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Nik was beginning to get on her nerves. He seemed to think this was a joke– that she was a joke. She wanted everyone to just leave. It was much easier to pretend like she was normal when it was just Elijah. She had never had siblings and her father or those that pretended to be had killed all her friends. Abigail was not ready to be a part of a family.

Abigail smirked at Nik. “That’s interesting. Do you like the book club? You don’t seem like the type that likes to read.” Of course, she would never admit to him that she enjoyed reading. She couldn’t force herself to agree with Nik about anything just yet.

She shrugged to Elijah.  All she had wanted was a home where she did not live in fear and Elijah had already given that to her. Everything else seemed like something she hadn’t thought of yet. But as she glanced back at Nik, she knew then no matter what she said there was a good chance Elijah would make Nik participate. Whether he wanted to or not. 

Abigail smiled softly. “I’ve never been to a fair. Isn’t there a Halloween festival just north of here?”

@anditsxsorrows​

“ I’ve read enough. “ he had a full library back home but he didn’t much talk about his interests especially not with little girls. He’s agitated, he’s not making this a good experience. But really if Elijah wanted to play house with an orphan he should leave him out of it. After all this was the girl that Elijah was spending all his time with.

“ this is ridiculous. “ he mutters, turning towards his brother but he’s certain that no matter what he’s either going to be met with disappointment, being forced into this, or upset that the hadn’t cooperated. It didn’t matter that he had a club to run and it certainly didn’t matter that he had his own problems.

“ Fine. A Halloween festival. Let’s all dress up and be happy. It’ll be great. “ he shakes his head and stands up from where’s sitting. Expectant look in his eyes “ are we going now then? “

he thought that would suit perfectly for abigail and rebekah. his sister had always loved the fair, ferris wheel, cotton candy, winning her the largest teddy bear. he had only taken her once though. when she had turned 10. and never again. he wondered if she would be upset if he took abigail as well. his intention though was not replacement. his intention was making this a family affair. making them come together.

yet he felt like he had failed miserably. like he had done something wrong. because there was something broken in between them. he feels heavy and he hates it. he looks between the two of them before setting his eyes on nik. who he is determined to convince to come with them.

“it’s settled then. we’re going to the halloween fair. all of us are going.”

would nik argue? would he tell him that he won’t go? make his failure more and more apparent. and he feels a little cold suddenly, somewhat emptied out. like he’s lost already before even given the proper shot at trying.

Abigail nodded. She didn’t know what she expected, but she was pleased to be taken out of Maryland and away from the madness that had plagued her for so long. She had been to Virginia once or twice with her father, but she was eager to forget any memories of him and replace them with new ones. “Never been there.” 

But she still wasn’t sure this Elijah was someone she could trust. Abigail had been fooled by men like him before. She would not let it happen again. “Is it nice?”

Abigail lifted a hand and covered her mouth as she yawned. She was exhausted, but unwilling to admit it. She wouldn’t be able to rest until she knew she could trust him. She knows nothing about him. “Do you have any other kids?”

 she asked questions without being invasive. but also without seeming the most interested. he wondered what was going on in that head of hers. if she was scared to come live with him. if she would ever open up. they told him not to get too hopeful. kids are her age are very set in their ways.

 he gives her a glance, eyeing her a moment as if he could read her. but she’s impossible to read. difficult. as his brother was difficult. and he was still waiting around for him to be more open with him. but he and nik had history between them. one he was unsure if he would be forgiven for.

Such extraordinary powers beyond the imagination. Healing oneself after all manner of bloodied injuries. Inhuman speed that didn’t give the fastest horse a proper challenge. The controlling of minds – imagine what the Vatican would do if they had this same power. Even Lorenzo would be tempted to steer circumstance in his favor if he knew of such a thing. But he mustn’t tell Lorenzo, not until Elijah allows him the privilege of revelation. Besides, if he were to tell others, they would think him mad. As if they didn’t already –

Leo glances at the dagger, but he isn’t sure what Elijah is asking of him. Yes, cut himself but it lacks sensibility. A fatal cut wouldn’t bring him closer to healing if he bleeds out. Logistically, his life source would drain much too quickly for Elijah to ever have the chance. Then what happens? One thing is certain, Leo didn’t want to find out.  Well, he did but not quite like this. As long as coming back was a sure thing then it’s a risk he’d have to take. For the sake of science. Hell, for the sake of curiosity.

