"As you all know, the witch Davina is no longer with us." I hear Nik say outside my room. It has been a few days since Davina had passed and I had barely left my room. Niklaus left and went back to Mystic Falls for a day or so. When he got back this morning he called a meeting with the vampires. I get up and open my door to listen in on what's going on downstairs. "Without Davina, we can no longer monitor the activity of our witch neighbors. However, since their Harvest failed, their magic will soon be gone forever. Until then, I say we keep them on their toes." He announces making me roll my eyes. "Diego, I wonder if you might lead a rousting in the cauldron."
Not caring about whatever Niklaus is up to, I leave my room deciding to search for Hayley. However, I see Marcel go into the study. Since, he is going through the same thing I am, I figure he'll be better company. Following him I step into the study and see him sitting on the couch with his foot on the coffee table. He has a glass of Scotch in his hand as the bottle sits in front of him.
"Mind if I sit with you?" I ask softly causing him to shrug not looking at me. I sit next to him and rest both my feet on the coffee table.
"How have you been?" He asks taking a drink.
"About the same as you." I mutter. "I, unfortunately, can't drink myself numb. No matter how much I want to. Instead, I've been staying in my room and ignoring everyone."
"Why'd you come out?" He asks taking a drink.
"Nik is back. I'm sure it won't be long until he does something stupid." I say making him let out a dry chuckle.
"Ugh, is this what's it's come to?" Nik says walking into the room standing in front of us to address Marcel. "I bear the full weight of our kingdom while you pout like a child."
"It's called grieving." I tell him defending Marcel.
"You wanted to be king." Marcel says. "Besides, you look like you got it covered."
"If the men see you shirk your duties, they're likely to do the same." Niklaus replies making Marcel sit up straighter.
"I told you, I am not in the mood for vampire hijinks." He declares.
"No. You'd rather sit wallowing in sorrow for your lost little friend." He snaps.
"Don't push me right now." Marcel warns standing up.
"I am sorry Davina is gone, okay?" Nik says frustrated making me look down at my lap. "I'm sorry, but this mournful attitude is unworthy of you, and it's boring to me."
"I should have stayed in my room." I mutter earning sympathetic looks from both men as I get up and start to head out of the room. However, Diego appears stopping me in my tracks.
"Hey, guys, we got a problem."
"Kelsey, stay here." Nik orders me.
"Actually, I'm coming with you." I tell him defiantly. "I need a distraction."
"Fine." He rolls his eyes.
___________________________
As we walk to the location Diego leads us to, he tells us that two vampires are dead. We walk down the gravel path to a white circle with two bodies in the middle. Diego and Nik lead the group as I walk beside Marcel.
"We came to mess with the witches, just like you said, and these two, they went missing, found them like this--" Diego explains. Veins covered their skin as they lay side by side on their backs. An odd symbol is carved on their forehead between their eyebrows. "Not even staked, just dead." Marcel turns around and starts walking away.
"Where are you going?" Nik inquires but he ignores him. "Someone has to account for this."
"You want revenge, get it yourself." Marcel tells him. "That mark is tied to some bad mojo." He says pointing to the dead. "Any of y'all got any brains you'll head back to the Compound and stay the hell out of this." Marcel turns and leaves.
"Yeah, right." I mutter knowing Nik isn't going to let this go.
"We're gonna find whoever did this, and I will show them what suffering is." Nik announces to the other vampires as I roll my eyes.
___________________
Niklaus and the vampire decided to bring the dead back to the Compound. Once we arrived Nik informed Elijah. Nik, Diego, a few other vampires, and I stood in the courtyard as Elijah examined the bodies.
"Remarkably, I don't disagree." Elijah says. "However, I would like to know where they learned such dark magic. I had hoped never to see that symbol again."
"You've seen this before?" I ask gesturing to the bodies.
"I recall it is the signature of a fool who once stood against us." Nik answers. "Clearly, some upstart witch is salvaging old tricks. I'll do for him as I did the other. Diego." Niklaus address the vampire. "When night falls, I want you to gather every vampire in the Quarter. Get me the head of whoever did this and put it on a stick."
"Yeah. That's gonna be a problem." Diego says. "Everyone is freaked out, man. We haven't had witches killing vampires in a long time. Marcel made sure of that."
"Marcel has run off like a scared child." Nik replies. "You lot are left with me." He tells Diego before address the other vampires. "Now, who of you will fight to defend our home?" No one speaks up. "Not a single one of you will stand with me, so afraid are you of this new threat? You should know better. I'll handle this myself." Niklaus exits the Compound determined to find out what's going on.
_______________________
Hayley and I were hanging out, killing time, in the courtyard with Elijah. Niklaus was still out chasing down whatever or whoever the new threat is. and I figure it's better to stay with people then go back to being a recluse. No matter how much I want to. Hayley got up from our table and took a couple steps in Elijah's direction. He had been awful quite and every few minutes he tries calling someone.
