persephone's orchard : k.m.

come back. - chapter 19 part 1

A stare off was going on in the Church. Aurora was growing more and more agitated by the lack of movement in Astrid. 'I knew it. A century in this city by yourself.. without him.' She pointed at Klaus, 'And you've softened. The Astrid I knew was ten times more powerful then this.'

'She has more self control then you, Aurora.' Cami spoke up and Aurora smacked her clean in the jaw, sending her flying to the left and Astrid vamped in between the women.

'Woah Ho Ho! I struck a nerve!' She chuckled and Astrid turned to Cami, 'Run.'

'What? Why?' The human asked and Klaus watched as Aurora grew closer and closer to Astrid. 'Cami, leave now.' She spoke again and the blonde stood up. Klaus didn't use his voice quick enough and Aurora tried to head dive into Astrid but the hybrid clocked on, spinning around quickly and attempting to grab her hands but the redhead vamped to Cami and cut her neck.

That's when Astrid could hear her heart in her ears. She'd contemplated it before, on her darkest nights it's what would creep into her mind. It would be no less to the Astrid Mikaelson that resided 500 years ago. Klaus wondered if his words had an affect on his wife as he noticed her lingering stare on his therapists neck.

'Astrid. Don't fall for it.'

Nik's words drew the hybrid away from the blonde as the two made eye contact and Aurora was smiling, she was sure she had a victory. Seeing Astrid loose her cool like this made her feel at peace with loosing her cool at the dinner even if they were friends.

What had Camille done since she found out about Astrid's true nature except distance herself? Astrid had saved her life and she didn't even get a thank you.

'Think about it Astrid. Kill her and you have him all to yourself. No jealousies to cloud you. No arguments to have.' Aurora had dabbed Cami's wound and held her finger out to Astrid, 'If you don't kill her then I will.'

'She's right, Astrid it's okay.' Camille became a human martyr and Klaus's eyes widened, 'Cami no!'

'What's wrong, Nik?' Astrid smiled, 'Scared that if I kill your pretty human girl that you won't have any innocence to dote on?'

Both Camille and Niklaus's jaws dropped and Aurora smiled, giggling, 'He is scared isn't he?' She turned around to Klaus, 'You see, Astrid and I are the same. Kindred spirits.. tainted by a thousand years of life.' She pointed to Cami, 'You see her as a clean slate. An innocent human. Not half as damaged by war or death as we are. I was going to tell you that she isn't so innocent. I did get her to tell me her greatest shame...'

She turned between the two women, 'But now I see it. You like innocence. Something to connect you to your humanity.' Aurora was circulating between the three and Astrid smiled, 'You're right, Aurora. If I kill Cami, then I would have my husband to myself. But then again so would you.'

Aurora's eyes grew in size as she spun back round to her, 'I done this for you.'

'I have no doubt about that, my darling Aurora.' She took her face in her hand gently, 'But you're wrong in some instances. I know my husband. He doesn't love Camille. So whilst my sister in law and your sire sleeps soundly at the bottom of the ocean..' Astrid tucked a red strand behind her ear, the vampire looked genuinely nervous, 'I believe that as my favour to her, I should clean up the mess she would've had too.. if she were here.'

Nik rose an eyebrow as he looked at his wife before noticing her hand.

And recalling their signal.

Astrid clenched her fist. Of course they weren't standing hand in hand but she mimicked the hand squeeze, the signal they used to tell the other that they'll get out of this. 'And as for Nik's humanity, Aurora.. you're wrong about that too.'