chapter twenty six
making amends
・❥・
JORDANNA HAD DISAPPEARED and Klaus was just about to lose his damn mind. He couldn't tell if she was just avoiding him or if she was hurt. And if it was the latter, well it's safe to say he'd bury the person responsible six feet under.
He hadn't seen nor heard from her since before she flipped her switch back on and he was worried. He knew how she would be feeling—it'd be exactly how he felt four months ago.
And it wasn't a nice feeling.
Jordanna, on the other hand was a wreck as she crossed the field littered with those bright yellow flowers—the joy of the nature contrasted with the shitty mood she was feeling.
A basket rested in the crook of her arm as she placed it on the floor before crouching down beside it. She pulled her mother's necklace from her neck, which she had quickly grabbed before making her exit from the Compound, and gripped it tightly in her hand, wrapping it around her palm before she brushed the small blanket over the basket off—revealing a snake.
The reptile hissed up at her as she pulled it from the basket with pursed lips, she licked her dry lips as she reached into the basket and pulled out a long, sharp dagger.
The Jones held the snake tightly in the her hand before the dagger imbedded into the snake, she dragged the knife down, her eyes fluttered close as she began chanting.
This is what she had spent the night doing, sacrificial magic—or attempting to. But nothing was working.
Her words went louder as her grip on the snake grew stronger, the leaves around her danced across the floor lightly as the wind picked up, gently caressing her hair.
But then . . . all of a sudden, it stopped.
Growing frustrated, she cursed, harshly dropping the dead snake to the floor before she rose to her feet. Jordanna's head was spinning as she reluctantly made her way back to the Compound.
Her father's words rang in her head none stop 'coward,' 'selfish.' But the worst part about it? Was she knew that he was right. She was selfish and she was a coward, she just didn't want to admit that—after all it was still Jordanna. She would still like to keep her pride intact for however long that shall be.
But the self-loathing, God was it a shitty feeling.
For once, she was actually scared to see some of the people she valued most in her life. Elijah—he tried to be there for her through those four months, and she merely brushed passed him, a litter of hurtful insults leaving her mouth in passing. The same for Hayley—the Hybrid had tried to be there for her so much but she fucked that up too. Though the Marshall girl didn't spend much time with her pack (as result of them avoiding her), she still cared for them, deeply.
She had made a 'promise' with Jordanna, that she didn't go near them. That she didn't hurt them.
But she broke it.
She was merely having a lovely stroll in the streets of New Orleans and just so happened to bump into some very suspicious looking wolves. So, she followed them, only for them to sneak attack her and try to tear her throat out! I mean, it wasn't necessarily her fault, she wasn't reallly doing anything, just some light stalking is all and she needed to defend herself, obviously.
Though Hayley, did not see it that way. She assumed Jordanna concocted some story, selling off her innocence. The vampire had no care to tell her otherwise so she left it, leaving Hayley pissed.
And then finally, there was Klaus.
Oh, sweet Niklaus Mikaelson. I know, not a word usually associated with the Hybrid, but he had tried to be there for her and she pushed him away, further and further 'till finally he was at the edge. One more word, one more harsh dig and he'd fall.
She was scared to see him. She didn't know how he'd be with her. After all, she had chosen to be selfish and leave him to grieve alone, when they could've gotten through it together. She watched as he worked his way through his grief with stride, alone. When she could've been there for him.
Her chipped, cracked nails pulled at her dull hair nervously as she entered the threshold of the Compound. An anxious feeling overwhelmed her as she looked up, finding him stood at the balcony, a glass of whiskey or maybe bourbon in his hand, whilst his free hand rubbed his jaw as he thought to himself before his eyes snapped down to her in an instant.
She gulped, oh fuck. The tired look on his face didn't make her feel any better as she looked up at him before turning the other way. Nope.
Klaus sped in front of her before she could move, he gave her a look, "Where the bloody hell have you been?"
"Uh—Nowhere?" Jordanna offered lamely, she pursed her lips at the shitty answer and shifted on her feet awkwardly.
Klaus looked down at her with an unreadable expression before a sigh slipped passed his lips, "And where were you about to go just now?"
Jordanna frowned, "What?"
He pointed in the direction of the gates, "You were going to leave again."
"What? No," she denied, shaking her head. She was totally gonna leave. "I was going upstairs—yes! To sleep."
Oh dear.
Fuck me sideways.
"Right," Klaus nodded, giving her a flat look that insinuated he didn't believe what she was saying. "Well—" he began, suddenly growing awkward. "How are you? Uh, how are you feeling, after—"
"After I stopped being a selfish little bitch? Yeah, no, I'm doing okay," she nodded.
"Jordanna—" he started.
"No, seriously I'm fine. You? I, uh, I know I wasn't there for you and I'm sorry for that Nik, I—" Jordanna said, rambling on, but Klaus' mind drifted as he heard that name leave her lips.
