaus turns around with a chuckle. "You think me vile?" He sits back down. "Well, what then, do you make of the one who cursed us?"

"She was trying to make you mortal again, and you three refused her. Only proves how far you've fallen. But I expect Rebekah will have a different response to her proposal. See, unlike the two of you, she always did cling to her humanity. I expected Candice to be the same way, but to no surprise, you two poisoned her mind." Finn said. Candice drops her fork with a loud cling, everyone's eyes going to her. She laughs lowly to herself. "Poisoned my mind? That's funny. You still think I'm that same innocent girl who was your best friend."

Finn shrugged, "long ago, you couldn't even stand the thought of being a vampire. And here you are, just like my brothers. So please, Candice, forgive me for thinking that you still have some humanity in you." Candice smirks, resting her chin on her hand. "Here's where your wrong, Finn. I never had my humanity when I met you. My humanity died when I killed my father. That girl you cared so much about, well she was a figment of your imagination. You wanted me to be the lovely witch who felt sympathy for you. But, in reality I think you deserved it. Because it just revealed your true colors. You've always been a killer, it doesn't matter which body you inhabit!"

Candice exhaled, leaning back in her chair, the room filled with tension. Kol and Klaus were certainly surprised by this outburst. Not once did Candice ever speak to Finn in that way. Guess she finally got fed up with believing his lies and manipulation. Candice cleared her throat, clasping her hands together, she lent forward. "Anyways, if Rebekah wishes to be put in another body, I can happily grant her that wish. But she doesn't."

Elijah spoke up, clearly frustrated with Finn bringing up his sister. "Rebekah is off limits, too. You pursue her, and you will suffer." Candice nods, gesturing to Elijah. He was stating the obvious. Klaus, for once in his life, did not appreciate all the hostility. "Do let him goad you, Elijah. Neither he nor Esther will find Rebekah unless she wants to be found, and she does not." Klaus says. Finn glances at him and back to Elijah. "Esther is quite determined. She's been searching for Rebekah since the day she returned. Candice's mind seemed to have some clues as well."

Candice looked down, feeling guilty that Esther and Chelsea had gotten into her head. Hopefully they didn't find anything that would lead them to Hope. "I imagine it's only a matter of time." Elijah, unable to control himself, grabs Finn, pulling him over the table as Anthony quickly stands to get out of the way. Candice's eyes widened when Elijah bites him, she was quick to push him off before he could kill him. "Niklaus, handle him!"

Obeying, Klaus grabs his brother and pulls him out of the room. Candice cleared her throat, passing Finn a napkin for his neck. "Blood?" Candice held out her wrist in offering. Finn looked at it before choosing to ignore her. Candice dropped her hand, pursing her lips. "Fine. I guess it's "ignore Candice day," right?" Anthony ignored her, his eyes looking around as he tried to think of how to get out of there. As Kol went to speak, Candice walked out hearing Klaus call for her.

"What is it? Where's Elijah?" Candice questions, looking around for him. Klaus sighs heavily. "He's off to see Rebekah. And I need you to fix your cloaking spell. Make it stronger. Esther's found Rebekah, so you can't let her find Hope." Candice nods, setting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I will protect your daughter with my life, Nik. I promise. Whatever they searched my mind for, they found nothing that would lead them to her. She's safe, Nik." Candice pats his shoulder before walking away to her room to tweak the spell as requested.

Not long later, Candice enters the dining room with Niklaus. "Gentlemen, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Good news is, I have returned with an old friend, someone who wants to say hello." Marcel walks in, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Hello. How's it going, fellas?" Anthony and Kol more specifically looked quite annoyed and irritated at Marcel's presence. More so Anthony, who knew Marcel was gonna go all overprotective parent on him because of Davina. "Ah, you again. You ever get bored of getting bullied by my brother?" Kol instigated.

Anthony glances at Marcel and back to Kol, nudging him, deciding to egg him on. "Actually it's more like getting bullied by my sister. Tell me, Marcellus, does she still have your balls in her purse?" Candice holds back a smirk knowing Marcel preferably offered to kick Anthony's ass. Marcel fakes a chuckle, pulling off his jacket. "Oh, I volunteered for this." Anthony raises a brow as Kol had stepped back, more amused by the oncoming situation. "Did you?"