He takes the dagger then peers at Elijah for any semblance of the truth resting in his eyes. What truth? He knew not. An assurance, maybe. A surety of resurrection. He’s not burdened by a man’s desire to prove his strength or bravery. Instead, curiosity far outweighs consequence. And the only thing worrying him now is if he’d be able to pen the account of this afterwards.

“What’s to happen once you bring me back?” Leo knows that hitch of breath in his chest is excitement. Adrenaline. The kind of rush he’d get when testing new inventions. Maybe he shouldn’t be this fascinated by Elijah’s suggestion, wondering if he’d come back to be just like his strange new friend. Leo was glad neither Zo nor Nico were here to persuade him of otherwise.

But he’s already made up his mind on what he wants to do anyway. Taking the dagger with him as he saunters to the nearest chair, he ponders the possibilities of what will happen once Elijah brings him back. If blood is to revive him then there must be some sharing of these incredible powers. It’s his more than obvious ulterior motive. It’s not something he’s going to hide, not now and not with Elijah.

Elijah had provided enough material for observation and study, but, as in most things, Leo’s curiosity was insatiable. He had to know more. What he had just didn’t feel like enough. And, before he thought it out, he made a clean cut down the length of his wrist. The pain was unbearable, rendering his hand incapable of movement. He huffed and breathed out, the knot in his stomach twisting and turning. Squeezing his eyes closed provided as much relief as clenching his teeth together. The blood didn’t make him uncomfortable for he’d seen so much of it before. Cadavers and the like. It poured freely down his arm.

Before he passed out from the blood loss, he’d have to make the other cut. Switching hands with the dagger, he could barely hold it in his grip. With as much strength as his hand could manage after the cut, he copied the wound on the other wrist, letting out a loud gasp at the sudden realization of what he was doing and why. It was too late to go back now, even if he regretted it. The one saving grace was that he might be as Elijah. There was no guarantee but… maybe, just maybe.

The blood loss was making him weak, weaker. The pain, strangely enough, vanished. He was numb and he was cold. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to part his lips to speak. He was teetering between day and night.

“Will I be as you?” he managed to say, last words in a weak murmur as his eyes slipped closed. He slumped in the chair, both arms hanging loosely to the ground, the dagger falling at his feet. And he faded away.

he watches Leonardo display such an unsettling fearlessness. Something that he hadn’t expected. Something that stands out to him, burns through him. for a mere human, a mortal, he was rather courageous, curious. A man so caught up in his intellect, not caged by his genius but instead all the more free because of it. dangerously free. and that’s proven by the blood pouring from his arm. The wounds are larger than he had expected.

The veins below his eyes become more pronounced, his eyes change. He’s hungry, thirsty for what he sees now. the craving is strong. But he’s been around long enough for him to keep control on it. he swallows harshly, it burns down his throat. But he manages it. he has to. because he doesn’t want to hurt Leonardo. If he wanted that he would have ripped out his throat right now. but he won’t do that. that’s not what he wants.

So, he moves towards him. looking down at the blood pouring forth. He can even hear it hit the floor. A drop and then more than that. a flow. He can taste it though at the back of his throat. His eyes look at the gnashes for a moment, then he lifts his eyes to his friend’s face. there isn’t fear that he sees there. it’s something else. something beyond anything he’s ever seen in any other mortal.

There are no words for the feeling that spreads through him. something like pride. He’s more than impressed. He reaches his hand out and just touches the tips of his fingers to the blood. Giving himself a brief taste, letting his fangs drop. He bites down onto his wrist. He’s used to the feeling by now. he hardly feels it. he moves his wrist to leonardo’s lips.