She hadn't called him Nik in months, not after that night, and if she had — it didn't have the same meaning behind it, it didn't have that voice behind it, a simple change of tone nearly broke him. She sounded like Jordanna again, only she wasn't.
"What can I do?" He asked, watching as a frown appeared on her face. "Let me be there for you, Jordanna."
"You have been," she strained a smile.
Klaus opened his mouth, only to close it a second later. His eyes stared her down for a moment before he spoke again, "Tell me, is there anything I can do? Anything to take your mind off of . . . it."
Klaus knew how she'd be feeling. To Jordanna it was as though it was fresh. She'd feel the pain he felt those very four months and it would hurt like hell.
She hesitated as she ran her tongue over her teeth before her eyes caught sight of the glass in his hand, she looked up at him with the tiniest smile on her lips, "Wanna get drunk?"
・❥・
A laugh boomed from Jordanna's chest as Klaus spun her around numerous times, her feet tripping on one another causing a squeal to pass her lips as she fell.
Klaus' laugh echoed across the four walls of their bedroom as she landed on her ass, she threw her head back, groaning at the impact. "Ow. Stop laughing you dick," she hissed, reaching beside her and throwing her shoe at him.
Klaus went to grab it with his heightened abilities but the alcohol in his veins slowed him down, causing the shoe to hit him in the chest, "Ouch," he whistled at a slur.
Jordanna flipped him off, but with the blurred vision and the alcohol burning through her own veins her middle finger and index finger shot out, sending him a peace sign rather than her middle finger, causing her to frown as she attempted to fix it. Pushing her finger down too harsh it snapped.
"Fucking Jesus," she cried out dramatically, cradling her hand as she rocked. "Jesus fuck."
Klaus' laugh only grew louder as he stumbled down to her and grabbed her hand, snapping her finger back in place. An exaggerated groan left her lips as she threw her head back too harshly, causing her to lay flat on the floor.
She watched as Klaus poured himself another glass of fuck knows what, the content spilling over the edge causing him to purse his lips.
"Fill me up," Jordanna asked, Klaus pursed his lips, staggering toward her, he tipped the nearly empty bottle toward her open mouth causing her to splurt out in a chuckle as liquid ran down the side of her face. "I meant my glass, fuckface."
Klaus shrugged carelessly as he held a hand out toward her, "One can never be too sure."
As Jordanna took the hand in her own Klaus placed the bottle down on the cabinet, spinning her once again, as she spun back to him her body crashed in his own earning a chuckle to spill past her lips before her smile dropped as she looked up at him.
Klaus stared down at her, their faces merely inches apart. The look on Klaus' face brought Jordanna to reality, the longing, the love, the pain. It sobered her up as she stared into his eyes
It was as though it was magical. The room alit with the beaming moon, the odd few candles scattered across the bedroom and a small lamp sitting on the bedside cabinet was lit. In a way it made the situation more tense, she couldn't explain it.
A deep sigh escaped her and she involuntarily leaned in, as though it was normal, which in a way, she guessed it was. Klaus' hand reached up to her, resting on her neck as his thumb rubbed circles on the skin.
Klaus shut his eyes, letting out a breath as he rested his forehead on her own, the alcohol tickled her nose as she breathed him in. After a moment his eyes fluttered open, searching hers as he adjusted, angling his lips closer to her own.
So close . . . yet so far.
"Niklaus, I—" a voice interrupted, Jordanna pulled away awkwardly, clearing her throat as she turned, finding a stunned Elijah stood in the doorway. "Jordanna, you're back."
"Yep," she answered, avoiding eye contact with the dirty blond beside her. "Good to see you, 'Lijah. I'm just gonna . . . " she pointed to the door clumsily before brushing past Elijah, sending him a tight smile in passing.
・❥・
Yet again, Jordanna's head was a mess. She didn't feel like herself. She looked like herself—she sorted her hair out, plastered on some makeup and got her nails fixed. But yet, she still felt . . . empty.
She was getting better at pretending as the day went on though. After she had basically ran away from Klaus last night she bumped into Hayley on her way out. Luckily enough, they sorted everything out.
Jordanna apologised for, well, being a murderous psycho bitch and Hayley apologised for not believing her. So that brought them to where they were now.
Jordanna smiled at Hayley as she made her way down the stairs, finding Hayley picking from a basket of fruit as that and other breakfast foods were scattered across a table in the Compound.
The Marshall turned to Jordanna as the vampire reached her, mouth full of grapes, "So, who'd you kill for all this?"
"This," Jordanna pointed to the food. "Wasn't me," she told her, pulling apart a croissant.
Hayley frowned as another set of footsteps echoed through the Courtyard, Jordanna turned finding Klaus make his way over to them, joining them at the large table—a confused look etched on his face.
Klaus met Jordanna's eye, the two exchanged an awkward glance causing Hayley to narrow her eyes. "So, I take it we have you to thank for this?" Hayley asked the Mikaelson. "Which restaurant's missing a compelled chef?" She teased.
