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𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜, 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊
When she woke up the next morning, Brinley was disappointed to find Klaus and Rebekah still missing. She couldn't help but stress, afraid of what they could be going through in this very moment as she stood in the shower.
She had taken one when they got back to the compound last night but she still felt dirty, she could still feel the dirt that fell onto her face and chest from literally being buried alive.
It made her panicky just thinking about it.
Brinley quickly finished up in the shower, well as quickly as her 5 and a half month pregnant belly would allow. Before carefully stepping out of the shower and wrapping her towel around her body.
After drying and french braiding her hair Brinley put on some mascara and her jewelry before walking into her room to get dressed.
At this point in her pregnancy none of her jeans fit anymore, because of being pregnant with twins she's much larger than a normal 5 and a half month pregnant woman. So she's had to resort to stretchy pants, dresses, and skirts which isn't her normal style but it's what's most comfortable.
"Brinley!" She heard Elijah call for her from the study
She quickly finished tying her shoe before following his voice. Him and Hayley had left earlier this morning to confront the witches to get information about where their missing duo could be.
"Hey, you're back!" Brinley smiled when she walked into the study but it dropped when she took in Elijah's stance
He was standing there shirtless with names tattooed all across his chest and torso as Hayley was examining them.
"Woah." Brinley gaped in shock
"I need you to help Hayley make a list of all these names." Elijah told her and Brinley immediately nodded
"Yeah, of course. Did you find anything out?" Brinley asked walking closer to the pair
"Not about Klaus or Rebekah, we ran into Monique Deveraux." Hayley informed her and Brinley furrowed her brows
"Sophie's niece. The zombie harvest girl." Brinley hummed and Hayley nodded
"That's the one." Hayley scoffed
"It appears that Sophie is dead and Monique left us with this parting gift from Celeste." Elijah gestured to his tattooed body
Brinley couldn't deny that she was shocked Sophie was dead, the witch seemed like a cockroach with the way she cheats death. But apparently karma caught up to her and now there's one less problem for Brinley to worry about.
"You sure do know how to pick em, Lijah." Brinley commented sarcastically making Elijah sigh
"Sabine?" Hayley spoke as she examined one of the tattoos on Elijah's shoulder blade. "Elijah, what is this?"
"I believe they represent the names of the women Celeste inhabited for the past two centuries." Elijah answered making the two women exchange a shocked look
"All those poor people." Brinley shook her head in disgust
There were at least 20 names tattooed across Elijah's body, that means there were 20 people whose lives were ruined and controlled by a psychopathic witch.
Marcel walked into the room holding a two notepads and two pens which he hands off to Brinley and Hayley.
"It's called a Devinette. It's old school. Kind of a riddle. Witches use them to teach their kids. Solve it, and it disappears." Marcel informed them
"Kids are supposed to be able to solve this?" Brinley asked with raised brows
"It's one of the first things they're taught." Marcel shrugged, remembering when Davina had told him about the time she had to solve one when she was a kid
"Why? What's the point?" Hayley frowned
"Celeste forced me to make a choice between yourself, Brinley, and my siblings, and now she means to mock that choice, taunting me with a childish game. The longer the game, the more they suffer. To find Klaus and Rebekah, we need to solve this riddle. The solution lies somewhere in these names." Elijah elaborated and Brinley felt terrible that he was forced to choose between them all
She couldn't imagine being put in that position herself.
"The name next to Sabine, Annie La Fleur. She's the witch that was shunned from her coven just over a year ago. Never knew why but I can find out." Marcel promised
After Brinley and Hayley finished writing all the names down, Elijah and Marcel left to track down Annie La Fleur's family to get some answers.
Brinley was sitting at the computer trying to search up some more of the names when Hayley's phone rang.
"It's Elijah." Hayley said before answering. "Hey, we're both here."
"Apparently the witches had proof of Annie La Fleur using dark magic which is the reason she was shunned. Because of this, she didn't see a reason to go on." Elijah informed them making Hayley and Brinley exchange a look
"Wait, she killed herself? Or rather Celeste killed her." Brinley spat in disgust, Hayley shaking her head equally as disgusted by Celeste's actions
"Yes, drowned herself in the Mississippi, to be precise. After she was shunned she could no longer practice ancestral magic, Celeste was clearly tired of the body now that she could no longer use it for her own gain and decided to take Sabine's instead." Elijah explained with a sigh
"How do you know?" Hayley asked wanting to be sure
"Because she leaped to her death from the very location Celeste and I had our first kiss." Elijah deadpanned making Brinley and Hayley share a look
"Have I mentioned that you have terrible taste in women, you couldn't have picked a normal human or someone who wouldn't come back to haunt you?" Brinley scoffed
"You have my dear, multiple times to be precise." Elijah responded and Hayley chuckled
"It seems like she has a creepy vendetta against you." Hayley commented
"All these names, these lives, stolen that Celeste might take her revenge. I suppose we have no choice but to see where they take us." Elijah paused. "I have to go, I'll call you back."
