persephone's orchard : k.m.

fractured splinters - chapter 21 part 1

Astrid had returned to the Compound only to receive a call from Elijah, letting her know that her blonde sister in law was safe and out of the sea. The hybrid was overjoyed to hear Rebekah, still smiling even when discussing the prophecy that the sister had no chance to comment on.

'Well, I would never harm you, you killed half the Navy rescuing me, Freya hates traitors..' Bekah trailed off and Elijah sighed, 'Yes, Freya. Let's not forget her allegiance to Finn. I do want to trust her, but...'

'So, that leaves Nik. Do you think he's learned his lesson about backstabbing his family? Considering your side of things is just about as clear as the sea I was just dropped in' Rebekah asked Astrid and she sighed, 'Oh, I think he learns that lesson all the time. He's just a terrible student.'

Silence overcame the phone and Astrid asked after her, 'Bekah?'

'Do you ever want to just rip out his heart and see how long it takes to grow back?' On the other side of the phone, her vampire face had taken over in the middle of the petrol station and both Elijah and Astrid frowned before the blonde yelped out in pain, clutching her wrist.

'What is it?' Elijah asked and Astrid spoke, 'Bekah?'

'Marvelous. What do you get the girl who has everything this Christmas?'

The Mikaelson brother frowned as he rolled back his sisters sleeve, revealing a skull carved into her wrist as Rebekah turned her nose up.

'A cure to a magical mark growing on her bloody arm.' A skull had formed on the inner side of her wrist.

Astrid's jaw dropped, 'Bekah what does that mean?' but she couldn't get her answer, Jackson shouted from downstairs, 'Astrid?!'

The hybrid panicked when she smelt blood and hung up quickly, rushing to the balcony to see a limp Freya Mikaelson in his arms and her heart skipped a beat. 'What happened?'

'She got jumped. Three vampires, all dressed like yuppies.' Jackson laid her down on the sofa and Astrid's face hardened, 'The Strix?'

'Yeah. She needs your blood.'

She didn't hesitate to bite into her wrist and take it to Freya's lips, mumbling a 'Jesus' under her breath. The witch came round slowly, eventually stirring and the hybrid helped her sit up. 'They took it. The Serratura.' Freya realised when she gained enough consciousness and groaned in frustration,
'I was meeting with a witch from the bloodline who built the lock. I was hoping she could help me destroy it, but it's not possible. She said the only way to get rid of it is to use it. We have to get it back and lock something else away. Anything but our family.'

'Oh great.' Astrid huffed, 'Why don't we ask Aurora really really nicely?'

'I'm afraid we have a far more urgent problem.' Elijah came in next and the hybrid looked up in anticipation when Rebekah came in next, looking dishevelled.

'Well, to be fair, I am the prettiest urgent problem you have ever seen.'

...

'Nik? Answer your bloody phone.' Astrid cursed as she sat through another 10 seconds of him not answering. Eventually, another woman's voice was heard at the other end of the phone.

'Astrid?'

'Cami? What the hell?'

'Hey..' she seemed distracted and although it was for good reason, Astrid wasn't about to believe that.

'Care to tell me what you're doing answering his phone?'

'Listen we're in a bit of a predicament right now. Can he call you back later?'

'Excuse me?' Astrid stood up from the sofa with a scowl and Elijah noticed quickly, striding over and standing in front of the hybrid, using his vampiric hearing to listen in. 'Yeah, we're busy. Can I give him a message?'

'Camille if you don't hand the phone over to my husband right now I swear-'

'You'll do what? Huh?'

Even Elijah's eyes widened at this, taking Astrid's shoulder in the hope of helping her calm down but it didn't work. 'It's like you want me to kill you.' Astrid's eyes turned golden and Cami was panicking but still trying to let Klaus do what he needed to do.

'I'll let him know you called.' Cami hung up the phone quickly and stuffed it in her back pocket while Astrid's eyes flared with fury, 'That little skank.'

'Astrid.. control yourself.' Elijah tried to keep the hybrid at bay but she had to take her anger out on something. Throwing her phone across the Compound, it smashed on the other side into fractured splinters and he facepalmed.

'Now why would you do that?'

'He can get me a new one. And actually pay for it.'

Rebekah noticed quickly too, 'She's right, Elijah and she has every reason to be annoyed! Our brother seems to be capable of infidelity.' The blonde turned to her sister in law, 'Don't worry, you beauty if anything happens I'll help you kill her.'

Bekah's wayward smile made Astrid give up her strop and chuckle, 'You and I murdering someone as a team, like the good old days.'

Freya came bounding down the stairs and Rebekah looked up drowsily, 'Give me the bad news, Doc.'

'Aya's stake was cursed. It infected you. As this mark grows, you will go mad. Left unchecked, you will become a relentless, unstoppable Ripper.'