persephone's orchard : k.m.

to become lonely - chapter 60

Astrid couldn't bring herself to look at Freya until she contemplated how she felt about Davina's permanent death. Her family had used her daughter as a conduit for their ancestors magic, rendering her entirely defenseless against those who had grown to hate the little witch on the other side. She made a promise to Davina that she'd come back. Astrid had broken that promise.

Again.

She was the last one to enter the Compound, she sat at the drivers seat of Elijah's car, silently crying to herself about the recent events before loosing it entirely. The hybrid punched the wheel over and over, screaming as Elijah and Klaus watched from the balcony.

'It was what we had to do, brother. She'll come around.' Elijah's deluded sentence made Nik's anger flare as he gripped the railing, watching as his wife lean against the wheel jolting from tears.

'Will she?'

...

It was raining that dark night in New Orleans, Astrid's hair had soaked through by the time she got into the hallways near her bedroom. She wouldn't of admitted it in that moment, but she wanted Klaus and the more it stirred in her mind, the more she hated Elijah.

'I did everything you asked.' She overheard Marcel in the study and stopped walking.

'I joined your stupid cult. I left my friends in the dust because that's what YOU needed!' The vampire was gritting his teeth as he spoke to the Mikaelson brothers. 'I fought for Hope! I tried to keep Hayley breathing! I kept white oak from piercing your cold black heart.' He pointed at Nik with tears in his eyes.

'We know.' Elijah kept a straight face.

'No. No you don't.' It was obvious who his main grievance was with, Elijah faced his ire.

'He had no choice.'

Astrid still stood outside and she grimaced and Klaus's choice of words, deciding to intervene before Marcel said anything he regretted. 'Marcellus.' Her voice ached as she spoke and all three men turned to her.

'You are worst of all!' Marcel clearly was coming for everyone as he turned to her, 'You come in here with all your promises to us.' He stormed up to her, 'You know, I told Davina what you said. The smile on her face broke my heart because I knew that whenever Astrid Mikaelson makes a promise, it always depends on if her family is okay with it!' He rose his voice even further and she frowned.

'I am on your side here.' She sounded hurt that history was repeating herself.

'No! You aren't!' He carried on before facing all three of them, 'Lucien.. Tristan.. Sebastian hell even Aurora! They all defended themselves against you! Cause I mean, to hell with anyone who isn't a Mikaelson right?'

Nik stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder, 'Marcellus, you are our family.'

'No!' He used his vampiric speed to throw Klaus off of him.

'No.'

He marched passed Astrid after kicking a table over and the Mikaelsons were left alone. She was infuriated by the look on Elijah's face. 'You have no right to look so shocked.' She commented and he hit back, 'Don't turn on me too, Astrid.'

'What like you turned on Davina? And Thierry?'

The mention of Thierry made Klaus look up too as she chuckled bitterly, 'Don't think I forgot about him too. Oh ho ho I've been in Marcel's position before.' She poured herself a Jack Daniels before coming back round the bar and approaching Elijah, coming too close for comfort.

'Difference is, brother.. I can aim my rage better then him. I can hit harder.' She put the crystal glass in his open hand and kept the bottle to herself, 'You should drink that when it finally hits you that you're the author of this chapter.' She rose an eyebrow, 'It'll ease the guilt.'

...

The annoying thing about personal development was that you have to break old cycles that you've become accustomed too and that often stings more then the event itself. To become hardened is to become colder.

To become lonely.

Astrid sat at her dresser, downing her bottle with dried tears smearing the blood already covering her face. Nik didn't know how to judge the situation at all. He didn't want Davina to be used as a pawn he even said so himself to Freya.

He didn't agree with any of this.

'Astrid?' He knocked on the door before opening it slightly and the sudden break of silence made her jump, 'Come in.' She grumbled before letting her head hit the desk.

The rain had begun to sound like static the drunker Astrid became as Nik approached the desk and lifted her up, taking the bottle out of her grip and laying her down before running a bath. As he came back out, he sat down next to her and took his boots off.

'Are you okay?' Astrid sat up and he seemed shocked at her question. 'I don't agree with what my brother-' he went straight on the defense but Astrid cut him off by wrapping an arm around him and kissing his shoulder, 'I know.'

'You know?'

'I believe you, Nik.'

She ran her free hand through his curls, 'I believe you.'

The repeated confirmation made him take such a deep breath that his shoulders raised and he leant back into her hand, shutting his eyes.

In that moment the world stopped turning, the momentary peace they received was well consumed as the couple took each other in for the first time in weeks.

'I love you. I'm trying.' Klaus's broken voice made Astrid come closer to him.

'I know you are, love. I love you too.'