𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 - the parasite

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐃 cracked.

Of course she did, she was facing the original hybrid, an original vampire and a siphon with mild anger issues who was more than ready to take her magic away. Sabine spoke quickly, yet neither the siphon nor the originals missed a single word. They knew where Sophie was and so, that's where they headed.

"I have to say, I was impressed," Klaus smirked down at Ophelia who walked between the brothers. "Calling the witches 'cockroaches'... brilliant."

Ophelia hummed as she kept her head looking straight forward, her cardigan wrapped around her bare skin once again. She had to hand it to herself; she did good, she could see the fear inside the witch's eyes at the thought of having her magic taken away. It made her feel powerful. "What can I say? I hate the roaches."

"And why is that?"

"I'm a siphon, Klaus. I'm something different, something strong and something they don't like. As I said to Elijah, I'm an abomination." she answered, her tone suggested that she didn't care about the name... the slur placed upon her head. She didn't outwardly show it, at least.

Klaus and Elijah shared a look; Elijah's eyes held understanding as he looked at his younger brother, knowing how much pain that word had brought to him. Klaus had a look of what could be perceived to be admiration.

"They call me an abomination too."

"If I had a drink, I'd toast to being freaks of nature, so, this'll do." The siphon held up a fist, lightly gesturing it towards the hybrid who chuckled lightly and bumped his own against hers whilst Elijah shook his head at the two, wondering how the siphon with an attitude and the hybrid managed to get along like a house on fire.

Elijah straightened his suit jacket as they continued onwards, "You certainly put on a show."

"Well, the witches fear what I can do. They value their magic above everything... and I have the ability to take it away and use it against them, kill them with their own magic."

"How poetic."

The trio picked up their pace and managed to reach the Lafayette cemetery, Ophelia couldn't help but let out a light sigh as she entered the place that had managed to pull her out of her own personal hell.

They found Sophie without much trouble at all, Ophelia stood back with the tiniest of smirks on her face as the boys ripped the chains from her arms that kept her held to the walls of the mausoleum.

Sophie Deveraux was one of the prime witches that wanted to have Davina in the palms of their hands; she wanted to complete the Harvest, just for the chance for Monique to return to her. Ophelia understood it, but why would you even chance yet another child's life on something that wasn't certain?

Sophie groaned as the chains that wrapped tightly around her wrists broke and fell to the ground with a harsh clatter, she held the reddened skin close to her chest as she looked up, her eyes finally catching sight of Ophelia whose face stayed plain.

The witch cleared her throat as she addressed the brothers, "Agnes stuck me with a needle. Cursed objects were created a long time ago. We use them so we don't get busted by Marcel for doing magic. The one she used is called the Needle of Sorrows. It was cursed in 1860 when..."

"Jump ahead a few decades and tell us what it does, love?" Klaus cut her off impatiently causing Ophelia's lips to twitch as the exasperated look on Sophie's face.

Ophelia blinked as she held up a hand, "Hang on a second... the Needle of Sorrows?"

"Yes..."

Ophelia almost growled, her face turning thunderous as she approached the witch that was linked to the wolf, "You mean to tell me that Agnes is trying to cause Hayley to have a miscarriage?" Upon seeing Sophie's meek nod, her head whipped around to face the brothers, "The Needle of Sorrows purpose is to- to kill a child in utero by raising the mother's blood temperature."

A tick passed as Elijah and Klaus stared onwards at the knowledgeable siphon, they were stunned... and they were furious. Elijah rose a hand, "How much time do we have to fix this?"

Sophie shifted uncomfortably as all eyes landed on her. "It will do what it's meant to by tonight's high tide. And believe me, it will work. I saw her use a similar object on a kid who went mad and killed a bunch of priests."

Ophelia frowned in realization; Cami had told the siphon of the treacherous things her brother had done... the crimes he had committed were exactly the same as the ones Sophie had described. It was Agnes. She was the one who caused Cami's twin brother to go mad.

"I'd like to have a chat with this Agnes." Klaus mused, though his tone of voice certainly gave away his true intentions, he didn't want to talk at all and Ophelia couldn't blame him. The witches were once again proving that they would do anything against anyone to get more power. "Where can I find her?"

"You won't. There are a thousand places she could hole up to wait it out."

"That's precisely why we need to unlink you from Hayley. No more danger toward her or the child." Elijah spoke as he stepped closer.

"No, what? If I am not linked to Hayley, I lose my leverage on you. We had a deal!"

"Oh, Sophie," Ophelia spoke with false innocence and Klaus couldn't help but smirk at her tone, he could only assume that she was going to use her sharp tongue to put yet another witch in her place. Elijah would more often than not, intrude and break the two up, but the more sensible side of him decided to just let the siphon have her moment.

Sophie stepped back, her throat constricting as she stared into Ophelia's eyes, truly believing that if she stared hard enough, she would see the cold-blooded eyes of a reptile. Ophelia's lips twisted into a smile, one that would seem innocent and friendly enough if they didn't know the siphon. "I can't hurt you, because unlike you little witches... well, I actually have a small ounce of morality left, shocker, I know. But do you truly believe you're in a position to make demands?"

