Isabelle Strand

“Was it?” Isabelle asked, looming over at Hayley and smiling softly, all I kept thinking was to get somewhere where I’d know people, and even if Klaus isn’t around, this place kind of exudes the Mikaelson brand, doesn’t it?” She asked, shaking her head.

"You're hilarious if you think there's a chance of that happening," Isabelle challenged her friend back, no intention of leaving Rebekah alone to fend for herself no matter how dangerous it was. She didn't care and would happily remain right where she was armed with her crossbow. "You're stuck with me."

"Oh I'm not about to take all the credit for that," Isabelle said, blushing slightly and smiling at Klaus's compliment. "The amazing person you are now, is all on you, Nik. And you should be proud of that." @savageantagonist

“Nik, I’m exhausted and we’ve been walking around the city for hours.” she complained, even with her werewolf stamina Isabelle wanted nothing more than to curl back up in bed but Klaus evidently had to show her something and they’d been waiting and walking around the city for hours for the tiny shop to open. Pouting at him as she looked over his all too pleased grin, she peered into the shop window to find an old woman dusting some powdered sugar on pastries. “I really hope that these are as good as you say they are, because for being awake this early they have to be worth it. Did you say they were called beignets?” she asked, brown eyes meshing with his blue as she looked at him and then at the tiny pastries through the window. 

       although she was no longer a witch, jo still felt somewhat of a connection to them ( perhaps due to the supernatural status of her twins ), which was the only reason that she’d been brave enough to approach them in the first place. ❝ actually, i was just brought back into the real world. ❞ jo countered with clarification. ❝ but just because i’ve been away from the land of the living, doesn’t mean i’ve lost all of my common sense. ❞ the brunette added with a shrug. the other’s comment about whether or not she could trust her caused jo to laugh softly. ❝ pretty sure they know who i am which is why they listened to me. i’m not going to harm you, i promise. ❞

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“You were brought back as well,” again it was more of an observation and a repeat of the information she’d been given than a question, but Isabelle was still weary around the woman. “I’ve been burned a few times with trusting people so you’ll forgive me if I don’t immediately warm to you,” she said, though she put her cross bow down and let the woman step closer. “Do you know why we have all been brought back? I didn’t think resurrection was possible.” 

       rebekah knew that if the witches were smart they would drop their defenses and scatter upon her arrival. she would definitely be telling hope about any foul play going on in the city, so it would have been stupid for them to pursue anything at this point. amused, bex watched as the witches fled and she turned her attention back to her friend. ❝ hello, love. ❞ bex hummed softly, wrapping her arms around isabelle quickly. outside of her siblings, the wolf had once been her truest friend. ❝ miss me? ❞

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Isabelle didn’t hesitate to hug Rebekah back, squeezing her friend tightly for all the centuries that had passed since they had last seen each other. “Of course I missed you,” she said, smiling and looking Rebekah over, she looked so different from when they were both living in the little Village, but in so many ways she was the same. “Nik told me all about everything that has happened in your life on the other side, I would very much like to meet this Marcellus that he spoke of,” she said, smirking slightly at Rebekah, like they would tease each other as girls. 

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Klaus was volatile at the best of times, but any threat made against his family and much less his daughter was certainly enough to tip the original over the edge. He had never maintained a particularly good relationship with the witches either and whilst there had been the occasional one who may have pledged their allegiance, the majority had proven to be untrustworthy and that wasn’t something Klaus has easily forgotten. 

As Isabelle leaned forwards to rest her forehead against his the hybrid sighed within defeat as he allowed for himself to relax, even if only slightly as the she wolf pressed a firm, yet attentive kiss upon his lips. “I left her. I abandoned her in this callous world. I did exactly as I promised her I wouldn’t.” 

Klaus knew that at the time, they truly had no other option. It was either him or her and that decision had been the easiest of his life. But he recognised that whatever Hope had become, was simply a product of his doing. He sought comfort from Isabelle’s words, more comfort than he could allow himself to express, but he knew that she would know that he appreciate it all the same. “How can I dare look her in the eye knowing this is my fault? Knowing that she has suffered and it has been all of my own doing.”

. 

