The Other Mikaelson- Book 2

Chapter XVI

Rebekah walked back into the parlor of the plantation house, Klaus playing the piano and Rebekah not noticing him.

"I stink of the bog!" she yelled in Keira and Elijah's direction.

"Try smelling like fire all day!" Keira yelled back.

"Will you please stop complaining about that?!?" Nik yelled. "Just because I locked you outside all day without your daylight ring with no shade in sight does not mean you get to act like I killed you!"

"Yeah, but, you actually did kill me! A few times, I might add!"

"I. Stink. Of. The. Bog!!!" Rebekah whined.

"Serves you right, for your pathetic attempt to undermine my rule," Nik said as Elijah and Keira walked in.

"Nik, listen," Rebekah said.

"When I order werewolves to be hunted to extinction, I expect you to stand aside and let the blood flow," Nik replied. Elijah rolled his eyes.

"How delightfully democratic of you," he said, throwing a ring at Klaus. "Do you recognize it? Perhaps you don't. It has been a thousand years since you last saw it grace the hand of our mother. The ring was in possession of one of the very wolves whose extinction you just ordered. So, naturally, I questioned him. He spoke of a legend. A legend wherein long ago, a chief of theirs had fathered a child to a very powerful witch. Their mythology further states that this child, a son, was later transformed into something this clan had never before seen. Something werewolf and vampire."

Klaus glared at him. "Nik, we're trying to make amends. We found remnants of your family. The bloodline of your true father. And we saved them from being slaughtered at the hands of the vampires you command," Keira said.

"Niklaus, your ambitions have come before this family for far too long. Niklaus, I beseech you please, come home," Elijah said.

"What does beseech mean?!?" Keira asked in annoyance. Klaus ignored her.

"What home? This pathetic substitute? You see, despite all your doubts, all you attempts to thwart me, I've reclaimed our true home. I took back the entire city," he said.

"You have the audacity to boast of your victory when the mother of your child remains your prisoner?" Elijah asked.

"It all comes down to the pretty little wolf, doesn't it, brother?"

"Oh, both of you stop it!" Rebekah said.

"Even if this is what you say it is, I have had enough of family to last me a lifetime. Why would I possibly want any more?" Klaus asked, standing up and leaving. Elijah looked sad and defeated, until Keira felt Klaus was no longer listening and out of earshot.

"He cares," she said quietly. "I can tell. He left his mind open, and I got in. He cares. He cares about his family. Just not us."

~~~~

At the compound, Rebekah went with Marcel to the garden, and her other two full blooded siblings left to find Hayley.

"Stay here," Elijah said, finding Hayley on the balcony. Keira smiled playfully and rolled her eyes.

"About the wolves," Hayley said. "Are they...?"

Elijah smiled. "Safe. All of them."

Hayley sighed in relief and hugged him. "Thank you. What you did, Elijah, it means a lot."

Elijah pulled the shoulder of her sweater over her crescent birthmark. "You should keep this covered."

"I will."

"If any of the others saw this..."

"I promise."

"I should go," Elijah said. Hayley looked at his lips, clearly wanting to kiss him, and Elijah looked as if he did too. He managed to compose himself, however, and left Hayley looking disappointed.

Back inside, Elijah noticed his sister, who had watched most of the conversation.

"Oh, shut up," he said before she could say anything.

Back at the plantation mansion, Keira found Klaus in his room.

"Haven't you three had your fill of telling me all the ways I've disappointed you?" he asked, not turning.

"Well, there is something important we neglected to discuss. I'm sorry for turning against you and accusing you of having ulterior motives regarding the child. I was wrong," Keira said quietly.

"That must have been hard for you to say."

Keira paused for a second, before biting her lip. "Yep."

Klaus laughed. "I do want to know, why did you turn against me. The baby, Elijah, or Rebekah?"

"You don't make it easy to love you, brother."

"And yet, I can tell you still do. When you're ready, should you be so inclined, you, Elijah, and Rebekah, are welcome to join me here. It is, after all, our family home," Klaus smiled and vanished after one more sentence. "And, I think I get why you sided with Rebekah. I guess you girls have to stick together."

~~~~

(Voiceover)

Keira: "For centuries, people have come to New Orleans looking for a fresh start. Looking to find adventure, fortune, and even love. Young society women imported from France with the promise of marrying a proper New Orleans gentleman like the legendary Casket Girls"

New Orleans, 19th Century

Three French women sat in a carriage, accompanied by a driver and a male chaperone.

"Excusez-moi, monsieur, combien de temps avant d'arriver à la maison du Gouverneur?" asked one of the women. (Translation: Excuse me, sir, how long before we arrive at the Governor's house?)

Keira: "Little did they know that the men who awaited them were far from proper, and not at all gentle."

Suddenly, the carriage stopped abruptly, and a giant group of men holding torches appeared in front of the carriage. They were shouting and swarmed the carriage, shaking it roughly and causing the women to scream. Then, the shouting and screaming stopped and were replaced by the terrified yells of men and bodies dropping to the ground. The chaperone stepped out of the carriage to see what had happened, but was pulled away by a blur. A moment later, the carriage door opened again, revealing Keira Mikaelson dabbing a dribble of blood off her chin.

"Là, petits agneaux, tous les méchants sont partis," she said. (Translation: There, little lambs, all the wicked are gone) "Vous êtes en sécurité ici, veuillez pardonner le désordre. Nous les filles devons nous serrer les coudes. Maintenant, y a-t-il quelque chose que vous aimeriez emporter avec vous?" (Translation: You are safe here, please forgive the mess. We girls need to stick together. Now, is there anything you would like to take with you?)

Keira and Rebekah walked down the street, watching New Orleans abuzz, with old fashioned horses and carriages striding down the street as well and many people dressed in old fashioned clothing, for the Casket Girl festival.

Keira: "The Casket Girls legend lives on, now celebrated in typical New Orleans fashion with stylish costumes and supernatural flair. It's a yearly reminder of how woman can be oppressed by selfish men and how they can triumph when brave enough to fight for themselves."