Endgame ⚜ Sweet but Psycho

53. cloud

2026
Outside of New Orleans, Louisiana
The Shiloh Place

Poppy stood on the porch of the Shiloh place, her attention on the large pile of ashes that laid in the grass lawn. The fire had been put out by the hail that fell from the sky, a result of four Mikaelsons being together. On the porch she stood, vulnerable to the entire world. Her bloodied and tear soaked face showed her pain and exhaustion, her clothing showed the beating she had taken that day. At that moment, the whispers had become silent. Perhaps the pain drowned them out.

Though she had her small quarrels with Hayley, they had both made a major impact on each other's lives. They loved each other as family, because they were. They fought tooth and nail for each other, but in the end it didn't matter, because Hayley was dead.

Joining her on the porch was Roman, who had pushed past the Original Vampire that stood in the doorway. His eyes were wide in shock, his hands trembled at his side. He didn't want anyone to die, certainly not the woman he called his mother. He jumped down from the porch, skipping the steps, and he fell to his knees beside the ashes.

Poppy turned her attention to everything else that was going on, though it all felt silent and small. Klaus had laid the sleeping Hope into the back seat of Caroline's car with the help of the blonde. She looked up at the sky, seeing the hail fall. It was a punishment.

The tribrid closed her eyes, taking a deep breath through the pain. And then she could hear everything again. She could hear the whispers, the crying from Roman, the heartbeats. She heard Elijah step onto the porch, and she opened her eyes. She didn't know what she would feel when she looked at him.

Poppy looked at her uncle, who had chosen a new family, and he looked at her. When she saw him, her heart dropped to her feet, and her hands trembled at her sides. She clenched her jaw and took a deep breath, feeling the rising anger and pain. Elijah looked guilty, but he wasn't scared of the consequences he faced. Hot tears rose into her eyes as she tried her best to keep herself together, but it was so hard.

Elijah stepped to the side when he felt something fly past him. It was part of the rail of the porch that had flown into Poppy's hand, but he knew her intention wouldn't be as simple as stabbing him. He would let her do as she pleases, as she was angry and hurting. And it was his fault.

Poppy raised the rail and swung at him, hitting his head and knocking him to the ground. She adjusted her grip and stepped next to where he laid, hitting him again on his head, then his side, and then his head. She saw through her blurry vision the blood rise from within him and seep from his wounds, but it wasn't enough. 

"I hate you!" The tribrid cried as she hit him once more with the rail. She was tugged away from him by her father, who walked her off of the porch to get her away from her uncle. As they walked, Poppy's knees collapsed from beneath her, and she fell to the grass.

Klaus knelt down in front of her, hugging her tight as she sobbed.

Xxx
New Orleans, Louisiana
Rousseau's

"This was my fault." Josh spoke, walking around the bar with a bottle of alcohol. Sitting at the counter was Poppy, Marcellus, and Vincent, all dressed in funeral attire and looking more miserable than ever. While Marcel and Vincent both appeared to be in mourning, Poppy appeared more traumatized. She was also in mourning, though. Josh continued to speak. "I'm the one who let Greta get away."

Vincent watched him. "You can't beat yourself up over this, Josh. Greta's plan was already in motion. You didn't start the fire, you just got burnt by the flame like everybody else."

"Yeah, well, still." The young vampire countered. He opened the bottle of alcohol and began to pour the four of them glasses. "I can't believe it was our people who did this to Hayley."