"Elijah wait!" Hayley spoke quickly
"What is it?" Elijah asked slightly impatient
"Ask Marcel if he knows anything about a name on that list, Brynne Deveraux. Sophie said that it was her family's bloodline that put the curse on the Crescent wolves, but Celeste said that she was the only one that could break it. If Brynne Deveraux was actually Celeste when she cast the spell, then maybe Celeste can still break it." Hayley mentioned, not wanting to lose the only chance she had at breaking the curse on her family
"I'll see what he knows." Elijah replied and Hayley sighed in relief
"Be careful." Brinley spoke up
"I will." Elijah said before hanging up
"Do you really think Celeste can break the curse?" Brinley asked her friend who sighed
"I hope so, I owe it to my family to find out though." Hayley said determined to help them
"Those wolves are lucky to have you in their corner, just don't let them take advantage of you." Brinley warned, knowing her friend has a large heart
She can't help but be a little hesitant when it comes to the wolves, after all as much as she knows they practically abandoned Hayley. So why would she care so much about them, Brinley knows that if she were her and her family abandoned her she'd tell them to go to hell.
"I won't." Hayley promised and Brinley nodded
Brinley's phone pinged and she looked down to see a text from Elijah.
"It's Elijah, he sent a name for us to check out. Clara Summerlin." Brinley said and Hayley nodded as she moved to type the name into the search bar
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
It had been less than 20 minutes since Brinley got the text from Elijah when the man himself stormed into the study surprising them both.
"Hey, look, we found-" Hayley started but Elijah gestured for her to be quiet for a moment
"You were right about the Deveraux witch." Elijah informed her and Brinley felt Hayley tense up beside her
Before they can say anything more, Marcel joined them and Brinley noticed he looked extremely fidgety.
"Are you good?" Brinley asked the dark skinned vampire
"I'm fine, just want to find them." Marcel nodded before clearing his throat. "Did you guys find anything about Clara, the mystery witch?"
"Uh yeah. She was a nurse at the Fleur-de-Lis Sanitarium back in 1918, during the Influenza pandemic. There wasn't much else to go on, no family listed, no other personal details." Brinley explained turning the computer so Elijah and Marcel could see the picture that she pulled up
It was a black and white photograph of all the nurses, doctors, and staff from the Sanitarium. Hayley leaned forward and pointed to Clara's picture.
"Recognize her? Top row, second from the right." Hayley looked up at Elijah who studied the photo
"No, I don't. Marcel?" Elijah looked to the vampire beside him
When Marcel didn't answer, Brinley looked towards him and frowned at his pale complexion. He looked like he's seen a ghost.
"Marcel?" Brinley furrowed her brows
"Uh." Marcel cleared his throat hesitantly
"Marcel? Do I need to remind you that Niklaus and Rebekah are somewhere suffering horribly? If you know something, talk." Elijah demanded with a clenched jaw
"The Sanitarium. That's where you'll find them." Marcel stammered making Brinley narrow her eyes at him
"How can you be so sure?" Brinley enquired, suspicious as to why Marcel was so confident that's where they would be
"I just know." Marcel argued
"How do you know?" Elijah countered harshly
Marcel didn't reply as he sighed deeply and turned away from the trio, wiping his hand down his face before turning back to face them.
"If I'm right, you need to know exactly what we're walking into. We did something, Rebekah and I...I think the witches are trying to use it against her. It was, uh...something that you're not going to like." Marcel warned making Elijah's eyes darken while Brinley and Hayley exchanged an hesitant look
"Explain. Now." Elijah clenched his jaw
"Back in 1919 when your father came to New Orleans and almost killed everyone, when you all thought I was dead. It was our fault, mine and Rebekah's. We summoned him." Marcel admitted and Brinley had to refrain from gasping
Brinley knows how terrified of his father Klaus was, how terrified all of the Mikaelson siblings were of their father so the thought of Rebekah summoning him to New Orleans where they were was crazy.
"Rebekah wouldn't do that, she was terrified of Mikael." Brinley scoffed but Marcel shook his head
"She feared Klaus more at the time, she feared what he'd do when he found out we were still together despite his warnings." Marcel replied sending a sinking feeling through Brinley's stomach
Rebekah and Marcel's love story was certainly a complicated one, Brinley had heard from both Klaus and Rebekah about how much Klaus detested the two of them together and honestly Brinley can understand why.