Hearing Klaus’s words made Isabelle’s heart plummet to her stomach. For a moment she was there physically her mind felt like it was back in the village where they’d met and lived, the specific day and the events of the day were ingrained in her memory forever, but she hardly ever allowed herself to return to it- it was bright, sunnier than usual when she left the healers tent, her suspicions confirmed as she left wearing the laces of her gown a little looser than normal, a glow about her as she thought of all of hers and Klaus’s dreams slowly coming to fruition she had a blend of herbs that the healer had given her to keep the nausea at bay. She kept the news to herself for a few weeks, being extra careful, taking more time to rest to keep the child as healthy as it could be, not even telling Klaus until the healers said it was alright to. 

She would have told him that afternoon, but it was too late, Esther had turned them into Vampires and while Isabelle didn’t care about that, Mikael had targeted her as a way to get to Niklaus and the events leading to her death had occurred. It was why it had been so painful for her to be resigned to her fate, knowing that she was ending not just her life, but the life of an innocent that Klaus didn’t even know about. She wished she could tell him in that moment on the field, before everything went dark, but it was destined to be a secret that she alone knew. 

“Sometimes... you make the choices that you have to make, no matter how painful they are, and how much you wish things could have been different,” she said, one tear going down her cheek as her hands gripped at the material of her jacket. “You did it to save her life, you did it out of love. I’m sure that as painful as your loss was, Hope knows that. You have the chance to be reunited with her, you need to take it because not everyone gets that chance..” 

.

Klaus’ frame tensed and his physical response to Isabelle’s information was hardly discreet. His teeth were clenched and his nostrils flared as an unfiltered rage threatened to overcome him “those retched bloody witches” he scorned and his voice had risen quite rapidly. “Of all the diabolical and frankly idiotic plans they could have undertaken, this is perhaps their greatest yet.” It certainly hadn’t taken long for Klaus’ paranoia to stir “the enemies that will undoubtedly return, Mikael for starters” he hissed, not to mention Esther and Dahlia. Klaus’ digits began to shake and every single instinct in his body was urging him to lash out, to relieve some of that pent up rage.

But that was when Isabelle reminded him that he didn’t have to be the diabolical being that instinct preyed upon him to be. The simple squeeze of his hand caused for his labored breaths to calm, even if his features remained stern. He was reluctant to settle at first as her palms attentively, but firmly encased both of his cheeks before eventually a sharp sigh urged from his lungs and his steel blue hues gazed upon her features “and if I cannot help her. What then? I’ve never done anything but fail my daughter, even in death so it would seem.” 

. 

Isabelle had never become a mother - she’d never been a parent, but through how much she cared about Klaus, she cared about Hope too even without actually meeting her. Which was why she understood when she felt his frame visibly and notably tense at the information she was giving him, knowing that every part of Klaus just wanted to protect Hope and hearing that the witches were trying to plot against her and use him to do it, couldn’t have been easy. When he mentioned Mikael it was her turn to tense, thankfully she hadn’t had to interact with her killer from the safety of the other side, but now the idea that he could have returned also caused a chill to go down her spine and she knew that she couldn’t hide her worry from Klaus if she tried as she tried to look away and hope that her nightmares wouldn’t come back to haunt her. 

Leaning forward and resting her forehead against his so she could press a soft ghost of a kiss on to his lips, she just shook her head, “You have not failed her, and you won’t now. Think about it Nik, she’s been here all these years dealing with things on her own, and now you’re back. I know a little about a girl’s love for her father, and I’m sure that whatever happened in the past, Hope will be glad to see you and have you by her side for whatever the witches have planned for us all. And while you are being there for her, don’t forget that I am here for you.” 

       at this point, rebekah was starting to no longer be surprised by the resurrection of people she knew. first klaus, then elijah, and now? isabelle. the werewolf had always been able to hold her own, so rebekah hung back for a minute and watched as she attempted to gather information from the witches around her. 

       when the witches appeared to ignore her request, rebekah knew that it was time to step in. ❝ you heard the lady. ❞ bex hummed, stepping from the shadows and making herself known. ❝ now – are you going to answer her, or am i going to have to intervene? ❞

. 

She never dropped the bow once, her werewolf eyes never returning to their normal warm brown while she felt like there were still too many witches surrounding her to get comfortable, but as soon as she heard the familiar voice, she looked in the direction of the treeline to find her friend walking towards them, letting her guard down slightly because she knew between the two of them she and Rebekah could handle all the witches. Thankfully it didn’t end up coming to that and the witches seemed to have a change of heart, disappearing and fleeing back to the safety of the woods. 

“Rebekah,” Isabelle greeted her friend, knowing who it had been coming to help her before she’d even seen the blonde. It had been thousands of years but she didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around her. 