This is going to require trust, a heavy amount of it. It’s going to require the thrashing feeling of mended trust after everything that has stretched out between them. It should not be this hard to trust his brother, it shouldn’t be this hard to look into Elijah’s eyes and know that he was being honest and truthful. After all why should he lie? He was the only family that he had left. But for three years had he really been a brother?

It was a curious thing to linger between lines that remained ever so muddled. and that’s what they weren’t they? Muddled without reason or answers. They were simply pawns in this life of theirs, pawns to the madness of their father, pawns that had ended up on two very different sides. One at the front and the other at the tail.

But Elijah is claiming to be willing. He’s looking at Klaus as though he’s certain of this decision. To aid in killing their father? After he had so obviously taken his father’s side when this entire ordeal had started? It seemed an unlikely thing to hang any amount of trust on but he couldn’t help the lurch inside of him when he thought on it. Because hardened or not Klaus simply wanted his brother back.

“ You’ll have to prove yourself. ” he states finally after a moment of contemplation, his jaw tensing as he attempts to lessen the stress that floods his head. He can’t ruin his plans, they have been going strong for months. Those that were working with him would never forgive him if he let them get ruined now.

Stepping back from him then he lets out a slow breath, holding his brother’s eyes closely. “ How do you mean to do that? ” he wishes he could drop the facade, be the man that had wished for his brother in the early days of their cold apocalypse. But times change and so do people.

he knew not to expect any less from his brother. After everything that had occurred he would not have trusted it if Klaus had so willingly allowed him to help. He would have been at a constant looking over his shoulder. but this trial proved to him that forgiveness was possible. And he was determined to pass this trial and anymore that should come afterwards. He was weighed down heavily by all his guilt, consumed by a dark cloud that he could not run out from under. He was a man lost to his past. And this was the only way he knew how to atone for it.

he knows he’s being tested. His eagerness to prove himself to his brother is unmatched. And he finds himself almost desperate for the only real family he’s ever had. But he feels shame in saying that. if he had been true family to his brother would he have really allowed any of his father’s cruelty. He knows deep inside of himself that he was never really a good brother to niklaus. And he has bore that shame too long.

But he’s given hope now. that it’s not too late for him to redeem himself in his brother’s eyes. To move past all those years that he had let him get hurt. To give to him what everyone on this train wanted. The keys to life, to one that may or may not still exist outside of this place. he wonders how Klaus would lead. Or if his anger would get the best of him. he remembers there were times that Klaus would burn with a rage he feared might consume him.

Here they are now though. and he can’t preach to him about his rage. He can only offer him his hand and tell him he’s willing. Tell him that the only thing that matters right now is getting his brother the revenge he deserves. Getting his brother’s people the treatment that they simply as humans have the right to. as for what might come after? He’ll tackle that in due time.

He shouldn’t have come back here. It’s the third time this year that he’s traveled to Manosque as though he has any right to. He asked Marcel to compel away the memories, he had made the decision for himself. Why shouldn’t he be able to make his own decisions? Considering that he had made it for the good of their family. He’d known that, with the Hollow in him, and his unending servitude to Always and Forever that he would not be able to stay away as he knew he should.

Coming here to seek after him was a bad idea. An idea that could possibly ruin everything that had been set into place. It could spark something in Elijah’s memory and make him realize that whatever life he was currently living in was not true.

But Klaus couldn’t help the curiosity that ran through him. The one that made him question what Elijah was going through. How he was coping with blood lust, whether he was still capable of suppressing whatever demons were plaguing his mind. What memories had he kept? Had he kept any at all? What was he doing to ensure his own sanity the more he lived with the holes in his long winded memories.