Marcel was practically his son, he saved him from a life of pain and suffering that came with being a bastard slave child and instead gave him a father who loved him. Then to find out that his sister, who should be like an aunt to this son figure was instead warming his bed.
If Brinley were Klaus she would be angry as well, she would be disgusted.
But she can also understand Rebekah's feelings, you can't help who you fall in love with. Love isn't always appropriate and it doesn't always make sense but one thing about it is that it hits you when you least expect it and with the person you least expect.
After all, Brinley fell in love with Klaus. The big bad hybrid who installs fear in the hearts of anyone who hears his name. Now he might not be her brother's son figure, but she definitely wasn't supposed to fall for him.
Brinley, Hayley, and Marcel waited with bated breath for Elijah's response and by the way he stood unmoving with his eyes locked on Marcel, Brinley anticipated a blow up.
"For the better part of a century, I have wondered how Father found us, what foolish mistake that we had made to destroy our time in the one place that we could finally call home. Did you know, I even blamed myself for a time, Marcellus?" Elijah growled in anger
"Elijah." Hayley warned but Brinley just grabbed her arm and shook her head, knowing Elijah needed to get this off his chest
"Niklaus raised you. He treated you like a son." Elijah pointed in Marcel's face
"Rebekah, I love her. I still love her. All we ever wanted was to be together, but as long as Klaus was around, that was never going to happen." Marcel defended himself and Brinley scoffed
"Of course he wouldn't let you be together. She's basically your aunt, I mean you do realize that right? Nik took you in and made you his son and to thank him, you fuck his sister behind his back." Brinley wrinkled her nose in disgust
"It wasn't like that with us. Rebekah was never nurturing or loving towards me when I was young, she kept her distance and it was only when I was older that the feelings between us started. It was like true love." Marcel argued and Brinley shook her head
"True love only exists in storybooks, even then most of them end in tragedy. Rebekah deserves to love someone she can actually have a future with. So do you. But you seriously can't think that you two can be that person for each other." Brinley deadpanned and Marcel scoffed
"You actually think you can have that with Klaus. You don't see it yet Brinley, but you'll never be happy with him." Marcel warned making Brinley clench her jaw while Hayley grabbed her hand
"Enough, Marcellus. When Klaus learns the truth, there will be no end to his rage. I will not let my sister suffer that wrath." Elijah declared locking eyes with Marcel
"Then we need to get to them before he learns the truth." Marcel gulped
Elijah turned to look at Brinley who recognized his look and immediately went to protest.
"No way! You can't seriously tell me to sit this one out, we're talking about the father of my children and my best friend." Brinley stood up
"It is not safe. If Niklaus learns the truth before we get to them, there is no telling what he is capable of and I will not risk something happening to you or the children. I would never forgive myself and neither would my brother if he were to accidentally harm you in his rage." Elijah said making Brinley sigh
She knew he was probably right, and physically she wasn't sure she'd be much of a help, but she can't just sit around and do nothing. Brinley feels completely useless, she wants to do something to help.
"I just want to help them." Brinley frowned
"You'll be helping them by staying safe so I can help them and not worry about you getting hurt. I'm sorry Brinley, but there is no more time to debate this. Please just stay here." Elijah said before himself followed by Marcel sped from the room leaving Hayley and Brinley all by their lonesome
"And then there were two." Brinley sighed before noticing the hesitant look on Hayley's face. "Oh no, what?"
"If Celeste was Brynne Deveraux like Elijah said she was then the only chance I have at breaking the curse is if I get Celeste to do it. Sooner rather than later, I'm sure now that we know who she is she's going to try to body jump before too long then I'll be back to square 1. I really need to get my hands on her before she has the chance." Hayley explained and Brinley nodded slightly
"I understand. Just leave the pregnant girl all by herself." Brinley teased making Hayley wince
"I'm sorry, will you be ok?" Hayley asked, not wanting her to be uncomfortable by herself
"I'll be fine. I'll just hideout in my room until I hear from Elijah about Nik. Be careful, you know how dangerous Celeste is." Brinley warned and Hayley smirked, squeezing her shoulder
"Yeah, but she doesn't know how dangerous I am." Hayley winked before leaving the room
Brinley sighed before looking down at her stomach and placing her hands on the side of it.
"And then there were 3." Brinley rubbed gently where she could feel one of the babies kicking. "Let's hope your daddy doesn't kill your auntie Beks."
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