𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐈𝐗 — the memory of a child

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐃 begun to set by the time Ophelia and the Mikaelson brothers had made it back to the compound. Klaus had parted from the two and went about doing... Whatever it is Klaus does, whilst Ophelia sighed and trudged her way up the stairs.

"That was a rather large sigh, are you upset that Niklaus has sought the help of another..." Elijah paused for a moment, keeping the word witch from slipping out of his lips, "...Person to construct the moonlight rings?"

"I'm not upset, Nik was right... If the vampires knew that I did it, well, I'd look like a three-course meal to them, wouldn't I? And because I'm a siphon I have to touch them to have any access to my magic, they know that and would use it to their advantage." she sighed in frustration.

Never before had being a siphon bothered Ophelia. She'd always been content with her abilities despite the way people treated her because of them; but now, when she could be doing something, anything to help... Well it wouldn't end well.

If she made the moonlight rings and just so happened to be in the Quarter alone without any magic flowing through her veins? She'd be dinner. How would her mortal body be able to stop fangs plunging into her neck... Or even multiple. How would she be able to stop a vampire if they simply used their strength and speed to get the best of her?

She felt useless and utterly weak.

Elijah watched as the woman made her way into the study and practically threw herself onto the couch, her black heels being flicked from her feet and onto the wooden floor with a harsh movement. He approached her slowly as she stared down at her scarred hands, lines of pink and white shining on her olive skin.

"I understand your predicament Ophelia, I know that — for some reason I have yet to fathom — You wish to do everything in your power to help my family, but perhaps this is for the best? You deserve a moment to rest. Since myself, Niklaus and Rebekah have arrived in this city you have been at our beck and call, please take a moment for yourself."

"That's not me, Elijah." Ophelia muttered as she dragged her eyes from her chipping nails to his oak gaze, "I can't sit around and do nothing if all of you need me."

"I never said anything about doing nothing." His lips quirked upon seeing her brows scrunch in confusion, her eyes blinking in question, "I believe Niklaus interrupted our previous moment of peace, I'm certain you remember the day; when you inhaled your tea?"

Ophelia groaned, the memories of their small trip to the café replaying in her mind. It had been a pleasant moment alone with the original; being able to simply sit and talk... And choke on tea of course. "How about we don't talk about that?"

"Nonsense, I remember it fondly."

"Of course you do." Ophelia rolled her eyes at Elijah's rather sly smile, "But okay. Let's do that again —" she rose a hand to point a finger towards the man, her eyes narrowing though they were laced with mirth, "No talk of having a 'bender' though."

He rose his hands in mock surrender, "I won't speak of it —"

"— Don't you say it —"

"— I give you my word."

⋆⋆⋆

Their conversation changed to that of a more... Casual one. It seemed as if the pair only ever spoke of the misfortunes that had befallen New Orleans, the issues they had to deal with, and whatever chaotic happening Nik had gotten involved with.

It was... Nice, for both of them to just talk. But it was odd, whilst conversation flowed just as easily as ever, each of them would notice themselves stealing glances, they'd notice the other stealing a peek, and each time they did, tension seemed to stack up like building blocks ready to tumble.

It wasn't a new occurrence; a one-off. No, it happened with every conversation. Each giving the other their undivided attention whilst their lips moved and spoke words that they couldn't help but latch onto like a lifeline.

The strength that each of them possessed slowly dissipating with each deep breath they inhaled to bring them back to the real world.

It especially didn't help that with every witty or sarcastic remark Ophelia made; Elijah made his own; something that seemed rather out of character for the man, at first anyway. The noble original had even managed to draw laughter from Nik with his own dry responses to the woman... It was as if he was loosening up, his fingers no longer itching with the need to brush away a single speck of dust from his flawless suit, a splatter of blood resting on his lips for a while rather than being washed away with haste.

"Perhaps you could move onto more... Advanced spells?" Elijah spoke, his eyes drawn to the night sky as he spoke, a side glance offered to Ophelia who rather than rest her elbows on the railing as he did, opted to rest her back against the railing.