"It's certainly a card I've played in the past, but I had no hand in this . . . " Klaus gestured to the mountains of food sitting on a table, as he came to a stand beside Jordanna, causing her to shift on her feet—having him so close still effected her, God.
Stop being so fucking nervous, for fucks sake.
Hayley looked back at Klaus meticulously, her brows furrowed, "Hm, well then I guess we have Elijah to thank?"
Just as the Hybrid spoke Elijah entered the Compound, joining them at the table. "This wasn't my doing . . . " Elijah denied, looking rather confused.
"Then where the fuck did this come from?" Jordanna asked, dropping her croissant to the table with a grimace.
Not even a second later the silver lid on a platter started to rattle, startling Hayley. Klaus pushed Jordanna back slightly into Hayley as he moved forward uneasily, heading toward the platter.
As he lifted the lid, two Starlings flew up towards the ceiling causing the two Mikaelsons to duck as Jordanna jumped back, grabbing onto Hayley's arm in surprise, "Holy fuck!"
"What the hell was that?" Hayley questioned in exasperation.
Klaus reached for the invitation sitting in the middle of the open platter—pulling it open he read the content out. "Dinner, your home, eight pm." Klaus' jaw clenched. "An invitation from our mother."
"Kill me now," Jordanna mumbled.
・❥・
"Do you want me to kill her again? 'Cause I mean, I will," Jordanna asked Klaus as he walked into their room, coming inside from standing out on the balcony—finding the Jones laid flat on the bed, Hayley beside her.
"If you see an opportunity, I don't see why you shouldn't take it," Klaus smirked lightly, looking down at her as she leant up on her forearms. Perhaps killing something may take her mind off of . . . things.
"It's times like this I'm really glad I never knew my mother," Hayley sighed.
"I'm just glad my mother wasn't batshit crazy," Jordanna huffed, turning to look at Klaus. "No offense."
Klaus brushed it off with a grin, "We have enough enemies here. And now, the war for our home is to be fought against my own family."
"Witch-Bitch and her little followers tried to put a carving knife through our baby's heart. I just can't wait for the day I can rip out her insides and feed them to her," Jordanna spoke, smiling widely.
"You will do no such thing," Elijah told her sternly. "Esther's a master in the art of possession. We know whose body she currently inhabits. We must decipher her intentions before she finds a new host."
"Well, her last invitation was an assassination attempt on all her children," Klaus clicked his tongue in frustration as Jordanna grimaced at the reminder of the Mikaelson ball. "I think we can assume her intentions are decidedly foul."
"Well, then. We have," Elijah looked down at his watch, but Jordanna's eyes flickered between him and Hayley. The Hybrid stared ahead, seemingly ignoring his presence as Elijah kept his eyes on Klaus. "This afternoon to prepare for the worst."
As Elijah turned to leave Hayley rolled her eyes, Jordanna and Klaus shared a look as the latter snickered in amusement. "The bloom is off the rose, I see," Klaus smirked, following Elijah out.
"Shut up," Hayley muttered, glaring at his retreating figure.
"Trouble in paradise?" Jordanna teased Hayley, the Marshall grumbled profanities under her breath and shoved Jordanna off the bed—the vampire landed on her ass with a thump.
"Like you can talk," Hayley retorted, Jordanna gasped dramatically, rising to her feet before vamp-speeding toward the cabinet and picking up her hairbrush before throwing it in the Marshall's direction before flashing her a finger and speeding after Klaus.
・❥・
It was a little while later and Jordanna had decided that she would bother Klaus for the entirety of the day—she figured that'd be better than being all awkward and nervous around him.
So, there she stood in the dining room as she helped him make arrangements for his 'lovely' dinner with his mother. A compelled caterer held out two bottles of wine for him to choose.
Klaus tilted his head. "Skip the salad course. Let's not make this dreadful evening any longer than it needs to be." The Original then picked a wine and dismissed the caterer as Jordanna made her way over to him.
"Tonight's gonna' be interesting," Jordanna spoke dryly, shooting him a quick glance as her fingers skimmed over the dining table.
"Yes, it'll be a pleasure to see my mother," Klaus rolled his eyes, sarcasm dripping from his tone.
"So, I guess letting Oliver live paid off. He just informed me your mother has a partner in crime—another witch," Hayley announced as she slipped into the room.
Klaus sighed in agitation, rolling his eyes, "Building alliances in her quest to destroy us, I imagine." The anger in his tone didn't fly past Jordanna, she could tell he was annoyed by the arrival of his mother.
"Why does she hate you so much, Klaus?" Hayley asked with a frown.
"Maybe it's 'cause he's prettier than her," Jordanna offered, a playfully look on her face—though she raised her hands in defence at the deadpanned looks she received from the other two.
"She had six kids, it's not like she doesn't have the maternal gene," Hayley continued, ignoring Jordanna's comment.
"Seven," Jordanna corrected, Klaus looked over at her in surprise. "What? I do listen to some of the shit that comes out of your mouth."
Klaus smiled lightly, turning back to Hayley, his mouth opened hesitantly before he began speaking, "I think at one time, she loved us very much." As he answered he mindlessly began folding the napkins on the table—growing slowly uncomfortable with the topic. "One died before I was born."
Jordanna swallowed roughly at that, one died. Her face pulled into one of a grimace as she shifted slightly on her feet, discreetly placing her hand on Klaus' arm—in a form of comfort.
"I didn't know that," Hayley looked down.
Klaus shrugged lightly, as though it was nothing as he continued, "Years later, my brother Henrik was killed by the werewolves in our village. The loss of another child pushed my mother over the edge. So, she used her magic to turn us into immortals. I think that's when she loved us the most. But it was her undoing."
Jordanna understood why Esther did it in the first place, turning them—she meant. If her magic was back she'd try and do everything in her power to bring Anastasia back and let her and Sebastian grow up in a safe place. She'd do anything, anything.
But what she failed to understand was how she did all of that out of love only to wish them dead.
"It triggered a sequence of events that led to the reveal of her long held secret. My birth father was the werewolf whose pack killed my little brother. Of course, when Mikael found out, he murdered my real father, and so, my mother lost her lover too," Klaus continued, resentment held in his tone—eyes glued to the table as he refused to meet Hayley's eye.
Jordanna on the other hand, had heard all of this before. One night they spent together they laid in the comfort of one another's arms, skin to skin, just talking and he had confided in her.
"Wow. No wonder she's crazy," Hayley mumbled.
"Hm," Jordanna hummed in answer, turning her body so she was leant on the table—facing Klaus. "I get her, sorta'" she pulled a face. "We both know what it's like to lose a child and nearly went damn crazy dealing with it, but then there's Sebastian. Giving him away hurt enough, but if we lost him too . . . "
"You know, my siblings used to tell each other she didn't hate us. She hated herself for what we've become. I think they believed that even after she tried to kill us all," Klaus spoke after a moment, tears slowly filling his eyes.
At the sight of the teary eyes Jordanna grabbed his hand, playing with his fingers in hopes of distracting him. "And what did you believe?" She asked. Neither of them taking notice to the fact that Hayley had slipped out the room, leaving them to themselves.
"I don't know," he shrugged. "I just knew I wanted her dead," he revealed, tone bitter.
"Well, every story's better with a witch, obviously, it'll only make it more fun when we melt the fucker," Jordanna teased, a small smile playing at her lips.
Klaus chuckled, shaking his head as he looked down to the ground before meeting her eye once again, "Second times a charm, I say."
"Second times a charm," she whispered.
・❥・
Marcel stood pouring a drink for himself in his loft as Jordanna and Klaus arrived, the Gerard turned with a sigh before his face brightened as he noticed Jordanna.
"Baby J," he held his arms out, pulling her in for a hug as she and Klaus made their way over to him.
"Hey, Baldy," Jordanna sighed as he pulled away, his free hand rested on her shoulder as he looked down at her.
"How you doin'?" He question, sparing Klaus a short smile over her shoulder.
"I'm fine," she shrugged, a tight smile on her lips.
Marcel nodded before turning to Klaus, "Let me guess, you need a favour."
"I'm paying for this one, I promise. There was a necklace I gave you a long time ago. It was leather strap with a metal bird on the end," Klaus described as he stepped closer to the pair.
Klaus came to a stop as he stood beside Jordanna, watching as Marcel moved toward a shelf nearby, grabbing a-hold of a small, wooden box he turned back to face them, "Yeah, you gave it to me when I turned eleven."
Klaus rose his brows, taken back, "You remember?"
Marcel nodded in answer, stopping in front of the two—opening the box he revealed the necklace, "Mikael's back, Elijah's babbling on about family drama, and you're here looking for antique jewellery." The Gerard held the box out to Klaus who took the necklace between his fingers—a solemn look on his face. "Do I even want to know why you're asking for a necklace that your mother gave you?"
"Probably not," Jordanna pursed her lips as she rocked on her heels, smiling weakly as he sent her a concerned look.
"Thank you for holding onto this," Klaus stated, placing his hand on Jordanna's back he began to steer her off, Jordanna turned to look over her shoulder at Marcel and sent him a wiggle of her fingers in goodbye.
As Jordanna and Klaus made their way outside Marcel's loft, the Mikaelson turned to her, "Tell me more about this body jumping."
"Tell you more?" She rose a brow. "Shouldn't you know enough since you've done it, like, what? Twice. Which was disgusting by the way."
Klaus waved a dismissive hand, "Just because I may have participated in it, does not mean I know all about it. Go on then, how's it work?"
And they spent the walk from Marcel's loft back to the Compound talking about body jumping—before the conversation steered back to the most random things, the pair hadn't spoken like that in a while and Jordanna had grown to forget how much she just loved being in his company.
Klaus had forgotten that feeling also, the content, the never-ending smiling when he was with her. Her shitty jokes that 50% of the time weren't funny and her constant innuendos.