"Rebekah is not answering my calls." Elijah informs me and Hayley. My eyebrows scrunch together and worry floods my body.
"You worried about whoever killed those day walkers still being out there?" Hayley asks.
"Frankly, I'm worried that she had something to do with this." He says. "She's very displeased with Niklaus perhaps even conspiring with others." He looks over at Thierry, who is drinking a couple tables away.
"Or she's in trouble." I add standing and following them over to where Thierry is.
"Thierry, is it?" Elijah asks him.
"That's right."
"My sister is rather fond of you." Elijah replies. "Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men." I cough to cover a laugh at his insult. "Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?"
"I don't know what you're--" Thierry starts to say but Elijah interrupts him by vamp speeding him into the hallway and up against the wall, his hand gripping his throat. Hayley and I look at each other before quickly following.
"You can either tell me what you know or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter." Elijah threatens.
"She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff." Thierry chokes out. "I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch."
"Like a coward, you left her." Elijah seethes tightening his grip.
"What was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an Original?" He tries defending himself.
"You could have told someone more equipped to handle it, dumb ass. Instead you abandoned her." I growl in anger.
"Where was this exactly?" Hayley asks with her arms crossed.
"The docks, warehouse 57. I was just doing what she asked." Thierry struggles. "You cannot tell Klaus about this."
"You're in no position to ask for favors." I snap. Elijah glances at me and Hayley before throwing Thierry down the hallway and into a wall.
"I shall take that into consideration." Elijah says going to leave.
"We're coming with you." I tell him.
"No. Stay here. The Compound is safe."
"It's Rebekah. This isn't a negotiation." I say determined. "I've lost enough family this month." Hayley shrugs at him as I grab her wrist and pull her to the exit.
"Do not leave my sight. Understand?" Elijah says stopping us. Hayley nods.
"Sure thing, Father Elijah." I salute him sarcastically.
____________________________
The three of us walk into the warehouse and find two circles that look like the one Diego found this morning. However, there are no bodies in them. A little ways down there is another circle. Rebekah lays in the middle of that one. Her skin is gray and veins cover her. She's unconscious.
"Rebekah." Elijah calls as we run towards her, but we're stopped by some kind of barrier.
"What's happening?" Hayley asks.
"It's spelled." I mutter.
"Some kind of boundary spell." Elijah confirms putting his arm out in an attempt to keep us back. "Someone is channeling her. Typically, it's a lethal process, but, because she's an Original, she cannot die. Instead, she's an endless source of power."
"So what are we supposed to do?" Hayley inquires.
"We have to get her out of this." I state.
"You guys have to get out of here." Elijah insists.
"Like hell." I snap causing him to sigh in frustration.
Elijah takes out his phone and calls the only witch we know in New Orleans. Sophie. He explains our situation to her as Hayley and I listen. I hold my belly in anticipation and worry for Rebekah.
"You're not listening." Elijah paces. "We cannot enter the circle. There's some kind of confinement spell or--" He drifts off, while putting his phone on speaker. "If I can't remove her, we can't break the link."
"It's a convoluted spell." Sophie's voice says through his phone's speaker. "It's like a witch's recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient, a mystical binding agent-- I don't know--" She trails off as Elijah turns and looks a me in realization. "Volcanic ash, rock salt, anything up to and including eye of newt." Elijah kneels as the wheels in his head turn.
"What about the blood of a witch?" He suggests.
"Do you have the blood of a witch?" Sophie asks sounding confused but Elijah hangs up, not answering her. He turns his attention back to me. "I need a favor."
"The baby." I nod understanding what he's getting at. "She's a quarter witch." I look at Rebekah and walk up to Elijah. Without hesitating I left my wrist up for him to bite. "It's okay. Let's get her out of there." I reassure him.
He extends his fangs and grabs my wrist biting it. I wince at the sting as I breath through the discomfort. Elijah, then, guides my wrist to the barrier allowing my blood to pour onto it. As it hits the ground there is a sizzling sound and the spell breaks. Elijah quickly steps into the circle and picks up Rebekah, before vamping her out.
_______________________
On our way back to the Compound Elijah and Rebekah explained that this new threat is an old Warlock that they believed was dead. His name is Papa Tunde and back when they knew him he was praised by his witch followers. He would feed on the power of those opposing him until they died. He was an old, evil man who wants revenge on Niklaus because Nik killed his two sons when he bucked up against Nik's authority. However, the question is, how is he alive if Niklaus killed him decades ago?
Hayley and I went to Davina's room when we got back to the Compound. She's been examining Davina's sketches of Celeste for days now. I just sit on her bed staring at the wall. I've come to hate being in this room, but I hate being alone more. When I'm alone I'm consumed in grief and I'm distant to everyone around me.
As Hayley flicks through the sketches we hear commotion coming from the court yard. She looks up towards the door and then turns to me with scrunched eyebrows. I huff before standing.
"What now?" I ask rhetorically as we both make our way out the door. We look over the banister and see the court yard crawling with vampires. Hayley examines the area and then returns to the room. I decide to stay and see what Niklaus has up his sleeve now.
"Not long ago, you all united against me." Nik's voice sounds from across the court yard, on the second floor in front of me. He stands gripping the banister as he addresses the area full of day and night walkers. "You failed. Since then, in my benevolence I have wiped the slate clean, yet it seems clear you think that I am the one who needs to earn your respect, your loyalty." He says causing me to roll my eyes. "You're mistaken. It is you who must prove yourselves to me. Our community is under attack. I require soldiers. I need warriors, not cowards." He spreads his arms out. "Each of you has a decision to make. You either fight alongside me or you leave..... Now." The crowd starts muttering and talking to each other, almost unsure what decision to make.
"We don't owe you anything." Thierry steps forward and looks up at Nik. "If staying in The Quarter means living under your rule, I'd just as soon get the hell out."
Thierry turns to leave before locking eyes with Diego. They have a silent conversation with their eyes. Surprise flashes across Thierry's face when he realizes Diego isn't leaving with him. Thierry walks out leading a group of vampires. About a third of the crowd is left. I look over at Nik and he looks pleased with how many chose to stay. Niklaus retreats back into his study and I go after him.
"Hey." I say when I enter. He turns and smirks.
"Come to critique my speech."
"Actually no." I tell him with a soft chuckle. "I heard about what happened at Rousseau's with Tunde and was just checking on you and to ask how Marcel is."
"Really?" He asks with a raise eyebrows and a pointed look.
"Okay." I laugh raising my hands in surrender. "I may have some opinions on your announcement."
"Well, don't keep me waiting." He smirks gesturing me to continue. "Let me have it."
"I actually agree with most of what you said." I nod as he looks surprised. "However, I do think you need to prove yourself to them just as much as they do to you. They need to know you're worth following into a war, just like you need to know you can count on them to have your back. It goes both ways."
"I see your point." He smiles as Marcel comes into the room.
He walks over to the mini bar and fills two wine glasses. He nods a 'Hello' in my direction, before handing a glass to Nik.
"I got to admit, I thought you'd lose a lot more guys than that." Marcel smirks.
"You and me, both." I chuckle with a slight scoff.
"Well, good riddance to them, I say. We've no room for slackers of cowards in our kingdom." Nik smiles as they both take a drink.
"I'm just glad they got to walk out alive." I tease Niklaus. "I call that progress." Marcel lets out a laugh and Nik rolls his eyes in amusement.
"I can be civil." He says making Marcel and I laugh again.
"Sure." Marcel comments.
"Now that you've regained your composure, let's move on to the next item of business, shall we, with a little help from our dear friend Sophie." Niklaus says addressing Marcel. Just then Sophie walks in and Nik goes and sits in the chair behind his desk. Marcel and I stand on either side on him.
"I got no reason to help you" She replies to Nik and then gesturing to Marcel. "And I sure as hell don't have a reason to help him."
"I seem to recall a promise I made to you." I snap, glaring at her. "If Davina died, then so would you. I'm not above honoring that promise."
"Now, now, don't be difficult." Niklaus tells her, steering her attention off me. "You'll only live as long as you're of use to me, and right now, your best use is to explain why a witch I killed 100 years ago has come back for revenge."
"Come on." She exclaims. "Resurrected witches with vast power? It's the Harvest. Four girls were meant to die and be reborn. I don't know how, but someone jacked that power, and they used it to bring back four witches, just not the right ones."
"So there's still a chance." Marcel says. "If we can get that power back, we can save Davina."
"Is that true?" I ask looking at Sophie trying not to get my hopes up.
"Lets concentrate on the immediate problem, shall we?" Niklaus comments before Sophie can answer. "Papa Tunde wants revenge. He'll continue to attack us, channeling power from the vampires he sacrifices. He kills, he grows more dangerous. So how do I end him?"
"He needs sacrifices to gain power. You keep him from killing anymore nightwalkers, that's a start." She explains.
"Unless he finds the one place with a load of vampires ready to be sacrificed." Nik says in deep thought.
"The morbid vampire prison." I mutter in realization.
Marcel and Niklaus share a look before vamping out heading to the prison that I'm sure is now a morgue. I sigh turning to walk out.
"You know, I am sorry for how the Harvest played out." Sophie says sincerely. "I just wanted my niece back and now your sister in dead and so is Monique."
"I know." I mutter keeping my back to her. "Knowing you did it to get Monique back is the only reason you're still alive. Beside I know you are in just as much pain as me. Killing you because you would do anything for the ones you love would make me a hypocrite."
I walk out and head to Hayley's room. I quietly enter when I see the light is off. Knowing she's asleep I silently walk over and lay down next to her. Ever since the night Nik stayed with me, if I don't want to be alone I stay with Hayley. She doesn't ask questions or expect me to talk. She's just there. I let out a shaky breath as silent tears fall out of my eyes.