Ophelia smiled, the thought of her magic progressing so quickly... She knew Kai would have been impressed, she knew he would have been proud. It was as if it came so naturally to her; the moment magic swam throughout her body, she could control it, manipulate it, and cast spells with ease... As long as she had practiced. 

But practice wasn't scarce; both Elijah and Klaus would offer their assistance, and whilst Nik claimed it was so that he had a 'stronger ally'... The grin on his face when a spell was cast successfully was far happier than somebody who simply sought for strength. 

And the fond one that lit up Elijah's face when Ophelia would turn with a giddy grin was something ingrained inside the siphons head.

"You're certainly strong enough." He then continued, his body twisting so that his hip was leaning against the railing,

"What happened to taking a break then?"

"Were you truly going to follow such advice?"

Ophelia grinned as she twisted to the side, copying Elijah's stance, "Nope."

"There we are then. Taking a moment for yourself is a suggestion I do wish you'd follow, but it is only a suggestion."

Though of course he wanted her to follow his warning; to take a moment for once. Months had passed and Ophelia hadn't given herself so much as a five-minute break. She rushed into danger with haste unlike any other; it wasn't just himself to notice either. 

Before Rebekah had taken her leave, she had pulled her elder brother to the side and told him to take care of the siphon. Rebekah showed worry, despite knowing of Ophelia's abilities. 

"She's still mortal." Rebekah had whispered, dread clouding her mind as she pictured Ophelia laying in a pool of blood.

"Am I interrupting?" Genevieve's voice called out, causing both Ophelia and Elijah to break eye contact, take a step backwards and turn their gazes towards the witch. "I asked around. It's not just your father. The purgatory where supernatural souls are trapped is disintegrating."

Ophelia furrowed her brows. Disintegrating?  As a member of the Gemini coven, it had been forced upon each of them to learn anything and everything to do with the supernatural; including 'the other side' a place where all supernatural souls were sent after death to simply roam and watch as others continued on with their lives.

"What exactly do you mean?" Ophelia muttered as she stepped towards the ginger witch who looked about ready to take a step back and away from the siphon.

"She's right... More or less." Klaus interrupted as he too stepped out and onto the balcony with his hands clasped behind his back, a troubled look upon his face, "It's actually imploding. A made a call to a rather reluctant Bennett witch in Mystic Falls who said the same thing. The dead are being torn away into nothingness. And they're not interested in going quietly."

A gust of wind blew past the group of four, looks of unease coating each of their faces and Ophelia swallowed a breath. Witches resided on the other side... And Ophelia had most certainly killed many witches; including those that belonged to her family. She could only imagine the outrage those witches would feel if they knew she was out... And it was entirely possible that they already did know.

She was certain that she would be the next to receive nightmares of the ghosts of her past.

"So —" Ophelia cleared her throat as she looked from Nik to Genevieve, to Elijah and back to Nik, "— Your father who is about to be wiped off the face of the earth, permanently, has chosen to use his last moments to torment you?"

"Yes, little thief, it would appear so." Nik gritted out before his eyes narrowed upon her, "What of you? You have no faces plaguing your mind?"

"Not yet."

"Something for you to look forward to."

"Shut up, Nik." she breathed as she sent a fleeting smile to Elijah as she proceeded towards the door that led into the warmth of the abattoir, "Once this is over, you'll be rid of him forever."

⋆⋆⋆

The news that Genevieve had provided, as well as Nik's confirmation, had most certainly given Ophelia something to ponder for the rest of the evening.

She was still stuck on the fact that she hadn't received any such dreams as both Elijah and Nik had; no that she wished to, of course. But it did surprise her; she had murdered her family, and yet they neglected to take a moment for their revenge...

It wasn't a comfort, knowing that her family could take action. The memories of stabbing the sharp blade into her mother's heart, the blood that spilled onto her white dress and trailed over Ophelia's fingers.