He forgot how . . . natural it felt for them to just be like this. Joking around. His hand on her back as they walked or how she'd bat her hair out of her face with a complaint as the wind messed it up—resulting in her making them stop in the middle of the street so he could fix it for her.
He almost forgot how it felt to be so deeply in love with one single person that he'd do anything to keep her safe, alive.
He, as well as Jordanna, did not know where they stood.
Whatever was happening between the two he did not want to ruin by rushing her into something she may not want anymore.
But all he knew was that he loved her and that was that.
・❥・
"Marcel's witch is being held captive in the Quarter," Hayley explained as she informed the others.
Klaus scoffed lightly, rolling his eyes as he bitterly spoke, "Oh, perfect. Mother's already a step ahead, as usual."
"Oliver's with her. I'll go, and I'll get her to do the spell. But, I need the necklace," Hayley informed the three.
Elijah shook his head in refusal, "I don't like this whatsoever—"
Hayley cut him off with a glare, "No, you don't get to ignore me for days and then suddenly act like you're concerned, Elijah."
Jordanna's eyes widened as she pursed her lips, she shared an amused look with Klaus as Hayley and the older Mikaelson brother stared one another down. "Just, for once, please, will you trust that I'll do something and it will get done?" Hayley pleaded, a stern tone to her voice as she glanced up at the Mikaelson.
Elijah opened his mouth to speak as Klaus reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace—as he went to hand it to the Marshall Hybrid, Jordanna snatched it out of his hand, inspecting it closely.
"Seriously?" Hayley frowned as she went to grab the necklace only for Jordanna to pull away.
"Calm your tits, Hales. I'm coming with, you'll get it. It's just . . ." Jordanna frowned as her thumb skimmed against the metal bird.
"What?" Klaus frowned as he noticed the look on her face.
Jordanna shook her head with a sigh, "Nothing," she held the necklace out to Hayley who took it with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Wait," Elijah called out, stopping Hayley as she turned to leave, practically attempting to run out the door.
"I don't care—"
"No, there's something else. A disciple of Marcel's was instructed to fetch another ingredient. Ask for Gia," Elijah instructed her with a tight smile.
"Okay," Hayley nodded before meeting Jordanna's eyes and gestured to the door.
"Gia?" Jordanna teased, wiggling her brows at Elijah.
"Move along," he dismissed her with a small eyeroll, eliciting in a chuckle to spill from the Jones' lips.
As Hayley practically ran out, Jordanna turned to follow after her only for a hand to latch onto her wrist. The vampire turned, finding Klaus staring down at her, the Mikaelson cleared his throat awkwardly—the younger vampire rose her brows in gesture for him to speak.
"You're not coming back for dinner are you?" He asked her in a hushed tone, lowering his voice as though it was to stop Elijah from listening in—it did not.
"Are you kidding?" She scoffed, shaking her head. "Sorry, but there is no way in fucking Hell that I'm entertaining your mother for a 'family dinner' we aren't exactly The Brady's."
Klaus' lips pulled upwards lightly, "Good, I don't want you here."
Jordanna narrowed her eyes, pulling a face at his answer, "How sweet."
Klaus rolled his eyes, "You know that's not what I meant. I don't want Esther pulling anything, I don't want you to get hurt . . . again. All right? I love you, okay? And I'd prefer you to be nowhere near my retched mother."
A smile pulled at Jordanna's lips, all of what he said went over her head other than those three words. 'I love you.' God, she missed hearing that. "I love you too, so if she tries anything tear her vocal cords out."
Klaus chuckled, nodding his head as she went to move, only for him to reach out once again, clasping onto her hand, "Don't die, sweetheart."
Jordanna smiled widely, "I'll try not to."
・❥・
Jordanna and Hayley entered the Crypt where Oliver stood, anxiously rocking on his heels, his hands were stuffed in his pockets as he waited with Lenore, the witch who was chained up, body limp as blood ran down her forehead.
Hayley made her way over to the witch, breaking the chains that bound her. "They worked her over pretty good," Oliver commented as his eyes skimmed over Lenore's face, his gaze flickered between Jordanna and Hayley as he looked away.
"We need to get her out of here," Hayley told Oliver, gesturing to the beaten witch.
"Huh?" Oliver pulled a face of question, wincing as Jordanna shot him a look. "They'll know that I let her go! Look, you asked me to infiltrate Cassie's coven, I'm not gonna blow my cover for some has-been, hippie witch!"
Lenore groaned out in pain as she side-eyed him.
"No offense!" He apologised sheepishly.
Hayley looked around, meeting Jordanna's eye. A smirk pulled at the brunette's lips. "I guess we could always make it look like you got jumped?" Hayley offered. "Tell Cassie that Lenore got rescued by her people?"
"Which one of you is, uh, gonna beat the Hell outta me then? Make it look convincing, yeah?" Oliver spoke sarcastically, eliciting in an eyeroll from Jordanna as she sped in front of him before her leg shot out, kicking him in the shin, watching as he fell to his knees groaning.