It was selfish as well, he knew that. Selfish because he felt a sort of missing piece lodged inside of him without his brother. He didn’t want to go on through the rest of his eternity being without his brother. What was he supposed to do when his mind refused to rest? He wanted Elijah, he wanted his brother, he couldn’t live like this without him. It was something that had dawned on him during the past few years of being in New Orleans again. It was something that he had prayed for when he had been imprisoned beneath the Compound.

Only now that he was here sitting across from him, intent and curious look in his eyes Klaus knew he had to lie. For his benefit, for his brother’s benefit, for his daughter’s. A breath is taken and he looks away as though exasperated even though there’s a mountainous need to simply tell the truth.

“ I’ve already told you, I don’t know you. I heard you play a few good songs and got interested in your talent. If you’re looking for a new best friend best look elsewhere, I’m a bit of a loner. ”

that response just doesn’t seem to sit well with him. it makes him feel heavier. He’s just watching him now. he doesn’t know what to say to him. it certainly isn’t a friend he’s looking for. He’s not even entirely sure he’s looking for anything. If he’s looking for anything at all. All he knows is that there’s something familiar here. It’s something he hasn’t felt. during all his traveling and all this settling nothing ever came to him like. Crashing waves in his mind. Telling him that he knew the man before him, telling him that there was something meaningful here.

But the man shrugs him off, simply dismisses him. as if the very notion of the two of them knowing each other is simply impossible. And in all honestly he knows that he should probably trust his better judgement, shouldn’t he? Because his mind feels terribly scrambled. A mess. Lately he hasn’t even been entirely sure who or what he is.

Lately. He says it as if he’s got a hold on himself. he feels terribly heavy, confused. Lost even to his endless searching. He wants so badly to tell him to help him to understand. That’s ridiculous though. he’s insistent that he doesn’t know him. and he should leave it at that. but there’s something there pushing him.

Take his mind somewhere else other than the madness that plagued the nether regions of his mind. He wasn’t coming back from this, from the torrid plains that he was now wandering. He wasn’t going to find sanity again where he had lost his mind. Lingering somewhere between the deaths of the hunter’s and the gurgled blood that leaked from their mouths. Between Rebekah’s crying and the death rising in the air. Putrid death. This was now his fate.

Henrik was calling from somewhere beyond where they stood now. Henrik with his beady eyes and innocent declarations of wanting to see the monsters that men became. And then his dying sounds as the wolves tore into him. Darkness everywhere, death hanging in the air around him. Elijah shouldn’t be here.

Still however he moves from where he’s standing, looking away from his reflection and moving to sit on the edge of his bed. He needs only every time he feeds -

a breath is taken and it constricts somewhere inside of his chest as he looks up at him. “ Then what shall we talk about, brother? ”

he isn’t entirely sure what it is that they should talk about. What it is that would take his brother’s mind off of the darkness. Bring him back to them. there’s nothing he wants more than for his brother to have peace of mind. And yet they’re running out of all options, aren’t they? And every morning he wakes wondering how long, how much longer. He’s not sure which of them would end up suffering more.

he looks almost broken sitting there on the edge of the large bed. It’s a strange sight, isn’t it? because he hasn’t seen his brother looked like this in such a long time. not since they turned all those years ago. He had thought now with his immortality he would be impossible to break. And yet here he is, breaking.

Only their father had had such a power over him. yet now something had gotten deep inside of his head and dragged something out. And now Elijah feared that it would kill him. he reaches his hand out to lightly brush his shoulder.

The whole situation is odd. She can detect that barest hint of confusion in him, but he’s looking at her like he has no idea who she is and essentially that’s true now. She can’t believe no one told her he erased everything entirely. It makes something ache deep within her chest. She watches him trying to see if anything sparks at the sound of her name, but it doesn’t. So, she takes a minute to look him over, take in his stance, his clothes – it’s all different. He’s different.

She imagines he has to know what he is, how could he not. But does he know he’s an original? Does he know he’s not the only one? She has so many questions – so many things she wants to ask, but she knows she can’t. This will only work if he has no idea who she is. It takes her a minute to realize he’s spoken and she smiles and steps inside the restaurant. “It’s nice to meet you, Elijah” she offers softly as she steps inside glancing around at the semi-crowed room. “Are you from around here? Or visiting?” She finds her self asking the question with an air of curiosity wondering what he’s been doing all this time, where he’s been.