"Yeah. The way I see it, you have it coming." Marcel hands Candice his jacket before shoving back Anthony with two fingers. "First, you messed with Davina. Then, you let Candice get hurt. Now, I hear you want to drag Rebekah into all this. Uh-uh. Not happening." Marcel says, Anthony being pushed back against the table. "Well, I'd prefer you all join me against our mother, but I'll happily settle for one over the others. Either way, if you continue to defy me, your lives will be reduced to an unending sequence of agonizing torture."

Anthony glances back at Kol, both sharing a look with Finn. Candice smiles, "So? Which is it to be?"

Receiving silence, Marcel looks to Candice. "Permission to torture your brother?" Candice hums, pretending to think as Anthony gave her a look. "Really, Candice? Does family mean absolutely nothing to you?" Candice scoffs, "oh, now you want to acknowledge me? That's brilliant. Marcellus, have fun, dear. Tell me how it goes." Marcel grins, grabbing Anthony and pulling him up the stairs.

Klaus and Candice share a look. "I've got Kol. You handle Finn." Candice grabs Kol's wrist firmly and pulls him up the stairs towards their room. Candice shuts the door and walks towards her table to light the sage up so nobody could hear inside the room. "You're not gonna torture me, are you?" Kol chuckles nervously. Candice raised a brow, turning to face him. "Why would I torture you? I know what side your on. It's mine."

Kol frowned his brows, looking back at Candice who set down the sage. "Then why is Anthony getting tortured if he's on our side too?" Candice rolled her eyes at the mention of her twin. "Because he pissed me off. I'm his sister, his twin sister, who sacrificed everything for him. I was stronger, I could've done the merge, but I didn't, because he's my brother, and I love him. And now, he wants to blame me for something I had no control over? Do I really strike you as the girl who would blindly kill the only good parent she has?"

Candice flinched at the memory, stepping back before Kol could come closer. "What did she do to you, love?" Kol asks. Candice turns to face him, ignoring the question. "I mean, she's dead, but it still feels like she's here. You know, like she's watching me, waiting for me to just snap. And I want to, believe me, I really want to. Kol...she's taunting me, I know it!" Candice's hand hits the wall, feeling paranoid and filled with bloodlust.

"Candice, answer the question. What did she do to you?" Kol repeats.

"She made me relive the worst moments of my life!" Candice ran her hands through her hair, resisting the urge to snap, to break. She wasn't gonna give her mother the satisfaction of breaking her. "I could- I could feel everything, every single emotion. She made me...watch you die, and watch my brother die. She made me watch as I killed my father, as I killed her! Kol, I am the reason she is this way. I made my mother into a monster when I killed the love of her life. I did this to her. She's not the villian in this story. I am."

Kol takes a step forward only for Candice to take a step back. She clenched her fists, shaking her head, she didn't want to hurt him when she wasn't herself. Kol sighs, unsure of what to say. Anthony would normally be the one to help her through things such as this. He always knew what to say to her. "Candice, you can't blame yourself for something you had no control over. It doesn't make you a monster! You didn't make her into a monster, she did that to herself. She blamed you for something she knew you had no control over. She chose to resent her children! You did not make that decision for her."

"Then why does my brother hate me?!" Candice took a deep breath as Kol stepped closer, this time she didn't back away, which was progress. "He doesn't hate you. He's just confused, he doesn't understand. He could never hate you, Candice. Neither can I. We could never, ever blame you, let alone hate you. Okay?" Kol takes ahold of her clenched fists, she shakes her head, trying to back away. "No, no, stop. Don't, just don't. Because if you hold me, if you console me, I'll just cry and I hate crying."

Candice pulls away, "I just- I have to go check on Marcel. Stay here or whatever, I don't care." She dismissed, quickly leaving the room. Kol ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. He pauses, looking around the all too familiar room. He furrowed his brows, spotting the open grimoire. Looking around to be sure Candice wasn't coming back, he walked towards the table and sat down on the sofa. His hands reached for the book, reading over the spell. It was a powerful cloaking spell.

"What could you possibly be hiding, Candice?"

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《

a/n: aw shit, what do we think of candices behavior post tortured? she deserves sm better :/ the survivors guilt is real

marcel and candys bond is the sweetest <3 also him being the one to kill her mother ate

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚《