Black Rose • Mikaelson

19. New Orleans, Lousiana

Ivonna Petrovich

"FOR ONCE, NIKLAUS, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING you can fix." I sigh.

"I have to try!" Niklaus is frustrated.

"Pieces of Nadia shattered when she turned it back on. Pieces that don't fit back into place just because you found every one. These pieces take time and consideration and small miracles."

Niklaus is silent on the other end for some time. I could only imagine what else he is going through back in New Orleans besides what's happening with my sister.

"Nadia told me something once when I told her you were broken. She said 'you don't stop loving someone because they are broken. You love them more in hopes they'll become whole again.' We can only hope that this is broken that can be fixed." I frown.

Niklaus is silent for several minutes, I think he's hung up the phone. Then, a sigh escapes his lips and I know he's still there. He's just processing my words.

"It will take a miracle for her to be okay. And a miracle takes more magic than I have, Niklaus."

Nadia comes down the stairs after I'm finished on the phone and I'm thankful she wasn't here to hear any of that. However, from the look on her face, it makes me think she heard every bit of our conversation. I send her an apologetic smile — she doesn't return it. Her eyes are red and puffy like she's been crying. I don't ask if she has been. Nadia has never been liar, but if I ask if she's okay when I know she isn't, she will become one. So, I keep quiet and I don't say anything. However, Nadia does and what she says shocks me. So much so, if I was speaking I would be shocked silent.

"Rebekah needs our help with a clocking spell, for herself and Niklaus's baby, Hope." She says.

I pray to whatever god there is, I imagined what she just said, because if she's telling me it means she's going to help. However, my prays go unanswered as Nadia crosses the room to me. This is not a miracle, it is the opposite. It is another Mikaelson asking for assistance which in turn, drags Nadia back to New Orleans.

"Get dressed, we're leaving." Nadia nods.

I look outside, the skies still dull from a half risen sun. It has to be late into the night in New Orleans.

"Let's go." Nadia says.

My eyes briefly land on Nadia's neck, her amulet resting against prominent collarbones. I wonder if she had any reluctance putting it back on. Before I have the chance to think it over, Nadia disappears before my eyes and I'm scrambling to catch up. Nadia is standing in front of Rebekah, watching as baby hope clings to her side. I know of the hell that's broken lose in New Orleans that had brought Rebekah to protecting her only niece. I stare at my blonde best friend, and Niklaus' child, Hope. Nadia does the cloaking spell that has required our presence to begin with. My sister using any kind of magic terrifies me.

"A few months gone and all hell breaks lose." I frown.

Hell, I already knew of.

"And neither Mikaelson thought to call us." Nadia shares my frown.

I cut a quick glance over at Nadia, she's still watching Hope. I'm silently thankful no one thought to call us even as Nadia frowns about it. I have seen the physical signs that my sister isn't okay, I wonder if she's noticed them. Without a doubt she's noticed the mental ones. It's a miracle Niklaus only left voicemails and didn't actually show up in Rome, begging her back.

"Thank you." Rebekah smiles.

She cuts a glance at me. She wants to ask if Nadia's okay but she's knows not to ask someone who's obviously not okay if they are. Rebekah has without a doubt heard about what happened to Nadia in those months. Bex looks at me when Nadia looks away, lost in thought.

Nadia Petrovich

I go to see Niklaus when I get back from Rome. Ivonna decided to scout out the amount of drama in the quarter. Maybe even have some fun and stir up some trouble with the wolves. He stares at the window, obviously weakened by the coming full moon. He turns and sees me, crossing the room to envelop me in his arms. I press my hands to his cheeks, easing us onto the floor. Niklaus' eyes never leave mine as I give him a small smile. His eyes dart around my features, committing them to his memory once again. I understand his fear, this is quite how I imagined our very last break up. The one I decide to walk away for good and no amount of sweet words or run ins on the street could make me change my mind.

"Anger can only hide one's pain for so long, Niklaus." I whisper.

As if on cue, Niklaus buries his face in my shoulder and cries. I rock the two of us back and forth, my hand running along his spine. He had done the same for me when my parents died. He let me cry until the pain was replaced with anger. Niklaus' tears cease when Elijah walks into the room and he pulls away from me, going back to brooding at the window. My vision spots, darkening until it's pitch black.

"Elijah, help me up." I call, holding out my arm.

Elijah helps me stand and Niklaus grabs my hips to keep me steady. My vision replaces and shows the French Quarter. Five wolves surround Ivonna in the middle of the quarter, frowning.

Ivonna Petrovich

My eyes scan the French Quarter, taking in a couple months worth of changes. Besides the lack of vampires and increase in wolves, nothing seems to have changed. I continue walking through the jazz filled streets when five wolves surround me. I frown and my blood spikes with adrenaline, on alert. They bare their teeth, their hands clawed.

"Quite the welcome party Francesca has here. However, I'm not in the partying mood. Sorry." I shrug.

"You're not welcomed here, vampire." A blond wolf says, he's familiar. One of the crescent wolves of Hailey's old pack.

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I raise both my hands and watch them fall to their knees. Their bones break and twist, forcing them into the beasts they are. I finally let my hands drop and crouch to the blonde's height.

"I don't know who you thought I was, but think again. I can make it where you change every nightfall," I hiss. "Again."

They finally fully stand, baring fangs. However, no one moves. I doubt they want to call my bluff because I'm not bluffing. Adrenaline courses through me, quick and hot. A small part of me wants them to call my bluff, the other is scared of that small part.