The crimson puddles that littered the wooden flooring of their home, scarlet footsteps leading from one to another; a trail of death.

She supposed she should have been thankful that she had no unwanted visitors invading her dreams; she had seen the disarray it had caused for both Elijah and Nik and knew that for whatever amount of time the other side had left, she'd be casting spells, enchantments and burning enough herbs to last a lifetime.

She didn't need two original vampires losing their mind because of their deluded father... And she certainly couldn't lose her own mind. Chaos would ensue. 

"What has you thinking so hard?" Elijah muttered from his position beside Ophelia.

Ophelia snapped out of her daze, eyes blinking to bring her back to reality. Her brows pinched together as she stared at Elijah; she hadn't even noticed the man enter the office, let alone take a seat beside her.

He rose a brow causing the woman to smile, simply brushing her thoughts away, "It doesn't matter."

"If your thoughts have taken your attention away from reality, I do believe that is a rightful cause for my concern."

As ever, the man proved rather irritatingly worried. Ophelia, before anyway, would have brushed concern away in annoyance, claiming that she was perfectly capable of solving her own problems. And she was perfectly capable of doing just that... She just didn't have to anymore.

Time and time again Elijah had proved and reassured that he was more than happy to ease her tension, relieve her of whatever weighed on her mind by simply talking about it.

His deep gaze was locked on her form as she sighed and twisted so that she was facing him, her side pressing into the plush cushions of the couch. "In all honesty, I was wondering when my wonderful family would be paying me a visit." she spoke, lightly knocking her knuckles against the side of her head with a sarcastic smile.

"Niklaus received word from the Bennett witch that the other side is steadily fading, we have to persevere for just a short time..." He paused, "You don't seem overly bothered."

"Not really, I mean, what will they do? Come, tell me how much of an awful person I am for killing them, then disappear again? I've made my peace with it; I did what I had to do for myself and Kai, and I'd do it again if I had to."

"You'd protect your brother until the end."

"Yes." Ophelia breathed as she turned her face from the original as sadness clouded them. "I would."

Elijah could hear the tremble in her tone, one that was rare, one that he had only heard a small number of times before. Elijah knew almost nothing of Malachai Parker; Ophelia neglected to divulge such information, to anyone.

Yet, even without any knowledge of the man that shared Ophelia's heart... Elijah could tell that she cared for her brother just as much as he cared for his siblings. Her bond with Kai was as strong as the one between himself, Niklaus and Rebekah. He and his siblings had been with one another for over a thousand years... Ophelia and Kai had twenty-two years together and still had an unbreakable bond.

His had hovered in the air for a moment, fingers lightly twitching as they almost begged him to brush against her flushed skin, and he obeyed. A light touch upon her cheek, brushing hair away from her face was enough to gain her attention, enough to place a spotlight on the crystal-like tears that were ready to spill over her cheekbones.

The pad of his thumb carefully swiped at her cheek, her eyes instinctively shutting as it did, her little mortal heart thudding away beneath her ribcage. He could hear it, the pattering, the rhythm that skipped with a single touch, a song that caused pride to swell within him.

She let out a shallow breath as his hand cupped the side of her face; it was an unfamiliar feeling... One that had become far more present in recent times, thanks to Elijah. Touches were something that her body hated, it moved and flinched on its own... And now, though a small jolt would occur here and there, it seemed as though her skin craved a fleeting touch, a delicate caress.

"Will you show me a memory of yourself and your brother?" Elijah whispered, the words falling from his tongue with hesitance. 

Instead of replying, her eyes fluttered shut and for a short moment, she simply focused on his desirable touch before finally rifling through her own mind to find a sweet memory to show the noble stag. A memory from a time where she had been nothing but happy, a memory from when she and Kai were just children with the world at their feet. 

Children that knew nothing of their future.

Toothy smiles filled his mind; a small boy missing one of his front teeth giggling as he chased after a girl. She spun, facing the young boy and squealed as he slammed into her; sending them both tumbling to the ground in a fit of laughter.