"I'll do it," she grinned down at him.
Oliver clenched his jaw, "Okay, just . . . just not the face, okay?"
But that request went over Jordanna's head as she grinned down at him before she swung her fist, the crack coming from his nose echoed across the Crypt, Oliver loudly groaned out in pain—pinching his bleeding nose between his fingers.
A little while later Jordanna's foot shot out as she kicked the werewolf gently in the shoulder, pursing her lips she turned to Hayley and Lenore who stared at her weirdly.
"I think he's fine," Jordanna pouted playfully. "Shame really."
"He's breathing," Hayley confirmed.
"Too bad," Jordanna hummed, ramming the heel of her shoe in his hand as his unconscious body lay still.
"Really?" Hayley rose a brow as she watched Jordanna pull her heel from his hand.
The former witch shrugged.
"What's your dog in this fight? You're not a Mikaelson," Lenore frowned, speaking up before she looked toward Hayley. "Neither of you."
"She is," Hayley told her. "In spirit."
"In spirit?" Jordanna whispered with a frown before Hayley nudged her causing her to shut up.
"The witch mother?" Lenore's mouth gaped open.
"That's me," Jordanna spoke with fake enthusiasm. "Witch turned mother turned angel." She turned to Hayley with a grin, "Look at me saving my people, I'm doing good. Practically a gift from God."
"I mean, I wouldn't exactly say you're a gift from God, JJ," Hayley pulled a face of disagreement.
"Uh—Rude-"
"Listen, can we do this spell, or not?" Hayley turned her attention back to Lenore.
"After what that bitch and her lackey did to me? I'll do any spell that you want," Lenore grumbled as she pushed herself up, heading out of the Crypt, Jordanna and Hayley following after her.
・❥・
Jordanna handed Lenore the bag of ingredients as she leant against the counter, watching as Lenore worked.
"Will this take long?" Hayley questioned.
Jordanna snorted, "We want her to soul brand Witch-Bitch, of course it will. She can't fuck this up, Hales."
Lenore nodded, "It's best I take my time and do it right." She looked up, meeting Jordanna's eye. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. No one should have to lose their children."
Jordanna looked down, clearing her throat as her fingers mindlessly played with the ends of her hair, "No. No one should."
Jordanna's head rose at the smell of sage, she watched as Lenore waved the bundle of burning sage around the room, spreading the smell.
"You have the talisman?"
"Oh," Hayley digged around her pocket, looking for the necklace before passing it off to Lenore. "So, how does this work? You brand Esther with the spell, and then what?"
"Whenever the bitch decides to body jump, she'll leave a mark," Jordanna muttered in answer as she watched the witch set the necklace over the rim of the cauldron.
Lenore nodded in agreement, "Yes, she'll be marked with a distinctive symbol on the back of her hand." The witch pulled a python out of the bag that rested beside her. "This way, you'll always know who she is."
"When the Wicked Witch of the West kidnapped you did she, like, say anything as to why she's doing this?" Jordanna asked, turning her body to face Lenore fully, resting her forearms on the counter, beside the cauldron.
Lenore put the python around her neck as she thought, "Love."
Jordanna snorted as Hayley rolled her eyes, "How hard did they hit you?"
Lenore removed the snake from around her neck, "What besides love can inspire such pain and cruelty? And Esther?" Lenore grabbed a small knife, stabbing the snake before she began disembowelling it, squeezing the entrails in the cauldron. Just like Jordanna did those very few hours ago. "Her love is very, very strong."
Jordanna and Hayley watched silently as Lenore began casting the spell, the former still resting against the counter as she spun the bloodied knife, the one used to kill the snake, around her fingers.
Suddenly, Lenore jolted forward, leaning against the cauldron to keep herself from falling. Jordanna turned her head, sharing a confused look with Hayley.
Jordanna pursed her lips, lifting her hand she waved it in Lenore's face, "Hellllo?"
" . . . Are you okay?" Hayley asked with a frown, taking a cautious step forward.
"Yes," Lenore spoke, nodding curtly at Hayley before her eyes fell on Jordanna. The Jones stared up at her with a weirded frown on her face, continuing the twirl the small dagger between her fingers.
"You sure?" Hayley asked once again.
"Just getting my bearings . . . " Lenore stood straighter, clearing her throat as she sent a tight smile to the pair.
Lenore brought her hand up, brushing a strand of her thick, dark hair behind her ear. Revealing the brand on her hand, Jordanna threw her head back in irritation as she groaned.
Hayley, on the other hand, jumped back, startled with the reveal of Esther.
"The mark . . . " Hayley breathed out as Esther looked down, taking in the new body. "It's you, isn't it? Esther?"
Lenore merely smirked.
"Oh, great, Witch-Bitch is here," Jordanna smiled tightly as the older witch looked in her direction with a sly smile. The Jones had to refrain the urge to smash Esther's head on a curb, repeatedly. But what good would that do seeing as she'd just body jump?
