Millennium | Kol Mikaelson

Chapter 26

She was faced with a choice.

Kol or Esther. Kol or Esther. Kol... or Esther.

Catalina wanted, more than anything, to see Kol again. To tell him she loved him, now that she could remember everything.

But would it be wise to bring him back when it still wasn't safe? Would it be wise to use up her spell on someone that could be resurrected another time?

If she had been faced with this choice before Klaus's compulsion, she would have picked Kol in the heartbeat. The greater good had never mattered in the past— just her love for him.

Now Hope was in the mix. And other innocent witches. For the first time in a thousand years, Catalina had gotten to know what it was like to be vulnerable. And though she remained ruthless, she knew that this choice could not be based on her emotions. She had to think about what was best for everyone, even if she didn't fully care for others outside her circle.

"This is what we're going to do," she said to the Mikaelsons. "Freya, see if you can find a way to make a decoy Hope to lure in Dahlia. We're not putting the real Hope in danger— don't even think about it. See if Davina can help you, or Cami, since she has dark objects. Elijah, tell Hayley that she better get her ass back here the instant we defeat Dahlia. Klaus is not my favorite person, but leaving with their shared child was reckless. If he were to wake up and find out she left, he'd retaliate and he might just kill Hayley or Jackson or more of the wolves. Rebekah, you need to dig up your mother's body and burn it. Get me the ashes so that I can resurrect her. Everyone understand? Great. Get going."

"What about Niklaus?" asked Elijah.

"I'm going to keep an eye on him," said Catalina. "Get to your tasks."

None of them thought to argue. They each walked away, and Catalina sat down beside the coffin, crossing her arms and trying her best to not go tearing through the house for the white oak stake in order to stab Klaus through the heart.

While she was waiting for the others to get back, Cami called her.

"Where's Klaus?" she asked. "I've been calling him, and he isn't answering."

"Well," said Catalina, "it's hard for one to pick up the phone when they're daggered in a box."

"What? But— how? Why?"

"Apparently, Klaus killed Aiden."

"No! Klaus didn't kill Aiden. He just took the blame because of some insane dictator-edict about making people fear him. I was calling to get him to admit that!"

"Doesn't matter. He's staying daggered at least a bit longer. He was being uncooperative and frankly, I'd like him to stay like this for a couple hundred years."

"Your memories... they came back didn't they."

"They did. And your boyfriend tortured me before compelling me. He wanted me to eventually break Kol's heart, start to hate myself, then go to him so that he could rip my heart out."

"Oh my god... that's..."

"Awful? Sadistic? Fucked-up? Yeah. I'll say it for you. And now, I'm gonna have to resurrect Esther, not Kol."

"What does Esther have to do with anything?"

"I'm pretty sure her blood is the key to defeating Dahlia. Not Freya's."

"That's... a lot to process. What are you gonna do? You only wanted to become Regent for this."

"I'll bring Esther back, then give the position to Davina. I don't care."