Rebekah checks in with her and Hope usually every couple of weeks. And she’s talks to Klaus daily, as does Hope. See’s him about once a week as well to bring him things Hope makes and vice versa – but she hasn’t seen or heard from Elijah in quite some time and she can’t help the curiosity.

it’s a strange feeling to want to be in someone’s company. Especially when you just met them. but there’s something about this Hayley that makes him feel as if everything is in place. like he should be here. He’s come across many women he’s liked from time to time. but there’s something different about this one. Something that makes him want to linger here and talk to her.

he looks at her for a long moment, just taking her in. she’s beautiful. But it’s more than that, isn’t it? the effect she has on him is completely different than that. its something he can’t explain. Something that reaches far into the depths of his mind and pulls.

He can’t help but smile at her. which to him is something different, unique. He feels almost empty when he smiles. He wants there to be more behind it. something far more formidable than anything else. the feeling inside of him is like something cracking. He hates the feeling of being cracked open inside.

He’s laughing through Elijah’s response as Klaus gives a slight nod of his head. “ You should take it into far more consideration - the fact that we cannot die and there you are floundering around as though you’re some unkillable being. ” he shakes his head. Honestly it reminds him of the Salvatore’s back in Mystic Falls. Always putting themselves in the way of danger even though they’re terribly susceptible to death.

“ Why don’t you simply allow us to agree on a matter and we can rest easy on the fact that next time a threat arises you’ll be safe. ” he smiles over at Hayley after trailing his gaze away from his brother. He and his brother didn’t always see eye to eye but this did seem like something they could both agree on - finally. It should be celebrated not argued.

“ Come now, Hayley - ” he begins with a small waiting smile for her to look at him. “ - why don’t we take a holiday and discuss what we should be doing rather than what will happen the next time you decide to risk your life. ”

@badasshybridqueen·

She rolls her eyes to the ceiling before her gaze flutters over to meet Klaus’, brow arching as she listens to his words. “Floundering around am I?” She inquires while shifting and crossing her legs. She’s well aware she’s not unkillable considering her most recent battle with near death, but she keeps that comment to herself. They both seem quite amused with themselves and she’s not sure if she wants to laugh at the smile on Klaus’ face or slap him. But she does neither. Her gaze shifts to Elijah and she sighs. “The two of you are so – irritating.” She says the words without any malice, there’s barely a bite to them. It’s a simple comment. In truth in an overbearing and completely ridiculous way – it’s nice that they care.

“Oh well, I wouldn’t want the two of you to disagree,” she adds a hint of humor coloring her features. “So from now on I’ll just do as you both say. I’ll sit here and look pretty and let the two of you go off and risk those unkillable lives of yours while I wait at home with Hope for you both to return. This way I’m safe. ” She adds with a flutter of lashes and a smile, though the amusement dancing in her eyes should probably be enough to signal her words are clearly just for the sake of appeasing them both.

She chuckles then, “That almost sounds like there will be a punishment should I risk my life again. Remind me, why do I put up with the two of you again?” She questions glancing between them, but there’s a smile on her face and this time it’s a genuine one. “Idiots,” she mumbles with a shake of her head. She holds up a hand, “Fine, fine. A holiday it is. Do I get to pick what we do?”

@bearthemarks·

 he wasn’t even entirely sure any of them could ever settle down with a holiday. rest was always something done in passing. small moments always cherished. but he found restlessness suited each of them best, did it not? for in the their lives there was nothing that came easy.

 he laughs at what she says. like it’s possible. but then again he and klaus had been talking as if it were. if he could place bets he thought that klaus would be the first to be undone by the stillness. for himself, there was always a certain kind of longing for settling. as for klaus he made no pretenses. he stated boldly such a thing was not meant for him.

 so he knows the suggestion is strictly for hayley then. and himself. he’s not sure if he;s prepared to deal with restlessness. funny that he views such a calming experience as a holiday like restlessness.