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Albeit reluctantly, Klaus came to a halt as Isabelle tugged upon his hand and encouraged for him to do so. He permitted a few moments to listen and to process the information that he was being informed of, but if anything it only made him angrier. His features soon hardened and his jaw tightened “and what possible purpose could Tatia serve by being here?” he retorted defensively, before catching his own tone before it developed into something too spiteful.

The hybrid could feel a chill urge up his spine at the idea of the witches intending to harm his child, it wasn’t the first time that this had been their diabolical agenda and he was just as furious at them now as he had been then. He was trying his best to find some kind of middle ground and appear composed, but that composure felt difficult to come by. “I’ll make these wretched bloody witches pay” he hissed and his grip tightened subtly around Isabelle’s digits, “each and ever last one of them.” 

. 

“She said that-- in resurrecting you, which was what the witches really wanted... the veil was ripped and that’s why everyone is coming back -- or, at the very least a lot of people are coming back who’ve previously died. It’s why I’m here now as well - and Tatia returned too.” she said, speaking about her friend slowly because he knew that Klaus and the doppelgangers had a lot of history that she didn’t even want to touch on for fear of angering him. 

Isabelle squeezed his hand back, seeing him almost shake in anger and placing her hands on either sides of his face to make him look at her, forcing him to look into her eyes as she tried to calm him down. “Nothing is going to happen to Hope, you being here makes sure of that.” she said, showing him that she had every faith that he would protect his child from anything that the witches could throw at them. “Breathe, Nik. Everything is going to work itself out - first step to all of this is finding Hope. I think actually seeing your daughter and seeing that she’s okay will help you.” 

.

       “ I am sure the gods will reward you… If the man is alive along with that damned witch , Esther –” Tatia hated the woman who slit her throat for her blood and the man who helped her . She hated them both for many reasons and in hearing belle died by mikael hands only angered her more . “.  I’ve got such a wonderful punishment for them. Mikael probably  would appreciate it…  I borrowed it from the gods. It’s very imaginative. And it goes on, and on, and on… and on. “  She shook her head as she looked at belle . “ You did not deserve that . You deserved to live and have many children .”   

      the viking brunette agreed with her . Power like this had consequences . “ You tell him . I do not think Nik would be fond of seeing my face .” Given elena’s and katherine’s history . There were times when she watched from the other side . “ But anything you want to know, I can get the information for you .” 

. 

Isabelle could see the hatred and anger in Tatia’s eyes and she felt bad for her friend, she understood that Mikael and Esther were horrible people, but Tatia had dealt with so much at their hands and she knew that it was hard for her to look at them and not remember what they’d done to her. “Well you know me, all I ever wanted was Nik... And I got to spend a few years with him on the other side, I just want to make sure he’s okay now because if this isn’t easy for us, knowing that his daughter is the target of this sudden resurrection plot from the witches is going to be hard for him to hear as well,” 

“Is... everyone back? Do you know if my family-- our family is back as well?” she asked, wondering about her parents and her brother who she’d been on the other side with but hadn’t seen since returning to the real world. “That’s-- not as important, we need to know where Klaus is. Do any of them know?” 

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The sound of Isabelle’s voice caused for Klaus’ frame to go rigid and his already heightened defences were amplified by the sight of the witches circling Isabelle. As ever, he was ready to act and in the most heinous ways imaginable, but thankfully the resistance adhered to his warnings and eventually fled. 

“Are you hurt?” was all he could manage as he ghosted himself closer and his steel blue hues frantically searched the she wolf for any signs of injury. “Did they hurt you?” he questioned again firmly, before a soft gasp urged from his lungs as their frames collided and for a moment, he allowed for himself to relax into her embrace.

“We have to find Hope, I need to find my daughter and put an end to whatever retched bloody plan the witches have for her.”

. 

She shook her head, letting him look her over because she knew that he wouldn’t be able to move past where they were if he didn’t know that she was alright and hadn’t been hurt by the witches he’d just scared off. “I’m alright.. no they didn’t, you showed up right before they got too close,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around him and feeling him relax against her, knowing that he’d probably had an understandably busy few hours. 

“Nik...” she called to him, catching his hand and making him stop before he kept walking. “Tatia’s here too, she said the witches wanted to bring you back to stand against Hope and get her to turn her humanity back on.” Isabelle didn’t know Hope personally but she’d heard a lot about her from Klaus on the other side, and she knew that this news was going to upset him because there was no way he would stand against his daughter. “So... yes we have to find her and make sure she’s okay but, that’s what they had planned.” 