"Nice to see you again, Jordanna," Esther smiled as she picked up a cloth and began wiping her hands clean of the snake's blood.
"No," she shook her head. "It's not." Jordanna flipped the knife between her fingers before throwing it in Esther's direction, the latter held her hand up just as the knife was an inch away from her pupil.
"Dear oh dear," Esther chuckled lightly as she grabbed the knife, placing it aside. "I forgot what a nuisance you were."
"I didn't forget how annoying you are," Jordanna muttered under her breath as she moved to stand beside Hayley—seeing as the Marshall was shaking.
Hayley's phone began ringing, the Hybrid pulled it out of her pocket, checking it as Esther placed the cloth down. The Marshall looked up at Esther anxiously, sharing a look as they stared down at the contact.
"Go ahead. You can answer it," Esther nodded with a smile.
"Elijah? We're at Lenore's shop—"
Esther thrusted her arm forward, using her magic to break Hayley's phone. Jordanna watched as it hit the ground, the screen shattering. "That'll be enough."
"They're gonna come for us," Hayley breathed out, glaring at the Mikaelson.
"My darling, that's been the idea all along."
・❥・
"It's lovely to see you again, Jordanna, honestly," Esther began before her eyes flitted over to Hayley. "And it's nice to finally meet you."
"Don't talk to her," Jordanna snapped as she glared at Esther. "Leave her out of your pathetic little game."
"I'm just saying hello, Jordanna," Esther smiled. "You know, you've changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you. Tell me, do my sons acknowledge the change you're bringing into their lives? After all, because of the pregnancy, you've grown, matured. The promise of a child shows us all the possibilities of a future that could be. Children are meant to save us from the worst parts of who we are. A truth that makes my own circumstances all the more tragic, wouldn't you say?"
"No," Jordanna deadpanned.
"We don't pity you, Esther," Hayley rolled her eyes.
"Exactly," Jordanna pointed in Hayley's direction. "We don't pity you. We don't care how you feel. We couldn't give two fucks. Just . . . what do you want?"
Esther huffed, okay, maybe saying that she matured was a mistake. Clearly, she hadn't. "It's a terrible thing, for a mother to fail her child," Esther continued, ignoring the Jones' comment as she picked up Klaus' Starling necklace.
"You'd know," Jordanna sang, taking a step closer she leant against the counter, forearms rested on the surface. "I mean, how many time can someone fuck up? And then to blame it on your kids," Jordanna whistled. "God, you are truly fucked in the head, Esther."
"Now, now," Esther waved a hand dismissively. "No need to be like that. I'm merely here to offer you freedom. The gift of a new body. Freedom from being a vampire. I know you miss being a witch, Jordanna."
Jordanna tilted her head as she pursed her lips, now why the fuck would she do that?
"I have the ability to return to you all that you have lost, Jordanna. To make it so that you could have a family of your own," Esther smiled. "More children of your own. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"Not really," Jordanna smiled tightly, patronisingly patting Esther on the hand. "You see, those children of yours? You know, the ones you call monsters? They're my family, so choke on your offer. Cool? Cool."
"I see you and my mother have reunited," Klaus spoke up as he entered the shop, Elijah trailing after him as the former made his way over to Jordanna.
"Unfortunately," Jordanna answered, smiling bitterly as Esther quickly picked up a handful of an unknown substance and threw it towards Klaus, creating a barrier to stop him from getting closer to her or Jordanna.
"You hide behind your spells like a coward," Klaus glowered as he glared at his mother, pushing his hands against the barrier roughly.
"I did not come to wage war," Esther told her son, picking up another handful of the mysterious substance before throwing it in Elijah's direction as he tried to sneak up on her.
"Everything you do is an act of war. If you touch them, so help me—"
Esther rolled her eyes at Elijah as she interrupted him, "They're fine. They're free to go. I've spoken my piece. Jordanna knows why I'm here. I have come to heal our family, Elijah."
Klaus scoffed, "Well, that's a grand sentiment, coming from you." His gaze flickered over to Jordanna as he gestured toward the door. "Go now."
Jordanna nodded and moved from the counter, smiling bitterly at Esther as she wiggled her fingers at her in goodbye before grabbing a-hold of Hayley's forearm and pushed her out of the door. As Jordanna went to follow after the Hybrid, Esther threateningly exploded a lightbulb over Jordanna's head.
Jordanna stopped in her tracks, scoffing as she brushed glass out of her hair, turning to face the witch. "Really?" Jordanna mumbled. She literally just said she could leave.
"My intent was never to harm! Only to heal, as I have already healed your brothers Finn and Kol—"
"Kol?" Jordanna interrupted with a frown on her face as she turned to look at the Mikaelson brothers.
"Yes, Kol," Esther nodded with a smile. "I healed him, I saved him," she flickered her gaze between the two Mikaelson's once again. "For you, I will undo everything that has been done, thereby giving you a new life. One without the vampire curse I inflicted upon you. Ask Jordanna to share with you my loving proposition."