"This has nothing to do with you!"

"No? Then tell me, why would I be strolling around the French Quarter with these two? A spot of lunch with my new BFFs? Come on Sophie." Ophelia's dark eyes rolled, "You linked yourself to a woman who has a child still brewing inside of her, his child-" She pointed behind her, towards Klaus without even looking back. "So that you could hold her and the child over their heads, force them to do the bidding that you're unequipped and too scared to do yourself. You want them to dismantle what Marcel has built, purely because you want Davina. So yes, this has everything to do with me. You want to put a mother, her unborn child, and a teenager in the firing line just so you can get what you want; so the witches can have more power... thing is, Sophie... You aren't a witch."

Ophelia stepped closer and looked up at the witch, her hand reached up to grab the ponytail that hung over Sophie's shoulder and on her collar bone. She held it between her nimble fingers and tossed it over the witch's shoulder, "You're a parasite." she spat.

The air was still. Sophie's eyes were as wide as saucers and her heart thudded inside of her chest. Elijah watched with fascination as he watched the siphon, once again, put a witch in their place. His eyes darted over to his brother who rose his brows in praise.

He waited with bated breath as the siphon stepped back and turned to face them. Her steps echoed throughout the mausoleum, her chunky boots crushing the autumnal leaves that lay on the cold ground.

Her voice lowered to a level only the brothers could hear, leaving Sophie scared and apprehensive as she stared at the woman's back. Ophelia sighed, the adrenaline that coaxed her beating heart slowly fading as she spoke, "I think that Davina will break the link. I believe in her abilities... but-" She ground her teeth together and met Elijah's waiting eyes, "I can try to siphon the link away."

"Why didn't you bloody mention that sooner?" Klaus huffed, his arms flying into the air as Ophelia drew her unimpressed gaze towards him.

"Do you remember the pain I cause you when I siphoned you?"

Elijah furrowed his brows as he looked between the two. In all honesty, he shouldn't have been so surprised that the unruly siphon had, of course, siphoned his brother. It sounded exactly like something she would do.

Upon seeing Klaus nod and gestured for her to continue, Ophelia parted her strawberry-scented lips once again, "Well, Hayley would feel that if I siphoned Sophie... not only that, but not much is known about us, or what we can do and I-" She sighed in frustration, her hands darting to push her hair back, "I've only been able to siphon for the past eight months."

The boys both frowned in confusion and Elijah took the opportunity to speak, "You mentioned that you developed this... ability at age sixteen."

"I did. But I never said I was allowed to use it. I have no idea that if I try and siphon the link from Sophie that it won't also siphon Hayley, or even the magic from the baby... if it did, I could kill it."

A beat of uncomfortable silence passed and Ophelia glanced back at Sophie who still stood in the same place, even she could see the clear frustration on the siphons face. She turned her head, a whiff of vanilla hitting the vampire's nostrils as she did, "I should be considered as the last resort. I'll help and I'll do my best to keep Hayley and the baby unharmed... but one of you, or Hayley, will have to give the go-ahead before I even think about trying."

"Then it's settled." Elijah nodded as he readjusted the sleeves of his immaculate suit jacket, his voice rose so Sophie could hear, "Sophie, come along."

Sophie followed along without much argument. The wasn't much she could say or do. She had already been threatened by originals and then berated by the siphon. She had no choice.

Klaus had separated from the group, his sights were still set on the witch Agnes, the one who had caused the night to spin out of control. Ophelia walked side by side with Elijah as Sophie trailed behind like a child in a sulk.

"You were never allowed to use your abilities," Elijah spoke, his tone as smooth as ever as he brought up the rather startling statement Ophelia had uttered.

"No." Ophelia sighed, pulling her cardigan closer as a harsh breeze blew past them and ruffled her hair. "I was... kept away from the others."

Elijah frowned as he looked down at the beautiful brunette by his side. Wordlessly, he slipped out of his suit jacket and held it out to the woman. Ophelia looked up at him with narrowed eyes as if she were trying to find a hidden meaning in the small act of kindness, trying to find what he wanted in return... it was a habit of hers. Nobody ever did anything out of the kindness of their hearts.

Nonetheless, she allowed her cold-bitten fingers to grasp at the expensive and luxurious fabric, something she could appreciate and pulled it over her shoulders. The deep scent of freshly washed clothing and the crisp notes of his cologne covered her completely, drowning out the sweet vanilla.

She muttered a small thank you which he smiled at before his lips curved downwards, "Kept away?"

"My siphoning relies on touch."

Elijah let out a small exhale as he pieced together her words and the light flinches he had seen... she had been segregated from her family just for being what she was. Years of loneliness and solitude, and yet he didn't even know the half of it.