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Jackson was still dealing with the fact that they had left peace, never mind who had come along with them, when he stumbled into the showdown between a group of witches and someone whom he didn’t recognize.  “Hey, hey - you heard the lady,” he pushed his way into the circle.  “I don’t know who y’all are or what’s going on here, but I’m lookin’ at a bunch of people surrounding one woman and not letting her leave.  I don’t take to that kind of shit.  So back up.”

. 

Isabelle didn’t know who the man was, but she could tell that he was a wolf, and that made her trust him at least a little more than she did the witches in that moment. The witches listened to him and slowly backed away, dispersing into different parts of the woods but Isabelle never let her guard down, still looking around worried that another one would come out of nowhere and hurt her. “Thank you,” she said, wanting nothing more than to find Klaus or at the very least, someone who looked familiar. “You’re a wolf, I can tell.” she said, knowing he could tell the same about her. “Are you from here? Do you know where we are?” 

       it didn’t take long for jo to realize that she’d been pulled from the peace in which she resided and brought back to the land of the living. how such a thing had happened was the question of the hour. she could only assume it had something to do with the magic that she’d lost long ago.

       finding herself in a state of confusion, jo began to wander. it was in her wandering that she came across the sight of isabelle surrounded by what seemed like a bundle of witches. the other was clearly outnumbered and despite the fact that she was just a mere human now, jo couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. ❝ now now, surely we can all come to a peaceful resolution, can’t we? ❞ her words were directed at the witches however, and not at isabelle. 

. 

The other woman was unfamiliar to Isabelle but she seemed to be brave enough to speak to the witches, and she obviously knew what they were so she was assuming that she was part of the supernatural world, she just didn’t know if that was enough to trust her. “You’re speaking as though you weren’t just brought back into the real world -- whatever it is these witches want, it’s becoming clearer by the minute that they don’t care about the consequences of their actions and having them all running loose and doing whatever they want isn’t exactly reassuring,” She never let her eyes move away from the previously advancing witches. “It looks like they listen to you -- but I don’t know if that means I should trust you or be even more weary of you,” 

        Once tatia made sure no one else was around , the viking brunette relaxed and hugged Isabelle . Sighing and taking in the moment of familiarity and love she held for the brunette . “ The gods have been kind to you , Belle . “ She never felt as happy as she did now in seeing her after a thousand years of torture . “ unfortunately, I am . not of my own decisions . “ The woman was not fool and she knew she didn’t belong . 

        “From what I saw in their minds , they wanted to bring back Nik … but doing so also meant opening the door between the living and DEAD . ”  She pulled back to look at her , making sure she wasn’t hurt anywhere .  

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Isabelle smiled at her friend’s compliment and just waved it off. “Perhaps the Gods are trying to make up for being killed by Mikael’s hand,” she said, placing a soft hand on her friend’s arm to show that she had long since been resigned to her fate. She couldn’t deny the sigh of relief in knowing that whatever was going on, Nik was around somewhere - knowing it was only a matter of time until he found her. 

“I may not be a witch but I know enough to know that an act that powerful isn’t going to come without consequences...we need to find Nik and make sure he knows what’s happening with the witches,” 

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The voice in the distance was reassuringly familiar and one that Klaus knew each and every melodic note of. The hybrid had since been brought to his knee’s with a growl, before eventually he saw Isabelle as the witches began to descend upon her. 

“Isabelle!” Klaus bellowed, forcing himself back into an upright position before ghosting forwards and with ease, tearing through the witches flesh with his fangs before dropping the lifeless body to the ground. Each and every instinct was willing him forwards as he rapidly enclosed their distance and plunged his hand into the chest of another witch, before ripping out their heart. 

“I suggest you let her go before you meet a deeply unpleasant end much like your bastard bloody friends.” 

. 

Isabelle visibly relaxed when she saw Klaus, not realizing that she’d been looking for him this whole time, wondering where he was and if fate would be cruel enough to split them up between worlds a second time. “Nik,” she breathed out, glad to be rid of one of the witches who’d been circling her. The witch that had gotten dangerously close to her seemed to realize that she was no match for the hybrid because no sooner than Klaus had said a few words, she was gone, disappearing further into the woods and giving Isabelle a chance to run straight into Klaus’s arms.

“What’s going on? Why are we back?” she asked, holding on to him and wrapping her amrs around his waist as she buried her head into his shoulder.