Jordanna pursed her lips as she narrowed her eyes at Esther, thanks for that.
"You're a fool if you think that we'll accept anything that you offer!" Klaus pointed a finger in his mother's face, anger dripping from his tone.
Esther merely chuckled, "Oh, you are wrong, Niklaus." As she spoke more lightbulbs began to explode. Holding her arms out wide, the witch looked between her sons. "There will come a time, my darlings, that you will beg for it."
The glass in the windows shattered, causing the four of them to duck, raising their hands over their heads as Esther raised her own over her head, causing hundreds of Starlings to burst their way through the window, filling the store.
・❥・
"Of course she used those damn birds to make her offer!" Klaus' jaw tightened as he paced up and down the space of the Courtyard.
"Besides the offer of rebirth, what else did she say?" Elijah asked, glancing between the two girls.
"I don't know. She rambled a lot," Hayley sighed, rubbing her forehead as she looked up at Elijah.
"She blamed you two for what happened to the babies, to me," Jordanna played with the ends of her as Klaus turned to her with a glare.
"Well, I hope you're not thinking of taking her offer?" The Hybrid asked expectantly as he stared down at her. Jordanna merely looked up him blankly, he was really gonna' ask that?
She couldn't lie it was tempting, being a witch again. To start again. But then she thought about the babies, well . . . baby, and the Mikaelson's. She couldn't do it.
"Jordanna! I'm talking to you," Klaus snapped as he awaited on an answer.
Jordanna rose to her feet as she glared at The Original, "Don't get pissy with me! I wasn't gonna do it you dick. But, you know what? Thinking about it, it's kinda' tempting. Maybe I should go visit Witch-Bitch and we'll talk about it over a cup of fucking tea!" She spoke spitefully, sarcasm dripping from her tone before she stormed away.
Jordanna grumbled a series of curse words under her breath as she made her way up the stairs, turning she pushed hers ( and Klaus' ) bedroom door open before slamming it shut.
The witch kicked her shoes off before shrugging her jacket off and throwing it onto an armchair in the corner, turning her face contoured into one of shock.
Jordanna jumped lightly, stopping in her tracks, startled by the woman sitting on her bed, her dark, silky hair poured down her back in luscious waves—reminding Jordanna of her own dull, messy waves.
"So, what? How's this work? You're still dead right?" Jordanna asked as she looked down at the woman sitting cross-legged on her bed.
"Yes, Danny. I'm still dead," Mary answered with a smile as she watched her daughter shift on her feet.
"So, how are you still here?" Jordanna questioned with a frown on her lips.
Mary sighed, "I am here simply when you need me. You have a question for me," she stated.
Jordanna nodded light-heartedly, "Things have been . . . happening to me. I keep hearing things . . . seeing things. But when I look there's no one there, no one's talking to me—it's fucking weird," she winced at the look her mom gave her. "Sorry. Oh! And when I died there was these birds and I don't know what the fuck is going on and I'm freaking out. I mean, am I dying? Is that why I'm seeing you?"
Mary sighed as she watched her daughter pace across the large space of the bedroom, "I was gonna' explain all of this to you one day, but I died before you got old enough. There's a curse. On my side of the family. Our side, the Jones'. The one who holds the magic that you did when you died—they can come back. Vampire blood or not."
"You just so happened to have your children's blood in your system meaning you turned, but even so, without the blood you'd still be alive. The birds were a harbinger, Jordanna. When you died it unleashed the dark magic inside of your body, thus these creepy things are happening to you."
"So, what are you saying?"
"Your magic is slowly coming back amore, but it's not the same. It's stronger."
Jordanna breathed in sharply, "Oh."
"When I was younger my father died, he was killed for his magic. And then one day he just showed up at our doorstep, that's how your Nonna found out about the supernatural world, she wasn't exactly happy when her husband stumbled back home after a month of being dead. But he was different, he wasn't the same after he came back. There was more power, he nearly went batshit crazy."
Jordanna sent her mother a wary look.
"Don't worry, Danny," Mary nudged her teasingly. "You won't have to worry about that, you're already crazy."
Jordanna rolled her eyes. "Thanks," she muttered dryly before her mind spun as she thought. "So, how come you're dead then? Why didn't you come back?"
Why couldn't the baby come back?
"Because I already gave my magic to you amore to stop your father getting a-hold of it. If I had it with me when I died, then yes, I could've come back."
Jordanna nodded in understanding before a frown played at her lips, "So how did Nonno die then?"
Mary smiled lightly, "A heart attack. Turns out you only get one more chance in life."
"One more chance, huh?"
authors note.
↳ can i just say jj would absolutely obliterate nate mf jacobs that mf would be done for ..... crazy mf would probably chop his hands off and send them to my girl cas
jj and klaus getting drunk to deal with their problems 🤝
hayley third wheeling jj and klaus;)) also thinking of changing mary's fc to the actress who plays prue halliwell idk they look more alike
anyone watched the through my window movie?? Is it good?