Stone Cold

All My Children

Chapter Forty-Two

*~*~*~*

Confusion seemed to hang about the air as Elijah wandered about the halls of the Mikaelson household. Finding himself wandering into the very room his mother had set herself up in the night before, only Finn and Elena having ever joined her inside for a majority of the night. His dark eyes scanned over the space before landing on a half-burned bundle of herbs resting on the desk. He carefully lifted the binding, bringing it to his nose as he took a sniff of the herbs, easily recognizing the scent.

"Well, well, well. There's our girl," his attention was pulled from the herbs at the sound of Kol's voice drifting up the stairs as well as the sound of the front door opening and closing. 

It was just downstairs where Kol and Klaus were sitting around the sitting room. Both of them having a perfect view of Rebekah as she made her way inside-- still wearing her dress from the night before.

"Get out of my way, Kol." Rebekah glared at her brother as he continued to step into her path.

"Out all night. What a scandal," Kol teased while Klaus opted to observe from where he was sketching on the couch. "I trust you did better than that commoner. Matt, was it?"

"If you don't shut your mouth, the next thing to come out of it will be your teeth." Rebekah's eyes narrowed at the mention of the local football player. Not having forgotten about her brother's stunt the night before with breaking Matt's hand. Over Kol's shoulder she caught sight of the smirk making its way onto her other brother's face. "Don't start, Nik."

"I didn't say anything," Klaus shook his head.

"I'm bored," Kol sighed, flopping himself down in the chair opposite the couch. "Our sister is a strumpet, but at least she's having fun. I need entertainment."

"What are you waiting for? Go on. Have at it," Klaus shrugged.

"It's no fun to go alone," Kol groaned, sounding like a small child. "Join me, Nik. It's the least you could do after sticking a dagger in my heart."

"Okay. Why not?" Klaus rolled his eyes slightly at the mention of his dagger-happy ways. "I didn't have nearly enough to drink last night, what with you trying to murder Rebekah's date."

"Yes, please go. This house has enough men rolling around in it," Rebekah waved them off. "Where's Brigitta?"

"Took Finn to show him around town," Kol recalled the brief excuse the witch had used while hurrying out of the house with Finn earlier that morning. 

"Lord knows why she'd inflict his company upon herself," Klaus muttered under his breath. Laughter floated between the two brothers as they made their exit, leaving Rebekah behind in the sitting room. Though it wasn't long before she found herself with more company.

"Rebekah," Elijah greeted his sister.

"Not you, too, Elijah," Rebekah groaned, expecting more teasing or a lecture for her escapades. 

"I'm worried about Mother," Elijah confessed, his words easily managing to surprise the blonde. "Have you not noticed her strange behavior?"

"She's been dead for a thousand years," Rebekah reminded him. "What's strange for her?"

"Burned sage." Elijah held up the remaining bundle of herbs he'd found upstairs. "She was doing a privacy spell."

"You know she fancies such things," Rebekah tried to shrug it off. "Why don't you ask Finn? He's been dotting on her. Or maybe he's told Brigitta something when he off with her?"