 “you and klaus can discuss it. i want a place where you two won’t end up tearing it all up in shreds.”

His question wasn’t one she expected, though she probably should have. Of course he’d want to know about Marcel. How they’d managed to get him back – cure the bite on Kol and everything that followed. Her fingers stop moving, but she doesn’t release the locket clasped in her fingers as she met his gaze. It’s been quite a long time sine they’d seen Marcel. And there wasn’t a way for him to find them, Klaus made sure of it. 

“Marcel is in New Orleans.” She offered because that was the truth. They hadn’t been back there since they stole him with the help of the Bennett witch and Stefan. She knew he was probably out there looking for them now

“By now I’m sure he knows we have you. But we’re cloaked here. No one has been able to find us in five years – And anyone whose come close is dead.” She offered, nonchalantly. They’d killed a lot of people of the past five years, betrayed even more. But she was protecting her family that was what mattered. “Mary says it’s quite for the moment. Marcel has people searching, but they won’t find anything.”

Hayley wasn’t worried though,  “Klaus handled it.” she explained and she trusted him entirely. She hesitated, “Elijah…I’m sorry it took us so long. But I’m so glad you’re back. You’ve been missed.” She swallowed hard, her words soft as she met his gaze from where she sat. 

he feels so heavy, almost like he can’t breathe. He’s angry, all built up and burning. He feels like the whole world is spinning around him. everything around him feels like he’s falling apart because of his anger, his revenge. It’s a crippling feeling almost, hanging over his head.

He nods along to what she says. Everything that she says gets to him. and he’s not sure if it’s about all the missed time. or if he wishes he could have done more. Or if he feels somewhat betrayed by the weight of being left there. alone.

“we have to go back to new orleans.”

It’s a broken quietness there in the middle of the room. And he feels such a heavy weight that lingers on the inside of him. he’s just completely still a moment before he looks back at her. and he knows that she might not understand. She has hope to think of after all.

He wishes Klaus were thee. Perhaps he might back him. or perhaps not. Because he knows better. He knows that marcel is still Klaus son regardless of everything. And he wants to get angry about it. but marcel has always been part of the family. and through his rage he’s not sure what to say. Could he kill him if it came down to it?

She doesn’t want to come inside. She wants to shove the stupid box into his chest and run away before anyone else knows that she’s here. Before she can veer off the single path her mind has been set on since leaving Mystic Falls. With one mission, one task, one thought — that she needs to get this to him. And she does. She did. She’s done. Except when he asks her inside, she can’t find it in herself to say no. Maybe it’s because he’s too polite and it’s too hard to refuse. Maybe it’s the please. Maybe….maybe it’s because the epic love of Katherine Pierce’s life isn’t a Salvatore. It’s a Mikaelson. Elijah Mikaelson. If there’s ever a pair that didn’t fit in theory, it’s them. But she can see the pain in his eyes, reflected back to her clear as day. Curiosity wins out and she steps inside, keeping a slightly firmer on the box, needing to ground herself to something before she loses her head. “I’m sorry you lost her.” She blurts out, turning slightly to face him. “I mean I know you guys were kinda…you know but I’m still sorry.” That’s what she’s supposed to say, right? Offer condolences. Sympathy. Even if she’s the only one that really feels it.

There was no viable solution to this very real problem. All she could do was appear to be her truest self lest he abandon what little trust is there – if any at all. Vanessa knows what kind of man he is. Vanessa knows he’s not easily riled or, to her dismay, broken. When she spoke to him, she understood his level of intelligence and what it required. And she could either act the part as she’s done or cave. “You are here. First step that proves my worth to you. These orders as you call them are more than. This is what all of us want. Kill him and, with it, goes injustices done to everyone. And who better than the closest to him but you?”