"You're my favorite sister."  The little boy, no older than seven, spoke as his tiny and chubby fingers plucked at the grass beneath them before he sprinkled the small leaves onto the girl's face.

The young girl giggled, as she sprung into a sitting position and hastily wiped the blades of grass from her skin, "And you're my favorite brother."

"I am?"

"Of course!" The little girl beamed as she hopped to her feet, her hands smoothing down the mud-stain pink dress that moved with the wind, "Now come on, I wanna play hide and seek, Kai!"

"You always want to play hide and seek, Ophelia." Kai almost groaned, though his toothy grin remained as he let his sister haul him to his feet. 

"That's because I always win."

"You win at every game we play!"

Ophelia laughed, her eyes seemed bright and without a worry in sight as she pushed herself forward, her small feet carrying her through the bed of flowers that their mother had told them to avoid, "I know, that's what makes it fun!"

"Even as we grew up and became surrounded by siblings... It was always me and him," Ophelia whispered as she opened her eyes, finding that Elijah's were already on her. She cleared her ever-tightening throat, "He's still stuck there, living the same day over and over again with no escape. I got lucky... But Kai's alone and — And he doesn't do alone well."

Elijah shifted, his mind filled with flashes of Niklaus; that broken and betrayed look that would cloud his cerulean eyes whenever his siblings had stood against him, he understood. It seemed as though there were only small differences between Niklaus and Malachai, and Elijah could feel a dull pain in his chest at the mere thought of losing Niklaus in the way that Ophelia had lost Kai.

Knowing that the person they love most, the person they wished to protect and shield; was trapped with no escape. That thought clawed at his undead heart. 

"Thank you, Ophelia." Elijah finally spoke, his voice breaking the silence between them. The siphon looked to him, confusion swimming amongst her unshed tears. "For sharing such a memory, I can see how it pains you... And yet you stand by my family's side whilst you are still recovering from your separation, thank you."

"When I was in that prison world I felt so alone, like a part of me had been viciously torn away from me... Because it had been. Kai had been with me through everything; our siphoning abilities manifesting on the same day to always being there to shield the other from the rest of the family." Her hand darted to her face, a swift flick to remove a steadily flowing tear, "I knew I'd never see him again, and I became so — I don't know... Hollow and cold. That's why you hear people talk about me, about how emotionless I am. Because it's true; you, your family, Davina, and Jackson are the exceptions... I let you in."

It was a hard thing to do — Let down your guard and let somebody into the heart that had been shattered into a thousand pieces. But she'd done it, and those who now resided there, they were cherished, but they were also feared; the fear of losing them. It certainly helped that a majority of those she now cared for were immortal. But those that were not? The thought of something happening was terrifying... As was the thought that she now had people that cared for her.

They were people she would die for. 

No, they were people she wished to live for.

Ophelia had never been afraid to die. In fact, inside that prison world, she had craved it. When she had returned... Whilst there was a small soft spot for Davina; it wasn't enough to bring a spark back into her life. But now that spark she once believed would never return, was a burning flame.

Elijah was stunned into silence, his lips parted as his brows furrowed in an effort to piece together a comprehensive sentence. 

He completely understood her.

Letting somebody in was a death sentence for him. Elijah Mikaelson had only felt such a deep sense of love twice in his life; aside from his family of course. 

That was exactly why he could never quite utter his feelings for the siphon before him. That was the reason he couldn't allow himself to divulge in his own desires for the woman that had come to mean so much in such a small amount of time.

The original vampire was afraid.

And yet, little did he know, that Ophelia felt quite the same. She would never admit it, not now, for she too feared the feeling of loss, the feeling of being the one left behind.

It was strange, a pair so close and so similar fearing the same thing, neither confiding in the other about their fears.

Though in the time they lived in, it was crucial to ensure that those you cared for knew they were loved; for a war was brewing and nobody knew who would fall.

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04-07-2021

This is update 2 of the day, so make sure you've caught up! And please don't forget to vote, comment and follow, it means the world to me!