persephone's orchard : k.m.

the deranged madman - chapter 47.

Vincent had begun to convulse from the pressure he had been put under, falling to the floor, Willow pushed past the vampire with boldness as Astrid had impeccable timing.

'Cortez!' Klaus followed in after with a booming voice as Astrid rolled up the sleeves of her burgundy shirt and smiled, 'Welcome to New Orleans. Long time no see. You've come all this way. You must be tired. Please, allow me the courtesy of putting you to rest.'

Nik knew how to bring out the anger that resided in his wife, his comment before made her shiver with adrenaline, she needed to treat Cortez like a punching bag. 'Make a move, either of you, and everyone here will die. Or... You can wait for us all to learn the whereabouts of the white oak. Choice is yours. Either way, I win.' He gestured to the compelled humans in the bar, three of them stood with knives to the necks of others, 'So here's how this works. Everyone lives... once you let me leave.'

Klaus chuckled bitterly, 'So, you expect me to let you live, knowing you seek white oak?'

'It's a shame how some vampires grow so dim with age.' Astrid hummed, 'Killing you will be a mercy.' She went to step forward and Gaspar held his hands up, 'Kill me, and this quaint eatery turns into a slaughterhouse, shining a light on your town's more repulsive activities.'

'You know... I really liked Belaga.' Nik grew impatient and pulled the stake out of his coat pocket that he had made before arriving and launched it at him. Astrid sprung into action as Willow cursed, 'Astrid... No!' and the hybrid snapped the necks of any human holding a knife.

'No. No, no.' Willow grew angrier as she ran toward the dead bodies, trying to think of a quick healing spell but it wasn't going to work. She glared up at her old hybrid friend and stood up.

'Willow. Go.' Astrid demanded but the witch stood still, lifting her hands as if to cast a spell but the hybrid was quick, pinning her hands behind her back. Nik watched the tension grow as Willow turned away from Astrid who now had her pinned against the table.

'Don't start a fight you won't win.'

...

Having pinned down Cortez, Klaus kept an eye on him while Astrid dismissed her witch friend and compelled the humans that survived to forget whatever happened. Once finished, the room still felt oddly silent with all three immortals staring at each other. Astrid felt compelled to walk back over to the clear ground that wasn't littered with thrown over tables and ended up right back next to Klaus.

Nik relished in the power that he knew would quickly diminish with their current circumstances and took his wife's hand, kissing her knuckles as she eyed him; wanting to murder him too in that moment but she knew what he was doing.

'You always have such grace, darling.' He smirked as Cortez screwed his face up and turned away.

'Something the matter, Gaspar?' Astrid smiled at him as Klaus mirrored it, 'I appreciate your patience. Now that your victims have gone, compelled by her to remember nothing of this night, you and I can take our time catching up. So before I end you, I just have one teensy little question. How did you know about the white oak?'

He referenced the text that Willow had sent him, talking of a rumour of white oak.

'There's no shortage of vampires who loathe you. Over the years, we've found ways of staying connected. The world evolved, and those connections became simpler... stronger and instantaneous.'

Astrid's feelings were few and far between these days however fear struck her quickly as he carried on, 'It started as a rumour on a private message board.' Klaus couldn't help his impulses, yanking the stake out of him and pinning him against the bar.

This didn't stop the deranged revenger.

'Now, I've confirmed the truth for everyone. So, go ahead. Kill me. But I will die filled with joy. Your sired are coming, Niklaus!' Gaspar's eyes grew wider and wider as a smile grew across his face that matched that of a madman, 'They will destroy everything you love. And then they will use the white oak to kill you. And at last, you will get the retribution you deserve!'

Astrid pushed her husband out of the way and ended him with a swift beheading. Gaspar's head rolled onto the floor as Nik seemed to have frozen on the spot before looking at her. The man looked truly petrified and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Her sympathy crept through quietly as she couldn't decide what to do.

Mikaelson Compound.

Kol and Freya had stayed behind to keep an eye on the blood map and watched in horror as they all made their way to New Orleans, just as Elijah, Niklaus and Astrid made their way back through the Compound doors.

'So this may only be a fraction of our potential enemies.' Elijah looked flabbergasted as Kol tried to make light of the situation, 'In hindsight, we could've been nicer to people. Or at least left fewer survivors.'

Astrid raised an eyebrow, 'I'm not sure we realised half of those bastards would turn themselves into vampires.'

'We don't know all their motivations. Half of these people could want to put the bullet in either of your hearts! End the sire war with the pull of a trigger.' Klaus addressed his elder brother and wife but Elijah quickly hit back, 'I have an army devoted to keeping me alive. The only people that care to protect you are standing in this very room. As you well know, Niklaus, there is another way.'

Everyone stared at each other and Astrid knew instantly what he meant, Freya caught on soon after.

'You're going to run?'

'There was a time when the name Klaus Mikaelson was little more than a rumour. A shadowy figure who cast fear into the very bones of any who heard whisper of him. I don't run, sister. I disappear.'

'And tonight, the three of you are going to make that possible.'  Astrid stood up and Nik frowned, 'And what will you be doing?'

'Why, you aren't the only one who knows how to disappear.'