persephone's orchard : k.m.

an emotional battle - chapter 4

'I need you to perform a locator spell. Hayley's missing.' Nik's face had dropped just as quickly as it arrived and Freya seemed intrigued, 'You're worried about her.'

'I prefer to know the whereabouts of my enemies. Besides, Hayley has a history of taking what's mine.'

'No. You're afraid she's truly lost.' Freya looked almost content at her brother's sudden show of emotion, 'I'll need the best connection to Hayley. You'll have to wake Hope.' Klaus nodded in agreement before ascending the stairs and as the two women watched away, Astrid smiled.

'He's worried about her.'

'Of course he is.'

French Quarter.

The next day had come and Astrid was going about her daily business, wanting to check on Cami because the O'Connell had been suspiciously quiet. Pulling up to the street outside Rosseau's, she couldn't get out of her car fast enough as Will Kinney got into the passenger seat.

'You're a suspicious woman, Astrid Mikaelson.' He huffed and pulled out some files. 'Well hello to you too.' She scowled at him, shuffling around to face him and he motioned to the papers in his hands. The hybrid looked down at them and her eyes widened, 'You looked me up!'

'I did. And we need to talk.'

Rousseau's

Astrid unwillingly walked into the bar and Cami looked up, confused to see the hybrid with an officer. She rolled her eyes in the blonde's direction with a smile to defuse the tension before deciding to approach her. 'Astrid?' Kinney turned around with attitude and she scowled at him, 'We're in a bar. I drink alcohol. Sit and deal with it.'

The human obliged and sat in the corner. 'Cami. Honey. Can I have a Baileys please?' She asked and the bartender nodded, 'You've gotta tell me what's going on.'

'Well..' Astrid leant over the bar and whispered, 'Those murders that Vince asked you to profile... I think he's about to accuse me.'

'What?' Cami gasped and looked over at Kinney who was already looking at the pair. 'I know.' Astrid smiled and she asked why she was smiling.

'Why wouldn't I be? This is hilarious.'

She took her whiskey and sauntered over to Will who looked overwhelmed. 'What was that about hm?' He asked and she hummed, sitting down in her green shirt, 'Camille and I are old friends, nothing more.' She leant forward and took a sip of her drink, 'Now. Why don't you tell me why you think I murdered that man? And from what I hear...' she sat back and crossed her legs, 'There's been quite a few more since.'

'Your tone has changed.' Will noted and Astrid nodded, 'I know, darling.'

Intimidation tactics always worked. 'Well..' Will huffed and spread some files out in front of her, 'When did you marry your husband, Astrid?' The woman frowned, 'Is this a test?'

'Maybe.' Will rose an eyebrow and she looked bored, 'A while ago.' She didn't care that she was being vague, she knew what she was doing. 'Here's where things get weird. You don't look a day over 22 yet I've got files under your name from 1950.' He pointed to two particular papers, 'The PD back then clearly couldn't decide what your last name was.'

Astrid picked them up and gulped. She didn't realise how extensive they were considering the deal Marcellus and her made with the local police. One had Astrid Mikaelson and the other Astrid Malraux. One from 1969 and one from 1984. 'Even if you married him between those dates. That still doesn't explain why you look so young.'

'Did you ever think that maybe you've simply got it wrong?'

Manipulating a police officer... well done Astrid. She thought to herself. 'What do you mean?' He asked and she feigned annoyance, 'My mother was named Astrid. My husband and I... our families are friends. She must've used a fake name when she was drunk.'