He didn't reply. Her voice had been tight and he could sense how uncomfortable she was with divulging information about her past, but it was a step. She had surprised herself that she had even said what she did. It was very little information, but it was a gateway to everything that had happened; being kept separate had led to her cold exterior, the fear that people would leave. It was exactly why she was so blunt and sarcastic at times; if she scared someone off early, she wouldn't have to go through the heartbreak of them leaving later, after she had gotten attached.

Ophelia had allowed just that small glimpse into what had made her and it terrified her. If people knew what she did, where she had been, and who she really was? Nobody would want anything to do with her. Davina would hate her, that was certain. She was sure that the Mikaelson's, even with the atrocious acts they had committed, would be disgusted with her. They were a family after all.

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Ophelia had no idea where the Mikaelson's had been staying for the time they had been in New Orleans, but the plantation where she had spent almost nineteen years of her entrapment was not what she was expecting. Her footsteps paused as she stood at the entrance gate, her eyes trained on the building as she remembered the times she had spent playing the piano and tending to the masses of Peonies she had planted.

The siphon blinked as she picked up her pace once again, ignoring the small and questioning gaze Elijah had trained on her. The night was growing darker, and the bitterness of the cold continued to bite at the siphon; she had spent nineteen years basking under the sun, the cold hit her like a truck.

She pulled the large jacket closer; it engulfed her frame and she was actually very thankful that it did. Elijah led the small group of supernatural creatures towards the grand home, she hated to admit it, but she did miss the lavish building.

The original made his way up the steps and opened the door for the girls. His oak-brown eyes watched as Ophelia scanned the entranceway of their home and he was almost certain that he could see recognition... as if she had been there. Like it was ingrained within her, the siphon turned her head towards the room that housed the grand piano he used to play before she dragged her gaze back to him.

Ophelia nodded at the original once she caught his stare and without a word, he led them upstairs. Ophelia's hand glided up the railing of the staircase, it was keeping her grounded. It was so strange for her to be back inside the home, everything was the same, bar a few items the originals or Hayley had brought with them. The corridor was the same; beautiful paintings lining the ornate walls, regal wooden doors blocking the entrance to each bedroom... before she followed Elijah into one of the rooms, her eyes caught sight of the room that she used to occupy. Her old bedroom.

She had to force herself to look away and not make her way over to it. She wanted to see how it looked; she had filled it with her favorite books, sheet music to study, copious amounts of clothing, and the beautiful baby-pink flowers she loved so much had lined the room.

"Oh, Ophelia, hello." Rebekah spoke in delight as the siphon made her way into the room, though the rather elated expression faded to a sharp scowl when her ocean-blue eyes landed on Sophie, "What the hell is she doing here?"

The witch sighed, her eyes glancing over each occupant in the room. She had really dug herself a deep hole. "I'm trying to help."

"Help? You're the reason we're in this bloody mess! Why aren't we unlinked with this witch already, Elijah?" The blonde original complained. Her eyes rolled as she moved them away from the troublesome witch and once again, they landed on Ophelia. Her perfectly plucked brows rose with the corners of her lips once she noticed the borrowed article of clothing hanging over the siphons frame.

Ophelia rolled her eyes at the blonde with a small shake of the head as Elijah addressed his sister, "Rebekah, let her do what she can."

"I may know a way to slow the fever down. But, I'm gonna need some special herbs." Sophie announced as she met Rebekah's eyes, "I'll text you a list."

Elijah nodded his head in agreement whilst Rebekah shifted in annoyance. She had only been back for a short time to make sure her brother was safe and now she was being elected to babysit and gather ingredients because the witch in their midst couldn't pull her head out of her ass and break the link. Eventually, Rebekah's lips lifted into a patronizing smile, "Fine. Happy to play the fetch girl."

Rebekah shook her head, blonde loose curls fanning out as she walked towards Ophelia, though not without giving her brother a fake smile. Her manicured hand patted Ophelia's shoulder, "You're the only one in this room that I trust to keep them from doing anything stupid..." Rebekah rose a brow as her hand grasped at the lapel of Elijah's jacket that was draped over the siphon, "Loving the outfit." The blonde winked as she strolled out of the room, leaving Ophelia to shake her head.

The siphon made her way towards the lavish bed where Hayley laid. The poor wolf looked uncomfortable despite the plush sheets and Ophelia could almost feel the heat radiating off of her form. The siphon carefully joined Hayley's side, the back of her hand lightly hovered over her forehead, "Will you punch me if I ask how you're doing?"

Hayley, despite her pain, let out a small chuckle at the blunt comment, "You here to save me again?"

The siphon smile lightly, her eyes connecting with Elijah's who watched the interaction closely, as did Sophie. The witches had come to know Ophelia as the siphon that cared for nobody but Davina. The witch was in slight shock that the woman was being so... soft with the wolf.

Ophelia squeezed Hayley's reaching hand, determination written across her features. "I'm going to do whatever I can."

"Thank you." the wolf breathed, trying her best not to squirm in discomfort as beads of sweat tumbled down the sides of her face.

"Now, you are about as hot as the depths of hell," she tilted her head towards Elijah, "We should get her outside.

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16-09-2020

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!